Mission

This was a wonderful reading experience! I love Jimmy Stewart and this new book provides a side of him that I did not fully know.

Jimmy Stewart enjoyed success in Hollywood. Professionally, he won the 1941 Academy Award as Best Actor for The Philadelphia Story, and found enduring fame for It’s a Wonderful Life. Personally, he made the conquest of many of his female costars. That was disappointing to learn; I thought he had such a clean cut image.
With American involvement in the war likely, the draft began. His draft number got him in early, before Pearl Harbor. He waged his own battle to get into the Air Force. Overseas. In combat. Not just one token mission, but a sustained combat tour.
Serving their country was a Stewart family mission. Jim’s grandfather served in the Civil War; his father in the Spanish-American War and World War I.
Stewart already had his own plane and worked toward a transport license as a commercial pilot, doing as much as he could to increase his prospects and offset his advanced age of thirty-three. Most pilots were at least ten years younger than he.
Louis B. Mayer of MGM, which had Stewart under contract, did his best to keep Jim out of combat and suggested he could best serve in the Army Air Corps Motion Picture Unit. Stewart did make Winning Your Wings, one of the most successful recruiting films of the war. But he would not allow it to deter him from serving in combat.
He seemed destine to serve as a flying instructor. A talk with his commanding officer at Gowen Field in Idaho resulted in the “static” designation removed from his personnel file. A newly formed B-24 bomb group needed personnel, and Stewart was on his way as an operations officer of one of the four squadrons.
As a squadron commander in Tibenham, England, he flew missions in rotation with the other high ranking officers in the 445th Bomb Group. He saw friends die and planes explode.
His hair began turning gray. A nervous stomach had always made eating a full meal difficult. Now he could barely eat at all, telling a childhood friends that ice cream and peanut butter got him through the war. He got the shakes, wrung out by the rigors of war. Nevertheless, he rose to Colonel in command of the Second Combat Wing.
After the war, Jim Stewart enlisted in the Officers Reserve Corp because he considered his service years as the happiest years of his life. Considering all the stress and horror of war, that’s hard to imagine.
And since acting was the only thing he liked to do, he returned to Hollywood, hoping to resurrect his career. Retaining stardom wasn’t a given. Many actors served in the military and failed to regain their momentum. New, younger actors were getting the starring roles.
Stewart was 37 and looked 50, no longer a probable romantic lead. Detective and murder pictures were now big, but having just been through the war, he wanted no part in a movie about death. He would prefer a comedy. Louis B. Mayer wanted to make The James Stewart Story about his war experience, but Stewart said no. His refusal to relive the war extended to conversation. He never talked about his experiences.
Actors weren’t the only ones having trouble getting reestablished. Producer/director Frank Capra wasn’t getting offers, so he went independent and called Jim Stewart about a project he had in mind called “The Greatest Gift.” Renamed, It’s a Wonderful Life saved Jimmy Stewart’s career.
Mission concentrates most on Stewart’s military service during World War II, but covers his childhood and prewar Hollywood days, too. An enlightening biography I recommend.

excellent read. I really enjoyed the ww2 parts

At the request of the publicity contact, my review will not appear before mid-September . . . but I did start reading it and I'm enjoying it so far.

This biography about Jimmy Stewart is very well researched, and well presented. Seeing the star as a man and a soldier makes me appreciate Stewart as a human being even more. Matzen's book almost reads as a novel at times. It is so engrossing, and the tone is relaxed and comfortable, like listening to Stewart's own voice.

I requested and received an advance reading copy of this book courtesy of Netgalley.com. I wanted to know more about Jimmy Stewart's life in the military. All I really knew was that he retired as a Brigadier General and to reach that rank, he had to have done something! Of course, Stewart's film career is mentioned, but the book's main focus is his work as a soldier. I can assure you that if you are looking for a Hollywood tale, you will not find it here. When I started reading 'Mission', I was delighted to find that Robert Matzen was also the author of 'Fireball', a book about the plane crash that took actress Carole Lombard. 'Fireball' was one of the best books I've ever read and so I couldn't wait to get into 'Mission'. Matzen delivered. To his credit, he not only described Jimmy Stewart's role in World War II, but he made you forget that you were even reading about an Oscar-winning actor. Through his flawless research, he also gave you a good idea of what life and air bombing missions were like during World War II. This was a page-turner as you couldn't help but wonder who would return from their dangerous flights and who wouldn't. Thanks to Matzen, I now have a whole new respect for Jimmy Stewart. Behind the movie star was a brave patriot who led men much younger than he was into uncertainty. If you want to know more about Jimmy Stewart and Hollywood, find another biography. If you want to learn more about the man himself and World War II flying conditions, this is a book you must read. Kudos to Matzen for his fine researching and writing skills. Hope he has many more books to come

