The Untold Stories of the World War II Generation from Hometown

The author obviously worked hard on assembling these stories from the men and women who lived this history. Great stories.

I came across some discrepancies and a little more research would have been beneficial to paint the picture.

It is a little bit like several people witnessing an automobile accident and afterward no two people agree completely on what happened.

All in all, I recommend it, but do advise you
compare it to other's telling of the same stories.

Great way of weaving personal stories into the history of the events. The author is to be commended for tracking down the living veterans and getting their stories before they are gone forever. Looking forward to Vols 2 and 3.

I enjoyed this book very much. It's a great history lesson with the details never mentioned in text books. I do not like this format of having to . Review a book before my next one. Only a problem on my phone not my iPod

Teach your children well - have them read this book, to help them learn how lucky they are and what price their Four Freedoms came at.

(If you don't think they will, tell them it is not appropriate for youngsters-and leave the book lying about...)

Teach your parents well, give them this book to help them understand what their own parents lived through.

Read it yourself, it is fascinating.

I first met the author of this book when I walked into his high school history classroom. He is a passionate educator and his writings truly reflect his desire to create excitement in learning history. Even as a slightly biased reader, I highly recommend this book to anyone. Even if history is not your "thing" you will gain something by reading the experiences told here. I read the book intro to prologue and couldn't get enough. I look forward to more book releases and exploring more of the related stories Mr. Rozell references.

I just finished your book "The Things Our Father'a Saw". It took me only two days to finish it, I just couldn't put it down. I have read more books than I can count about WW 2, I have to say that your book was the best, bar none. Thank you so much for writing this amazing book. I wish I was in to history like I am now when I was in high school in the 80s. I think if you had been my teacher in high school, my life would have been very different . I started my interest in WW2 around the time my grandfather died in 2003. He served on an LST. I never talked to him about any of his experiences and it is my biggest regret in my life. I have instilled in my children about history and what I've read and I can only hope the knowledge lives on in my future decentants. Thank you so much again for passing on this knowledge . I would give anything to sit down with a WW2 vet to hear all that they would be willing to share . They were the greatest generation and should not be forgotten. I can't thank you enough for this book. This book should be a best seller!!!!!

From the WWII Veterans Themselves. This publication has nailed it as far as people wanting to know what the WWII Veterans that fought in the Pacific felt at the time and now seventy yeas later. Rozell had incorporated the veterans stories with a wonderful mix of factual information that fills in the blanks that some may not know. I would highly recommend this book and cannot wait to read the other two in the series.

It was very well written by the people who lived thru help. There isn't any opinions , or any window dressing to the story . The stories are told by the people that lived them. I had an uncle that served in the pacific as a c.b., and he would not talk about the war to anyone. All would say was "there isn't words to describe what I saw" ended of story.

I liked the book, but it really is pretty superficial and not a lot of real information. It really should be considered a teaser for someone to want to learn more. It was OK but I was a bit disappointed in the content. Soldier biographies are a lot more interesting and certainly more information. Overall, an interesting book, but very superficial.

This is an interesting read for anyone who is interested in knowing what war does to a person.i can't say that there is anything profoundly new in this book but listening to the stories of the average person does humanize the men and women who served. And that this war changed everyone, for good and so good. The ending piece is a good conclusion. But the body of the work is not what I would go back and read again.

My father was a veteran too, but he served in Bomber Command in Europe, and I have been to some of the cities, and battlefields in Europe. Like the men in this book, our father did not talk about his experiences until much later in his life, and then not often.
Reading "the Things our Fathers Saw" was actually a whole new experience for me. I was quite ignorant of the conditions in the Pacific, and the
horrendous battles that took place there. I was also not aware of the huge loss of life suffered by both Americans and Japanese troops.
I felt so much empathy and respect for the men who told their stories in this book. Reading it was a very moving and enlightening
experience for me. The book was very well put together, and I would recommend it to anyone. I gained so much respect for these heroic men.

In spite of all the positive reviews, I cannot give this book more than three stars, which means "It's okay," according to the store. The book is the G-rated version of the war in the Pacific. (Disclaimer: I only made it to nearly 40% before I bogged down. The Kindle measures.) In no way does it convey the gritty horror of war. It's a bunch of old guys remembering: First we went here, and then we did that, and so on.

