To The Fire Of Normandy And Beyond

Author : Frank Kozol
Publisher : Unknown
Page : 0 pages
File Size : 41,9 Mb
Release : 2017-06-27
Category : Biography & Autobiography
ISBN : 1480843024

Get Book

To the Fire of Normandy and Beyond by Frank Kozol Pdf

Frank Kozol "Paul Kramer," who served in the U.S. Army during WWII is the eyes and ears for the reader on what it was like to leave home and go off to War. While he's changed the names of the people he served with, everything he writes about is true. As he takes the reader on his journey to serve his country from leaving his family and neighborhood for Registration to returning as an honorably discharged WWII veteran, the author describes his day to day adventures which lead to unexpected service for the US Army behind enemy lines, embedded with the French Resistance. He describes his friendships, his day to day activities as an army medic and working with the French Resistance, during the war. Kozol must draw upon his patriotism, loyalty, character, and apply the values he was taught as a child to the challenging circumstances of war in order to survive. This book conveys a captivating true story, by one of the many heroic soldiers protecting our country during WWII from a perspective that has rarely been seen or told. This is the adventure of one man's war-time journey to The Fire of Normandy and Beyond.

Author : Joseph Balkoski
Publisher : Stackpole Books
Page : 352 pages
File Size : 55,6 Mb
Release : 2005-08-04
Category : History
ISBN : 9780811741453

Get Book

Beyond the Beachhead by Joseph Balkoski Pdf

Expanded edition with a new chapter on the final battles of the Normandy campaign.

Author : Dick Winters,Cole C. Kingseed
Publisher : Penguin
Page : 320 pages
File Size : 48,8 Mb
Release : 2006-02-07
Category : Biography & Autobiography
ISBN : 9781101205662

Get Book

Beyond Band of Brothers by Dick Winters,Cole C. Kingseed Pdf

“Tells the tales left untold by Stephen Ambrose, whose Band of Brothers was the inspiration for the HBO miniseries...laced with Winters’s soldierly exaltations of pride in his comrades’ bravery.”—Publishers Weekly They were called Easy Company—but their mission was never easy. Immortalized as the Band of Brothers, they suffered 150% casualties while liberating Europe—an unparalleled record of bravery under fire. Winner of the Distinguished Service Cross, Dick Winters was their legendary commander. This is his story—told in his own words for the first time. On D-Day, Winters assumed leadership of the Band of Brothers when its commander was killed and led them through the Battle of the Bulge and into Germany—by which time each member had been wounded. Based on Winters’s wartime diary, Beyond Band of Brothers also includes his comrades’ untold stories. Virtually none of this material appeared in Stephen Ambrose’s Band of Brothers. Neither a protest against nor a glamorization of war, this is a moving memoir by the man who earned the love and respect of the men of Easy Company—and who is a hero to new generations worldwide. Includes photos

Author : John Slaughter
Publisher : Zenith Press
Page : 305 pages
File Size : 52,7 Mb
Release : 2009-11-08
Category : History
ISBN : 9781616737634

Get Book

Omaha Beach and Beyond by John Slaughter Pdf

"Slaughter vividly conveys the reality of combat during World War II in his book with sweeping passages that literally place his reader on the battlefield beside him." Belvoir Eagle Before D-Day, regular army soldiers called the National Guardsmen of Virginia's 116th Infantry Regiment "Home Nannies" and "Weekend Warriors" and worse. On June 6, 1944, on Omaha Beach, however, these proud Virginians who carried the legacy of the famed Stonewall Brigade showed the regular army and the world what true valor really was. In this moving World War II memoir, the author captures the life of GI Joe from pre-Pearl Harbor days through training, deployment overseas, and more training. All leads up to D-Day and Normandy on June 6, 1944, when Sergeant Bob Slaughter came across Omaha Beach with Company D of the 116th Infantry and the Bedford Boys.

Author : Stephen Bourque
Publisher : Naval Institute Press
Page : 381 pages
File Size : 42,9 Mb
Release : 2018-04-15
Category : History
ISBN : 9781612518749

Get Book

Beyond the Beach by Stephen Bourque Pdf

An important rethinking of the Normandy war narrative Beyond the Beach examines the Allied air war against France in 1944. During this period, General Dwight David Eisenhower, as Supreme Allied Commander, took control of all American, British, and Canadian air units and employed them for tactical and operational purposes over France rather than as a strategic force to attack targets deep in Germany. Using bombers as his long-range artillery, he directed the destruction of bridges, rail centers, ports, military installations, and even French towns with the intent of preventing German reinforcements from interfering with Operation Neptune, the Allied landings on the Normandy beaches. Ultimately, this air offensive resulted in the death of over 60,000 French civilians and an immense amount of damage to towns, churches, buildings, and works of art. This intense bombing operation, conducted against a friendly occupied state, resulted in a swath of physical and human destruction across northwest France that is rarely discussed as part of the D-Day landings. This book explores the relationship between ground and air operations and its effects on the French population. It examines the three broad groups that the air operations involved, the doctrine and equipment used by Allied air force leaders to implement Eisenhower’s plans, and each of the eight major operations, called lines of effort, that coordinated the employment of the thousands of fighters, medium bombers, and heavy bombers that prowled the French skies that spring and summer of 1944. Each of these sections discusses the operation's purpose, conduct, and effects upon both the military and the civilian targets. Finally, the book explores the short and long-term effects of these operations and argues that this ignored narrative should be part of any history of the D-Day landings.

Author : Joseph Balkoski
Publisher : Stackpole Books
Page : 354 pages
File Size : 44,5 Mb
Release : 2005
Category : History
ISBN : 0811732371

Get Book

Beyond the Beachhead by Joseph Balkoski Pdf

By 1945, the US Army had sixty-eight infantry divisions, forty-two of which fought in the great campaign in northwest Europe that began with the amphibious landings on D-Day and ended eleven months later with Germany's surrender. Beyond the Beachhead examines the experience of one infantry division, the 29th, during forty-five days of combat from Omaha Beach on D-Day to the liberation of St. Lt. Using interviews, official records, and unit histories and supplementing his narrative with meticulously detailed maps, Balkoski follows the 29th from the bloody landings at Omaha through the hedgerows of Normandy, illustrating the brutal realities of life on the front line. Expanded edition includes a new chapter on the final battles of the Normandy campaign.

Author : Patrick K. O'Donnell
Publisher : Simon and Schuster
Page : 384 pages
File Size : 54,7 Mb
Release : 2001-08-30
Category : History
ISBN : 9780743213295

Get Book

Beyond Valor by Patrick K. O'Donnell Pdf

Previous books have promised to describe the combat experience of the World War II GI, but there has never been a book like Patrick O'Donnell's Beyond Valor. Here is the first combat history of the war in Europe in the words of the men themselves, and perhaps the most honest and brutal account of combat possible on the printed page. For more than fifty years the individual stories that make up this narrative -- shockingly frank reflections of sacrifice and courage -- have been bottled up, buried, or circulated privately. Now, nearing the ends of their lives, our WWII soldiers have at last unburdened themselves. Beyond Valor recaptures their hidden history. A pioneering oral historian, Patrick O'Donnell used his award-winning website, The Drop Zone, to solicit oral- and "e-histories" from individual soldiers. Gradually, working from within the community, O'Donnell convinced some of the war's most battle-hardened soldiers to tell their stories. The result is WWII seen through the eyes of the men who saw the most intense of its action. O'Donnell focuses on the elite units of the war -- the Rangers, Airborne, and 1st Special Service Force -- troops that spearheaded the most dangerous operations and often made the difference between victory and defeat. From more than 650 interviews O'Donnell has chosen oral- and e-histories that form a seamless story line, a pointillistic history of the war in Europe from the first parachute drops in North Africa through the final battles in Germany and the long trip home. It is the story of the war not discussed in polite company. O'Donnell presents the wreckage of entire battalions nearly annihilated, invisible personal scars, and haunting revelations of wartime atrocities. But more important are the men who recount lives risked without hesitation for comrades and cause, and those who did not return: the friends who died in their arms. Their stories remind all of us that victory came only at the highest price. Remembering the infamous cliffs at Pointe-du-Hoc, bloody Omaha Beach, the bitter fighting at the Battle of the Bulge, and Hill 400 in the Hürtgen Forest, the soldiers reveal war as seen, heard, and smelled by the GIs on the front line. Also included is the unique story of the 555th Parachute Infantry Battalion, and the trailblazing African-American "Experimental" Test Platoon that had to fight its own battle behind the lines. Beyond Valor captures the truths that exist among soldiers. It is one of the most inspiring accounts of the war ever produced.

Author : Douglas E. Nash
Publisher : Casemate
Page : 413 pages
File Size : 51,5 Mb
Release : 2015-03-09
Category : History
ISBN : 9781612003061

Get Book

Victory Was Beyond Their Grasp by Douglas E. Nash Pdf

“For both students of the German Army in World War II as well as those interested in the late 1944 campaign, this is a must-read” (The NYMAS Review). As the Allies were approaching the German frontier at the beginning of September 1944, the German Armed Forces attempted to regain the strategic initiative. While the “wonder weapons,” such as the V-1 flying bomb, the V-2 missile, and the Messerschmitt Me-262 jet fighter, are widely recognized as being the most prominent of these initiatives upon which Germany pinned so much hope, the Volks-Grenadier Divisions (VGDs) are practically unknown. Often confused with the Volkssturm, the Home Guard militia, VGDs have suffered an undeserved reputation as second-rate formations filled with young boys and old men suited to serve only as cannon fodder. This groundbreaking book, now in a new edition, shows that VGDs were actually conceived as a new, elite corps loyal to the National Socialist Party composed of men from all branches of Hitler’s Wehrmacht and equipped with the finest ground combat weapons available. Whether fighting from defensive positions or spearheading offensives such as the Battle of the Bulge, VGDs initially gave a good account of themselves in battle. Using previously unpublished unit records, Allied intelligence and interrogation reports, and, above all, interviews with survivors, the author has crafted an in-depth look at a late-war German infantry company, including many photographs from the veterans themselves. In this book we follow along with the men of the 272nd VGD’s Fusilier Company from their first battles in the Hürtgen Forest to their final defeat in the Harz Mountains. Along the way, we learn the enormous potential of VGDs—and feel their soldiers’ heartbreak at their failure.

Author : Brooke S. Blades
Publisher : Pen and Sword
Page : 412 pages
File Size : 54,6 Mb
Release : 2019-08-30
Category : History
ISBN : 9781526743978

Get Book

The Americans on D-Day & in Normandy by Brooke S. Blades Pdf

A pictorial history of the United States’s military operations in World War II, focused on the Battle of Normandy and the liberation of northern France. The experiences and achievements of the United States land, sea, and air forces on 6 June 1944 and the weeks following have been deservedly well chronicled. Omaha Beach saw the fiercest fighting of the whole OVERLORD invasion, and the opposition faced in the U.S. sector shocked commanders and men at all levels. The outcome was in the balance and, thanks to the courage and determination shown by the attackers, game-changing failure was narrowly averted. This superb Images of War book examines, using contemporary and modern images and maps, the course of the campaign and its implication for both the American troops and the civilian population of the battle zone. These revealing images, both color and black and white, are enhanced by full captions and the author’s thoroughly researched text. The result is a graphic reminder of the liberation of Northern France and the extraordinary sacrifice made by men not just of the United States military but the other Allied nations.

Author : Richard P. Hallion
Publisher : Pickle Partners Publishing
Page : 41 pages
File Size : 45,9 Mb
Release : 2014-08-15
Category : History
ISBN : 9781782898870

Get Book

D-Day 1944 - Air Power Over The Normandy Beaches And Beyond [Illustrated Edition] by Richard P. Hallion Pdf

Includes over 12 photos and maps of the Overlord Operations Operation Overlord, the Normandy invasion-like William the Conqueror's before it or the Inchon landing afterwards-will long be studied as a classic in military planning, logistics, and operations. OVERLORD depended to a remarkable degree upon the use of air power in virtually all its forms. A half-century ago, aircraft were primitive vehicles of war compared to the modern attackers of the Gulf War era, with their precision weapons, advanced navigational, sensor systems, and communications. Yet, the airplane still had a profound impact upon the success of the invasion. Simply stated, without air power, Normandy would have been impossible.

Author : Michael Dale Doubler
Publisher : Fort Leavenworth, Kan. : U.S. Army Command and General Staff College
Page : 92 pages
File Size : 55,8 Mb
Release : 1988
Category : Bocage normand (France)
ISBN : STANFORD:36105082400412

Get Book

Busting the Bocage by Michael Dale Doubler Pdf

Author : Dwight Jon Zimmerman,John D. Gresham
Publisher : St. Martin's Press
Page : 324 pages
File Size : 51,6 Mb
Release : 2013-12-03
Category : History
ISBN : 9781466858428

Get Book

Beyond Hell and Back by Dwight Jon Zimmerman,John D. Gresham Pdf

An inside look at seven of the most harrowing and significant Special Operations missions ever. Courage beyond reason. Loyalty beyond faith. Perseverance in the face of overwhelming adversity. These are just some of the qualities of the members of the U.S. Special Operation Forces. BEYOND HELL AND BACK details the seven defining Special Ops missions that have made the Special Operation Forces the best fighting unit in the world, including: *THE RESCUE OF BAT-21: The largest and longest Combat Search and Rescue mission in the Vietnam War lasted 17 days and cost the lives of 13 Americans—all to rescue one man and the invaluable knowledge he alone possessed. * TASK FORCE NORMANDY: Planned in secrecy and executed with flawless efficiency, Task Force Normandy was an Army/Air Force Special Operations joint op that fired the opening shots behind enemy lines in Operation Desert Storm. *OPERATION EAGLE CLAW: The devastating Special Forces operation mounted to retrieve 52 American hostages in Iran resulted in the deaths of eight members of the rescue team. This failure ultimately led to the creation of Special Operations Command. *BASHER 52: Captain Scott O'Grady was shot down over the "no fly" zone above Bosnia, and his daring rescue was one of the Marine Corps' finest operations ever. These are a few of the dramatic true tales that represent the defining moments that helped shape the operational methods, planning, and deployment for all future Special Ops missions. BEYOND HELL AND BACK is the greatest collection of Spec Ops missions ever assembled.

Author : John A. English
Publisher : Stackpole Books
Page : 365 pages
File Size : 41,9 Mb
Release : 2009-08-18
Category : History
ISBN : 9781461751854

Get Book

The Canadian Army & Normandy Campaign by John A. English Pdf

Honest reappraisal of the Canadian experience in Normandy Special focus on the struggle to close the Falaise Gap Relies on archival records, including Bernard Montgomery's personal correspondence John A. English presents a detailed examination of the role of the Canadian Army in Normandy from the D-Day landings in June 1944 through the closing of the Falaise Gap in August.

Author : George Blackburn
Publisher : McClelland & Stewart
Page : 554 pages
File Size : 52,6 Mb
Release : 2012-03-26
Category : History
ISBN : 9781551994628

Get Book

The Guns of Normandy by George Blackburn Pdf

In the weeks after D-Day, the level of artillery action in Normandy was unprecedented. In what was a relatively small area, both sides bombarded each other relentlessly for three months, each trying to overwhelm the other by sheer fire power. The Guns of Normandy puts the reader in the front lines of this horrific battle. In the most graphic and authentic detail, it brings to life every aspect of a soldier’s existence, from the mortal terror of impending destruction, to the unending fatigue, to the giddy exhilaration at finding oneself still, inexplicably, alive. The story of this crucial battle opens in England, as the 4th Field Regiment receives news that something big is happening in France and that after long years of training they are finally going into action. The troop ships set out from besieged London and arrive at the D-Day beaches in the appalling aftermath of the landing. What follows is the most harrowing and realistic account of what it is like to be in action, as the very lead man in the attack: an artillery observer calling in fire on enemy positions. The story unfolds in the present tense, giving the uncomfortably real sense that “You are here.” The conditions under which the troops had to exist were horrific. There was near-constant terror of being hit by incoming shells; prolonged lack of sleep; boredom; weakness from dysentery; sudden and gruesome deaths of close friends; and severe physical privation and mental anguish. And in the face of all this, men were called upon to perform heroic acts of bravery and they did. Blackburn provides genuine insight to the nature of military service for the average Canadian soldier in the Second World War – something that is all too often lacking in the accounts of armchair historians and television journalists. The result is a classic account of war at the sharp end. From the Hardcover edition.

Author : Robert Randall
Publisher : Lulu.com
Page : 242 pages
File Size : 53,8 Mb
Release : 2009-04-03
Category : Fiction
ISBN : 9780578019079

Get Book

Valor Beyond Measure by Robert Randall Pdf

VALOR BEYOND MEASURE tells the story about a young boy who resists doing a homework assignment about the war. Yet, in doing this project, he discovers some undisclosed truths about his elderly grandfather. What he learns from his assignment not only provides insights into the gentleman's life previously unknown to other members of his family but also affects the boy's life profoundly as well. As a result, they are treated to an exciting saga about his extensive and repeated acts of heroism during World War II which he reveals for the first time in more than sixty years. This tale goes beyond relating a story of extraordinary courage. It delves into the internal conflicts faced by a warrior who finds himself thrust into harm's way on an almost continual basis. Furthermore, it deals with the way in which he keeps his almost debilitating fear from interfering with his pursuit of duty, honor, and gallantry.