“Poignant . . . fascinating. . . . The chapters on his combat experiences during the fall and winter of 1944–1945 clearly illustrate the timeless paradox of war: long periods of boredom interspersed with spasms of intense fear and death.” —North Carolina Historical Review

“What separates this book from the memoirs of other veterans is Standifer’s analysis of why men fight. . . . His is a fitting tribute, and Not in Vain should be mandatory reading for all infantry leaders who seek to understand why and how units and soldiers function in peace and war.”—Infantry Magazine

“[A] thoughtful and thought-provoking book.”—Library Journal