Hump Pilot and Rockette
written by: Karol Nielsen
My grandfather was a World War II Hump pilot who flew cargo missions over the Himalayas from India to China. He was a cattle rancher and farmer, speed reader, practical joker, and speaker of Chinese. My grandmother was a glamorous Radio City Rockette whose brother married my grandfather’s sister. My grandfather took one look at my grandmother’s photo and said, “I’m going to marry that woman.”
Karol Nielsen is the author of the memoirs Raising the Price of the House, Walking A&P, and Black Elephants and three poetry chapbooks. Her first memoir was shortlisted for the William Saroyan International Prize for Writing. Her full-length poetry collection was a finalist for the Colorado Prize for Poetry. Her poem “This New Manhattan” was a finalist for the Ruth Stone Poetry Prize.
Latest posts by Karol Nielsen (see all)
- Hump Pilot and Rockette - May 22, 2025
- Natural Won - August 15, 2024
- Barbies - November 11, 2023
