Top positive review
5.0 out of 5 starsA fascinating personal look at the lives of the men of Easy Company
Reviewed in the United States on May 9, 2010
Because my father, Robert Burr Smith, was a member of Easy Co. of the 506 Parachute Infantry Regiment, 101st Airborne Division of the U.S. Army in WWII, made famous in Band of Brothers, I have made it a point to read every new book that comes out about the veterans, whether it be a personal biography, travel guide following their footsteps through WWII's Europe or interviews with the men and their families. I participated in Marcus' last book, "We Who Are Alive and Remain: Untold Stories from the Band of Brothers" and was eagerly anticipating reading this new book. I have not been intrigued by a book this much in a long time. The personal stories are very honest and raw. Marcus treated his interviewees obviously with much respect as he coached very intimate details of these heroes personal lives, sometimes shockingly so. The book revealed to me a picture of a lot of pain, both physical and emotional, that many of the men of Easy Company profiled in this book must have felt after the war. Many of the men seemed to emerge from the war emotionally sound and moved on. Many just couldn't shake the nightmares and demons and carried them through into their family lives. I was simply riveted by each story and read only one at a time so I could savor what I was reading. I know many of the interviewees and still learned many new stories and facts I had never heard of. The pride the men felt in being "original Toccoa men" was a theme constantly mentioned. Those of us whose fathers were "original Toccoa men", the original group that trained together and bonded so closely from the very beginnings of Easy Co., know how tight those bonds were and would last for many of them until the end of their lives.
I believe anyone interested in WWII history but especially those who can't get enough about the men of Easy Company will be delighted with these very personal life stories from the family members who loved them. An absolutely fascinating look at the lives of men who fought in WWII and what happened to them. For those families who were lucky to spend many years with their relative and hear the stories first hand, to those that didn't come home, their lives made a lasting impact on the families they left behind for generations to come.
Susan Finn
