"D-day With the Screaming Eagles" by George Koskimaki
brian

DJ - You may want to get a copy of "Four Armies in Normandy" It tells view of invasion from American, British, Candain and German points of view. It has been several years since I read it. But, I seem to recall I enjoyed it. "Spearheading D-Day" is a musthave book if you want to learn "how" the invasion worked and all the support teams that accompanied, and in several cases preceded, the assault troops. It covers training, boat teams, speacial engineer and beach teams, equipment, tactics, etc., etc., etc..
The CMH history of Normandy is also excellent, and not that bad a read.

I have a small collection of books on Normandy and the breakout. I will have to locaye them.

Jeff--it is one of my long sought after Armorama visions to have a reference heading so people can find those great books we all read and put on the shelf. What struck me in this discussion is amount of writing that one never even appreciates until you enter a discussion of this nature. If I can ever get a hold of Jim, I know he can organize a solution to our challenge.

DJ - You are right - having a "selection" box to be able to narrow search for subjects would definitely be useful.

I have found a partial answer as to the mysterious Canadian paratroopers from the Ardennes. I am looking at Max Hasting's book, "Overlord, D-Day & the Battle for Normandy". The 1st Canadian Parachute Battalion is listed in the Parachute Brigade, 6th (British) Airborne Division., which was part of XXX Corps during the Ardennes fighting. I found Keegan's book a good read - it being one of the first I have read to cover the British efforets around Caen. So as to not inflame this discussion, his rendering of British offensives sure look like efforts (albiet highly unsuccessful) efforts to breakout, and not just an effort by Montgomery to draw the German armor away from the US. (and this from an English journalist).

Also I mistitled another Normandy book. John Keegan authored another good read and an interesting one that it discussed actions by military forces from six different countries. His book, "Six Armies in Normandy", (I had called it "Four Armies in Normandy"), discusses the battles as follows:
Chapters:
1 - Journey to the Second Front - discusses key figures in effort to get a second front to "help" the Soviets.
2 - All-American Screaming Eagles - 82nd & 101st ABN DIVs night jump
3 - Canada: to the South Shore - Actions on Juno Beach, with short piece on Dieppe and affect on the Canadian Army
4 - Scottish Corridor - covers Operation Epsom, west of Caen with 7th Armoured and 51st (Highland) Divisions
5 - Yeomen of England - Covers Operation Goodwood, including the first use of strategic bombers to set the conditions for a breakthrough, and the attack by VIII (British) Corps with 7th, 11th & Guards armor divisions. It goes into a discussion of the rivallry between the "professiona'" of the royal tank regiments and the new yeomanry of territorial units (similiar to US National Guard).
6 - The Honour of the German Army - Covers German reaction to 3rd (US) Army's breakout and the German Mortain counterattack (Operation Luettich).
7 -A 'Polish Battlefield' - discusses part of 1st Polish Armor Division in closing the Falaise Gap.
8 -Free France - switching the scene to Paris and the Free French uprising in Paris and final liberations of the city.

Overall a good book, but don't look for a lot of detail. It gives a good overview of the battle and a good look at the many different "Armies" involved in this battle.

I'm currently reading "The Battle of the Huertgen Forest" by Charles B. MacDonald. Just started it, so I can't give much of a review. Also just ordered "The Bloody Forest" about the same battle.

Bribo--if you get "Bloody Forest" please let us know. I tried to order it twice through the History Book Club ans was told it was out of print. The MacDonald book is a classic. Enjoy.

I read "Attack in the Forest" a few years ago. As I recall, I enjoyed it.

After I finish Tom Clancy's newest, I'm going to read "The Soul of Battle". The stories of Patton, Sherman, and Epaminondas. Sounds promising.

If we're talking D-Day books, I almost hesitate to mention Stephen Ambrose's book "Pegasus Bridge," but I really enjoyed it.

For those who enjoy reading about troops who drop from the sky in WWII, check out "Silent Wings" by Gerard M. Devlin and "Geronimo!" by William B. Breuer. A couple from the Military Book Club ...

