The best books that capture the lives of ordinary men and women in World War II

The Mosquito Bowl was a football game between two Marine regiments that was played on Christmas Eve 1944 on Guadalcanal. Only one brief chapter is devoted to the game itself, which, as one reviewer noted, “is both a pretext and an organizing principle for the book.”

Bissinger tells the stories of several of the players, many of whom were from big-name schools. The players came alive as I learned about their families and upbringing, achievements on the gridiron, how they became Marines, and their wartime experiences. I was reminded of the sacrifices their generation made. I cared about them and hoped they would survive the bloodbath at Okinawa, where fifteen of the players in the Mosquito Bowl were killed.

Before I began to read this book, I knew it was about the men who raised the stars and stripes atop Mt. Suribachi, a photograph of which became an iconic image of the Battle of Iwo Jima and the Pacific War. Indeed, the book meticulously conveys the story of the six flag raisers, men who were representative of the U.S. Marines and those who fought at Iwo Jima.

Their lives are fascinating in themselves. But as I discovered, the book is much more. It a gripping account of the Battle, where the Americans sustained more casualties than the Japanese, a moving tribute to the courage, valor, and camaraderie of the Marines, and a thorough exploration of myths surrounding the flag raising and its effects on the flag raisers.

Brokaw’s book popularized the term “Greatest Generation” for those who came of age during World War II. The book consists of stories of some 50 men, women, or couples who were representative of this generation. Some stories are of  “famous” people, such as George Bush, but most of them are about ordinary people who “were not widely known outside their families or their communities.”

Reflective of this generation, these people interrupted their lives to answer the call to serve, got on with their lives when the war was over, were proud of their service, but rarely talked about the war years. Although aware of challenges to Brokaw’s general portrayal of this generation, I was inspired by the accomplishments of these people and believe they measure up to his label.

This book is about the author’s brother, Elden: life in his hometown of Vega, Texas, and his experience as a Navy seaman aboard the USS Franklin. Elden’s letters provide the framework for the story but consist almost entirely of small talk and gossip. Yet as Rogers expands on the letters, I learned how life in Vega differed from today’s world and how it was affected by the war. Rogers’ reconstruction of Elden’s almost daily experience during the year he served in the Navy was also enlightening.

The Franklin was the most heavily damaged aircraft carrier to survive the war, and Rogers provides gripping accounts of a kamikaze attack at Leyte and a horrific bombing near mainland Japan in March 1945 that killed over 800 seamen, including his brother Elden.

Of the books I have read consisting of collections of World War II letters, this is the best. The significance of mail during the war cannot be overestimated. Mail was a morale booster for the troops and a lifeline between loved ones at home and those on the war front. A massive number of letters—in the billions—were transmitted.

Charles and Barbara’s letters cover over four years in their lives, from August 1941 to November 1945. Mail sustained their relationship when they were often separated during their courtship and early years of their marriage, and during the 18 months that Charles was in Europe. Through their correspondence, I learned about the private lives of ordinary people caught in the sweep of history.