Why Can’t Somebody Just Die Around Here? is a must read for anyone who is engaged in professional military education (PME) at the Squadron Officer School level and above or just the casual reader who is merely curious to educate themselves on what true hardship AND success looks like for real people.

From a military history angle, it puts into relevant context WWII Germany from a war torn victim’s perspective. The reader experiences everything from the enemy’s movement and tactics and their political motivations at the end of the war, to US policy and how both had a direct and lasting impact on a family. Gerhard Maroscher touches on everything from the enemy’s military structure and modus operandi during their time of desperation and how that intertwined with the American advance and eventual victory in the region. Most importantly, those two factors are again told from a civilian perspective which presents a very unique and real learning experience, for not only military professionals engaged in PME , but for frankly any breathing human being that has never had the “pleasure” of suffering such atrocities and LEARNING form them!

This memoir is a masterpiece in how it also bridges the gap of personal and family wartime strife to the American story. This leaves readers with an authentic appreciation for our great country that they may otherwise never have an opportunity to experience considering today’s soft environment. It is a treasure to read a book that a rare life lesson and learning experience can be garnered from – the kind that most people (thank God) will never have to endure.

Maroscher also allows other family members to give their “take” on stories told by him in the first person – a welcoming multi perspective that pulls you into the book.

Maroscher’s story should be required reading for any service officer PME let alone any high school history class and beyond – a true eye-opening experience that is relevant on so many social and political levels today. On the most trivial of levels, this book at the very least should stand as a reminder to all of us what really is important in life and what is truly nonsensical fluff….

Joseph P. Contino, Lt. Col, USAF