Where the Birds Never Sing: The True Story of the 92nd Signal Battalion and the Liberation of Dachau
Instead of using the tired genre of third-person documentary-style writing to tell the tale, the author speaks in the first person, through the eyes of his father. The result is one of the most powerful and moving accounts of the human drama in World War II in recent memory.
The story begins in 1943 on a farm in Alabama, when the young Joe Sacco receives a letter informing him that he has been drafted into the service. From there, it seamlessly moves through his training with the 92nd Signal Battalion, shipping out to England (where the soldiers witnessed the stirring and famous speech by General George Patton), landing at Omaha Beach in Normandy, surviving the Battle of the Bulge, and fighting their way across Nazi Germany.
All along the way, the author crafts memorable and beautifully written scenes, from the terrors of battle to the tranquility of a snowfall in the forests of Alsace-Lorraine, from the sorrows of the death of a buddy to the joys of falling in love with a beautiful French girl named Monique.
The book, already powerful and moving up until that point, then takes the reader to a new level of realism as horrifying details of the liberation of Dachau are revealed. Rarely, if ever, has there been a written account of the reality of the concentration camps so graphic, gripping, or compelling.
In describing the emotions of the men before leaving Dachau, Sacco writes, " Now, after a year of combat, each of us finally and forever understood why destiny had called us to travel so far away from the land of our birth and fight for people we did not know. And so it was here, in this place abandoned by God and accursed by men, that we came to discover the meaning of our mission. "
This is not another book about World War II. It is, instead, an intimate journey into the heart of an American soldier, and as such, it is as triumphant as the men it depicts. Readers will not only delight in Where the Birds Never Sing , they will gain a new appreciation for the accomplishments of their own fathers, uncles, and grandfathers who may have served in World War II as part of the Greatest Generation.
Reviews (180)
A greater understanding of WWII in Europe
I've read several books on the war. I spent two years in Germany during the 1970s, with help from the U.S. Army. And this is one of the few books that truly brought out the sights, the feelings, the smells of what the 92nd dealt with. For me, the hardest part was the arrival at Dachau. I could visualize every bit of it, as I had been there almost 35 years to the day that Sacco and his troops arrived. I could see the wall around the camp, the river that ran through it, I remembered walking across the bridge, and seeing the ovens. I cried like a child that day and after reading the descriptions here, the tears returned again. I am thankful that Jack Sacco did such an amazing account of his father's tour into hell, and I pray we may never again relive such horror on this earth. Blessings to Joe Sacco and the rest of the 92 Sig. And to every other hero who was part of WWII. This peacetime soldier honors each and every one.
What an Engrossing Testament.
I visited Dachau in 1986. I was astounded by the silence of the place, no insect, animal or bird life. This book tells about some of the men who landed on Omaha Beach, fault the Battle of the Bulge, followed General Patton, liberated Dachaau, held onto their humanity and returned to the United States to their homes and families. I didn't want to put it down. I was sorry when I finished it. I wanted there to be a sequel, Joe's life after his return to Alabama. I highly recommend this book.
This is why they were considered our greatest generation
This book, written by Jack Sacco, follows his years as he is enlisted in the 92nd Signal Battalion during World War II. His friendships and training acquired during basic and following him through Europe detail that coming of age during a horrific War. For any who are history Buffs, or for so many of our younger generation who have not had the opportunity to speak with someone who served during World War II, this is a glimpse into the horror as well as the tedium of army life. While the liberation of Dachau is a major point in the book, it is the relationships between family, his lovely Monique, and his brothers in arms that carry the book. I felt as if I would be able to go up to any of them and talk to them personally about their lives, expressing my appreciation for the sacrifices they made. This book was difficult to put down. I wanted to know what happened next. Even knowing that he must have lived through the war in order to be able to write about it, I felt myself tense up at times and concern for Jack. These people are part of the greatest generation of our country and should never be forgotten.
Must Read!
Jack Sacco brilliantly tells the story of his father, Joe Sacco, through his father’s eyes. “Where the Birds Never Sing” reads like a novel. It flows easily and expresses emotions in a manner that makes it perhaps the finest war journal I’ve ever read. It also made me feel guilty for not having written my father’s World War II memoirs. My father proudly served in the Navy in the South Pacific during the war. Like Jack Sacco, I feel a great deal of pride in my dad’s service. Thank you, Jack Sacco, for sharing your father’s story. It is a truly inspirational account!
Many heroes abound
I am reminded again, of this greatest generation, as I read this book and watched the events surrounding the funeral of a hero of a later war, Senator John McCain. Readers of this book may know a lot of the information written about being drafted, basic training, shipping out and D Day. Sections describing the fight across Europe into Germany and especially Dachau were especially good. Having visited Dachau in 1966 I remember the smells, Sacco describes, are still there, as is the crematorium, barracks etc. actual photographs may be found throughout the book. Also included is a story of romance. Highly recommend for those interested in WWII.
Review of Where The Birds Never Sing
This was a book I just could not put down. I am not a lover of books about war, but this one grabbed my attention and would not let me go until the very end. It is an exceptionally well written book that is easy to read. It is written from the heart as though the author had been there himself, even though it was his father's experiences he was telling about. I recommend this book to any mature adult.
The best WWII memoir
I have read dozens of these types of memoirs and this is the best told one that I have encountered. A vivid depiction of an Army signalman from training in the US, embarkation to England, and the battles from Normandy to final victory. Highlights include his interactions with Patton, loss of close friends, and his depiction of entering Auschwitz. Highly recommend this book to any interested in this genre.
Remember Felix Sparks
A few years ago I had the honor to sit in the living room of Gen. Felix Sparks and spoke to him of the war (his story is the subject of the book The Liberator: One World War II Soldier's 500-Day Odyssey from the Beaches of Sicily to the Gates of Dachau by Alex Kershew - awesome book). Felix was the commanding officer of the 3rd Battalion, 157th Infantry from the 45th Division, the first combat unit to enter Dachau, and he experienced it all. His story about the event was shocking. I had to buy this book to learn what another GI experienced and how it compared. Their stories of horror and sick rage match up exactly. Felix said that nothing in his life, from being almost killed at Salerno to becoming a Justice on the Colorado Supreme Court, approached the impact of Dachau. He spoke of it because the story had to be told and not because of his role. Are these guys part of The Greatest Generation? You bet your ass!
Spellbinding account
The part about Dauchau was very disturbing and difficult to read. Excellent writing to depict real life. Unimaginable horror. Good to include humor among the soldiers who were friends.
Compelling Individual Story
The book follows an Allied, in this case an American from the beaches of Normandy to the final surrender of the Germans. It illustrates how one individual face barrages of enemy fire, the deaths of his crew members, who by now were his friends and moments of peace and quiet. We were always given the opinion that it wasn't the German people we were fighting but the Nazis and the Third Reich but this shows this was not completely true. The common German people in the streets and farms did not treat the liberating army very well and indeed they had to "watch their back" once they crossed the border. I am told there are areas where Americans are still not welcome because we bombed their cities. Say what!!!!
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