Brave Men, Gentle Heroes: American Fathers and Sons in World War II and Vietnam

by Michael Takiff

Book Overview

Brave Men, Gentle Heroes presents the honest, touching, and harrowing stories of men who served in World War II and of their sons who served in Vietnam -- fathers and sons bonded as deeply by their experience in war as by blood. Though World War II and Vietnam were vastly different -- the clear aims of World War II, the muddled goals of Vietnam; the hero's welcome accorded World War II veterans, the scorn heaped upon their sons -- each defined a generation...

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0060935774
• ISBN13: 9780060935771
• Release Date: November 2004
• Publisher: Harper Paperbacks
• Length: 576 Pages
• Weight: 0.60 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.0" x 5.3" x 8.0"

Customer Reviews

It's like listening to everyone's grandfather...

I have always been interested in history and the wars that come along with it. My grandfather served 30 years in the Navy and fought in WWII, Korea, and 'Nam. Because of all that time he had spent serving his country he felt that nobody else in the family should ever have to enter the military. I didn't know why until I read this book. The stories of the fathers and their sons were so vivid and grim and sometimes humorous. My grandpa would only ever tell me the humorous stories he had throughout his service. This book is like listening to a bunch of grandfathers and fathers tell their stories in a most intimate way. No glossing it over, just the raw truth. Now I understand why my grandpa refused to let me join the Navy after highschool. He had done enough for all of us. He didn't want us to go because of all of the trauma he still deals with! These men in the book are wonderful men. They're not perfect and don't claim to be. Read this book and reflect on the men and women in the military, past and present.

So worth it!

Before I read this book, I had little interest in warfare. The title caught my interest and I figured I'd give it a shot.Even if you're a pacifist, even if war is the last thing you care to read about, this book is just an amazing read. It's a war book that reads like a novel with each story you read. You learn about the history, and you're learning about it first hand. I've never learned so much about World War II or Vietnam from the perspective of a real person. It's not just the facts, it's the emotions, it's every detail. I would reccommend this book to anyone looking for a good, emotional read, not just a war enthusiast.

Sensitively and well written, very engaging and moving

This book is riveting and I'm so glad I bought it. As a 50-year-old whose father served in WWII and who narrowly missed being drafted for Vietnam, our relationships to the two wars affected our father-son relationship deeply. These fathers and sons talk about their war experiences, and how the wars affect their lives and relationships.The author has done a great job of finding father-son pairs and presenting their compelling stories.

Riveting narratives about fathers and sons

If you are a student of history, or you are into family dynamics, or you just like a compelling story, this excellent read is for you. The author interviewed father and son pairs who are World War 2 and Vietnam War vets about their lives and experiences. These stories are riveting and moving, sometimes funny, sometimes sad, sometimes horrifying but always vividly descriptive. If you were alive during these wars, or if you weren't, you will also get a thoughtful historical perspective from the narratives and from Takiff's excellent commentary.

A penetrating picture of the men who fought our wars

Having treated veterans of WWII and Vietnam for Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, I recommend this book highly. Mr. Takiff has written a profound account of what war does to the human spirit. "Brave men, gentle heroes' is well written with interesting biographic details which add to the insightful pictures of our veterans. Hearing their own voices adds to the power of the message.