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Just Doing My Job: Stories of Service from World War II
Preserving the personal histories of civilians and soldiers who united to defend America during the Second World War, this unique oral history tells the stories of ordinary citizens who left jobs and families behind to contribute to the war effort.
Chronicling the sacrifices made by otherwise average people, this keepsake features profiles of and interviews with the men and women who responded to the call to action by putting their lives on hold to fight for their country at home and abroad.
From soldiers and spies to factory workers and nurses, the heroes profiled in this history include Dick Hamada, a Japanese American who became a spy for the Office of Strategic Services; Edith McClure, an Army nurse stationed in England; Bobby Hite, one of the famed Doolittle Raiders, who was captured by the Japanese and endured years of torture and solitary confinement; and pilot Bob Hoover, who was shot down over enemy territory and imprisoned but managed to escape by stealing a German plane.
Chronicling the sacrifices made by otherwise average people, this keepsake features profiles of and interviews with the men and women who responded to the call to action by putting their lives on hold to fight for their country at home and abroad.
From soldiers and spies to factory workers and nurses, the heroes profiled in this history include Dick Hamada, a Japanese American who became a spy for the Office of Strategic Services; Edith McClure, an Army nurse stationed in England; Bobby Hite, one of the famed Doolittle Raiders, who was captured by the Japanese and endured years of torture and solitary confinement; and pilot Bob Hoover, who was shot down over enemy territory and imprisoned but managed to escape by stealing a German plane.
344 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2009
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45 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
March 5, 2020
What a fascinating read featuring wartime experiences of a diverse group of 19 Americans (and some future citizens) during WWII. I was especially interested in the stories of Rose Beal (Escape from Nazi Terror), Billie Reeg (English War Bride), Wes Coss (Escape Through the French Underground), Bonnie (Williamson) Gwaltney (Rosie the Riveter), Edith(Sairs) McClure (Army Nurse in England), Violet "Vi" Cowden (Women Air Service Pilots (WASP)), Claude C. Davis (Tuskegee Airman), and Dick Hamada (Japanese-American Soldier for the Office of Strategic Services (OSS)). There are some really intriguing sounding books listed in the bibliography that I'll have to add to my own tbr.
August 14, 2018
My dad recommended this book, saying that it helped to explain his father's (my grandfather's) generation. It was an enjoyable read, as much as you can enjoy reading about personal experiences on all sides of war.
All of the stories are personal, and were compiled by the author. There is authenticity in each story, and they all 'sound' different in their tone. They do a good job of getting a lot of different experiences from the war, ranging from pilots (male and female) and soldiers, to nurses and wives.
A lot of the stories are tied to the attack at Pearl Harbor, and the Doolittle Raiders. The stories involving prisoners are a challenge to read, and war has some real atrocities. You can't help but be grateful for these people and what they did.
If this is an audio book, I would love to listen to it, in their own voices. There are so few WWII veterans left, I would love to give them the chance to tell their stories, and I would love to learn from them.
All of the stories are personal, and were compiled by the author. There is authenticity in each story, and they all 'sound' different in their tone. They do a good job of getting a lot of different experiences from the war, ranging from pilots (male and female) and soldiers, to nurses and wives.
A lot of the stories are tied to the attack at Pearl Harbor, and the Doolittle Raiders. The stories involving prisoners are a challenge to read, and war has some real atrocities. You can't help but be grateful for these people and what they did.
If this is an audio book, I would love to listen to it, in their own voices. There are so few WWII veterans left, I would love to give them the chance to tell their stories, and I would love to learn from them.
January 25, 2020
Interesting stories of our veteran of WWII. What the did and what they seen!
July 31, 2023
A good mixture of stories from a wide range of people.
August 20, 2013
An excellent read portraying the experiences of various people during WW II. A good look at the divergent makeup of the folks that contributed to the War effort during WWII and their personal stories.
September 18, 2014
Not great for research but enjoyable in a "The Greatest Generation" way.
February 25, 2019
Highly recommended stories of what 'ordinary' people did in extraordinary times.
This was a generation of people that were honest, kind, and hardworking.
This was a generation of people that were honest, kind, and hardworking.
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews