{"product_id":"the-greatest-generation-speaks-isbn-9780812975307","title":"The Greatest Generation Speaks","description":"\u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003eNEW YORK TIMES \u003c\/i\u003eBESTSELLER • A powerful selection of the letters Tom Brokaw received in response to his towering #1 bestseller \u003ci\u003eThe Greatest Generation\u003c\/i\u003e.\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003e \u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003ci\u003e“When I wrote about the men and women who came out of the Depression, who won great victories and made lasting sacrifices in World War II and then returned home to begin building the world we have today—the people I called the Greatest Generation—it was my way of saying thank you. But I was not prepared for the avalanche of letters and responses touched off by that book. I had written a book about America, and now America was writing back.”—Tom Brokaw\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003e \u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003eIn the phenomenal bestseller \u003ci\u003eThe Greatest Generation, \u003c\/i\u003eTom Brokaw paid affecting tribute to those who gave the world so much—and who left an enduring legacy of courage and conviction. \u003ci\u003eThe Greatest Generation Speaks \u003c\/i\u003ecollects the vast outpouring of letters Brokaw received from men and women eager to share their intensely personal stories of a momentous time in America’s history. Some letters tell of the front during the war, others recall loved ones in harm’s way in distant places. They offer first-hand accounts of battles, poignant reflections on loneliness, exuberant expressions of love, and somber feelings of loss.\u003cbr\u003e \u003cbr\u003eAs Brokaw notes, “If we are to heed the past to prepare for the future, we should listen to these quiet voices of a generation that speaks to us of duty and honor, sacrifice and accomplishment. I hope more of their stories will be preserved and cherished as reminders of all that we owe them and all that we can learn from them.”\u003cb\u003ePraise for \u003ci\u003eThe Greatest Generation\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e“A moving scrapbook . . . A tribute to the members of the World War II generation to whom we Americans and the world owe so much.”\u003cb\u003e—\u003ci\u003eThe New York Times Book Review\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e“Full of wonderful, wrenching tales of a generation of heroes. Tom Brokaw reminds us of what we are capable of as a people. An inspiring read for those who wish their spirits lifted.”\u003cb\u003e—General Colin L. Powell (ret.)\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e“Entirely compelling.”\u003cb\u003e—\u003ci\u003eThe Wall Street Journal\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e“Written with love and grace . . . a book I will keep forever on my shelves.”\u003cb\u003e—Frank McCourt, author of \u003ci\u003eAngela’s Ashes \u003c\/i\u003eand \u003ci\u003e'Tis\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e“Heartfelt . . . A sweeping tribute to Americans who saved the world. It offers welcome inspiration.”\u003cb\u003e—\u003ci\u003eThe Washington Times\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cb\u003eTom Brokaw\u003c\/b\u003e is the author of seven bestsellers: \u003ci\u003eThe Greatest Generation, The Greatest Generation Speaks, An Album of Memories, Boom!, The Time of Our Lives, A Long Way from Home, \u003c\/i\u003eand \u003ci\u003eA Lucky Life Interrupted\u003c\/i\u003e. A native of South Dakota, he graduated from the University of South Dakota, and began his journalism career in Omaha and Atlanta before joining NBC News in 1966. Brokaw was the White House correspondent for NBC News during Watergate, and from 1976 to 1981 he anchored \u003ci\u003eToday\u003c\/i\u003e on NBC. He was the sole anchor and managing editor of \u003ci\u003eNBC Nightly News with Tom Brokaw\u003c\/i\u003e from 1983 to 2005. He continues to report for NBC News, producing long-form documentaries and providing expertise during breaking news events. Brokaw has won every major award in broadcast journalism, including two DuPonts, three Peabody Awards, and several Emmys, including one for lifetime achievement. In 2014, he was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom. He lives in New York and Montana.\u003ci\u003eFew children relate easily to the young lives of their parents. Events that precede our own births automatically fall into the category of \"history,\" a distant time however few years have actually passed. For the baby boomers, the army of children produced by the men and women who began their families once the war was over, the disjunction between their world and the world of their parents could hardly have been greater. One represented deprivation, sacrifice, and hard-won prosperity; the other, greatly expanded opportunity and, even during Vietnam, more personal choices. \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThose differences led to some historic and well-documented rifts -- indeed, to a cultural revolution that since has cooled. Now, based on many of the letters I received, as the boomers grow older they also become much more aware of what their parents had endured and the legacy of their early challenges. \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eIn watching her father care for her mother after a debilitating stroke, Janet McKeon of O'Fallon, Illinois, realized that the strength of their relationship grew out of their war experience. \u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003eAs a member of the early Baby Boom generation who lived through the Vietnam years, I thought we were the group who had been wronged, with our boyfriends\/husbands fighting in a faraway place in a war that nobody wanted to be a part of, and with no appreciation by others of what we went through. \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eYour book certainly gave me a different perspective on that. But that's not all your book did for me. It made me wonder about my own parents' participation in and life during the war. Of course I knew my dad had served and that my older sister was born during the war, but he never talked about it and I guess I was never interested enough to ask. \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eSad to say, but during the past year my dad and I have had a lot of time to talk since my mother had a stroke and required constant care. I made a three-hour trip home every week to help with her care and it was during this time that he started telling me about their life during the war. \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eWhat an eye-opener these stories were to me. It was hard to believe that in all those years since the war they had never complained about those hardships, the separations and the fear of the bombing missions (my dad was a bombardier who flew missions out of England). I had always seen my parents as good, hardworking people but the year that we cared for my mother showed