Joanne Emerick, Hoxie, displays a photo of Wilson native Joseph “Joe” Hubka as she discusses the men of the 31st Bombardment Squadron of the U.S. Air Force on Feb. 10 at her home in Hoxie. Emerick is writing a book on the history of the squadron through the words of those who served there, including her father.

Hoxie ? When Joanne Emerick began researching her father’s involvement in World War II, she wanted to satisfy her curiosity and provide her family with insight into his war experiences.

To do that, she began contacting men who served with him in the 31st Bombardment Squadron of the U.S. Air Force during World War II.

Now, 17 years later, after compiling the stories, diaries and letters of more than 120 men from the squadron, she is preparing to publish a book, “Courage Before Every Danger, Honor Before All Men,” detailing their experiences in the war.

“They want their families and the young generation today to know what they had to go through to get you the freedom that you have today,” said Emerick, a retired history teacher.

The men of the squadron served at Hickam Air Force Base across from Pearl Harbor in Hawaii. Many survived the attack on Pearl Harbor and continued with the squadron as it followed the war through the south Pacific.

Emerick’s father, Ness City native Wendell Pfannenstiel, served as a medic.

In the 1990s, she was able to find the two surviving medics he served with, from shortly after the bombing of Pearl Harbor in 1941 to just a month before the war ended in 1945.

Charles Kudlac died before Emerick was able to meet him. But Emerick found the other surviving medic, Bob Estes, met him in person twice and talked and wrote to him frequently before his death in 2005.

Through her research, Emerick, who was appointed historian of the 31st Bomb Squadron Association, has been able to find out much more information about World War II and her father, who died in 1974.

“You see things that stay with you the rest of your life,” she said. “It affects some men more than others. Some men can bury it and let it go, others can’t. I don’t think Dad could let it go.”