About the Author Growing up during the Depression, John Kearney split his adolescence between apartments in Chicago and the family farm in Iowa. At age 16 his dream of becoming a farmer was put on hold by the bombing of Pearl Harbor, which drove him to volunteer for the Marines. Since his tour in the South Pacific he has spent his life as a a student, trappist monk, crusader for the poor, candidate for Illinois State Representative, college professor, husband, father and grandfather. Grandfather Stories includes many tales from his eclectic life as well as the stories passed down to him by his ancestors—stories he would like to tell his grandchildren. ©2004-2006 Kearney Publications