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The All Americans
On November 29, 1941, Army played Navy in front of 100,000 fans. Eight days later, the Japanese attacked and the young men who battled each other in that historic game were forced to fight a very different enemy. Author Lars Anderson follows four players-two from Annapolis and two from West Point-in this epic true story.
Bill Busik. Growing up in Pasadena, California, Busik was best friends with a young black man named Jackie, who in 1947 would make Major League Baseball history. Busik would have a spectacular sports career himself at the Naval Academy, earning All-American honors as a tailback in 1941. He was serving aboard the U.S.S. Shaw when it was attacked by Japanese dive-bombers in 1943.
Hal Kauffman. Together, Busik and Kauffman rode a train across the nation to Annapolis to enroll in the Naval Academy. A backup tailback at Navy, Kauffman would go on to serve aboard the U.S.S. Meredith, which was sunk in 1942. For five days Kauffman struggled to stay alive on a raft, fighting off hallucinations, dehydration, and-most terrifying of all-sharks. Dozens of his crewmates lost their minds; others were eaten by sharks. All the while Kauffman wondered if he'd ever see his friend and teammate again.
Henry Romanek. Because he had relatives in Poland, Romanek heard firsthand accounts in 1939 of German aggression. Wanting to become an officer, Romanek attended West Point and played tackle for the Cadets. He spent months preparing for the D-day invasion and on June 6, 1944 - the day he would have graduated from West Point had his course load not been cut from four years to three-Romanek rode in a landing craft to storm Omaha Beach. In the first wave to hit the beach he would also become one of the first to take a bullet.
Robin Olds. The son of a famous World War I fighter pilot, Olds decided to follow in his father's footsteps. At West Point he became best friends with Romanek and the two played side-by-side on Army's line. In 1942, a sportswriter Grantland Rice named Olds to his All-American team. Two years later Olds spent D-day flying a P-38 over Omaha Beach, anxiously scanning the battlefield for Romanek, hoping his friend would survive the slaughter.
20The tale of these four men is woven into a dramatic narrative of football and war that's unlike any other. Through extensive research and interviews with dozens of World War II veterans, Anderson has written one of the most compelling and original true stories in all of World War II literature. From fierce fighting, heroic rescues, tragic death, and awe-inspiring victory, all four men's suspenseful journeys are told in graphic detail. Along the way, Anderson brings World War II to life in a way that has never been done before.
Bill Busik. Growing up in Pasadena, California, Busik was best friends with a young black man named Jackie, who in 1947 would make Major League Baseball history. Busik would have a spectacular sports career himself at the Naval Academy, earning All-American honors as a tailback in 1941. He was serving aboard the U.S.S. Shaw when it was attacked by Japanese dive-bombers in 1943.
Hal Kauffman. Together, Busik and Kauffman rode a train across the nation to Annapolis to enroll in the Naval Academy. A backup tailback at Navy, Kauffman would go on to serve aboard the U.S.S. Meredith, which was sunk in 1942. For five days Kauffman struggled to stay alive on a raft, fighting off hallucinations, dehydration, and-most terrifying of all-sharks. Dozens of his crewmates lost their minds; others were eaten by sharks. All the while Kauffman wondered if he'd ever see his friend and teammate again.
Henry Romanek. Because he had relatives in Poland, Romanek heard firsthand accounts in 1939 of German aggression. Wanting to become an officer, Romanek attended West Point and played tackle for the Cadets. He spent months preparing for the D-day invasion and on June 6, 1944 - the day he would have graduated from West Point had his course load not been cut from four years to three-Romanek rode in a landing craft to storm Omaha Beach. In the first wave to hit the beach he would also become one of the first to take a bullet.
Robin Olds. The son of a famous World War I fighter pilot, Olds decided to follow in his father's footsteps. At West Point he became best friends with Romanek and the two played side-by-side on Army's line. In 1942, a sportswriter Grantland Rice named Olds to his All-American team. Two years later Olds spent D-day flying a P-38 over Omaha Beach, anxiously scanning the battlefield for Romanek, hoping his friend would survive the slaughter.