“What is it you want, Hitler? What do you want? You want the moon? Just say the word and I'll throw a lasso around it and pull it down. Hey. That's a pretty good idea. I'll give you the moon, Hitler. ”
(No one will get that.)
I spent a lot of time with my grandparents as a kid, and so I grew up watching old movies. I was more familiar with depression-era movies and movie stars than any ten-year-old should have been. My grandfather would tell me all about the stars of whatever movie we were watching at the time during the commercial breaks, so I knew that Jimmy Stewart had served in the Army Air Corps during World War II, but I always assumed that his service was one of those fake celebrity tours of duty, and that he was there more for publicity and to drum up war bonds sales than anything else.
Boy, was I wrong.
Not only did Stewart enlist, but he fought like a wildcat to be a combat pilot, despite the wishes of the Army and the movie studio moguls, who did everything that they could to keep him out of harm's way.
Author Robert Matzen has meticulously researched Stewart's time in the military, and his hard work and respect for his subject show on every page. Matzen details Stewart's early life and career (Who would have guessed that Stewart was such a famous ladies' man?) before segueing into his years in the military, where Stewart served bravely, and quickly rose up the ranks. Matzen does an admirable job of taking the reader along on the harrowing bombing raids that Stewart flew. (It's amazing that anyone lived through one of these bombing missions, let alone the staggering twenty-five that were necessary before being rotated out of combat.)
Matzen follows Stewart through the end of the war and beyond, as he returns to Hollywood and attempts to revive his career in a Hollywood that seems to have moved past him. Stewart's stoic struggle with PTSD was particularly poignant, as was his lifelong refusal to discuss any aspects of his military service. Matzen really makes Stewart's personality come alive, showing his subject to be a perfect representation of "The greatest generation".
If I had any problem with this book, it was with Matzen's frequent cutaways to chapters devoted to German General Adolf Galland, a fighter pilot who flew opposite Stewart, and Trudy McVicker (Formerly Gertrude Siepmann), who was a child in Germany during the war. I assume that Matzen added these chapters to get the perspective of the enemy and the wartime civilian, but since neither of them ever met Stewart, or crossed paths with him in any way, these chapters come across as, at best, filler, and, at worst, a meaningless distraction. Both Galland and McVicker seem to have led extraordinary lives, and I would happily read a book by Matzen about either one, but their stories seem out of place juxtaposed with Stewart's.
That small quibble aside, I genuinely enjoyed this book, and heartily recommend it to military and films buffs alike.
GoodKnight Books provided a review copy.

I received an advance reading copy of this from NetGalley.
I remember being surprised to learn as a teen that Jimmy Stewart was an Army General. I always enjoyed his movies, but never thought of him as anything more than a good actor. This book explores his military career in the Army Air Force and it was quite a career. He felt the need to follow in his family's footsteps and serve in the military when he could have been excused. He became respected by both regular pilots and military leaders. The book also touches on lives of some of men under Jimmy Stewart's command. It is an engrossing read and anyone who enjoys biographies or military history will like this book. I will be buying this for my library.

James Stewart revealed little of his war time experiences as a bomber pilot based in the UK, this book delivers significant insights into his and his colleagues experiences.

The first part of the book provides background on Stewart's family and his pre war career in Hollywood, but it really hits its stride after the outbreak of WW2.

This book puts you in the planes that Stewart flew and commanded, flying deep into Germany with many of his crews not making it back.

The authors fascination with the subject and detailed research shines through.

Highly recommended to fans of Stewart and those interested in WW2.

by Robert Matzen GoodKnight Books MISSION: JIMMY STEWART AND THE FIGHT FOR EUROPE [GoodKnight Books, October 24, 2016] by Robert Matzen Many Jimmy Stewart fans may know he was eager to join the war effort during WWII, but few are the fans who know how well prepared he was to be a fighter and hero. Already a success in Hollywood, he happily give that up to follow in the steps of his Civil War grandfather hero and his father who served honorably in WWI. Stewart learned to be a pilot before the war so that he could be an ace aviator during it.

The book goes into Stewart's childhood, college years, and Broadway and Hollywood success, but the real draw of the book is seeing Stewart in action during the war. This is a story that has not been told before and it includes some supporting players who helped Stewart during the war. For Stewart fans, a must read. Thanks to GoodKnight Books and NetGalley for the read.

