Sunrise Sunset

by Kathleen Marie Marsh, Heather Sprangers

Captured during the ill-fated Allied Offensive in Italy in January 1944, Army Private Gerhard Johnson did not expect to ever see his family or Elaine, the only woman he ever loved, again. As a POW, he endured 15 months of hell, losing almost half his body weight and very close to death when liberated by the British. Meanwhile, back home in Central Wisconsin, his mother Anna wrote letters, sent Red Cross packages and filled a scrapbook in an amazing effort to keep her son "alive" as long as possible.

119 pages, Paperback

First published January 28, 2005

Reviews

[Gretchen Mueller]

This book was an extraordinary book. Being from the point of view of an actual POW, there were many new things to learn from his experiences. From the way that he was captured to the very end of his internment, every detail was eye opening and there wa something to take away from every moment. The more I read WWII books the more I learn to appreciate what I have. Knowing that people have starved almost to the point of death, some even to death, for my freedom is beyond anything I could ever imagine. I can’t even begin to imagine the pain that these soldiers went through, or what they have witnessed happen to others. It takes a special person to lay down their life for others. They have been through sickness, hunger, and been tortured by some of the most horrifying war criminals to ever walk the face of the Earth.
Overall, I really liked this book because of its attention to detail. It really pulled on my heart strings when they explained how much a simple care package means to a soldier overseas going through the unimaginable. Some people say that these books are gruesome and disgusting, but they don’t realize how true it actually is. That’s another thing I really liked about this book. Although I do not support the bad things that happened to these soldiers, I would rather know the truth of what happened than have my eyes covered by society and all its curtains. I believe that everything like this should be laid out for all to see, so that it does not happen ever again.
One thing I did not like about this book was that it sometimes skipped around and where they were at the time was kind of unknown, but that also made me realize that maybe at the time they weren’t quite sure where they were either. Maybe the story was written this way to help the reader understand the feelings of loss and loneliness. I would recommend this book to everyone. Young, old, whether you like history or not, I think everyone needs to read this book because there are so many people who take the little things for granted when there are some people who don’t even have water to drink. This was really and eye opening and a great inspiration for survival.

[Jessica Radcliff]

Satisfying memoir of a POW from WWII

[Joseph Feeney]

This is a very great book. This book talks about Gerhard Albert Johnson, a regular farm boy that joined World War II, as he himself tells the story. He was born in 1924 in New London, a small town in Central Wisconsin. At the time of this book, he wrote this at 80 years old. He has his father Albert and his mother Anna, and as he says that he had a minor stroke short before making this book, so he says that everything in this book may not be exact. Unlike some, but like most, he was ready to fight for his country. He was scared, young, and patriotic, the perfect blend for anyone to fight for the people he loves. Although he, like most others did not, had the support of loved ones. At the time of him leaving, his girlfriend, now wife, even gave a short speech for the school. She said, "I hated to see him go; I knew I was falling in love. So what that we wanted to get married; who cared about that? America had been attacked and it was up to boys like Gerhard to defend us." He said his goodbyes to her, and as you would think, he did not get enough sleep that night.

Now he leaves by saying goodbye to his family. His father telling him that he is proud of him, and his mother crying into his shoulder. She promised that she would write letters, and eventually send small care packages of socks, cigarettes, and candy. Although Gerhard would never really smoke, cigarettes would be used as currency for other things. And although she never said, Gerhard found out that she kept a Scrapbook the entire that he would be gone. When he got to the Union Station, he noticed all of the other soldiers saying goodbye to his loved ones, and as he was saying goodbye to his girlfriend, Elaine, he realized he was one of them. There were no welcome home ceremonies or farewells back in 1943. They were rounded up and sent off a thousand miles away to Camp Croft, North Carolina. Although, he was scared, he had never been so far away from home before. And now he is exhausted and alone. He started to tear as he started to miss his loved ones deeply. As others fell asleep crying into their pillows, he found out that infantry soldiers like him were called dog-faces, mostly because they lived in pup tents. Now he starts his journey as a soldier, and a new man.

This is an amazing book to read. Although short, it has lots of emotion and feel. You can really grip on to Gerhard as a character, and you can see yourself in this situation. This book is great for teens and older, and can help you understand the times back in the 40's and more about World War II. This book is highly recommended for people who want a more serious book to read, and a book to learn about history.

[Lexi]

Just like many other young men in our country during WWII, Gerhard Johnson felt it was his duty to defend our land and freedom that many Americans before us fought for. Told from the perspective of Johnson himself, this book gives you an honest firsthand testimony and is truly eye opening. Being a small town farm boy from Wisconsin, Gerhard wasn’t entirely prepared for what he would encounter being apart of the military. Training was grueling and there were times when he questioned his decision, but he proved he had what it took to be in combat. Because of his obvious height, standing over 6 feet tall, Gerhard was assigned a machine gun and shipped off to Africa for a special mission where again he would be physically and mentally tested. From the start, the mission was poorly planned and the odds were stacked high against the American troops. Gerhard still vividly remembered the massacre that took place around him and how he still had to carry on in order to save himself. In the end, he was captured by German Troops and kept as a prisoner of war (POW). He thought he would never again see his family; however, the whole while he was able to to have minimal contact with them. His mother kept all of the letters that they sent in scrapbook with the forethought that Gerhard might like to look back on them when he returned home. Although it took him a while to actually look at it due to his vivid horrifying memories, he is grateful his mother did so he can share his story with others.

