|
 The
Young Draftee
Authors: Monte Howell
Publisher:
iUniverse
Reviewer: Bill McDonald –
President of the MWSA
An 18 Year Old Soldier’s View of WWII
as told by a now 77 Year Old Man
There are many stories about WWII written
by generals and officers and all sorts of professional soldiers and writers.
That is why it is always refreshing to read a book from one of those ‘Buck
Privates' who got drafted and fought the war the hard way
– without any special treatment or
privileges accorded officers or those of higher rank. This book grew from
what started off as just a discovery of an old box of some 100 yellowing and
aging photos of his war experience. Author Monte Howell decided to label
them so he could share them with his grandchildren. That small task ended up
becoming a full scale effort to record his personal story from the time of
the draft onward. In his humble memoir “The Young Draftee” he
takes us along as he recalls his life journey.
There is just something very special
about his story and the photos that accompany it. His fighting experiences
in the Pacific and the eventual occupation of Japan are rich in history.
These stories told from his personal experiences and view point makes it
rich and interesting. Howell takes the reader along through the islands and
the battles and we see the war as it must have looked for this 18 year old
man –
but being told through the wisdom and
body of a now 77 year old man.
I found that the last part of the book
was just as interesting as the war stories because it shows more of the
personality of the author. We find out that he was and is a body builder and
judging by the photos, we can see why he's so competitive. He and his wife
also dance and sail boats
– all competitively; and
successfully! I enjoyed his book and found it educational as well being very
entertaining. You can read it in one sitting (less than 150 pages) and there
are many good old black and white photos of interest. Recommended reading
for those seeking a more personalized look at WWII.
 |
2005
- 2009 MWSA