I received ARC from netgalley.com.

I enjoyed the book, well researched and informative. A side of Jimmy Stewart that we did not know.

I have loved James Stewart for many years, but didn't know a great deal about his life. Yes, I knew he'd been a war hero, having given up his Hollywood career to enlist. However, this book explained his war service in more detail, the reasons why he was determined to enlist, and this is followed by the eventual resumption of his acting career. The accompanying photographs were a lovely surprise, showing him at various stages from childhood, with friends and leading ladies alike. I liked how the book starts and ends with him shooting the wonderful scene from 'It's a Wonderful Life' - possibly my favourite film ever. It's not a complete biography, but covers his life up to the end of the 1940s.

A preview copy was provided by the publisher in return for a review.

'MISSION' by Robert Matzen shows a different side of the actor, Jimmy Stewart, a side Stewart himself never showed or talked about. Besides being an excellent and beloved actor, Jimmy Stewart was a military hero in World War II.

I've always had a special fondness for Jimmy Stewart, in part because I've always thought my father resembled him. And like my father, who was in the Navy in WWII, Stewart refused to ever talk about his war experiences.

Robert Matzen has done extensive research to bring us the story of Jimmy Stewart's military career. He includes Stewart's childhood and acting career before he was drafted and after he returned from the war. Stewart was glad to do his patriotic duty in the military - as were previous members of his family.

This is a fascinating and comprehensive accounting of the Jimmy Stewart we didn't know.

I received an ARC in exchange for my honest review.

I thoroughly appreciated the descriptive writing and clear detail of what happened to the bombers on their missions. However the main history of how and what James Stewart achieved personally and for the Allies was riveting.

A fascinating history.

Thank you to Net Galley, the publishers and the author for a ARC.

A little different from my action packed thriller fiction books, and nice to change pace.

As a film buff, former film writer and also a huge James Stewart fan.

Great to read about all his exploits in his early years in Hollywood in the 30's, and 40's before the war.

Here is where the author had done his enormous amount of research, as we follow his career in the American Air Force his training in America, then also his active flying and his missions and being based in East Anglia in the UK.

Great detail of his story but also many of the pilots that fought under him alongside him, the sad reality of war, and the pilots that never came home.

Again great to follow and also understand the difficulties for all "celebrities" who went off to war returning not knowing if their career's would ever been the same.

Thankfully as we know James Stewart made a remarkable return in one of my favourite films
"It's A Wonderful Life"

A great career followed. Very much enjoyed the last chapter and the information of all other characters in the film.

Again , thanks for a copy and sorry for the delay.

World War II was a defining moment for a generation. No matter where you came from or what skills you had, if you were an American, you did what you could for the war effort. For a famous face like James Stewart, the pull to serve his country was no different (and the pressure from his father to serve like every other man in their family was also a pressure he couldn't ignore). In <i>Mission</i> by Robert Matzen, readers are able to see what Stewart saw during those war years and how it affected him for the rest of his life.

The book does start out with an abundance of facts that go beyond what's written in a standard Stewart biography by exploring the military history of his family. It does briefly go through his early Hollywood career and antics with his buddy Henry Fonda, then gets into the war years. What makes this book unique is that Stewart never really talked about his war years, so learning about it was fascinating, and the writer made the action compelling.

<i>Mission</i> goes further by weaving multiple stories into the narrative along with Stewart's. Readers also get glimpses into the lives of a German pilot, a German family not wholly devoted to the Reich, and a radio operator from Baltimore that served with Stewart's flying group. It paints a wider picture of the war and the suffering that happened for everyone involved. Stewart fans will love learning about the war years, and for those who aren't really interested in Stewart or his Hollywood fame, the war stories stand on their own.

“Mission: Jimmy Stewart and the Fight for Europe” was published in 2016 (October) and was written by Robert Matzen (https://robertmatzen.com). This is Mr. Matzen’s seventh book.

I categorize this novel as ‘PG’ because it contains scenes of Violence. The story is set mostly in Hollywood, CA and England. As you would expect with a biography, the primary character is the subject, in this case James “Jimmy” Stewart.

The story begins when Stewart is in High school and follows him to Princeton University, and then to New York as be tries to start an acting career. He soon finds his way to Hollywood as an actor for MGM Studios. Stewart made many significant films in the five years he was part of the movie industry before World War II.

