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By Richard Romanus on January 8, 2018
A compelling and informative narrative
The world may never note all the soldiers who made the ultimate sacrifice to ensure the world a better place but for Betsy Durkin Matthes the memory of her father who was killed in battle when she was three was just a photograph of him she always carried out of longing and loneliness.
Finally she had the courage to confront the depths of her longing. Her journey to discover her lost father is a compelling and informative narrative which follows her as, like a great detective, she reconstructs the man her mother rarely spoke of because it was too painful. In height and weight he was small in stature but in his courage he was a titan. He died atop a tank in Germany while valiantly directing fire. She discovers that if he lived one day more he probably would have survived the war. Her relentless pursuit of documents and accounts from Armies buddies and families offers a window into the need we all have to know who we are.
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By Amazon Customer on January 9, 2017
Very good book regarding a little known slice of military history
Very good book regarding a little known slice of military history. A sad yet a feel good story at the same time. Anyone with or without an interest in history should take the time to read this book.
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By maddogdelta on August 9, 2017
Wonderful story, full of a daughter's love for her father.
I just finished the book, and I must confess, I was biased from the start. Ms. Matthes is my second cousin. I was excited to learn more about her father, a man who's story I knew very few details of, other than my mother's admiration of him.
The story made me cry more than once. I am so appreciative that Ms. Matthes went through the effort to compile and publish this wonderful story. I just sent a copy to my mother, in the hope that she will enjoy it as much as I did.
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By Photography buff on January 5, 2016
An inspiring story
This is the story of one woman’s personal journey to discover and pay tribute to the father she never knew. Retracing her father’s steps to become a World War II hero as a Lieutenant Colonel in the 82nd Airborne, she connects with a vast array of people and places who share this combined, intersecting journey of past and present. Along the way, she meets a part of herself which always existed deep inside but whose true roots now reveal themselves more fully.
Ms. Durkin-Matthes’ guts and determination — clearly not unlike her father’s — in seeking out the missing pieces of this unknown past is demonstrated in such moments as her decision to jump from a 34-foot tower at Ft. Benning to experience her father’s first jump from that same tower during his early paratrooper training. Researched with great determination and detail, and written with personal passion, the book not only honors the men of the 82nd Airborne, but the sons, daughters, wives and widows of men who served during the war, as well as the families abroad who billeted soldiers awaiting deployment. An inspiring story and an absorbing read.
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By Jacky O'Shaughnessy on April 24, 2016
Matthes pulled me in with brilliant and memorable descriptions that I found myself very grateful ...
I didn’t expect to find this book so engrossing, even though my father was wounded in WWII, as was my grandfather in WWI. Neither had spoken to me about either war and my relationship with my father was complicated, so I doubted I would find the story of a woman searching for details of a father she’d never known would resonate with me much. Couldn’t have been more wrong. Instead of a dry account of historic details, which I expected, Ms. Matthes pulled me in with brilliant and memorable descriptions that I found myself very grateful for having read. In a most personal way, she exposed the heart of the soldier, of the men, the people, who gave so much. I can’t capture the effect her book had on me in a review. Suffice to say, it’s a moving, enlightening and fascinating read.
I also read that Matthes is splitting all the proceeds that she makes from the e-book between the 507th Parachute Infantry Regiment Association and the 325th Glider Infantry Association. That's terrific.
Interesting History
What drew me to this book is that my father served in the 507th PIR and may likely have served under the author's father. Some of the soldiers mentioned in the book were at reunion that I attended with my dad in Atlanta in 2008. Rekindled my desire to learn more about the 507th .
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By db on February 1, 2016
A great read
This book is a lovely and heartwarming story of discovery and courage. A moving story of the authors endeavor to uncover who her father truly was, he died when she was three, and along the way also discovering a great deal about her mother.
"Forever is not for Everyone," made me laugh and it made me cry. This book full of historical facts and dates about WWII is an easy read.
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By RGPerrin on April 8, 2016
Beautifully written
Beautifully written. It's clear, moving and fast paced. Images of life in New York, Brooklyn and WWII scenes in Euorpe and the US come alive as you read. FOREVER IS NOT FOR EVERYONE... is about a daughter's love, devotion, honor and a life long search to know her father, who was killed during the War when she was only three. - A truly enjoyable read!
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By Jimbo on December 15, 2015
Five stars! If you are a fan, as I am, of the Maisie Dobbs books, you will love this heartwarming and beautifully written book
I loved how carefully researched the historical record was, and yet it was not bogged down in lists of dates and facts.
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By cosmosmariner on November 30, 2015