
From enlistment to discharge, his words capture the courage, sacrifice, and unshakable bond between a son and his mother during one of history’s most defining moments.
Letters To Mom can be found online at Barnes and Noble, Amazon, and for a limited time, in person at the Pima Air and Space Museum.
Roy Meyer
Born in Chicago in 1925, Roy Meyer grew up amid the pine forests and lakes of Wisconsin, where he split his time between helping at his uncle’s resort and roaming the Northwoods with a canoe and fishing pole. His early years were shaped by the hardships of the Great Depression and the quiet joys of rural childhood.
At just 17, Roy enlisted in the Army Air Force and served as a waist gunner on a B-24 Liberator with the 449th Bombardment Group, known as "The Flying Horsemen." His wartime experience—equal parts harrowing and profound—inspired the letters that now form the heart of Letters to Mom.
After the war, Roy made Tucson his permanent home, attended the University of Arizona, and began a lifelong career in public service at Pima County Juvenile Court. Known for his quick wit and gift for storytelling, he often turned everyday encounters into rich narratives shared around the dinner table.
A devoted husband of 61 years, loving father and grandfather, Roy spent his retirement exploring the national parks and summers in Greer, Arizona, surrounded by friends and the beauty of the mountains. Letters to Mom offers readers a personal window into Roy’s remarkable life, resilience, and enduring sense of humor.
Tara Harper
Tara grew up on Tucson’s West Side, the youngest of three siblings in a home her parents, Roy and Gerry, built with love and laughter. Alongside her brother Eric and sister Andrea, she enjoyed a childhood filled with desert hikes, family traditions, and the steady presence of a father she deeply admired.
Tara attended Cholla High School and the University of Arizona, where she studied both agriculture and nursing—paths that reflect her lifelong love of the natural world and her compassionate spirit. It was while attending school and working at a pizza restaurant that she met Dave, her future husband and adventure partner. Together, they raised two children, Chloe and Carl, and continue to share a passion traveling the national parks and playing pickleball.
Tara was profoundly inspired by her father's dedication to his country, his enduring optimism, and his quick sense of humor. After his passing, she felt called to preserve his voice and legacy. She spent countless hours reading, sorting, and carefully organizing the truckload of letters he wrote during World War II—each one a thread in the story of a young man navigating war with courage, wit, and love for his family.
Letters to Mom is the result of that labor of love—a tribute to her father’s life, service, and the timeless bond between a parent and child.
Roy's beloved wife, Gerry, was interviewed about her life and service as a veteran.
For her 100th birthday, Geraldine, was honored to join fellow Tucson Cenenarians in speaking about their lives and legacies.
Roy and Gerry were fortunate to partake in a life changing trip to Washington, D.C. Please consider helping additional veterans to see our Nation's capital.
We invite you to help keep the letters alive by sharing the impact Letters to Mom made in your life.
Before publishing Letters To Mom, Tara honored her parents in this short article.
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