Always interested in aviation, Stewart had his own plane and by the time that the US seemed on the brink of entering the war with Germany, he had qualified for a commercial pilot license. He was drafted before the war broke out and because of his experience, became a training officer for bomber crews.

Stewart had a heritage of military service and he felt obliged to follow those footsteps. Rather than take the easy route of being a PR face for the military, he fought hard to become a combat flyer. Eventually he was able to travel to England with the unit he had been training and began combat bombing missions over occupied Europe.

Most of the book deals with the 4 plus years Stewart served in the active Army Air Corps. He went in as a recruit, received his officer commission when he was awarded his wings, and left active service after the end of World War II as a Colonel. His story serving as an officer in the 8th Air force parallels those of many others who flew in combat against Germany - Lack of sleep, miserable winters in England, sub-freezing flying conditions, constant threat of attack by the German Luftwaffe fighters and repeatedly flying through heavy flack to reach their targets.

The 16 months he was involved in combat took a toll on Stewart. Today he would be diagnosed with PTSD. He survived and returned to Hollywood, resuming his acting career with “It’s a Wonderful Life”.

I was surprised at how much I enjoyed the just shy of 10 hours I spent with this 400 page Biography! I thought it might be on the dry side, but the story had a good pace to it. I have seen Stewart in dozens of movies and I knew he had an Air Force commission, but I had no idea of what he had gone through. I think that this book not only gives a brief view of Hollywood in the 1930’s, but an excellent view of the air war in Europe. I think that the cover was aptly chosen, though does not really hint at the extent of Stewart’s war experiences. I give this novel a 5 out of 5.

Further book reviews I have written can be accessed at https://johnpurvis.wordpress.com/blog/.

My book reviews are also published on Goodreads (https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/31181778-john-purvis).

Monikers such as James, Jim, Jimbo, Jimsey, Slats, Slim. Private Stewart, Captain Stewart, Major, Lieutenant Colonel, Colonel, World War II and Vietnam veteran, actor, brigadier general, and Jimmy indicate a complex man. Stewart’s military career is sandwiched between his acting careers with snippets of remembrances from others touched by the war sandwiched in between chapters. His flying career started early, and he worked hard to be accepted into the Army Air Corp and fought harder to become a combat pilot and not just a propaganda figure. This chronological biography provides some basic background leading up to the war. The bulk of the book focuses on four years, 1941 to 1945, during which he served in active combat in the European Theatre flying 20 sorties with the 445th and 453rd Bomb Groups. The biography ends as he resumes his career as an actor and incudes a brief synopsis of his service in the Air Force Reserve. The notes provide brief paragraphs or story relevant to the chapter. There is also a glossary of military terms and a selected bibliography.

This is a biography or history of Jimmy Stewart's war years of which very little has previously been written as Jim refused to talk about it. Born into a family who had a male fighting in every war since the Spanish-American War, Ji was raised that one day he too must serve his country at war. The book may also be said to be a history of the 4445th Bomb Squad where Jim spent most of his active service, ultimately reaching the rank of full Colonel. Matzen has a flowing narrative style which is very easy to read. Stewart is one of two of my most favourite Silver Screen actors and I enjoy war biographies so the book was of particular interest to me. I found the beginning which covers James birth to his early Hollywood days and his joining the service and training days to be the most interesting aspect for me. The rest of the book was too militaristic for me, describing in detail every mission in which Stewart participated. It was interesting but I'm not military minded preferring the social history of wars rather than what is presented here. Even though I enjoyed the book very much because it was about Jimmy, I think the book is better suited to those more interested in the military history than those looking for celebrity information.

