Book Release December 7, 2025
"Drawn from the hidden history of the Women's Air Raid Defense—a secret military radar unit stationed in wartime Hawai'i—this sweeping novel of courage follows four women whose bond challenges—and changes—the course of each other's lives."
About the Book
In the immediate aftermath of Pearl Harbor, four extraordinary women—a Honolulu socialite, a New Jersey journalist, a Texas aviatrix, and a Navy officer's wife—volunteer for the top-secret Women's Air Raid Defense (WARD).
Ground in meticulous research and firsthand interviews, Dee Buckingham weaves fact and fiction into a sweeping tale of their courage as these women confront the complexities of love, loss, and duty, and discover the power of the bond they forge. CODE NAME RASCAL breathes life into the experiences of unsung heroes, offering readers a poignant and immersive journey into a vital chapter of American history.
About Dee
Dorothea “Dee” Buckingham is a former librarian, award-winning author, and local historian specializing in World War II–era Hawaii. She has published seven books, with her latest historical novel, Code Name Rascal, releasing on December 7, 2025. Dee lives in Hawaii with her husband, a retired Marine Corps Lieutenant Colonel and co-author of World War II Hawaii.
Ruth's Story
Ruth Cope and I first met in 2002 at the USS Arizona Memorial. Ruth and her husband Bill volunteered there every Friday morning, telling their story. I spotted Ruth at a distance, matching her to a newspaper clipping she had sent me. She was wearing a teal volunteer uniform and a white Kangol cap.
On the phone, Ruth’s voice had the strong, gravelly undertones of a lifelong smoker. In person...
Dee's Books
