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 The
Fighting First
The author of two other WWII histories (Soldiers on Skis and The Rock of
Anzio), Whitlock now focuses on the often overlooked 1st Infantry
Division that, along with the well-chronicled 29th Division, stormed
Omaha beach during the D-Day invasion of Normandy. Nicknamed "The Big
Red One," the 1st Division was already seasoned in the North Africa and
Sicily campaigns and expected to be transferred from the Mediterranean
to a cushy job training green recruits stateside. Instead, the haggard,
battle-hardy division was sent to England to train for Operation
Overload under a new commander, Clarence Huebner. Through interviews,
unpublished manuscripts and other primary sources, Whitlock recounts
their determined, if exhausted, preparation for the invasion of France:
they stoically survived warm British beer and rigorously trained
replacements for their fallen brothers-in-arms. Burdened with every
piece of equipment they could possibly need (and some they didn’t), the
1st fought their way through barbed wire, mines and machine guns, past
formidable German fortifications and into the hedgerow country beyond
the beach cliffs. They won three D-Day Medals of Honor for those 12
hours of fighting alone. The rest of the book covers the high points of
the European campaign, moving along with the 1st through street fighting
in Aachen, the Battle of the Bulge and the liberation of Bonn.
Altogether this book is a worthwhile chronicle of a small group of
worn-out men who were called to do yet another duty and did it well. 50
b&w photographs, 20 maps.The Fighting First: The Untold Story Of The
Big Red One On D-Day is the untold story of the U.S. Army's 1st Infantry
Division's role in the D-Day invasion of France at Normandy. Drawing
upon official records, interviews, unpublished memoirs of veterans,
author and former U.S. army officer Flint Whitlock paints a crucial and
unforgettable portrait of the storming of the beachhead, as well as
their deadly battles in France, Belgium and Germany itself.
Black-and-white photographs intersperse a personal touch to this often
harrowing, but ultimately inspirational true story of immeasurable
courage in dire times.
 The
Big Red One
The oldest continuously serving division in the U.S. Army, the 1st
Infantry Division, called the "Big Red One" because of the red numeral
"1" on the uniform shoulder patch, was the first regular army division
organized in June 1917 to fight in France with the Allied armies. More
than 28,000 men-including soldiers with very familiar names, like George
C. Marshall, Theodore Roosevelt, Jr. and Lesley J. McNair-served with
the division in World War I.
The Big Red One was redesignated on 15 May 1942 as an infantry division
of nearly 15,000 men. It was selected for participation in Operation
Torch, the invasion of North Africa, landing in Algeria on 8 November
1942. It then fought through Sicily, leaving the theatre to train for
the invasion. It was part of the forces that landed on D-Day and then
fought with distinction through Europe. 1st Infantry Division's battle
honors are Tunisia, Sicily, Normandy, the Bulge, Germany. Postwar, the
division served in Europe, Vietnam, Desert Shield, Desert Storm and
Bosnia. It's currently based in Germany.
 The
Last Kilometer
Presented in cooperation with the Association of the U.S. Army, this is
the story of life as an infantryman during the final phases of World War
II. Having served as an 81-mm mortar forward observer with the 1st
Infantry Division (the "Big Red One"), the author skillfully recreates
this military combat experience through both personal recollections and
excerpts from his letters home. The gripping and straightforward
narrative leads the reader through the processes of preparing, marching,
attacking, digging in, sleeping, defending, and moving out again to the
next objective. These descriptions of everyday heroism highlight the
plight of ordinary men as they valiantly battle the enemy even in the
face of their own probable demise.
From the Battle of the Bulge to VE Day, A. Preston Price takes us
through France, Belgium, Germany, and Czechoslovakia. We are there as
troops cross the Roer River, clash in the Remagen Bridgehead, attack the
Ruhr and Harz regions, and fight for the liberation of Czechoslovakia
from Nazi rule. Devoid of overly dramatic descriptions, this is a clear
and precise eyewitness description of war and of the American soldiers
who fought in the name of the United States and freedom. It will appeal
to everyone interested in American history, military history,
strategical analysis, and historical biography.
Over the last 25 years, I have avidly read many histories and personal
accounts of the fighting during the Battle of the Bulge during WW2. Few
books have affected me as much as Col. Price's memoir. Col. Price writes
that as a young Lieutanant he was attached to "L" company, 3rd Battlion
of the 26th Infantry, First Infantry Division. My father also served in
"L" company as a rifle squad leader during the same period. Reading Col.
Price's book was like having the opportunity to speak again with my
deceased father! Dad left me with several stories about his experiences
during WW2 and it was amazing to read Col. Price's account. The memoir
follows exactly the stories I'd heard and allowed me to place my
father's story in the context of the larger battle. Col. Price's account
of the assault on Bullingen was like being able to walk beside these
men! The accounts of bedsheets as makeshift winter camoflage and wading
through waist deep snow matched my father's story exactly. Col. Price's
memoir prompted me to examine some old papers Dad had left behind. Among
them was a small pocket sized notebook calendar for January 1945.
Written in my father's hand were a list of the names ansd serial numbers
of 12 soldiers - 1st Squad 3rd platoon of "L" company. As I turned the
pages, Dad had entered a 2nd list for the squad. Comparing the two lists
only 3 names from the first list had survived to the 2nd list. This was
a graphic testament to just how costly this assault was for the men
involved! Of all the WW2 memoirs I've read, none affected me as much as
this one. Thanks to Col. Price for sharing his experiences - not many
veterans have been able to tell thier story and that of their comrades
so well.
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