Synopses & Reviews
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.
Synopsis
Most American soldiers can pinpoint a specific time when life stood still, when they thought, "I'm going to remember this moment forever." It's times like these that have the power to change the future.
Forever a Soldier—drawn from the massive national collection of the Library of Congress Veterans History Project—illustrates how American soldiers have answered the call to duty with a singular spirit of patriotism, and how military service has transformed their lives. Some of the remarkable stories include a World War II prisoner of war who describes desperate hours spent trying to conceal his Jewish heritage from his German captors; a nurse stationed in Vietnam who remembers a dying patient, his miraculous recovery, and her reward years later; and the survivor of a famed World War II shipwreck who flashes back to four harrowing days in the shark-infested waters of the Pacific Ocean.
Culled from letters, diaries, and oral histories by soldiers, sailors, marines, and supporting citizens, these fifty stories 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. Forever a Soldier captures the personal perspective of war that is all too often lost in news reports and government statements. It is an indispensable contribution to understanding war and its impact on us all.
About the Author
Tom Wiener is the editorial director of the Library of Congress Veterans History Project, the largest archive of wartime veterans' experiences, located at the Library of Congress. He is the author of three other books, and his articles and reviews have appeared in many publications. He lives in Washington, D.C.