me their strength, which they obviously also had during the war years. My dad cared for her 24 hours a day, never complaining, always appreciative of the help my sisters and I gave, but never demanding or expecting it. My mother endured the helplessness and, at the end, the hopelessness with quiet dignity until she died in May... \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eMy real reason for writing to you is to urge you to use your public voice to remind members of my generation who are still lucky enough to have one or both parents alive, to listen to their stories before they are lost forever. \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003ci\u003eMike McReaken, of Manvel, Texas, wrote to describe a similar experience: \u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003eMy father passed away last year after a three-year struggle with the effects of a severe stroke. He was at home because of the love and devotion of my mother, his wife of 55 years. My dad was at Pearl Harbor on one of the few ships of the line that was able to escape the sneak attack. For many years I tried to get my dad to tell me what it was like on that Sunday morning. He never would -- or could -- talk about it.... \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eIt was difficult to read \u003cb\u003eThe Greatest Generation\u003c\/b\u003e without tearing up or being emotionally choked up to know of the hardships, loss and joy that my parents' generation suffered through. After watching my mother care for Dad since the day of his stroke, I always knew it was because of her unconditional love for him, and his deep-seated fear of being placed in a nursing home. But after reading about the many others in \u003cb\u003eThe Greatest Generation\u003c\/b\u003e, I also understand and appreciate more why my parents made the choices and decisions that they did throughout their entire lives together. \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003ci\u003eSome children of the Greatest Generation have their own memories of the war years. John E. Smith of Soldotna, Alaska, was living in California as a young child. \u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003eMy first memories are of my grandfather, grandmother, aunt, and mom gathered around the radio at night listening to the news. Night after night this took place. No talking on my part was allowed as every word was listened to with a gravity I have never since felt. Sometimes the broadcasts were very hard to hear, as there was a great deal of static noise. I still remember looking around at my family and seeing faces so serious that I was afraid. \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eOver time, I learned that my dad was in England getting ready to fight Hitler. I didn't learn until after the war exactly what he did. I did not find out from him, either; my grandmother had to tell me. My father never spoke to me in any detail about the war. I learned that he was part of the Red Ball Express hauling mostly fuel to Patton. He went to Europe six days after D-Day as a buck sergeant and came home a battlefield-commissioned captain. After the war, the Army Air Corps became the Air Force and my father went with the Air Force. \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThe reason we moved to California was also for the war effort. My mother drove a wrecker for the military. My aunt and grandmother were building airplanes, and my grandfather was a tool and die maker also involved with building airplanes. One of the things that I to this day remember clearly is that I once saw a poster for Rosie the Riveter and she had a blue and white hankie tied around her head. That night when my aunt came home she was wearing the same hankie around her head, and I thought the poster was of her. \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eI also remember shortages. My grandmother complained the most. Grandma liked to bake and the two most essential things, butter and sugar, were always in short supply. Many people also talk about gasoline being rationed, but rubber, i.e., tires, was also in short supply. My grandfather was something of a genius in repairing tires that were no good. He had built a little \"vulcanizer,\" he called it. He would recap portions of old tires that other people said were not repairable. I remember people coming over at night with an old damaged tire asking Grandpa to please fix it, and he would. \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eWhen I was four years old I went from house to house with other kids asking people to donate any old aluminum pots or other aluminum they might have so it could be made into airplanes.... \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eI remember V-E [Day] as very confusing. My mother and aunt broke down and cried. My mother was essentially out of control and no one was able to make her stop crying. I was very scared, and everyone tried to tell me it was because she was so happy, but I could not believe this until much later when she did stop. My dad finally came home in 1946! I didn't even know him. \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eMy father never really spoke to me (or anyone) about the war. When I asked him about his being commissioned an officer in the field, he only said that they were short of experienced men and that he was most experienced so they \"appointed\" him. He did not like being an officer and resigned his commission in 1946 to become a master sergeant. \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eMy father passed away in 1972. His civilian funeral was held in Riverside, California. We then placed his flag-draped casket on a train. My mother was not in good health and could not go with him on the train. I rode with him in the baggage car to San Francisco, where he had a military burial with full honors. This is where I learned about some of what he had done in Europe. I still do not know how his fellow soldiers learned about his funeral but there were about fifteen men [there]. We spoke a little after the ceremony and they informed me of his bravery and leadership under fire. Most of these men were in tears and there was a lot of emotion displayed for a few moments. Then it was suddenly over, and they all (to a man) began to change the subject and start telling jokes. Each seemed to be embarrassed that they had spoken at all. \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eI will never forget that day, or those men. I have tears in my eyes now, just writing about it. Like you, I was raised by those men and women who rarely spoke of their sacrifice and heroism. Thank God they were there!New York Times Bestseller","brand":"Random House Trade Paperbacks","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":46303173345509,"sku":"NP9780812975307","price":21.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1842\/7735\/files\/9780812975307.jpg?v=1767739661","url":"https:\/\/k12savings.com\/products\/the-greatest-generation-speaks-isbn-9780812975307","provider":"K12savings","version":"1.0","type":"link"}