Serving God and Country, Lyle W. Dorsett
Serving God and Country, Lyle W. Dorsett
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Serving God and Country
United States Military Chaplains in World War II

Author: Lyle W. Dorsett

Narrator: Sean Pratt

Unabridged: 8 hr 7 min

Format: Digital Audiobook Download

Publisher: Penguin Audio

Published: 06/07/2022


Synopsis

In World War II, over 12,000 Protestant ministers, Catholic priests, and Jewish rabbis left the safety of home to join the Chaplain Corps, following the armed forces into battle across Europe, Asia, North Africa, and the high seas.

They were officers who displayed uncommon courage and sacrifice. They were men of faith under fire.

And they would charge straight into Hell to save the soul of a single soldier…

Representing America’s three major religious traditions, thousands of volunteers from across the country enlisted as non-combatant commissioned officers to provide spiritual strength and guidance for those fighting men who never knew if they were going to survive to see another day.

Armed only with Bibles, Torahs, and the tools of their holy trade, these men of God went wherever the troops went—from the bloody beaches of the Normandy Invasion to the hellish jungles of Guadalcanal and Okinawa in the Pacific. They prayed over men about to march into combat on land, sailors facing Kamikaze attacks at sea, and bomber crews who could neither retreat nor surrender in the air. And, most important and difficult of all, they guided fallen fighting men of every faith as they breathed their last, and gave up their lives in the fight against tyranny.

These are the personal stories of some of the bravest and most selfless men who served with the armed forces. Many lost their lives or suffered debilitating wounds while serving as pastors to the troops. All of them battled the pain of separation from their own loved ones as they gave some of the best years of their lives to keep the military personnel spiritually awake, morally fit—and prepared to make the journey from this world to the next without fear or despair, and with the trust of the Almighty in their hearts.

About The Author

Lyle W. Dorsett has a Ph.D. in American history, served in the Marine Corps Reserves, and taught twentieth-century U.S. history at the University of Southern California, University of Missouri–St. Louis, University of Colorado–Denver, Denver University, and Wheaton College in Illinois. Dorsett is also rector of Christ the King Anglican Church in Birmingham, Alabama, and he currently holds the Billy Graham Chair of Evangelism at Beeson Divinity School, Samford University.


Reviews

Goodreads review by Charlie on January 07, 2020

A friend sent me this book knowing that I read a lot about WWll - mostly non-fiction. She hit the nail on the head on this one. Plaine and simple the stories are about Chaplains serving WWll and what they did to help the military personnel to deal with the unpleasant trials and tribulations they enc......more

Goodreads review by Anson on May 19, 2019

Lyle Dorsett is an academic historian, a Protestant clergyman, a former Marine reservist, and the owner of a small private museum of World War II artifacts that includes “scores of chaplains’ autobiographies.” Obviously, the topic had met the man long before Dorsett actually began formal research. I......more

Goodreads review by Donna on March 15, 2019

I have a great uncle who was a Catholic Chaplin in WWII and when I went to the WWII Museum in New Orleans, I wondered if they had more information on what chaplains actually did during the war. I was pleased to buy this book there and learn so much about how chaplains were a part of the war effort.......more

Goodreads review by Michael on September 01, 2018

This is a very good book! It is well researched, and the author describes what chaplains of all faiths endured and accomplished by their service to country and their God. One military leader stated that along with medics and nurses, chaplains were the backbone of the military during WWII. Chaplains......more

Goodreads review by hemlet on August 24, 2019

i am moved by the stories of heroism and sacrifices of the chaplains during the war. even though they don’t carry guns to fight. to kill. they were in the thick of battle. in the foxholes giving comfort and to listen to the words of the dying. to give them solace and a sense of peace in a world of m......more


Quotes

“Dr. Dorsett has skillfully written the stories of the chaplains who made their contribution during World War II...This is a tremendous work of interest to military historians, spiritual leaders from all faith groups, and patriotic Americans.”—Carlton W. Fulford, Jr., General (Ret.) U.S. Marine Corps

“One of those rare books that delivers excellent history and realistic inspiration in equal measure.”—Mark A. Noll, Francis A. McAnaney Professor of History, University of Notre Dame

“Lyle Dorsett does a superb job at capturing the spirit, culture, and challenges chaplains of all denominations faced during World War II.”—Chaplain (LTC) Robert Nay, 5X Skill ID, Military Historian, U.S. Army