Amazing Story of Determination During WWII
935829
Great Book. Tells the true story of two US Army Officers from their time fighting on Bataan until the eventual escape on a small 22 foot boat after the fall of the Philippines to their 1,500 mile voyage to Australia.  The author, Capitan Osborne was one of the two Army Officers and the book is written in a journal like format and is very engaging.  Even though Capitan Osborne was not a professional writer, the book is well written and flows well.  Capitan Osborne's journal is the first part of the book and the second part of the book is the 14 part series that was published in newspapers during the war.  This series is very interesting and a great accompanying material.  Large print was great too.

Also, another great book to read as a companion to this book is the book written by the other Army Officer, Rocky Gause, The War Journal of Major Damon "Rocky" Gause.  It was interesting reading book books and noting the differences or the take on the situations they encountered.
1382501
This story was an amazing account of bravery and dedication and love. I highly recommend it as reading for anyone.
109601
Incredible story of survival, brutality and courage.  The Jewish partisans were threatened not only by the Germans, but also by other partisan groups, internal dissention and the wary eye of the Red Army. How they were able to create an actual village in the forest and save so many people is mind-boggling.
4633515
An amazing story of a courageous young person and the German manufacturer who kept most of their family alive during world war II.
690886
This story grips you from the opening, portraying young children desperate for basic human survival during the Third Reich.  The writer beautifully portrays a mother grasping to keep her family together, making decisions that will impact her children forever.  I felt the struggle and determination of Marta while traveling through war torn Germany.  Thank your sharing this inspiring story.  A MUST read!
193537
This is a wonderful movie that tells a WWII story I had never heard before.  The courage and tenacity of this group of people was wonderful to see.  Very moving!
1052416
Loved this book!!! Great and gripping WW2 story told from a brave young mans perspective. Once I got into it I didn't want to put it down!!!
4462765
A gripping story of one man's journey into the true heart of darkness of the Pacific war in 1940's. His personal history and fascinating growth into the man he became serves as an inspiring story for any young man in America. His strength and mental fortitude are stretched to the limits and beyond as he faces the worst of an evil brutal political system. The real struggle to survive incomprehensible violence and abuse is intense and almost unbelievable but for its documented accuracy. That is but half of this inspiring story. The discovery that the ultimate struggle and battle we all face in different ways is not overcome by physical strength and toughness is the surprise ending. The ability to overcome all, even the chains of revenge, hatred, PTSD, and survivor guilt will touch your heart. An absolute must read for any veteran and it will not disappoint anyone who reads it. A page turner you won't regret buying and that will difficult to put down.
2416436
Incredible story of a woman's determination and courage against whatever is tossed in her way to live and protect those she loves... even if not part of the immediate family.
244568
Just finished this marvelous story; anyone interested in World War II true stories will welcome this addition to their knowledge base. It was particularly poignant for me because my father was also stationed at Seething Air Force Base at the very same time, but was able to complete his missions in relative safety. Seth Meyerovitz' recounting of his grandfather's harrowing journey is very well written, and I too appreciated the opportunity to learn more about the French Resistance and the incredible bravery and commitment of those men and women of France who made such a difference. Arthur Meyerovitz was a remarkable American hero.
3297769
Incredible true story of survival. A testament to the heroism of the many people who defied the Nazis to save this family.
573459
Amazing story of human determination to conquer the odds!  So sad in people thinking they are christian but their behavior is the opposite of what God says in his word-
1138419
What a fantastic story. Laura does an amazing job of telling the story of Louis Zamperini as a boy and a young man, then as a WWII soldier and as a survivor.

As a young boy in the 1920s, Louis was a troublemaker to the extreme. He got into every imaginable form of mischief, his favorite was stealing food. A smoker and a drunk before he was even a teen, he was very easy to write off as a juvenile delinquent; probably would have been in todays world. In reality he was a boy with an indomitable spirit, complete with boundless energy and vitalitytoo much for the confines of what was deemed proper. To keep him out of trouble, Pete, his older brother, guided him into competitive running. Here was an outlet for that boundless energy, here was the attention he craved, here was that thrill he was forever seeking, here was something he could throw his spirit against. It was no surprise that he qualified for the Olympics at nineteen.

WWII broke out. Instead of being drafted and dying on a beach in a standard meat shield operation, he decided to enlist and give himself options. He joined the Army Air Corps.

Some numbers for you: 54,000 men killed in air combat, 36,000 killed in noncombat aircraft accidents, and a stunning 15,000 killed in stateside training. (http://laurahillenbrandbooks.com/discussion-questions/)

That means that 51,000 of our nations young men died in accidents or plane malfunctionsthe primary culprit: the planes they were flying were absolute garbage. The waste of our military men was abominable. Louis trial was no different, ordered to fly a rescue mission in a plane that was no more airworthy than the box a homeless person might sleep in, it was no surprise it went down. Once Louis avoided a similar situation by challenging his CO to join their mission.

What follows is the most compelling and astounding survival story Ive ever experienced. There were three survivors of the initial crash. During their forty-seven days drifting in the life raft fighting off sharks and surviving the elements, it became clear why Louis was gifted his indomitable spirit. They drifted two thousand miles to the Marshall Islands and were rescued by the Japanese. The Japanese saved the remaining two men, provided medical care, then spent the next few years torturing and terrorizing them, making the sharks look like cuddly koalas.

The depth of Lauras research is astounding, all done during a time of illness in her own life. Her writing is clear and well structured. Events flow freely in an unembellished, in an utterly compelling way. She tells Louis story without making it Lauras story. I love to think critically about books, and I can find nothing to complain abouta feat, indeed.

I closed this book feeling like a bit of a wuss. I like to think of myself as a survivor of sorts. I like to think Im tough. I know now, that I don't know. Maybe I am. Maybe I could endure torture and the dehumanizing effects of hostile captivity and retain my loyalty to to my country and fellow soldiers. Maybe, but probably not. I have not ever really suffered, not in my childhood, not in childbirthnot like so many others have. I have a renewed respect for the heroes of war and the people who fight for our country today. I am humbled.
2731649
Mr Ambrose takes the stories of these men who accomplished so much for the freedom of Europe in WWII and lets you climb into the foxhole with them in Bastonge, jump from the sky into Holland and France, and grieve with them when a comrade is killed. It is a book that is hard to put down once it is picked up. It still is amazing to me how a country such as the US who, as a people,abhor war and don't ever want to go to war can produce men like these who went to hell and back for thier country and there buddies. Yes there were outstanding British, Canadien,Russian, and German soldiers that did the same thing, but the story of this one company of the American 101st Airborne Division is a tribute to the indominable spirt of the American soldier in World War II. I highly recommed this book to anyone who wants to read about real men who fought, bled, were wounded, and some died to rid the World of Nazi enslavement and greed.
3051667
A young women and her child struggled and then survived the horrors of living in WW2 Nazi Europe.

Maria Clark's story is fascinating. The book describes the incredible challenges that she faced, making the book a real a "page-turner".

The book is very well written and a pleasure to read.
4965856
5 stars for a very interesting, emotionally captivating read of an incredible but true WWII story of two men, one an American bomber pilot and the other a German Ace Pilot, who meet in the air over war-torn Germany. The latter, out of a sense of honor and empathy, saves the other's life along with the crew of his badly damaged bomber. The story is two-fold, telling of the lives of both men and what led up to that moment and then beyond it to the end of the war. It showed how the enemy is not always the evil adversary we may imagine. To me it also showed how good men who follow honor (or any other virtue) can still find themselves fighting for the wrong cause. Great book!
3223250
A gripping story that makes this a hard book to put down. I have read military history as my preferred choice of reading but I learned many things while reading this account. So many of the German fighter ace stories are totally new to me. Adam Makos and Larry Alexander researched this incredible story well and you feel a part of the story itself.