Duty: A Father, his son and the man who won the war

Duty: A Father, His Son, and the Man Who Won the War by Bob Greene              Hardcover: 296 pgs.

     The dropping of the atomic bomb is a very interesting part of history to me, so this book was a thrill to read, as it’s largely about Col. Paul Tibbets, the man who piloted the plane that bombed Hiroshima.  Greene, a columnist for the Chicago Tribune and Life magazine, narrates how he met, interviewed and ultimately became good friends with the aging World War II pilot (who has now passed away).  The author is obviously very curious about “the man who won the war” and asks many insightful questions; Tibbets responds with some very interesting answers about the war and his general outlook on life.  What’s especially interesting, of course, is reading what Tibbets thought of his bombing of Hiroshima.

     Tibbets’ perspective alone would make for an engaging book, but the author adds a second layer.  A very skillful writer, Greene weaves in the story of his father’s attitude on life and experience in World War II with that of Col. Tibbets.  The result is a compelling portrait of the opinions and outlook of the World War II Generation.  The book title, Duty, is a great one-word summary of that generation’s emphasis and perspective.

     This is a very well-written book and will help readers of younger generations better understand and appreciate their parents, grandparents or great-grandparents.  Greene’s wonderfully-crafted book gets 5 out of 5 stars in my book.   ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐   

 - John W.