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Every Man a Hero: A Memoir of D-day, the First Wave at Omaha Beach, and a World at War
Timed to the seventy-fifth anniversary of the Normandy invasion, an extraordinary first-hand account of D-Day by a decorated U.S. Army medic who landed with the first wave on June 6, 1944, and saved dozens of his fellow American soldiers on Omaha Beach, despite having his back broken and being wounded at least three times.
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First published May 28, 2019
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November 23, 2021
This is one of the best memoirs I have read from the Second World War from the experience of a GI in the European theatre. The author served as a medic with the 1st Infantry Division during Operation Torch and the subsequent North African campaign where US troops were blooded in the ETO for the first time, the invasion of Sicily before going to land on D-Day at Omaha Beach where he was wounded and sent home. The author also includes his childhood in Alabama during the Depression years and how he came to join the army in 1939 to escape the poverty.
The writing of the book is excellent and his descriptions of events that he remembers well is great, he also admits when he cannot remember as clearly and does not just make up things as he goes along. One of the big plusses for this book for me is that there is very little dialogue, which gives this memoir a more authentic feel. The historical background he gives is very accurate and does not take over the book with just enough details given, so a reader with no knowledge of the war will find this very helpful. The author is also very humble and is a real straight-shooter when it comes to his opinions and why he has them.
This book is a must for any World War 2 shelf or a reader wanting to get into World War 2 reading, as it covers a great deal of the fighting before D-Day by American forces in Europe and is an interesting viewpoint from that of a medic. Highly recommended!!
The writing of the book is excellent and his descriptions of events that he remembers well is great, he also admits when he cannot remember as clearly and does not just make up things as he goes along. One of the big plusses for this book for me is that there is very little dialogue, which gives this memoir a more authentic feel. The historical background he gives is very accurate and does not take over the book with just enough details given, so a reader with no knowledge of the war will find this very helpful. The author is also very humble and is a real straight-shooter when it comes to his opinions and why he has them.
This book is a must for any World War 2 shelf or a reader wanting to get into World War 2 reading, as it covers a great deal of the fighting before D-Day by American forces in Europe and is an interesting viewpoint from that of a medic. Highly recommended!!
June 9, 2019
The best of combat memoirs are the ones that do just tell it like it was, and Ray Lambert's memoir of his battle experiences from North Africa, to Sicily, to Omaha Beach on D-Day ranks right up there with the best of battle memoirs. Ray is simple and frank and this is the value of his story. As you read it, you begin to agree with Ray, (almost) every man, really was a hero.
Here is a good example of Mr. Lambert's simple and frank style. He tells about the one guy in his unit who was "that guy," incompetent, always on KP duties, Mr. Lambert writes, "To put it in contemporary military terms, he wasn't squared away.
I'm being kind."
He goes on to say: "I heard later, he eventually became a major. I'd like to believe that means he straightened himself out, but it may be a more accurate assessment of how hard up the army was for officers.
Not to mention ample justification for the ordinary enlisted man's view of the officer class, exceptions duly noted."
Love it!
In this passage he discusses an attack that encountered "light resistance." He writes: "The regiment's casualties totaled twenty-five KIA, with seventy-nine wounded. That is the terrible math of war—even in "light action" or "small resistance," as the fighting at Oran is often described in the history books, real people die."
Indeed they do.
In this passage, Mr. Lambert discusses why his division (the big Red One) initially didn't fair so well in battle. I think his insight is amazing here. He says:
"One of the biggest factors, in my opinion, was our inexperience. Not only did we not really know war yet, we didn't know how to kill.
It's more than shooting someone. It's not something you learn in your head, not a math equation or an instruction about how to wire up a switch. It's knowledge you need to get into your bones, into your heart. It's a harsh thing, but without it, you and your friends are dead, your battle is lost, and what you came to fight for is forfeit."
This passage is perhaps the best explanation of the nature of war that I've ever read. It's cold, it's calculated, it's harsh, it's also the truth. This is exactly why we ought to not ever go into war blithely for it is a terrible thing.
Mr. Lambert writes elsewhere of war: "On maps, battles are large and small arrows, dotted lines, terse descriptions. On the ground they're flipped over Jeeps and busted tanks. The thick arrow might represent several weeks of fighting, during which a unit might be cycled on and off the front line several times.
The maps can't show things like the mud that crusts on your boots or the dirt that coats your skin. It certainly doesn't show the blood that cakes on your trousers after you've cleaned a dozen wounds."
Mr. Lambert writes about a court-martial for a GI who deserted: "A lot of things can be forgiven in war, letting the guy next to you down isn't one of them."
