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In Forever a Soldier a World War II prisoner of war recalls desperate hours spent trying to conceal his Jewish heritage from his German captors; a nurse stationed in Vietnam remembers a dying patient, his miraculous recovery, and her reward years later; the survivor of a famed World War II shipwreck flashes back to 4 harrowing days spent in the shark-infested waters of the Pacific Ocean. In all, the fifty extraordinary stories that comprise this collection testify to the power of a single moment-whether on the battlefield or far from the front lines-to impact a life forever. It is through these moments that universal and poignant themes of love and honor, rage, duty and fear and mortality emerge, reflecting the courage, tenacity, and basic decency of the men and women who have served the United States in its most perilous hours.
Dramatic eyewitness accounts from the front lines, poignant expressions of love for family and country, and moments of crystal-clear insight are among the tapestry of memories tapped for this unique testament to the transforming power of military service. Drawn from the massive national collection of the Library of Congress Veterans History Project, the letters, diaries, and oral histories-from soldiers, sailors, marines, and the supporting citizens who served in World War I, World War II, Korea, Vietnam, and the Persian Gulf War- that comprise this narrative were selected by editor Tom Wiener to exemplify the extraordinary service and overwhelming humility of America's servicemen and women. They constitute an astonishing historical record, a powerful tribute to those who fought, and a celebration of the enduring power of the words of few to speak for many. These dramatic stories illustrate how through the generations, American soldiers have answered the call to duty with a singular spirit of patriotism, and how military service has transformed their lives.
The voices captured in this book grant us the personal perspective all too often lost in news reports and government statements. Taken together, they remind us that the human cost of war is far too high. This book is an important contribution to the understanding of war and its impact.
| Foreword | |
| Introduction | |
| On the front lines | p. 1 |
| Present at the beginning | p. 3 |
| First into Europe | p. 13 |
| The modern near-ace | p. 19 |
| The soldier of 10,000 rounds | p. 28 |
| Addressing spirituality | p. 35 |
| The spirit if not the letter | p. 40 |
| The second time around | p. 45 |
| The brotherhood | p. 51 |
| Everybody's bud | p. 53 |
| Joining the brotherhood | p. 58 |
| The illusion of brotherhood | p. 65 |
| The self-contained soldier | p. 77 |
| The careful soldier | p. 87 |
| The healers | p. 99 |
| Into action with the boys | p. 101 |
| The reluctant physician | p. 109 |
| Holding back nothing | p. 117 |
| The little sister | p. 122 |
| The straight-arrow nurse | p. 130 |
| Healing hands | p. 138 |
| The forgiving nurse | p. 146 |
| Groundbreakers | p. 155 |
| The unsung pioneer | p. 156 |
| The grateful pioneer | p. 163 |
| Too proud to bow | p. 166 |
| Eager for a fight | p. 170 |
| Not playing it safe | p. 177 |
| Survivors | p. 187 |
| Cool under fire | p. 188 |
| Ultimate survivor | p. 192 |
| Doing something honorable | p. 207 |
| The man of faith | p. 215 |
| The man of confidence | p. 225 |
| The inevitable warrior | p. 237 |
| The stubborn Spaniard | p. 244 |
| The last prisoner | p. 254 |
| The soldier who wouldn't surrender | p. 267 |
| The lucky POW | p. 274 |
| War's consequences | p. 287 |
| The liberator | p. 288 |
| Confidant to the Nazis | p. 293 |
| A patriot for his time | p. 304 |
| Table of Contents provided by Blackwell. All Rights Reserved. |
ISBN: 9780792241898
ISBN-10: 0792241894
Audience:
General
Format:
Paperback
Language:
English
Number Of Pages: 352
Published: 1st November 2005
Dimensions (cm): 15.2 x 22.9
x 3.2
Weight (kg): 0.608
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