Being that this book is written from a first hand perspective, you are able to really emerge yourself in the events that Gerhard experienced, which is something I enjoyed. I was able to feel what Gerhard was feeling and not only that but I was able to learn some new things along the way, which at times where shocking. I also really liked how this book also included the actual letters and photos of Gerhard because I feel like they made it more “real”. For me personally I always find things more meaningful when I have a visual to go with them. The only thing I disliked about this book was that it was an easy read and the language was very plain. I felt that there were times that the author could have made scenes more realistic and descriptive in order to have more of an impact on the reader. Overall, it was an enjoyable and eye opening read and I would highly recommend this book to anyone who had relatives or knew someone who fought in WWII because it shows the hardships they may have endured and you can use that information to honor them. That’s the least they deserve.

[Grace LeGrave]

In the book My Mother Kept a Scrapbook, Gerhard Johnson explains his adventure of going into war and becoming a Prisoner of War. Of course, leaving for war wasn't easy for Gerhard, nor his family or love of his life, Elaine. He starts out by describing what it's like to train to be a soldier during WWII. They were often called names such as "dog face" because they had to follow orders. Once in Italy, Gerhard was soon captured by the German forces and he goes through many harsh conditions, starting from when he gets on the train. He endures starvation, injury, harsh weather, and diseases, but the only thing that got him through all of it was his letters and care packages from home. Gerhard would wait and wait for letters to be sent back. However, it could take months for just one to be recieved. He often asked for cigarettes, socks, and candy in his care packages from his mother. One of the things that worried him the most was Elaine. He hoped that she would wait for him all of these months, and she did.
One of the things that I enjoyed the most was listening to all of the things he encountered. Many of them surprised me and it was cool to hear it from someone first hand. I also thought it was cool that his mother kept a scrapbook of all of his letters and she believed that he would come back. I can't imagine her excitement when she found out he was coming back home. On the other hand, I did not enjoy very much how short the book was. It would've been cool to learn more about his experience. I would recommend this book to teens or adults who want to learn more about the WWII time period, specifically POW's.

[Heath Kennedy]

"My Mother Kept a Scrapbook" is a very intriguing book that tells the tale of a World War Two Wisconsin POW named Gerhard Johnson. Initially, Gerhard was just a normal teenage boy who thought it would be a great time in the army. Sadly mistaken, right from the getgo Gerhard became homesick, the barracks reeked, and the food was horrible. But this was only the training camp! Conditions became worse yet when the troops had to cross the Atlantic on a big cargo ship! But it doesn't stop there! In a matter of days, Gerhard has his first taste of battle and defeat, surrendering along with the 36th Texas regiment to the German forces. Now he along with many other men are prisoners of war, fighting to stay alive through the less than poor conditions of labor camps. Read the book to find out all of the details!
One neat thing about this book is the way in which the author makes you feel like you were there to experience the events of WWII. There is so much descriptive terminology that you can clearly picture what is happening g in your minds eye. I also like how it allows the reader to better understand the atrocities of war, opening eyes as to how terrible it really is. One thing that I didn't like, however, was simply that the book was a pretty short read and didn't last too long. Overall, though, "My Mother Kept a Scrapbook" was a very nice little book.
I recommend this book to anyone who wants to learn more about real life WWII affairs and also to those who like shorter, but still intense, books.

[Eli Jeanquart]

The True Story of a WWII POW is about Gerhard Johnson and his life as a German Prisoner of War for 15 months. While in this living hell, he was deprived of basic needs such as food, shelter, sanitation, and medical care. Leading up to his capture, Gerhard was put into Africa and then shipped into Europe to fight. While in Europe, he is sent on a mission to Italy in the Rapido River attack. This poorly planned attack failed and many died in this battle but Gerhard was not one of them. Instead he was taken as a POW while hiding out at an abandoned barn with his squad mates. He was placed into Stalag IIB. Soon after, he was sent to a farm for agriculture work. While tending the horses, he was injured by one of them. On the verge of death, he is transported him to another camp where a polish doctor was being held. Miraculously, the doctor was able to set his broken shoulder and save him from death. Later on in the book, the Germans take their prisoners with them as they flee farther into their territory. Allied air raids the group kill off germans and prisoners alike. Gerhard escapes in critical condition, barely alive. He returns to the U.S. to be reunited with his family. At first they don’t recognise him because he has lost ⅓ of his body weight and was unrecognizable but once they realize who he is, his mother breaks down into tears.

I enjoyed this book because it put you in the shoes of a WWII soldier and shows you what soldiers during this time had to endure.

