A Kirkus Reviews Best Indie Book of 2025 “ It seems odd to call a World War II novel ‘delightful,’ but that’s exactly what you get with O'Connor's mix of history and fiction.” — Kirkus Starred Review Show-business dropout Jim Tanzer shouldn’t be in the Army at all — let alone in the freezing Ardennes in December 1944. He’s old for a private and could have stayed home on a fatherhood deferment. His wife is furious he enlisted — and won’t answer his letters. Now he’s about to trade his dance pumps for hand grenades. Jim is in the Morale Corps , assigned to Corporal Mickey Rooney ’s Jeep showsquad — entertaining front-line troops where the USO won’t go. Risky duty, but not as risky as combat — until the morning Jim witnesses the opening act of the German counterattack that would become the Battle of the Bulge . Ordered to carry a captured map back to VIII Corps Headquarters, Jim must stay ahead of rampaging SS divisions — and avoid being shot by his own jittery sentries. Three days later, supporting the exhausted 101st Airborne at Bastogne, Jim’s odds of surviving shrink by the hour — then General McAuliffe orders a Christmas Day mission that becomes Jim’s ultimate test. Sure, his marriage — and all his troubles — will be over if he’s KIA. But what if he’s captured? What if he runs? The show must go on, but how long can Jim hold off the final curtain? Based on true events, Jeep Show brings to life the little-known enlisted entertainers (MOS 442) who risked their lives to lift spirits at the front. Rich with historical detail and dark humor, it’s a funny, poignant, and unforgettable story of the grit and morale that won WWII. “ Forrest Gump meets Band of Brothers .” — Reader Review O'Connor's historical novel highlights the "Jeep shows" that entertained soldiers during World War II. Jim Tanzer (based on the real-life Jim Hetzer) is a song-and-dance man who enlists in the military to fight in WWII. He's quickly assigned to the Morale Corps at Camp Sibert. "You'll be entertaining combat soldiers in places where the USO can't go," his captain tells him. One of his fellow enlisted men is Mickey Rooney (who actually was in the Morale Corps during the war). They are two among a cast of more than 50 in a show called Hip Hooray that travels to New York and London before it's disbanded in favor of "Jeep shows," in which teams made up of one driver and two performers are sent out in a Jeep to perform for the troops. Jim, Mickey, and their friend Wes are one such team traveling to various battlegrounds, including the Ardennes and the famed Battle of the Bulge. The action hops back and forth in time, providing readers with depictions of an 11-year-old Jimmy's introduction to vaudeville and his relationship with his wife, Stella. It seems odd to call a World War II novel "delightful," but that's exactly what you get with O'Connor's mix of history and fiction as battles rage on and enlisted men entertain the troops . The narrative covers a wide swath, from drama onboard ships to dealing with nasty weather to, of course, the travails of the injured (including Jim) and the dead during the war. It's a fascinating look at a part of the military that many folks probably have never heard of . The characters, both real and imagined, are well drawn, and the author has a knack for dialogue that rings true. There's also humor, thanks in no small part to Rooney's presence. The interjection of real-life characters, particularly Rooney, isn't jarring; in fact, it serves as a useful reminder that Jim Hetzer was a very real person. This is a compelling mix of showbiz and war, laughter and tears—a fine line that O'Connor walks well. — Kirkus (Starred Review) This BookLife Editor's Pick is a refreshing take on military fiction that masterfully balances the gravity of war with unexpected moments of fun and camaraderie. — BookLife (Editor's Pick) "I couldn't put it down." — Dale Throneberry, Veterans' Radio Podcast Although a work of fiction, Jeep Show: A Trouper at the Battle of the Bulge brilliantly draws upon real people, places, and events drawn from the European theatre of World War II. A fun and fascinating read from start to finish, one that rises to an impressive level of literary excellence. — Midwest Book Review A compelling glimpse into a little-known aspect of WWIl military service ... His meticulous research shines through in historical details about Army life in WWII. — The Purple Heart Magazine Robert B. O'Connor is the author of the WWII novel Jeep Show — A Trouper at the Battle of the Bulge  and the non-fiction Gumptionade — A Booster for Your Self-Improvement Plan.  Two radically different books about morale. O'Connor lives and writes in Memphis, Tennessee. He is married to a physician-scientist and has three grown sons and a grandson. O'Connor's father, a WWII veteran, instilled in him a love of reading, his mother a love of sports. O'Connor was a die-hard Yankees fan in his youth (lean