The Lost Soldier
The Ordeal of a World War II GI from the Home Front to the Hürtgen Forest
Author: Chris J. Hartley
Based on letters and diaries, The Lost Soldier tells the story of a young married couple in WWII. Chris J. Hartley intricately weaves together the threads of the soldier and his wife—from their home in North Carolina to the brutal combat of Europe—to create an intimate narrative that is at once gripping military history and engaging social history.
Hardcover
PRODUCT INFORMATION
Summary
Based on letters and diaries, The Lost Soldier tells the story of a young married couple in WWII. Chris J. Hartley intricately weaves together the threads of the soldier and his wife—from their home in North Carolina to the brutal combat of Europe—to create an intimate narrative that is at once gripping military history and engaging social history.
Description
The Lost Soldier offers a perspective on World War II we don't always get from histories and memoirs. Based on the letters home of Pete Lynn, the diary of his wife, Ruth, and meticulous research in primary and secondary sources, this book recounts the war of a married couple who represent so many married couples, so many soldiers, in World War II. The book tells the story of this couple, starting with their life in North Carolina and recounting how the war increasingly insinuated itself into the fabric of their lives, until Pete Lynn was drafted, after which the war became the essential fact of their life. Author Chris J. Hartley intricately weaves together all threads-soldier and wife, home front and army life, combat, love and loss, individual and army division-into an intimate, engaging narrative that is at once gripping military history and engaging social history.
Critic Reviews
“Chris Hartley succeeds mightily in penetrating through the heavy mist of time to tell the remarkable life-and-death story of one American soldier in World War II. Anyone who wants to know something of war's profound effect on soldiers and their families should read this book.”
-- John C. McManus, author of The Dead and Those about to Die, D-Day: The Big Red One at Omaha Beach, and Grunts: Inside the American Infantry Combat Experience, World War II through Iraq
This is an absorbing account of World War II's impact on one family and without a doubt shows us why this period will remain relevant to the American experience for generations to come. Chris Hartley masterfully blends military and social history to give the reader a wholly new take on one of the war's most bitter campaigns--the Hürtgen Forest--and its legacy seven decades later. Read it! -- Lt. Col. Edward G. Miller (Ret), author of A Dark and Bloody Ground: The Hürtgen Forest and the Roer River Dams, 1944-1945
The Lost Soldier is a simply wonderful piece of work, a thoroughly researched study of one soldier’s life and that of his family. Meticulously researched, this is a moving story based primarily on letters between Pete Lynn and his wife, Ruth, from the time he was drafted to when the letters stopped. Additional to the letters, Hartley conducted exhaustive research to complete the record, including checking the company morning report listing the comings and goings of its members, unit journals and reports, correspondence between the army and family, and the diary of Pete and Ruth’s daughter. -- Robert Sterling Rush, author of Hell in Hürtgen Forest: The Ordeal and Triumph of an American Infantry Regiment
About the Author
Chris J. Hartley is author of Stoneman’s Raid, 1865, which won a prize from the North Carolina Society of Historians and was a finalist for the Ben Franklin Award in History from the Independent Book Publishers Association. He also wrote Stuart’s Tarheels. He is a speaker, battlefield tour guide, and author of articles for such publications as America’s Civil War and Military Heritage. He lives outside Winston-Salem, North Carolina.
The Lost Soldier offers a perspective on World War II we don't always get from histories and memoirs. Based on the letters home of Pete Lynn, the diary of his wife, Ruth, and meticulous research in primary and secondary sources, this book recounts the war of a married couple who represent so many married couples, so many soldiers, in World War II. The book tells the story of this couple, starting with their life in North Carolina and recounting how the war increasingly insinuated itself into the fabric of their lives, until Pete Lynn was drafted, after which the war became the essential fact of their life. Author Chris J. Hartley intricately weaves together all threads--soldier and wife, home front and army life, combat, love and loss, individual and army division--into an intimate, engaging narrative that is at once gripping military history and engaging social history.
Product Details
Returns
This item is eligible for free returns within 30 days of delivery. See our returns policy for further details.
Browse by category
- Books » Non-Fiction » History » Military » World War II
- Books
- Books » Non-Fiction
- Books » Non-Fiction » History
- Books » Non-Fiction » History » Military
- Books » Non-Fiction » Military » World War II
- Books » Non-Fiction » Military
- Books » Non-Fiction » Politics & Social Sciences » Women's Studies
- Books » Non-Fiction » Politics & Social Sciences
- Books » Non-Fiction » History » North American
- Books » Non-Fiction » History » World & General History
- Books » Non-Fiction » History » United States
- Books » Non-Fiction » History » Military » Strategy
- Books » Non-Fiction » History » Study & Teaching
