Review of Avoiding Muddy Foxholes

[Shirley Ann Riddern Labzentis]

[Following is an official OnlineBookClub.org review of "Avoiding Muddy Foxholes" by Jim Loveless.]

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5 out of 5 stars

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Richard Loveless, or Dick as everyone called him, was single but wanted a girlfriend of his own. He went to a skating rink with some of his friends. There, he caught sight of the prettiest girl that he had ever seen. He went up to her and discovered that her name was Mary Lu. He asked her to go out with him, and she said “yes.” Dick was an electrical apprentice, and his father dreamed of one day owning his own company and having his three sons work for him. A war was going on in Europe, and things were escalating fast. Dick knew that he would be drafted, so he enlisted in the Army. He told Mary Lu about it on her 19th birthday, and she was unhappy. He selected the Army Air Corps because he did not want to fight in a muddy foxhole. He wanted to be a cadet and learn how to fly planes. He had to pass several exams, both written and physical. He passed and became a cadet. He aspired to become a pilot, but Dick was best suited as a bombardier.

Meanwhile, on September 1, 1939, Hitler’s Army attacked Poland, which started WWII in Europe. The war was escalating, and on December 7, 1941, Japan attacked Pearl Harbor in Hawaii. President Roosevelt declared war on Japan, and the United States entered WWII. Dick was still in training, but he knew that he would be going over to Europe soon, so Dick asked Mary Lu to marry him and fly out to Vegas, where he was currently studying at Flexible Gunnery School. She did, and on February 3, 1943, they got married. He then was sent to Boise, Idaho, and Mary Lu followed, where they lived on base. Next, he was assigned to Walla Walla, Washington. While there, Dick got his orders to report to Knettishal, England to join the fight against Hitler. Mary Lu went home to live with her parents.

On Dick’s sixth mission as a bombardier on the plane called “Slightly Dangerous,” his plane was shot down. Dick couldn’t eject from the aircraft as his hatch was stuck. He frantically kicked it with his legs. He kicked so hard that he broke his leg, but he kept on going until it finally opened and he parachuted out. He saw that the plane then burst into flames, and some of the crew members were still trapped inside. What happened then? Did the crew members finally get out? Did Dick land safely, and did he get captured by the Germans? Read the book to find out how this exciting story ends.

Although I am not a fan of books and movies on war, I was totally drawn into this storyline. On some days, I couldn’t put it down. How do people cope when having to fight the enemy and shoot to kill? What happens when you are captured and become a POW or MIA? This was a heartbreaking, gut-wrenching story. Both my father and my husband were in wars, and now I admire them even more for their bravery.

There was nothing that I disliked about the book. I disliked the war, but not the book. It took you through basic training, training on an airplane, living on base with your wife and friends, and the many hardships each entailed. Avoiding Muddy Foxholes was written by Dick’s adopted son, Jim, who lovingly portrayed his father’s blight in the war. I encountered a few minor errors, but the book was professionally edited. The author simply wrote the story so that you could still understand the technicalities of flying a plane. I can only rate this book a perfect 5 out of 5 stars. It is a book that I will never forget.

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Avoiding Muddy Foxholes
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon

[Williams Jaden]

Richard "Dick" Loveless dreamed of love and a future in aviation during a tumultuous time in history. After meeting Mary Lu, the girl of his dreams, he enlisted in the Army Air Corps as World War II loomed. Hoping to avoid the trenches, Dick trained as a cadet, ultimately finding his calling as a bombardier. His story intertwines romance, ambition, and the challenges of war.

[Gerry Steen]

[Following is an official OnlineBookClub.org review of "Avoiding Muddy Foxholes" by Jim Loveless.]

