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The boys in the light : an extraordinary World War II story of survival, faith, and brotherhood Cover Image Book

The boys in the light : an extraordinary World War II story of survival, faith, and brotherhood / Nina Willner.

Willner, Nina, 1961- (author.).

Summary:

The extraordinary and inspiring true story of a band of young U.S. soldiers who fought together in World War II and, in the throes of combat, rescued two survivors--one of them the author's father--from Hitler's plot to exterminate the Jews of Europe. The Boys in the Light follows the parallel journeys of Company D and Eddie Willner, the author's father, as they experience two sides of World War II. This is a testament to the resilience of the human spirit and the strength of the bonds forged during war; a must-read for fans of Unbroken by Laura Hillenbrand and Erik Larson's The Splendid and the Vile. At sixteen, Eddie Willner was among the millions of European Jews rounded up by Hitler's Nazis. He was forced into slave labor alongside his father and his best friend, Mike, and spent the next three years of his life surviving the death camps, including Auschwitz. Meanwhile, in the United States, boys only a few years older than Eddie were joining the army and heading toward their own precarious futures. Once farmers, factory workers, and coal miners, they were suddenly army officers and infantrymen, thrust into the brutal conflicts of WWII. A company of 3rd Armored Division tankers, led by Elmer Hovland, quickly became battle-hardened and weary, constantly questioning whether the war was worth it. Eight months in, they got their answer when two emaciated boys stepped out of the woods with their tattooed arms raised, Eddie and Mike. Elmer and his soldiers could barely believe their eyes as they finally came face-to-face with the human cost of Hitler's evil. What Elmer did next would change everyone's lives.

Record details

  • ISBN: 9780593471272
  • ISBN: 059347127X
  • Physical Description: xi, 362 pages, 16 unnumbered pages of plates : illustrations, map ; 24 cm
  • Publisher: New York, New York : Dutton, an imprint of Penguin Random House LLC, [2025]

Content descriptions

Bibliography, etc. Note:
Includes bibliographical references (pages 299-348) and index.
Formatted Contents Note:
Preface -- American innocence -- A German Jewish boy -- Patriots and parasites -- Rise of hate -- Promise -- Kristallnacht -- Blue ribbon America -- On the run -- Training -- The vineyards -- New York harbor -- Transport 31 -- Ship to England -- Lazy -- Coming ashore -- Auschwitz -- Baptism -- North plant -- "Kom Goed Thuis" -- Thanksgiving -- Siegfried's prophecy -- Christmas Eve -- Butch -- The long march -- The talisman -- The tunnels -- The prayer -- Breakout -- Angels -- "They're with us now" -- Big brothers -- Unbreakable bond -- Liberation -- The final goodbye -- "I want those days back" -- The call -- The reunion -- Postscript -- Coda: supper with Uncle Pepsi -- Epilogue

Search for related items by subject

Subject:
United States. Army. Armored Regiment, 32nd. Company D > Biography.
Willner, Eddie, 1926-2008.
Swaab, Mike.
Hovland, Elmer L., 1920-2012.
Decola, Louis, 1919-2016.
World War, 1939-1945 > Regimental histories > United States.
Holocaust survivors > Germany > Biography.
Genre:
Regimental histories.
Biographies.

Available copies

  • 27 of 37 copies available at NC Cardinal. (Show)
  • 1 of 1 copy available at McDowell County Public Library.

Holds

  • 5 current holds with 37 total copies.
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Location Call Number / Copy Notes Barcode Shelving Location Status Due Date
Marion Library 940.54 WIL (Text) 37810435836365 Adult Nonfiction Available -

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MARC Record

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24514. ‡aThe boys in the light : ‡ban extraordinary World War II story of survival, faith, and brotherhood / ‡cNina Willner.
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504 . ‡aIncludes bibliographical references (pages 299-348) and index.
5050 . ‡aPreface -- American innocence -- A German Jewish boy -- Patriots and parasites -- Rise of hate -- Promise -- Kristallnacht -- Blue ribbon America -- On the run -- Training -- The vineyards -- New York harbor -- Transport 31 -- Ship to England -- Lazy -- Coming ashore -- Auschwitz -- Baptism -- North plant -- "Kom Goed Thuis" -- Thanksgiving -- Siegfried's prophecy -- Christmas Eve -- Butch -- The long march -- The talisman -- The tunnels -- The prayer -- Breakout -- Angels -- "They're with us now" -- Big brothers -- Unbreakable bond -- Liberation -- The final goodbye -- "I want those days back" -- The call -- The reunion -- Postscript -- Coda: supper with Uncle Pepsi -- Epilogue
520 . ‡aThe extraordinary and inspiring true story of a band of young U.S. soldiers who fought together in World War II and, in the throes of combat, rescued two survivors--one of them the author's father--from Hitler's plot to exterminate the Jews of Europe. The Boys in the Light follows the parallel journeys of Company D and Eddie Willner, the author's father, as they experience two sides of World War II. This is a testament to the resilience of the human spirit and the strength of the bonds forged during war; a must-read for fans of Unbroken by Laura Hillenbrand and Erik Larson's The Splendid and the Vile. At sixteen, Eddie Willner was among the millions of European Jews rounded up by Hitler's Nazis. He was forced into slave labor alongside his father and his best friend, Mike, and spent the next three years of his life surviving the death camps, including Auschwitz. Meanwhile, in the United States, boys only a few years older than Eddie were joining the army and heading toward their own precarious futures. Once farmers, factory workers, and coal miners, they were suddenly army officers and infantrymen, thrust into the brutal conflicts of WWII. A company of 3rd Armored Division tankers, led by Elmer Hovland, quickly became battle-hardened and weary, constantly questioning whether the war was worth it. Eight months in, they got their answer when two emaciated boys stepped out of the woods with their tattooed arms raised, Eddie and Mike. Elmer and his soldiers could barely believe their eyes as they finally came face-to-face with the human cost of Hitler's evil. What Elmer did next would change everyone's lives.
61020. ‡aUnited States. ‡bArmy. ‡bArmored Regiment, 32nd. ‡dCompany D ‡vBiography.
60010. ‡aWillner, Eddie, ‡d1926-2008.
60010. ‡aSwaab, Mike.
60010. ‡aHovland, Elmer L., ‡d1920-2012.
60010. ‡aDecola, Louis, ‡d1919-2016.
650 0. ‡aWorld War, 1939-1945 ‡xRegimental histories ‡zUnited States. ‡0(CARDINAL)287735
650 0. ‡aHolocaust survivors ‡zGermany ‡vBiography. ‡0(CARDINAL)450428
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