Twenty-Five Yards of War: The Extraordinary Courage of Ordinary Men in World War II

Ron Drez is a US Marine Vietnam combat veteran but rather than talk about his own heroic accomplishments he shares twelve stories of WWII. The Twenty-Five yards of war from the title refer to the individual in combat and how major events of conflict impact the individual. Some of the events such as Doolittle's raid over Tokyo and the sinking of the USS Indianapolis are well known but some of the stories are much less familiar. By seeing events unfold from the soldier, sailor, airman, and marine's perspective you feel like you're part of the battle. The book is well-written and each story keeps your attention. One of the great surprises of this book involved the actions of Navy flyers during the Battle of the Philippine Sea. After the Marianas Turkey Shoot where over 350 Zeros were destroyed, the Japanese made a run to escape. The Task Force 58 commander decided to try to intercept the naval force with airpower but the distances involved meant that the Navy pilots would be flying "one-way" missions and ditching at night on the return leg. Almost eighty aircraft splashed into the ocean on the return flight and the next day, half of those pilots were recovered along the path of their flight. You'll learn similar facts in the other eleven stories. You won't be disappointed.

As a generation-Xer who has had very little past interest (other than viewing Saving Private Ryan) in the facts and realities of WWII, this book was an eye-opener. The personal stories of the very real men who fought this all-important war against often seemingly insurmountable odds are astounding. My grandfather was a navigational Officer in the Royal Navy during WWII and when he was alive he would not share most of his experiences. Now I understand a bit why this was so. I have a much deeper respect and admiration for the veterans of WWII and will take the time to show that admiration and appreciation for the rest of my life thanks to this book. Mr. Drez is an outstanding author and I recommend this book heartily.

In Twenty-Five Yards of War, Ronald J. Drez tells the heroic stories of 12 men who have shown inspiring courage in their contribution to the United States' World War II effort.It was interesting that those men and all who contributed to the war were named "Warriors". These warriors were "called upon to bear unswerving allegiance to the nation...and to surrender part of their own rights and freedoms so the people they protect can better enjoy their own. And this service is predestined to be forgotten". This quote awakened me to the tremendous gratitude that is owed to all those who have unselfishly fought for their country. The warrior theme was appropriately carried out throughout the book. In every story, each soldier, no matter what branch he was in, pushed himself to the limit to get that victory for the U.S. He never worried about whether someone back home would appreciate his deed.The book kept me engrossed in a way that truly made me excited about history, especially World War II. I had learned about the Doolitte Raid, Battles of Midway and Tarawa, Invasion of Normandy, Battle of the Bulge, and Iwo Jima, but the book expanded upon that knowledge in a way that was clear and easy to read. Also, focusing on one person's experience at each of the battles helped me to have a better understand of what hardships and successes the soldiers went through. I encountered, for the first time, information on the development of U.S. submarines, like U.S.S. Barb, throughout WWII. I was shocked at the number of deaths occurring on both sides of the war. After every battle the numbers were listed off in the range of hundreds to thousands of men. It was sad for me to think that each man probably had a remarkable story to tell just like the 12 men featured in the book. Overall, the book was exciting, and was good for me in clarifying basic information. For example, I correlated, for the first time, that The Battle of the Philippine Sea was the same thing as The Great Marianas Turkey Shoot. The book is a good read for someone who is interested in World War II.

I'm an avid reader of WWII history, and found much to like in this volume. It covers 10 significant battles and key people who's actions were important to the eventual Allied victory. Covered are both Pacific and European Theatre battles, giving a good balance. This is a fine book to read if you're looking for a single volume that covers a lot of ground that can lead you to more in-depth books covering the battles that interest you most. The author works with Stephen Ambrose, and this volume is reminiscent of Ambrose' works. Enjoy!

This book contains accounts of 10 actions in WWII; some famous, some unknown. Some of the more famous actions covered are Doolittle's raid on Tokyo, the battles for Iwo Jima and Betio, and the 82nd drop into Normandy. My favorite account in this book is the little known stand made by Lt. Lyle Bouck and an I & R platoon from the 99th Infantry Division. This untested unit just happened to be at the town of Lanzerath when the Battle of the Bulge started. They were ordered to hold until relieved. The men fought hard until they were killed, overrun, or surrendered when out of ammunition. Although badly outgunned and outnumbered, they managed to hold up advancing German infantry and armored units long enough for engineering units at critical points behind them to blow up bridges and further delay the German advance. Their gallant stand bought time for reinforcements to arrive and stem the tide of battle. This is an enjoyable read and will appeal to anyone with an interest in WWII. The author was instrumental in the research for Ambrose's book, "D-Day June 6th, 1944: The Climactic Battle of World War II".