Synopses & Reviews
Stephen E. Ambroseand#8217;s iconic story of the ordinary men who became the World War IIand#8217;s most extraordinary soldiers: Easy Company, 506th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 101st Airborne Division, US Army.andlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;They came together, citizen soldiers, in the summer of 1942, drawn to Airborne by the $50 monthly bonus and a desire to be better than the other guy. And at its peakand#8212;in Holland and the Ardennesand#8212;Easy Company was as good a rifle company as any in the world.andlt;BRandgt; andlt;BRandgt;From the rigorous training in Georgia in 1942 to the disbanding in 1945, Stephen E. Ambrose tells the story of this remarkable company. In combat, the reward for a job well done is the next tough assignment, and as they advanced through Europe, the men of Easy kept getting the tough assignments.andlt;BRandgt; andlt;BRandgt;They parachuted into France early D-Day morning and knocked out a battery of four 105 mm cannon looking down Utah Beach; they parachuted into Holland during the Arnhem campaign; they were the Battered Bastards of the Bastion of Bastogne, brought in to hold the line, although surrounded, in the Battle of the Bulge; and then they spearheaded the counteroffensive. Finally, they captured Hitler's Bavarian outpost, his Eagle's Nest at Berchtesgaden.andlt;BRandgt; andlt;BRandgt;They were rough-and-ready guys, battered by the Depression, mistrustful and suspicious. They drank too much French wine, looted too many German cameras and watches, and fought too often with other GIs. But in training and combat they learned selflessness and found the closest brotherhood they ever knew. They discovered that in war, men who loved life would give their lives for them.andlt;BRandgt; andlt;BRandgt;This is the story of the men who fought, of the martinet they hated who trained them well, and of the captain they loved who led them. E Company was a company of men who went hungry, froze, and died for each other, a company that took 150 percent casualties, a company where the Purple Heart was not a medaland#8212;it was a badge of office.
Review
"Ambrose narrates in vivid detail the adventures, misadventures, triumphs and tragedies of a single U.S. Army infantry company over its span of organizational life....This is a terrific read for WW II actions buffs." Publishers Weekly
Synopsis
Stephen E. Ambrose's iconic story of the ordinary men who became the World War II's most extraordinary soldiers: Easy Company, 506th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 101st Airborne Division, US Army.
They came together, citizen soldiers, in the summer of 1942, drawn to Airborne by the $50 monthly bonus and a desire to be better than the other guy. And at its peak--in Holland and the Ardennes--Easy Company was as good a rifle company as any in the world.
From the rigorous training in Georgia in 1942 to the disbanding in 1945, Stephen E. Ambrose tells the story of this remarkable company. In combat, the reward for a job well done is the next tough assignment, and as they advanced through Europe, the men of Easy kept getting the tough assignments.
They parachuted into France early D-Day morning and knocked out a battery of four 105 mm cannon looking down Utah Beach; they parachuted into Holland during the Arnhem campaign; they were the Battered Bastards of the Bastion of Bastogne, brought in to hold the line, although surrounded, in the Battle of the Bulge; and then they spearheaded the counteroffensive. Finally, they captured Hitler's Bavarian outpost, his Eagle's Nest at Berchtesgaden.
They were rough-and-ready guys, battered by the Depression, mistrustful and suspicious. They drank too much French wine, looted too many German cameras and watches, and fought too often with other GIs. But in training and combat they learned selflessness and found the closest brotherhood they ever knew. They discovered that in war, men who loved life would give their lives for them.
This is the story of the men who fought, of the martinet they hated who trained them well, and of the captain they loved who led them. E Company was a company of men who went hungry, froze, and died for each other, a company that took 150 percent casualties, a company where the Purple Heart was not a medal--it was a badge of office.
Synopsis
Stephen E. Ambrose's iconic New York Times bestseller about the ordinary men who became the World War II's most extraordinary soldiers: Easy Company, 506th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 101st Airborne Division, US Army. They came together, citizen soldiers, in the summer of 1942, drawn to Airborne by the $50 monthly bonus and a desire to be better than the other guy. And at its peak--in Holland and the Ardennes--Easy Company was as good a rifle company as any in the world.
From the rigorous training in Georgia in 1942 to the disbanding in 1945, Stephen E. Ambrose tells the story of this remarkable company. In combat, the reward for a job well done is the next tough assignment, and as they advanced through Europe, the men of Easy kept getting the tough assignments.