20The tale of these four men is woven into a dramatic narrative of football and war that's unlike any other. Through extensive research and interviews with dozens of World War II veterans, Anderson has written one of the most compelling and original true stories in all of World War II literature. From fierce fighting, heroic rescues, tragic death, and awe-inspiring victory, all four men's suspenseful journeys are told in graphic detail. Along the way, Anderson brings World War II to life in a way that has never been done before.
272 pages, Hardcover
First published November 8, 2004
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127 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
December 7, 2018
Excellent book which centers around the Army-Navy Game of 1941 just days before the attack on Pearl Harbour and following mainly 2 players from each team. The book gives great history about the match-up and a play-by-play chapter of the game itself. It tells the story of how these young men went from carefree cadets and midshipmen, to leaders on the battlefield and their careers during World War 2.
September 30, 2024
Amazing true story of world war 2
January 9, 2025
I thoroughly enjoyed The All Americans. It’s a compelling and beautifully written story that blends history, football, and heroism in a way that’s both inspiring and deeply moving.
Very interesting to hear how much Football has changed over the last 100 years. Highly recommend!
Very interesting to hear how much Football has changed over the last 100 years. Highly recommend!
November 16, 2025
This was slow reading at first as the author took his time giving the background of these WW2 heroes. Then it picks up at Pearl Harbor & becomes riveting reading. I was thankful that the author took so much time with hero history. They deserve the thoroughness.
Really, an outstanding book.
Really, an outstanding book.
May 7, 2023
An excellent book about players in the 1941 Army - Navy football and followed them in WWII. A nice personal look at some well known events of WWII. A beautiful story of the Greatest Generation.
September 6, 2025
A good read about courageous men.
June 3, 2013
When I was assigned to read a book out of my comfort zone for Readers' Choice I did not have any idea of what book to read. When I asked my dad for a suggestion, he said to read The All Americans by Lars Anderson. And I am really glad he suggested it. The novel was written about four boys. Olds and Romanek from Army and Busik and Kauffman from Navy. Part one focuses on the boys' football careers at their schools and the rivalry between the two football teams. Part Two focuses on the boys war stories. Anderson puts together the stories of these four boys beautifully and in a way that makes the reader want to read on. He tells their story with such vivid detail you would think he was the one who the story was written about him. And not only does he create a picture for the reader, he makes the reader feel as though they know the boys. After reading the novel I can honestly say that I really enjoyed it. It really amazed me when I read abut what these men went through and how they were able to deal with it with such courage. The novel shows not only a story about football players, not only a story about war veterans, but it shows how our nation stays together through thick and thin. When the 1942 game had to be held in Annapolis and Army could not bring their fans, Navy had their third and fourth class midshipmen cheer for Army and sit behind the Army sideline. This goes to show how not only does the game bring people around America together for a day but also how to teams who are the biggest of rivals will always be there to support the other in the end. Because as we all know once the boys graduate they would all be fighting together for the very same cause. The All Americans by Lars Anderson was a compelling novel that grabbed the readers attention from the beginning and did not let go until it ended. And what makes the novel even better is knowing that the incredible stories told are all true events.
October 4, 2012
This is a fantastic book. It tracks several Army and Navy football players from the much-hyped 1941 game (which occurred just days before the Pearl Harbor attack) through World War II. The central theme is that the lessons learned on the football field helped them survive some incredible ordeals in combat--for those of us currently living in an age when military metaphors in sports border on the absurd, this is the real deal and not just another cliche. But what truly makes the book a great read is the men themselves. I might have to read the John Feinstein book about the Army-Navy game while this one is fresh in my memory, just as a comparison of different eras. The All Americans is a very well-written and compelling story, and I highly recommend it.
August 14, 2012
Just ok. I loved the concept of the Army/Navy football tradition and how that year their game was played 8 days before Pearl Harbor where they went from extreme competitors to brothers in war. Story was fractured and retold and hard to follow at times. Lots of great insight into the "Greatest Generation."
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June 21, 2012Excellent book depicting life before WWII.
June 27, 2013
great sports read ... last army-navy game before wwii and the war journeys of the men who played in it
April 9, 2012
great book! it makes me proud to be an american.
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews