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

by Ronald J. Drez

From the sinking decks of a navy cruiser to the cockpit of a doomed B-25 bomber, Ronald J. Drez takes us to the front lines of World War II.

Through Drez's gripping narrative style, we meet twelve men, all ordinary soldiers, and learn what the war was like through their eyes, experiencing their own 'twenty-five yards of war.' The men in these pages represent all branches of the military who were sent on impossible missions, where they witnessed triumphs and tragedies. As a result of Drez's ten years of research and over 1,400 interviews, Twenty-Five Yards of War is a tribute to all of the soldiers who fought in World War II -- those who walked away with amazing stories to tell, and those who did not make it home.

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

320 pages, Paperback

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.

[Lauren · Rating 4 out of 5]

Z

[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.