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When the Sea Came Alive: An Oral History of D-Day
From the New York Times bestselling author of The Only Plane in the Sky and Pulitzer Prize finalist for Watergate comes the most up-to-date and complete account of D-Day—the largest seaborne invasion in history and the moment that secured the Allied victory in World War II.
D-Day is one of history’s greatest and most unbelievable military and human triumphs. Though the full campaign lasted just over a month, the surprise landing of over 150,000 Allied troops on the morning of June 6, 1944, is understood to be the moment that turned the tide for the Allied forces and ultimately led to the defeat of the Axis powers in World War II. Now, a new book from bestselling author and historian Garrett M. Graff explores the full impact of this world-changing event—from the secret creation of landing plans by top government and military officials and organization of troops, to the moment the boat doors opened to reveal the beach where men fought for their lives and the future of the free world.
Fascinating, action-packed, and filled with impressive detail, When the Sea Came Alive captures a human drama like no other, and offers a fitting tribute to the men and women of the Greatest Generation.
D-Day is one of history’s greatest and most unbelievable military and human triumphs. Though the full campaign lasted just over a month, the surprise landing of over 150,000 Allied troops on the morning of June 6, 1944, is understood to be the moment that turned the tide for the Allied forces and ultimately led to the defeat of the Axis powers in World War II. Now, a new book from bestselling author and historian Garrett M. Graff explores the full impact of this world-changing event—from the secret creation of landing plans by top government and military officials and organization of troops, to the moment the boat doors opened to reveal the beach where men fought for their lives and the future of the free world.
Fascinating, action-packed, and filled with impressive detail, When the Sea Came Alive captures a human drama like no other, and offers a fitting tribute to the men and women of the Greatest Generation.
608 pages, Hardcover
First published June 4, 2024
About the author
Garrett M. Graff
15 books524 followersGarrett M. Graff, a distinguished magazine journalist and historian, has spent more than a dozen years covering politics, technology, and national security. He’s written for publications from WIRED to Bloomberg BusinessWeek to the New York Times, and served as the editor of two of Washington’s most prestigious magazines, Washingtonian and POLITICO Magazine, which he helped lead to its first National Magazine Award, the industry’s highest honor.
Graff is the author of multiple books, including "The First Campaign: Globalization, the Web, and the Race for the White House," which examined the role of technology in the 2008 presidential race, and "The Threat Matrix: The FBI At War," which traces the history of the FBI’s counterterrorism efforts. His next book, "Raven Rock," about the government’s Cold War Doomsday plans, will be published in May 2017, and he's currently on an oral history of September 11th, based on his POLITICO Magazine article, "We're The Only Plane in the Sky."
His online career began with his time as Governor Howard Dean’s first webmaster, and in 2005, he was the first blogger accredited to cover a White House press briefing. Today, he serves as the executive director of the Aspen Institute’s cybersecurity and technology program.
Graff is the author of multiple books, including "The First Campaign: Globalization, the Web, and the Race for the White House," which examined the role of technology in the 2008 presidential race, and "The Threat Matrix: The FBI At War," which traces the history of the FBI’s counterterrorism efforts. His next book, "Raven Rock," about the government’s Cold War Doomsday plans, will be published in May 2017, and he's currently on an oral history of September 11th, based on his POLITICO Magazine article, "We're The Only Plane in the Sky."
His online career began with his time as Governor Howard Dean’s first webmaster, and in 2005, he was the first blogger accredited to cover a White House press briefing. Today, he serves as the executive director of the Aspen Institute’s cybersecurity and technology program.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 89 reviews
June 24, 2024
Garrett Graff is a treasure: a historian rather like Erik Larson with a vast curiosity. He's written some of the very best books out there on UFOs, Watergate, and 9/11. (THE ONLY PLANE IN THE SKY: AN ORAL HISTORY OF 9/11 is brilliant -- and not for the faint of heart.) Now he has turned his attention to D-Day, the invasion of Normandy on June 6, 1944, and again he has added so much to what we know and what happened that day (and in the months leading up to it). Using the words of the men and women who were there -- some famous, most not -- he has crafted a moment by moment and beach by beach narrative that is riveting. As the nephew of a member of the 101st Airborne, Easy Company, it was deeply moving to learn more specifically what my uncle experienced. But, the fact is, you don't need a personal connection to someone who was there to have "all the feels." This is the sort of book that is smart, inspiring, and powerful -- and adds so much to our knowledge of what that day was like and its historic importance forever.
June 3, 2024
One thing I hear very often when history comes up is that there are too many World War II books coming out. I have always found this curious as the most important war in history which entangled most of the globe is going to produce stories for a very long time. Admittedly, there are plenty of books which just crib off of better works and those should rightfully be criticized. Then there are books like Garrett Graff's When the Sea Came Alive and show a different way to take on the material.
I am having a very tough time rating this one. On the one hand, Graff has done a tremendous amount of work to turn this into a readable book with an understandable narrative. He takes excerpts from real people involved in D-Day from the generals to the lowest of privates. They are all sequenced to tell the story of D-Day through different perspectives. I want to give the book 5 stars merely for the difficulty level of making the story make sense.
On the other hand, oral histories can often run into the problem this book illustrates. Some of these quotations are only a line long. Some are longer but rarely more than a quarter of a page. This goes on for nearly all 500 pages with only Graff's short explanations of greater actions in the war.
I couldn't help but wondering who the audience for this is. If you are well-read in World War II, the first 200 pages of D-Day planning are not necessary. If you don't know World War II, you need way more than is provided by these short quotations.
That said, once you start getting those first-person accounts of the D-Day landings, the book becomes intoxicating. The point-of-view of the Germans on the defensive are a wonderful touch. However, I would read a great citation and then think, "No, don't move on, give me more of this."
In the end, I think it is only fair to give this book four out of five stars. The work done by Graff is phenomenal. Hearing the voices of men who were there on D-Day is powerful. However, I have to warn readers that oral histories are not for everyone and your mileage may vary.
(This book was provided as an advance copy by the publisher.)
I am having a very tough time rating this one. On the one hand, Graff has done a tremendous amount of work to turn this into a readable book with an understandable narrative. He takes excerpts from real people involved in D-Day from the generals to the lowest of privates. They are all sequenced to tell the story of D-Day through different perspectives. I want to give the book 5 stars merely for the difficulty level of making the story make sense.
On the other hand, oral histories can often run into the problem this book illustrates. Some of these quotations are only a line long. Some are longer but rarely more than a quarter of a page. This goes on for nearly all 500 pages with only Graff's short explanations of greater actions in the war.
I couldn't help but wondering who the audience for this is. If you are well-read in World War II, the first 200 pages of D-Day planning are not necessary. If you don't know World War II, you need way more than is provided by these short quotations.
That said, once you start getting those first-person accounts of the D-Day landings, the book becomes intoxicating. The point-of-view of the Germans on the defensive are a wonderful touch. However, I would read a great citation and then think, "No, don't move on, give me more of this."
In the end, I think it is only fair to give this book four out of five stars. The work done by Graff is phenomenal. Hearing the voices of men who were there on D-Day is powerful. However, I have to warn readers that oral histories are not for everyone and your mileage may vary.
(This book was provided as an advance copy by the publisher.)
June 10, 2024
Audiobook rec! When the Sea Came Alive is the new oral history of D-Day and its impact. from the author/historian that brought us The Only Plane in the Sky. Graff has woven together over 700 voices, each with a piece of the puzzle, to expertly craft a very human story of one of the world's biggest events. To get this many stories from a generation that didn't like to share them was no small feat.
There's not much else to say about this book. Whether you are a D Day historian yourself or only remember some highlights from HS Social Studies class, this is a book to check out. Graff has tried, and I think in most cases succeeded, to amplify as many human stories, no matter how big or small, here and gives us a full picture of this historic day with moments that will be seared into our minds forever. Oral histories are one of the most powerful ways to learn new truths, and this is one of the better ones.
There's not much else to say about this book. Whether you are a D Day historian yourself or only remember some highlights from HS Social Studies class, this is a book to check out. Graff has tried, and I think in most cases succeeded, to amplify as many human stories, no matter how big or small, here and gives us a full picture of this historic day with moments that will be seared into our minds forever. Oral histories are one of the most powerful ways to learn new truths, and this is one of the better ones.
May 25, 2024
Thank you NetGalley for an opportunity for me to an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review. This was such an amazing oral history of D-Day. I am amazed by the thoroughness and how in-depth this author went to capture the thoughts, feelings, suffering, and hope from D-Day. This book is entirely comprised of actual interviews, diaries, letters, journal entries, and speeches.
At the beginning of each chapter or change of scene, the author provides a short description of what is happening or occurring during the chapter or section. This is helpful to provide you with a guide about where the story going next and it also provides context for the following dialogues.
After the author’s heading of the section or capture. The chapter/section is filled with various snippets from people’s interviews, letters, journals, or speeches. The author compiles all of these dialogues into a story format that allows the reader to flow from one person to another providing the reader with a first-person view of D-Day.
The book starts with the planning and training for D-Day and follows the various leaders who planned the event. The planning involved was extensive, all the way to the materials and equipment needed, to the weather. The book then moves on to D-Day itself with the paratroopers landing behind the beaches, then to the attack on each various beach. After the initial invasion the book then covers the push up the beaches and covers the fighting done behind the beaches.
Quotes and speeches are given by Generals (such as General Eisenhower) Churchill, soldiers (Allies and Axis), and civilians (English, American, French and even Ann Frank).
I love the way the author complied all of these quotes and the amount of information that is in the book. I never realized how much planning and training was done before D-Day with the amount of secrecy involved.
I highly recommend this book to every history reader and to those who may want to take a jump into reading history. There is no better way to enjoy history than hearing first-hand accounts, and this author has provided a way for us to read these first-hand accounts and capture the fear, hope, and pain those involved experienced. I will definitely be on the lookout for other books this author writes and I have already bought The Only Plane in the Sky.
At the beginning of each chapter or change of scene, the author provides a short description of what is happening or occurring during the chapter or section. This is helpful to provide you with a guide about where the story going next and it also provides context for the following dialogues.
After the author’s heading of the section or capture. The chapter/section is filled with various snippets from people’s interviews, letters, journals, or speeches. The author compiles all of these dialogues into a story format that allows the reader to flow from one person to another providing the reader with a first-person view of D-Day.
The book starts with the planning and training for D-Day and follows the various leaders who planned the event. The planning involved was extensive, all the way to the materials and equipment needed, to the weather. The book then moves on to D-Day itself with the paratroopers landing behind the beaches, then to the attack on each various beach. After the initial invasion the book then covers the push up the beaches and covers the fighting done behind the beaches.
Quotes and speeches are given by Generals (such as General Eisenhower) Churchill, soldiers (Allies and Axis), and civilians (English, American, French and even Ann Frank).
I love the way the author complied all of these quotes and the amount of information that is in the book. I never realized how much planning and training was done before D-Day with the amount of secrecy involved.
I highly recommend this book to every history reader and to those who may want to take a jump into reading history. There is no better way to enjoy history than hearing first-hand accounts, and this author has provided a way for us to read these first-hand accounts and capture the fear, hope, and pain those involved experienced. I will definitely be on the lookout for other books this author writes and I have already bought The Only Plane in the Sky.
May 6, 2024
Author Garrett M. Graff has been churning out critically acclaimed releases the last few years. Back in 2020, I read and reviewed his oral history of 9/11, THE ONLY PLANE IN THE SKY; a book I still think about often. Since then, he’s crafted a new and updated history of Watergate, an investigative look at UFOs and now, WHEN THE SEA CAME ALIVE, an oral history of D-Day just in time for that transformative day’s 80th Anniversary.
As nearly all those who had participated in the European land invasion are no longer with us, Graff had to comb through north of five thousand personal stories, memoirs and oral histories contained within established texts. The quotes contained within were lifted from – but not limited to – books, magazines, official reports, videos, and audio recordings. You get snapshots from the minds of combatants, generals and politicians alike. What really surprised me is that Graff made sure to include Axis voices whether it was from soldiers, commanders or speeches given by Hitler and his closest allies.
Despite having read so many books about the Second World War, I was not aware that the planning for D-Day began well over a year prior to its execution. It absolutely makes sense given how long it took to amass the sheer volume of humanity from across the Allied forces required to complete the task. Graff pulls from a treasure trove of material to lay out the logistics and hardships endured by the Allies throughout the process and the courage it took to take a run at the Third Reich as failure was not an option. Many of the stories told by those who ventured beyond enemy lines had my stomach in knots. It is simply unimaginable the courage it took to accomplish this, especially those in the “suicide wave” of Company A, the men first off the boats on Omaha beach.
There are moments in this book I will never forget.
I cannot speak highly enough of the work I’ve read to date from Graff. It’s one thing to collect all of this material for an oral history, but it is another entirely to assemble it as he has. I found this book nearly impossible to put down. For those who are fans of Graff’s earlier work as well as Erik Larson’s 2020 book, THE SPLENDID AND THE VILE, I cannot recommend this enough.
As nearly all those who had participated in the European land invasion are no longer with us, Graff had to comb through north of five thousand personal stories, memoirs and oral histories contained within established texts. The quotes contained within were lifted from – but not limited to – books, magazines, official reports, videos, and audio recordings. You get snapshots from the minds of combatants, generals and politicians alike. What really surprised me is that Graff made sure to include Axis voices whether it was from soldiers, commanders or speeches given by Hitler and his closest allies.
Despite having read so many books about the Second World War, I was not aware that the planning for D-Day began well over a year prior to its execution. It absolutely makes sense given how long it took to amass the sheer volume of humanity from across the Allied forces required to complete the task. Graff pulls from a treasure trove of material to lay out the logistics and hardships endured by the Allies throughout the process and the courage it took to take a run at the Third Reich as failure was not an option. Many of the stories told by those who ventured beyond enemy lines had my stomach in knots. It is simply unimaginable the courage it took to accomplish this, especially those in the “suicide wave” of Company A, the men first off the boats on Omaha beach.
There are moments in this book I will never forget.
I cannot speak highly enough of the work I’ve read to date from Graff. It’s one thing to collect all of this material for an oral history, but it is another entirely to assemble it as he has. I found this book nearly impossible to put down. For those who are fans of Graff’s earlier work as well as Erik Larson’s 2020 book, THE SPLENDID AND THE VILE, I cannot recommend this enough.
June 26, 2024
Narratively, this book is amazing. These sorts of personal-account books make it easier to understand what all happened in major operations such as Overlord by giving a ground-level view of the battles. The typical birds-eye view or general perspective that most books have can sometimes make it harder to visualize what was all happening as events unfolded. If there’s two issues I can present with this style of presenting history, it is this: the selective storytelling and the fact that dead men tell no tales. You obviously can’t tell everyone’s whole story of D-Day but the book takes the stories of people as they were happening, making you wonder how they got there or what became of them. Secondly, by mostly hearing from the words of survivors, it becomes harder to tell how brutal events were. The book gives accounts by people who were able to make it out in one piece or wounded but alive, rather than that of the men who were killed immediately and have no chance to speak. So, one can read of a savage attack on a pillbox thinking it was relatively successful only for the author to mention that half the platoon was wiped out in the process. However, these issues aren’t really the author’s own fault and more the faults of the method of storytelling as a whole. I recommend this new edition to D-Day history.
June 27, 2024
What a thrilling book! I read through lunch and dinner and on 'til dawn because I was so captivated by the stories of 700 who participated in some capacity in the battle that saved the world from Nazi rule.
The result is "an overwhelming sensual experience, one filled with explosive color-orange flames, green water, khaki uniforms, and seething red blood-vivid smells, from cordite to apple blossoms, and unforgettable sound, from the tiny clicks of the metal crickets given to paratroopers to recognize one another in the dark and the donging church bells of Sainte-Mère-Eglise to the overwhelming crescendo of the naval beach bombardment and the shells of the USS Texas at dawn."
Once I started reading, I could not put this gripping account down. Every history lover will want a copy, and When the Sea Came Alive should be in every school and library in the land. A triumph!
The result is "an overwhelming sensual experience, one filled with explosive color-orange flames, green water, khaki uniforms, and seething red blood-vivid smells, from cordite to apple blossoms, and unforgettable sound, from the tiny clicks of the metal crickets given to paratroopers to recognize one another in the dark and the donging church bells of Sainte-Mère-Eglise to the overwhelming crescendo of the naval beach bombardment and the shells of the USS Texas at dawn."
Once I started reading, I could not put this gripping account down. Every history lover will want a copy, and When the Sea Came Alive should be in every school and library in the land. A triumph!
June 13, 2024
I give this five stars for the respect of the content but I could see the woke trying to come out of this author and I didn’t like that part.
July 1, 2024
James Bentham, 3rd British Division: Some of their names I have forgotten, but their deeds that morning and their faces as they lay on that beach, I shall never forget.
Pvt. Maynard Marquis: It’s too bad we have to have wars, but I think we always will. People never change. Only the weapons change.
Gen. Dwight Eisenhower: These people gave us a chance and they bought time for us so that we can do better than we have before. Every time I come back to these beaches or any day when I think about that day— I say, once more, we must find some way to work to peace, and to gain an eternal peace for this world.
Pvt. Waylen "Pete" Lamb, Headquarters Division, 50lst Parachute Infantry Regiment, 101st Airborne: I don't remember names too well, but sometimes when I'm alone with my memories, I can still see the faces of those wonderful guys, and get a lump in my throat remembering how I was a part of their team.
This book was so good and very informative! Almost the whole book is interview style with background information written by the author so you aren’t confused as to what the men and women are talking about. This book includes diary entries, letters, interviews, & speeches (from the German soldiers too) giving you a real time idea as to what was happening in the months/days leading up to the invasion and through June 6, 1944.
Pvt. Maynard Marquis: It’s too bad we have to have wars, but I think we always will. People never change. Only the weapons change.
Gen. Dwight Eisenhower: These people gave us a chance and they bought time for us so that we can do better than we have before. Every time I come back to these beaches or any day when I think about that day— I say, once more, we must find some way to work to peace, and to gain an eternal peace for this world.
Pvt. Waylen "Pete" Lamb, Headquarters Division, 50lst Parachute Infantry Regiment, 101st Airborne: I don't remember names too well, but sometimes when I'm alone with my memories, I can still see the faces of those wonderful guys, and get a lump in my throat remembering how I was a part of their team.
This book was so good and very informative! Almost the whole book is interview style with background information written by the author so you aren’t confused as to what the men and women are talking about. This book includes diary entries, letters, interviews, & speeches (from the German soldiers too) giving you a real time idea as to what was happening in the months/days leading up to the invasion and through June 6, 1944.
June 19, 2024
Thank you Avid Reader Press for the gifted copy of When the Sea Came Alive.
I'll preface this by saying that I don't read much (any) books on WWII history... but I might start after finishing this one. Graff does an amazing job at showing us both the strategy for the attack and the human stories on D-Day itself. When we learn about WWII in school, we typically memorize event dates and outcomes without putting together why they happened. With the benefit of history, all the events and battles and wins and losses seem pre-ordained… but that’s far from the truth. Reading this book, I’m learning so much about the why and the how and it’s all “clicking” for the first time. The oral history format keeps it interesting, even for someone like me who isn’t typically a WWII history reader. Actually, I’m more than interested… I’m fascinated by what I’m reading and keep getting lost in the book. I’m actually floored that someone is able to write a book on this topic that holds my interest like this. It’s a testament to the strength of Graff as an author and crafter of historical narratives.
Question for fellow Goodreads users - if you're a big WWII reader, which book should I pick up next?
I'll preface this by saying that I don't read much (any) books on WWII history... but I might start after finishing this one. Graff does an amazing job at showing us both the strategy for the attack and the human stories on D-Day itself. When we learn about WWII in school, we typically memorize event dates and outcomes without putting together why they happened. With the benefit of history, all the events and battles and wins and losses seem pre-ordained… but that’s far from the truth. Reading this book, I’m learning so much about the why and the how and it’s all “clicking” for the first time. The oral history format keeps it interesting, even for someone like me who isn’t typically a WWII history reader. Actually, I’m more than interested… I’m fascinated by what I’m reading and keep getting lost in the book. I’m actually floored that someone is able to write a book on this topic that holds my interest like this. It’s a testament to the strength of Graff as an author and crafter of historical narratives.
Question for fellow Goodreads users - if you're a big WWII reader, which book should I pick up next?
June 6, 2024
Undeniably one of the greatest collations of eyewitness accounts from the landmark date that marked the beginning of the end of Hitler and the Third Reich, June 6th 1944 - D-Day and the Allied invasion of Normandy.
Graff has painstakingly chartered the history of the day, along with the wider context on the invasion, by highlighting hundreds upon hundreds of accounts of men from right across the spectrum. Jumping from Infantry, Paratrooper, Armoured and Navy perspectives across all nationalities involved too; not just the American POV.
Finishing this on the evening of June 6th 2024, 80 years on, I can’t help but get choked up and reflect on the tremendous sacrifice made by all those involved. As the wider war slips ever further away from living memory it is books like these that will stand to highlight best the true courage, bravery and sheer debt we owe to these men.
Graff has painstakingly chartered the history of the day, along with the wider context on the invasion, by highlighting hundreds upon hundreds of accounts of men from right across the spectrum. Jumping from Infantry, Paratrooper, Armoured and Navy perspectives across all nationalities involved too; not just the American POV.
Finishing this on the evening of June 6th 2024, 80 years on, I can’t help but get choked up and reflect on the tremendous sacrifice made by all those involved. As the wider war slips ever further away from living memory it is books like these that will stand to highlight best the true courage, bravery and sheer debt we owe to these men.
July 1, 2024
This is an utterly riveting account of the D-Day planning and landing. There are lots of little known stories and heroes that are highlighted and given new prominence.
The format of this book follows the same format of Graff's earlier book "The Only Plane in the Sky." That book took excerpts of oral histories to weave a moment by moment insight into the events of 9/11. That format gave insight and understanding into survivors of that day.
Unfortunately that format does not work as well for an event that is 80 years ago. The excerpts are taken from letters, books, and writings that sometimes were written many years after D-Day. I felt like this book could have used more structure to help explain some of the events. I am not familiar with the intricacies of D-Day and I often was lost.
The format of this book follows the same format of Graff's earlier book "The Only Plane in the Sky." That book took excerpts of oral histories to weave a moment by moment insight into the events of 9/11. That format gave insight and understanding into survivors of that day.
Unfortunately that format does not work as well for an event that is 80 years ago. The excerpts are taken from letters, books, and writings that sometimes were written many years after D-Day. I felt like this book could have used more structure to help explain some of the events. I am not familiar with the intricacies of D-Day and I often was lost.
June 19, 2024
I usually do not read war-based novels.
But this is definitely worth reading and or listening to .
This novel is composed of authentic radio transmissions, personal memory and recorded information from other scholars sources.
If possible please try to listen to it because you’re listening to non military and military people,presidents,, is completely moving and worthwhile .
It’s definitely an amazing piece of academic scholarly work.
But this is definitely worth reading and or listening to .
This novel is composed of authentic radio transmissions, personal memory and recorded information from other scholars sources.
If possible please try to listen to it because you’re listening to non military and military people,presidents,, is completely moving and worthwhile .
It’s definitely an amazing piece of academic scholarly work.
July 22, 2024
Amazing research and order of events. Do yourself a favor and listen to the audio version!
July 2, 2024
This was an audiobook for me and was by far the best book I’ve encountered this year! Reading (ok, listening) to the heroic acts and valor of the multitudes during DDay was a true privilege—more so since I had the volume on the 80th anniversary and could appreciate the courage of the greatest generation. I have read a multitude of accounts of WWII over the years but this one tops them all.
July 12, 2024
From beginning to end, the grim reality of D-Day, as told by the men and women who lived through it and sacrificed for it, is palpable.
July 17, 2024
A decent oral history of D-Day during WWII. The author has composed hundreds of stories detailing the events in an assembled order as a play by play unfolds detailing the day Allied Forces stormed the shores of Normandy. It is different in its storytelling as it is hundreds and hundreds of retold events through those that actually were there and pieced together to make the largest assembly of united forces come together and fight for democracy and freedom.
June 22, 2024
Not as engaging as Graff's gripping oral history of 9/11 but perhaps that is due to my pre-existing deep knowledge of the events of D-Day so it was less educational in the end, but still a high quality history of Operation Overlord.
July 2, 2024
4.5 stars. This was a good book to read as we approach July 4th and celebrate freedom, and honor those who courageously fought for it. This history of D-Day is told in a similar vein to “The Only Plane in the Sky” (which I loved). Graff compiled first-hand accounts--civilians, medics, on the ground soldiers and military leaders (including Germans), up to Winston Churchill and Dwight Eisenhower--and weaved together the varying perspectives to help us piece together a fuller story. Sometimes you only get a sentence or two from one person before he switches to another account. I loved the variety of perspectives—like the Black servicemen who were treated respectfully in England (and lamented the fact that they were fighting for freedoms they had yet to fully realize in the US); a unit of soldiers made up of Jewish refugees; all the decoy work to throw off the enemy; and scared, young soldiers who became heroes as they courageously fought for this great cause. The book is presented in a way that helps you feel all the emotions. Loved this: “My contribution to the heroic tradition of the United States Army might have been the smallest achievement in the history of courage, but at least for a time, I had walked in the company of very brave men” (Staff Sergeant John Ellory).
-“I’ve now spent the better part of a decade immersed in oral history, and normally I talk about how the goal is to find the ordinary and the extraordinary, the people who have the most average and thus representative experiences, and also those who have the most atypical experiences. But what is so remarkable about D-Day is how ordinary the extraordinary was that day—the tens of thousands of people who had that June Tuesday the most remarkable of human experiences at the height of combat and at the limits of human survival.”
-Winston Churchill – “No American will think it wrong of me if I proclaim that to have the United States at our side was to me the greatest joy. I could not foretell the course of events…but now, at this very moment, I knew the United States was in the war up to the neck and in to the death. England would live. Britain would live. The Commonwealth of Nations and the Empire would live. How long the war would last or in what fashion it would end, no man could tell, nor did I at this moment care. Hitler’s fate was sealed.”
-Lt General Sir Frederick Morgan - “One lived at this time in an atmosphere of code names. Conversation consisted largely of a list of code names with suitable conjunctions. There were times when we sincerely hoped that we were confusing the enemy as effectively as we seemed to be confusing ourselves.” Ha!
-Barbara Claire - “Some of the English, particularly the service men, didn't like the Americans because we British girls were so interested in being with them. You know, you walk down the street and the Americans would say ‘hi, honey.’ They were really friendly, really nice guys. And the Englishman were much more reserved. And the Americans certainly had more money to spend than the British soldiers.”
-Ollie Stuart (Afro-American Newspaper) - “The English people show our lads every possible courtesy. And some of them, accustomed to ill will, harsh words, and artificial barriers, seem slightly bewildered. They never had a chance to leave their southern homes before and therefore never realized there was a part of the world which was willing to forget a man's color and welcome him as a brother.”
-Anonymous serviceman - “The negro problem has been very poorly handled here by our officers. What is taking place in our army together is nothing more disgraceful than what Hitler is doing to minorities in Germany. I joined the American Army to fight against the persecution of minorities. I resent that our Army actually practices the same type of persecution.”
-Anonymous Black soldier – “I am an American Negro doing my part for the American government to make the world safe for a democracy I have never known.”
-Winston Churchill – “In wartime, truth is so precious that she should always be attended by a bodyguard of lies.”
-Lt General Louis H. Barriton - “It is almost beyond comprehension how much work went into the planning for the invasion. Ninth Air Force’s plan for Operation Neptune alone, that part of Overlord that has to do with the landing on the continent, consisted of 847,500 words covering 1,376 pages of legal size paper using both sides. It was 4 1/2 inches thick and weighed 10 lbs. three ounces.”
-Staff Sergeant John Ellory - “It is good to be reminded that there are such men. That there always have been and that there always will be. We sometimes forget, I think, that you can manufacture weapons and you can purchase ammunition, but you can't buy valor and you can't pull heroes off an assembly line.”
-Major Carl Plitt - “Summing it all up, the plan for Operation Neptune was a good one. But it didn't work. It was the individual courage and heroism of the American soldier that won the beaches Easy Red and Fox Green on 6th June 1944.”
-Captain Henry Sidsel - “I think the medics were the bravest men in the war. Sometimes Jerry (the pejorative term for German soldiers) would deliberately shoot the medics so they couldn't help others. I think that the hottest place in hell is reserved for the man that would do that.”
-Staff Sergeant Waverly Woodson Jr. – “This was a horrible day for everyone. This D-Day, Army prejudices took a back seat, as far as the soldiers helping one another was concerned. Afterwards, it was an altogether different story. Even to this day, the Black soldiers were never given credit for their outstanding services beyond the Call of Duty.”
-“I’ve now spent the better part of a decade immersed in oral history, and normally I talk about how the goal is to find the ordinary and the extraordinary, the people who have the most average and thus representative experiences, and also those who have the most atypical experiences. But what is so remarkable about D-Day is how ordinary the extraordinary was that day—the tens of thousands of people who had that June Tuesday the most remarkable of human experiences at the height of combat and at the limits of human survival.”
-Winston Churchill – “No American will think it wrong of me if I proclaim that to have the United States at our side was to me the greatest joy. I could not foretell the course of events…but now, at this very moment, I knew the United States was in the war up to the neck and in to the death. England would live. Britain would live. The Commonwealth of Nations and the Empire would live. How long the war would last or in what fashion it would end, no man could tell, nor did I at this moment care. Hitler’s fate was sealed.”
-Lt General Sir Frederick Morgan - “One lived at this time in an atmosphere of code names. Conversation consisted largely of a list of code names with suitable conjunctions. There were times when we sincerely hoped that we were confusing the enemy as effectively as we seemed to be confusing ourselves.” Ha!
-Barbara Claire - “Some of the English, particularly the service men, didn't like the Americans because we British girls were so interested in being with them. You know, you walk down the street and the Americans would say ‘hi, honey.’ They were really friendly, really nice guys. And the Englishman were much more reserved. And the Americans certainly had more money to spend than the British soldiers.”
-Ollie Stuart (Afro-American Newspaper) - “The English people show our lads every possible courtesy. And some of them, accustomed to ill will, harsh words, and artificial barriers, seem slightly bewildered. They never had a chance to leave their southern homes before and therefore never realized there was a part of the world which was willing to forget a man's color and welcome him as a brother.”
-Anonymous serviceman - “The negro problem has been very poorly handled here by our officers. What is taking place in our army together is nothing more disgraceful than what Hitler is doing to minorities in Germany. I joined the American Army to fight against the persecution of minorities. I resent that our Army actually practices the same type of persecution.”
-Anonymous Black soldier – “I am an American Negro doing my part for the American government to make the world safe for a democracy I have never known.”
-Winston Churchill – “In wartime, truth is so precious that she should always be attended by a bodyguard of lies.”
-Lt General Louis H. Barriton - “It is almost beyond comprehension how much work went into the planning for the invasion. Ninth Air Force’s plan for Operation Neptune alone, that part of Overlord that has to do with the landing on the continent, consisted of 847,500 words covering 1,376 pages of legal size paper using both sides. It was 4 1/2 inches thick and weighed 10 lbs. three ounces.”
-Staff Sergeant John Ellory - “It is good to be reminded that there are such men. That there always have been and that there always will be. We sometimes forget, I think, that you can manufacture weapons and you can purchase ammunition, but you can't buy valor and you can't pull heroes off an assembly line.”
-Major Carl Plitt - “Summing it all up, the plan for Operation Neptune was a good one. But it didn't work. It was the individual courage and heroism of the American soldier that won the beaches Easy Red and Fox Green on 6th June 1944.”
-Captain Henry Sidsel - “I think the medics were the bravest men in the war. Sometimes Jerry (the pejorative term for German soldiers) would deliberately shoot the medics so they couldn't help others. I think that the hottest place in hell is reserved for the man that would do that.”
-Staff Sergeant Waverly Woodson Jr. – “This was a horrible day for everyone. This D-Day, Army prejudices took a back seat, as far as the soldiers helping one another was concerned. Afterwards, it was an altogether different story. Even to this day, the Black soldiers were never given credit for their outstanding services beyond the Call of Duty.”
June 30, 2024
Reporter and historian Garrett M. Graff has created a remarkable oral retelling of the D-Day saga, when 160,000 troops stormed the beaches of Normandy in World War II. As Andy Rooney, then a correspondent for Stars and Stripes, said, “There have only been a handful of days since the beginning of time on which the direction the world was taking has been changed for the better in one 24-hour period by an act of man. June 6th, 1944, was one of them.”
Claiming to have reviewed 5,000 personal stories, memoirs and histories, Graff has whittled down his quoted sources to a still-impressive 700 voices. All of these are compiled into a narrative flow as one person after another provides readers with a first-person view of D-Day.
Graff begins with a review of how the war began and progressed until 1943, when the Allies determined that an invasion of the Continent was necessary in order to retake the countries overrun by Nazis. How the plans evolved and training ensued is told from various perspectives, with the author providing the necessary narrative bridge to ensure a coherent chronology.
All the while, Graff reminds readers of what could go wrong with this ambitious operation --- from rough seas, to German intelligence discovering the landing sites, to a strong counteroffensive. It’s interesting but also horrifying to read about the landing itself, with its appalling number of Allied casualties. Often the stories end there, but Graff points out that the fighting continued along the beaches for days after the landing.
While well-known voices such as those of Eisenhower, Churchill and Averell Harriman are scattered throughout, as the action gets closer to June 1944, the focus turns to the soldiers themselves. Interspersed between the comments from the mostly American, British and Canadian troops are poignant quotes from the German soldiers and French locals.
Alexandre Reynaud, the mayor of Sainte-Mère-Église, one of the first towns that was liberated, describes seeing the American soldiers: “Their wild, neglected look reminded us of Hollywood movie gangsters. Their helmets were covered with a khaki coloured net, their faces were, for the most part, covered with grime, like those of mystery book heroes.” The mayor proceeds to accompany the Americans to where the German commander usually spent his time, but he “together with his entire anti-aircraft unit, had taken off.”
For those familiar with the events surrounding D-Day, WHEN THE SEA CAME ALIVE provides a granular view of what happened before, during and after the morning of June 6th. Those who only know the broad outlines will find it to be a very useful, often riveting primer.
Reviewed by Lorraine W. Shanley
Claiming to have reviewed 5,000 personal stories, memoirs and histories, Graff has whittled down his quoted sources to a still-impressive 700 voices. All of these are compiled into a narrative flow as one person after another provides readers with a first-person view of D-Day.
Graff begins with a review of how the war began and progressed until 1943, when the Allies determined that an invasion of the Continent was necessary in order to retake the countries overrun by Nazis. How the plans evolved and training ensued is told from various perspectives, with the author providing the necessary narrative bridge to ensure a coherent chronology.
All the while, Graff reminds readers of what could go wrong with this ambitious operation --- from rough seas, to German intelligence discovering the landing sites, to a strong counteroffensive. It’s interesting but also horrifying to read about the landing itself, with its appalling number of Allied casualties. Often the stories end there, but Graff points out that the fighting continued along the beaches for days after the landing.
While well-known voices such as those of Eisenhower, Churchill and Averell Harriman are scattered throughout, as the action gets closer to June 1944, the focus turns to the soldiers themselves. Interspersed between the comments from the mostly American, British and Canadian troops are poignant quotes from the German soldiers and French locals.
Alexandre Reynaud, the mayor of Sainte-Mère-Église, one of the first towns that was liberated, describes seeing the American soldiers: “Their wild, neglected look reminded us of Hollywood movie gangsters. Their helmets were covered with a khaki coloured net, their faces were, for the most part, covered with grime, like those of mystery book heroes.” The mayor proceeds to accompany the Americans to where the German commander usually spent his time, but he “together with his entire anti-aircraft unit, had taken off.”
For those familiar with the events surrounding D-Day, WHEN THE SEA CAME ALIVE provides a granular view of what happened before, during and after the morning of June 6th. Those who only know the broad outlines will find it to be a very useful, often riveting primer.
Reviewed by Lorraine W. Shanley
July 11, 2024
Eighty years ago, the combined forces of the Allies stormed five beaches in Normandy, France. Canadians, Brits, Frenchmen, Poles, Czechs, Americans, and many more nationalities participated in the first bloody battle to liberate Western Europe from the grip of fascism. It was not the first Allied campaign on the European continent. British, French, Polish, Greek, Danish, Norwegian, Dutch, Belgian, Canadian, and American troops had already fought in the fields of Poland and Denmark, the mountains of Greece and Italy, and the beaches of southern France. However, D-Day remains synonymous with World War II for many people. It is etched into our minds by blockbuster films, stupendous books, and best-selling video games. Last month, the Allies (sans Russia) celebrated the eightieth anniversary of D-Day with great fanfare. It is likely the last time that veterans of that storied battle will celebrate a major anniversary alongside us.
Garrett Graff did a good job compiling this book. The first-person recollections are candid in their awe and terror. The tone of the book is somber and respectful. The first third of this book is spent setting the stage and then the events of the invasion roll out chronologically afterward. I thought the organization of this book was excellent.
Now, I have read a lot of World War II history. I figure that I have read about forty books on the subject in the past eight years. (I once read that men must pick one of two hobby trajectories upon their thirtieth birthday: they may either get really into smoking meat or they can become amateur World War II historians. I'd say 80+% of the men I know fall into one of these two camps.) Because I am probably more familiar with the war than most folks, "When the Sea Came Alive" wasn't as poignant and dramatic as it would be for others. Because this is an oral history, the focus is on the events as they felt to the men and women who experienced it.
In 2017, Christopher Nolan released a film called "Dunkirk." It is one of my all-time favorite war films. Unlike most war epics, you never learn the names of the men depicted. It isn't "Saving Private Ryan," nor is it "Band of Brothers." Instead of telling a straightforward story, Nolan chose to convey emotion. "Dunkirk" is more akin to an orchestral movement than a blockbuster because it is all about helping people understand how the battle felt. "When the Sea Came Alive" is cut from the same cloth. You, as the reader, are meant to feel it rather than understand it.
I don't think this book was perfect, and I think Graff has published better works, but this was still an excellent addition to the library of literature that surrounds this historic day.
Garrett Graff did a good job compiling this book. The first-person recollections are candid in their awe and terror. The tone of the book is somber and respectful. The first third of this book is spent setting the stage and then the events of the invasion roll out chronologically afterward. I thought the organization of this book was excellent.
Now, I have read a lot of World War II history. I figure that I have read about forty books on the subject in the past eight years. (I once read that men must pick one of two hobby trajectories upon their thirtieth birthday: they may either get really into smoking meat or they can become amateur World War II historians. I'd say 80+% of the men I know fall into one of these two camps.) Because I am probably more familiar with the war than most folks, "When the Sea Came Alive" wasn't as poignant and dramatic as it would be for others. Because this is an oral history, the focus is on the events as they felt to the men and women who experienced it.
In 2017, Christopher Nolan released a film called "Dunkirk." It is one of my all-time favorite war films. Unlike most war epics, you never learn the names of the men depicted. It isn't "Saving Private Ryan," nor is it "Band of Brothers." Instead of telling a straightforward story, Nolan chose to convey emotion. "Dunkirk" is more akin to an orchestral movement than a blockbuster because it is all about helping people understand how the battle felt. "When the Sea Came Alive" is cut from the same cloth. You, as the reader, are meant to feel it rather than understand it.
I don't think this book was perfect, and I think Graff has published better works, but this was still an excellent addition to the library of literature that surrounds this historic day.
July 10, 2024
4 stars for the incredible undertaking and sweep that is the audio version of this book, which includes a cast of almost two dozen readers.
The author's 9/11 book, The Only Plane in the Sky: An Oral History of 9/11, is one of my all-time favorites, but this didn't work for me as much.
I'm not sure if it's the fact that I read that one vs. listening to this one, that I was already more familiar with the events of 9/11 vs. WWII, or the topic itself. Certainly, creating an oral history from something that occurred 80 years ago provides many challenges regarding technology and record-keeping.
The first third of the book, the period leading up to D-Day was the most interesting to me as I found the planning that went into the operation positively fascinating. The recounting of D-Day itself started to feel repetitive and tougher to follow as the quotes are provided in shorter bursts and the audio has to constantly read the names, ranks, and units of each person being quoted. I think this would have been a smoother read than listen due to that.
That said, there is something visceral about hearing the words of the participants with the appropriate voice and accent. The epilogue is quite moving as the soldiers look back on D-Day)
The author's 9/11 book, The Only Plane in the Sky: An Oral History of 9/11, is one of my all-time favorites, but this didn't work for me as much.
I'm not sure if it's the fact that I read that one vs. listening to this one, that I was already more familiar with the events of 9/11 vs. WWII, or the topic itself. Certainly, creating an oral history from something that occurred 80 years ago provides many challenges regarding technology and record-keeping.
The first third of the book, the period leading up to D-Day was the most interesting to me as I found the planning that went into the operation positively fascinating. The recounting of D-Day itself started to feel repetitive and tougher to follow as the quotes are provided in shorter bursts and the audio has to constantly read the names, ranks, and units of each person being quoted. I think this would have been a smoother read than listen due to that.
That said, there is something visceral about hearing the words of the participants with the appropriate voice and accent. The epilogue is quite moving as the soldiers look back on D-Day)
July 1, 2024
A monumental work of compilation and arrangement of historical sources, When the Sea Came Alive: An Oral History of D-Day traces this pivotal and well-known World War II event from its 1943 operational planning and buildup to the campaign through northeast France. It was also published as close to the anniversary as possible.
Graff spent years locating and recording the sources that make up this work. They include soldiers from the United Kingdom, America, Germany and other forces, pilots, nurses, children, neighbors, sailors, politicians, photographers, reporters and many other witnesses. Totaling around 700 people there is a lot of variety and perspective beyond the key figures. Aside from the introduction and the chapters titles, the majority of the book is told through these witness snippets, but they expand beyond the traditional warrior focused narrative. Instead we learn of the direct contributions or effects of the war on African Americans, British and French civilians and various roles filled by women.
Due to some obvious constraints, it is not a direct chronology, once the boats launch for the beaches Graff opted to detail events beach by beach that takes up close to 2/3rds of the book. It's a work that highlights the importance of preparation and resources alongside courage under fire.
If possible, try the audiobook that is read by a full cast, adding more dimensions to a narrative told by those who were there.
Recommended to readers of military, nonfiction or history books.
I received a free digital version of this book via NetGalley thanks to the publisher.
Graff spent years locating and recording the sources that make up this work. They include soldiers from the United Kingdom, America, Germany and other forces, pilots, nurses, children, neighbors, sailors, politicians, photographers, reporters and many other witnesses. Totaling around 700 people there is a lot of variety and perspective beyond the key figures. Aside from the introduction and the chapters titles, the majority of the book is told through these witness snippets, but they expand beyond the traditional warrior focused narrative. Instead we learn of the direct contributions or effects of the war on African Americans, British and French civilians and various roles filled by women.
Due to some obvious constraints, it is not a direct chronology, once the boats launch for the beaches Graff opted to detail events beach by beach that takes up close to 2/3rds of the book. It's a work that highlights the importance of preparation and resources alongside courage under fire.
If possible, try the audiobook that is read by a full cast, adding more dimensions to a narrative told by those who were there.
Recommended to readers of military, nonfiction or history books.
I received a free digital version of this book via NetGalley thanks to the publisher.