Mr. Lambert is in the very first wave onto Omaha Beach on D-Day and as a medic he is exposed to enemy fire as he goes around helping the wounded. His description of the chaos on the beach is as good as I've read. Here he writes about the sheer noise of battle:
"The noise of war does more than deafen you. It's worse than shock, more physical than something thumping against your chest. It pounds your bones, rumbling through your organs, counter-beating your heart. Your skull vibrates. You feel the noise as if it's inside you, a demonic parasite pushing at every inch of skin to get out."
As vivid imagery as I've ever read about battle.
Mr. Lambert is eventually trapped under an LST when the front gangway drops on top of him as he is helping a wounded man in the water. Just before he drowns, and inexplicably, the gangway raises and he is freed, but the gangway breaks his back. This incident ends his war, but it will be a long time before he is completely healthy (or as healthy as he can be). Ironically enough, his brother is also wounded on Omaha Beach on D-Day and the pair are reunited as they are evacuated onto a hospital ship. Both brothers survived the war, having been in battle in North Africa, Sicily, and Omaha Beach on D-Day, which is amazing.
A frank, vivid, account of one man's experience as a medic in battle. You can't help agreeing as you read it that all of these men who fought in these terrible battles, who sacrificed so much, certainly were heroes.
Here is a good example of Mr. Lambert's simple and frank style. He tells about the one guy in his unit who was "that guy," incompetent, always on KP duties, Mr. Lambert writes, "To put it in contemporary military terms, he wasn't squared away.
I'm being kind."
He goes on to say: "I heard later, he eventually became a major. I'd like to believe that means he straightened himself out, but it may be a more accurate assessment of how hard up the army was for officers.
Not to mention ample justification for the ordinary enlisted man's view of the officer class, exceptions duly noted."
Love it!
In this passage he discusses an attack that encountered "light resistance." He writes: "The regiment's casualties totaled twenty-five KIA, with seventy-nine wounded. That is the terrible math of war—even in "light action" or "small resistance," as the fighting at Oran is often described in the history books, real people die."
Indeed they do.
In this passage, Mr. Lambert discusses why his division (the big Red One) initially didn't fair so well in battle. I think his insight is amazing here. He says:
"One of the biggest factors, in my opinion, was our inexperience. Not only did we not really know war yet, we didn't know how to kill.
It's more than shooting someone. It's not something you learn in your head, not a math equation or an instruction about how to wire up a switch. It's knowledge you need to get into your bones, into your heart. It's a harsh thing, but without it, you and your friends are dead, your battle is lost, and what you came to fight for is forfeit."
This passage is perhaps the best explanation of the nature of war that I've ever read. It's cold, it's calculated, it's harsh, it's also the truth. This is exactly why we ought to not ever go into war blithely for it is a terrible thing.
Mr. Lambert writes elsewhere of war: "On maps, battles are large and small arrows, dotted lines, terse descriptions. On the ground they're flipped over Jeeps and busted tanks. The thick arrow might represent several weeks of fighting, during which a unit might be cycled on and off the front line several times.
The maps can't show things like the mud that crusts on your boots or the dirt that coats your skin. It certainly doesn't show the blood that cakes on your trousers after you've cleaned a dozen wounds."
Mr. Lambert writes about a court-martial for a GI who deserted: "A lot of things can be forgiven in war, letting the guy next to you down isn't one of them."
Mr. Lambert is in the very first wave onto Omaha Beach on D-Day and as a medic he is exposed to enemy fire as he goes around helping the wounded. His description of the chaos on the beach is as good as I've read. Here he writes about the sheer noise of battle:
"The noise of war does more than deafen you. It's worse than shock, more physical than something thumping against your chest. It pounds your bones, rumbling through your organs, counter-beating your heart. Your skull vibrates. You feel the noise as if it's inside you, a demonic parasite pushing at every inch of skin to get out."
As vivid imagery as I've ever read about battle.
Mr. Lambert is eventually trapped under an LST when the front gangway drops on top of him as he is helping a wounded man in the water. Just before he drowns, and inexplicably, the gangway raises and he is freed, but the gangway breaks his back. This incident ends his war, but it will be a long time before he is completely healthy (or as healthy as he can be). Ironically enough, his brother is also wounded on Omaha Beach on D-Day and the pair are reunited as they are evacuated onto a hospital ship. Both brothers survived the war, having been in battle in North Africa, Sicily, and Omaha Beach on D-Day, which is amazing.
A frank, vivid, account of one man's experience as a medic in battle. You can't help agreeing as you read it that all of these men who fought in these terrible battles, who sacrificed so much, certainly were heroes.
December 30, 2020
“Always for us the war was an immediate affair; the only strategy that counted was the one that kept you and your buddies alive.”
Extraordinary memoir of one of the last survivors of D-Day. The story summarizes growing up in Alabama in the 20s and 30s, and his decision to escape poverty by joining the US Army in 1940. He thought he knew what was coming, but had no idea what was ahead for him.
“I guess they figured if a man can take care of dogs, soldiers would be a cinch.”
