In my years of reviewing nonfiction books, "Against All Odds: A True Story of Ultimate Courage and Survival in World War II" by Alex Kershaw stands out as a profoundly humanistic and captivating read. This book delves into the lives and heroics of four highly decorated soldiers of the Second World War, offering a rich narrative that combines military history with deeply personal stories.

Kershaw's narrative style is both detailed and engaging, successfully bringing to life the extraordinary heroics of these men. The book vividly portrays the intense and often brutal realities of war, while also providing a thoughtful exploration of what drives individuals to acts of remarkable bravery. The author's meticulous research, including personal documents, interviews, and official records, lends an authenticity to the storytelling that is both impactful and enlightening.

The stories of Audie Murphy, Maurice Britt, Michael Daly, and Keith Ware, all from the US Army's 3rd Infantry Division, are told with a keen eye for detail and emotional depth. These men, coming from diverse backgrounds, displayed unparalleled courage and resilience, often in the face of overwhelming odds. Kershaw doesn't shy away from the grim realities of war, presenting a balanced narrative that also acknowledges the emotional and physical toll of their service.

However, the book is not without its intense moments. The detailed accounts of combat may be challenging for some readers, but these elements are crucial in illustrating the raw and unfiltered experiences of the soldiers. The narrative skilfully captures the chaotic and fearful atmosphere of the battlefield, offering insights into the mindset and motivations of these soldiers.

"Against All Odds" also thoughtfully addresses the aftermath of the war for these heroes. The transition from war heroes to life post-war is portrayed with sensitivity, highlighting their struggles with issues such as post-traumatic stress and adjusting to civilian life. This aspect of the book provides a poignant reminder of the long-lasting impacts of war on individuals.

I enjoyed this book because it not only provided a detailed account of military heroics but also painted a deeply human picture of its subjects. It's a story of courage, sacrifice, and the human spirit, reminding us of the extraordinary feats of ordinary individuals in times of crisis.

In conclusion, "Against All Odds" by Alex Kershaw is a significant contribution to World War II literature. It's a compelling read for anyone interested in military history, heroism, and the human aspects of warfare. The book is a testament to the bravery of the Greatest Generation and a poignant reminder of the sacrifices made in times of war.
This review is based on a complimentary copy from the publisher, provided through NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

Kershaw is a great researcher and writer. This is an excellent read and anyone with an interest in World War II will enjoy this book.

This book is about the Third Infantry the “Marne Men” the units fighting during World War One. In WWII they would fight in Africa, Sicily, Italy, and Europe. The author focuses on four men Capt. Footsy Brit a former football player, among other things, Capt. Michael Daily Lt.Col Keith Ware and I would hope people had still heard about him the most decorated soldier from WWII Aidie Murphy. You also get other stories about the ones who did not make it back and for most, they seemed to be the most remembered for these men. I found that to be true with my father who fought with the 82nd during WWII seemed like he remembered his friends who he fought with and the ones who did not make it home. I had always heard about Audie Murphy's story going in young and the things he did, not for glory but because someone had to a big difference. Just like all of these men doing what they did because they were really trying to protect the guys who had been shot yet.
The author grabs you with each story as they fight from place to place battles that aren’t talked about in school only if you had someone there and they decided to talk about it. I found this book to be gripping but I am always going to like WWII and the European Theater because my father fought there. This is a book that I will read again for sure and is really a very good book.

A thoroughly enjoyable book covering battles in world war two as seen from the perspective of infantry men in the US Army.
The book follows several men in various campaigns, starting from North Africa and then to Italy followed by Europe to the wars end.
The book is fascinating, covering the battles and events affecting men in combat.
A riveting read, holds your interest until the end, highly recommended.
The only thing that could improve the book would be to add more details into the battles fought, but even as the book stands, fantastic!

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Against All Odds: A True Story of Ultimate Courage and Survival in World War II by Alex Kershaw is a history book following four Medal of Honor winners during World War II. Mr. Kershaw is an author of several best sellers.

The book follows four men, American heroes, and Medal of Honor Winners.

Maurice “Footsie” Britt – the first American to receive every award for valor in a single War. Previously, Mr. Britt was a professional football player for the Detroit Lions. “Lt. Britt inspired and led a handful of his men in repelling a bitter counterattack by approximately 100 Germans against his company positions north of Mignano, Italy, on the morning of 10 November 1943.”

Michael Daly – a 20-year-old Army Captain who “engaged four single-handed firefights, killing 15 Germans, silencing three enemy machine guns, and wiping out an entire enemy patrol”. This was the morning of 18 April, 1945 in Nuremberg, Germany.

Keith Ware – The first, and only, draftee in history to rise to the rank of General. Mr. Ware received his Medal of Honor by assaulting and destroying four machine gun positions near Sigolsheim, France, then directing the tank to fire. General Ware was the first Army general officer killed in the Vietnam War and remains the only Medal of Honor winner to be killed in action.

Audie Murphy – perhaps the most famous Medal of Honor winner, is known as America’s most decorated combat soldier of World War II. Near Holtzwihr, eastern France, Mr. Murphy’s platoon came under attack. After securing a defensible position, Mr. Murphy mounted an abandoned, burning tank destroyer and repelled the German’s attack, while wounded.

I have previously enjoyed books by Alex Kershaw, and am always looking out for new books by him. Obviously I was excited to get a copy of Against All Odds: A True Story of Ultimate Courage and Survival in World War II.

Like the other books I read by the author, this one moves fast and reads like fiction. Even though I’ve done much reading about World War II, I’ve learned several things which I didn’t know. I also got a better appreciation for the likes of General Alexander Patch, “Iron” Mike O’Daniel, and others.

The book focuses, primarily, on four remarkable soldiers and the heroics they achieved in saving the world from certain doom. Consisting of short biographies, the book is full of information, but the author kept the narrative concise, as well as focusing on relevant parts.

Not shying away, and telling a full story is, undeniably, one of the things I like about Mr. Kershaw books. He certainly keeps our heroes at ground level, making them human-only emphasizes their great achievements. We learn about Murphy’s struggles, Britt’s disabilities, Ware’s untimely death, and Daly’s struggles in the shadow of his father, Colonel Paul Daly – a hero of World War I and World War II.

I have noticed discrepancies and errors in the book, however, I’ve gotten an advanced copy. I hope they were fixed before the final print.

The book is a wonderful tribute to these soldiers, as well as their units, regiments, and divisions. These men constantly remind us that bravery is not necessarily not being scared but overcoming these fears.

Detailed accounts of the real actions of recent armed conflicts really bring home the bravery of individuals and the indecision and incompetence of some of their commanders. Against All Odds is a story that shows these examples in all its grim reality tracking the US led invasion of North Africa in Operation Torch through the Invasion of Sicily and Italy and ending with the army units entering Germany in 1945.
One name stands out to this reader, Audie Murphy, the most decorated US soldier in WWll and the accounts of his actions during these two years of action are remarkable. However, there are many other individual soldiers and units that we no less brave or battlefield smart that are mentioned in this book, some of whom sadly did not survive, but are worthy of remembrance. It was the determination of these soldiers who fought in some of the worse conditions of weather, food and ammunition shortages and dogged German defence that won the day time and time again. All this brings home the reality of war to our comfortable life in the 21st Century that these men, and all the others fighting tyranny, sacrificed everything for our freedoms.

