Battlefield of Life [Paperback]

Raymond A. Yeatts (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 15, 1997

The most personal account of World War II ever recorded, not by a colonel or a general, but by a field artillery gunner, for his grandchildren...and for grandchildren everywhere. Preface by the Publisher: At first glance Battlefield of Life is just another account of one man's experiences during World War II. Nothing more and nothing less. It is a straight forward account of one man's life from shortly before the war to a time shortly after. It is Raymond A Yeatts' account. So why has his story affected me to the degree that it has? Because on reading his story I found that I held within me memories of similar stories that came from my father and my uncles. I am the same age as Raymond A Yeatts' son, Garland Ray. Reading Mr Yeatts' account it is easy to believe that he was relating from much the same perspective as my own relations. One of the things that strikes me is how much the war shaped and influenced the life of men like Raymond A Yeatts and my father. The war was not just a chapter in their lives with a beginning and an end. It became the basis for a central theme that would transcend the rest of their existence. No matter what they would do with the rest of their lives the marks and impressions of the war would permeate all aspects of that life. Now some fifty years later the war still makes it mark. That mark is not just on the men who fought it. It is also on their sons and daughters. Each of us born during the war years knows something of the atrocities of that war. Not by our own first hand experiences but rather from those that were there and who lived to tell about it. Our lives are marked and shaped by the war experience that we all shared in some degree or another. It is useful and meaningful to contemplate our existence and the impact which World War II had on each of us. For this reason Yeatts' story is not just another account but rather an opportunity for each of us to re-examine ourselves and the aspects of our existence that stem from that conflict. In one way or another stories like Yeatts' have not only influenced Garland Ray and his children but have impacted each of us and our children as well.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Preface by the Publisher
At first glance Battlefield of Life is just another account of one man's experiences during World War II. Nothing more and nothing less. It is a straight forward account of one man's life from shortly before the war to a time shortly after. It is Raymond A. Yeatts' account. So why has his story affected me to the degree that it has? Because on reading his story I found that I held within me memories of similar stories that came from my father and my uncles. I am the same age as Raymond A. Yeatts' son, Garland Ray. Reading Mr. Yeatts' account it is easy to believe that he was relating from much the same perspective as my own relations. One of the things that strikes me is how much the war shaped and influenced the life of men like Raymond A. Yeatts and my father. The war was not just a chapter in their lives with a beginning and an end. It became the basis for a central theme that would transcend the rest of their existence. No matter what they would do with the rest of their lives the marks and impressions of the war would permeate all aspects of that life. Now some fifty years later the war still makes it mark. That mark is not just on the men who fought it. It is also on their sons and daughters. Each of us born during the war years knows something of the atrocities of that war. Not by our own first hand experiences but rather from those that were there and who lived to tell about it. Our lives are marked and shaped by the war experience that we all shared in some degree or another. It is useful and meaningful to contemplate our existence and the impact which World War II had on each of us. For this reason Yeatts' story is not just another account but rather an opportunity for each of us to reexamine ourselves and the aspects of our existence that stem from that conflict. In one way or another stories like Yeatts' have not only influenced Garland Ray and his children but have impacted each of us and our children as well. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Excerpt. © Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved.

Chapter One Life-changing Decisions Chapter Two D-Day Invasion Chapter Three Battle of Fallaise Gap Chapter Four Battle of Northern France Chapter Five Battle of The Bulge Chapter Six The Battle of Rhineland Chapter Seven The Liberation of Buchenwald Chapter Eight Closing in on Berlin Chapter Nine Coming Home Reflections by the author's son --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Product Details

• Paperback: 59 pages
• Publisher: Gazelle Distribution Trade (October 15, 1997)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1887471065
• ISBN-13: 978-1887471060
• Product Dimensions: 8.8 x 6 x 0.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 3.2 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #4,924,937 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Best buy on the emotional impact of war on one warrior., May 13, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Battlefield of Life (Hardcover)

This powerful book reveals what goes on beneath the exploding surface of the battlefield. The author masterfully captures the sights, sounds, smells, tastes and feelings of a warscape and tugs at the reader to join the frantic ride. Every sentence incarcerates the helpless reader and stretches his emotional balloon to the bursting point. Thank you, Mr. Yeatts for taking me to the front lines. Although I've never been there, done that, I'll never again be able to shrug my shoulders mundanely at war. Yeatt's book should be required reading for every student seeking a military career. A five-star general couldn't do better.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars very moving and insightful, heartwrenching, powerful & real, December 17, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: Battlefield of Life (Hardcover)

Mr. yeatts is an ordinary man with extraordinary power and strength, to actually realize that this is a very common story of many of the men who endured this tragedy of war and yet never speak of it. As Tom Jennings said of his book many of the men were reluctant to speak of their experiences of the war, it was like he had to pull it out of them . How fortunate are the children of Mr. yeatts to know first hand and to have him in their lives to hear him elaborate even in more details his experiences of this world event. He is deserving of the highest honors, May god bless you always Mr. Yeatts,

5.0 out of 5 stars The Last Battle, September 24, 2008

By 

Beth Yeatts Harris - See all my reviews

This review is from: Battlefield of Life (Hardcover)

This book was wrttien by my Father ,Who died at 3:43am on Septembr 17th 2008 while holding my daughters hand, and his children Charles, Raynelle and Elizabeth were with him for days before the end. This was a battle he could not overcome. He went peacefully home. But he fought to the very end and never let go of hope until we told him it was ok to wave the white flag and surrender his way home to heaven. I miss him so.....My heart is broken.