War begets unlikely pairings. In the shadow of World War I, Carol Schultz Vento’s father, Arthur Dutch Schultz, was born to two military veterans.

In the immediate aftermath of World War II, she entered the world as the eldest daughter of a battle scarred paratrooper veteran. Twisted Strands is a multigenerational memoir exploring the intersection of war trauma and family dynamics and dysfunction.

Placed in historical context, it explores the Schultz family’s journey through the Western frontier, immigration, paternity secrets, multiple marriages, tragedy and resilience. The combat experiences of two generations of warriors impacted their progeny, through both nature and nurture.

The study of epigenetics suggests there may be a genetic predisposition to stress and anxiety passed from a traumatized parent to their children. Also, dynamics in households of combat veterans, before PTSD was an accepted and official diagnosis, left children struggling to understand and cope with the behavior of the suffering veteran.

The Schultz family was not untouched by turmoil and tragedy, but they adapted and moved forward. In Twisted Strands, Vento looked through the lens of previous generations to understand their struggles and strengths.

Only through this process, can one have compassion and empathy for our grandparents, parents, and ourselves. .