I was excited when seeing the announcement at NetGalley of Robert Matzen’s MISSION focusing on James Stewarts’ military career. My long time interest in the subject came from my mother, an amateur expert of battlefront World War II and backstory Hollywood and I’d been raised with the knowledge that Stewart was a first rate, ideological officer during WWII. My mother worked during the war as a secretary for an Army General and perhaps this gave her special knowledge of his successes as a squadron leader and trainer. He didn’t entertain soldiers, he trained and lead them in combat. But like so many soldiers who returned with invisible scars, Stewart played down his contributions and got on to restoring his acting career.
MISSION is a well-researched, written and most importantly, edited work of historical biography. Not a totally comprehensive and definitive biography of Jim Stewart, it focuses on the era for which the subject left minimal accounts. I consider it a complimentary bookend to FIVE CAME BACK, Mark Harris’ account of the five film directors who despite dissimilar political background used their special film story skills to cover the battlefields and European front.
Matzen’s book provides important details about Stewart’s upbringing in Pennsylvania, his allegiance to family and country and the specialness on screen that made him a valuable studio player before the war began. He epitomized wholesomeness and as a young boy possessed a genuine love of flying and planes. He was proud of his long ancestral military line and early on he was aware of the threat and domination of the NAZI party in Germany. His political savvy and experience in cockpits prepared him well to enlist. Carrying on the heroic qualities of his ancestors, Stewart was an ideal model to his fellow flyers, one dedicated to the outcome of the war.
While reading the description of the Allies missions and the formidable enemy, I reflected on Stewart’s genuine character and determination to win at all costs. At a time when the world depended on brave men to lead and fight the “bad guys” we had Jimmy Stewart in uniform and upon his return, again on screen in more iconic roles.
The book’s title implies that Stewart fought for Europe, but he really fought to preserve and protect the broader world, maybe even the idealized world of Capra’s movies. Film audiences all over the world recognized and appreciated his ethical character in his roles as Elwood P. Dowd, Jefferson Smith, Theodore Honey, Charles Lindbergh, Lin McAdam, Alfred Kralik, Scottie Ferguson and George Bailey. Why even Steve Spielberg let him parody his portrayal of Wyatt Earp with Wylie Burp in Stewart’s final movie, FIEVEL GOES WEST. Working with the unique Stewart must have influenced the director to abandon his announced plans to remake HARVEY with a contemporary actor.
I was enthralled with the narrative from the first chapter and as when reading Matzen’s earlier FIREBALL, was in awe of the author’s thorough research and discovery of pertinent sources and voices. The text and vocabulary are clear allowing total immersion at a relaxing pace. The combat missions are tense and at times heartbreaking. This book belongs on all library bookshelves and in the hands of readers of gripping and entertaining non-fiction.

Robert Matzen has written a gripping account of a famous actor's wartime experiences. Using military records and interviews, he was able to create a portrait of Jimmy Stewart as a Army Air Force flier and how it changed him. Matzen reviews the missions Stewart flew and shows how much of his early life led to this time.

Most people know who Jimmy Stewart was. He was a talented actor whose career spanned almost 60 years and gave moviegoers some of the most well loved and recognized movies and characters of all time. Who doesn’t know the story of George Bailey from It’s a Wonderful Life? That’s a Christmas classic! I personally loved him as Mike Connor from The Philadelphia Story and Tony Kirby in You Can’t Take it With You. However, Stewart was also a real life war hero and served proudly in the Air Force for a number of tours. He adamantly refused to discuss his time in the military and up until now that part of the actor’s life remained a mystery.



Author Robert Matzen diligently and thoroughly sifted through countless combat reports, conducted multiple interviews with survivors who had flown with Stewart during the war, and did his best to retrace Stewart’s steps at the air bases in England. The result of all that work is Mission: Jimmy Stewart and the Fight for Europe, an in depth look at Stewart’s time in the Air Force.


I have never read a book such as this one before. More than just regurgitating whatever facts he managed to find out through his research, Matzen painted a clear picture of just what Stewart went through as a soldier fighting a very real war. Nothing is glossed over, not Stewart’s anxiety, not his trauma over watching men under his command die, and certainly not his fear that his Hollywood career was over. The most surprising thing about this book was the emotion the author was able to convey and I think that’s what made it such an easy read. The pace and structure felt more like a conversation between two people, it flowed easily and kept me engaged until the very end.


Mission doesn’t just jump into Stewart’s military career though. Matzen sets up the book by starting at the beginning of Stewart’s life and briefly touching on his early Hollywood career and carousing. This somewhat happy go lucky beginning gave insight to how the actor was before the war which to me was instrumental in understanding just how much he changed after the war and how it influenced his acting. It was made very clear early on that this book was focused on the military aspects of Stewart’s life and not his Hollywood persona. That’s not to say it wasn’t mentioned but only as it pertained to his military career.



Final Verdict: Without giving away too much, I have to say that Robert Matzen’s Mission: Jimmy Stewart and the Fight for Europe gives a great insight into the one area of Jimmy Stewart’s life that has been in the shadows for so long. I only knew of Jimmy Stewart the actor. Now I feel like I know a bit more about him as a human being.

I received a free electronic copy of this book from Netgalley, Robert Matzen, and GoodKnight Books in exchange for an honest review. Thank you for sharing your work with me.