I would recommend this book to anyone that likes war books.

[Alexis Maurer]

The True Story or a WWII Pow is a book about Gerhard Johnson, a Wisconsin soldier who reflects on his experiences and shares the horror and excitement of his memories. Gerhard grew up in a small town in Wisconsin, called Elderon. However, Gerhard’s WWII POW story takes place in Italy, where he was captured as a POW, or Prisoner of War. He experienced complete torture during this journey of his. From little to no food, water, shelter, or sanitation to zero proper medical care, he just barely survived, having come close to death many times. However, he manages to push himself through it all so he can come home to his girlfriend and family/friends. Meanwhile, his mother prepares a scrapbook of all his journeys that she can find out about, which he later reflects on in this very book.

I enjoyed reading this book for the most part. It was interesting to me to learn firsthand from somebody right here in Wisconsin just how horrifying going to war must have been. I also liked how the book brought me a new perspective of the job of a soldier. I now know that I must better thank those who served and are still serving the U.S. because they are the reason I have the freedoms that I do. One thing I didn’t like about this book, however, was that the war terms often were confusing to me and some parts of the book made me super lost in terms of context.

I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys reading non-fiction or books about war, history, adventure, coming-of-age, or family.

[Delilah]

In this book, The True Story of a WWII POW, Gerhard Johnson tells his real life story from his experience in WWII. This book is told by Gerhard but written by Kathleen Marie Marsh. Gerhard is a surviving POW from WWII by Germany, all the way from his home in Central Wisconsin. Along with many struggles he faces during the war, Gerhard never fails to loose his decency and sense of his family's love. Being a very young man at this time, he doesn't know what is in store. Gerhard shares the emotional rollercoaster he rides on his entire time at war and as a prisoner. During his service, his mother, Anna, kept an intricate scrapbook of his letters, whereabouts, WWII events and articles concerning the war. Before Gerhard left for war, he met his now wife, Elaine. Gerhard never fails to talk about his true love throughout this book and his family to keep him alive.
This book was intriguing but seemed to drone on. Although it was very interesting and held a lot of information about this war, it was a huge history lesson. I did like the very intricate details that Gerhard described his experience, I thought it was amazing that he could recollect his whole time there. I didn't like how this book was somewhat repetitive, it seemed to be referring back to the same details and references. I suggest this book to anyone who likes to learn or read about history. I also recommend this book to anyone who likes suspense and tense situational books.

[Regan]

My Mother Kept a Scrapbook: the True Story of a WWII POW is the story of Gerhard Johnson, an army private from Central Wisconsin, and his time spent as a German prisoner of war. Set in Europe during World War II, Johnson is captured in Italy and describes what it was truly like when you feel as though you will never see your family or the love of your life ever again. He tells of the correspondence he had with them, and how he was treated while in camp. His struggle to stay alive and keep faith that he will one day return home is one of the main conflicts throughout the story as well.

I think that Gerhard’s story is truly uplifting, and it’s incredible that he was able to share it with many readers. I really enjoyed being able to read a first hand account of what World War II was like, considering I have only learned about it from social studies teachers. I also liked how honest the story was, and how no details were sugar-coated. This story told the cold hard truth about how prisoners of war are treated. The only complaint I had was that the detail almost became too much, to a point where I got somewhat bored reading of about the specific orders that they received throughout the war. If you really enjoy reading real war stories, this is the book for you. Unfortunately, I am not particularly interested in this genre of literature.

[Brittanydantoin]

This was a real story that was written with so much pain of the memories of what he when thought. Captured during the ill-fated Allied fight in Italy in January 1944, Army Private Gerhard Johnson did not expect to ever see his family again. As a prisoner of the Nazis, he endured 15 months of hell, deprived of the most basic human needs: food, water, shelter, sanitation, and medical care.And with the only thing keeping him alive was the care packages that him mom would send him over there. Determined to come home to the only woman he had ever loved, Gerhard lost over a third his body weight while somehow managing to survive. Meanwhile, back home in Central Wisconsin, his mother wrote letters, send Red Cross parcels, and filled a scrapbook in an amazing effort to keep her absent son alive as long as she possibly could. I am in love with this book , there where parts in this book what made me cry because he went though lots of torturous things. reading it is one thing but reading it and realizing that this man went thought hell and back just so we can do what we can now. I would recommend this book to anyone looking for a book that is touching and real story. The only thing that I didn't like was that I did not knew a lot the the slang and army terms in the book but that's the only thing I was not a big fan of.

[Trinity James]

My Mother Kept a Scrapbook is the incredible story of Gerhard Johnson, who was born in 1924 in New London, Wisconsin, and became a prisoner to Germany during WWII on January 21 in Italy. It is also the story of Anna Johnson, his mother, and her unbending faith in the good health of her son. Gerhard writes of his experiences with near starvation, no shelter, no water, and poor sanitation. He spent 15 months under the German army and lost almost half of his weight, but was determined to make it back home and see his family. Not forgetting to mention, the love of his life, Elaine, was waiting to be reunited with him back home, too.