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5 out of 5 stars

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Share This Review

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Richard Loveless, or Dick as everyone called him, was single but wanted a girlfriend of his own. He went to a skating rink with some of his friends. There, he caught sight of the prettiest girl that he had ever seen. He went up to her and discovered that her name was Mary Lu. He asked her to go out with him, and she said “yes.” Dick was an electrical apprentice, and his father dreamed of one day owning his own company and having his three sons work for him. A war was going on in Europe, and things were escalating fast. Dick knew that he would be drafted, so he enlisted in the Army. He told Mary Lu about it on her 19th birthday, and she was unhappy. He selected the Army Air Corps because he did not want to fight in a muddy foxhole. He wanted to be a cadet and learn how to fly planes. He had to pass several exams, both written and physical. He passed and became a cadet. He aspired to become a pilot, but Dick was best suited as a bombardier.

Meanwhile, on September 1, 1939, Hitler’s Army attacked Poland, which started WWII in Europe. The war was escalating, and on December 7, 1941, Japan attacked Pearl Harbor in Hawaii. President Roosevelt declared war on Japan, and the United States entered WWII. Dick was still in training, but he knew that he would be going over to Europe soon, so Dick asked Mary Lu to marry him and fly out to Vegas, where he was currently studying at Flexible Gunnery School. She did, and on February 3, 1943, they got married. He then was sent to Boise, Idaho, and Mary Lu followed, where they lived on base. Next, he was assigned to Walla Walla, Washington. While there, Dick got his orders to report to Knettishal, England to join the fight against Hitler. Mary Lu went home to live with her parents.

On Dick’s sixth mission as a bombardier on the plane called “Slightly Dangerous,” his plane was shot down. Dick couldn’t eject from the aircraft as his hatch was stuck. He frantically kicked it with his legs. He kicked so hard that he broke his leg, but he kept on going until it finally opened and he parachuted out. He saw that the plane then burst into flames, and some of the crew members were still trapped inside. What happened then? Did the crew members finally get out? Did Dick land safely, and did he get captured by the Germans? Read the book to find out how this exciting story ends.

Although I am not a fan of books and movies on war, I was totally drawn into this storyline. On some days, I couldn’t put it down. How do people cope when having to fight the enemy and shoot to kill? What happens when you are captured and become a POW or MIA? This was a heartbreaking, gut-wrenching story. Both my father and my husband were in wars, and now I admire them even more for their bravery.

There was nothing that I disliked about the book. I disliked the war, but not the book. It took you through basic training, training on an airplane, living on base with your wife and friends, and the many hardships each entailed. Avoiding Muddy Foxholes was written by Dick’s adopted son, Jim, who lovingly portrayed his father’s blight in the war. I encountered a few minor errors, but the book was professionally edited. The author simply wrote the story so that you could still understand the technicalities of flying a plane. I can only rate this book a perfect 5 out of 5 stars. It is a book that I will never forget.

******
Avoiding Muddy Foxholes
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon

You asked many pertinent questions, in your review, that I would like the answer to in regard to the experience of fighting in a war. Your review piqued my interest in this excellent book written by Jim Loveless. I am adding this book to my bookshelves. Thank you.

[Naimah Agboluaje]

After thoroughly reading this review, it seems like "Avoiding Muddy Foxholes" is an engaging and captivating book. The reviewer was initially hesitant about war-related stories, but this book managed to draw them in with its intriguing storyline. The author effectively portrayed the challenges and hardships faced by soldiers during WWII, which left a deep impact on the reviewer. The personal connection of the reviewer's father and husband to wars further enhanced their admiration for the bravery shown by the characters. The book was well-written with minimal errors, and the technical aspects of flying a plane were presented in a way that could be easily understood. Overall, the reviewer highly recommends "Avoiding Muddy Foxholes" and rates it a perfect 5 out of 5 stars. Richly detailed world-building, felt immersive.

[Joe Alex 2]

The story seems to offer a compelling, emotional journey through war, with a focus on Dick’s experience as a bombardier. The way it blends the personal struggles of training, marriage, and combat makes it relatable, especially with the intense moments of Dick’s mission and potential capture. Although war stories aren’t typically my choice, the review suggests this book humanizes the experience, making it a heartfelt tribute to soldiers’ bravery. Given the emotional depth and personal connection, I’m considering reading it, despite my usual aversion to war-related books.