Twenty-Five Yards of War: The Extraordinary Courage of Ordinary Men inWorld War II

by Ronald J. Drez, Stephen E. Ambrose

These accounts come from low-ranking soldiers rather than from the commanders who sent them into the fray. Featuring pivitol battles such as Midway and Normandy, as well as lesser-known operations that were also essential to victory, here is an extraordinary opportunity for fans of military history to understand what it really means to fightand live througha war.

Genres: History, World War II, War, Military Fiction, Nonfiction, Military History

296 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2001

Reviews

[Murray · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Twenty-Five Yards of War" is the kind of book that will appeal to you whether you're a WWII expert or novice. Author Drez does a commendable job culling his interviews with veterans into harrowing narratives that recalls their personal experiences and horrors and also relates how their part of history was part of a bigger picture. At 277 pages, the book covers some of the most significant battles and occurrences (D-Day, Iwo Jima, Sinking of the Indianapolis), although he certainly could have doubled or tripled the length of the book with more interviews. Either way, this book is a great achievement that will, at times, keep you turning the pages anticipating what happens next. Nothing is hidden or sugar-coated (except for the language), so be prepared for some grisly descriptions of the worst aspects of war.

Reading the book between Memorial Day and the D-Day anniversary definitely put me in the right frame of mind, but "Twenty-Five Yards of War" is a book that can be appreciated any time of year.

[M · Rating 2 out of 5]

Interesting and well-organized.

[Adam Flor · Rating 5 out of 5]

Uncommon valor is slighty less uncommon. If you're suprised by the strength of the common man in extraordinary situations, you'll be even more surprised that that strength could be inside anyone. Even yourself.