My favorite aspect of this book is that it is told through Gerhard himself. Because of this, the book is a very reliable and powerful way to gain some true insight on what it was like being a soldier in WWII. Another thing that I appreciated was the photos that were taken out of Anna’s scrapbook and pictured at the beginning of the book. One thing that I did not like was that I knew exactly how the book was going to end. Obviously Gerhard would return home, but I also knew that he was going to marry the girl of his dreams that he had left behind. Maybe I’m just used to reading fictional books.

I would recommend this book to anyone with a strong interest in the United State’s history, or specifically WWII.

[Fabian Calvillo]

This book is about a person from a small town in Wisconsin and he tells his story of how he was a prisoner of war (POW). when he first joins the war his mother and family aren't happy about it but they still are very supportive to him. when Gerhard is in basic he meets a girl named Elaine and they develop a relationship in the time he has before he has to leave. Gerhards mother would send him a letter every day and she would almost always get a reply but when she didn't. She stopped getting letters once he got caught captured as a POW, he was captured by the Nazis for 15 months. He lost aver 1/3 of his body weight. The letters eventually started up again when she saw his name in the news paper for the red cross. She and him were very surprised that he could receive letters and he could send letters.

One thing i liked about this book is that it always kept you on the edge of your sear and it was sorta like and adrenaline rush. The author did a good job of describing the characters and the setting. One of the things that i got from the book is that if you have enough love fore someone or enough hope that you can get through anything.

I would recommend this book to anyone that is looking to learn more about times of war. and also anyone who likes a bit of an adrenaline rush.

[Theresakaser]

In the book “My Mother Kept A Scrapbook,” Gerhard Johnson, a World War two prisoner of war (POW), takes the reader through his simple farm life, to the time of his draft card, to the struggling times of being in the war itself. Gerhard Johnson was reported missing in action (MIA) January 20, 1944. He was sent to Stalag IIB, a camp for prisoners of war, where he faced hard work, starvation, cold, and, closer to the end, a broken shoulder from falling off a horse. Johnson and other POWs were forced to eat unimaginable things in order to survive and not starve to death. Due to his height and strength, he lucked out on many things which both saved his life and got him into historic events.
What I enjoyed about the book was that it was a true account of what happened during WWII from a witness. I also liked how detailed some accounts were, especially the railroad car rides. However, I disliked how the reader didn’t really know what his mother was doing or feeling throughout the book. I recommend this book to anyone who is trying to find some inside information on WWII, ages 12 and up.

[Lavonne]

I think there are many of us who had family members serving in WWII that did NOT want to talk about their experience, rather they kept the horrors to themselves. This is a quick read of a WI vet who survived extremely harsh conditions as a fighting soldier and then also as a POW.

[Chloe Staudenmaier]

Gerhard Johnson is the author of this autobiography. The story takes place during World War II starting in Wisconsin, the United States, and all other locations he resided in during his war experience. He was captured during the Allies attack in Italy. He was a prisoner of war (POW) in January 1944. As a prisoner of the Nazis, he endured 15 months of torture without daily necessities. Throughout the book, Johnson talks about how his family and the woman he loves back home are what drives him to survive. This book talks about his hardships in the POW camps and concentration camps. It also expresses how desperate the Germans were at the end of the war by describing the desperate marches into the central part of Germany, lead by the Axis powers. The main conflict in this story was surviving long enough to be liberated and go back home. Johnson was determined to return home to see the love of his life and family again. Meanwhile, back home in Central Wisconsin, his mother wrote letters, took on a second job to send Red Cross parcels, and filled a scrapbook in an effort to keep the thought of her absent son alive as long as she possible.

I thought this book was alright. I loved learning about this man's experience and perspective of World War II. I find history intriguing, so I was very interested. I also liked how later in the book you realized how strong Gerhard Johnson's mother cared for him. She took on a second job picking beans just to send a few parcels of goods to him across the ocean. It is a very inspiring story that truly shows how important a mother-son relationship is.

I did not like that the author did not go extremely in-depth in his relationships except for the one with his mother. I would have enjoyed learning more about these people, however, I understand that this is a person's life and there are things that should be kept out of an autobiography. I would suggest this book to anyone fascinated with history and anyone who has been a prisoner of war.

[Gracie Englebert]

In this World War Two novel, the story of a Prisoner of War from a small town in Wisconsin is told. When he first joins the war effort, his mother isn't crazy about it, but her, along with his whole family is very supportive. Right before the main character, Gerhard, goes off to base training camp, he meets a girl, Elaine. He and Elaine develop a serious relationship in the short time they have together, but before they know it, Gerhard has to leave. Gerhard completes basic training, and shortly after, he goes off to war. After a long while doing nothing but basic army chores, Gerhard is finally informed that his regiment will be entering their first battle. From the very start of the battle, everything goes wrong for the US troops. Shortly after the battle began, it ended. Gerhard survived a few day without being captured, but eventually had to surrender because of an extreme shortage of critical supplies, such as food and water. Gerhard is taken to a P.O.W. camp, but transferred a few days later to work on a German farm. He is working to support the German war effort! He takes every opportunity to sabotage the crops and other products. One day on the farm, he is bucked off of a horse and badly injures his arm. Since he is now useless for farm work, he is taken back to the original P.O.W. camp he was sent to. At this point, unknown to the P.O.W.'s, the war is coming to a close. Gerhard hasn't heard from Elaine yet, even though she promised to write, and he thinks of her constantly. A few months after Gerhard got back to the camp, the Germans started to evacuate them because of an impending bomb-raid. Gerhard escaped into the woods during the evacuation with a few others, not all of whom survived. Eventually, he stumbled upon an ally army hospital. They helped him back to a state healthy enough to fly back home. When he got home, Elaine was waiting for him, and they got married soon after. Years later, Gerhard's mom dies, and only then does Gerhard find out some very touching secrets about how she helped him survive the gruesome war.
I really liked the historical aspects of this book. The detail added clarity and validity to the story. In addition, the war vocabulary, terms, and slang helped enrich the reading experience. It definitely made it easier for the reader to be transported to the time and place with Gerhard. One improvement I would suggest would be to include the point of view of someone at home. His mother or Elaine would both have been great options. It would have added to the emotional side of the story, as well as including an important different perspective on war. It would also have showed how not only the soldiers struggled during war time.
I would suggest this book to a wide range of readers. Anyone from middle school to adulthood could appreciate this book. It's any easy read, but has important historical aspects and some challenging war vocabulary. The author did an impressive job of making this book an option for a wide variety of readers.

[Erica Griep]

This 1944 story based book is about one man and his struggles with his family, his enemies, and himself during a long lasting war. Gerhard Johnson enlisted into the army as soon as he was eligible too and knew he wanted to serve his country. Gerhard met his future wife, Elaine, when he was in high-school and they lasted through it all. Elaine didn't want Gerhard to go off to war but she knew it was what he wanted to do. While he was away fighting his mother, Anna, wrote numerous letters to him and almost always got a reply, until one day when one didn't come back. Gerhard was captured by the Nazis for 15 months of "hell", he lost over a 1/3 of his body weight, and became very sick. His mother desperate to know what happened to her son, reached out through newspapers, the Red Cross and anyone else for help finding her son. During this time his mother kept a scrapbook of everything that was going on. His mother would send him packs of cigarettes and any other little things she could. Elaine, while back home, was faithful and hopeful that the only man she had ever loved would come home. Gerhard was put to work by the Nazis, and did a lot of back-breaking farm labor. He knew he had to stay alive because of Elaine. He knew that if he ever got the chance to get home the first thing he was going to do was buy her a ring. He loved her and had to make it home to her. One day he finally got the opportunity to write to his mother and let her know that he was a POW, his mom was relived that her son wasn't 6 feet under. They kept writing and eventually Gerhard was recaptured back by his army and was able to go home.

One thing I most enjoyed about this book was the adrenaline rush it gave you. It kept you wanted to keep reading to find out what would happen to Gerhard. The author did a very good job on describing characters and the setting, it painted a picture in my mind. Another thing I enjoyed was how the author showed that love can make it through anything and everything. Elaine and Gerhard had so many obstacles in their relationship, that started at a young age, and they showed that love can handle the obstacle of time. One thing I did not enjoy as much was that their wasn't more description on how his whole family was handling the situation, it showed only his mom and Elaine. Also, their wasn't any clue or understanding if his army was looking for him or trying to save him, it almost sounded like the just stumbled across him and the others. There could have been more detail about that, it may have helped me understand loose ends.

I would recommend this book to anyone who likes to read first hand about times of war and the hardships that came with it. Also, anyone who likes a little bit of mystery and adrenaline rush, this book would suit you. Anyone who enjoys love stories and reading about unbreakable bonds between people would also find this book fun to read.

[Austin Vandertie]

My Mother Kept a Scrapbook is a true story about a WWII soldier named Gerhard Johnson. He is from a farm in Wisconsin and volunteered to join the military with some buddies. First he goes to boot camp where he is a remarkable shooter and is soon sent off across the Atlantic to Europe. He fights in many battle but is soon captured by the German army and made a prisoner of war, or POW. While at the POW camp he is soon put on farm work and enjoys it because it is what he was used to back home. His main job is working with the horses. His favorite work team of horses are the Belgian work horses. After working at the farm for a few months, a terrible accident happens. He falls off a horse and breaks his arm. He gets sent back to the camp and fears for his life, since he cannot work he is of no use to the German army. He thanks God and a one armed German officer, who Gerhard believed took pity on him, for his survival. Not long after the accident, the POW's are either forced to walk or ride train deeper into the German occupied zone, due to the fact that the allies are getting closer. One day the Germans lock all the POW's into rail cars and buildings and just leave. After a couple days, Gerhard is freed by a group of British soldiers and after getting back to proper health he leaves for the United States. When he arrives home his parents are glad to see him and so is his girlfriend Elaine. This is where he learns that his mother took up two jobs to be able to afford to send him care packages, and she also kept a scrapbook while he was gone, hence the name of this book, My Mother Kept a Scrapbook.

