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The Things Our Fathers Saw #4
Up the Bloody Boot/The War in Italy: The Things Our Fathers Saw-The Untold Stories of the World War II Generation-Volume IV
YOU’VE JUST SHOT A GERMAN SOLDIER, and now you have to lay with him as the enemy counterattacks. What do you do when he starts speaking to you, wounded mortally, and tells you in perfect English that he is from Coney Island in Brooklyn, your old stomping grounds?
YOU ARE ON THE RUN IN ROME, AN ESCAPED PoW behind enemy lines, on a trolley without papers as the German SS board and demand identification from all, working their way back to you. In civilian clothes, what do you tell your friend next to you when you know you are about to be shot?
— “We attacked another hill, and I shot a German soldier. And then the Germans counterattacked on the hill, and I could not escape, so I decided to just lay down on top of that soldier and make believe I’m dead. They passed me by; I got up and this German I shot starts talking to me in English, he says he’s from Coney Island, in Brooklyn; he went to visit his mother in Germany and they put him in the army. And he was dying…” —Infantry scout, North Africa
Dying for freedom isn’t the worst that could happen. Being forgotten is.
— “The trolley was halted and German SS troops and Italian fascists, climbed aboard. They said, ‘Everyone show their identification cards as we approach you.’ My friend had a false one; I had had my photo taken for one but did not have my card yet because the priest who made them had been caught and shot. I whispered to my fellow escapee, ‘You have a card. There is no sense in both of us getting arrested. Get away from me.’ He didn’t move. There were steel bars on the windows of the trolley and both exits were covered. I was doomed.” —Escaped PoW, on the run in Rome behind enemy lines
Maybe our veterans did not volunteer to tell us their stories; perhaps we were too busy with our own lives to ask. But they opened up to a younger generation, when a history teacher taught his students to engage.
— “The general said to one of the battalion commanders, ‘I want you to take Riva Ridge tomorrow night. Go out and scout how you’re going to do it. You guys are a bunch of hotshots, you’re skiers and mountain climbers, find a way on top of that ridge!”–10th Mountain Division soldier
As we forge ahead as a nation, do we owe it to ourselves to become reacquainted with a generation that is fast leaving us, who asked for nothing but gave everything, to attune ourselves as Americans to a broader appreciation of what we stand for?
This is the fourth book in the masterful WWII oral history series, but you can read them in any order.
— “We’re going to go into a night attack. You wouldn’t have any contact with each other, and single file, which means if the line breaks, you don’t know where you are. Okay, so much for that. But what about friendly fire? No, you’re going to clear your piece. That’s army talk for you’re going to take all the rounds from your BARs and rifles. Not loaded, so nobody’s going to be shooting. You’re going to know who the enemy is because they’re going to be shooting at you! We never had a training session where we attacked a mountain in the dark with no ammunition!” —10th Mountain Division soldier
It's time to listen to them. Read some of the reviews below and REMEMBER how a generation of young Americans truly saved the world.
YOU ARE ON THE RUN IN ROME, AN ESCAPED PoW behind enemy lines, on a trolley without papers as the German SS board and demand identification from all, working their way back to you. In civilian clothes, what do you tell your friend next to you when you know you are about to be shot?
— “We attacked another hill, and I shot a German soldier. And then the Germans counterattacked on the hill, and I could not escape, so I decided to just lay down on top of that soldier and make believe I’m dead. They passed me by; I got up and this German I shot starts talking to me in English, he says he’s from Coney Island, in Brooklyn; he went to visit his mother in Germany and they put him in the army. And he was dying…” —Infantry scout, North Africa
Dying for freedom isn’t the worst that could happen. Being forgotten is.
— “The trolley was halted and German SS troops and Italian fascists, climbed aboard. They said, ‘Everyone show their identification cards as we approach you.’ My friend had a false one; I had had my photo taken for one but did not have my card yet because the priest who made them had been caught and shot. I whispered to my fellow escapee, ‘You have a card. There is no sense in both of us getting arrested. Get away from me.’ He didn’t move. There were steel bars on the windows of the trolley and both exits were covered. I was doomed.” —Escaped PoW, on the run in Rome behind enemy lines
Maybe our veterans did not volunteer to tell us their stories; perhaps we were too busy with our own lives to ask. But they opened up to a younger generation, when a history teacher taught his students to engage.
— “The general said to one of the battalion commanders, ‘I want you to take Riva Ridge tomorrow night. Go out and scout how you’re going to do it. You guys are a bunch of hotshots, you’re skiers and mountain climbers, find a way on top of that ridge!”–10th Mountain Division soldier
As we forge ahead as a nation, do we owe it to ourselves to become reacquainted with a generation that is fast leaving us, who asked for nothing but gave everything, to attune ourselves as Americans to a broader appreciation of what we stand for?
This is the fourth book in the masterful WWII oral history series, but you can read them in any order.
