Each month covers a different battle or aspect of
the war. January covers the European front with a brief historical overview and includes a map which shows where the major battles were fought. The daily
readings, though not heavy on military details, mention the battles, and it is
very helpful to have the map at hand. Though the readings are mostly personal
reflections from diaries, letters and speeches, I appreciated being able to
read them in the context of the much bigger picture.
Also, though many of the entries were uplifting and encouraging, many
others gave details of the thousands and thousands of lives lost. Intermixed
with letters displaying unusual courage were letters admitting discouragement
and despair. Accounts of heroism were inspiring yet heartbreaking. It was a very sobering read.
Here is
just one example from March 13:
Life aboard
a merchant ship in convoy across the Atlantic was a mixture of boredom and
fear. Long days and nights passed without incident. However, when something
happened, it usually happened suddenly. Life jackets and precious valuables
were kept close at hand. There was also the issue of where to sleep.
The civilian
Merchant Marines who manned the ships grimly calculated where they slept aboard
ship by the cargo they carried. If you were hauling a load of iron ore, you
slept on deck for you had only a few seconds to clear the ship once a torpedo
hit. If you carried general cargo, you could sleep below decks but kept your clothes
on because your survival time was calculated in minutes. If, however, your ship
carried a load of aviation fuel, you were free to sleep naked below decks, with
the door closed since you would never have the time to escape the certain and
sudden oblivion of a torpedo attack.
This is supposed to be read as a daily devotional book, but I
had trouble putting it down. It would be an excellent primer for someone
who wants a good overview of the history of the war. I am so glad I read it.
