Customer Reviews

A Reason to Live (American Heroes Series)

5 star:		(14)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

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.

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.

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.

I'm Jeff Wittmann, one of 5 sons of Wendell Wittmann, the bombadier of Harold "Robbie" Robinson's B-24 bomber crew. I've had this book for years, but only recently sat down and read it cover to cover. Robbie actually personally gave it to my mother after my dad was killed in a car crash. How's that for irony? Surviving 30 missions over Nazi Germany only to be killed by an idiot who can't drive. But I digress... My father never talked much about his time in the war other than vague references. I would always take that to mean that it was no big deal. In my mind, he would fly over to Germany every few days, drop a few bombs, be back in England in time for afternoon tea and crumpets. After reading this book with its extremely intense decriptions of the harrowing experiences of the 445th Bomb Group in the skies over France and Germany, I realize it's nothing short of a miracle that I'm even walking the earth today.

This almost daily and highly detailed account of the crew of the B-24 named Bullet Serenade kept me up past midnight several nights. It's a WWII story but it's also very much a love story of a young man and his new bride separated by a terrible and bloddy war. Robbie's undying love and devotion to her are an inspiration as it keeps him going through his 30 missions. My parents were in an identical situation during that time so Robbie's story is very much that of my father's.

The tales told of others in the 445th are very entertaining as well. Jimmy Stewart (yes that Jimmy Stewart) the squadron was a great guy who was not content to send his guys out on missions while he stayed behind safe at the base. Jimmy went along on some of the most dangerous runs leading his men into battle, much to the chagrin of Air Force Brass. What a loss that would have been if he were shot down and worse captured and used by the Nazi propaganda machine. And there's Dabbs the tail gunner, who's sexual exploits through WWII England warrant a book all by themselves. Dad never mentioned Dabbs.....

My father served in the 445th Bomb Group and I always wanted to know what he may have experienced. John captures the history and emotion of flying and fighting on bombers along with the tragedy. You become deeply involved in his thoughts and find yourself rooting for his survival so he can get back home to his wife. I could hardly put it down.

The book chronicles the life of the author from the late 1930's through the end of World War II. It has drama, romance, humor, and inspiration. It vividly portrays how the author's wife, his religious faith, and his courage sustained him during the perilous missions flown as a member of a coherent crew during the war. The book holds the readers attention and well could be made into a movie.

"A Reason To Live" provided our family with the never before know facts about being an enlisted flyer with the 445th Bomb Group(H). Robbie flew beside our Uncle Lyle C. Duzan on many of his missions. His story represents everything our family wanted to know about what it was like to endure such a challenge. The deep love and devotion described so well by Robbie mirrors the service and lives of Uncle Lyle and his wife Hazel. It will always serve as our masterpiece in personal history and dedication to duty. For any person whose relative served in WW II, this is the book that tells "what is was like", "how he felt", "who he depended upon", "what the living conditions were like", and "coping with it all". It will lead you from training to combat in what can only be described as "moving targets" for the Germans. You'll ride the roller coaster of going on missions and wondering if you'll get back. And then, in the end, you'll come to understand he had "A Reason To Live". THANK YOU, Robbie, for everything!

COULD NOT PUT IT DOWN! THIS BOOK IS WRITTEN FROM THE POINT OF VIEW OF A NON-COMMISSIONED-OFFICER WHICH MAKES IT SOMEWHAT UNIQUE AS MOST WWII BOOKS ARE OFFICERS DISCUSSING TATICS AND THE POLITICAL ASPECTS OF WAR. "A REASON TO LIVE" LET ME SHARE THE LOVE, HOPE, LONGINGS AND FEARS OF A SARGENT FLYING COMBAT MISSIONS OVER HITLERS GERMANY. I SALUTE MR. ROBINSON AND JUST WANT TO SAY THANK YOU AND YOUR GENERATION FOR OUR FREEDOM.

As a member of the 'X' generation, I never really understood the significance of the sacrifices and experiences that our grandparents endured during World War II. After reading John Robinson's first-hand account of his own experience flying in the army air corps, I have a new respect and appreciation for the Greatest Generation. Having myself served as an airman for three years in the Navy, I could relate to some of Mr. Robinson's unique experiences as an enlisted man in the armed services such as bad food, separation from loved ones and the close bonds developed between crewmates.

This book captures the true meaning of the experience of war that Hollywood has been so far unable to do. An excellent recollection of one man's struggle to stay alive so that he may be united with his "reason to live", this book sends the reader through the entire gamut of human emotions. Thank you, Mr. Robinson for enligtening me to the true meaning of the sacrifices men have made in the name of freedom.

After a diligent search in many directions, I finally found this out-of -print book at Amazon and at a reasonably price too.