What do you think?
Rate this book
Two Gold Coins and a Prayer: The Epic Journey of a World War II Bomber Pilot, Evader, and POW
Fate, unexpected allies, betrayal, two gold coins, and a prayer changes the life of a young airman.
World War II was raging when 19-year old James Keeffe joins the U.S. Army Air Forces. After months of rigorous training as a B-24 heavy bomber pilot, he and his crew arrive in England and begin flying combat missions over Europe. On the 8th of March 1944, during a bombing mission to Berlin, Keeffe’s airplane is shot down over Holland, catapulting him into a world squeezed colorless by the ever-tightening fist of Nazi occupation.
Moving from safe house to safe house with the help of the Dutch Underground, Lt. Keeffe, in plain view of the enemy, evades for five harrowing months. During an escape attempt through Belgium he is betrayed, captured and transferred under armed guard to the infamous German prisoner-of-war camp – Stalag Luft III.
World War II was raging when 19-year old James Keeffe joins the U.S. Army Air Forces. After months of rigorous training as a B-24 heavy bomber pilot, he and his crew arrive in England and begin flying combat missions over Europe. On the 8th of March 1944, during a bombing mission to Berlin, Keeffe’s airplane is shot down over Holland, catapulting him into a world squeezed colorless by the ever-tightening fist of Nazi occupation.
Moving from safe house to safe house with the help of the Dutch Underground, Lt. Keeffe, in plain view of the enemy, evades for five harrowing months. During an escape attempt through Belgium he is betrayed, captured and transferred under armed guard to the infamous German prisoner-of-war camp – Stalag Luft III.
- GenresHistory
500 pages, Paperback
First published April 1, 2010
6 people are currently reading
35 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
August 28, 2024
This one is a little hard to rate - however, in the end I gave it 5 stars with a big old "****" at the end of it - here's why:
The writing is just not great. It is clearly taken from the recordings of interviews, but unless it is billed as "I took dictation" and not as a story, you expect better writing. The narrator sounds childish in his speech, kind of pretentious (he gets pretty uppity about people without giving a lot of feedback that doesn't just make him sound judgy) and wow, can you wander off down a tangent that has nothing to do with anything... The book's length is a testament of this as if the story stayed on target, the book would be 1/2 the size.
That being said, the fact that it does bounce around gives you a break from long winded paragraphs and you keep coming back. As long and wordy as this was - as annoying as the narrator could be - you kept coming back because at the end of the day it was INTERESTING.
There are places where the complaining is real and the attitude about being an officer vs an enlisted man is over the top. At no point do you see WHY this person was more important than anyone else in the camps/army. Yes, you flew in planes, but why does that mean you get better housings in miserable camps. And there is only one mention (very short) of how these camps were better than the concentration camps - with which there was no comparison. A lack of modesty in the narrator makes him less likeable throughout the story.
However, hearing about the journey to and through the camps back to home and then visiting his rescuers again, was interesting and packed with information and knowledge that isn't available in all textbooks. Outside of his hero-worshiping of himself, there is a lot of truly interesting facts and experiences in the book to make it worth the read. And, the fact that he did go back and continue to stay in touch with the people who helped him, made him seem more sincere about actually being a pretty decent guy.
Overall, I wanted to dislike the book - and had it been just a "book" and not a historical journey - I think it would have squeaked by with a "3". BUT, regardless of its flaws, it was truly fascinating - I found myself reading all the notes that were referenced and learning more about WWII and even recommending the book to my son who is a history buff.
So - pick it up and take it on - judge it for what it is and you will find yourself immersed in knowledge and experience - once you finish reading it, grab your favorite author and enjoy a good story and it will all balance itself out in the end...
The writing is just not great. It is clearly taken from the recordings of interviews, but unless it is billed as "I took dictation" and not as a story, you expect better writing. The narrator sounds childish in his speech, kind of pretentious (he gets pretty uppity about people without giving a lot of feedback that doesn't just make him sound judgy) and wow, can you wander off down a tangent that has nothing to do with anything... The book's length is a testament of this as if the story stayed on target, the book would be 1/2 the size.
That being said, the fact that it does bounce around gives you a break from long winded paragraphs and you keep coming back. As long and wordy as this was - as annoying as the narrator could be - you kept coming back because at the end of the day it was INTERESTING.
There are places where the complaining is real and the attitude about being an officer vs an enlisted man is over the top. At no point do you see WHY this person was more important than anyone else in the camps/army. Yes, you flew in planes, but why does that mean you get better housings in miserable camps. And there is only one mention (very short) of how these camps were better than the concentration camps - with which there was no comparison. A lack of modesty in the narrator makes him less likeable throughout the story.
However, hearing about the journey to and through the camps back to home and then visiting his rescuers again, was interesting and packed with information and knowledge that isn't available in all textbooks. Outside of his hero-worshiping of himself, there is a lot of truly interesting facts and experiences in the book to make it worth the read. And, the fact that he did go back and continue to stay in touch with the people who helped him, made him seem more sincere about actually being a pretty decent guy.
Overall, I wanted to dislike the book - and had it been just a "book" and not a historical journey - I think it would have squeaked by with a "3". BUT, regardless of its flaws, it was truly fascinating - I found myself reading all the notes that were referenced and learning more about WWII and even recommending the book to my son who is a history buff.
So - pick it up and take it on - judge it for what it is and you will find yourself immersed in knowledge and experience - once you finish reading it, grab your favorite author and enjoy a good story and it will all balance itself out in the end...
January 23, 2016
James H. Keeffe III 19s TWO GOLD COINS AND A PRAYER is a well-written memoir about a young bomber pilot and POW from World War II. It details the training and bombing missions of Lt Col James H. Keefe Jr., the author 19s father, and especially his fateful fourth mission. Flying as a co-pilot in a B-24 Liberator, then 2nd Lt Keefe finds himself in occupied Holland, in perfect health but completely alone. Through quick thinking, luck, and the courage of the Dutch Underground, Keefe escapes capture for over five months. However, just as he is about to be delivered back into Allied hands, he is betrayed, and ends up being a POW for over ten months.
The author does an excellent job of relaying the account in first person, as it was dictated to him and his brother by his father before he passed away. One can hear Col Keefe talking about his medical screening as he joined the Army, about the less than optimal conditions he lived in during training, and the terror of being on a bomb run. The reader will find himself praying with the Colonel before he leaves his stricken bomber, and hiding with the Colonel behind a rabbit hutch as the Nazis are looking for him. The reader will feel that cold shock when Lt Col Keeffe realizes he has been betrayed, and is now in German hands. Finally, the reader will share in both the misery of being a POW and the joy of being liberated.
What struck me in particular about this book was the easy, back-country way in which it was told. There was no particular hatred of the Germans, nor was there any insincere patriotism or self-pity. There was simply a young man, serving with other young men that he cared about and respected, trying to make the best of a bad situation and just survive. I was also particularly impressed by the narrator 19s loyalty and love for those in the Dutch underground. He was usually more concerned for their safety than his own, which added a compassionate flavor to the book as well as heightened the emotion.
This book is an excellent addition to any library, but will be especially enjoyed by military aviation buffs and World War II veterans.
The author does an excellent job of relaying the account in first person, as it was dictated to him and his brother by his father before he passed away. One can hear Col Keefe talking about his medical screening as he joined the Army, about the less than optimal conditions he lived in during training, and the terror of being on a bomb run. The reader will find himself praying with the Colonel before he leaves his stricken bomber, and hiding with the Colonel behind a rabbit hutch as the Nazis are looking for him. The reader will feel that cold shock when Lt Col Keeffe realizes he has been betrayed, and is now in German hands. Finally, the reader will share in both the misery of being a POW and the joy of being liberated.
What struck me in particular about this book was the easy, back-country way in which it was told. There was no particular hatred of the Germans, nor was there any insincere patriotism or self-pity. There was simply a young man, serving with other young men that he cared about and respected, trying to make the best of a bad situation and just survive. I was also particularly impressed by the narrator 19s loyalty and love for those in the Dutch underground. He was usually more concerned for their safety than his own, which added a compassionate flavor to the book as well as heightened the emotion.
This book is an excellent addition to any library, but will be especially enjoyed by military aviation buffs and World War II veterans.
November 15, 2011
Too much detail. I was interested in his story not who slept in which bunk. IF you are really into specific details you will enjoy the book.
To me it was like someone asking me "when is dinner?" and I tell them where I bought the potatoes, how many eyes I cut out before I peeled them and how I cut them up.
The 475 pages could have been cut to 200 and still have been a good book. That man had quite the memory.
To me it was like someone asking me "when is dinner?" and I tell them where I bought the potatoes, how many eyes I cut out before I peeled them and how I cut them up.
The 475 pages could have been cut to 200 and still have been a good book. That man had quite the memory.
May 13, 2024
This book is easy to read and hard to put down - a story that definitely needed to be told and not to be forgotten. It documents the experiences of B-24 co-pilot James Keefe, Jr during WW II. What makes this book memorable are the stories of his life in Holland after his aircraft was forced to crash down, as well as his experiences as a POW after being captured by Germans. The book has plenty of pictures and personal correspondence that help enrich the book.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews