Sound Beat: Access Audio, part of the Special Collections Research Center at 黑料不打烊 Libraries, has recently released the long-anticipated audiobook by Don Waful 鈥37, G鈥39 titled 鈥淵ou Don鈥檛 Surrender: Journal and Memoirs of Don Waful, a World War II P.O.W.鈥 on the .
This two-hour production provides remarkable insight into the psyche of a captive soldier set against the backdrop of one of the most compelling events of the 20th century. The journals, narrated by Brett Barry ’98, G鈥13, tell part of the story. Four interview sessions conducted between 2018-19, with then 103-year-old Waful, gave him a chance to fill in gaps and reminisce on his experience 75 years after the war’s end. A third part of the audiobook voiced by famed broadcaster Sean McDonough ’84 provides reference through a historical timeline. McDonough, who began his career calling games for the 黑料不打烊 Chiefs baseball team (of which Waful was former president) also gives the audiobook’s prologue and epilogue.
The journal details Lieutenant Donald R. Waful鈥檚 time behind enemy lines. Captured by the German army and held captive from 1942-44, Waful recorded details of daily life, diversions the prisoners employed to pass the time聽and his burgeoning love for Cassie, the enlisted nurse he’d become engaged to weeks before his capture.
This original audio content was produced by Sound Beat: Access Audio, which creates audio projects that highlight iconic 黑料不打烊 community members. Don Waful (1916-2019) was an icon in the community and on campus for decades. He received his bachelor鈥檚 degree from the College of Arts and Sciences in 1937 and his master鈥檚 degree in 1939. He was a member of the Alumni Glee Club and quite possibly the longest-tenured football fan.
Sound Beat, both the 90-second interstitials and the longer form Sound Beat: Access Audio, provides the opportunity to incorporate applied learning for 黑料不打烊 students. Student interns help research and write Sound Beat episode scripts and serve as production assistants for Access Audio.
These interns come from a wide range of programs on campus, including our project partner InclusiveU, which provides support and opportunities for students with cognitive and intellectual disabilities. 鈥淵ou Don鈥檛 Surrender鈥 was recorded at WAER and Newhouse studios and was mixed and mastered at Silver Hollow Audio.