Though Lambert had no medical training, he had assisted the county vet giving rabies shots to dogs.
“The 2nd Battalion medics never retreated; we just found a better location.”
Excellent voice and sense of the times. Lambert was older than many recruits and a natural leader. He survived landings in Algeria, Sicily, and Normandy. My father was a WW2 vet, and many of Lambert’s expressions and slang resonated with me. And reminded me of my father, dead over twenty years.
“Your mind plays tricks when you look back. Things that should be sharp and crisp blur. Odd events, people you barely knew and places you rarely visited, suddenly become sharp.”
DeFelice undoubtedly facilitated producing a modern text for the 90-year-old Lambert but did so without losing the sense of the original.
“No mission too difficult, no sacrifice too great—Duty First” First Division motto.
We cannot imagine what it was like: Lambert’s First Division “The Big Red One” went through. It is estimated that fully 30% of everyone who landed on Omaha beach was killed or wounded during his first hour ashore … or, in many cases, not quite ashore. Lambert was wounded three times that morning, the last took him out of the fight. His team rescued him and started him back to England.
“And that’s all right. In a way, it’s better. Every medic who did his job that day was a savior; every man a hero.”
Extraordinary memoir of one of the last survivors of D-Day. The story summarizes growing up in Alabama in the 20s and 30s, and his decision to escape poverty by joining the US Army in 1940. He thought he knew what was coming, but had no idea what was ahead for him.
“I guess they figured if a man can take care of dogs, soldiers would be a cinch.”
Though Lambert had no medical training, he had assisted the county vet giving rabies shots to dogs.
“The 2nd Battalion medics never retreated; we just found a better location.”
Excellent voice and sense of the times. Lambert was older than many recruits and a natural leader. He survived landings in Algeria, Sicily, and Normandy. My father was a WW2 vet, and many of Lambert’s expressions and slang resonated with me. And reminded me of my father, dead over twenty years.
“Your mind plays tricks when you look back. Things that should be sharp and crisp blur. Odd events, people you barely knew and places you rarely visited, suddenly become sharp.”
DeFelice undoubtedly facilitated producing a modern text for the 90-year-old Lambert but did so without losing the sense of the original.
“No mission too difficult, no sacrifice too great—Duty First” First Division motto.
We cannot imagine what it was like: Lambert’s First Division “The Big Red One” went through. It is estimated that fully 30% of everyone who landed on Omaha beach was killed or wounded during his first hour ashore … or, in many cases, not quite ashore. Lambert was wounded three times that morning, the last took him out of the fight. His team rescued him and started him back to England.
“And that’s all right. In a way, it’s better. Every medic who did his job that day was a savior; every man a hero.”
July 30, 2019
While this book was less than electrifying. I hold it in high regard because of the fact that its a true story told by an American Hero. Many people of my generation do not know much about WWII or the sacrifices our county had to make to defend our freedom. Stories like this bring us one step closer understanding the insanity of war and the unwavering bravery that all Americans showed when our world was in turmoil.
November 25, 2023
Lambert grew up in Alabama. During the depression, he earns a dollar a day and had been medic for vet giving rabies shot to dog. Later when he joined the army, this experience made it easy to give shots to soldiers “who don’t bite”. He spent 3 years in the army, getting wounded multiple times and saved countless lives.
The story covered his many experiences in the war. En route to Britain, they were attacked by a submarine and the escort destroyer went on to attack the sub. Arriving in North Africa, they fought Rommel. Later, their unit moved to Italy for more fights. This is when the American soldiers are becoming as experienced as the Brits who had been in the fight longer. On D-day, he described the scene from his perspective as soldiers get mowed by German machine guns, medics having to treat soldiers in water, and using dead bodies as some kind of cover.
Even without combat injuries, life of these young men were pretty hard. They had dirt on minor wounds, shell shock, and fungal disease from the wet socks and boots. Still, most of them carry on to do a job they were told to and seldom think of what they are doing as heroic. Today, almost 80 years after D-day, most of the WWII veterans have left the world. In fact, Lambert was 98 when he started the book project to leave behind some first-person account of the experience. He died at the age of 100 in year 2021.
The story covered his many experiences in the war. En route to Britain, they were attacked by a submarine and the escort destroyer went on to attack the sub. Arriving in North Africa, they fought Rommel. Later, their unit moved to Italy for more fights. This is when the American soldiers are becoming as experienced as the Brits who had been in the fight longer. On D-day, he described the scene from his perspective as soldiers get mowed by German machine guns, medics having to treat soldiers in water, and using dead bodies as some kind of cover.
Even without combat injuries, life of these young men were pretty hard. They had dirt on minor wounds, shell shock, and fungal disease from the wet socks and boots. Still, most of them carry on to do a job they were told to and seldom think of what they are doing as heroic. Today, almost 80 years after D-day, most of the WWII veterans have left the world. In fact, Lambert was 98 when he started the book project to leave behind some first-person account of the experience. He died at the age of 100 in year 2021.