Bob--"Pegasus Bridge" is one of his finer works. It lacks the repetitiveness of his later works. The Devlin book on paratropers is a true classic as the one on the gliders. I tried getting through to jim and got a return on my e mail.....does anyone know how to contact him?
thanks

Bribo,

Another great book on the "Huertgen Forest" is "Follow Me and Die". It specifically covers the 28th Division during the battle. A great book to cover the terrible conditions under which this battle was fought. "The Bloody Forest" is a good read, however, it covers more time than the first book I mentioned and thus does not have as much detail.

Jeff

I just started "Lusitania-an Epic Tragedy" by Diana Preston. Not strictly a 'military' book, it does touch upon the politics, personalities and wartime strategy surrounding the ship's sinking and its role in the U.S. entry into WW1.
Al Stagnaro

Couple of other books have come in since I've returned:

Kursk by M.K. Barbier
1st Cavarly Division A Spur Ride Through the 20th Century "From Horses to the Digital Battlefield"

Plus I ran across my Hunnicutt Armored Car book that came while I was away.
Good thing I have some down time to read.

Well I am rereading "Marine Tank Battles in the Pacific" by Gilbert at the moment. It is giving me some ideas for diorama posibilities but at the moment I don't have any Marine vehicles in the build process.
Eric

I finally got my copy of Bravo-Two-Zero by Andy Mcnabb.Its about a British SAS team that ran into Saddam's forces not pre-occupied with the ground war on a SCUD hunting mission.So far its pretty funny I think and Im hoping it gets better.

How about I change the direction of the thread a bit. What are you hoping to be reading after x-mas? I am hoping to get a book about the can artillery in normandy called "Where the hell are the guns?" I think the army at dawn book is a little out of my families price range. I might just have to settle for socks and underwear like last year.

Bison--I stole your idea....see the new topic area!

Rob--I asked for the 1st Cav Book for Xmas. Garry Owen! How did you afford the Hunnicut book? Only rich 0-4's can do that......

DJ, the Hunnicutt book cost me only $66.50 with free s/h from Barnes & Noble.com. Heck, that was not eating a big dinner for a few days since I was getting $30+ per diem at Ft. Lee for four months. Watched my expenses and bought myself a new Dell computer with my final TDY check, only used half of the money received and got a nice system.

Just finished reading Bravo-Two-Zero and lemme tell ya,these guys went through hell.If you compare Andy Mcnabb's torture to the poor guys in the Hanoi Hilton this seems like small fries.I found it one of the most interesting books I have ever read though because it has been the only one so far that has taken place in my lifetime.

Just tonight finished "ghost soldiers"... the story of the Ranger team that freed the 500+ ;ast survivors of the Bataan Death March in the Phippenes. Great action and lots of history and photos.

Does anyone know if there are other good books about the Gulf War?I'd really like to know if there are some on the tank battles and helicopter missions.My dad found some old Desert Storm pics and saw a pic of the pilot that scored the last tank kill of the war in a AH-1.Really neat stuff.

KF---that is one great book. I hope they make that into a movie some day....well-written account of a heroic action.

Keith,

I got that book for X-mas.... Gonna start it later.

Matt

Well, Santa brought me the latest History of the 1st Cavalry Division along with a Cavalry Stetson Hat. Also, received two nice books on World War I. Not too bad this year!

Hi DJ and all !
I've been reading Spearhead in the West - " The History of the 3rd Armored Div 1941-45."
However, I'm putting it on the backburner for a few days, because After The Battle - "The Battle for Aachen " has just been deliverd from VLS. ( That was my Xmas present to myself LOL ).
-Though I can't comment so soon on the Aachen book/magazine ........ Spearhed has been an excellent read ! Lot's of good detailed reference on this division as they drive from Normandy to the Ruhr. The book nicely explains the tactics used from one battle to the next ...... and also covers all " the inbetweens." Together with ATB - Aachen, these book's should no doubt help me with my diorama, which is to be situated in Aachen. If any of you know of any rare photo's of the fighting in Aachen during Sept - Nov. 1944 please send me a PM. I could use all I can get.
In all seriousness - does anyone know of any good "speed reading courses " ?
I've been thinking about doing this for a while now. I've heard alot of good thing's about speed reading and it's advantages, but I don't know which is the right course to choose.


- ralph