They parachuted into France early D-Day morning and knocked out a battery of four 105 mm cannon looking down Utah Beach; they parachuted into Holland during the Arnhem campaign; they were the Battered Bastards of the Bastion of Bastogne, brought in to hold the line, although surrounded, in the Battle of the Bulge; and then they spearheaded the counteroffensive. Finally, they captured Hitler's Bavarian outpost, his Eagle's Nest at Berchtesgaden.
They were rough-and-ready guys, battered by the Depression, mistrustful and suspicious. They drank too much French wine, looted too many German cameras and watches, and fought too often with other GIs. But in training and combat they learned selflessness and found the closest brotherhood they ever knew. They discovered that in war, men who loved life would give their lives for them.
This is the story of the men who fought, of the martinet they hated who trained them well, and of the captain they loved who led them. E Company was a company of men who went hungry, froze, and died for each other, a company that took 150 percent casualties, a company where the Purple Heart was not a medal--it was a badge of office.
About the Author
Dr. Stephen Ambrose was a renowned historian and acclaimed author of more than 30 books. Among his
New York Times best-sellers are:
Nothing Like It in the World, Citizen Soldiers, Band of Brothers, D-Day - June 6, 1944, and
Undaunted Courage.
He was not only a great author, but also a captivating speaker, with the unique ability to provide insight into the future by employing his profound knowledge of the past. His stories demonstrate how leaders use trust, friendship and shared experiences to work together and thrive during conflict and change. His philosophy about keeping an audience engaged is put best in his own words:
As I sit at my computer, or stand at the podium, I think of myself as sitting around the campfire after a day on the trail, telling stories that I hope will have the members of the audience, or the readers, leaning forward just a bit, wanting to know what happens next.
Dr. Ambrose was a retired Boyd Professor of History at the University of New Orleans. He was the Director Emeritus of the Eisenhower Center in New Orleans, and the founder of the National D-Day Museum. He was also a contributing editor for the Quarterly Journal of Military History, a member of the board of directors for American Rivers, and a member of the Lewis and Clark Bicentennial Council Board.
His talents have not gone unnoticed by the film industry. Dr. Ambrose was the historical consultant for Steven Spielberg's movie Saving Private Ryan. Steven Spielberg and Tom Hanks purchased the film rights to his books Citizen Soldiers and Band of Brothers to make the 13-hour HBO mini-series Band of Brothers.
He has also participated in numerous national television programs, including ones for the History Channel and National Geographic.
Table of Contents
CHAPTER ONE "We Wanted Those Wings"; Camp Toccoa, July-December 1942andlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;CHAPTER TWO "Stand Up and Hook Up"; Benning, Mackall, Bragg, Shanks, December 1942-September 1943andlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;CHAPTER THREE "Duties of the Latrine Orderly"; Aldbourne, September 1943-March 1944andlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;CHAPTER FOUR "Look Out Hitler! Here We Come!"; Slapton Sands, Uppottery, April 1-June 5, 1944andlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;CHAPTER FIVE "Follow Me"; Normandy, June 6, 1944andlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;CHAPTER SIX "Move Out!"; Carentan, June 7-July 12 1944andlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;CHAPTER SEVEN Healing Wounds and Scrubbed Missions; Aldbourne, July 13-September 16, 1944andlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;CHAPTER EIGHT "Hell's Highway"; Holland, September 17-October 1, 1944andlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;CHAPTER NINE The Island; Holland, October 2-November 25, 1944andlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;CHAPTER TEN Resting, Recovering, and Refitting; Mourmelon-le-Grand, November 26-December 18, 1944andlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;CHAPTER ELEVEN "They Got Us Surrounded -- the Poor Bastards"; Bastogne, December 19-31, 1944andlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;CHAPTER TWELVE The Breaking Point; Bastogne, January 1-13, 1945andlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;CHAPTER THIRTEEN Attack; Noville, January 14-17, 1945andlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;CHAPTER FOURTEEN The Patrol; Haguenau, January 18-February 23, 1945andlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;CHAPTER FIFTEEN "The Best Feeling in the World"; Mourmelon, February 25-April 2, 1945andlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;CHAPTER SIXTEEN Getting to Know the Enemy; Germany, April 2-30, 1945andlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;CHAPTER SEVENTEEN Drinking Hitler's Champagne; Berchtesgaden, May 1-8, 1945andlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;CHAPTER EIGHTEEN The Soldier's Dream Life; Austria, May 8-July 31, 1945andlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;CHAPTER NINETEEN Postwar Careers; 1945-1991andlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;ACKNOWLEDGMENTS AND SOURCESandlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;INDEXandlt;BRandgt;