We Never Said Good-bye: Memoirs of a Bombardier from World War II Paperback – March 6, 2013

I came across this book purely by accident after Googling my own name for kicks one day. I am the 4th with that name, and the search turned up a reference to my father in Jack Moore's book. Dad was the copilot of the crew, and I remember him saying that their frequent selection as lead plane on missions was due to Jack's remarkable ability as a bombardier. Well, he also was a talented chronicler of the events and emotions of young flyers in the Pacific theater of the war. I was brought to tears several times. One in particular was his account of bombing Iwo Jima in six missions, always taking heavy fire from Japanese 120s that darkened the air. After completing the last one: "I looked down over the target and the ocean below us and saw our ships moving toward Iwo Jima. There were men and all kinds of guns." . . "I was thinking about these guys and I was really crying. They had no chance and I knew that. The Japs had all their guys dug in under the ground and in caves."I am, of course, very proud of my dad's service, and I am truly grateful to have Jack Moore's thoughtful and detailed (with photos) record of their experiences in the last year of WWII.

This beautifully written story of a young man's journey into war gives us a rare glimpse into the heart and mind of the Greatest Generation. With the continued passing of WWII veterans, this is a rare opportunity to walk in the experience in a highly personal and historically compelling way.

I love the book! Great history and firsthand accounts of WWII veteran! I would recommend this book to anyone at any age.