— “We’re going to go into a night attack. You wouldn’t have any contact with each other, and single file, which means if the line breaks, you don’t know where you are. Okay, so much for that. But what about friendly fire? No, you’re going to clear your piece. That’s army talk for you’re going to take all the rounds from your BARs and rifles. Not loaded, so nobody’s going to be shooting. You’re going to know who the enemy is because they’re going to be shooting at you! We never had a training session where we attacked a mountain in the dark with no ammunition!” —10th Mountain Division soldier
It's time to listen to them. Read some of the reviews below and REMEMBER how a generation of young Americans truly saved the world.
297 pages, Kindle Edition
Published June 25, 2018
488 people are currently reading
632 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews
August 5, 2020
This is the second book in this series I have now read, and I think it will be the last. Though it is better formatted than the first book, I completely lost trust in this book during the first story of the Ranger, where they were attacked with V-2 rockets in Africa during 1943, while these only went into operation in September 1944. Being an author of history, these facts should be known or at least checked even though you want the veterans to describe their service in their own words. After this, one always wonders how much is real of these stories and how much the author knows about the history of the events.
January 20, 2021
I read 3 other books so for in this series, which I could not put down. This one was still a good read. However all interviews basically told the same story over. So after first couple chapters this book to me was done.
November 9, 2024
The Italian Campaign during World War II was a series of bloody campaigns, but very few know the struggles the Allies had during the Invasion of Italy. In fact, World War II for the USA was taught to me as Pearl Harbor, Normandy and atomic bombs and it was all over. I wanted to learn more about this unknown campaign. The book provides background of the African and Italian Campaigns to help you understand the situation. The author has interviews of soldiers that participated in these battles. It is a phenomenal read and it makes you feel you are there.
June 9, 2025
So many of our veterans never talked about what they saw or endured during WWII. My uncles never did until much time had passed. It's good that Mr. Rozelle took it upon himself to interview those who would speak of their time to document events of the war. Sometimes their recollections might have had an inaccuracy here or there in terms of when something happened, but they came home, and that's what's important.
Reading about the 10th mountain division was particularly interesting, because I had never heard of it. In the final chapter the soldier mentioned the Pratt and Whitney engines they found in a tunnel that were made somewhere in Ohio. My grandfather was a civilian employee at area B at Wright Patterson AFB in Fairborn and he lost his hearing testing those engines.
I can't wait to read the next volume in the series.
Reading about the 10th mountain division was particularly interesting, because I had never heard of it. In the final chapter the soldier mentioned the Pratt and Whitney engines they found in a tunnel that were made somewhere in Ohio. My grandfather was a civilian employee at area B at Wright Patterson AFB in Fairborn and he lost his hearing testing those engines.
I can't wait to read the next volume in the series.
December 31, 2019
Great to hear these stories before it was too late.
Another great book by Mr. Rozell. I read The Train To Magdeburg, GREAT book. So when I saw this book, I purchased immediately. It's so important to hear from veterans, especially when they hadn't told their stories before. I'm so happy Mr. Rozell has written about these people & I look forward to reading all of his books. I encourage everyone to do the same!
Another great book by Mr. Rozell. I read The Train To Magdeburg, GREAT book. So when I saw this book, I purchased immediately. It's so important to hear from veterans, especially when they hadn't told their stories before. I'm so happy Mr. Rozell has written about these people & I look forward to reading all of his books. I encourage everyone to do the same!
May 20, 2020
Outstanding!
My father went “Up The Bloody Boot,” and he would have loved this book. As his only child, I could hear his voice in so many of these stories, and as his son and a fellow veteran, I swell with pride for “The Things MY Father Saw,” and the courageous job he and his comrades did.
My father went “Up The Bloody Boot,” and he would have loved this book. As his only child, I could hear his voice in so many of these stories, and as his son and a fellow veteran, I swell with pride for “The Things MY Father Saw,” and the courageous job he and his comrades did.
January 25, 2019
Great read
Very informative, you will feel like you’ve read the same thing a couple of times over,only because different people serving in the same area have similar stories within the same campaign
Very informative, you will feel like you’ve read the same thing a couple of times over,only because different people serving in the same area have similar stories within the same campaign
April 5, 2019
The greatest generation
Matthew Rozell weaves interviews with our greatest generation who's sometimes forgotten sacrifice is revealed again. Old men relive their past with stories to inspire and touch us.
Matthew Rozell weaves interviews with our greatest generation who's sometimes forgotten sacrifice is revealed again. Old men relive their past with stories to inspire and touch us.
August 9, 2019
The Memories are fading.
Good recount of the war in Italy that most did not know about. This book remembers those that fought so bravely and never came home. I wished I had asked my uncle before he passed as to his role in the Army in Italy during WWII.
