Meet the Author: Brian Kimmel
Date and Time
Saturday May 9, 2026
11:00 AM - 3:00 PM PDT
Saturday, May 9, 2026 11a-3p
Location
Pacific Northwest Naval Air Museum 545 Ault Field Road, Bldg D Oak Harbor, WA 98277
Fees/Admission
Members + Children under 6 = Free General Admission = $15 Veterans / Seniors = $13 Youth / Students = $8 Groups (10 or more) = $12 each
Website
Contact Information
360-240-9500
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Description
Join us this Saturday, May 9th, from 11a to 3pm, for a special afternoon of history, resilience, and discovery as we welcome Pacific Northwest local author Brian Kimmel to the Pacific Northwest Naval Air Museum! Kimmel will present the acclaimed memoir, Blue Skies, Troubled Waters, the true story of his grandmother, Martha, an American twin girl caught in the crossfire of WWII in Minahasa, Indonesia. While much of WWII history focuses on the European theater or military campaigns, this unique presentation shines a light on the rarely told civilian experience in the Dutch East Indies under Japanese occupation. For this event only, Kimmel will unveil a curated collection of recently released, unclassified government maps of WWII Indonesia. These never-before-published documents offer a fascinating, granular look at the landscape of the war in the Pacific, providing a new context for the personal stories of survival. Kimmel will be standing by at our museum for Q&A and book signing, and will make several presentations of his findings from 11am - 3pm. Copies of Blue Skies, Troubled Waters will be available for purchase. About the Author Brian Kimmel is an author, musician, and the founder of Together Mapalus Press. As a second-generation Indonesian-American, he has dedicated his work to sharing "unsullied stories" that bridge cultures and generations. He lives in the Pacific Northwest.