About | HeinOnline Law Journal Library | HeinOnline Law Journal Library | HeinOnline
LOG IN
LOG IN

2014 Army Law. 20 (2014)
A Higher Call: An Incredible True Story of Combat and Chivalry in the War-Torn Skies of World War II

handle is hein.journals/armylaw2014 and id is 737 raw text is: A Higher Call: An Incredible True Story of Combat and Chivalry in the War-Torn Skies of World War 1' Reviewed by Major Marcia Reyes Steward In the moment when I truly understand my enemy, understand him well enough to defeat him, then in that very moment I also love him.2 I. An Act of Love in a World of War The purpose of combat operations is to seek out and destroy the enemy. Such purpose could not be more clearly demonstrated than during World War II combat operations, where nearly 6,000,000 American and German soldiers lost 4 their lives. Yet in the midst of such a destructive war, a German soldier takes a chance for the simple sake of humanity-for the love of a fellow human being. Instead of seeking out to destroy his enemy, on 20 December 1943, German Air Force Pilot Franz Stigler chooses to spare the lives of and protect the American Soldiers aboard a B-17 bomber.5 Through the eyes of Franz Stigler, A Higher Call recounts the effects of war on the human spirit and the resulting resilience and courage it cultivates. The author skillfully takes the reader through World War II from the perspective of a young German boy who grows into a seasoned and decorated fighter pilot. An experienced author of World War II accounts,6 Adam Makos, who himself Judge Advocate, U.S. Army. Student, 63d Judge Advocate Officer Graduate Course, The Judge Advocate General's Legal Center & School, U.S. Army, Charlottesville, Virginia. ' ADAM MAKOS, AN INCREDIBLE TRUE STORY OF COMBAT AND CHIVALRY IN THE WAR-TORN SKIES OF WORLD WAR 11 (2012). 2ORSON SCOTT CARD, ENDER'S GAME 238 (1986). Ender's Game is a novel about the training of military geniuses in the arts of war. Id. 3 See generally U.S. DEP'T OF ARMY, FIELD MANUAL 3-90.6, BRIGADE COMBAT TEAM para. 1-1 (14 Sept. 2010); U.S. DEP'T OF ARMY, FIELD MANUAL 3-21.20, THE INFANTRY BATTALION para. 1-1 (13 Dec. 2006); U.S. DEP'T OF ARMY, FIELD MANUAL 1-100, ARMY AVIATION OPERATIONS para. 1-5d(2), at vii (21 Feb. 1997). As soldiers, we must kill or be killed, but once a person enjoys killing, he is lost. MAKOS, supra note 1, at 66. 4 By the Numbers: World-Wide Deaths, NAT'L WWII MUSEUM, http://www.nationalww2museum.org/learn/education/for-students/ww2- history/ww2-by-the-numbers/world-wide-deaths.html (last visited Dec. 8, 2014). The United States lost 416,800 American Soldiers and 418,500 civilians during World War II. Germany lost 5,533,00 soldiers. Between 6,600,000 and 8,800,000 German civilians lost their lives. Id. 5 MAKOS, supra note 1, at 1, 199 208. 6 Id. at 1 7 (Introduction). Adam Makos began his writing career at age fifteen when he decided to start a newsletter on World War II aviation. The newsletter, entitled Valor, developed into a magazine through college, and Makos began working full-time for the magazine upon college graduation in 2003. Id.; Adam Makos, LYCOMING COLL., http://www.lycoming.edu /profile/alumni/makosAdam.aspx (last visited Dec. 8, 2014); see also ADAM MAKOS, VOICES OF THE PACIFIC: UNTOLD STORIES FROM THE MARINE underwent a life-changing event,7 artfully narrates the experience of being an Air Force pilot during World War II. While he uses descriptive prose to bring readers into the details of World War II, there are drawbacks that take away from the overall reading experience. However, with its lessons on leadership, reference of international law topics, and most importantly, the revelation of the deep connection that can exist between human beings on two different sides of a war, A Higher Call is a book that deserves its place on any judge advocate's reading list. II. Benefits and Drawbacks Makos is clearly a gifted storyteller. His use of vivid imagery,' intense descriptions of suspenseful events,9 and brief moments of humor1° make anyone forget they are reading a historical account of World War II. However, one expects a book recounting historical events to contain sufficient sources and citations as an indication of accuracy and reliability. Such citing is lacking in A Higher Call, making it difficult for readers or history students to verify HEROES OF WORLD WAR 11 (2013); ADAM MAKOS, DEVOTION: AN EPIC STORY OF HEROISM, BROTHERHOOD, AND SACRIFICE (forthcoming May 2015) (detailing the experiences of two Navy pilots in North Korea and a sixty-thee-year-old promise). 7 MAKOS, supra note 1, at 2 3. Makos had intended on traveling to France with his high school French club the summer following his freshman year. Instead, he changed his mind and traveled to Walt Disney World with his family that same week. The 747 jetliner that carried his teacher and sixteen classmates to France exploded midair off the coast of Long Island. Id. 8 See id. at 78 (Then he slid under his blankets and pulled them over his head so spiders would not crawl across his face.); id. at 84 (Banking westward, he wove through the heavenly white river, following his compass until he popped into the blue, alone, above his desert home.); id. at 93 (The engine whined, coughed, and belched white smoke before settling into a powerful rhythm.). 9 Id. at 56 57 (describing Franz's first combat flight as he would dive, hit, climb, repeat); id. at 81 (He panicked. Hauling back on the stick, he pulled his fighter into a screaming climb, up and away from the onrushing enemy .... [H]e saw a terrifying sight behind his tail.); id. at 122 (From six feet under water, Franz looked up and saw the waves above him.); id. 306 (He felt himself grow cold as the thought struck him. I just killed myself.); id. at 320 21 (describing a plane explosion and the gruesome injuries suffered as a result). 1o Id. at 24, 32 33, 91, 113 ([He] mentioned he had a brother in the Navy and said that he 'had no idea where he went wrong.'); id. at 132, 138 (You're too nice a kid for this army. Check out the Air Corps.); id. at 217, 288 (.'Hitler, Goering, Himmler, and all of their friends are out on a boat at sea .... There's a big storm and their boat sinks! Who's saved?' .... Germany'); id. at 351. DECEMBER 2014 - THE ARMY LAWYER - DA PAM 27-50-499

What Is HeinOnline?

HeinOnline is a subscription-based resource containing thousands of academic and legal journals from inception; complete coverage of government documents such as U.S. Statutes at Large, U.S. Code, Federal Register, Code of Federal Regulations, U.S. Reports, and much more. Documents are image-based, fully searchable PDFs with the authority of print combined with the accessibility of a user-friendly and powerful database. For more information, request a quote or trial for your organization below.



Short-term subscription options include 24 hours, 48 hours, or 1 week to HeinOnline.

Purchase Access

Contact us for annual subscription options:

Contact Us

Already a HeinOnline Subscriber?

Log In

profiles profiles most