Brave Men Gentle Heroes
Michael Takiff
(Reviewer - Rebecca Brown)
2003 William Morrow & Co.
ISBN: 006621081X

Frank, moving & harrowing stories of men who served in WWII & their sons who served in Vietnam.

Come meet these men who served in the Army, Navy, Air Force & Marine Corps. Enlisted men & officers, career servicemen & citizen soldiers. Men of European, African, Asian, Latino & Native American ancestry, speaking with their authentic voices, telling their stories.

The contrasts between World War II, the Good War & Vietnam, the Bad War, are everywhere in these compelling accounts: the clear aims of the former & the muddled goals of the latter; the heroes' welcome accorded returning warriors in 1945, & the scorn heaped upon their sons, a score or more years later.

Together the stories in Brave Men, Gentle Heroes tell the history of two wars, each the defining experience of a generation, giving an understanding of how the first influenced the second. This is history told through the recollections of men who shouldered the rifles, manned the ships, & flew the planes ... the men who fought for freedom. Here we read of what the awful crucible of war did to ordinary American families. Here we are privileged to hear unique insights into what it means to be a warrior, an American, a father, & a son.

Michael Takiff is the son of a World War II Veteran, & in this book he weaves personal memories as he teases oral histories from the men. There are also photographs of the fathers & sons.

To give them their due, here is their roll call:
Mike Novosel, Sr., Retired Career Military Officer. Captain, US Army Air Forces, WWII. Chief Warrant Officer Three, US Army, Vietnam
Mike Novosel, Jr., Retired Career Military Officer Helicopter Pilot. Chief Warrant Officer Two, US Army, Vietnam
Bill Perkins, Retired Career Military Officer. Captain, US Army Air Forces, WWII
Mike Perkins, Retired Career Military Officer, Captain, US Army, Vietnam
Perry Pollins. Corporal, US Marine Corps, WWII
Dave Pollins, Lance Corporal, US Marine Corps, Vietnam
Max Hutchins, Fire Controlman First Class, US Navy, WWII
Mickey Hutchins, First Lieutenant, US Army, Vietnam
Tony Rivas, Sr., Seaman First Class, US Navy, WWII
Tony Rivas, Jr., Shipfitter Third Class, US Navy, Vietnam
Sonny Dunbar, Sergeant, US Army, WWII
John Howe, Staff Sergeant, US Army, Vietnam
Gene Camp. Retired Career Military Officer. Captain, US Army, WWII. Major, US Army, Vietnam
Greg Camp, Retired Career Military Officer, Captain, US Army, Vietnam
Mas Takahashi, Technical Sergeant, US Army, WWII
Scott Takahashi, Sergeant, US Army, Vietnam
Bill Keith, Hospital Corpsman First Class, US Navy, WWII
Paul Keith, Specialist Fourth Class, US Army, Vietnam
Ed Jackson, Staff Sergeant, US Army Air Force, WWII
Mike Jackson, Captain, US Air Force, Vietnam
Howard Baugh, Sr., Retired Career Military Officer, Captain, US Army Air Force, WWII
John Mace, Staff Sergeant, US Army, WWII
Michael Mace, Private First Class, US Army, Vietnam
Walter Kraus, Retired Career Military Officer, Chief Machinist's Mate, US Navy WWII. Lieutenant Commander, US Navy, Vietnam
Steve Kraus, Sergeant, US Marine Corps, Vietnam
Jim Coyne, Sr., Technical Sergeant, US Army, WWII
Jim Coyne, Jr., First Lieutenant, US Army, Vietnam
Al Tarbell, Sergeant, US Army, WWII
Mike Tarbell, Staff Sergeant, US Army, Vietnam
Frank Recendez, Corporal, US Army, WWII
Richard Recendex, Specialist Fourth Class, US Army, Vietnam
Arthur Way, Retired Climate Control Operator, US Army Civil Service. Corporal, US Army, WWII
Vince Way, Sergeant, US Army, Vietnam
Gene Swanson, Private First Class, US Marine Corps, WWII
Gary Swanson, Sergeant, US Army, Vietnam
Paul Walmsley, Staff Sergeant, US Army, WWII
Sandy Walmsley, Hospital Corpsman First Class, US Navy, Vietnam

Brave Men, Gentle Heroes is to be treasured, just as the men who tell their stories are.
(06/06/04)

Rebecca