The family spent a few days in San Antonio in early August. We found a suite at a reasonable price with a pool--we were there. To make my theological/biblical reading more poignant, I decided to read some non-fiction.
Stephen Ambrose provided lengthy fodder:
D-Day which chronicled the planning and implementation of Operation Overlord as well as its execution from the paratroopers dropping into France before dawn to the invasion at Juno, Gold, Omaha, Sword and Utah beaches. Saving Private Ryan offered a realistic picture of Omaha beach but Ambrose provides great detail as plans got thrown out the window and execution faltered.
Following this, I read The Victors which details the European theater of WWII. He borrows passages from his other books, including D-Day. However, he skillfully tells of war plans after the Normandy invasion to Berlin and German surrender.
I appreciate that Ambrose offers a critical perspective to the war plans, leadership (Eisenhower's handling/mis-handling of Generals Bradley, Patton and Montgomery), supply lines and infantry training. In my history classes, we usually patted ourselves on the back for winning. Ambrose goes to the domestic factories and inventors and to the soldiers in the trenches and foxholes.
With his descriptions and testimonies from G.I.'s, he provides clarity to war. Aside from the deaths, the soldiers that survived came home emotionally or physically broken. No one went through unscathed. I understand very plainly why so many don't want to share those memories.
If you are interested in this type of material, I recommend these works.
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