| Description |
xxiii, 295 pages : illustrations, portraits ; 24 cm |
| Bibliography |
Includes bibliographical references (pages 289-290) and index. |
| Summary |
"It began when Biggio bought a 1945 M1 Garand Rifle, the most common rifle used in WWII, to honor his great uncle, a U.S. Army soldier who died on the hills of the Italian countryside. When Biggio showed the gun to his neighbor, WWII veteran Corporal Joseph Drago, it unlocked memories Drago had kept unspoken for 50 years. On the spur of the moment, Biggio asked Drago to sign the rifle. Thus began this Marine's mission to find as many WWII veterans as he could, get their signatures on the rifle, and document their stories. For two years, Biggio traveled across the country to interview America's last-living WWII veterans. Each time he put the M1 Garand Rifle in their hands, their eyes lit up with memories triggered by holding the weapon that had been with them every step of the war. With each visit and every story told to Biggio, the veterans signed their names to the rifle. 96 signatures now cover that rifle, each a reminder of the price of war and the courage of our soldiers"--From publisher's website. |
| Contents |
Chapter 1 "No Such Thing as a War Crime" p. 1 -- Chapter 2 Golden Acorn p. 19 -- Chapter 3 No Stalag p. 35 -- Chapter 4 "A Different Composition" p. 47 -- Chapter 5 Uncle Rodney p. 61 -- Chapter 6 Seventy-Two Seconds p. 73 -- Chapter 7 Raging Bull p. 91 -- Chapter 8 Man o' War p. 107 -- Chapter 9 Last-Minute Marauder p. 129 -- Chapter 10 An Italian American's War in Italy p. 139 -- Chapter 11 Two Paratroopers, One Island p. 149 -- Chapter 12 Learning to Drive p. 159 -- Chapter 13 Running Man p. 167 -- Chapter 14 Most Interesting Man in the World p. 179 -- Chapter 15 "I Don't Want to Go Home" p. 189 -- Chapter 16 Eighteen Hours p. 205 -- Chapter 17 Enemy Alien p. 219 -- Chapter 18 Patton's Last Panther p. 233 -- Chapter 19 Finding Andy p. 247 -- Chapter 20 Saying Goodbye p. 259. |
| Subject |
World War, 1939-1945 -- Personal narratives.
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World War, 1939-1945 -- Personal narratives, American.
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World War, 1939-1945 -- Equipment and supplies.
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World War, 1939-1945 -- United States.
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Military weapons -- History -- 20th century.
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Rifles.
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Garand rifle.
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| Genre |
Personal narratives.
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| Added Author |
Williams, Hershel Woodrow, 1923- writer of foreword.
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| ISBN |
9781684510795 (hardcover) |
|
1684510791 (hardcover) |
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