If you think “The Rifle” is just another collection of war stories, you would be wrong. Certainly, Mr. Biggio has collected a series of gut-wrenching combat stories from some of the last of the Greatest Generation, but he has done much more than that. In “The Rifle,” Mr. Biggio takes us on a journey into the living rooms, restaurants, bars, and other places where he interviewed the cast of extraordinary characters that tell the combat stories in his book. Along the way, we learn of Mr. Biggio’s own quest to find information about his great uncle who served in the United States Army. That quest, along with his own experience in the military, forms a foundation upon which he builds trusting relationships with the World War II veterans he interviews. The journey includes much self-reflection on military and post-military life, values and morals, and the world around us. His observations on how the veterans adjusted to military life and then transitioned to post-military life are instructive—for those who served as well as for those who never wore the uniform. There are many life lessons in “The Rifle,” and many of them have nothing to do with World War II combat, but rather with living a full and meaningful life.But then, of course, there are the war stories. Mr. Biggio does a masterful job of drawing some difficult memories from the gentlemen he interviewed. The stories are raw and they often reveal mixtures of pride, guilt, remorse, and sorrow. The veterans mourn the loss of friends, and voice their respect for those who never came home. There are moments of humor and anguish…sometimes in the same paragraph. Almost all of the men sustained wounds at some point in their service—physical, emotional, or both. As Mr. Biggio notes, many of the stories have been bottled up for years, with even family and friends unaware of the accomplishments of these remarkable men. At the end of the book, Mr. Biggio lists the honors that the men earned while in uniform. The combat stories themselves are reason enough to read this book, but there is one story that stands out and ties it all together: Chapter 19 – Finding Andy. Even if you don’t read any other part of this book, Finding Andy would make it worth purchasing.I have had the great pleasure to talk to hundreds of World War II veterans over the years. Unfortunately, I did not record those conversations and I’ve forgotten most of the names and ranks of those I met. I wish that I had had the foresight to recognize the importance of recording them and preserving their actions and thoughts for future generations. Fortunately, Mr. Biggio has succeeded where I failed. I strongly encourage anyone interested in World War II to read this book. I would also recommend this book to anyone who is in transition from the military to civilian life, or who is having difficulty coping with post-military life. Finally, I believe that this book is instructive for anyone who believes that the freedoms we enjoy are easy and permanent.