The rifle : combat stories from America's last WWII veterans, told through an M1 Garand
Biggio, Andrew2021
Book
"It began when Biggio bought a 1945 M1 Garand Rifle, the most common rifle used in WWII, to honour his great uncle, a U.S. Army soldier who died on the hills of the Italian countryside. When Biggio showed the gun to his neighbour, WWII veteran Corporal Joseph Drago, it unlocked memories Drago had kept unspoken for 50 years. On the spur of the moment, Biggio asked Drago to sign the rifle. Thus began this Marine's mission to find as many WWII veterans as he could, get their signatures on the rifle, and document their stories. For two years, Biggio travelled across the country to interview America's last-living WWII veterans. Each time he put the M1 Garand Rifle in their hands, their eyes lit up with memories triggered by holding the weapon that had been with them every step of the war. With each visit and every story told to Biggio, the veterans signed their names to the rifle. 96 signatures now cover that rifle, each a reminder of the price of war and the courage of our soldiers"--From publisher's website.
Main title:
The rifle : combat stories from America's last WWII veterans, told through an M1 Garand / Andrew Biggio ; foreword by Hershel "Woody" Williams.
Author:
Biggio, Andrew, authorWilliams, Hershel Woodrow, 1923-, writer of foreword
Imprint:
Washington, D.C. : Regnery History, [2021]©2021
Collation:
xxiii, 295 pages : illustrations ; 24 cm
Notes:
Includes bibliographical references (pages 289-290) and index.
Contents:
Prologue -- Introduction: The mission -- "No such thing as a war crime" -- The golden acorn -- No stalag -- "A different composition" -- Uncle Rodney -- Seventy-two seconds -- Raging bull -- Man o' War -- Last-minute maurader -- An Italian American's war in Italy -- Two paratroopers, one island -- Learning to drive -- The running man -- The most interesting man in the world -- "I don't want to go home" -- Eighteen hours -- Enemy alien -- Patton's last panther -- Finding Andy -- Saying goodbye.
ISBN:
9781684510795 (hbk)9781684510795 (hardback)
Dewey class:
940.548173940.5481
Language:
English
Subject:
BRN:
724885
| Location | Collection | Call number | Status/Desc |
|---|---|---|---|
| City Library | -History | HISTORY 940.5481 BIGG | Available |