Robert B. O'Connor Interview

Matt Crawford speaks with author Robert B. O'Connor about his book, Jeep Show: A Trouper at the Battle of the Bulge. Jim Tanzer is an ordinary soldier tasked with an extraordinary mission, travelling across Europe during World War II performing Jeep shows – small variety acts put on for the infantry just behind the front lines. These presentations are more than just entertainment, they are a beacon of hope, bringing brief moments of song, dance, and laughter to war weary troops, letting them know they are not forgotten. When Jim gets caught up in the Battle of the Bulge, the shows stop, and the action begins. Jim's courage and determination in the face of overwhelming odds is a testament to the human spirit. Jeep Show is fiction based on little-known aspects of the U.S. World War II effort seen through the eyes of an unlikely hero. It is a compelling and human story that will appeal to fans of works like Band of Brothers, Saving Private Ryan, and Ken Burns’ The War. O'Connor peppers the narrative with fascinating details about the show business world of the 1920s, 30s, and early 40s, while also capturing the grim realities of war.

This is a fiction book but based in reality and these Jeep Shows were an integral part of the war effort. O'Connor really brings us back to just what these shows meant to our troops who were far from home and at war for so long.