What do you think?
Rate this book
The Last Veterans of World War II: Portraits and Memories
Chronicling the many faces of the WWII effort, these contemporary black-and-white portraits of the longest surviving veterans remind us that the war comprised a collection of Americans from all walks of life. Their penetrating gaze captures the ethos of the endeavor of war. Intimate memories offer glimpses into the horrifying, and at times awe-inspiring, reality of war. The faces of these veterans, from all branches, are juxtaposed with images of their youthful selves and serve as a visual representation of the expanse of their life experiences. Appealing to the families of soldiers, academics, history buffs, and veterans of other wars, this collection is a testament to the spirit of patriotism and strength of a collective American effort.
- GenresWorld War IIWar
128 pages, Hardcover
Published October 15, 2017
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
April 25, 2018
“I'll be seeing you
In all the old familiar places
That this heart of mine embraces
All day and through
In that small cafe
The park across the way
The children's carousel
The chestnut trees
The wishing well
“I'll be seeing you
In every lovely summer's day
In everything that's light and gay
I'll always think of you that way
“I'll find you in the morning sun
And when the night is new
I'll be looking at the moon
But I'll be seeing you”
--“I’ll Be Seeing You,” Billie Holiday, Songwriters, Irving Kahal / Sammy Fain
Several years ago, I left Kauai for a day, going for a “day trip” to visit Pearl Harbor, unaware that any of the veterans who had survived the attack on Pearl Harbor would be there. My oldest and my youngest sons have always been big history buffs, but my youngest teaches history, and Pearl Harbor / WWII especially. So, when I met Sterling Cale, he signed one of the special newspapers they had made up for the occasion, signing it for my son. He was very sweet and charming, and we chatted for a relatively short period of time, but I was surprised how full of life he was, and I loved listening to him share his thoughts on life, and love, and … hate. There were other veterans there, I think two, but the lines were by that time long, and I think it was time for our group to head to the Memorial. So while I was reading this, naturally, I thought of him, and of that day.
My father trained pilots during WWII, having been declared 4F for flat feet, he was then, more or less, drafted, and most of the young pilots he was working with were also requisitioned to train pilots. For most of his life, he was denied the right to say that he was a veteran, had been in the Army Air Force. A few years, maybe only a year before he died did they finally recognize the group that my father had been a part of as having served in the Army Air Force, and they were now entitled to call themselves veterans.
”The Last Veterans of World War II” includes two photographs of these men and women, all of the photographs are done in black and white and are gorgeous. The lighting is perfection, the poses and expressions tell part of their stories. For each person, a portrait, taken by Richard Bell is on one page, and on the other, in the hands of that person is a photograph, a snapshot of a day in the life during the war. I was drawn into these, and in most could find the same, or similar expression to the eyes, or the smile, the body may age and show wear and tear, but it is still easy to find that same spirit within in these photographs. I really loved this. And their stories, well… they are also moving on a different level.
”You know when the guns stop and all that is over, that’s when those fellas’ real battle began.”
--Genevieve Smith, Army Nurse
In the forward, Tim Weiner writes:
”We are divided in so many ways today, our red states and our blue states, and yet so much unites. Us. The men and women you behold in this book represent the ideals of the United States. When our survival as a free republic was at stake, they fought shoulder to shoulder, in bunkers and trenches, in code rooms and sick bays, on land and sea, and they protected us from evil.
“The people whose faces and hands you behold in these pages are among the last living souls who can summon up memories of the global battle against the Axis. We can honor them by remembering them. And they will live forever on these pages, after the last veteran of this war is laid to rest.”
As these men and women are all individuals, with their own stories to tell, I can only say that these stories are filled with the wisdom gained through having lived through this hellish time, the grace and wisdom to honor that which they learned, the nature to turn their heartaches into knowledge, and the motivation and willingness to share that knowledge through their stories.
