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Unsung Valor: A GI's Story of World War II
Winner of the 2001 Forrest C. Pogue Prize from the Eisenhower Center for American Studies
When drafted into the army in 1943, A. Cleveland Harrison was a reluctant eighteen-year-old Arkansas student sure that he would not make a good soldier. But inside thirty months he manfully bore arms and more. This book is his memoir about becoming a soldier, a common infantryman among the ranks of those who truly won the war.
After the Allied victory in 1945, books by and about the major statesmen, generals, and heroes of World War II appeared regularly. Yet millions of American soldiers who helped achieve and secure victory slipped silently into civilian life, trying to forget the war and what they had done. Most remain unsung, for virtually none thought of themselves as exceptional. During the war ordinary soldiers had only done what they believed their country expected.
Harrison's firsthand account is the full history of what happened to him in three units from 1943 to 1946, disclosing the sensibilities, the conflicting emotions, and the humor that coalesced within the naive draftee. He details the induction and basic training procedures, his student experiences in Army pre-engineering school, his infantry training and overseas combat, battle wounds and the complete medical pipeline of hospitalization and recovery, the waits in replacement depots, life in the Army of Occupation, and his discharge.
Wrenched from college and denied the Army Specialized Training Program's promise of individual choice in assignment, students were thrust into the infantry. Harrison's memoir describes training in the Ninety-fourth Infantry Division in the U.S., their first combat holding action at Lorient, France, and the division's race to join Patton's Third Army, where Harrison's company was decimated, and he was wounded while attacking the Siegfried Line. Reassigned to the U.S. Group Control Council, he had a unique opportunity to observe both the highest echelons in military government and the ordinary soldiers as Allied troops occupied Berlin.
This veteran's memoir reveals all aspects of military life and sings of those valorous but ordinary soldiers who achieved the victory.
When drafted into the army in 1943, A. Cleveland Harrison was a reluctant eighteen-year-old Arkansas student sure that he would not make a good soldier. But inside thirty months he manfully bore arms and more. This book is his memoir about becoming a soldier, a common infantryman among the ranks of those who truly won the war.
After the Allied victory in 1945, books by and about the major statesmen, generals, and heroes of World War II appeared regularly. Yet millions of American soldiers who helped achieve and secure victory slipped silently into civilian life, trying to forget the war and what they had done. Most remain unsung, for virtually none thought of themselves as exceptional. During the war ordinary soldiers had only done what they believed their country expected.
Harrison's firsthand account is the full history of what happened to him in three units from 1943 to 1946, disclosing the sensibilities, the conflicting emotions, and the humor that coalesced within the naive draftee. He details the induction and basic training procedures, his student experiences in Army pre-engineering school, his infantry training and overseas combat, battle wounds and the complete medical pipeline of hospitalization and recovery, the waits in replacement depots, life in the Army of Occupation, and his discharge.
Wrenched from college and denied the Army Specialized Training Program's promise of individual choice in assignment, students were thrust into the infantry. Harrison's memoir describes training in the Ninety-fourth Infantry Division in the U.S., their first combat holding action at Lorient, France, and the division's race to join Patton's Third Army, where Harrison's company was decimated, and he was wounded while attacking the Siegfried Line. Reassigned to the U.S. Group Control Council, he had a unique opportunity to observe both the highest echelons in military government and the ordinary soldiers as Allied troops occupied Berlin.
This veteran's memoir reveals all aspects of military life and sings of those valorous but ordinary soldiers who achieved the victory.
- GenresWorld War II
380 pages, Kindle Edition
First published February 29, 2000
15 people are currently reading
26 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
August 23, 2017
The famous 94th division. My father was member of that division during WWII. I have read numerous books on the regimental history of his outfit the History of the 94th Infantry Division by Lieutenant Laurence G. Brynes, Tony Le Tissier's Patton's Pawns and now this book Unsung Valor by A. Cleveland Harrison. When the subject came up my father refused to talk about his war experiences and I never got to find out what he had gone through. Now that he is dead this book helped me answer some of those questions I had. This is a great personal account of those war experiences by A. Cleveland Harrison who also served in the 94th division. Whether it is the mindless boredom of training or the sheer terror of combat Harrison writes equal aplomb. A great narrative and a equally great story and I thank you Mr. Harrison for it.
March 3, 2026
There are very few books that I pick up and fail to finish. I got about 40% of the way through this one and just gave up.
I kept waiting for something to happen. Not the best book I've ever read.
I hope others' experience is different.
I kept waiting for something to happen. Not the best book I've ever read.
I hope others' experience is different.
December 17, 2019
A more fitting title would have been Unsung Boredom.
January 28, 2013
The opening passage of the book begins with Mr. Harrison talking about his experience in the war and the multitude of jobs he had while enlisted, such as “A college student in the ASTP, an infantryman, a transient in the Army’s medical division, and a messenger chief.” (xi) The book begins in 1934 in Little Rock Arkansas. The author and main character of this book is A. Cleveland Harrison. Mr. Harrison is 18 years old at the time when the army lowered the age requirement for the draft. The book goes over what he experienced while serving over seas. I chose this book because I am a fan of military books and I enjoy seeing stories from different perspectives.
Mr. Harrison is a qualified author for multiple reasons. This book is a memoir written by him about his time in Europe during World War 2. Even though Mr. Harrison wrote this book about his life, it’s not to say he is unqualified. After returning from the army he was accepted to both New York University and Harvard, although could not attend either due to housing concerns. He later went on to acquire his master’s degree at the University of Ohio. He later returned to Little Rock to teach speech and fine arts. Before dying he was made the dean of fine arts at the University of Arkansas. (University of Arkansas at Little Rock.)
The book begins with a young Mr. Harrison in the year 1934. He was watching the film “All quiet on the western front”, a war film that would deeply effect him. During his childhood he spoke to different war veterans “The stories of all three veterans hypnotized and terrified me.” (xvii) The book then skips to the year 1942 and talks about Mr. Harrison’s time at high school. He was later screened for a physical and eventually drafted into the Army “Raise our right hands, and swear the Army’s oath of allegiance…” (8) The book then goes into great detail about Mr. Harrison’s life at basic training and when he was stationed overseas. The most detailed section was regarding his injuries while overseas. The unit he was with was attacked by a German panzer unit in a small clearing during winter. Mr. Harrison later discusses how that attack had scarred him for life, both physically and mentally. As he lay on the ground watching his friends die “Laying beneath him, afraid even my breathing hurt him, I felt his warm blood seep through my uniform and spread across my back.” (202) After the event, those who managed to survive were trying to fall back when they entered a mine field which ended up maiming Mr. Harrison. After being rehabilitated he returned to service, although he would be deployed into Berlin after the Nazi’s surrendered. He would be an office clerk and completed his service. He would later return home to and marry his high school sweet heart and be reunited with his friends. “We gathered on the cold deck to look at the brilliant lights of New York, silently sharing our awe not only of the luminous skyline but of being back home.” (342) He managed to maintain connections with some men from his unit. The major themes of this book I feel are the necessity of war, over coming adversity, and coming of age.
I feel that this was a very powerful book, and a very good read. The book gives a look into an average mans life and how he did his part to serve and protect his country. The author had a good writing style that was easy to follow and made good use of foreshadowing and flashbacks. The pacing was pretty good once he enters the military. I did not find a glaring weakness in his writing style or the book itself, the main concern was the slow beginning but it picked up quickly. Overall I feel this is a great read for a mature person as it can become quite graphic.
Mr. Harrison is a qualified author for multiple reasons. This book is a memoir written by him about his time in Europe during World War 2. Even though Mr. Harrison wrote this book about his life, it’s not to say he is unqualified. After returning from the army he was accepted to both New York University and Harvard, although could not attend either due to housing concerns. He later went on to acquire his master’s degree at the University of Ohio. He later returned to Little Rock to teach speech and fine arts. Before dying he was made the dean of fine arts at the University of Arkansas. (University of Arkansas at Little Rock.)
The book begins with a young Mr. Harrison in the year 1934. He was watching the film “All quiet on the western front”, a war film that would deeply effect him. During his childhood he spoke to different war veterans “The stories of all three veterans hypnotized and terrified me.” (xvii) The book then skips to the year 1942 and talks about Mr. Harrison’s time at high school. He was later screened for a physical and eventually drafted into the Army “Raise our right hands, and swear the Army’s oath of allegiance…” (8) The book then goes into great detail about Mr. Harrison’s life at basic training and when he was stationed overseas. The most detailed section was regarding his injuries while overseas. The unit he was with was attacked by a German panzer unit in a small clearing during winter. Mr. Harrison later discusses how that attack had scarred him for life, both physically and mentally. As he lay on the ground watching his friends die “Laying beneath him, afraid even my breathing hurt him, I felt his warm blood seep through my uniform and spread across my back.” (202) After the event, those who managed to survive were trying to fall back when they entered a mine field which ended up maiming Mr. Harrison. After being rehabilitated he returned to service, although he would be deployed into Berlin after the Nazi’s surrendered. He would be an office clerk and completed his service. He would later return home to and marry his high school sweet heart and be reunited with his friends. “We gathered on the cold deck to look at the brilliant lights of New York, silently sharing our awe not only of the luminous skyline but of being back home.” (342) He managed to maintain connections with some men from his unit. The major themes of this book I feel are the necessity of war, over coming adversity, and coming of age.
I feel that this was a very powerful book, and a very good read. The book gives a look into an average mans life and how he did his part to serve and protect his country. The author had a good writing style that was easy to follow and made good use of foreshadowing and flashbacks. The pacing was pretty good once he enters the military. I did not find a glaring weakness in his writing style or the book itself, the main concern was the slow beginning but it picked up quickly. Overall I feel this is a great read for a mature person as it can become quite graphic.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews