D-DAY AND BEYOND: The Things Our Fathers Saw-The Untold Stories of the World War II Generation-Volume V

by Matthew A. Rozell

From the bloody beach at Omaha through the hedgerow country of Normandy and beyond, American veterans of World War II--Army engineers and infantrymen, Coast Guardsmen and Navy sailors, tank gunners and glider pilots--sit down with you across the kitchen table and talk about what they saw and experienced, tales they may have never told anyone before. World War II brought out the worst in humanity, but it also brought out the best. In these narratives you will draw your own lessons. Here are the stories that a special generation of Americans told us for the future when we took the time to be still, to listen, and to draw strength.

Genres: History, World War II, Nonfiction

567 pages, Paperback

Published March 28, 2024

Reviews

[Michael Chayben]

Great Read

My Dad was a army veteran of the ETO. He served throughout France, Belgium and Germany. When I was in the Navy during the early 70's I toured Normandy and gained everlasting respect for those who fought there. Your book needs to be read by all the descendants of that Greatest Generation.

[Don Alesi]

I have read a few of these books now and the the similarities are hard to ignore. None of them wanted to go to war yet none of them would allow themselves to stay home. Great interviews.
I only wish more time was spent on the beaches of Normandy where my father landed.

[Wesley Hansen]

The BEST of the series so far. The story of D-Day and the aftermath, demonstrated in the form of first-person interviews, is a sobering and memorable read, and it really demonstrates the humanity, and the inhumanity, experienced during WW II. At the same time, it is very much a history or those war years, and the entire book gave the reader a much better context of what D-Day and the months leading to the Battle of the Bulge meant to the war effort and the eventual end of the German Reich. We are lucky today that these men and women did what they did for America and the world. It's too easy to forget them and their efforts, which would be a disservice to these true American heroes.

[William Haverinen]

This series of World War II books was written by a local author, a high school teacher at Hudson Falls. The books are almost entirely interviews with local residents who served in the war. And that is the power of the books: the basically unedited first hand stories of what war is really like. The accounts can be gruesome.
Several of the veterans interviewed became well known members of our local community, in politics, business.
This volume includes a conversation with General Patton, who is described by our local soldier as the best general in the war.

[Mhorg]

Needs to be read

One of the things that makes this book important, it's in the words of those who served. They hold nothing back. It's important that today's pampered generation be reminded why they can live their lives of ease because of those who went and defeated fascism. An excellent book.

[Ward Walker]

Interesting quick reads

I have enjoyed this series. With the passage of time, these will become valuable, since they’re the only way to find out what things were really like there. It is interesting to hear of battles that were quite significant, but modern history has kind of overlooked.

[Jeff Alcott]

Never forget them, ever!

Trying very hard to imagine how there were any survivors at all to tell their stories, and to the young german soldiers on the cliffs overlooking the beaches of Normandy on D-day manning his machingun being ordered to keep firing screaming "please stop comming"!

[Kenneth W Ortensie]

Heroes For Peace

This is my fifth book of the series, and each one gets better each time. I ask myself as a Vietnam Veteran of I could do what these men went through. I also think of what my Dad went through in WWII, as I cannot find many records.

[Lisa Matheny]

This volume was difficult to put down, yet difficult to pick up. I got to know and love these men, and now their testimonies live on.

[William]

All tho my father never fought in Europe he did fight for the liberation of the Philippines. This series has helped me to understand what my father went threw. He would not talk about the war.

[Ed Hoffman]

Incredible insight of what the greatest generation faced in ww2.

[Sid Mickle]

D Day and Beyond

Very personal review of individual actions. I enjoyed the "unrefined dialog" of the veterans' own statements. This is a very solid story of WWIi action.

[Lori V. Daniel]

excellent account

Nothing more accurate than the words of those who experienced it. Not far from the day these vets will be no more.

[Matt]

These books continue to provide great first hand accounts and experiences that are intriguing, interesting, and engaging.

[Bob Peterson]

I just couldn't get into the word for word 1st person account of what these soldiers did during the war.

[David Isham]

This book series is outstanding!

[Gabriel Thomas Malanchuk]

Love this series!

[Brian Hooten]

Top notch storytelling from interviews of those who served.

Mr. Rozell did not disappoint on delivering another good read on WWII from the men who were there. I can't wait for the next book in this series.