If you want a real feel for the Pacific war, read E.B. Sledge's "With the Old Breed," which will curl your toes and grind your teeth. It is painfully realistic. I only got about halfway through that one too, but for an entirely different reason. It was too real.

But this book? Meh.

I picked up this book knowing very little about the battle of the Pacific. This book was the best introduction to the topic I could have encountered. What better place to learn about the horrors of war, the specifics of battle than from the young men and women who were there? History is best learned and remembered when it is humanized. Rozell's book does just that. It gives faces and names and stories to some of battles I read about in my high school textbooks. I couldn't tell you much about what I learned from those textbooks, but I could go on and on about the things I learned from this book. I was struck by the young age of these men and women as I read. I was in awe of their courage and honesty. And, ultimately, I was touched by their stories, by the things they said, by the things they saw.

The book is a series of websites where you can research what these hero's spoke to the writers high school class. A was expecting quotes from the men and women that served our country not to be given away to do the research myself.

As a Baby Boomer who began School while Truman was still President, I grew up surrounded by Family, Friends, and Neighbors who lived through the Great Depression, and World War Two.
Every Sunday I watched " Victory at Sea ", Omnibus, and other shows about the War. Every trip to the ' Movies' at a local Theater, included Newsreels from the War. I always felt bad when they asked at school, " Who's Father's served in the War, or worked at Allison's or Bridgeport Brass ? ", I felt bad because my Dad had flat feet, was exempted from serving, and his Father, my Namesake, was an Important Doctor, who ran the Marion County, (Indianapolis) Health Department. I guess the Teachers asked that question every semester, because the School, or the Teachers, got some extra money for teaching the Kids of Veterans and Defense Workers. In my school, ( Brooklyn Elementary, Brooklyn, Indiana), I was about the only Kid who didn't raise his hand when that question was asked.
Maybe that perceived shortcoming resulted in my lifelong interest in the History of WWII ?
Whatever the reason, I've always felt that I was better suited to be part of The Greatest Generation, than I was as a Baby Boomer ?
Personal interests aside, Mr Rozell's Book, " The Things Our Father's Saw " was written from the personal Diaries, and verbal recollections, of Men and Women from factory towns in Upstate New York. The people in this book, knew each other from school, church, and civil Society in these close-knit Communities, so, their communal experiences in the Pacific theater of WWII, have a continuity, despite their serving in different Services and Areas of the conflict.
I greatly appreciated the way their story is told, and I greatly admired Mr Rozell's presentation, linkage, and research, that made every bit of this Book enjoyable and informative to me. I hope you will enjoy it as much as I have, , and now, I'm off to read Book II of this series.

"The Things Our Fathers Saw, The Untold Stories of World War II Generation from Hometown Voices of the Pacific Theater" by Mathew Rozell is a history of America's war against Japan from December 1941 to September 1945. World War Two was the most cataclysmic war fought in human history. No one knows for sure how many died, estimates run from 60-85 Million. The war in the Pacific was particularly brutal, largely because it was a clash of cultures and races that were foreign or not understood by either side, so no quarter was asked or given. The narrative is filled with accounts of battles fought in many locations in the Pacific Ocean, all with foreign names previously unknown to Americans. These places became famous after American fathers, sons, daughter, brothers, sisters, spouses, relatives and friends fought, bleed, died, and eventually prevailed during bloody battles. Places like Pearl Harbor, Bataan, Corrigidor, Coral Sea, Midway, Guadalcanal, Tarawa, Pelilu, Tinean, Guam, Wake Island, Iwo Jima, Okinawa, Hiroshima, and Nagasaki are emblazoned in the national consciousness. Because we know how events turned out, many people read history with a sense of inevitability, since we know how the story ends. This accounts for the notion that history is boring. Nothing however, is further from the truth, particularly World War Two, when America was thrust without warning into a two front war against Germany and Japan, who in 1941 were seemingly invincible, the worlds greatest military powers, who, at this point in the war had never experienced defeat. By listening to persons who lived through these troubling times, we gain critical insights that make the study of the past all the more relevant; more urgent. More importantly, their recollections amplify crucial points that should be essential to our understanding of World War II, but are often overlooked. The story of World War II has been told many times, but only recently, in books such as this, have the frontline soldiers, marines, sailor, and airmen, who fought where the metal pierces the meat, those who actually lived it, lent their voice to the accounts .The narratives in this book are reflective of many places in the United States 75 years ago, but most of the surviving veterans have never been heard before. The accounts in this book are drawn from more than 30 combat veterans, who survived the war and returned to live their life in the communities surrounding the “Falls” in the Hudson River some 200 miles north of where the river joins the sea at New York City. Over a span of six months in 1943 and 1944, LOOK Magazine dispatched a team of photographers to Glens Falls, New York, and the surrounding area, for a patriotic six-article series on life in what was then dubbed “Hometown, USA” series to a national audience. Mr. Rozell, a highly regarded expert on all matter related to World War Two, provides the historical frame work for the progression of events in the Pacific Theater and blends the veterans testimony into the chronology of battles and other events. The results is a stunning historical account brought to life by the veterans remembrances. The reader is emersed into a living, breath account unlike the dry recitation of dates, facts, and data found in most high school or college history texts. The reader learns what it was like to assault the beaches with the marines at Guadalcanal, Tarawa, Iwo Jima; what American prisoners of war experienced as captives of the Japanese; discover what its like to ride as the tail gunner in a B 29 Superfortress travelling 10-12 hours to fire bomb the major cities of Japan; what your emotions are aboard a ship under attach by the Kamikaze; and much, much more. This is an exceptional and important read, that describes what our grandfathers and fathers experienced, sacrificed, and accomplished to ensure America and the western world remained free. Nearly 75 years has passed since the Japanese unprovoked or announced attack on Pearl Harbor, on December 7, 1941. Soon time will claim the lives of the men and women who experienced that terrible war, with courage, hard work, sacrifice, blood, the loss of loved ones, and the will it took to win. Only books like this can tell our and future generations their story. Readers who are the ancestors of that brave generation, owe them an incalculable debt. I recommend that all Americans read this book to help keep their memory alive!

