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The Rifle

Combat Stories from America's Last WWII Veterans, Told Through an M1 Garand

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The Rifle

By: Andrew Biggio
Narrated by: Shawn Compton
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Summary

The Rifle is the inspirational story of a 28-year-old US Marine, Andrew Biggio, who returned home from combat in Afghanistan and Iraq, full of questions about the price of war. He found answers from those who survived the costliest war of all - WWII veterans. 

It began when Biggio bought a 1945 M1 Garand Rifle, the most common rifle used in WWII, to honor his great uncle, a US Army soldier who died on the hills of the Italian countryside. When Biggio showed the gun to his neighbor, WWII veteran Corporal Joseph Drago, it unlocked memories Drago had kept unspoken for 50 years. On the spur of the moment, Biggio asked Drago to sign the rifle. Thus began this Marine's mission to find as many WWII veterans as he could, get their signatures on the rifle, and document their stories. 

For two years, Biggio traveled across the country to interview America's last-living WWII veterans. Each time he put the M1 Garand Rifle in their hands, their eyes lit up with memories triggered by holding the weapon that had been with them every step of the war. With each visit and every story told to Biggio, the veterans signed their names to the rifle. Ninety-six signatures now cover that rifle, each a reminder of the price of war and the courage of our soldiers.

©2021 Andrew Biggio (P)2021 Tantor
Military War Solider Veteran
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The Rifle 2 By: Andrew Biggio, and others
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I downloaded this audiobook without any big expectations, as it was on the "free of charge" list.
What a nice surprise!
I have already read hundreds (literally) memoirs from WWII veterans, from a different armies and of different ranks. But this one is a bit different: genuine, without any "great" thoughts about fighting for freedom or against the Nazis. These are just a real soldier memoirs.
I am really grateful to the author that he managed to reach all these heroes, and registered their stories before they passed away ...

Original and genuine

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Wonderful book recounting US vet stories from the Pacific to the Ardennes. Very brave men indeed.

Great deeds

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I pleasantly enjoyed this book, it was nice to learn of the American veterans stories during the Second World War.

A very different way to tell the history of veterans

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A beautiful project to collect the stories of WW2 veterans and perseve the history and to give hope to new veterans that there is a life after war.

Heart felt truth from WW2 veterans

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A very unique and powerful approach to gathering veteran experiences. Really enjoyed it and very much worth a listen.

Excellent

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