A Reason to Live (American Heroes Series) [Hardcover]

John Harold Robinson (Author)

Product Details

• Hardcover: 444 pages
• Publisher: Castle Books Inc (February 1990)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0916693120
• ISBN-13: 978-0916693121
• Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 6 x 1.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (14 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,042,498 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars One of the best books by a member of the Eighth Air Force, March 28, 2001

By 

Dennis Daniels (N Tonawanda, NY USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: A Reason to Live (American Heroes Series) (Hardcover)

History sometimes presents us with a calloused, birdseye view of war that never quite seems to hit home with what the actual experience is like. Often neglected is the story of those brave young airmen, sailors, and soldiers that must endure the daily anxiety and consequences of warfare. To learn, feel,and experience the true horrors of war we often must turn to those who write first person accounts of their experiences. John Robinson's book is a classic in the sense that he begins his story when he leaves his young wife and continues his story through gunnery school and his 25 missions with the fledging 445th bomb group. This is not a book about tactics, battles, or leaders, but vividly tells of a young man who performed his duty against overwhelming odds with nothing more than a sense of duty and an understandable love for his beautiful wife who he was committed to returning home to. It's a wonderful, fulfilling story because it not only tells us of John Robinson, but also of every airman who served in the Eighth Air Force. Robinson effectivley provides us with an accurate and honest first hand account of what it was like to serve as a gunner in a B-24. We can feel the tension between missions and his sense of grief as crews are lost. He also gives the reader an understanding of the living condition at Tibenham, England and the special relationship our airmen shared with the English. As someone who had a relative serve with the 445th and was killed in action on the Gotha mission, this book had special significance. Despite this, Robinson's book is very special and should be read by everyone who shares a feeling of pride with those who bravely served in the armed forces.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars "A Reason to Live", January 10, 2006

By 

David Hoffert (Warsaw, Indiana) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: A Reason to Live (American Heroes Series) (Hardcover)

This is a book that shows the sacrifices that were made by the WWII generation to protect the freedoms we share as Americans today. Mr. Robinson gives a unique perspective to the bombing raids over Europe and the great lose of American life. There are numerous books on the market discussing the decision making from the pilot or wing commander's point of view. This perspective comes from an enlisted man, a true "citizen soldier" that was asked by his friends and neighbors to defend the American way of life.

Many times throughout this book, I felt that I was in the plane beside Mr. Robinson and the other crew members as they flew dangerous mission over France and Germany. The vivid recollections and attention to detail makes this a great read for those that enjoy and thrive on WWII history. The writing style and explanation makes this a great read for those all from the WWII historians to the average reader. The personal story of a newly married young man that has to leave his wife and fight in one of the most dangerous spots in WWII will make you want to cry, laugh, leave you on the edge or your seat and never want to put the book down.

This book also offers a special bonus. It gives you a glimpse of the war time service of actor Jimmy Stewart. Stewart had such a private attitude about his war time service that not much was written (or known) about this time in his life. Mr. Robinson shares many Stewart stories that could only be told properly by someone there. This is a book that will hold a special place on my bookshelf.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Reason to Live, June 20, 2000

By 

Jay Niemela (Copenhagen, Denmark) - See all my reviews

This review is from: A Reason to Live (American Heroes Series) (Hardcover)

A tastefully written and exciting account of life as a gunner in the U.S. Air Force B-24 Heavy Bombers durning World War II. I just couldn't put it down until the last page. If you want to know what those men, only a third of whom survived, really went through both physically and mentally - this is THE book. My sincere thanks to John Harold Robinson for keeping these memories alive.