Letters from a World War II G.I (In Their Own Words)

Winston, Keith; Greenberg, Judith E.; McKeever, Helen Carey

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9780531112120: Letters from a World War II G.I (In Their Own Words)

ISBN 10: 0531112128 ISBN 13: 9780531112120

Publisher: Franklin Watts, 1995

A GI's letters to his family during World War II offer an inside view of military life, the recruits' fears, their commitment to their country, and their hopes for the future

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From Booklist:

Gr. 8^-12. A collection of letters home from U.S. Army private Keith Winston, this book speaks eloquently and directly to the hardships of life as a soldier. The editors provide introductory remarks and a few explanatory notes but wisely let the letters speak for themselves. Winston's homesickness and longing for his wife and two young sons are painfully obvious in the chronologically arranged letters, which follow the writer from his induction to his return home. Equally moving is Winston's reaction to the horrors of war, not just to the battlefield where he served as a medic, but also to the decimation of once beautiful cities and to the poverty and starvation he witnessed. The notes are not always adequate (for example, the editors mention the segregated African American troops but not the segregated Japanese American ones), and the photos, which seem at first to lend a nice touch, are actually unrelated to Keith Winston's personal story. As a whole, however, this is an excellent addition to primary source materials on World War II, presenting a moving, accurate picture of the emotional impact of the war. A list of further readings is appended. Debbie Carton

From School Library Journal:

Grade 8 Up?Private Keith Winston's thoughtful, well-written letters to his wife provide an eye-opening account of what the average World War II GI went through. The letters date from Winston's participation in basic training in March of 1944 to his return to the States in December of 1945. Greenberg and McKeever insert explanations after some of the missives to let readers know what Winston was referring to when he wrote of C rations, victory gardens, etc. While little new information is presented here, it is interesting to see a soldier's point of view, especially in light of subsequent events. For instance, he writes of his admiration for the Russians, revealing that the Cold War was still an inconceivable notion to the average American. The black-and-white photographs of soldiers, Red Cross workers, etc. are informative; the index is good; and the list for further reading is excellent.?Margaret B. Rafferty, Gwinnett-Forsyth Regional Library, GA
Copyright 1995 Reed Business Information, Inc.

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