D-day And Beyond: A True Story Of Escape And Pow Survival [Paperback]

Julie M. Phend (Author), Stanley E., Jr. Edwards (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: December 2004

D-Day and Beyond is the true story of WWII veteran Stanley E. Edwards, Jr. A C47 pilot with the 82nd Airborne Division, Stanley was just twenty-two on D-Day when his job was to drop paratroopers in Normandy, France. Instead, his plane was shot down and he was forced to jump.

Separated from his crew, he joined other paratroopers trying to fight their way back to the American lines. In the process they were captured by Nazis but managed to escape. Stanley Edwards was captured and escaped twice more before he was finally caught and sent to Stalag Luft III, a prison camp in Germany. There he learned to survive as a POW, made lifelong friends, and learned some of the most important lessons in life.

His story is a fascinating account of one man's struggles to survive and do his duty as an American military man amid the chaos of World War II.

Editorial Reviews

From the Publisher

D-Day and Beyond is a fascinating true account of WWII veteran Stanley E. Edwards, Jr., a C47 pilot with the 82nd Airborne Division, and his struggles to survive in enemy territory and in prison camps as a POW.

About the Author

Julie Phend holds a BA in English and Theater from Valparaiso University and an MS in education from the University of Wisconsin. She currently teaches English at Lincoln Junior High where Stanley Edwards spoke to her students about his World War II experiences, which inspired this book. Ms. Phend, a native of Wausau, Wisconsin, resides in Naperville, Illinois, with her husband, Jack. They have two grown children.

Stanley E. Edwards, Jr., enlisted in the army in 1941 and attended flight school in Granada, Mississippi, before being sent to England prior to his D-Day mission and eventual capture by the Germans. After returning from the war, he married and raised four daughters in the Chicago, Illinois, area. Mr. Edwards was also a member of the Association of Former Prisoners of Stalag Luft III, maintaining contact with his fellow POWs for over 50 years.

Product Details

• Paperback: 115 pages
• Publisher: Burd Street Pr (December 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1572493623
• ISBN-13: 978-1572493629
• Product Dimensions: 8.8 x 5.9 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 7.8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,436,210 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #59 in Books > 4-for-3 Books > History > Military > World War II > Personal Narratives

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 A very "readable" book about WWII POW experiences, January 16, 2005

By 

Susan Greenwood "2 little time, 2 many books" - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: D-day And Beyond: A True Story Of Escape And Pow Survival (Paperback)

Offering insights into WWII and the POW experience, this book will be enjoyed by readers in seventh grade and above. An especially good choice for reluctant readers, this slim volume has humor, easy reading prose and maps that explain the escapes and recaptures endured by Stanley Edwards.

Most important of all, the book is a testimonial to the American GIs who may have been captured in German POW camps but managed to keep their spirits hopeful and resourceful.

This book is also a useful springboard between generations when discussing war experiences. Just 22-years-old when captured, Edwards' tells a story that is full of humor as well as pain; this focus allows young and old to share their own experiences and thoughts.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A fine addition to any military memoir collection, June 6, 2010

By 

Midwest Book Review (Oregon, WI USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: D-day And Beyond: A True Story Of Escape And Pow Survival (Paperback)

To be a prisoner of war is one of the last things a soldier wants to face. "D-Day & Beyond: A True Story of Escape and POW Survival" tells the tale of Stanley E. Edwards, a pilot who was shot down over France and captured by the Nazis, even though he fought capture kicking and screaming, escaping only to be recaptured. A riveting story of true life action and adventure, "D-Day & Beyond" is a fascinating and highly recommended read that serves as a fine addition to any military memoir collection.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars D-Day & Beyond--A survivor's story, February 6, 2005

By 

Janice Oldenburg (Menlo Park, CA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: D-day And Beyond: A True Story Of Escape And Pow Survival (Paperback)

This book tells a great story of "how it really was" for a young pilot shot down on D-Day. You get an intimate sense of the adventure, exhilaration, and teror that accompanied WWII soldiers every step of the way. The story of Stan Edward's repeated captures and excapes from Germans as he tries to get to the American lines is both exciting and realistic. This is a great read for all ages!