Invisible Heroes of World War II: Extraordinary Wartime Stories of Ordinary People

by Jerry Borrowman

Overview

Invisible Heroes of World War II documents ten fascinating true stories of a diverse group of soldiers and noncombatants from all over the world, including African Americans, women, and Native Americans, who fought with the Allies during World War II. These heroes made significant contributions in the war effort, and sometimes gave their lives for freedom and liberty, often without much recognition or fanfare. Some were frontline soldiers who were captured by the enemy and endured horrific conditions as POWs, others were ordinary citizens who fought in the French Resistance and provided vital operations to undermine Nazi occupation, while others were engineers, workers in industry, or war correspondents and photographers. All served with valor and distinction as part of the massive Allied forces who fought to free the world from tyranny and oppression.
 

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781629738499
Publisher:	Deseret Book Company
Publication date:	05/07/2019
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
File size:	1 MB

About the Author

Jerry Borrowman is an award-winning author of historical fiction and nonfiction. He has written about the World Wars, the Great Depression, and the Vietnam War. His book, Compassionate Soldier, was the recipient of the George Washington National Medal of Freedom Foundation at Valley Forge and the Best Indies Book of the Year 2017 Gold Winner for War and Military. He and his wife, Marcella, raised four children and live in the Rocky Mountains.

Table of Contents

Contents
INDIVIDUAL HEROES

1. Pat Patton: A young farm boy from Nebraska escapes the Bataan Death March, survives a Japanese internment camp, and witnesses the explosion of the atomic bomb over Hiroshima.
2. Nancy Wake: A young Australian woman joins the French Resistance and saves the lives of thousands of Jews and military servicemen all while being hunted by the Nazis.
3. Joseph Hyalmar Anderson: A navel pilot is lost off Vancouver Island during a routine patrol and is listed as missing in action. His remains are found decades later by his family.
4. Joseph Medicine Crow: Growing up with stories of his grandfather who fought in the battle at the Little Big Horn, Joseph becomes an Army private and counts coup on his German enemies. When he returns home, he becomes the last chief of the Crow Indians.
5. Dickey Chapelle: An American journalist whose bravery on the battlefield resulted in a collection of haunting photographs that have been viewed by millions of people.

 
UNITED ACTS OF HEORISM

1. Combat Engineers: Builders and engineers who prepared the way.
2. The Purple Heart Battalion: 100th Infantry Battalion comprised mostly of Japanese-American soldiers.
3. African Americans at War.
4. Navajo Code Talkers.
5. Rosie the Riveter: Women in the War Industries.

Editorial Reviews

"A quick and insightful overview of just how diverse the stories of WWII participants were, including, as it does, women’s stories as well as those of African Americans and Japanese Americans. There is also coverage of a group of airmen who went missing over British Columbia while transporting a combat aircraft, offering further proof of just how long the reach of the war can be. Unusual and compelling."

Booklist

"A quick and insightful overview of just how diverse the stories of WWII participants were, including, as it does, women’s stories as well as those of African Americans and Japanese Americans. There is also coverage of a group of airmen who went missing over British Columbia while transporting a combat aircraft, offering further proof of just how long the reach of the war can be. Unusual and compelling."

Booklist

04/01/2019

Gr 8 Up—World War II famously gave rise to human atrocities such as the Holocaust and the atomic bomb, but it also became a proving ground for heroes who refused to back down from the fight against evil. This title tells the stories of many of these brave soldiers and noncombatants spanning both the European and Pacific theaters. Profiles range from a survivor of the deadly Battan Death March to a female French resistance commander to the combat engineers who provided the infrastructure for troops to advance into battle. The first half shares stories of individuals from the war, two of which are previously untold and were discovered by a personal connection to the author. The second half focuses on often overlooked groups such as the Navajo code talkers and the Purple Heart Battalion. Each of these group descriptions includes several anecdotes from individuals involved. The short biographical sketches are well cited and include quotes from both the cast of heroes and speeches honoring them in later years when applicable. Difficult topics such as torture and personal loss are approached with grace by neither glossing over nor overly examining the experiences. Each individual or group story includes background information, giving readers a chance to see what elements led up to their heroic acts and service during the conflict. VERDICT A solid primer for those just learning about World War II, this collection also offers new stories that will interest even the most avid history buff.—Emily Beasley, Omaha Public Schools

School Library Journal