The Last Good War: The Faces and Voices of World War II

by Kavass, Veronica

• ISBN13: 9781599620855
• ISBN10: 1599620855
• Format: Hardcover
• Copyright: 2010-10-12
• Publisher: Random House Inc

Summary

World War II remains one of the most galvanizing and defining events in the history of America. Seemingly overnight, the entire nation unified behind a singular cause. By 1945, the size of the U.S. armed forces had grown from two to twelve million men and women of every color, religion, and creed. Young people from every walk of life were inducted and volunteered. America had quickly and fiercely established itself as a global superpower, and an entire generation's identity was forged, in part, by what many still refer to as the "last good war." Sixty years later, a young photographer named Thomas Sanders began traveling the country photographing and interviewing hundreds of World War II veterans. The more he shot, the more he listened, and the more captivated he became by their memories of the war. Rarely did these men and women describe themselves as heroes, but that quality was unmistakable to Sanders in their vivid accounts and storied faces. "They are a living record of an incredibly historic time," Sanders says. "We have so much to learn from their experiences." He became determined to see that the two million living veterans were celebrated and remembered. The Last Good War: The Faces and Voices of World War IIis a chronicle of courage and hardship, sacrifice and determination. The harsh reality of combat is tempered by tender, poignant moments. The overwhelming anguish of lost brothers-in-arms sits alongside stories of enduring friendships. The war brought Americans in touch with people from all over the world some they fought and some they fought next to, from the beaches of Normandy to the frozen plains of Russia, the North African deserts and the mountains of Japan. They came, these volunteers and draftees, from everywhere and for every reason: from the young woman pulled from her college and covertly trained to break German submarine codes, to the soldier who stormed Hitlerrs"s castle home, these pilots, soldiers, marines, and sailors each provide a unique window into American history. There are two million veterans still alive today, but with each passing day there are fewer and fewer. The images and memories of these men and woman, collected in these pages, preserve a profound piece of Americars"s history. Their past offers us a lasting and powerful perspective on today's world, and defines the true price of freedom. This is the story of World War II through the veterans who lived it.

Author Biography

Thomas Sanders began photographing WWII veterans while studying at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo. After receiving his BFA in photography, he continued his studies in the Los Angeles studios of noted photographers while working on his veterans sereis, which has been featured in the 2007 PDN Photo Annual and wide variety of publications. Sanders has worked with a number of corporate, advertising, and editorial clients, including Saatchi and Saatchi, BBDO, Tide, and numerous others. He resides in Redondo Beach, CA.

Veronica Kavass was raised in Nashville, TN, holds a Masters in Curation and Criticism from Chelsea College of Art in London, and has trained as an oral historian through her wook with StoryCorps.