My Dad was stationed in the Aleution Islands for most of his term of navy service. Of course, I didn't come along until after the war ended. Dad related many stories of his experiences as a tail gunner in flights from bases on Adak and Sitka. Some were simply comical while others gave me chills just to listen. I wish I had taken the time to jot down some of those stories. This book taught me much about WWII from a completely different perspective. One hears bits and pieces from various sources and many movies depict actual stories but take liberties with the screen plays for entertainment value. Reading this book drove home the severity of the actual conditions and situations in which our service people found thelves, especially sin ce it did so in their own words.

As a historian with the National WWII museum, I receive a lot of books "over the transom". By and large, they're all interesting and capture the experiences of young men thrown into the horrors of a vicious war, but this one is different.Mr. Rozell weaves the experiences of more than thirty veterans, some barely out of their teens, into a coherent story of our war in the Pacific.
It should be required reading for every high school and college age student. The best of the American character is brought out in these stories. We learn how men from rural northern areas met and bonded with kids from Appalachia, Southerners, kids who grew up in Jewish homes from the Bronx, Irish Catholics from Boston. For the first time, they realized the size and variety, the richness of cultures and classes of the people in this country. In other words, they became Americans.
Patriotism, for many of these veterans, took a back seat to the responsibility they felt to their compatriots. They fought, not so much against the enemy, but rather for the guys next to them.And they brought that spirit back home with them.
Young people should not see them only as heroes but as models of what they can become--Men who set aside their differences to stand beside each other as Americans. That said, it's a hell of a way to grow up.

Having read many text related to WWII. this one brings you a number of varied and personal realize accounts of the war in the Pacific that touches you emotionally and gives one the personal real life experiences of those who fought in so many different branches of the Us armed forces.

This text will definitely bring the reality, the sacrifices the loss of three plus precious years of many or our fellow Americans a commodity that one ca not place value on. It also brings home the mental impact of the loss of human life by so many young people serving their country to protect it and their own

Great book. Growing up in a small upstate NY town many of the fathers in our community fought in various theaters. As a young boy I was never aware of their service or sacrifice. My Scoutmaster (Al Rood) was a Marine on Iwo Jima, knew all ten who went up Suribachi and is still with us. My Sunday School teacher fought in the Battle of the Bulge. One of my math teachers, if I'm correct, was a fighter pilot. My cross country coach, although not in WW II, was in an artillery unit in Korea. I know wish I could have been respectful and appreciative of their service. Of course at less than 12 years old, I probably would not have understood. So many of them had a significant impact on my life.

