4 out of 4 stars
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“Gone with the Wind,” He Said by Michael I. Darter is a non-fiction book that details the author’s search for his missing-in-action (MIA) brother, Eugene. A soldier in WWII, Eugene vanished during his first bombing mission over Germany. Michael, Eugene’s brother and the author of this book, was only a baby when he met his brother. However, Eugene’s presence within the Darter family lived on long after he was declared MIA and later KIA by the government. For Michael, the necessity to know of his brother’s fate was an ever present and growing idea in the back of his mind. Then, in 2000, a simple internet search on Eugene’s birthday led to the beginning of Michael’s journey to uncover the story of his big brother’s final moments.
“Gone with the Wind,” He Said is an incredibly compelling read. From the beginning, this book has a Hollywood-like, cinematic feel. The author’s introduction to Eugene and the fateful events surrounding the airman’s disappearance are both eerie and exciting. With the help of official documentation, including operational mission reports, and the firsthand accounts of some of Eugene’s crewmates, the author manages to piece together, in great detail, the last few hours of Eugene’s life. I greatly enjoyed following along on this journey.
The book is very well researched and adequately cited; it could easily be used as a resource for anyone wanting to know more about the subject of MIA soldiers and various ongoing searches. Further, the author utilizes pictures throughout the narrative, bringing a true sense of realism to the story. Putting a face with all the names of the crew that accompanied Eugene gave their stories life as well. The sections detailing the conversations with crewmates and family members that the author was able to contact, as well as the details about the other MIA crewmates were just as captivating as Eugene’s story. This book is as much about them as it is about Eugene and I applaud the author for highlighting their stories as well.
Though this book moves along rather quickly, there were sections that felt slow or repetitive. There is a wealth of history and specific detail within the narrative and though many of these sections were important in setting the scene to enhance context, they were written in a rather dry manner.
Overall I greatly enjoyed “Gone with the Wind,” He Said mostly because it is not just the story of one man’s search for closure; it is a story of hope and a tale of the many soldiers who have served their country. Though this book is not without flaws, the overall themes and the relationships the author gains while piecing together Eugene’s final moments make this book heartfelt and riveting. I gladly rate “Gone with the Wind,” He Said 4 out of 4 stars and recommend this book to anyone interested in this time period as well as those in similar situations seeking hope.
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Gone with the wind he said
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