This was not my most favorite book in the world, but it isn't bad by any means. It is pretty descriptive and almost makes you feel as if you were there. It also has a decent plot and is easily understandable. I did not like how the falling action and resolution were very fast. It seemed to take forever to get to the climax and then a couple of pages later the book was finished. I would recommend this book to people who enjoy reading real accounts about war or history in general.

[Samuel Gerend]

To begin, the book is a very good book. Gerhard the main character enlists in WWII. He is vertically gifted (tall). His height helps him throughout his whole time in the military, making him more easily promoted and chosen. As a result of is height, he was asked to be one of the guards for the president, just because he was taller than the rest. Gerhard sends letters back and forth to his mom and girlfriend Elaine. From those letters, his mother makes a scrapbook along with the newspapers. Gerhard lies in the letters, saying everything is going great. However, the meals are not adequate and the sleeping arrangements are not in his favor. Since he is so tall, the tight sleeping quarters don't suit him very well. Gerhard deactivates mines set by the enemy, so he can easily die at any moment, at any time. Sometimes his comrades mistakes save his life, for example, they set off a mine that he said he would have never found. His general is not very smart, he sends Gerhard and his unit into an almost certain loss. Many people die and they have to surrender and become prisoners of war. At this time, Gerhard's family doesn't hear from him so they start thinking the worst that he was killed. They later find out that he is being held in the enemy's prisons. Gerhard becomes very ill and gets to come home, for good. The first thing he does when he gets home is proposes to his girlfriend Elaine.

I believe that this book is very well written. The book has very good qualities, especially that the scrapbooks are tied in to the book very well. They really show more information and make the story sound better. Also, it shows Gerhard's thoughts through the story very well. You can see what an actual soldier in the war thought about what was going on and it opens your eyes. However, at some times the book can get confusing when they switch back and forth between Gerhard and the scrapbooks. I would recommend this book to anyone interested in learning more about WWII and likes history. Overall, it is a great book about war and family sticking together.

[Deseree Dufek]

Private Gerhard Johnson was a World War II prisoner of war (POW). He was captured by the Germans in Italy during an attack on a heavily secured German compound. From the beginning, the mission was doomed to fail. First of all, the compound was situated on top of a hill, giving the Germans the perfect vantage point. Secondly, there were land mines surrounding the entire place. Thirdly, the only way to get to the compound was by crossing a river with a turbulent current, and Gerhard’s team only had wimpy inflatable rafts to cross it. The attack occurred in the early morning when there was only a little bit of light in the sky, so when Gerhard’s team got too far ahead of the rest of the American army, they were put in danger by fire from their own compeers who could not tell the difference between Gerhard’s team and the enemy. All Gerhard could do was stick with his team until they could find safety. This came in the form of an abandoned barn, but once it was evident that they would not be able to get back to the American army, they surrendered to the Germans. Living in the unsanitary and unhumanitarian conditions of the German prisoner of war camps, Gerhard faced the possibility of death, and he struggled with the idea of never seeing the love of his life or his family again.

I enjoyed this book because of the perspective about World War II that it gave me. Also, I liked how it showed not just what it was like in World War II, but it specifically allowed me to experience what it was like being a POW, which allows me to deeper understand what it is like to be not only a veteran but also a POW. Another thing I liked about this book was how the author was able to write Gerhard’s story so succinctly. One thing I did not like about this book was how it did not really talk about the emotional effects that being a POW had on Gerhard.

I would suggest this book to people who are interested in World War II and like to read about the true stories of veterans that have experienced it.

[Sarah Maggle]

This book about how a young 17 year old boy named Gerhard Johnson from Elderon, WI begins to tell his story of how he got involved in WWII and became a POW. It starts off when he is about to leave for war and arrives at the base in North Carolina, where he starts his basic training and is chosen to carry a machine gun. A few days he was there, he caught a fever yet he still managed to go to training, where he got reamed out from the sergeant for getting out of step. They eventually left on the Liberty Ship over seas where living conditions were awful such as sea sick men, but when they arrived they were already required to go on a special mission. The special mission was to deliver supplies to fighting soldiers on a mountain side, but Germans were always watching and picking them apart as they went up the mountain. Germans often launched counter attacks and captured Mount Lungo from them. They had to cross a river into German territory and mines had already been planted there so many men died even attempting to go across, so they had to surrender to the enemy by the time they got to land. The soldiers were loaded onto trucks and sent to prison where they were starved to death and had to steal food from Germans to survive. The Red Cross made life bareable for them and they got sent to a farm to be put to work. Whenever families would send there soldier food or supplies, Germans often stole it from them and gave them whatever was left. Gerhard discovered an old distillary that makes moonshine, would use a code to tell his mother to only send certain items. While working there Gerhard fell off a horse where he broke his arm and was sent to a village to have it looked at. Soldiers were forced out of farm and had to march for two days, got treated for disease and got sent to hospital and got to see his family again.