May 8, 2020
I love personal account of history. This book does not disappoint. On of the best!
June 6, 2022
It feels odd to say, but this was an endearing memoir of WWII. Perhaps it's because the author was 98 while recounting this or it could be his overall positive outlook even in the face of mayhem. Whatever the reason, this was a quick and enjoyable read. The depictions of D-Day reminded me of the National WWII Museum in New Orleans. Now the memories of those exhibits have a more personal story attached to them. I also admired Ray Lambert's reasons for telling his story -- so the next generations will remember and continue to learn from this universal tragedy.
May 29, 2019
I’ve read a lot of combat memoirs. This is one of the better ones. It’s a fast read and provides a fair amount of context for readers who aren’t that familiar with WW2. Though billed as a ‘memoir of D-Day’ it also covers the author’s time in North Africa and Sicily, two areas of the war that do not get as much coverage as D-Day onward.
April 12, 2020
"The vast libraries of books on D-Day can't come close to describing what happened on the beach that day. There were so many acts of heroism, of men exposing themselves to enemy gunfire to advance, sacrificing themselves to help others--each one is a library of its own." (p.196) This book should be part of everyone's library on the D-Day invasion. I never get tired of reading books about the D-Day invasion. Every Man a Hero is one of those books. It is an oral history (the best type of history one can read) on this subject. Told by 98 year old Ray Lambert a U.S. Army medic who recounts his prewar life and experiences at Omaha Beach during D-Day. Lambert's part of dying generation of WWII veterans who bore witness to this invasion. I have read accounts that only 400,000 WWII vets still exist and 400 of them die a day. We need these stories to keep us from forgetting how this great generation sacrificed for us so we would not lose the freedoms we all endure. Its a remarkable story and you will get a vivid picture of what he went through. His accounts of what happen will keep the memory of that day alive. Dam it was a goodread.
November 7, 2019
We lose WW2 D-day veterans every day, so I found it incredible to have the opportunity to read the memoir of a 98 year old veteran who, until recently, never shared his amazing story of his years in the war, culminating in the D-day landing in 1944. His book begins with a great description of growing up in a poor, rural family in Alabama during the depression. After leaving high school to help support his family, he worked in a variety of jobs to help put food on the table. His job as a veterinarian assistant gave him experience with giving injections, so when it came for him to join the military at the start of the war, he was trained to become a medic. Thus, began his epic journey from his extensive training at home and in England, to his combat service in the invasions of Africa and Italy, ending in the bloody day on Omaha Beach. He and his brother both survived critical injuries on that day and lived very decent, unassuming lives in the aftermath of that terrible conflict. In the very divisive time that dominates our days, it is increasingly important to remember all the heroes that have made the prosperity of our country possible.
September 27, 2019
Ray Lambert who is now 98 years old tells us of his life and his time in the U.S. Army Big Red 1. The title tells us the basic premise -- every man is a hero. Lambert told of his life growing up, his times and experiences working on a farm, quitting school when he was 12 years old to help support the family, and his experiences in the Army in Africa, Sicily, and at Omaha Beach.
In many ways Lambert life experienced mirror those of the many hundreds of thousands of men and women who served in WWII. My father too served in WWII. He grew up in a small town, with no plumbing, outhouse, wood burning stove, etc. How different was my life, the life of my children and the life of my grandchildren as they grew up. The hard times and more small town and agriculture background of most men and women in Lambert's time forged a type of person that could survive the death and turmoil of war and then work to settle down and build a new life for themselves and their country when they returned home.
In many ways Lambert life experienced mirror those of the many hundreds of thousands of men and women who served in WWII. My father too served in WWII. He grew up in a small town, with no plumbing, outhouse, wood burning stove, etc. How different was my life, the life of my children and the life of my grandchildren as they grew up. The hard times and more small town and agriculture background of most men and women in Lambert's time forged a type of person that could survive the death and turmoil of war and then work to settle down and build a new life for themselves and their country when they returned home.
September 27, 2019
A Great war story told by the author. I’m always in awe of what these people had to go through, and then live with the rest of their lives. Such hard memories to live with, and such hard times to live through.
March 19, 2022
Wow, can I just say how privileged we should all feel when we finish reading this book. This story follows the true bravery of a solider in World War II and tells his first-hand account of what happened. Ray was a medic in the war and saved so many lives. Without giving too much away, as I don't want to put spoilers in my review, Ray's actions earned him some amazing honors/medals in the military. It also goes on to tell his story after the war, which I loved learning about just as much as learning about his experiences in the war. Not many people talked about the struggles they went through after returning from war back then as PTSD was not a diagnosis back in the day. I think it is important to know how these soldiers felt coming back.
