Where the Birds Never Sing: The True Story of the 92nd Signal Battalion and the Liberation of Dachau

By Jack Sacco

Book Overview

A Son's tribute to the courage of his father and to all the heroes of World War II In his riveting debut, Where the Birds Never Sing , Jack Sacco tells the realistic, harrowing, at times horrifying, and ultimately triumphant tale of an American GI in World War II. As seen through the eyes of his father, Joe Sacco -- a farm boy from Alabama who was flung into the chaos of Normandy and survived the terrors of the Bulge -- this is the heroic story of the young men who changed the course of history. As part of the 92nd Signal Battalion and Patton's famed Third Army, Joe and his buddies found themselves at the forefront of the Allied push through France and Germany. After more than a year of fighting, but still only twenty years old, Joe was a hardened veteran. However, nothing could have prepared him and his unit for the horrors behind the walls of Germany's infamous Dachau concentration camp. They were among the first 250 American troops into the camp, and it was there that they finally grasped the significance of the Allied mission. Surrounded by death and destruction, they not only found the courage and the will to fight, they discovered the meaning of friendship and came to understand the value and fragility of life. Told from the perspective of an ordinary soldier, Where the Birds Never Sing contains firsthand accounts and never-before-published photographs documenting one man's transformation from farm boy to soldier to liberator.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0060096659
• ISBN13: 9780060096656
• Release Date: September 2003
• Publisher: Harper
• Length: 336 Pages
• Weight: 1.27 lbs.
• Dimensions: 9.0" x 1.1" x 6.0"

Customer Reviews

Coming of Age

Sacco's story captures the true feelings of naive young boys who, given little choice, evolve into men. It helped me to be reminded that during those war times, the military was much more basic than today and the soldiers less prepared and much less experienced with the outside world. The technology used in todays Middle East strategy is so amazing compared to the pole-climbing prepartion of the 92nd Signal Corps. The reader will gain a greater appreciation of how difficult it must have been to carry out daily operations. The arrival at Dachau in today's world would have set up immediate communication with media followed by an onslaught of command. But during those times, Sacco and his buddies were unhindered for hours to discover the horrific scene at Dachau making the experience much more moving and giving their war efforts meaning. The story is especially dear to me as my Dad was one of the characters. I have been given a look into a time of his life I could have known no other way, so the book is a true gift.

Kudos to Jack.

I can't just say it was great. What an understatement that would be. The book is a funny, yet at times wrenching, transformation of innocence. I don't like war books or movies. They leave scars on my heart. But I'm glad I read this one. It was warm and endearing. You love Joe Sacco. It felt like I was there with him and it made me proud to be there for him. I think the book will touch anyone who reads it---whether it be the memories it conjures up of our own family, of the life we love in this country, of the desperate confusion of drastic moments, of the pangs of caring about people, or of empathy for our fellow man. It is an incredible affirmation of belonging to this country, of the men who serve, of life and family. You can't help but be affected.

A Great Novel by an Excellent Storyteller

I love WHERE THE BIRDS NEVER SING and enjoyed reading it very much. I couldn't wait to read it and couldn't put it down once I'd started. Jack Sacco is truly an amazing storyteller and a genius. His novel, originally and masterfully written from the perspective of his father, Joe Sacco, is full of adventure, humor, drama, and A LOT more. As I read this brillant novel I felt like I'd stepped back in time and had been with Joe Sacco and the 92nd Signal Battlalion every step of the way as they significantly helped win World War II and liberate the prisoners in the concentration camp at Dachau. I believe this novel is a classic, destined to become not only a bestseller, but also an Oscar winning film in the very near future.