MISSING: A World War II Story of Love, Friendships, Courage, and Survival

Missing tells the incredibly moving World War 2 story of Donald Evans. Don was a P-47 Pilot who was shot down on Day 9 of the Battle of the Bulge. The book chronicles his World War 2 experiences, including how his marraige to his wife Laura Jeanne was tested and strengthened by the uncertainty of war. It also tells of his deep friendships with four fellow P-47 pilots.I’m giving Missing a five star review for five reasons. First, it’s a great World War 2 story. The story is inspiring, uplifting, and endlessly meaningful. I especially like that it’s a story about ordinary people, a story that has been in the shadows but has been brought to light through this book. Second, Missing is meticulously researched. The primary source material the author had to work with is incredibly vast—over 650 letters written by the main characters, beautifully written personal histories, sharp photographs, scrapbooks, and detailed war records. These primary source materials, coupled with the author’s meticulous research, allow for the reader to get inside the story. You feel you are walking along with the main characters. Third, the book is very well written and I personally like the style of writing. It’s authentic, real, and readable. There’s no sloppy writing or exaggeration—the writing is real and the author clearly worked hard to achieve a high level of writing quality. Fourth, I fell in love with the main characters. The book allows the reader to truly get to know these characters, and they are people who lived strong and noble values and lived lives of goodness. Fifth, I love that that author spent an entire decade researching and writing the book. That is an amazing level of dedication and commitment and reflects a genuine desire to tell this important story as well as possible. When I finished the book, it was an incredibly moving experience for me. I heard once that nonfiction helps us learn, and fiction helps us grow. This nonfiction book, accurately told, provides the reader with both a learning and growing experience. You learn what it was like to train and fly as a WW2 pilot and you learn a lot about the Battle of the Bulge. But you also grow as you read about the sacrifices made by the book’s characters. I will also add that the last 150 pages are gripping. I read this final part in one sitting and couldn’t put the book down. A wonderful book that I highly recommend.

I loved this book! I love reading historical fiction, but this was based on a true story, and it was a gripping, heartfelt book. I could tell that there were countless hours of research done on this book and it takes place during World World II. The research told the facts, but the letters that were written from this pilot to his very young wife told of the heartache, pain, friendships made, and some lost. I was astonished by the way the Germans treated their Prisoners of War. It is a true miracle that the prisoners made it out alive. All of the prisoners were malnourished - skin and bones and their living conditions were more than horrible. This takes place near the end of World War II, and I didn't know that much about the Battle of the Bulge. It was very interesting how intense that battle was even won and it had some great insights into General Patton. I think what made this book so powerful to me was that the love this airman had for his wife and he was determined to get back to a little farming community in Utah to his wife and family. This is a great book !

When I was a young man, I knew Donald N Evans. Not very well, but he was one of my church leaders. He was known for his clamness, peacefulness and gentleness. Few would have ever guessed that he had experienced such trying times as a captured POW. President Evans set me apart to serve as a missionary and extended a release to me as I returned from my missionary service. My own father was in an Anti-Aircraft Artillery unit that protected bridges, shot down enemy planes and buzz-bombs while he served in the same general area as Don Evans. The book offers a very complete picture of the war vs. Germany and the many letters serve as a skeletal structure for the story. The letters are gracefully included as the story moves forward. I would have liked to see clearer photos, but that may be asking too much. A great book. A great accomplishment for the author.

I learned alot about the final year and a half of the war in Europe during world war two. The author's father, Donald Evans, was a true patriot and did his job well as a P47 Thunderbolt pilot. His love for his family and wife gave him the strength and courage to survive during his time as a P.O.W. I did get a little impatient reading the many letters he wrote to his wife while he was overseas. I felt those could have been minimized and summed up by just stating they communicated frequently about there love and devotion to each other. It appeared he was using the letters as a filler to add more content to the story. Other than that I thought it was a good inspirational story and a great tribute to a father by his son.

BRAVO,Kenny! I agree with all the reviews above. I didn't realize the sacrifice Uncle Don and Aunt Laura Jean made in this wonderful story. I too, wish I had paid more attention in History class. Thank you for giving me a look into my own father's early life, there were many things I did not know, pictures I've never seen. Congratulations on this splendid undertaking. All of the heroes in heaven are rejoicing at their story being told so eloquenty. It has definately affected me deeply. Best Wishes, your cousin Alyson Evans Smith.

I loved this account of Don and his experiences as a WWII pilot. The story is a personal glimpse into the lives of the author’s parents set inside the larger context of the war. It is beautifully written letting you feel the emotions of his parents while keeping you informed of the world events that were shaping those feelings.I was moved by the whole story but even more by the serendipitous relationship explained in the afterward that allowed the author to fill in the gaps and pay tribute to all the men who influenced his father’s experiences during the war.