I also like that the book has several museums listed and their websites for you to see more about World War II. These places have been added to my husband and my bucket list of places to see and learn more about the war.
Thank you so much Ray for your service and for sharing your story of your life and sacrifices during the war.
I also like that the book has several museums listed and their websites for you to see more about World War II. These places have been added to my husband and my bucket list of places to see and learn more about the war.
Thank you so much Ray for your service and for sharing your story of your life and sacrifices during the war.
August 9, 2024
I really enjoy WWII memoirs. This one is excellent, and I always learn something new. I learned about V-mail, which I don't think I have ever heard about before.
These folks who grew up during the depression and served in the war seemed to be a generation who were hardworking, respectful, and dedicated to fighting for liberty and justice. I know every generation has its "good" and its "bad," but something draws me to this generation and their stories. I listened to the audio, and the reader is excellent!
These folks who grew up during the depression and served in the war seemed to be a generation who were hardworking, respectful, and dedicated to fighting for liberty and justice. I know every generation has its "good" and its "bad," but something draws me to this generation and their stories. I listened to the audio, and the reader is excellent!
January 30, 2020
What an incredible life. Thank you Mr. Lambert for sharing your story. As hard as it may have been to share the story of his experiences I am thankful that he did. Well done sir. I have read many books on WWII and this is near the top. I just wish more soldiers would share their stories before they are lost to history. My father in law wouldn't talk about his time in the military so I understand the reluctance. But I wonder in telling his story, if it was cathartic for Mr. Lambert.
May 9, 2020
Phenomenal memoir by a ridiculously brave man. Ray Lambert humbly recounts his experiences as a medic in WWII taking part in landings in Africa, Sicily, and of course at Omaho Beach on DDAY. Ray does his best to describe in detail the horrors of landing on the French shorline that fateful day. While the details are terrifying, the acts of heroism by Ray and dozens of other men during the war provides hope and inspiration for the furture of the human species. A must read for anyone who is emotionally moved by those men who sacrificed their lives to fight and defeat the greatest opression the world had ever seen.
November 11, 2025
The bravery and selflessness of WWII veterans like Ray Lambert never cease to amaze me. His journey from growing up as a poor farm boy in rural Alabama to serving as an Army medic on the beaches of Normandy is extraordinary. His firsthand account of the war in Europe, told from a medic’s perspective, makes this book stand out among other WWII books. It made me proud to be an American and an Alabamian. We owe so much to heroes like Ray Lambert.
October 22, 2019
Personal account was a mesh between stirring, poignant, horrifying and inspiring. It always reinforces my hope that we never have this type of war again. Ray was definitely modest and humble. Remarkable.
April 9, 2022
A first hand account of not only the D-Day invasion, but of the path this humble and ordinary man took that led him to the beaches of France. The importance of his memoir is immeasurable. I highly recommend this book. The greatest generation indeed!
April 26, 2020
Exceptional read that I struggled to put down. One of the best autobiographical accounts of D-Day that I have read.
June 26, 2021
Good ol’ American boy showing up and doing what was needed to stop Nazism. Not very heavy reading, interesting to read memoirs of one of our boys.
June 7, 2020
Ray Lambert wrote this book about his WWII service like he was talking to you--it was straight forward and easy to follow and he gave context and military definitions to the events and subject matter. The book as a whole gave the reader not only a good idea of the kind of man Ray is, but also a great overview on the war in North Africa, Sicily, Day & Normandy, the 1st Infantry Division, and the medic corps as a whole.
Ray was a medic and was part of the first wave on DDay. His medic perspective gives the reader a perfect first person viewpoint of looking into the action. I especially appreciate the history of the Big Red one in North Africa and the Pacific, which I wish McManus' book on the 1st. Div. had.
Perhaps the most touching thing about this book is Ray's humility and deference to those he served with. Ray is a hero of heroes and so was everyone he served with--from Tunisia to France--and it was really emotional to hear him talk about what he did and who he did it with.
A great first hand account of the war and certainly of DDay.
Ray was a medic and was part of the first wave on DDay. His medic perspective gives the reader a perfect first person viewpoint of looking into the action. I especially appreciate the history of the Big Red one in North Africa and the Pacific, which I wish McManus' book on the 1st. Div. had.
Perhaps the most touching thing about this book is Ray's humility and deference to those he served with. Ray is a hero of heroes and so was everyone he served with--from Tunisia to France--and it was really emotional to hear him talk about what he did and who he did it with.
A great first hand account of the war and certainly of DDay.
