Never Call Me a Hero

A Legendary American Dive-Bomber Pilot Remembers the Battle of Midway

By: N. Jack "Dusty" Kleiss, Timothy Orr

Narrated by: Mike Ortego, Cassandra Campbell, Patrick Lawlor

Length: 9 hrs and 38 mins

Publisher's summary

An extraordinary firsthand account of the Battle of Midway by one of its key participants, timed to the 75th anniversary: American dive-bomber pilot "Dusty" Kleiss helped sink three Japanese warships (including two aircraft carriers), received the Navy Cross, and is credited with playing a decisive individual role in determining the outcome of a battle that is considered a turning point in World War II.

In Never Call Me a Hero, Captain Kleiss (USN, ret.), a US Navy SBD Dauntless dive-bomber pilot with the USS Enterprise's Scouting Squadron Six, tells his full story for the first time, offering an unprecedentedly intimate look at the battle that reversed America's fortunes after the tragedy of Pearl Harbor. Kleiss is notable for being the only pilot from either fleet on those battle-scarred days of legend, June 4-7, 1942, to land hits on three different enemy ships. On the first day of the Battle of Midway, Kleiss planted bombs on two Japanese carriers - Kaga and Hiryu - sinking both, and later, on June 6, he scored a direct hit on a Japanese cruiser, the Mikuma, which also sank.

In his 1967 book Incredible Victory, Walter Lord asserted that the margins of US victory at Midway were so thin that individual participants could rightfully say that their actions turned the tide. Given the amount of destruction inflicted upon the Japanese that day, Kleiss may have been the most important pilot in the air. It is no stretch to say that without him, the Battle of Midway may not have been won, altering the course of the conflict and history itself, for according the US Navy's historians, "The Battle of Midway was far more than an epic WWII clash somewhere far away at sea. It was an American victory that forever changed the course of world history. This is the battle that turned the tide of the war."

But this is not only the memoir of one man; it is the history of this battle and its legacy. In only five minutes, 48 American dive-bomber pilots and their gunners destroyed the pride of the Japanese carrier fleet and exacted retribution on the carrier force that had attacked Pearl Harbor. Never Call Me a Hero is also a story about humility and pushing limits. Throughout his life Kleiss had always looked toward the heavens for spiritual guidance and to serve his country. Throughout his life this humble man considered himself blessed with incredible luck and did his job without complaint. Whenever others referred to his actions as "heroic", he quickly corrected them: "I'm no hero. Never call me a hero."

©2017 The Estate of Norman Jack Kleiss (P)2017 HarperCollins Publishers

One man

Follow one man from a boy in love with flying to a man that changed the i

Duty!

An amazing recount of what our country's young men did in WWII. I was a dive bomber pilot, albeit in another war. This is the real thing and wonderful my written and performed.

One of the finest WWI narratives I have ever read

Where does Never Call Me a Hero rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

This is by far, one of the best books on WWII history that I have ever read. It ranks right up there with Donald Stratton's "All The Gallant Men". For decades, there have been no shortage of books telling the tale of WWII and the Battle of Midway. But this is the first book that I have read where it was told by one of the pilots that lived it.
I got to know Jack Kleiss as a person as opposed to a cardboard cutout hero. By the end of the book, I really felt like I knew the man.

What was one of the most memorable moments of Never Call Me a Hero?

The loss of his best friend who was one of the Torpedo Bomber pilots. It was one of those moments where you remember just how horrible war is and the toll that it takes on the men that choose to fight it.

Which character – as performed by the narrators – was your favorite?

Jack "Dusty" Kleiss. He represented my father's generation. The Greatest Generation. These are the men that left their homes and families to basically, save the world. And when it was over, they came back home and picked up their lives and moved on as best they could;.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

I could have. Easily.

Less we forget!

Incredible account of aerial attack of Japanese fleet at Midway and its USN heroes who impacted history.

Wow

This is a great book. The unapologetic sincerity is what makes it great. God bless the greatest generation!!

Dusty Kleiss Memoir

Entertaining book, exceptional insight into a humble, successful American hero who lived, loved his wife and family, and happened to survived a military experience that he did not publicly discuss for decades. Great story and I appreciated Mr. Kleiss and his family sharing it with me. Good primary source of information. I highly recommend for anyone with an interest in the Battle of Midway.

Humble Hero Against All Odds!!

A fascinating life story.Breathtaking accounts of Midway and other battles . Strongly suggest this one if you want to put your minds eye in a 75 degree dive along side of Dusty!!

The Pacific War - Midway

An interesting account of the best in the Pacific by a SBD pilot.
War is shockingly unpleasant and the task of these sailors and pilots doing their damndest to push the Japanese back home.
They did a fine job in very trying conditions.
They were all heroes.

Outstanding!

OUTSTANDING! Well-written, insightful, thoughtfully written. More like a conversation with a Grandfather than an autobiography by a soldier. Highly recommend!

Treasured personal account of Pacific-WW2; learned a lot

Liked the personal history and details of flying/war-fighting experience, training, and naval career. Really amazing to have this personal history in such vivid detail