The Greatest Generation of Americans - Book Report/Review Example

The Greatest Generation of Americans First Last of Introduction World War II is the most devastating, the bloodiest, and the biggest military conflict involving almost all countries in the world amounting to a total of over 61,000,000 casualties of both military and civilian from across every nation. The book “The Greatest Generation” written by broadcast journalist and established writer, Tom Brokaw, gives us an account of how people of America from all walks of life -- from military personnel, community leaders, famous people, to ordinary men and women, have sacrificed their lives to save America. They responded to the call in honor and love for country; they turned down their own interest and pleasure to defeat their enemies; and they won their independence to see their nation rise up again from the pit of a devastating war that had killed millions of their loved ones and created a massive loss of their properties. These heroic deeds during the world war lead Brokaw to call their generation the “greatest generation” America has yet seen. The Creation of the book World War II was the most damaging war in the history which started in the year 1939 about 70 years ago, and believed to have ended in 1945. Germany’s invasion of Poland without any warning sparked the beginning of the war on September 1, 1939. On the third day of September, two other countries, Britain and France joined in the conflict against Germany; and in a span of one week, four other countries, Australia, New Zealand, Canada, and South Africa had also joined in the war (“A WW2 Timeline”). This global military conflict was divided into two opposing military alliances namely: the Allies composed of countries including Soviet Union, United States, and United Kingdom, and the Axis composed of Germany, Japan, Italy, and many others. World War II is the deadliest and the bloodiest war that has ever hit the world with 61 million casualties of both military and civilian. Brokaw believes that there are significant, astonishing, and memorable stories behind every tragedy -- stories of hope, of greatness, of survival that leads him to create the book “The Greatest Generation.” Overview of the Book “The Greatest Generation” accounts stories of veteran Americans, men and women who fought during the World War 2 against two of the greatest military machines ever created in the history of mankind. They gave up their lives, offered up their honor, dignity, and courage to see their nation rise up again. The book aims to let Americans of today’s generation know how much these people have sacrificed and fought the good fight so they can attain and enjoy the freedom that all Americans are enjoying right now. They sacrificed their very lives and came back home to restore a new America. They rebuilt communities, roads, business, government, arts and sciences and restored the country’s economic and political institutions. They never complained when they were sent out to war and they never took pride of their heroic acts and the author believes that this is because they never thought of it as something special and that anyone can also do what they did for their country (“The Greatest Generation”). Author and broadcast journalist Tom Brokaw who wrote this book went to France and told the story of these people, the heroes and heroines of their generation, to create the America we knew today. Brokaw’s Argument Brokaw argued in his book that these men and women who fought the good fight deserved the title “the greatest generation” of Americans. They are worthy to be honored and respected because they served and risked their lives for the country. They did not seek for fame and recognition in doing so, because they believed it was the right thing to do as worthy citizens of their country. They rarely talked about the war, both because of the pain that goes along with it and because of the thought that they were just fulfilling their responsibilities and thus have no reason to brag. With a history of more than 292,000 Americans killed during the battle, and more than 1.7 million more or less wounded or physically handicapped, Brokaw believes that these people exemplified what true “greatness” means. Their accomplishment was highly notable, something to be proud of, yet they rarely discussed of their experiences -- their own stories of survival. Information used to reach the conclusion The author interviewed and presented the lives and personal stories of these people who were involved during the World War II; and the author tells about their stories to this new generation who are unaware of how these people have shaped the course of American history. Brokaw traveled from France to Normandy to create a documentary of D-Day’s fortieth anniversary. And just as he thought he would just be there to take delight in the beauty of the country, the people, the food, the scenery, he found himself indulged into a life-changing experience. As he walked along the beaches of France, he encountered these veteran Americans whom by fate landed there, listened to their stories of turmoil, tragedies, and great victories. Brokaw wrote, “There at the beaches of Normandy, I began to reflect the wonders of these ordinary people whose lives are laced with the markings of greatness” (Brokaw XXIX). He used biography of these people-- a couple or a group of people to share their stories. He then divided the book into sections such as Ordinary people, Home Front, Famous People and provided a short biography of each chapter. Brokaw during his visit interacted with these veterans who are now in their sixties and seventies whose experiences are never told and kept for so long. They didn’t volunteer their stories. It takes courage for these people to share their stories and recall memories of what seems like a nightmare from a long time ago. They are the “greatest generation” of Americans as Tom Brokaw boldly claims. Some of these Americans include Gino Merli who saved his fellow soldiers and killed more than 50 German enemies in a battle. Stories of Harry Garton of Pennsylvania who lost both his legs during the war was also worthy of respect and gratitude. This generation of people understood that they had been called to fight for the war and with all certainty accepted the challenge. Brokaw reported in the book how these people unselfishly responded to the call and committed themselves to attain victory even to the extent of leaving their families behind, (for how long, they do not know) and with no assurance that they will still return to their own homeland alive. He also reported what these people have gone through and dig deeper into their stories as he himself as a child in the 60’s can feel the intensity of that terrible experience. He also provided information about their early years, how they joined the military, and of course, their experiences in the midst of the horror of the war. Brokaw wrote about their experiences to pay tribute to these veterans and even considered the birth of the book “long overdue” to give thanks to them for the hard works and sacrifices they all have contributed. He emphasized that these people are already in their senior years and today’s generation are losing track of them more than they have ever imagined, without even thanking them for their service and commitment to the country. Brokaw accounted that he is awed by them and he is privileged enough to get the chance of knowing these people, to witness their lives and sacrifices; and the more he has come to know of them, the more he is convinced that they are worthy to be called the “greatest generation” the world has ever known. He also used “the Darkness of the Great Depression” as imagery to illustrate to the readers the asperity of the situation and to cause people to believe that indeed, they are the “greatest generation.” For him, how they confront and overcome the situation during the war defines their strength and resilience. Those of whom who knew them should consider themselves blessed, for they may never see quite a group of people like their generation. Conclusion I agree with the author’s conclusion that they are indeed the “greatest generation” the society has ever produced because their hard work, sacrifice, and service to the nation goes beyond the call for duty. They risked their lives because they care enough to think about the next generation of Americans that will come after them, that they may live their lives in prosperity and peace. They were also thinking of the kind of life they will leave to their children and their children’s children. I believe whether people are not sure to call them the greatest, should think about what America would have been right now had these people did not respond to the call during the war. Giving up one’s life in service to the nation takes faith, courage, perseverance, and determination to endure such horrible pain. They may not be the perfect generation but they are uncomplaining and selfless to answer the call for war, saving not only America but also, France and Britain. Their wounds and scars are eternal reminders of a sacrifice they endured to bring home the victory. Some people may regard them as “the ordinary generation” that are just confine in a certain niche of time and that any other generation can absolutely do the same, but the reality remains that America would have been much different had they not responded. People have heard of their heroic acts; they have witnessed their sacrifice; and for those Americans who belong to this present generation have experience “today” as it is, because people who have come before them cared enough to sacrifice for them, so they may enjoy the freedom they are experiencing right now. The legacy they left brought a huge impact into the lives of this present generation of Americans. The author’s conclusion that Americans who fought during the 1939-1945 World War II were the “greatest generation” of Americans was profoundly claimed. He described, “Their sacrifices at home and on the front lines make our current difficulties look like a walk on the beach in comparison” (Brokaw “Sacrifice”). He was there. Face to face with the veterans. He was deeply moved. And he was moreover convinced because he saw it from them that behind their stories lies a painful truth of the past; a scar that will forever remind them of those fateful years of the world war. The quality of the author’s information such as bibliographies, personal stories, photos, one-on-one interviews are sufficient to convince majority of the readers that indeed, the people who fought during the World War II are the “greatest generation” of people America has yet seen. Works Cited “A WW2 Timeline.” worldwar-2.net. Worldwar-2, n.d. Web. 27 Sept. 2010. . Brokaw, Tom. “Sacrifice and the Greatest Generation.” The Wall Street Journal 6 June 2009: A11. Print. Brokaw, Tom. The Greatest Generation. United States: Random House, 2004. Print. “The Greatest Generation.” manitowoc.lib.wi.us. Manitowoc Public Library, n.d. Web. 27 Sept. 2010. . Read More