Many thanks to my goodreads friend Jennifer whose review prompted me to read this; I’m so glad I finally read this. Her review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
In all the old familiar places
That this heart of mine embraces
All day and through
In that small cafe
The park across the way
The children's carousel
The chestnut trees
The wishing well
“I'll be seeing you
In every lovely summer's day
In everything that's light and gay
I'll always think of you that way
“I'll find you in the morning sun
And when the night is new
I'll be looking at the moon
But I'll be seeing you”
--“I’ll Be Seeing You,” Billie Holiday, Songwriters, Irving Kahal / Sammy Fain
Several years ago, I left Kauai for a day, going for a “day trip” to visit Pearl Harbor, unaware that any of the veterans who had survived the attack on Pearl Harbor would be there. My oldest and my youngest sons have always been big history buffs, but my youngest teaches history, and Pearl Harbor / WWII especially. So, when I met Sterling Cale, he signed one of the special newspapers they had made up for the occasion, signing it for my son. He was very sweet and charming, and we chatted for a relatively short period of time, but I was surprised how full of life he was, and I loved listening to him share his thoughts on life, and love, and … hate. There were other veterans there, I think two, but the lines were by that time long, and I think it was time for our group to head to the Memorial. So while I was reading this, naturally, I thought of him, and of that day.
My father trained pilots during WWII, having been declared 4F for flat feet, he was then, more or less, drafted, and most of the young pilots he was working with were also requisitioned to train pilots. For most of his life, he was denied the right to say that he was a veteran, had been in the Army Air Force. A few years, maybe only a year before he died did they finally recognize the group that my father had been a part of as having served in the Army Air Force, and they were now entitled to call themselves veterans.
”The Last Veterans of World War II” includes two photographs of these men and women, all of the photographs are done in black and white and are gorgeous. The lighting is perfection, the poses and expressions tell part of their stories. For each person, a portrait, taken by Richard Bell is on one page, and on the other, in the hands of that person is a photograph, a snapshot of a day in the life during the war. I was drawn into these, and in most could find the same, or similar expression to the eyes, or the smile, the body may age and show wear and tear, but it is still easy to find that same spirit within in these photographs. I really loved this. And their stories, well… they are also moving on a different level.
”You know when the guns stop and all that is over, that’s when those fellas’ real battle began.”
--Genevieve Smith, Army Nurse
In the forward, Tim Weiner writes:
”We are divided in so many ways today, our red states and our blue states, and yet so much unites. Us. The men and women you behold in this book represent the ideals of the United States. When our survival as a free republic was at stake, they fought shoulder to shoulder, in bunkers and trenches, in code rooms and sick bays, on land and sea, and they protected us from evil.
“The people whose faces and hands you behold in these pages are among the last living souls who can summon up memories of the global battle against the Axis. We can honor them by remembering them. And they will live forever on these pages, after the last veteran of this war is laid to rest.”
As these men and women are all individuals, with their own stories to tell, I can only say that these stories are filled with the wisdom gained through having lived through this hellish time, the grace and wisdom to honor that which they learned, the nature to turn their heartaches into knowledge, and the motivation and willingness to share that knowledge through their stories.
Many thanks to my goodreads friend Jennifer whose review prompted me to read this; I’m so glad I finally read this. Her review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
December 27, 2017
This book went straight to the Huggable Books list. I’ve mentioned in other reviews that I can’t get enough of World War II books. I’ve also noted that both of my grandfathers fought in the war, and both have since passed away. One back in the 1980s, and the other in 2006. Neither told me much of his story about the war, stoic men that they were, and I think part of my passion in reading these books is finding out more of what it may have been like for each of my Papas, filling in the gaps.
The Last Veterans of World War II includes photos of each veteran- men and women alike; one photo portrait of the hero today (stunning photos), and one photo with the hero’s current hands holding an old photo from during the war. There is a narrative included for each in his or her own words. Each picture, each story, every bit of this was so special. This is a book of which I need a physical copy. It’s one I will re-visit, and I’m not sure I can pick it up without getting tears in my eyes. It’s difficult to think of a time when “the greatest generation” will be entirely gone. This book is an exceptional way to make sure it’s not forgotten.
Thank you to Richard Bell for writing this book, and thanks also to Schiffer Publishing and Edelweiss for the ARC.
The Last Veterans of World War II includes photos of each veteran- men and women alike; one photo portrait of the hero today (stunning photos), and one photo with the hero’s current hands holding an old photo from during the war. There is a narrative included for each in his or her own words. Each picture, each story, every bit of this was so special. This is a book of which I need a physical copy. It’s one I will re-visit, and I’m not sure I can pick it up without getting tears in my eyes. It’s difficult to think of a time when “the greatest generation” will be entirely gone. This book is an exceptional way to make sure it’s not forgotten.
Thank you to Richard Bell for writing this book, and thanks also to Schiffer Publishing and Edelweiss for the ARC.
October 20, 2017
This is one of the most powerful books you will ever have the privilege of holding in your hands. I would recommend The Last Veterans of World War II to absolutely everyone, regardless of your personal views on war, life experience or the genre you usually read. This book is simply too important for you to miss out on.
Richard Bell's photography is beyond stunning. The black and white portraits of the American veterans as they are today are some of the most extraordinary portraits I've ever seen. The lighting is just gorgeous and unlike the forced poses and toothy grins you see so often with this type of photography, the expressions captured are natural, as if taken during conversation. There's an honesty and depth to these images that captures the joy, sorrow, wisdom, grace, heartache, humour and character of the veterans. I don't know enough adjectives to adequately describe the way they made me feel.
On the opposite page of each full page portrait you'll find text accompanied by a smaller image of the veteran's hand/s holding a photograph of themselves taken around the time of their service, most times in uniform. There's something about the juxtaposition between the young man or woman in the photo and the elderly hand holding it that made me really emotional. It's such a simple yet beautiful way of connecting each person through time.
If this book had been filled with photographs alone, the quality and evocative nature of them would have been enough for this to be a ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ book. However, there's more to this book. Each entry tells you the veteran's name, current age, details about the branch they served in and where, along with a portion of the veteran's story told to the author while he interviewed them.
It feels so wrong to be giving a star rating to peoples' wartime experiences so my rating will be based solely on the photography in this remarkable book. While I won't tell you anything about the experiences shared in this book as my words can't do them justice, I will tell you that I was consistently moved by the integrity, humility and bravery of those interviewed. I learned about so many aspects of the war that I was previously unaware of. One of the quotes that I know will linger with me is by Ben Skardon, who served in the Army and is a Bataan Death March survivor:
"Nothing else is on my conscience that I know about, except why I'm the only one of my friends that made it back."
The Last Veterans of World War II is one of those books that part of you doesn't want to read because gut wrenching is not an adequate descriptor for the horrors these veterans have experienced. Yet you must read books like this because being an ostrich does not work in this situation. We must never forget and we need to continue to honour the heroism and sacrifice of these men and women.
I received a copy of this book from NetGalley (thank you so much to NetGalley and Schiffer Publishing Ltd. for the opportunity) in exchange for honest feedback.
Finally, but most importantly, to the ladies and gentlemen featured in this book along with other past and present service members, I am honoured to have read some of your stories and I thank you for your service.
Richard Bell's photography is beyond stunning. The black and white portraits of the American veterans as they are today are some of the most extraordinary portraits I've ever seen. The lighting is just gorgeous and unlike the forced poses and toothy grins you see so often with this type of photography, the expressions captured are natural, as if taken during conversation. There's an honesty and depth to these images that captures the joy, sorrow, wisdom, grace, heartache, humour and character of the veterans. I don't know enough adjectives to adequately describe the way they made me feel.
On the opposite page of each full page portrait you'll find text accompanied by a smaller image of the veteran's hand/s holding a photograph of themselves taken around the time of their service, most times in uniform. There's something about the juxtaposition between the young man or woman in the photo and the elderly hand holding it that made me really emotional. It's such a simple yet beautiful way of connecting each person through time.
If this book had been filled with photographs alone, the quality and evocative nature of them would have been enough for this to be a ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ book. However, there's more to this book. Each entry tells you the veteran's name, current age, details about the branch they served in and where, along with a portion of the veteran's story told to the author while he interviewed them.
It feels so wrong to be giving a star rating to peoples' wartime experiences so my rating will be based solely on the photography in this remarkable book. While I won't tell you anything about the experiences shared in this book as my words can't do them justice, I will tell you that I was consistently moved by the integrity, humility and bravery of those interviewed. I learned about so many aspects of the war that I was previously unaware of. One of the quotes that I know will linger with me is by Ben Skardon, who served in the Army and is a Bataan Death March survivor:
"Nothing else is on my conscience that I know about, except why I'm the only one of my friends that made it back."
The Last Veterans of World War II is one of those books that part of you doesn't want to read because gut wrenching is not an adequate descriptor for the horrors these veterans have experienced. Yet you must read books like this because being an ostrich does not work in this situation. We must never forget and we need to continue to honour the heroism and sacrifice of these men and women.
I received a copy of this book from NetGalley (thank you so much to NetGalley and Schiffer Publishing Ltd. for the opportunity) in exchange for honest feedback.
Finally, but most importantly, to the ladies and gentlemen featured in this book along with other past and present service members, I am honoured to have read some of your stories and I thank you for your service.
January 15, 2018
This book chronicles a series of accounts from World War II by American men and women who participated in the war. They come from all sorts of backgrounds and were in different services and theaters of action. The stories are quite short yet a lot of them are very powerful.
This powerful aspect is emphasized by the black and white photographs, both of these men and women at the time of the war and of the veterans now. All the images are very dignified.
I loved this book. I was going to say I enjoyed reading it, but there is no enjoyment in war memories. Everyone should read this. It just makes me want to sit down with these people, give them a cup of tea and listen to what they have to say, for sadly they are all in their 90s now (with one man being 104!) and one day they won't be here anymore.
Now I have read The Last Veterans of World War II, I would love to see a similar book with veterans from all sorts of origins (Allies, Germans, Japanese, etc.), I think that would be fascinating. At the end of the day, most soldiers were just the man down the street trying to do what their best.
Definitely recommended!
-----
Disclaimer: I received a free digital copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. Thanks to NetGalley and Schiffer Publishing.
This review is also available on my blog.
This powerful aspect is emphasized by the black and white photographs, both of these men and women at the time of the war and of the veterans now. All the images are very dignified.
I loved this book. I was going to say I enjoyed reading it, but there is no enjoyment in war memories. Everyone should read this. It just makes me want to sit down with these people, give them a cup of tea and listen to what they have to say, for sadly they are all in their 90s now (with one man being 104!) and one day they won't be here anymore.
Now I have read The Last Veterans of World War II, I would love to see a similar book with veterans from all sorts of origins (Allies, Germans, Japanese, etc.), I think that would be fascinating. At the end of the day, most soldiers were just the man down the street trying to do what their best.
Definitely recommended!
-----
Disclaimer: I received a free digital copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. Thanks to NetGalley and Schiffer Publishing.
This review is also available on my blog.
November 19, 2017
Bell captured moving photos of some of the last WWII veterans, most of them in their 90s, juxtaposed with snapshots from their days in uniform and a selected anecdote. The subjects range from Navajo code talkers to Tuskeegee airmen, with future supreme court justices and Olympians in between, and the stories include seeing Churchill "drunk as a Cooter" and shelling Nuremberg stadium, decked with Nazi flags "into dust."
October 16, 2017
Tom Brokaw popularised the phrase ‘the Greatest Generation’ to describe those Americans who grew up during the Great Depression and served in the Second World War. Richard Bell’s ‘The Last Veterans of World War II’ is a worthy commemoration, in striking black and white photographs, of forty-four of these men and women.
Each individual is shown as they are now and also holding a photograph of how they looked (mostly in uniform) back then, and these portraits are accompanied by brief recollections of their wartime service. Bell includes some famous faces (such as Senator Bob Dole; Supreme Court Justice John Paul Stevens; and Olympic gold medallist Harrison Dillard) but most of those commemorated are nominally ‘ordinary’ men and women.
He has also made a determined effort to “explore diversity in the World War II effort, including service arm, gender, and ethnic origins”, so there is, for example, a Navajo code talker, a member of an all-Nisei regiment, an African American infantryman and a female Army nurse.
This is a relatively short but successful book. The stories it records are told with humility. Reading them and looking upon their authors, both in the past and the present, is a humbling experience.
Each individual is shown as they are now and also holding a photograph of how they looked (mostly in uniform) back then, and these portraits are accompanied by brief recollections of their wartime service. Bell includes some famous faces (such as Senator Bob Dole; Supreme Court Justice John Paul Stevens; and Olympic gold medallist Harrison Dillard) but most of those commemorated are nominally ‘ordinary’ men and women.
He has also made a determined effort to “explore diversity in the World War II effort, including service arm, gender, and ethnic origins”, so there is, for example, a Navajo code talker, a member of an all-Nisei regiment, an African American infantryman and a female Army nurse.
This is a relatively short but successful book. The stories it records are told with humility. Reading them and looking upon their authors, both in the past and the present, is a humbling experience.
November 6, 2017
The Last Veterans of World War II by Richard Bell This book is super powerful. You will be looking into the eyes and the heart of the last remaining men and women who fought for our freedom in World War 2. You will learn their name, current age, branch of service, as well as their thoughts, feelings, and memories from their days during WW2.
There are also black and white photos of each of these hero's as their are now, as well a pictures of them in the days of the war. In the photo's of their younger days each persons hands are represented holding those pictures. These pictures are like an emotional gut punch. The pictures alone are enough to tell part of their story, paired with their words makes this one of the best books I have ever read.
Whether you agree with war or not this is a part of our history. The 44 men and women featured in this book are some of the few remaining members of our military from that time period. Most are in their 90's. Their lives may end soon but with this book there stories never will.
Thank you netgalley.com for giving me a copy of this book.
There are also black and white photos of each of these hero's as their are now, as well a pictures of them in the days of the war. In the photo's of their younger days each persons hands are represented holding those pictures. These pictures are like an emotional gut punch. The pictures alone are enough to tell part of their story, paired with their words makes this one of the best books I have ever read.
Whether you agree with war or not this is a part of our history. The 44 men and women featured in this book are some of the few remaining members of our military from that time period. Most are in their 90's. Their lives may end soon but with this book there stories never will.
Thank you netgalley.com for giving me a copy of this book.
October 19, 2017
What an amazing and awe inspiring book. The stories make you see different parts of the war through their own eyes. I was reminded each time I turned the page that this photo is of a person who I owe thanks to for his or her service. Humbling and touching. I am glad to have had a chance to read and be thankful for their service to our country.
Funny stories, sad stories, moving stories and most of all-real stories about the real people who sacrificed for our country.
Funny stories, sad stories, moving stories and most of all-real stories about the real people who sacrificed for our country.
September 26, 2017
A beautiful book that honours the remaining World War II veterans. It tells their story of service & sacrifice, along with historical and current photographs. An amazing book on Canadian history published in time for Canada 150. Thank you for sharing their stories. Lest we forget.
November 15, 2017
This is a great historical book that covers so many different people's stories that probably would be forgotten. The photography is very well done.
January 10, 2018
Wonderful stories and the photos were fascinating!
September 10, 2018
The Greatest Generation!
December 25, 2017
This is an amazing book honoring a few of our heroes from World War ll. The diversity inside these pages speaks volumes as we hear from men and women who fought for America in a variety of positions such as officers, nurses, pilots, engineers, technicians, shipfitters and serviceman (just to name a few). I enjoyed how the novel was laid out. Beginning each veteran’s story is a head-shot photograph which is then followed by a short story about that individual and his experience in the war. On the second page is another photograph, a simple and important photo of the veteran’s hand holding his service photograph from the war. I loved looking at these photographs, what a beautiful way to display the element of time and history. As I examined these photographs, their eyes glaring back at me, I thought about the stories those eyes held inside them. For what these individuals experienced and lived, their eyes knew it all.
I could tell you about many of the stories that I read but I will just highlight a few that caught my attention. I read about Harlan whose secret mission was to deliver atomic bomb components. After their successful delivery, his unit was hit by torpedo’s and their ship was going down. For four days, Harlan and over three hundred of his men floated in the water, waiting for assistance. Fighting off sharks and staying together to stay alive, they waited. Not everyone made it back safely. Then, there was the story of George who faced his fears in 2000 when he revisited Germany. Battling PTSD, George revisited the places where he had once stood, fighting in the war. George was looking for closure. The story of Ben hit home with me. Ben had been captured and had been forced to march with other prisoners, abuse and death occurring on their way. The Japanese fighters told their prisoners that they were not Prisoners of War but that they were captives. Treated worse than an animal, Ben was a sole survivor when he returned home. Ben also told the story of “The Hell Ships” which was something I hadn’t read about before. There are a few individuals in the novel who didn’t have much to say about their experience. I appreciate their privacy as this war was an emotional and troubling experience to live through.
My father-in-law was a POW during WWll and I have listened to many of his stories about this time in his life. He was there in the Battle of the Bulge, he walked many miles to some undetermined destination only to have to turn around and walk back, he ate out of many frozen gardens and the many incidents of what he saw, smelled and heard, I cannot fathom. He was a survivor just like the individuals in this fantastic novel and I thank each one of them for their service. This novel tells the stories of individuals that should be heard and their stories appreciated. I highly recommend this novel and I can’t wait to obtain my own copy.
I received a copy of this novel from NetGalley and Schiffer Publishing, Ltd. in exchange for an honest review. Thank you both for sharing this novel with me and thank you to Richard Bell for bringing these veterans stories to others.
https://www.facebook.com/richardbellp...
https://www.facebook.com/schifferpubl...
I could tell you about many of the stories that I read but I will just highlight a few that caught my attention. I read about Harlan whose secret mission was to deliver atomic bomb components. After their successful delivery, his unit was hit by torpedo’s and their ship was going down. For four days, Harlan and over three hundred of his men floated in the water, waiting for assistance. Fighting off sharks and staying together to stay alive, they waited. Not everyone made it back safely. Then, there was the story of George who faced his fears in 2000 when he revisited Germany. Battling PTSD, George revisited the places where he had once stood, fighting in the war. George was looking for closure. The story of Ben hit home with me. Ben had been captured and had been forced to march with other prisoners, abuse and death occurring on their way. The Japanese fighters told their prisoners that they were not Prisoners of War but that they were captives. Treated worse than an animal, Ben was a sole survivor when he returned home. Ben also told the story of “The Hell Ships” which was something I hadn’t read about before. There are a few individuals in the novel who didn’t have much to say about their experience. I appreciate their privacy as this war was an emotional and troubling experience to live through.
My father-in-law was a POW during WWll and I have listened to many of his stories about this time in his life. He was there in the Battle of the Bulge, he walked many miles to some undetermined destination only to have to turn around and walk back, he ate out of many frozen gardens and the many incidents of what he saw, smelled and heard, I cannot fathom. He was a survivor just like the individuals in this fantastic novel and I thank each one of them for their service. This novel tells the stories of individuals that should be heard and their stories appreciated. I highly recommend this novel and I can’t wait to obtain my own copy.
I received a copy of this novel from NetGalley and Schiffer Publishing, Ltd. in exchange for an honest review. Thank you both for sharing this novel with me and thank you to Richard Bell for bringing these veterans stories to others.
https://www.facebook.com/richardbellp...
https://www.facebook.com/schifferpubl...
December 8, 2017
The photographs of the veterans are stunning and vibrant, I love how Richard Bell took photographs of them holding photos of themselves when they were younger. The brief description of each veteran captures the details of their contribution to the war as perfectly as the photos capture the pride that these veterans have for serving their country. Great little tidbits of knowledge about World War II. We need to document all the stories of the veterans so we can always remember. This book is a great way to honor those still living that served the United States military.
Similar in photographs to a Life magazine. Brillant.
Similar in photographs to a Life magazine. Brillant.
July 26, 2018
A amazing book with beautiful photographs and stories. I voluntarily read and reviewed an Advanced Reader Copy of this book from Netgalley.
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews