Sergeant Nibley, Ph.D.: Memories of an Unlikely Screaming Eagle

I have been keenly interested in World War II and a fan of Nibley for years, but I suppose that I am not alone in discovering that Nibley, one of the most brilliant historians to have ever lived, was right smack in the middle of some of the most momentous events in earth’s history. The reason few people outside the Church know anything about this astoundingly informed historical scholar is because he always shunned personal accolades or self promotion, which is precisely why, despite his age, his PhD and his ROTC training, he decided to avoid being made an officer. His marvelous intellect and his position as an intelligence NCO, combined with the experiences as a missionary in Germany after the first world war, provides a totally unique perspective on the allied campaign against the Nazis. He clearly understands the evil of Hitler's regime and the need to confront it, but at the same time makes quite plain the absurdity of war, the failures to learn from history, and the…