Forever a Soldier: Unforgettable Stories of Wartime Service

by Tom Wiener

Most American soldiers can pinpoint a specific time when life stood still, when they thought, "I'm going to remember this moment forever." It's times like these that have the power to change the future. Forever a Soldier —drawn from the massive national collection of the Library of Congress Veterans History Project—illustrates how American soldiers have answered the call to duty with a singular spirit of patriotism, and how military service has transformed their lives. Some of the remarkable stories include a World War II prisoner of war who describes desperate hours spent trying to conceal his Jewish heritage from his German captors; a nurse stationed in Vietnam who remembers a dying patient, his miraculous recovery, and her reward years later; and the survivor of a famed World War II shipwreck who flashes back to four harrowing days in the shark-infested waters of the Pacific Ocean.

Culled from letters, diaries, and oral histories by soldiers, sailors, marines, and supporting citizens, these fifty stories constitute an astonishing historical record, a powerful tribute to those who fought, and a celebration of the enduring power of the words of few to speak for many. Forever a Soldier captures the personal perspective of war that is all too often lost in news reports and government statements. It is an indispensable contribution to understanding war and its impact on us all.

Genres: Memoir, Military Fiction, History

352 pages, Hardcover

First published November 1, 2005

Reviews

[Lynette · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is another great book. It’s another great read.

[Christine · Rating 5 out of 5]

Bought this a our library book sale and just started reading this. Cannot put it down.

[Pamela Sloss · Rating 5 out of 5]

Unforgettable stories from our heroes. A book that is hard to put down. Makes me very thankful for the service of our country's veterans!

[Mark Gonzalez · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm interested in events taking place during World War II. Mostly the Navy and Marines that experienced it for it shows what they had back then and makes me compare what we have today for if the U.S. ever gets into war. But the part where dogs are left abandoned and killed really makes me sad for I have two dogs and I know MANY neighbors with dogs, I can hardly think what it is like to kill one. t is an awesome book about war and very graphical as well.

Running away just to serve a country. The U.S. is the only country where people are the government and are willing to die to keep it that way.


I currently just finished reading this novel, I really liked to read the different perspectives of each soldier from different branches about World War II. What I liked the most is how a few witnessed the attack of Pearl Harbor but almost nobody believed the story until they saw it with their own eyes. I guess the Navy did not expect the Japanese to attack but i they did, would the U.S. still get involved in WWII? It is a very graphic novel so reader discretion is advised!

[Paul Lunger · Rating 3 out of 5]

Tom Wiener's "Forever a Soldier: Unforgettable Stories of Wartime Service" is a collection of short essays & recollections from veterans (some more well known than other) that recount their service in wars ranging from WWI through Iraq/Afghanistan. The topics range all over the place from the brotherhood of wartime service to prisoner of war status & beyond. Most of the essays themselves aren't all that bad although some are a bit hard to read & are easier to skim then get into detail with. Overall, not a bad book for anyone looking to read firsthand accounts of war in general, but for the average lay person this might be one to skip simply due to subject matter.

[inhonoredglory · Rating 5 out of 5]

Stories here have moved me, inspired me, thrilled me, and set me thinking of the seriousness and strength of our fighting men and women. Because it tells the stories of individuals, it is incredibly personal and powerful. Some stories I would never want to forget. There is much to learn here and much to remember. I'll definitely be reading this again.

[Hunter]

My grandfather recommended this one to me so I borrowed it when I visited the grandparents in Illinois. It's the next book on deck.

[Cws]

355 Wie

[Greg Oaster · Rating 5 out of 5]

An excellent book. I enjoy reading narratives written by boots on the ground soldiers. These are the true heroes. Something the movies and history books seems to forget about.