MWSA Book Review

Playing with the Enemy

Authors: Gary W. Moore

Publisher:  Savas Beatie

Reviewer: Bill McDonald – President of the MWSA

The MWSA’s Best Non-Fiction Book of 2006!

“Playing With The Enemy” is a moving and heart wrenching biography that is both inspiring as well as entertaining. The book is about author Gary Moore’s father; his experiences in WWII, baseball and his life. It combines powerful aspects of human nature and finding meaning to life itself.

I was greatly touched by Moore’s book, not only as a reader and a reviewer, but also as someone whose own father signed a contract with Boston to play baseball. The war and subsequent wounds and time off from organized baseball were the end of a professional career that never took off. My father was considered a top prospect as a catcher coming out of high school in San Francisco before the outbreak of WWII. So reading about the author’s tale of what happened to his own dad hit me close to home.

This is best book I have read in the last decade. It is a great story that is told with sensitivity and well constructed prose. Moore has captured the spirit and the heart of his father’s story through the use of insightful dialog that gives real understanding to the life experiences and to the people in the story. The book is alive with emotions. It grabs your heart and will not let go of it until you have fully digested the entire book; then the messages of this story still hang around and linger within your head for days.

The story is really about a personal spiritual and emotional journey – in search of the very meaning of life and what our purpose is. This book is for all readers and not just those who love baseball or have some interest in war. It has all the elements needed to make a successful and inspirational movie. The author has written a wonderful and loving tribute to his father that readers will be able to respond to.

The book also teaches us lessons about our own lives and how what we do affects others in ways we may not ever realize. His father's friendship with a Germany POW comes back later in his life to change his own emotional outlook about baseball, family and the meaning of love.

The Military Writer’s Society of America’s  2006 Non-Fiction Book of the Year!

Reviewer: Joe Fabel – MWSA Review Board

Yes, the all-American pastime of baseball is the vehicle used as a foundation to the story; however, another truly American aspect is at work: the sense of fair play and helping a fellow human being in need.

The main character possesses an athletic ability which leads him to high success in the very competitive world of professional sports. He has the skills and the ability to be an outstanding catcher. Yet, it is an occupation where one must constantly put forth exceptional achievement or face the consequences of being “let go.”

While serving in the Army among a team of baseball players entertaining troops next to the war zone, our main character receives orders to return to the States and become a guard at the German Prisoner of War camp.

Naturally, spare time is boring and soon a group of guards form a baseball team. One of the prisoners shows signs of being a good athlete and is encouraged to organize a team of prisoners to play the guards.

Suddenly, tragedy strikes! Our catcher is seriously injured during the final game. His future as a professional athlete is in question. His dreams are put on hold and challenged. Disappointment and depression take hold. Is all lost?

This is an outstanding story of one individual who needs help himself after providing assistance to others so many times. You must read this story to appreciate the ending.