World War II has become a milepost in the growth and maturation of our great nation. John Malloy in Making John A Soldier has succeeded in giving us a complete and fascinating panorama of World War II through the device of his own experiences. For starters we are given a glimpse of how the United States, struggling in a depression, coped with total war.

Malloy sets his scenes accurately with just enough detail to make the reader seek the author’s reaction as an AST Program volunteer who becomes an infantry wire-crew member, and eventually a veteran. His experience in the AST Program, a temporary haven, then unexpectedly in the frozen hell of the Bulge is a compelling story of re-arranged military priorities. It shows how casualties in one instance result in even more in others. Unexpected casualties sustained after D-Day and through the hedgerow fighting in France caused a demand for even more men to counter the German Ardennes offensive and then fight on into Germany.

As Malloy moves through the strategy and, in some cases, the tactics employed in the war, the reader is treated to concise chronological explanations of what is happening on all fronts in the fight against the Axis powers. On a more personal level, the exploits of Audie Murphy and the author’s fellow Nebraskans, who were awarded the Medal of Honor, are asides that spice-up the narrative. Not as well known is the story of the development of technology for the two bombs that ended the war. Finally, a tale of pathos and confusion experienced by the author after the German surrender is sure to make the reader blink in disbelief. It is all here under one cover!

The marvel of this book is that this Nebraskan, who went to war, was able to pack so much of interest, in such a fascinating manner, into a single volume. I consider it a keeper!

Hoyt S. Vandenberg, Jr. Major General, USAF (Ret)

Source: http://www.amazon.com/Making-John-Soldier-Nebraskan-ebook/dp/B006IEX5ZE