I feel that this book is for readers mostly for action and adventure and for also readers into military type things. I think this book can show a lot of drama with everthing he goes through so if that's what your into you should read this book.

[Nathan]

After reading this book, I decided to give this book about 4.5 out of 5. The book's main character is Army Private Gerhard Johnson. He is a young man who lives in rural central Wisconsin with his family on the farm. When he turns 18, he signs up for the draft and gets drafted into the U.S. army as WWII nears D-Day. The setting varies from place to place throughout the novel, but the most time is spent on Europe, specifically Germany as well as parts of Italy. When his division is called up to disarm mines across a river entering Germany, the operation falls apart and he is captured and declared a German POW during January 1944. While awaiting far-off liberation at the Stalag IIB prison camp as well as a nearby prison farm, he experiences backbreaking labor, loneliness, starvation, disease, as well as a broken arm involving an accident on a horse. Will Gerhard make it home to his better half, Elaine?
Personally, I enjoyed reading this book and believe it is a well written one, as far as these types of journals go. One thing I liked about this book would be how it showed two sides of one story- this being Gerhard's view of the up close and personal fighting and nitty gritty of Nazi Germany at the time. But the story also has his mother's side involved, showing us her efforts to stay in contact with her son. His mother's view also gives a broader perspective of the war, from in the U.S. and how people might've wanted the war to be, instead of the true tragedies that actually occurred which Gerhard witnessed. I also liked the detailed chronological order in which events were laid out. This made the book easier to follow along with. One thing I did not enjoy as much was the fact that it seemed that the author sort of skipped over the happenings while Gerhard was in Italy. I feel that this part could have been elaborated on more. All in all though, I would recommend this book to people who like reading about history, war, or autobiographies/journals in general.

[Jordan Watters]

This book is about a young man named Gerhard Johnson from a small town in Wisconsin. He is a very tall and muscular man that has worked on a farm his whole life. He went into the army at age 17 and was sent to Germany during World War II. One day he was out with the other troops and they heard a group of Gerries (german soldiers) singing christmas carols. They hid and when the Germans got close enough they opened fire and killed every one of them. They were later taken as prisoners of war and whoever survived depended on their current health. Luckily Gerhard was a big strong man so he was assigned to do farm work which he was used to doing because he did it at home. He went through many difficulties including a nasty arm/shoulder injury but for some reason the Germans decided to spare him. He was always writing letters to his mother and his wife while wondering if she would find someone else while he was gone. He eventually got to go back home and was happy to see his wife had not found another man and that his grandmother had passed away while he was gone.

The things that made me interested in the book were all of the little stories of what the Germans did to him and all of the others that were captured. Also, the letters that he wrote back to his family were very interesting because I got to see what he asked for in care packages and how he tried to say it without letting the Germans catch on to what he was saying.

I would recommend this book to people ages 15+ because it would be very difficult for younger people to understand what the prisoners had to go through. Also, it is a good read for the ages I recommended because it allows us to see what went on during the war and how not many things were done to try to end it quickly.

[Zachory Snow]

In the book my mother kept a scrapbook it explains what a true ww2 pow went through on a daily basis. It told his struggle throughout his eighteen months in a nazi war camp. It shows every ones emotions while he is in the camp without food, water, and supplies. When he first arrives at the camp after his raid across the river fails, like he knew it would, his mother does not know if he is dead or alive. The only time he can make contact with his mother is when the red cross comes to the camp to look for men that have families back in the states. The postal service during this time is very poorly regulated so he gets mail once in a great while so it could be months later then when his mother sends it. When he starts asking for things to get in the mail his mother has to pick up a second job to pay for the cigarettes that he can trade for things that he really needs. Next, he falls off one of the work horses and he hurts his shoulder so they move him to a new camp so they can “fix” his shoulder. When his shoulder gets better they move him more because of the Russians being close to freeing them. It has a very fast paced plot with lot of plot twists and foreshadowing. I liked the book because it is a primary account of a world war two prisoner of war. It shows all of the details and events they had to go through just to survive in a war camp. This would be a good book for someone who likes historical non-fiction books about the accounts and the feeling of someone who lived through the tough time of war.