June 15, 2019
This was a 5 🌟 MEMOIR which was just released before the 75th anniversary of D-Day. This is a history book in a way but do not go in expecting more than what this is. Ray Lambert is a well know hero who was a medic who served on several fronts during WWII, he fought in Africa, Sicily and on D-Day to name some of his major locations. Ray’s Rock on Omaha Beach is named for him as he went back into the water to gather the wounded and shelter them behind this rock. He received many medals for his fearless work to save his fellows during multiple battles. This book is written in his voice and gives his opinions, two examples stood out for me. One is his description of the sound of war which I found very moving in how it made me feel his experience. The other is how he describes General Terry Allen, who he revered as a fantastic leader, and his contrasting description of General Patton who he respected as a military mind but had some personal issues with in regards to his leadership style. This shows that his honest opinions are represented. A lot of history is obviously represented but it is all from his point of view. This was a very moving read and I enjoyed reading from a medics viewpoint which was a departure from some other perspectives I have read before.
January 1, 2020
First hand narrative by Mr. Lambert, a medic in the 1st Infantry Division -Big Red. Humane, glorifies the selflessness with which the front line men fought in the decisive battle of WWII.
Yes, honor to the men that stopped the fascists from taking over Europe and perhaps the whole world had they not been defeated in D-Day, June 6, 1944. The boldness of the action, the odds against which they had to struggle, the mistakes but most important the human desire to help your fellow human being.
The last great war fought by the USA on the winning side.
I hope this serves us as a reminder of the horrors and sacrifices made by humble men and women in the name of Freedom. Lest we forget that war is the ultimate recourse against tyranny.
Yes, honor to the men that stopped the fascists from taking over Europe and perhaps the whole world had they not been defeated in D-Day, June 6, 1944. The boldness of the action, the odds against which they had to struggle, the mistakes but most important the human desire to help your fellow human being.
The last great war fought by the USA on the winning side.
I hope this serves us as a reminder of the horrors and sacrifices made by humble men and women in the name of Freedom. Lest we forget that war is the ultimate recourse against tyranny.
December 15, 2019
This was a well-written memoir of not only a D-Day survivor but also of a veteran of U.S. combat in World War II in Tunisia and in Sicily (both in 1943). U.S. Army Staff Sergeant Ray Lambert (an amazing 98 when he wrote this book with Jim DeFelice; Lambert was born on November 26, 1920), was an Army medic from the 2nd Battalion of the 16th Infantry Regiment, part of the 1st Division (the famed “Big Red One,” a name derived from the unit patch worn). Lambert recounted his life from his humble roots in rural Alabama through the Great Depression well into the postwar years, though the book concentrates on his U.S. Army training and his involvement in north Africa, Italy, his landing on Omaha Beach, and his recovery from his injuries he received at Normandy. Though there are a few paragraphs here and there that recount the broader sweep of the war (even mentioning the events in the Pacific), this book is focused on one man’s experience and the things he saw and did (and experienced by those around him). Having read a number of books on say the broad sweep of the European theater or the war in the Pacific, it was very interesting to read the experiences of one man on one stretch of Omaha Beach or in a particular valley in Tunisia, of the exact experiences he had.
The book can almost be read as a series of vignettes, not as one long narrative driven memoir but a series of recollections of his time in training, in the service, and in recovery. Some sections were a page or so, other went on for several pages, all describing what Lambert experienced. Though the bulk of the book is on his World War II service, not all sections dealt only with battle or his role as a medic, but also detailed a number of other things he did and experienced in the service. Asides ranged widely in their subject matter, from the surprisingly “accepted and expected part of war” that was the presence of prostitutes (both overseas and even say near Fort Riley in Kansas; Lambert himself, very happily married, never partook, but he did do a lot to caution and treat men who visited prostitutes), the often apparently deliberate policy of the Nazi targeting of medics (who wore red crosses on their helmets and armbands and were supposed to be immune from direct targeting thanks to the Geneva Convention, but whose targeting “was a deliberate policy, a war crime” on the part of the Germans), his thoughts on two of the best-loved generals of World War II (Major General Terry Allen and Brigadier General Theodore Roosevelt, son of President Teddy Roosevelt, two generals Lambert served under and thought extremely highly of though not always well-liked by those above the two generals, with General Patton in particular intensely disliking General Allen, though as Lambert wrote “We might fight for Patton, but we’d go through hell and back ten times again for Terry”), his thoughts on the famed incident of Patton slapping a soldier suffering from battle fatigue (Lambert was surprisingly sympathetic to Patton while not condoning the action nor saying he particularly a fan of the man, pointing to among other things the then current understandings of PTSD), to Lambert’s interesting history of his Silver Stars (he only claims one, as he the official paperwork to back up the award, but his other two Silver Stars despite promises he would get the documents around them he never received them and thus Lambert doesn’t claim them despite having the actual medals, though as noted in the notes and sources section 80% of the records of U.S. servicemen discharged between 1912 and 1980 were lost at a fire in 1973 at the National Personnel Records Center in St. Louis), the role of the WAACs (Women Auxiliary Army Corps, “American women who had volunteered to work for the army behind the lines, taking jobs like drivers or clerks so more men could have combat roles”), and about “V Mail” or “Victory Mail” (to save on weight, letters were photographed and then sent overseas on microfilm, once at the destination then reproduced on a page about half the size of the original).
