by The History Reader
World War I officially came to an end when the Treaty of Versailles was signed in June of 1919. However, fighting ceased seven months earlier when an armistice between the Allied nations and Germany went into effect on November 11, 1918. From that point forward, November 11 was known as Armistice Day, which was later amended to Veterans Day. Today, as we look back through American history, there are unbelievable stories of courage, incredible tales of those who survived against all odds, and tragic stories of those who made the ultimate sacrifice. The following books highlight just a few of the many stories of veterans who answered the call during some of America’s darkest hours.
The Last Hill: The Epic Story of a Ranger Battalion and the Battle That Defined WWII
By Bob Drury and Tom Clavin
Do you know the story of the most elite and experienced attack unit in the United States Army during WWII? They were known as “Rudder’s Rangers.” In December 1944, Lt. Col. James Rudder’s 2nd Battalion would form the spearhead into Germany, taking the war into Hitler’s homeland at last. In the process, Rudder was given two objectives: Take Hill 400 . . . and hold the hill by any means possible. Covering one of the most crucial battles of WWII, The Last Hill is a compelling and incredible true story of heroism and courage in the face of incredible adversity.
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Damn Lucky: One Man’s Courage During the Bloodiest Military Campaign in Aviation History
By Kevin Maurer
When the Japanese attacked an American naval base in Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, on December 7, 1941, John “Lucky” Luckadoo answered his nation’s call to action. What followed was an incredible career in the United States Air Force, including twenty-five missions over France and Germany on bombing runs devised to destroy the Nazi war machine. Drawn from Luckadoo’s firsthand accounts, acclaimed war correspondent Kevin Maurer shares his extraordinary tale from war to peacetime, uncovering astonishing feats of bravery during the bloodiest military campaign in aviation history. Don’t miss Damn Lucky.
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Valor: The Astonishing World War II Saga of One Man’s Defiance and Indomitable Spirit
By Dan Hampton
Valor unveils the story of Lieutenant William Frederick “Bill” Harris, who was 25 years old when captured by Japanese forces during the Battle of Corregidor in May 1942. The son of a decorated Marine general escaped from hell on earth by swimming eight hours through a shark-infested bay, but his harrowing ordeal had just begun. Through military documents, personal photos, and an unpublished memoir provided by his daughter, Dan Hampton reveals the captivating true story of an American hero.
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Lightning Down: A World War II Story of Survival
By Tom Clavin
Speaking of American heroes, fighter pilot Joe Moser was one of a kind. On August 13, 1944, Moser set off on his forty-fourth combat mission over occupied France. Soon, he would join almost 170 other Allied airmen as prisoners in Buchenwald, one of the most notorious and deadly of Nazi concentration camps. Lightning Down chronicles Joe Moser’s remarkable story of courage and survival during WWII.
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Luck of the Draw: My Story of the Air War in Europe
By Frank Murphy; Foreword by Chloe Melas and Elizabeth Murphy
Beginning on August 17, 1942, American heavy bomber crews of the Eighth Air Force took off for combat in the hostile skies over occupied Europe. The final price was staggering. 17,650 made the ultimate sacrifice and nearly 21,000 men were taken prisoner or interned. One of those men was Frank Murphy. Against all odds, Frank cheated death for months in a German POW camp after being shot out of his B-17 Flying Fortress. Frank’s incredible story will be told in Luck of the Draw (February 2023) and soon be featured in the upcoming Steven Spielberg and Tom Hanks Apple TV+ series, Masters of the Air.
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The Sniper: The Untold Story of the Marine Corps’ Greatest Marksman of All Time
By Jim Lindsay; Foreword by Chuck Mawhinney
In 1967, at the age of 18, Chuck Mawhinney joined the United States Marine Corps. This began his rapid assent from recruit to the Marine Corps’ deadliest sniper. In one of the most dangerous war zones of Vietnam, Mawhinney recorded 103 confirmed kills in just 16 months. Written with Mawhinney’s full cooperation and participation, Jim Lindsay’s The Sniper delves into Chuck’s experiences in Vietnam and his life afterward.
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Bonus read!
All the Ruined Men: Stories
By Bill Glose
While all the other stories on our list are about real-life veterans, we wanted to take a moment to recognize Bill Glose’s fictional short story collection, All the Ruined Men. Combat takes a different toll on each soldier; so does coming home. All the Ruined Men comprises linked stories that show veterans struggling for normalcy as they grapple with flashbacks, injuries (both physical and psychological), damaged relationships, loss of faith, and loss of memory. As a former paratrooper and Gulf War veteran, author Bill Glose is closely bound to these stories. Well-written, brutal, and heart-wrenching, All the Runied Men highlights very real issues that veterans are facing to this day.
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