What a beautiful gift to the new generations. There will be a time when those who knew the WWII participants and heard their stories first hand are gone as well. This book and others like it will be the only links to this history shaping event. Well organized and well written.

One footnote concerning the problem with Higgins boats at Tarawa. Prof. Don Olson and students at Texas State University have reconstructed tide conditions for the invasion time and location and have shown that there was essentially NO high tide when the existing tide tables predicted ample clearance for the boats to traverse the reefs. Their results are published as “The Tide That Failed” and are the subject of a display at Quantico.

Though I found the structure of the book a little different, I was pulled into the narratives of each Veteran. I would suggest everyone take time to read part of it and I think you will read the whole book and the next in line. I would like to see more of these done, as my Father was a Marine. He would only talk a little about the islands, and then go off on another subject. Sad, uplifting, enlightening view of WWII. Really made me think how times change and the price we paid to get there.

The title of this book caught my eye because I read a book about Vietnam with a similar title. This book is different. The author fills the pages with historical facts and perspectives of WWII like a classic textbook, however he then backs up these facts with first-hand knowledge of events and opinions from the men and women who actually went through it. I was particularly struck by the many journal entries which strike at the hearts of the readers by making this history real. As I read them I laughed, cried, and got angered at the situations these soldiers went through. I recommend it to anyone who has a love of history. ~ Frank J.

This book is amazing! It is a great book for anyone who holds any interest what-so-ever in WWII. The stories told in this book are brought to life by not only the veterans but the author as well. It is very informative in the way of not only personal accounts of the veterans, but the author's ability to smoothly interject and give information on what was going on in the war at the time the personal story takes place- information that the veteran probably was not aware of at the time as far as the big picture goes. I have been fascinated by WWII since my 10th grade history class where I was so fortunate to have Matthew Rozell as my teacher, his passion for history is contagious and it translates into his works. My interest in the war has led me to watch many documentaries and read many books regarding the topic. This is one of my favorite additions to my collection as I was able to learn details about the war in the Pacific that I had never known before. I can not wait to read more of his works such as "A Train Near Magdeburg" and "The Things Our Father's Saw, Volume II".

Our WWII veterans are nearly gone and a lot of their stories are lost with them. Being able to read about their experiences puts me closer to understanding my own father and my husband's families' dark memories. Thank you for writing such an important book. I am already downloading the next two volumes. Young people today need to understand the important things their relatives experienced. Perhaps they would be less likely to 'take a knee' and find another way to peacefully protest rather than disrespecting the symbols that veterans take so seriously.

This is the compilation of real stories of real vets of the Ww2 Pacific theatre. This book was well written and brings the reader into thoughts and feelings of brave men and women who fought and suffered through a horrific war. We owe so much to the greatest generation, this book brings the reasons why front and center to the reader. Now I am on to the next book in this series!

This book relays many personal stories of loss and the undying human spirit to overcome adversity to win a devastating war in the Pacific. The author does a great job in organizing the stories and reaching the essence of what it was like to be there. Thanks for the countless hours of research and interviews. Thank you veterans for all you have done to keep us a free nation! Having worked in the Nuclear Navy near Hudson Falls it was very poignant for me to read these stories about their residents who served in the war.

My Dad was in the Army Air Corps in the Philippines during WWII. He would have loved this book so much so I read it with him in my mind & heart as he is no longer alive. But the stories were so amazing that I can't wait to read all the books in this series. These are a must-read for history lovers, especially WWII history lovers.

Absolutely riveting personal narratives, expertly strung together, to capture the breadth of the Pacific War from commencement to end. At numerous places I had to take a moment to reflect that these people actually went through these things, and that there is so much more that they experienced which they didn't say. The tribute at the very end truly choked me up, it was a perfect way to recall the sacrifices that so many young men made to keep us safe.

Having spent a year in Vietnam, I read this splendid book in awe and with trepidation. Both brothers in law were in WWII. So there were many moments of great sadness. Yet, in the end, I was overwhelmed with gratitude for our nation's finest. This book is a "Must Read" for any American who questions freedom, and the sacrifices it entails.