Alex Kershaw writes masterfully about Americans awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor during World War II. Can you name a WWII Medal of Honor recipient? Unless you are a history buff, your guess is probably Audie Murphy.
Murphy came out of WWII with a limp, but few other lasting physical wounds. He also had a chest full of medals as the most decorated man of the war (including the Medal of Honor), and plenty of mental and emotional battle scars.
Maurice “Footsie” Britt, former pro football player, was the next most decorated soldier. He lost an arm in the war. Britt earned the Medal of Honor.
Michael Daly washed out at West Point, and couldn’t seem to earn his soldier father’s admiration. But as one of the youngest leaders in battle, Daly earned the Medal of Honor.
Keith Ware was normally a behind-the-scenes tactician, but when he got word that German soldiers had pinned down his men, he led a charge up “Bloody Hill” in the face of artillery, mortar, machine gun, machine pistol, and rifle fire, earning the coveted Medal of Honor.
Kershaw profiles other men’s heroics in this book; they also earned the Medal of Honor. The one thing all the recipients shared was unflinching courage in the face of certain danger. Some of these men saved many lives by their actions; some made the ultimate sacrifice of their own life.
If you’d like to learn more about the Congressional Medal of Honor recipients in the context of World War II as it progressed, you’ll enjoy this book. And if anyone asks if you can name any WWII Congressional Medal of Honor recipients, you’ll have all the answers.

Alex Kershaw (https://alexkershaw.com) has authored more than 10 historical books. His latest work, Against All Odds: A True Story of Ultimate Courage and Survival in World War II, was published earlier this month. This book gives a brief history of the Army 3rd Infantry Division in WWII. It also tells the stories of the many serving in that unit who were recognized for their bravery.

I received an ARC of this book through https://www.netgalley.com with the expectation of delivering a fair and honest review. I categorize this book as ‘PG’ due to a few scenes of violence.

The book follows the 3rd Division as it sees combat in Sicily, Italy, and France. Members of the 3rd were awarded 40 Medals of Honor during WWII. The most well-known of the recipients is Audie Murphy. The book tells the stories of how each man earned the award. The book follows up with those that survived the war and how they lived out their lives.

I enjoyed the 6.5 hours I spent reading this 365-page WWII history. I find all accounts of WWII interesting, but this was of particular interest since the 3rd Division was deployed alongside the 36th Infantry Division in Italy and France. I volunteer at the Texas Military Forces Museum on Camp Mabry in Austin, Texas. Camp Mabry is the headquarters for the Texas National Guard. It was federalized as the 36th Infantry Division in WWII. The author has done an excellent job with this book. While it is history, it is an easy read. The cover art is a little plain, but it is appropriate. I give this book a rating of 4 out of 5.

You can access more of my book reviews on my Blog ( https://johnpurvis.wordpress.com/blog/).

My book reviews are also published on Goodreads (https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/31181778-john-purvis).

This book tells the story of the Third Army in World War II starting with the campaign in Africa and then into Italy, France and Germany. The focus is on some of the numerous soldiers in that Army who won the Congressional Medal of Honor for their service to their country and fellow soldiers setting a record that still stands. The most easily recognized of the group is Audie Murphy who went on to have a career in Hollywood movies. The book focuses primarily on the individuals and details what happens to them after they leave the army. I highly recommend this book for anyone with an interest in World War II.

I received a free Kindle copy of this book courtesy of Net Galley and the publisher with the understanding that I would post a review on Net Galley, Goodreads, Amazon, Facebook and my nonfiction book review blog.

Another excellent offering by Kershaw. This book does a great job developing the personal tales of the highlighted individuals. For the dedicated armchair WWII historian, this is a great addition to the home library. Kershaw never disappoints, and this gripping narrative is further proof of his prowess as an author.

Any WWII history buff probably knows Alex Kershaw (not to be confused with Ian Kershaw, who is unrelated and a very prominent academic WWII historian). His histories of WWII tend to scrutinize more individual stories of triumph and bravery, rather than the big picture, academic view. Alex is a journalist (though he has taught history) and he brings a journalist's eye to these accounts, rather than an academics'. This can be a good thing, as it is with Against All Odds, enabling the reader to learn some of the more ground level, individual contributions to the war. It also gives the reader a more thrilling, fun read which is a nice break from the 900 page, dry tomes that WWII histories are sometimes deposited in. Against All Odds is a riveting, well=sourced history of a handful of the fiercest and bravest American soldiers in the war. Recommended for casual history fans or WWII obsessives like me.

