Joe Foss: Flying Marine - Joe Foss

Joe Foss flew planes in WWII for his own "Flying Circus." He is credited with the same number of shot down planes as Eddie Rickenbacker in WWI, something he didn't really think was that impressive. He was just doing his job and trying to fight off the enemy.

I was wondering about the language in it. Most of the time, the memoirs I've read from a pilot's point of view had a more reflective tone. I got the impression of some underlying animosity for the "Japs" that I wasn't used to. Most pilot memoirs portray a mutual respect for those they shared the air with. That became clear when I got to the end of the book and realized the war wasn't over yet. No wonder he had so much resentment for the enemy. The war was still going on, and his friends were still dying.

The book definitely could have used a postscript. For goodness' sake, this man did so much more with his life. A quick search not only told me that he got his wish to get back to the war, but he was also involved in many other things after it, including becoming governor of South Dakota. Sure, the initial text was written in 1943, but the publication date on my Kindle version is showing 2022. Foss died in 2003, so there's really no excuse to not have a follow-up to his life.

If you want a no-nonsense perspective of a Medal of Honor recipient during the conflict, this is a great place to get it. Foss tells it like it is, and I appreciate that. Good Book!

Girls of Flight City - Lorraine Heath

I was given this book in paperback form. Since I'm interested in WWII, and this book is based on true events, it seemed like the kind of book that I might enjoy. I especially am drawn to anything dealing with planes since my grandfather was a pilot in WWII.

Jessie is a pilot who loves what she does. When her mother and uncle sell their airfield, it becomes a place to teach British pilots how to fly. Jessie wants to be an instructor, but she has to deal with a man who doesn't think women should be in the cockpit of planes. Her brother, Jack, has joined the Eagle Squadron and raising some eyebrows in town, but she's determined to help in whatever way she can. We also read about Rhonda, another teacher at the school, and Kitty, Jessie's sister.

Jessie is really the main "girl" of the book. Rhonda and Kitty are in there pretty often, but I would consider Jessica and Royce to be the main characters. The story starts out interesting with Jessie trying to prove herself so she can be an instructor, and Royce recovering from an injury. As time goes by, it becomes less about flying and more about the love story. Once Royce heads back to England, the book fast forwards through the rest of the war. It's somewhat jarring and you can guess where the story is headed.

It just feels like a missed opportunity. Kitty was such a great character and had a more realistic experience. On top of that, she purposely went out of her way to interact with many of the cadets. It's her idea to tend the British area of the graveyard. I could have read more interactions with men and women in this unique situation instead of how Jessie was feeling about Royce.

Overall, it was an okay book, but I just didn't like the plot armor applied to Jessie and Royce. Sure, we "need" a happy ending, but after what Rhonda and Kitty went through, it felt unnatural and fake. We can hurt the main characters, but they have to live! I stand by the statement that Kitty's story was more compelling and would have given the author more chances to focus on the unique setting she'd chosen.

Lady Death: The Memoirs of Stalin's Sniper - Lyudmila Pavlichenko

During WWII, Lyudmila was a dedicated sniper. She proved her skill and took out her hatred on the opposing army. At the end of her frontline service, she had a total of 309 kills.

After a time, she had to deal with injuries and PTSD. She was used for propaganda, but I don't think she would have chosen that on her own. She mentions more than once how snipers are loners and prefer their own company most of the time. Unfortunately for her, she had an engaging way of speaking.

This is when she was sent on a tour of the US and England. She wasn't overly excited about the idea, and I can't blame her. The American press asked her stupid questions, so the way she responded was more than justified. I was surprised she struck up a friendship with Eleanor Roosevelt and took the time to get to know her. It showed she had the ability to let her first impressions be changed, and I think that's important.

I think the most concise description of her job was near the end of the book. She's at a memorial for Sevastopol, and her speech was taken down. At that time, she considered her words for the people who would hear it later as well as the ones who were present.

Lyudmila was definitely a patriot. She met Stalin more than once, and she believed in her country whole-heartedly. She maintained a hatred for the enemy that made her deadly on the battlefield. This book only covers her military career. It doesn't focus on her life as a whole. Overall, I enjoyed reading about this young woman's struggle to make her way in the world around her and make sense of the war she lived through. Good Book!