Matt Rozell has brought us an intricately cut, finely polished gem in his latest work The Things Our Fathers Saw. He takes us to the War in the Pacific as seen through the eyes of the servicemen and women who carried the series of battles there, and who endured the hardships of captivity. The war is presented in multiple facets: recent interviews of aged Veterans conducted by Rozell and the students of his high school history classes; contemporaneous journals kept by the marines, soldiers, and sailors during their time in the South Pacific and on their ways home; top notch library research that provides context; and maps and photos of the places and individuals involved. Moreover, the scope of this work is focused as it depicts not the experience of servicemen and women at large, but rather of the inhabitants of a circumscribed region in Upstate New York anchored by a mill town to the west of the Adirondack Mountains, Hudson Falls. We hear of their families and neighborhoods and even of the school attended by a 17-year-old who enlisted and lost his life at Pearl Harbor - the same school where Rozell and his students have been doing their historical inquiries over the past two decades. So the experiences of the Pacific are weaved together into an intimate collection of individual yet kindred narratives.

As a clinical psychologist who works exclusively with homebound Veterans and their families and caregivers, I found the book to be of special interest. My Veterans are homebound by virtue of age or illness, or both, and a dwindling few are of WWII vintage. The experiences presented in the book, along with the places and timeframe, have allowed me to see my Veterans in a context that they can no longer provide themselves. The theme so evident in the book, that service members were both haunted and inspired by their experiences in the War, is born out in my experience as well. On a more personal level, my mother and father each lost a brother in WWII, one in the battle of Iwo Jima. I must confess that I did not know much about that battle before reading Rozell's book. It is an eye opening read. The author's loves of history, of teaching, and of his birthplace shine through in this edition. I look forward to the next.

I have been interested in WWII books lately, but most I have read are set in the European battles. Reading about the Pacific battles has truly opened my eyes to what our country endured, those fighting and the ones at home. The first person accounts are deep, you can feel the emotion.

From the first page to the last, the author kept me captivated. The stories were difficult to read because of the pain and suffering. Thank you to the author for bringing their experiences for us to read and ponder. Thank you for sharing your experience with us.

Matthew Rozell does an incredible job sharing the many stories of many WWII veterans. The organization of the stories makes the book an exciting and entertaining read. The way he intermingled the remembrances of various individuals made it hard to put the book down. At no point does the reader get bogged down with facts and details. The facts and details of the many events come alive in the voices of the men and women who participated in this war. As a history teacher, I will be recommending this book to my students and anyone else that has a love of history or their country. It is a great reminder of what it means to be a true American.

I picked up this book because of its topic (WW2) and the way it’s written; first hand accounts of real world events. I loved every moment of it! I was on the edge of my seat as soldiers and survivors spoke about what must have been the most traumatizing time of their lives. It’s important to read these kinds of books, to listen to these kinds of stories, and to remember that history is to either be remembered or repeated. We must never forget their sacrifices. They lost family and friends; an entire generation put their lives on hold in hopes of making the world a freer and safer place. We owe it to them to respect their memories by sharing and passing on their stories.

It's not great literature, but it does capture the experiences, sacrifices, and agonies we should all know about. I loved the idea of seeking out the local, unsung heroes and going after their stories.

I'm glad I took the time to read the book, and I'm going to pick up more from this author.

This is an exceptional book for anyone interested reading firsthand accounts from WWll veterans. My father veteran of the war and saw action in the Philippines as American forces retook the islands. I love reading about the history of the war, but nothing compares to hearing it firsthand from those who were there.

Awesome book. Really makes me proud of these young men. Makes me kind of sick to think about some in our current generation and their selfishness, compared to the brave young men in this book. Thank you to all the men and women proudly serving right now.

The first hand accounts by the veterans of WWII in the South Pacific are fascinating. My own father was a WWII Navy South Pacific veteran and hearing these accounts brought back memories of his war experiences told to me as a youngster. Freedom is never free and because of these veterans sacrifices America is the land of the free.

Matthew Rozell is a phenomenal historian and writer. His interviews gave me new insight when I read the WW ll veterans' horrific and brave experiences in battles in the Pacific. My husband is a WW ll veteran and he couldn't put the book down until he finished it.
His books should be required reading for all students. How fortunate Mr. Rozell's classes are to have such a wonderful and exciting teacher.
The maps drawn by Susan Winchell Sweeney really helped clarify battle sites.

We look forward to reading his upcoming books on WW ll

I loved this book. To hear the stories from the men themselves, gives a whole new perspective to the horrors of war. You almost feel like your sitting in the room with them as they tell their individual experiences. I can't wait to start the next one!

This history teacher has done a fantastic job in finding typical veterans in his community and recording their personal stories of "their war". I turned seven in 1945 and can relate to the 'home front' stories. This is great read for anyone with an interest in " The Greatest Generation".

An excellent oral history collection of the Pacific Theater experiences of the boys from "Hometown U.S.A." Glens Falls, NY, smoothly woven together by Matthew Rozell. Anyone interested in not only the history of the war, but also in the perspective of specific people who experienced it will enjoy and be moved by this work.

Reminded me of my departed dad’s sharing of his experiences on Okinawa and Northern China with the 1st Marine Division. Now they are almost all gone and it’s good to remember. Most appropriate hearing the reflections of POWs about seeing the flag again in light of the NFLs National Anthem issue.

This is a great read that brings together the important historical events with the personal impact on a small upstate NY community.
Matt Rozell has woven the diverse stories of the veteran, as told to him and his student interviewers, into a cohesive package that is both riveting and compelling. As a baby-boomer, I knew many of the people involved, but never before fully appreciated the magnitude of their accomplishments and their sacrifices.
I do now.
Well done, Matt.
Well done!

Being an avid reader of WWII Pacific Theatre documentation I have to thank Matthew Rowell for not only educating me on those events I had missed earlier but doing so in a very personal manner. He allowed the reader to truly know those who gave their all in this violent and yet imperative endeavor. May they never be forgotten. I highly recommend this book to anyone wanting to learn more about the price paid for the freedoms we enjoy.

Fantastic compilation of first hand information in a format that was easy to follow. Got emotional at times but in a good way. Although I fortunately never suffered the great hardships and horrible experiences these great individuals did, I was able to easily relate to them being a Marine Corps veteran. Looking forward to the air stories next.

An incredible collection of real heroes! Really appreciate all of these accounts. What awesome people they were. My brother and I had one grandfather go ashore at Normandy and one land at Okinawa. The fortitude they had just amazes me. Thank you all for sharing your experiences with us. These stories should be required reading for all Americans. May they never be forgotten. Thank you Mr. Rozell!

Mr. Rowell has written a much needed book on the human aspect of these WWII "hometown boys"-- boys/girls who had to become warriors and nurses at a very tender age. Too many of these war experiences that were forced upon these young men and women have been lost and never recorded. Many of the horrors they encountered were etched up on their minds and very souls and were never spoken about until later years. Thanks for giving us these timely accounts of the generation of our fathers and mothers. Excellent book

A great book. It told gives a great first person perspective on the hardships of combat for our WWII Veterans. My Grandfather fought in the Pacific Campaign as an Officer in the 27th Division - Army on most all of the Islands along side the Marines.

This book is about men who fought in WWII in their own words. The individuals featured came from a specific area, but their experiences were shared by their peers from all around the country and many who fought with them from other countries. We owe our freedom to these veterans.

I really learned alot and gained a great deal of understating on what this generation of heros went through. I liked how it was short stories from the men and women of the war, it really gave you an ideal of what they were feeling. Would definitely recommend.

Being the son of a mother and father that both experienced world war II one as a member of the American army in Europe and the other as a child and young woman living thru the London blitz and attacks on her homeland. After reading this book which is a wonderful mix of firsthand accounts of these local veterans and the research of the author,I wish I had sat down with my parents and asked them the questions Mr. Rozell and his students asked these veterans of the pacific theater during WW II. It should be a must read of all students of American history, looking forward to the next book.
John Kosek

My father served in the Philippines, in the places described in this book. He was awarded many commendations, including the Purple Heart and Bronze Star for his service and bravery. The events and locations in the book were just as he described to me. Now that I’m older, the book helped me better appreciate what my dad went through. Thank you! Margie C

If you've never read of WW2, or if you enjoy light reading, then you'll be ok with this. To me it reads like a compilation of magazine or newspaper articles of the time. The stories themselves are dramatic and sometimes inspiring, but all in all, many other books recounting such are available.

WWII was horrible in a thousand different ways. This book takes the reader through the human experience and tragedy of "ordinary GIs" caught up in it. All gave some; some gave all. Truly, America's Greatest Generation!

I alway read as much of this stuff as I can get my hands on. It's good to be reminded that there was a time in our country when real men recognized there was real evil in the world and fought till it was defeated

This is a very interesting book on the World War II in the Pacific. I learned things I never knew before about the war. The way the individual men's accounts are told is intriguing. I enjoyed this book very much and want to read more by this author.

The stories of the soldiers, sailors and Marines taught me facts I did not know about the war in the Pacific. Their thoughts and feelings are moving. Thi book is not just for history buffs. It is about human courage and suffering.

Ernest Hemingway said writers should never be asked to speak. I suppose it could hold that speakers shouldn’t be expected to write. The insights in this book pertaining to the battle in the South Pacific are very interesting. About chapter 13 it seemed the writing was merely transcription of talks that soldiers gave here and there. That’s when it lost momentum for me. Just because something someone experienced is compelling, doesn’t necessarily mean their talk is compelling.

I love to read anything WWII related and this book has been one of the most informative ones I've read because it came straight from the men and women who experienced the war themselves. These special people, along with the many who died, should never ever be forgotten!!

Very moving book. My Dad was a combat medic in WW2, and I thought of him often as I read about the young men from the Falls area. My thanks to Mr. Rozell for sharing his research (and that of his lucky students) with us.

An account of WW II in the Pacific Theater by those who fought and lived to tell the tale. Mr. Rozell honors the combatants by sharing their stories. There is no sugar-coating of the horror and appalling violence of this war and yet the voices of the veterans collected here lifted my spirits with their humility, dignity and courage.

I hate to admit that I do not read much. This book had me from the beginning. The stories put you right there. I also had the fortune to travel to many of these places and see the battle sights. Bataan, Mt. Sumat, Corrigador Island, through Japan and I am currently in Guam. Being to these places and seeing the sights talked about in this book really made it an amazing read. As I read the last part of the book I was flying into Tokyo, Japan. Kind of ironic reading this book and finishing it as I flew into Japan. Thank you Mr. Matthew Rozell for such a great book.

Thanks, Mr. Rozell for these excellent first person accounts of what it was like to "be there" during World War II. As a veteran of war myself, I do HIGHLY recommend this book to all - especially young people, who can help to keep these true stories alive in our hearts forever.

This is an excellent example of the writer getting out of the way of the story. His intersections are just enough to orient the reader you time, place, and situation, which is as it should be when the content is so important and personal to those whose stories he passes on to us. We'll done!

i got this book because y grandfather served in the Pacific and I wanted to know a little more of what he did there. This was very eye opening and I would recomend this to anyone wanting to learn what happened straight from th source our soldiers.

I went in the Navy in 1948 and served aboard a destroyer in the Pacific. During that time I knew several sailors who were on duty in the earlier 40,s. This book is a true history of American stamina, loyalty , and dedication thank you !!

I am tremendously moved by and inspired to live more grateful by the stories of these young men and women who saved our country. I found the way the author roles the memories out in the book a wonderful telling. Overall a great read and I learned so much.

Any good book like any story or show must move your mind and feelings. This story offers information, laughter, sorrow,,and intertainment. I was born just after the war and have always taken an interest in this era, this story fills in lots of blanks in my mind. Very good read.

This should be required reading for every living generation. There is a cost for freedom that our greatest generation paid and that our service men and women continue to pay for each of us in America. God Bless them all!

Outstanding reading. This book brings the personal stories to life and honor those who sacrificed for us. It has relevance for me sine my family is from the area and my father lived some similar stories to what I read. Thank you for all the effort that went into creating this book

This was a great book. I have read a lot of books based on WWII and every time I read one I learn something new. Thank you taking the time to teach not only your students but your readers about this time in history.

I did not know a great deal about the war in the Pacific prior to reading this book, but after completing it, I wanted to hug a veteran. Their stories need to be told and remembered. Rozell did a nice job of letting the vets speak for themselves while adding to their narratives with his own research. I found myself repeatedly reading sections out loud to my 21 and 16 year old sons. Their eyes were wide-eyed as they shook their heads and quietly said, "Oh, wow."

The personal stories were amazing. I would recommend to anyone wanting to learn more about the Pacific Theater. Great research by the author to get these stores before the greatest generation is gone.

Very thorough and interesting interviews of survivors of the Pacific war. The survivors recollections give one a better knowledge of what they went through. Recommend this highly for anyone interested in history of our country.

It's is very difficult to express in words how amazing this book is... Masterpiece. It's a must read, it is engaging and captivating and leaves you wanting Mr.Rozell to write book after book. Thank you for all the work and dedication.