The Dead and Those About to Die by John C Mcmanus
From the author of Fire and Fortitude and Island Infernos, a white-knuckle account of the 1st Infantry Division's harrowing D-Day assault on the eastern sector of Omaha Beach-acclaimed historian John C. McManus has written a gripping history that will stand as the last word on this titanic World War II battle.Nicknamed the Big Red One, 1st Division had fought from North Africa to Sicily, earning a reputation as stalwart warriors on the front lines and rabble-rousers in the rear. Yet on D-Day, these jaded combat veterans melded with fresh-faced replacements to accomplish one of the most challenging and deadly missions ever. As the men hit the beach, their equipment destroyed or washed away, soldiers cut down by the dozens, courageous heroes emerged: men such as Sergeant Raymond Strojny, who grabbed a bazooka and engaged in a death duel with a fortified German antitank gun; T/5 Joe Pinder, a former minor-league pitcher who braved enemy fire to save a vital radio; Lieutenant John Spalding, a former sportswriter, and Sergeant Phil Streczyk, a truck driver, who together demolished a German strong point overlooking Easy Red, where hundreds of Americans had landed.
Along the way, McManus explores the Gap Assault Team engineers who dealt with the extensive mines and obstacles, suffering nearly a fifty percent casualty rate; highlights officers such as Brigadier General Willard Wyman and Colonel George Taylor, who led the way to victory; and punctures scores of myths surrounding this long-misunderstood battle.
The Dead and Those About to Die draws on a rich array of new or recently unearthed sources, including interviews with veterans. The result is history at its finest, the unforgettable story of the Big Red One's nineteen hours of hell-and their ultimate triumph-on June 6, 1944.
John C.McManus is an award-winning academic, author, and military historian who is regarded as a prominent authority on the history of American battle. He is a Curators' Distinguished Professor of United States History. He teaches military history at Missouri University of Science and Technology and is currently a resident at the United States Army War College. As the Leo A. Naval Academy, The Shifrin Chair of Naval and Military History is named after the Shifrin family.
Grunts, September Hope, and The Dead and Those About to Die are among his critically regarded World War Two works. Dutton Caliber will publish his next book, Fire and Fortitude: The American Army in the Pacific War, 1941-1943, in July 2019.
| SKU | Unavailable |
| ISBN 13 | 9780451415301 |
| ISBN 10 | 0451415302 |
| Title | The Dead and Those About to Die |
| Author | John C Mcmanus |
| Condition | Unavailable |
| Binding Type | Paperback |
| Publisher | New American Library |
| Year published | 2015-05-05 |
| Number of pages | 400 |
| Cover note | Book picture is for illustrative purposes only, actual binding, cover or edition may vary. |
| Note | Unavailable |