Includes index.

This is an anthology of the recollections of twenty-one American veterans of World War II. Told from a personal perspective, these moving stories deal with themes of historical, national and moral significance, painting a picture of a war that became the defining experience of a generation.

"War Stories is emotionally powerful oral history from twenty-one American veterans of World War II. Fifty years after Allied victory, these men and women remember the war as a personal experience. Their stories are about surviving combat, being wounded or captured, grieving the deaths of friends, and using wit and humor to cope with the extraordinary stress of military service during wartime. While some remarkable acts of heroism are described, the book generally depicts private heroism of the sort that does not win medals or public honors. Although told from personal perspectives, these stories address universal themes. Combined, they reveal the nature of a war that became the defining experience of a generation. Photographs from chroniclers' collections illustrate the stories."--Publisher