Marian Staley was a mother and housewife in Everett, Washington. Her husband, Bill, was a B-29 co-pilot in the Korean War before and after it was folded into World War III. Marian raised their daughter, Linda while her husband was at the front. Marian watched with increasing panic as President Harry Truman authorized atomic attacks in Manchuria on January 23, 1951, and Joseph Stalin's retaliatory attacks in Europe on February 1. For the time being, she had to settle for the presumption that Bill was still alive. She realized the toll his absence was taking on Linda and on their marriage.