The Journey of the Purple Heart as told for him by Robert W. Baumer

 The Journey of the Purple Heart by Robert Baumer is an interesting account of his uncle (also his namesake) who fought and died in World War II.  This book follows Bob Baumer, a soldier, from the start of World War 2 all the way to his death just after Normandy. This book has a unique twist in that it is written in the form of a novel. The author does admit that he takes some liberties but all with a good knowledge of what his uncle was actually like (he interviewed family members, friends, fellow soldiers, read his letters...etc.) so it is quite an accurate account.

It starts and ends by telling about the author's research into his uncle. With the semi-fictional retelling of his uncle's history in the middle. It is written from various perspectives, that of Bob's mom, his brother and of course Bob himself. It also gives high level overviews of what was happening at various times. It 'pulls you in' in many places, making you feel as if you are with them while the various events are happing. 

Bob joins the army before the war, not really expecting to actually have to fight, but then war breaks out. You then follow Bob and his fellow soldiers to various countries where they are sent to fight.

One of the things I found very interesting about this book, something that made me really feel as though I were 'in'  the time period, was the descriptions of actual documents of the time. There are things like written announcements from commanding officers that were send to all of the soldiers, a detailed description of what was in an issue of Life magazine at the time, a summary of what was in pamphlets introducing them to whatever country they were about to enter, even the inspiring message given over a loudspeaker to the men when they were on a transport ship to North Africa.  

A part that I especially liked in the book was where Bob's Mom was listening to the radio hearing about the Normandy invasion. Let me give a small excerpt from that part here: "Viola now knew she would be up for the rest of the night so she gave up any thought of even trying to go to bed. She'd pay for that at work tomorrow, but she did not care. Minutes were running together, and at 2:55 a.m., a new voice, that of Richard Harkness and ringing with clarity, broke in to tell his NBC listeners: 'The German radio claims this morning that the Allied invasion has begun…..' Viola cringed when she again heard, 'There is no confirmation from Allied sources,' before Harkness followed by offering, 'the German broadcast could be one which Allied leaders had expected would be made with the purpose of upsetting plans inside the conquered country.' But listeners were also cautioned that Prime Minister Winston Churchill had previously warned that any news of a landing at places like Le Havre could be a feint, and Allied forces may land elsewhere in the main invasion. Viola ,like other Americans who were hearing this broadcast felt nothing but total frustration. Was this real, or not? Then the broadcast took a new turn….."

That part was toward the beginning of the book and it was what really started drawing the picture in my imagination and giving me the sense of the times.

I really love the use of (and really appreciate the research that must have gone into) these little details that really bring this book to life.

Now the book is quite accurate to the time so I do want to mention that there is some foul language, off color jokes, and some descriptions given of some of raunchy entertainment given to the troops. Bob and some of his buddies do ultimately decide against going to a brothel when the opportunity comes up.

It was an interesting way to learn more about World War II. You'll learn many things along the way, from the beginning where you'll learn something in a discussion between Bob's brother Sonny and their mother, that America initially had a smaller military than Germany, smaller even than Switzerland! To the end where Bob's mother gets a letter telling where in France Bob was temporarily buried and a photograph of the cemetery.  All in all, I think that this book, in its giving the perspective of Bob Baumer, his mom and brother, gives the perspective of the average soldier in World War II and the average family with relatives on the front.

Many thanks to the author and the publisher, Hellgate Press, who sent me a free review copy of this book (My review did not have to be favorable)!

This book may be purchased on Amazon and from the publisher, Hellgate Press

You may also want to read Robert W. Baumer's other book: Old Hickory: The 30th Infantry Division