Good recount of the war in Italy that most did not know about. This book remembers those that fought so bravely and never came home. I wished I had asked my uncle before he passed as to his role in the Army in Italy during WWII.
February 28, 2020
Great book
World War11 through the eyes of the men who fought and lost comrades and friends during the war. These men are few and becoming fewer ever year. It is important to record their stories before there is no one left to tell their stories.
World War11 through the eyes of the men who fought and lost comrades and friends during the war. These men are few and becoming fewer ever year. It is important to record their stories before there is no one left to tell their stories.
March 16, 2021
Each of the books in this series is getting harder on me to read. Most, if not all, of these heroes are gone now and hearing of their passing is very hard for me. Mr. Rozell has a way of writing these people into my heart, never to be forgotten.On to #5, and D-Day.
December 9, 2022
One of the best in the series so far, the story of the Italian Campaign has not been as publicized as the Campaign in Western Europe, but the challenges and strategies are compelling, especially when told by the men that fought the war on the Allies' side. Great stiff.
January 2, 2023
All of the books by Mathew Rozell are stories told by the soldiers years after the war. Most of the men told their stories because they want the next generation to know about the horrors of war and the holocaust.
February 7, 2019
We should never forget...
Very interesting accounts of the fighting in Italy. History recounted by those who were right there on the front lines.
Very interesting accounts of the fighting in Italy. History recounted by those who were right there on the front lines.
July 7, 2019
Tear jerking
This is the type of interview book that helps people think about the consequences of going to war without proper forethought.
This is the type of interview book that helps people think about the consequences of going to war without proper forethought.
November 17, 2020
Listening to Heros
Enjoyed this book very much. Love to read the every day struggles and funny tales of these great Patriotic Americans.
Enjoyed this book very much. Love to read the every day struggles and funny tales of these great Patriotic Americans.
May 21, 2021
Excellant!!
Read
July 28, 2023Another great series of stories told from mountaineer divisions sent to Italy.
January 7, 2025
A great concept to interview the soldiers of WW II. Very interesting to hear the Vets stories in their own words. They were the Greatest Generation. I'll seek out more of these books.
June 22, 2025
Love these books. I started at Volume I covering the Pacific where my father flew an F6F off the USS Ticonderoga. Just starting Volume V.
September 2, 2025
working my way through the series
I have learned from the first 4 books of this series and expect to learn more as I continue on.
I have learned from the first 4 books of this series and expect to learn more as I continue on.
September 12, 2025
Love this series! First hand accounts of the men and women during WWII. Can’t wait to read the next one!
December 28, 2021
As with the previous books, this is a compilation of individual veteran's experiences fighting in Italy in WWII. Sometimes the writing is clunky but these oral stories are obviously what the veterans said. Some passages were painful as the men told stories of losing their best friends. If you like WWII history, these books are certainly worthwhile.
May 4, 2020
The things our fathers saw is a series of books that follow men & women who were part of WW2.
A history teacher set out to give his students an assignment to interview a veteran. Little did this teacher know that one assignment would set him on a course to write a series of books from the Pacific theater to victory over Germany to the concentration camps of the holocaust.
This was my second read of the series.
This book takes accounts from the battles of Italy.
We invaded Italy after the campaign in Africa was won. The great tank general Patton lead the charge to get us to germany and along the way was some of t j.g e bloodiest battles of the Italian campaign.
This whole book is told by the men and women who fought for of freedom all those years ago. It is their actual words and thoughts we are reading.
I haven't read much on the Italian campaign but this book definitely opened a new view point for me. I love learning new things about ww2.
If you want a good read and learn new things about a war of freedom then this is the book.
A history teacher set out to give his students an assignment to interview a veteran. Little did this teacher know that one assignment would set him on a course to write a series of books from the Pacific theater to victory over Germany to the concentration camps of the holocaust.
This was my second read of the series.
This book takes accounts from the battles of Italy.
We invaded Italy after the campaign in Africa was won. The great tank general Patton lead the charge to get us to germany and along the way was some of t j.g e bloodiest battles of the Italian campaign.
This whole book is told by the men and women who fought for of freedom all those years ago. It is their actual words and thoughts we are reading.
I haven't read much on the Italian campaign but this book definitely opened a new view point for me. I love learning new things about ww2.
If you want a good read and learn new things about a war of freedom then this is the book.
December 27, 2022
Good, more stories of peoples personal experiences in WW2 (Italy), collected when the guys were in their 70's and 80's.
Given they are mostly transcribed stories, the wording / grammar varies greatly from story to story. But some interesting slices-of-life from WW2.
I only gave it three stars as it was good, but doesn't have that gripping storytelling a great author can bring.
Given they are mostly transcribed stories, the wording / grammar varies greatly from story to story. But some interesting slices-of-life from WW2.
I only gave it three stars as it was good, but doesn't have that gripping storytelling a great author can bring.
Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews