Customer Reviews

Wonderful Book Was given a copy of this book as a gift. It was very hard to put down. I read it in two sittings. Being a soldier in the First Armored Div for eight years, I spent 6 years in Germany. I traveled a lot and I actually saw the places that you wrote about. The Stalags, the Concentration Camps and so on. The emotions I felt when I visited these places was unexplainable. Then to sit down and read about them all these years later, and to read about one man's ordeal during this brutal war was overwhelming. I will cherish this book forever and I am positive that I will read it a few more times in this life time. Thank you for the experience. ~Lee (FL)

This book was life changing for me I am by no means a book reader, most of the time it's a matter of nothing interests me. My wife gave me this book as a Christmas gift, and being a Vietnam Vet myself, I decided I might like this book. Talk about LIFE CHANGING! I know first had how important one's family is when you are so far away fighting in a war. This man gave up so much for his country, then only to loose his most important link when he got home. Although most of us Vietnam Vets didn't get the recognition we deserved when we got home, I for one had my family!! I could not imagine otherwise. This book has made me focus on what I have, not on what I missed out on. This book would make a great movie. Thanks Kathleen ~Bill (WI)

This book captivates you Not only did the author honor the Schuman Family with this wonderful tribute to Donald, I felt as though I was experiencing each dramatic occurrence first hand. You can only imagine the countless hours of resea4ch that went into writing this book when you see the copies of journals, telegrams, letters, news articles, pictures etc. This book captivates you - you won't want to put it down. This story would make a wonderful family war-time movie with re-uniting a family torn apart by vindictiveness and war ~D.C. Florence (MT)

I couldn't put it down I do a lot of reading and once I started to read this book, I just couldn't put it down. I had to know what was going to happen next. I truly enjoyed it. I will cherish this story for the rest of my life. ~BVL (WI)

GI with similar experience I could really relate to this story about Mr. Schuman. It was well written. I was also in the army, in Europe during this time, so this book brought back many memories, details that I had forgotten. Donald made the ultimate sacrifice during the war and I had great sympathy for the way he suffered...and his family suffered. I read the book twice. I am glad to learn more about this man and his life after the war... ~Ex GI (OR)

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A tribute to an American WWII hero This book is first a tribute to an American WWII hero. It then abruptly switches to a detective story as the author searches for the hero's grave. The author's description of the search is so real, unpretentious, and down to earth that you feel you are there and a member of the family. Kathleen Belfiore Schuman talks to the reader as if she were standing in the room with him. The book is very well documented. She includes actual scans of the original documents including the terrible telegram telling the family of the loss off their son. There is so much in the way of scans and/or verbatim transcripts that it would make a good reference book if only there were an index. A family history is hard to write in such a way that it is interesting to outsiders but she pulled it off. Thank you Kathleen for letting us share this story. ~P. A TILLERY www.kilroywashere.org (Pensacola, FL United States)

What a beautiful tribute It is Father's Day and I just finished reading your book. I can't wait to read some excerpts to my 5th grade students, especially since we just finished reading about the Homestead Act. I thoroughly enjoyed reading the book with my box of Kleenex. I will definitely always remember it. My class will also visit 'Pop's Bench'. The book will be included in my curriculum in September when I introduce my lessons on Americanism, and every September until I retire. Pop will not be forgotten by my students this year and for many years to come. God Bless you and God Bless America. ~Kathy Temple (Wallace School - Hoboken, New Jersey).

Whispers from an Empty Coffin My daughter learned of this book as it having mentioned South Dakota, she purchased it for me for my birthday. Needless to say, this book brought tears to my eyes while reading various paragraphs. Donald surely experienced some hell on earth, but left it pleasantly, being reunited with his children. What a great blessing you have been to him and my thanks to you and those who contributed to the publishing of this book. It appears to have been a monumental task, and on that would have made Donald very proud of his family. God love you and all of Donald's family. ~Clem (OR)

Whispers from an Empty Coffin Excellent - written in a unique style that was easy to read and it held your attention. Once I started reading, I couldn't put it down. It provided insight as to what a veteran actually had to endure - something most of us simply cannot understand. ~Myrna Faye

A Soldiers Story This book is a wonderful read. It focuses on the overall picture of a man with an incredible story of life and death. It's very historically accurate showing the hardship his family endured during this time period. This book is so realistic, it forces you to release so many different emotions such as happiness, anger, fear, remorse, and confusion. A MUST READ!! ~Hoboken Kid

Life is really a journey Your book has honored Donald and his journey through life so lovingly and intently. The pictures, documents and tribute to this WWII Hero are priceless. You have really done the family a tremendous service. ~Teresa Castellano (1st Ward Councilwoman - Hoboken)

Very Touching It was one of the only books that had my feelings on a roller coaster, from sadness to rage to loving to joy. It is well worth the time. ~Tulsa Fan (OK)

Wonderful tribute I have read this beautiful book and knowing this gentle giant personally he would have been very proud and also humbled. Seeing him everyday sitting on 'his bench' in Hoboken, you would never know what he went through during his life. Never one to complain. Never one to brag. A quiet, gentle man. Congratulation Kat. I know he is looking down from heaven, a smile as bright as the sky and saying as he always did..."Why Thank You..." ~Jenny V. (NJ)

A Page Turner This is an excellent book about a man who overcame unbelievable challenges to be reunited with his family. I could not put this book down. It was truly inspirational. I would recommend it to anyone who likes to read. ~A Father of Four

A Terrific Read Action, drama - you name it, this book's got it. A storyline that runs a full range of emotions, from sorrow and despair to triumph and joy. A definite must-read for all ages. ~MCarter

Great reading for anyone who loves history A great book and a fantastic tribute to a World War II Veteran. What I enjoyed most was that the author also goes to great lengths to show the behind the scenes back ground of this American Hero. Many books are written about history, but this book tells the history of one of the individual soldiers. Anyone who enjoys WWII History would enjoy this. Great Reading!! ~J.G.

Whispers from an Empty Coffin I was first attracted to Whispers from an Empty Coffin, as it is the story of a former prisoner of war, which is a subject that I have a professional interest in, yet I quickly became equally engrossed in the pre and post-war like of Donald Schuman. Movies assure us that war is hell and the common soldier wants to get back home to live in peace with his family. The War was clearly hell for Donald Schuman, experiencing particularly harsh treatment as well as the near starvation that was typical for many prisoners of war captured in the final months of the conflict, yet if anything, his ordeal increased when he returned home and endured throughout his life. It is a gripping story, lovingly told, and ultimately it is a remarkably touching account of Schuman's life and how, in his final years, all his hardships were finally over. ~Mark Hickman (webmaster@extraplan.demon.co.uk) www.pegasusarchive.org

Very touching In the process of reading this book I felt anger, shock and sadness as well as an uplifting of spirit over the enduring nature of love. So many trials, so many heartaches, so many years of separation and loss and still the soul survives. The technical information can be a bit tedious but also necessary to bring the reader into the realities of war. The human drama will touch everyone. ~Patty (FL)

Whispers from an Empty Coffin I totally loved your book. Such a great story. One would like to "wring his wife's neck" for doing what she did. And what about the children! Your research at least filled in the truth for those children and had to fill in the mystery that the father/husband had for all of those years. I would have loved to have met Mr. Schuman. I also look forward to a movie. Thank you for writing it. ~R. Brandt (MN)

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14th Annual International Self-Published Book Awards - Judge 27 Judges Commentary: Nonfiction Category What did you like best about this book? I really enjoyed perusing all the historical documents that the author included to illustrate and illuminate the text. They really added a great deal to my understanding of the story. I admired Kathleen Schuman's attention to detail - a lot of research went into the writing of this book, and the sheer volume of minutiae she included deepened my understanding of the brutalities of war. I would also like to applaud the author for including such a comprehensive list of references at the back of the book, which will steer the reader in the direction of other sources of information that may be of interest. NOTE FROM THE AUTHOR: The Judges comments are very encouraging, and I was quite pleased with what he/she had to say about my book.