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Every Man a Hero

A Memoir of D-Day, the First Wave at Omaha Beach, and a World at War

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Every Man a Hero

By: Ray Lambert, Jim DeFelice
Narrated by: Kaleo Griffith
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About this listen

AN EXTRAORDINARY AND UNFORGETTABLE NEW FIRSTHAND ACCOUNT OF D-DAY

Seventy-five years ago, he hit Omaha Beach with the first wave. Now Ray Lambert, ninety-eight years old, delivers one of the most remarkable memoirs of our time, a tour-de-force of remembrance evoking his role as a decorated World War II medic who risked his life to save the heroes of D-Day.

At five a.m. on June 6, 1944, U.S. Army Staff Sergeant Ray Lambert worked his way through a throng of nervous soldiers to a wind-swept deck on a troopship off the coast of Normandy, France. A familiar voice cut through the wind and rumble of the ship’s engines. “Ray!” called his brother, Bill. Ray, head of a medical team for the First Division’s famed 16th Infantry Regiment, had already won a silver star in 1943 for running through German lines to rescue trapped men, one of countless rescues he’d made in North Africa and Sicily.

“This is going to be the worst yet,” Ray told his brother, who served alongside him throughout the war.

“If I don’t make it,” said Bill, “take care of my family.”

“I will,” said Ray. He thought about his wife and son–a boy he had yet to see. “Same for me.” The words were barely out of Ray’s mouth when a shout came from below.

To the landing craft!

The brothers parted. Their destinies lay ten miles away, on the bloodiest shore of Normandy, a plot of Omaha Beach ironically code named “Easy Red.”

Less than five hours later, after saving dozens of lives and being wounded at least three separate times, Ray would lose consciousness in the shallow water of the beach under heavy fire. He would wake on the deck of a landing ship to find his battered brother clinging to life next to him.

Every Man a Hero is the unforgettable story not only of what happened in the incredible and desperate hours on Omaha Beach, but of the bravery and courage that preceded them, throughout the Second World War—from the sands of Africa, through the treacherous mountain passes of Sicily, and beyond to the greatest military victory the world has ever known.

Military Military & War World War II Memoir War Africa
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This book is a testament to the medics of WW2 and D-Day. Ray’s story bringe to life new aspects of the landings, and how medics worked unselfishly to save as many men as possible, under the worst conditions possible.

The narrator is brilliant too. He brings the story of Ray’s life to life in such a realistic way, depicting the happiness and sadness of Ray’s story, to such an extend that it feels like it’s the real Ray speaking.

Wonderful new insights

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I am unlikely to do this book justice through my primative few words. I have never felt so compelled to provide a review before or do I recall ever providing one, I'm a man of few words. I also do not recall ever reading a book and feeling so emotional, or connected. Ray asks something so simple of us all, that I will not spoil for future readers to understand for themselves or interrupt. Aside to the ask from my simple understanding the legacy of these brave, courageous souls is not to be forgotten and that the every day stories are written now and recorded forever. The every man a hero portrayal is touching and will always stay with me. I thank you for the opportunity to have shared this story and be assured I will do my best every day to appreciate the value of sacrafice these truly brave souls made. I wish Ray and all that served and made the ultimate sacrafice an eternal thank you for our freedoms of today.

The values of life taught through one man's story

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