July 8, 2024
This was a riveting account of D-Day, from preparations through storming the beaches and the immediate aftermath, all told through short snippets of primary sources (oral histories, letters, journal entries, dispatches, etc.) strung together expertly into an informative, fascinating narrative. The style was much like "Human Smoke: the Beginnings of World War 2" by Nicholson Baker, also highly, highly recommended, which focuses on the events leading up to WWII and the Holocaust. In this account, Graff provides some explanatory connective tissue throughout, which is helpful since the he essentially zooms in on one (extremely important) event in a long, complex war. But stepping back so that eyewitnesses and participants can tell the story is such an effective way to write history. If you are curious about this time period, this book and/or "Human Smoke" is the way to go. It's the opposite of a long, dry chronology or even a long, well-written chronology. Instead, the reader hears from enlisted men, medics, platoon leaders and able-bodied seaman along with the likes of Eisenhower, Churchill and Roosevelt. If any of this sounds interesting, check it out!
July 16, 2024
I'm a big fan of learning about historical events by reading the words of the participants themselves. When we're talking about combat, this is not the best way to understand the overall picture. Each person can report only on what they saw or did. The flip side of this is that, by reading an account of events by someone who wasn't there (e.g. an historian), you get a better idea of the overall situation, but it is typically ... antiseptic.
This book is almost exclusively the words of the participants. The author introduces each chapter with a few paragraphs of context, then assembles quotes from the participants (soldiers: American, Canadian, British, German; and civilians: British and French). Typically, each voice gives us a paragraph but sometimes it's a single sentence and rarely two or three paragraphs.
Someone new to the topic of D-Day should not begin with this book. But, after reading a good history (such as Ambrose), this book will give an excellent sense of what people thought and felt on that fateful day.
This book is almost exclusively the words of the participants. The author introduces each chapter with a few paragraphs of context, then assembles quotes from the participants (soldiers: American, Canadian, British, German; and civilians: British and French). Typically, each voice gives us a paragraph but sometimes it's a single sentence and rarely two or three paragraphs.
Someone new to the topic of D-Day should not begin with this book. But, after reading a good history (such as Ambrose), this book will give an excellent sense of what people thought and felt on that fateful day.
June 21, 2024
When the Sea Came Alive is Graff's oral history of D-Day. With the exception of a short excerpt or two in a chapter to give context or set the stage, the entire story is told in first person accounts - whether from interviews, diaries, letters, or speeches. The first half of the book speaks to the process of preparing for D-Day. In this section many of the quotes or accounts are from some well known people - Churchill, Eisenhower, etc, although there are also accounts from soldiers and townspeople involved in the preparations. Once you get to the actual events of the day, the voices are primarily those of the soldiers, sailors, and airmen that were part of such a monumental moment in history. There is so much tragedy in here, but also just an unbelievable amount of bravery and courage. I would recommend this to anyone interested in WWII or anyone who appreciates and values the first hand accounts of people that were there when history was being made.
June 21, 2024
I recently discovered Spotify’s audiobook feature. This was the first I listened to, and I’m glad I did. I was captivated by this book from the start and I never lost interest throughout. I had a decent knowledge base about the day itself, so I was actually more intrigued by all the logistics and planning that went into such a massive operation.
Personally speaking, this book prompted me to research more about mt great great uncle, Frank Schmilke. A sailor in the USN, I knew he had taken part in the invasion and never came home. My further research revealed the ship he was on and the date he was declared MIA, 8 June 1944. His final resting place was most likely the bottom of the English Channel. A brave man, I’m sure. Many brave men gave their lives and trying to wrap my head around the magnitude of that day and their sacrifice is difficult.
Personally speaking, this book prompted me to research more about mt great great uncle, Frank Schmilke. A sailor in the USN, I knew he had taken part in the invasion and never came home. My further research revealed the ship he was on and the date he was declared MIA, 8 June 1944. His final resting place was most likely the bottom of the English Channel. A brave man, I’m sure. Many brave men gave their lives and trying to wrap my head around the magnitude of that day and their sacrifice is difficult.
June 28, 2024
This was excellent. I've listened to a number of audiobooks on D-Day, but this was unique. Hearing the words of the men and women most directly involved in the actions of June 6, 1944 was moving and informative. It brought me far closer to what it felt like for the leaders, individual soldiers, sailors, airmen, support staff, and officers at all levels. Perspective of various allies as well as the defending Germans and French civilians were included as well.
This book is worthy of at least one more listen. I plan to also explore The Only Plane in the Sky, which is an oral history of 9/11 by the same author. The time and effort is would require to effectively compile and organize the material for such momentous historical events is hard to even imagine. I applaud Garrett M. Graff and all who supported his work. It bring our history alive.
This book is worthy of at least one more listen. I plan to also explore The Only Plane in the Sky, which is an oral history of 9/11 by the same author. The time and effort is would require to effectively compile and organize the material for such momentous historical events is hard to even imagine. I applaud Garrett M. Graff and all who supported his work. It bring our history alive.
July 5, 2024
Look into every facet of the D-Day invasion, from the months of secret planning, to the experience of the allied paratroopers and the bravery and horror of the day of. The oral history structure allowed the voices of many involved with the events of D-Day to tell their story and share recollections. Unfortunately, this also didn't allow a deep dive into any one particular part of the momentous event. Nevertheless, the book was a quality read.
The book was filled with lesser known details that the author was able to expound upon, such as the disastrous Tiger training exercise, the construction and use of the floating mulberry harbors and the allies use of deception leading up to D-Day. I was moved reading the recollections of some of the few survivors of the 116th infantry of the 29th division who were decimated during the first wave to storm Omaha Beach.
The book was filled with lesser known details that the author was able to expound upon, such as the disastrous Tiger training exercise, the construction and use of the floating mulberry harbors and the allies use of deception leading up to D-Day. I was moved reading the recollections of some of the few survivors of the 116th infantry of the 29th division who were decimated during the first wave to storm Omaha Beach.
July 16, 2024
One of the best books I've read/listened to about World War II. I grew up in the 50's and 60's watching many TV programs about WW2, played hours of army with my friends. When I approached the military draft, I was spared because of a high lottery number. Finished school, got a job, got married and raised a family. Sometime late in the first decade of the 2000's I heard about HONOR FLIGHT, I contacted the Rochester, NY group and had the privilege to spend four weekend being a guardian four different WW2 veterans. These were some of the best experiences of my life. I remember talking with one of them and saying that I felt like I missed something in my life. His response was I missed out on nothing. I thank the men and women of the greatest generation for the world I grew up in.
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