Yank: Memoir of a World War II Soldier (1941-1945) -- From the Desert War of North Africa to the Allied Invasion of E

by Ted Ellsworth

Ted Ellsworth was a young Dartmouth grad in 1941. In the years before the U.S. joined the Second World War effort, American men who wished to fight against Hitler were granted permission from President Roosevelt and the U.S. Congress to join the British army. In normal circumstance, fighting for another nation's army would be an automatic forfeiture of U.S. citizenship (as noted on U.S. passports). Yank begins with goodbyes to Ellworth's young wife and family. It covers his crossing to Britain, initial stay in London, assignment to a North African tank regiment and the campaign there, participation in the invasion of Italy and the second wave of D-Day, accounts of fierce battles, being taken prisoner by the Germans and shipped to a POW camp, the camp deprivations, liberation by the Russians, and finally, the year Ellsworth spent wandering eastern Europe with no dog-tags, after the war had ended, trying to reach a city from which he could ship back home. Ellsworth had been officially MIA for over two years, and everyone assumed he was dead. The final pages detail Ellsworth's homecoming when his wife hand-delivers the beautiful and intimate note that she'd written him when he was first reported missing.

384 pages, Paperback

First published April 19, 2006

Reviews

[Elizabeth · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is a fascinating first hand account of an American soldier who fought with the British Army and then the Americans. He was taken prisoner and escaped just as the Russians were invading from the east. The author wrote this book very soon after the war ended, but it has just been published. Highly recommended for loves of World War II history. (Full disclosure: the author was my father's best friend.)

[Mary Baker · Rating 4 out of 5]

I picked this book up at a Bed and Breakfast in Dubuque, Iowa. It intrigued me not only because I enjoy reading history accounts from the era, but also because I had stayed at the house the author grew up in.

“Ted Ellsworth grew up at 1492 Locust Street in Dubuque in a house that his grandfather built in 1883. Today it is known as The Richards House Bed & Breakfast. Ellsworth's grandfather, B. B. Richards, owned banks in the state and helped to found Linwood Cemetery.”
http://iagenweb.org/boards/dubuque/ob...

The B&B was unique and the owners were very hospitable. As for the book, written in a journal style, it provides excellent first hand account of the war. It was intriguing that he spent time in both the British Army and the US Army and was a prisoner of war towards the end of the war. The battlefield details are grisly and the account is both factual and insightful.

[Sam B · Rating 4 out of 5]

You can clearly tell this was his diary/journal, which he later transcribed into a story, and quite honestly, I found it very refreshing. Most other WWII memoirs/stories focus on a particular person or battle, but also provide all the other context going on around the world. "Yank" never does, nor even tries to, which made for much more in-depth, personal accounting of the war. Parts of the book are just stream of conscious memories from his time in London, and while at first I resented those sections, I came to appreciate them for adding to the human side of this story. He also never tries to romanticize his tale; it honestly felt like an intimate look at the man's journal every day. After reading this I truly felt like I experienced the war with the author (not to say reading about the difficulties is anywhere comparable to actually living them). Fantastic read if for no other reason than it is so different from any other WWII book out there.

[Bobbie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing, well-written memoir. Dartmouth grad from Dubuque enlists to fight for the Brits; serves in North Africa and Italy; transfers to American forces; serves in France; POW in Germany and Poland. After the war, he returned to Dubuque, edited his journals, put the whole thing in the attic, and his daughters published the book long after his death. He write with wisdom, intelligence and even humor about his day-to-day life in WWII.

[aksnowbunny Proden · Rating 3 out of 5]

A Great memoir published after the authors death by his children. You get a sense of his naive excitement about wanting to be a part of the war before america joined, to the horrors and stress that he came to live through. I couldn't put it down.

[Ray Pierson · Rating 4 out of 5]

It was interesting to read about the British military through the eyes of an American soldier. It's human nature to think of one's group (nationality, soccer team, school, etc.) being superior to others, but Ellsworth lived in both worlds, served in both services.

[Agnes DiPietrantonio · Rating 4 out of 5]

The author gives his first person account in a clear, matter-of-fact manner. Very readable and highly informative.