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“I’ve got my Western Sharpshooters’ hat on, my Gettysburg Address tie, my SUVCW medal, my Abraham Lincoln socks, and a full tank of gas. Department of Illinois Mid-year Encampment, here I come!”  Shortly after my lovely and talented wife took the above picture, I was on my way to the Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War Department of Illinois Mid-year Encampment in Bloomington. I was honored to represent U.S. Grant Camp 1863 (Schaumburg) at this meeting. I was not really s

"Everyone you meet becomes a part of you." I recently encountered this wisdom in my sister Mary Doak's book, "DIVINE HARMONY: LIVING...

The author poses with his sister Bridget Doak in June of 2024. Bloody Shiloh, a battle that still evokes a shudder 163 years later,...

Map by Julia E. Doak In the summer of 2024, I had the privilege of visiting the National Park Service's Fort Donelson National...

My ancestors' efforts to preserve Corporal John W.N. Doak's letters made my novel TO LIVE A PATRIOT possible. In spite of Corporal Doak's...

Last week, July 7-11, 2025, I had the privilege of attending a professional development program downtown Chicago with a diverse group of...

TRIGGER WARNING: This post discusses military history, focusing on rifles and shooting. If this isn't your interest, feel free to stop...

My Civil War Era novel, TO LIVE A PATRIOT, begins and ends in Paris, Illinois . And almost exactly a year ago–June 20th, 2024–my research trip for TO LIVE A PATRIOT began there as well. The trip to Paris was a highlight of my summer and came up in a conversation with a colleague last August. Over our lunch break during institute days full of icebreakers and meetings, he asked: “So, did you finally finish your book this summer?” “Still working on it, always revising. This sum

African American survivors of slavery and Black and white Union soldiers should be remembered as the "Freedom Generation."

A Father’s Day Post While writing my novel, TO LIVE A PATRIOT, I often paused to consider the character of John Whitfield Newton Doak...

Welcome to my blog dedicated to my novel "TO LIVE A PATRIOT." Here, I will share all things related to my novel journey, the Civil War,...