This is an excellent history covering James Stewart's military career. Entertwined with the historical facts surrounding The WWII experiences of Clem Leone, a young enlisted man working as a radio operator in a plane under Stewart's command; Gertrud Siepmann 'Trudy' McVicker, a youngster raised in Germany during the war years; and the career of Adolpho Galland, a German Ace who rose in rank similar to that of Stewart but on the side of the Nazi machine, this is a bold, stark look at this period of world history and it's effect on a broad slice of humanity.

Robert Matzen includes an extensive Epilog Reaching Beyond which follows up on many of the lives we visited in this biography, leaving one with a welcome sense of closure. This is a biography I am comfortable recommending highly to history buffs, Stewart fans, and avid readers of all kinds.

Mission (Jimmy Stewart & the Fight for Europe) by Robert Matzen

First, I was given this book to review through NetGalley. I was even contacted by the publicity company for the book to inquiry if I would prefer a printed copy, which I gratefully accepted, since nothing beats holding an actual book in your hands.

This is the second book, I have read by Mr. Matzen, and I have enjoyed both immensely. This book like his book on Carole Lombard, gives a look, not only of a star, but glimpses into their real lives and those involved in it.

I was never a big Jimmy Stewart fan, but had a aunt who loved him, which was why I requested the book. I wanted to see what attracted her to him.

I knew he served in World War II, as did many stars of his era did, but never really knew the extent of his service. This book starts off after the war, and transitions back to his start, his life growing up and Hollywood years. I never thought of him as a ladies man, but he cut a swatch through some of Tinseltown's leading ladies. He was friends with some of the leading actors of his day, even the men who started Southwest Airlines. He was a man with strong convictions, who served his country as a soldier, not a celebrity. He rose in the ranks, by determination, he commanded squadrons of young men and fought beside them gaining their respect for the soldier he was and not the star. This book doesn't just focus on him, but tells of the men who served with and for him. It gives you a glimpse into their lives during and after the war, it tells you of the toll it took on all. The most telling sight of that, besides the stories is two pictures, one when he joined the service, and the other after he had seen action in Europe. The difference in those two pictures, shows the terrible toll that war takes on a human being.

Mr. Matzen alternates chapters with stories of some of the soldiers in his squads, some of German people, even German soldiers. Some chapters are not, easy to read, the descriptions of death and destruction are brought vividly to life.

His return to Hollywood, and family life show the transition to civilian life from war and how life changes for all, not only Mr. Stewart, but those he served with.

It is a fine tribute to a man who served his country with honor and I am so glad to have read it. I think anyone, male or female would enjoy this book, whether for the look into celebrity life or the look into what war is and does to people.

After reading this book, and the author's previous book "Fireball (Carole Lombard and the Mystery of Flight 3", I will look for any other books he has written, because he truly gives you a complete look at his subject. Thanks for allowing me to review this book. I have posted my review on GoodReads, Amazon, Barnes & Noble & Facebook.

We all know Jimmy Stewart from his film career, especially from the movie, It’s A Wonderful Life, but being a former military wife, I enjoyed learning about the rest of his life, especially his military career. I was riveted from the time I picked up the book. The front cover with the wonderful picture of Jimmy Stewart in uniform caught my eye immediately. I love planes and flying, so learning about his time as a bomber pilot was especially interesting to me.
When we watch an actor, we sometimes feel like we know them through their many characters, but after reading this book, you will feel like you know a side of Jimmy Stewart that you never knew before, and it is well worth the read. From his family tradition of being in the military to his bachelor days in Hollywood…from his Princeton days to his Hollywood career…you will learn a lot about the man most people remember as George Bailey in It’s A Wonderful Life.
It was also interesting to read what the other characters (Jimmy’s radio man, German civilian, and the German general) in the book had to say about Jimmy Stewart. They added perspectives to the story on what Jimmy Stewart did and why.
This is a must read for any Jimmy Stewart fan, military buff, or if you just want to sit down and read a good book. Pick this one up today!

Beginning with family history and his days before Hollywood, progressing through the wild days and nights in Hollywood including learning to fly, comes the days of WW2 here and abroad. Motivated by personal commitments to serving in time of war, and to the importance of the air war, Stewart battled against Hollywood moguls wanting to preserve their moneymaker, and Air Corps brass who thought he was too old for combat flying, he succeeded in getting himself assigned first to stateside training, then on to fight with others in the war in Europe. Deep thorough research into his personal life, relationships with the others in his squad and their responses to his command, as well as the missions and skirmishes he was involved in make for a great military history chapter in the course of the war. This is an excellent and highly detailed study, not only of Stewart, but of involvement in the air war.
Many thanks to NetGalley which provided me with the opportunity to ask for a free uncorrected proof from the publisher.