[Kalin Glesner]

This book tells the story of a normal Wisconsin country boy, Gerhard Johnson, who goes through the challenging times of war. However, for Gerhard it does not just end at being in World War II, Gerhard also becomes a Prisoner of War of the Nazi's. There, he is put on the farm range because of his height and his knowledge in the farm. Gerhard was deprived of many of the humans basic needs: water, food, medical care, shelter. Although determined to see his family again, he specifically pulls through for his recently met girlfriend whom he believed was the love of his life. After losing much of his body weight, and falling ill, Gerhard finally returned home to his family. Once home, he was determined to marry his girl, but her parents told him that he needed to wait a little longer.
The thing I liked most about this book was the truth to it. Since it was a true story, it was a great learning tool when talking about World War II in American History, and learning the treatment of Prisoners of War. However, if I could change one thing about the story, it would be the sequence of events. Some portions of the story are more in depth, while others spoken of barely at all. At times the story is hard to follow because it jumps around to certain events without being clear that it is doing so. This book would be recommended, in my opinion, to high school students looking to learn more about this particular war, and adults that have shown interest in this topic. Overall, My Mother Kept a Scrapbook is a great read, and definitely worth it for anyone looking to learn more.

[Erin Tadych]

Gerhard Johnson was a young man who lived with his family in a small town of Wisconsin. Although his mother wasn't crazy about it-like any mother would be-Gerhard enlisted in World War Two. The book captures his time at war, and more importantly every emotion and thought throughout so there is a visual to the readers of how soldiers felt during war instead of what happened. Gerhard was a tall man which aided him during war, for he was able to perform special tasks and such. The heart of the book unfolds when Gerhard is taking as a prisoner of war by Germany. He encounters many hardships such as having to survive with little food and water, poor shelter, and limited communication with his family and girlfriend. The book became very suspenseful when Gerhard himself thought he wouldn't be able to make it. While he was away, his mother collected pictures and postcards that were sent from her son, and she put them in a scrapbook in hopes he'd be able to see it someday.
I am not much of a history person; however, I really did like learning a little bit more about World War Two and about some personal experiences. I liked how the book contained some pictures and postcards from the scrapbook. There isn't much I have to negatively say about this book. I enjoyed it a lot.
I would recommend this book to anyone. This book is relatively short and easy. It's an interesting book, and a lot can be learned from it. Also, most people aren't around to share their personal stories anymore.

[Taylor Dexheimer]

In the book My Mother Kept a Scrapbook, Gerhard Johnson expressing his feelings and experiences as he goes to fight in the war. Gerhard fell in love with a girl named Elaine, which today is now his wife. In the book, he expresses just how hard it was to leave her behind while he went to the war, not knowing if he would ever get the chance to see her again. While in the war, most men didn't take their boots off, because if they did they would most likely get stolen. Nevertheless, for two weeks he kept his damp boots on because his feet were so swollen he might not be able to get them on, which would account for him being dead. The title of the story arises, because for a long period of time his mother did not hear from him, and being a concerned mother like most, you start to get worried. Gerhard's mother went on to talking to many offices, getting ads in the paper, to sending letters to places where she thought her son might have been or still would have been. Meanwhile Gerhard was off fighting in the war, his mother was busy making a scrapbook of Gerhard's life, not thinking that he would later on come home to see it. I think this book was a very good book. If you're looking to learn what it was like in the past, this would be a great book to read. This book showed me what it was actually like to be in the war, and go through the experiences that many men had to go through.

[Andrew Montana]

In the book, My Mother Kept a Scrapbook: the True Story of a WWII POW, Gerhard Johnson is the author and the main character. This is a true story, about being a prisoner of war (POW) in World War II. Gerhard was captured as a prisoner by the German army, and he endured 15 months of long lasting pain. Gerhard was able to survive through the war and he wrote to his family every chance he got. His mother kept all of the letters and put them in a scrapbook. He did manage to get back home safely, but he did lose a lot of weight and was very weak. He proposed to Elaine before he left for the war, but he wasn’t sure if she would still love him when he got back. I think this was an outstanding book, because you could really feel the emotions that he was going through, and what his family was going through. I also really liked how you could read every letter that he sent back home. Thank goodness his mom kept a scrapbook. I know he had a mild stroke a couple of years ago and he can’t remember everything, but I would have liked a little more details and information on his life before and after the war. I would recommend this book to anybody that is interested in WWII and to anybody who fought in a war, because they could probably relate to it. I give this book Five out of Five stars, because it is just that good.

[Sue]

I inherited this book from my dad's collection, and it was a book of interest to both of us because the person in question was a local to our hometown. It's a very short read (finished it in one day). It's really just a retelling of one young Wisconsin man's horrific experiences fighting during the military disaster on the Rapido River in Italy, and his subsequent capture and suffering in a German POW work camp.

I'll admit that my scepticism for accuracy was instantly shaken when the book opens with his comment about being "shocked as everyone else when Germany invaded Czechoslovakia." That struck me as odd, and made me question why the editor didn't either fact-check this ("Don't you mean Poland?", or make an effort to clarify why the ultimately peaceful "invasion" of Czechoslovakia would have shocked him more than the actual Blitzkrieg.

The book, in general, definitely reads as more of a remembrance 60 years later, an afternoon of listening to a veteran looking back. It's peppered with photos taken from the scrapbook mentioned in the title, made up mostly of the few Red Cross postcards he was allowed to send home while in captivity. There's nothing wrong with this, of course, but don't expect a lot of details on the war itself or observations beyond his direct experience.