The Things Our Fathers Saw - Volume IV

The Untold Stories of the World War II Generation from Hometown, USA: "Up the Bloody Boot" - The War in Italy

By: Matthew Rozell

Narrated by: John Pirhalla

From the deserts of North Africa to the mountains of Italy, 15men and women veterans of the Italian campaign open up about a war that was so brutal, news of it was downplayed at home. Here are the stories from a vanishing generation speaking to America today.

In this series will take you from the deserts of North Africa to the mountains of Italy with the men and women veterans of the Italian campaign who open up about a war that was so brutal, news of it was downplayed at home. The war in the Mediterranean, and particularly the Italian Campaign, is one that for many Americans is shrouded in mystery and murkiness. Yet it was here that the United States launched its first offensive in the west on enemy soil, and it was here that Allied forces would be slogging it out with a tenacious enemy fighting for its life in the longest single American Campaign of World War II.

©2018 Matthew Rozell (P)2021 Matthew Rozell

Great Stories about Great People!

I grew up in the aftermath of WE II—was born in 1943. I grew up around these hero’s but didn’t know the full stories. This series helps me understand more about what the Greatest Generation went through!!0

Another Excellent addition

Every volume of this series just gets better and better. Volume 4 deals mainly with the Italian campaign, probably the least discussed campaign in WWII. Each person interviewed had a different job, which in itself makes for entertaining listening. One forgets the wide ranges of responsibilities, especially the dire importance if medics. This series is a favorite. Can’t recommend highly enough.

Great interviews

I enjoy the personal interviews and stories of the ones that were really there. Thanks for the insite of the greatest generation

Like sitting at the table with my grandfather

What I loved about this entire series is how the words of the WWII vets are pulled from their interviews decades after their experience. Rozell doesn't change their words from the interviews of which I have seen a few on YouTube. He let's them speak. Some can remember vivid detail and some just the highlights of what they went through from boot camp to Europe, but they all add an amazingly hometown dimension to WWII. This series is not about the military leaders and battle strategy, it is about the thoughts, feelings and experiences of regular joe soldiers in all branches of the military. A people's history.
I appreciate the narrator giving unique voices to these men and women. It gives the audiobook a feeling of being at a kitchen table talking to these incredible people. Exceptional work!
I also really appreciate the wide diversity of service these vets represented. The Dog Man (K9) chapter was mind blowing and heart wrenching at the same time.
I look forward to the next volume about D-Day!

Must read

Please look into this series, it's worth listening to and it's sure better than most