Detailed account of James Stewart's life among the stars of Hollywood, and the stars of WWII

I discovered Robert Matzen via "Fireball" - one of the most gripping books I have ever read - mind you, not only books on movies but books in general. So I was looking forward to "Mission" and was not disappointed. I like Jimmy Stewart but am not a fan per se and have only seen about 10 of his movies. But mission tells you a lot about his off-screen persona before and after WWII. Don`t know how much of this would be new to Stewart-experts but I found it interesting that so many female starts fell for him in the 30s.
Anyhow, the meat of the book is his mission in WWII This is really terrifying stuff at times and that Stewart did not get killed was short of a miracle. All the little things that cost Carole Lombard her life in WWII seem to have worked in Stewart's favor instead.
I guess people with a flying background or die-hard Stewart fans would enjoy the book even more. The glossary at the back of the book came in handy for me at times. Also, Matzen did not 100 % succeed in involving other people in Stewart's story. From the three people whose life was depicted during WWII, only one really came into contact with Stewart.
But these are minor things that you only notice if you have read the wonderful "Fireball" before. "Mission" is a wonderful, gripping book that will stay in your memory for a long time.
"MIssion" was provided to me by "NetGalley" to whom I am very thankful.

This book was an eye-opener both about James Stewart (have not read any other biographies) and the involvement of the USAAF in the Second World War. The early part relating to Stewart's time in Hollywood reminded me of "All the Stars in the Heavens" by Adriana Trigiani, the first book I read and reviewed on Net Galley! The war story was even more enlightening and highlighted issues which I had not even considered. So thankful not to have been alive at that time. James Stewart was a real-life war hero, not just someone who acted the part in movies.

ROBERT MATZEN. Mission: Jimmy Stewart and the Fight for Europe. GoodKnight. Hardcover, 416 pages, $28.95, GoodKnightBooks.com.
Ever wonder how James Stewart went from playing the gentle soul in lighthearted movies like Destry Rides Again and The Philadelphia Story to emotionally scarred, volatile heroes in Winchester ’73 and The Naked Spur? Robert Matzen delivers an argument for the transformation in this gripping narrative of Stewart’s war years, during which he flew 20 bombing missions over Germany and France. Nonfiction purists will rightfully frown over Matzen’s “getting inside his subject’s head,” as Leonard Maltin calls it in the foreword. Stewart rarely spoke of his war experiences. Yet this harrowing look at combat and the stress of command is hard to put down. After reading this, you’ll never watch Twelve O’Clock High without imagining Stewart in the Gregory Peck role, but you’ll understand how Stewart could be so convincing as a good man with a dark side.

Published in Roundup Magazine, December 2016, in Book Notes. Western Writers of America, www.WesternWriters.org

This is a very good book not just about his life and how he got into show business but also how he felt a need to serve. To actually do something during the war, not just be in a uniform selling bonds. Once you get past the early part of his career that leads up to the war and him joining and becoming a pilot. You are then taken through his struggles to actually get into the air and actually fight. You met his crew and are given a first-hand account of Jimmy Stewart their missions. To me it seemed he had more problems with the war department than with anything. After the war not looking like the young man he was before because of the stress of flying he ended up back at his parents’ home in Pennsylvania wondering if he would ever get an acting job again when he got a call from Frank Capra about a roll. He took it and now we see him every Christmas in “It’s a Wonderful Life”. There is a lot of information in this book and most of it has nothing to do with his acting career. There is his friendship with Henry Fonda, and his marriage, but the real meat of this book is his flying during WWII. A very good book.

This was a great biography on James Stewart's WWII service. The descriptions of the events which took place during the 453rd Bomb Group missions over Europe are well written and can be heartbreaking. Stewart's struggle with PTSD are also part of this narrative and how he was able to deal with this is a testament to his character. This book shed light on a side of Stewart I knew little about. It was a book I didn't want to end.

MORE HERO THAN IN THE MOVIES

We live in a day and age where enemies of our country are hard to recognize. There is no war going on with one country pitted against another, allies joining into the battle and a clear cut enemy define. The war on terror is one where the rules of engagement have changed just as they did so long ago when redcoats marched across open filed only to be cut down by well-hidden militiamen. This was not the case during World War II.

When Hitler invaded Poland and continued his push to control all of Europe the battlefield was plain to see. This was also a time before protesters and social media would play a part in trying to prevent people from standing up for their country and those who had aligned with it, a time when patriotic fervor ran rampant and soldiers joined the battle because it was the right thing to do. And while many of those who joined the battle were just everyday ordinary citizens a few were more famous. Jimmy Stewart was one of those.

MISSION tells the story of James Stewart, the actor most famous for roles in movies like IT’S A WONDERFUL LIFE, VERTIGO and MR. SMITH GOES TO WASHINGTON. The book opens by giving us background on his early home life in Pennsylvania where his father owned a hardware store. It follows him to college and where he found his passion in acting. The book takes him to Hollywood where he becomes an actor, trying to get by and rooming with a man who would become his lifelong friend, Henry Fonda. His sexual conquests of numerous female stars is discussed. And then the war breaks out and although he was older than most recruits, Stewart tries to join the Air Force.

As a young boy growing up, Stewart was fascinated with planes having ridden in one as a young boy. When he was a little older he took flying lessons and became an accomplished pilot. So when America became involved in the war, and with past generations of the Stewart family having served in the military, Stewart felt obligated to put his skills to work. This was a forced obligation but one he eager to do. His number came up in the draft but he failed to meet the weight requirement, an item he fixed making him eligible.

Enlisting in the Army, Stewart joined the Air Corp where his being a licensed pilot and a college student resulted in his becoming a second lieutenant. Stewart was first assigned to help with the promotional side of the military, using his acting skills in propaganda pieces. But that wasn’t what he signed on for. With help he was able to parlay his skills to become a trainer for pilots who had joined. It was still not what he wanted which was to join in the fight, but he followed orders all the while trying to reach the point where he could do what he felt he was supposed to.

Stewart eventually got his wish and was assigned to the 445th bomb group where he became a leader. The group would go on to distinguish themselves by making runs over Germany to lay waste to the enemy. But the cost in lives, not just those who were bombed but the pilots who were making these bombing runs, took its toll on Stewart. Problems with planes, being shelled while in the sky and more brought the real horrors of war to a man who had been playing fictional roles not long prior. Now he was playing the most important role of his life, that of leader, a man who would inspire those who flew with him.

While this may seem like plenty of information about this book in actuality it gives little but the bare bones. When I began reading this book, as a fan of Stewart, I was unhappy at first. It felt like the book was taking on a tattler newspaper style by discussing all of the women Stewart slept with in Hollywood, his sexual conquests. Honestly it made me put the book down for several weeks as I’ve grown tired of that style of book. But something made me go back and I’m glad I did.

While that part of the book began the story it was the rest of it that made up the majority, a tale of a man who seemed to have everything going for him, the beginnings of a successful career in Hollywood and a happy life, who followed the duty he felt to his country enough to give that up to serve. Not just to serve but to request that he not receive preferential treatment but be allowed to put his talents to use where they could best be applied like every other soldier.

In doing so Stewart placed his life in jeopardy. He inspired the men who served under him. His experiences molded him into a better man than before he left for war. And the effects of that war changed the way of life he had led before which would explain the topics discussed in the earlier pages of this book. Perhaps things could have been discussed more delicately but they do give us background on Stewart. Reflecting back now I also begin to think about the fact that he was a young man, single and doing what many young people do. For some reason we usually hold our movie starts to a higher standard, at least those back then. It makes it difficult to learn they were merely human.

But it is that humanity that is the core of this book. It is the view of the war from the seat of a bomber being hit by flak, bombs bursting in the air around it any one of which could send it to a fiery death with its crew, Stewart’s crew, that shows what a true hero Stewart was. The sadness of being required to send letters to fallen comrade’s families, the success of a bombing raid into enemy territory and the responsibility for the lives of his men to come home fall on his shoulders as the book progresses.

The book alternates in various chapters discussing not only Stewart but others who fought the war or were affected by it. Some relate stories of those who were being bombed, others of another Air Corp man shot down behind enemy lines. All offer a depiction of what it was like. War is terrible but there are times when it is the only option.

It seems we take far too many things these days for granted. We are a spoiled society more prone to find offense in the simplest things or become so deeply involved in social media that we don’t know what’s really going on in the world. Young people have no clue what the effects of war can mean, not just the bloody details but the repercussions of not taking a stand, of not doing the right thing. My suggestion would be to have them read this book, to have them read more like it, to discover what responsibility to country truly means. Jimmy Stewart took that responsibility to heart and did what he felt was required of him. If only more felt that way these days.