World War II was the defining event of the twentieth century. For everyone it was a time of confusion, fear, destruction, and death on a scale never before seen. Much has been written of the generals, campaigns, and battles of the war, but it was young, ordinary American kids who held our freedom in their hands as they fought for liberty across the globe. Forgotten Heroes of World War II offers a personal understanding of what was demanded of these young heroes through the stories of rank-and-file individuals who served in the Navy, Marines, Army, Air Corps, and Merchant Marine in all theaters.

Previous edition: Nashville, TN: St. Albans, 2002.

No breakfast for the chief /Bruce Creekmur -- A bizarre tale of April Fools / Edward Hawkins Anderson -- Other than that, lieutenant, how was the flight? / Milton Tally Evans -- No honors, no parades / Oswald M. "Jac" Smith -- No foxholes in the sky / Fred Randolf Koval -- An artilleryman's short, happy flight / Ferd Moyse -- The Amphib sailor / Oscar L. Russell -- Just another milk run? / Mike Kelly -- Present and accounted for! / Harry Bell -- The last Blitzkrieg / Knox White -- Calhoun 88, where are you? / Amos S. Pollard -- Grows the sea into sliding mountains / Owen T. Palmer Jr. -- Islands / E.D. "Dee" Hamilton and Joseph H. Irby -- The diary of Tarao Kawaguchi -- A long way to Okinawa / Jeremiah J. O'Keefe -- The home front.