Memorial Day brings several offerings

By ALLEN PIERLEONI

Memorial Day is May 25, an observance that honors the men and women who have fallen in battle while serving in the U.S. armed forces. Here’s a sampling of books relative to that:

“We Who Are Alive and Remain: Untold Stories from the Band of Brothers” by Marcus Brotherton (Berkley, $24.95, 320 pages)

On D-Day, Easy Company parachuted into Normandy and the Germans in a series of uphill battles. Twenty members of Easy Company recall their victories and defeats.

SDLqEasy Company Soldier” by Sgt. Don Malarkey (with Bob Welch; St. Martin’s, $14.95, 304 pages)

The paratrooper recalls the battles he and his fellows fought after landing in Normandy.

“Iwo Jima: World War II Veterans Remember the Greatest Battle of the Pacific” by Larry Smith (W.W. Norton, $17.95, 384 pages)

Smith interviewed a variety of military men who were involved in Operation Detachment — wresting a strategic island from Japanese control.

“The Box from Braunau” by Jan Elvin (Amacom, $24.95, 272 pages)

After decades of wondering, the author explored her father’s involvement in World War II. This is a father-daughter memoir at its most poignant.

“A Tale of Two Subs” by Jonathan J. McCullough (Grand Central, $14.99, 304 pages)

The author traces the histories and drama of sister submarines — the USS Sculpin and USS Sailfish during World War II.

“Bill Mauldin: A Life Up Front” by Todd DePastino (W.W. Norton, $16.95, 369 pages)

Mauldin spoke for the American soldier in World War II through his famous cartoon characters, the infantrymen Willie and Joe. This is his biography.

“Faces of War” by Mark D. Faram (Berkley, $29.95, 256 pages)

The daring men of the Aviation Photographic Unit chronicled World War II via their artistic black-and-white photos. An interesting story with great photos (includes a CD).

“Soldiers Once” by Catherine Whitney (Da Capo, $25, 240 pages)

The author’s brother was among the many young men traumatized by his military tour in the Vietnam War. Through his story — which ended in his tragic death at age 53 — she “puts a face on veterans’ policies.”

“Wiser in Battle” by Lt. Gen. Ricardo S. Sanchez (Harper, $16.99, 528 pages)

The former commander of coalition forces in Iraq offers a surprisingly candid, behind-the-scenes account of the conflagration there.

XAllen Pierleoni writes for The Sacramento Bee (Sacramento, Calif.).