What are you reading at the moment?

Have ordered the trilogy of Harry W. Pfanz on Gettysburg. I know, not WW2 but still!

The US Civil War has caught my attention. I'm contemplating a trip to the former battlefields somewhere in the near future ... wonder if anyone has suggestions ... obviously Gettysburg will be on the list of sites to visit.

 

A French GI at Omaha Beach: Caroline Jolivet: 9781526730459: Amazon.com: Books

A French GI at Omaha Beach

Bernard Dargols was a young Parisian student working in New York when warbroke out in 1939. While his family remained in France and was threatened by the Vichy regime's anti-Semitic laws, Bernard decided to enlist in the US Army, convinced that it would be more useful to fight the occupying forces.

Following his long military training, Bernard became a GI in the Military Intelligence Service, 2nd US Infantry Division, and landed on the infamous Omaha Beach in June 1944. He took part in the liberation of Normandy, Brittany and the Ardennes, before becoming a member of the CIC, the American counter-espionage service, and was finallydemobilised in 1946.

This extraordinary story of the 'GI from the Place des Vosges', is told here by his granddaughter,Caroline Jolivet.

About the Author
Intrigued at a young age by her heritage and family history, Caroline Jolivet has always been fascinated by her grandfather, Bernard Dargols' involvement in the US military and his participation in the landing at Omaha Beach. Following a trip to New York in 2005 in the footsteps of her grandparents, she began to research and write down her grandfather's memories, which he had kept hidden for so long.

 

An added attraction of Gettysburg is Eisenhower's home, which is right next to the battlefield.
When I visited I made sure to go in July, to match when the battle took place. Truly breathtaking. The state monuments scattered over the grounds are really something.

Eisenhower National Historic Site - Wikipedia

 

Thanks Dave55 will keep Eisenhower's home in mind - any nearby Museums worthwhile visiting?

 

SPANISH BLUE DIVISION COMMEMORATIVE MEDALS
by Angel González Pinilla and Antonio Barrera Govantes

The book is in full color in the format of 6.7" x 9.5" (17 x 24 cm), hardback with dust jackets, around 200 pages and more than 300 high resolution photos.

This book is the first one studying in detail the commemorative medals created by both Germans and Spaniards in recognition of the important contribution to the German war effort on the Eastern Front of the Spanish volunteers, which was quite disproportionate in relation to its size.

The first part will guide the reader into the historical context in which these medals were conceived, followed in detail by the regulations and decrees that originated them, their design, their different manufacturers and identifiable features, their concession documents and their distribution.

THE BLUE DIVISION
THE BLUE SQUADRON
1st SQUADRON
2nd SQUADRON
3rd SQUADRON
4rd SQUADRON
5th SQUADRON
COMMEMORATIVE MEDAL FOR THE SPANISH VOLUNTEERS IN THE STRUGGLE AGAINST BOLCHEVISM
CREATION AND REGULATIONS
THE MEDAL
- Design
- German made medals
- Spanish made medals
- Copies
MINIATURES
PRESENTATION ENVELOPE
CONCESSION CERTIFICATES
COMMEMORATIVE MEDAL OF THE RUSSIAN CAMPAIGN
CREATION AND REGULATION
THE MEDAL
- Design
- Manufacture
- Copies
MINIATURES
PRESENTATION BOX
CERTIFICATE OF CONCESSION
USE OF THE MEDALS IN SPAIN
USE OF GERMAN MEDALS
USE OF MEDALS ON THE SERVICE UNIFORM
USE OF THE MINIATURE MEDALS

 

First off, I would check out the following website and connect with forum member Legion Para:





Start Your Gettysburg Journey at the Heart of the First Day’s Fighting
Seminary Ridge Museum, Gettysburg, is located on Seminary Ridge along the National Park Service's auto tour route. Three floors of exhibits connect individuals and groups to the dilemmas which led to the Civil War, provide a powerful and personal view of the battle's first day, and show the work of one of the battlefield's largest field hospitals.

There are many things to see in Gettysburg. I would suggest taking a short trip to Harrisburg to visit the National Civil War Museum.

 

Legion Para is a member of which forum??

TD

 

Army War Collage and Heritage Center isn't too far away in Carlisle Pennsylvania

USAHEC Exhibits

Eisenhower raised show cattle on his farm as a hobby. The barns aren't exactly abandoned but rather frozen in place a couple of hundred yards away from the house. When I was there 20 years ago you were free to wonder through them and I saw the the two "Surrey with the Fringe on Top" Crosley golf carts covered in dust and parked in an old cow stall. No special sign or plaque. I love finds like that. I remember seeing the carts many times in Life magazine when Khrushchev was visiting. Here's one with Churchill





Accompanied by a number of aides and secret service men, British... News Photo | Getty Images

 

509PIB are these books you've read or books that you are advertising? Because it seems more like ads.

 

www.civilwartalk.com

 

Books I have read and I personally know many of the authors.

 

Reading a nice little booklet: Flight Lieutenant David Lord, Victoria Cross. An Arnhem Hero, by James Hynes (2018).

David Lord flew supply drop sorties to the Chindits on Operation Longcloth, before his VC action at Arnhem.

 

UK, Victoria Cross Medals, 1857-2007
Name: David Samuel Anthony Lord
Birth Date: 18 Oct 1913
Birth Place: St Mary's Avenue, Cork, Ireland
Death Date: 19 Sep 1944
Death Place: North West of Arnhem, Holland


TD

 

Is this the book you are referring to bamboo43?

 

Yes, that is the one. I was having a look-see on Amazon the other night and picked up three titles. This was the first to arrive in the post. David Lord attempted to land his Dakota on a smallish jungle clearing in April 1943 in order to pick up some wounded and sick Chindits. He did not quite succeed, but took this information back to rear base and another attempt was made the next day which was successful.

I've written about it on my website:

The Piccadilly Incident

 

Considering the thousands of men who served in the 2nd US Infantry Division in WW II, only a few books have been written about their experiences. Here is another one for those interested.

James D. Edwards Defining Moment at Wirtzfeld



James Daniel Edwards, son of James Douglas Edwards of the 2nd Infantry Division Military Police Platoon, knew he had found a story worth uncovering when he first opened the old cigar box full of his late father’s artifacts from World War II. After many years and countless hours of research, the details of this absorbing narrative fell into place. This visual history now offers readers a unique, up close glimpse of the war from a perspective few have seen before.

Witness this unforgettable story through the eyes of the men who lived it. Rich with photographs, newspaper clippings, eyewitness accounts, military documents, and personal letters, Defining Moment at Wirtzfeld preserves the story of the 2nd Infantry Division MPs. The book traces the MPs’ poignant struggle for survival on the battlefields of Northern France, Belgium, Germany, and Czechoslovakia.

There is no doubt that World War II shaped the lives and destinies of a generation of young Americans, but their stories now risk being lost in the passage of time. Not content to let these brave faces or their journeys fade away, James D. Edwards records them here for the benefit of generations to come.

 

Have just finished 'In at the Finish, NW Europe 1944/5' by JG Smith


"Smudger" Smith served as a loader/operator in Churchill Crocodiles with the 141RAC (The Buffs) and saw action at Bolougne, Le Havre and on to Holland and Germany. Although in action several times his crew never get to use the flame gun - often through breakdown. In fact it seems amazing any of the tanks ever got into action. There are endless incidents of faults, bogging or simply bits getting knocked off the tank by collision - the air louvres on the side of the Churchill seem particularly exposed to passing walls, trees, other tanks etc.
The book gives plenty of details of the more mundane day-to-day existence of a tank crew - the scounging of kit or food, relations with the natives, getting a "cushy billet" and the odd bit of looting thrown in.
I found it an interesting insight to life in a tank crew, as my father was also a operator/loader in the L&BY.
Nice to see him singling out the Yeomanry regiments, particularly the Flail regts, as "good chaps".
His opinion of the Guards, however, is not so glowing - Smith rates them as Gloryhounds and "bullshitters" - in the sense of all "spit and polish", saluting and drill. Be interesting to see if this was a common conception.

Recommended!

 

I'm working on this one now. It's not one story from beginning to end, but lots of smaller combat chronicles of small actions that made up the PT boat war, for the boats and the men who crewed them. They lived and fought "at close quarters", hence the name.



In case any of you people don't know who the author is, he is the PT boat skipper who spirited none other than "Doug Out Doug" MacArthur himself out of Corregidor and the clutches of those pesky Nipponese who were determined to get him.