Alex Kershaw’s book Against all Odds was interesting, well researched and ultimately everything expected of a WW2 history book. The men that he followed were indeed worthy of a book in their names, it was well written and it easily flowed.

Attention WW2 buffs, get this book ASAP. I can for see this one becoming a movie easily. I know some history buffs do not like texts that read like popular non fiction, but this one was great!

Alex Kershaw’s “Against All Odds” is the exhilarating story of the U.S. Third Infantry Division and how it bravely fought out of Tunisia, through Italy, France and Germany and up until the end of the Second World War. The story centers around four of the 36 “Marne Men” who subsequently were each awarded the Medal of Honor - Capt. Maurice Britt, Capt. Michael Daly, Lt. Col. Keith Ware, and, of course, the celebrated 1LT Audie Murphy.
Alex Kershaw has scrupulously researched this subject and writes exceptionally well, presenting a story that flows and is easy to read. The author has connected details of events, personnel, weather conditions and terrain to allow the reader to experience the action as if you were really there. This truly is living history.
Through Kershaw’s use of original letters, awards, histories and news accounts, you get a visceral impression of the true physical, mental, and emotional effects of the war on the individual soldier. The concluding chapters of the book present the long-term effects of war on those who survived.
This book is an excellent resource for high school and college students and everyone interested in World War II, and I cannot recommend it highly enough.

Alex Kershaw fleshes out the history of the 15th Infantry Regiment of the Third Infantry Division in the Mediterranean and European Theatre of War. Audie Murphy is the most well-known member of this regiment but Kershaw does an excellent job of portraying not just Murphy but the importance of a unit to winning in war. Well worth the time.

World War II was a time for citizen-soldiers turned heroes. None with more guts and bravado than the Medal of Honor winners featured in Kershaw's latest book, "Against All Odds". Alex Kershaw frequently writes and researches about men of that era. This book is well-researched and tells the story of four heroic men (Including well-known hero, Audie Murphy) and the battle stories that earned them recognition as some of the bravest in our history. The stories of these men are real and Kershaw brings to life the horrific conditions and inhumane things that they experienced and overcame. They hailed from different backgrounds but all had one thing in common, uncommon bravery. Their generation overcame the poverty and deprivation of the Great Depression, using the inner strength gained from the survival of that trial to fight the battles of World War II. Kershaw, in a compelling style, tells the stories of these men. Every American should read these very real tales of lives of struggle. It is a book that tells of battles for the survival of our nation's sons and heroes on foreign shores. They indeed survived, "Against All Odds".Read this compelling book to see closer into the lives and stories of men we should never forget. This review is available on Goodreads and other social media as well as my Facebook blog site https://www.facebook.com/thereadingandwritingsentinel Thanks to #NetGalley#AgainstAllOdds for the opportunity to read and review this unforgettable book.

This Excellent book by Alex Kershaw, “Against All Odds” follows these brave men from the Campaigns in the Mediterranean and Europe during World War Two. Many will recognize the names of one Michael Daly, Maurice Britt, Audie Murphy, and Keith Ware! Kershaw chronicles the service of these brave US Army Infantrymen, and the many Marne men, who fought in these campaigns to defeat Hitler, thru his countless interviews and thorough research. We need to remember forever the sacrifices the soldiers of World War Two made to defeat Fascism. Their stories and countless others cannot be allowed to fade from history and their sacrifices be in vain!

A very well written book! The first hand accounts and interviews make this an outstanding read for the WW2 and enthusiast. The stories are compelling and full of action. What these men went through is truly inspirational.

Thank you to #NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.