442

The author (Hughes) tells the story of the 442nd battalion, through the perspective of two friends. These two friends are Yuki and Shig who, left their families to fight in what they believe in. They were soon shipped off to Europe to fight the Germans. As they fought their way up the Italian Peninsula, through France and into Germany their encounters with the enemy became more frequent and also more deadly. Early in the war, the men felt fearless, and ready to fight. At the end, everyone just wanted to go home. The author does do an excellent job of describing the hardships faced by the soldiers and how much of a drag the constant exposure to cold, exhaustion is doing to them.

Over all, this book is a must read. It has interesting characters and beliefs, the plot is always advancing, and the characters are likeable, even though the plot is predictable.

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