The heart of the book is definitely his combat and medic experiences in Tunisia, Sicily, and most of all at Normandy and made for gripping reading. The writing about the D-Day landing was extremely vivid and also extremely intense, as Lambert wasn’t so much trying to storm the beach (though he was very much on it) but trying to give medical aid to those injured in the assault, a job by its very nature making him very much exposed to enemy fire, all while working in the surf and with little or no cover. In all three battles Lambert saved a lot of lives all at great risk to his own (and suffered a number of injuries but kept on working).
The end of the book has a section of notes and several appendices that are worth reading, describing the processes used in researching and writing the book (an amazing amount of fact checking to make sure the names of ships or sites say in North Africa were accurately recorded) as well as an interesting appendix on the U.S. Army combat medics of World War II and another appendix about battle fatigue and PTSD in the war as well (well worth reading). There is also a section on further reading and extensive endnotes. Also some of the best maps I have ever seen in any World War II book (black and white but very well detailed). There is in addition an extensive collection of black and white photos in plates in the middle of the book, ranging from his childhood all the way to a memorial plaque on “Ray’s Rock” on Omaha Beach.
The book can almost be read as a series of vignettes, not as one long narrative driven memoir but a series of recollections of his time in training, in the service, and in recovery. Some sections were a page or so, other went on for several pages, all describing what Lambert experienced. Though the bulk of the book is on his World War II service, not all sections dealt only with battle or his role as a medic, but also detailed a number of other things he did and experienced in the service. Asides ranged widely in their subject matter, from the surprisingly “accepted and expected part of war” that was the presence of prostitutes (both overseas and even say near Fort Riley in Kansas; Lambert himself, very happily married, never partook, but he did do a lot to caution and treat men who visited prostitutes), the often apparently deliberate policy of the Nazi targeting of medics (who wore red crosses on their helmets and armbands and were supposed to be immune from direct targeting thanks to the Geneva Convention, but whose targeting “was a deliberate policy, a war crime” on the part of the Germans), his thoughts on two of the best-loved generals of World War II (Major General Terry Allen and Brigadier General Theodore Roosevelt, son of President Teddy Roosevelt, two generals Lambert served under and thought extremely highly of though not always well-liked by those above the two generals, with General Patton in particular intensely disliking General Allen, though as Lambert wrote “We might fight for Patton, but we’d go through hell and back ten times again for Terry”), his thoughts on the famed incident of Patton slapping a soldier suffering from battle fatigue (Lambert was surprisingly sympathetic to Patton while not condoning the action nor saying he particularly a fan of the man, pointing to among other things the then current understandings of PTSD), to Lambert’s interesting history of his Silver Stars (he only claims one, as he the official paperwork to back up the award, but his other two Silver Stars despite promises he would get the documents around them he never received them and thus Lambert doesn’t claim them despite having the actual medals, though as noted in the notes and sources section 80% of the records of U.S. servicemen discharged between 1912 and 1980 were lost at a fire in 1973 at the National Personnel Records Center in St. Louis), the role of the WAACs (Women Auxiliary Army Corps, “American women who had volunteered to work for the army behind the lines, taking jobs like drivers or clerks so more men could have combat roles”), and about “V Mail” or “Victory Mail” (to save on weight, letters were photographed and then sent overseas on microfilm, once at the destination then reproduced on a page about half the size of the original).
The heart of the book is definitely his combat and medic experiences in Tunisia, Sicily, and most of all at Normandy and made for gripping reading. The writing about the D-Day landing was extremely vivid and also extremely intense, as Lambert wasn’t so much trying to storm the beach (though he was very much on it) but trying to give medical aid to those injured in the assault, a job by its very nature making him very much exposed to enemy fire, all while working in the surf and with little or no cover. In all three battles Lambert saved a lot of lives all at great risk to his own (and suffered a number of injuries but kept on working).
The end of the book has a section of notes and several appendices that are worth reading, describing the processes used in researching and writing the book (an amazing amount of fact checking to make sure the names of ships or sites say in North Africa were accurately recorded) as well as an interesting appendix on the U.S. Army combat medics of World War II and another appendix about battle fatigue and PTSD in the war as well (well worth reading). There is also a section on further reading and extensive endnotes. Also some of the best maps I have ever seen in any World War II book (black and white but very well detailed). There is in addition an extensive collection of black and white photos in plates in the middle of the book, ranging from his childhood all the way to a memorial plaque on “Ray’s Rock” on Omaha Beach.
