Ordinary Heroes
Author:
Genres: Literature & Fiction, Mystery, Thriller & Suspense
Book Type: Hardcover
Author:
Genres: Literature & Fiction, Mystery, Thriller & Suspense
Book Type: Hardcover
Initially this novel was a bit hard to get into, but that changed as it began to encompass many different aspects of World War II history. It became more than just a story about a son trying to understand his father's role in the war.
The book exposed the reader to the OSS, the U.S. secret organization which fought the undercover war, but also that of the common soldier's experience in combat for the first time and then day after day after day. The reader is exposed to the experience of concentration camp victims, and their liberators; the growing tension between the Western Allies and Soviet Union; and the numbing cold of the winter of 1944-45.
I found it interesting the author changed the identity of two divisions. One he constantly refers to is the 18th Armored Division, which was never formed. Another is the 106th Infantry Division which he calls by another name. I could understand the former, as he creates a fictionalized division commander as a main character, but not the latter as he refers to it only a few times.
And on one page he gives General Patton's Third Army the credit for being the first across the Rhine, when it fact that honor belonged to the American First Army. Plus, he states Patton's beating the British across was the reason he was relieved of Third Army command at the end of the European War. Not true. Patton was relieved for other good reasons, his big mouth and his too lenient attitude, if not actual encouragement, of the German prisoners of war.
There are also a number of surprises in the book, which added to the 'mystery' the main character's son was investigating. If you are into World War II novels, you should read this one. Fortunately, as of today, there are a number of copies available.
The book exposed the reader to the OSS, the U.S. secret organization which fought the undercover war, but also that of the common soldier's experience in combat for the first time and then day after day after day. The reader is exposed to the experience of concentration camp victims, and their liberators; the growing tension between the Western Allies and Soviet Union; and the numbing cold of the winter of 1944-45.
I found it interesting the author changed the identity of two divisions. One he constantly refers to is the 18th Armored Division, which was never formed. Another is the 106th Infantry Division which he calls by another name. I could understand the former, as he creates a fictionalized division commander as a main character, but not the latter as he refers to it only a few times.
And on one page he gives General Patton's Third Army the credit for being the first across the Rhine, when it fact that honor belonged to the American First Army. Plus, he states Patton's beating the British across was the reason he was relieved of Third Army command at the end of the European War. Not true. Patton was relieved for other good reasons, his big mouth and his too lenient attitude, if not actual encouragement, of the German prisoners of war.
There are also a number of surprises in the book, which added to the 'mystery' the main character's son was investigating. If you are into World War II novels, you should read this one. Fortunately, as of today, there are a number of copies available.
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