September 23, 2024
The best parts were when Mr. Lambert talked about his own experiences growing up in 1920's America, how he felt about his brother being in the war, recovering from his injuries, and reuniting with his wife and child after three years. Trying to do too much, and not sure whether it was a memoir or a text book, it tried too much to be a text book and mostly felt like a badly written summary of all the other WWII text books ever written.
July 15, 2024
An excellent addition to our collective memorial concerning WWII. I for one am thankful that such men as Mr. Lambert, his brother and those they both served with were what America had during such trying times. Saving memories such as these for all of our grandchildren and beyond is special no matter how painful they might be. I truly enjoyed this book and feel blessed for having read it.
July 26, 2022
This is a really good read and his story is very moving. I would recommend this to any word war 2 history buff.
January 21, 2021
It's billed as a memoir of D-Day, but really it's broader than that. Lambert gives you an overview of his younger days, talks about enlisting before the U.S. entrance to World War II, then gives you the whole run-down of his service, right through D-Day. Then he goes on to talk about his recovery from the war and a little taste of what life was like after. It's written in a plain, unpretentious manner. Mostly Lambert explains any military jargon as he goes. It's really more of a personal account than a military history, so it is not consumed with strategy or tactics or even a blow-by-blow description of battle, except as it was directly experienced by Lambert. Sometimes he gives a picture of what else was happening in the war, relying on other accounts for that context. To the aficionado, some of these broader points might bear disputing, but remember that the value of this book is Lambert's own account of what he experienced. Anyway, Lambert notes that "the more information you get" sometimes "obscures rather than illuminates the truth" (p 128), so he knew well the problem of differing accounts.
One thing that interested me personally was seeing how cyclical some things were. Lambert talks about they would place a priority on stopping "bleeding; usually with a tourniquet...There are complications from using tourniquets, however, and the practice has greatly declined since my war." (p 26). In fact, after 9/11, the use of tourniquets went way back up among those deploying, and the "complications" were deemed much more manageable than thought in the period just before. When I first joined the Air Force in 1991, they taught that putting a tourniquet on someone was a sentence to amputate and warned against using them unless it was life-or-death. Yet once real combat went up after 9/11, the tourniquet was almost the first thing people reached for. So I guess some things come and go with war or peace.
Lambert's coauthor DeFelice noted the reason Lambert went on record with his account was the realization that few of his number were left, and, "as direct memory of a thing is lost, too often the lessons that it taught are lost as well." (p 240). Well spoken and all too true. So do your part, save part of the lessons learned, show some interest in history, read accounts like Lambert's. It's not the greatest or most sublime account of World War II ever written, but it's readable, accessible, and contains more than a few gems throughout. A good read.
One thing that interested me personally was seeing how cyclical some things were. Lambert talks about they would place a priority on stopping "bleeding; usually with a tourniquet...There are complications from using tourniquets, however, and the practice has greatly declined since my war." (p 26). In fact, after 9/11, the use of tourniquets went way back up among those deploying, and the "complications" were deemed much more manageable than thought in the period just before. When I first joined the Air Force in 1991, they taught that putting a tourniquet on someone was a sentence to amputate and warned against using them unless it was life-or-death. Yet once real combat went up after 9/11, the tourniquet was almost the first thing people reached for. So I guess some things come and go with war or peace.
Lambert's coauthor DeFelice noted the reason Lambert went on record with his account was the realization that few of his number were left, and, "as direct memory of a thing is lost, too often the lessons that it taught are lost as well." (p 240). Well spoken and all too true. So do your part, save part of the lessons learned, show some interest in history, read accounts like Lambert's. It's not the greatest or most sublime account of World War II ever written, but it's readable, accessible, and contains more than a few gems throughout. A good read.
May 26, 2024
Even in his 90s, Ray Lambert summoned many vivid memories from his World War II service for this memoir. He tells of his childhood in rural Alabama, when his home contained no electricity or running water but he earned jobs that taught him responsibility at a young age. After joining the Army and becoming a medic in the 16th Infantry Regiment of the First Division, he took part in the invasions of North Africa, Sicily, and Normandy on D-Day. Despite working on the book close to three quarters of a century after D-Day, he recalls the horrifying sounds of that morning, his directing colleagues to take cover behind a rock that eventually became known as "Ray's Rock," the death of fellow medic Ray Lepore, his wading through water to attend to wounded colleagues, and the feeling of being trapped under the ramp of a boat until the raising of the ramp saved his life. Although he passed out and broke his back, he managed to survive the day and live a productive life until his passing in 2021 (two years after the release of this book). Although this book is not the most comprehensive account of D-Day and may leave some readers wanting more, it does contain a gripping story that invites readers to tag along. I also think it does well to capture Lambert's humble attitude and unpretentious way of explaining what he went through. He wants to draw attention not to the medals he won, but to what he did to help other people as a medic. Hopefully readers of this book will try to emulate his humility and service to others.
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