My Next Book: Spearheading the Breakout

Scheduled for release in October 2026.



Spearheading the Breakout The Campaign for Normandy & the Rise of an American Infantry Division in World War II By Richard C. Anderson Jr. 9780811778336, $39.95 USD ($52.95 CAN), Hardcover Imprint: Stackpole Books PUB DATE: October 20, 2026 456 pages | Size: 6 x 9| 89 B&W Photographs, 21 Maps Category: History / Wars & Conflicts / World War II / European Theater

Days after Allied forces invaded France on D-Day, June 6, 1944, the American 90th Infantry Division found itself in trouble. The inexperienced division ran up against fierce German resistance in the marshes and impenetrable hedgerows beyond Utah Beach. Gains came slowly, if at all, and with punishing casualties. First one commander, then another, was fired. High command considered breaking up the division. Then, in early August, the 90th turned itself around. Seasoned by weeks of war, new leaders stepped up; once uncertain soldiers became tenacious fighting men. It had taken nearly two months, but they were now the Tough ’Ombres, on their way to becoming one of the finest American infantry divisions of World War II. This story of battlefield transformation—of redemption and ultimately victory—is told by Richard C. Anderson Jr. in this inspiring new military history.

Elements of the 90th landed on Utah Beach on D-Day, and once the entire division came ashore over the following days, it was given the vital assignment of attacking west to link up with the 82nd Airborne and secure the Cotentin Peninsula. Stymied by its lack of experience, experienced German troops, terrain that was not properly planned for, and just plain bad luck, the 90th made slow, costly progress. Impatient for success, U.S. high command sacked a series of commanders. One replacement—the legendary Gen. Theodore Roosevelt Jr.—died of a heart attack before he could assume command. The situation was bleak.

Then, almost miraculously, the 90th turned into a different division. As American forces drove south through Normandy’s maze of country roads and thick hedgerows, the 90th was assigned the task of clearing a hill and forest along one of the main southerly routes. After a week of seesawing attacks and counterattacks, the division took Hill 122 and laid the groundwork for the Allied breakout from Normandy—at a cost of nearly 5,000 casualties in a gritty, determined battle that earned them the nickname Tough ’Ombres (from the unit’s T and O insignia, for its origins in Texas and Oklahoma). The 90th spearheaded the advance for the next month as a war of attrition became one of movement: Périers, Le Mans, and finally the Falaise Pocket, where the division helped seal the Germans’ road out of Normandy.

By the end of the war, the Tough ’Ombres would see more days of combat than any other American division in Europe. Its soldiers would receive 4 Medals of Honor, 85 Distinguished Service Crosses, 311 Silver Stars, 5,057 Bronze Stars, and 21,371 Purple Hearts. While earning five battle stars, the 90th suffered more than 27,000 casualties—nearly 200 percent of its authorized strength. At war’s end, Gen. George Patton told the division: “Sometimes I think you don’t know how good you are. You are the best soldiers in the world.” Anything but certain, this reputation was won at great cost—and it began with redemption in Normandy.

About the Author:

Richard C. Anderson Jr. spent four decades as a historian, researcher, and defense analyst, including twenty-one years at the Dupuy Institute, where he briefed the Department of Defense, the U.S. Army, and the CIA and provided fact-checking for Time, The Economist, and ABC. His books include Hitler’s Last Gamble: The Battle of the Bulge (with Trevor N. Dupuy and David L. Bongard) (Harper, 1994); Artillery Hell: The Employment of Artillery at Antietam (with Curt Johnson) (Texas A&M, 1995); Cracking Hitler’s Atlantic Wall: The 1st Assault Brigade Royal Engineers on D-Day (Stackpole, 2009); and American Thunder: U.S. Army Tank Design, Development, and Doctrine in World War II (Stackpole, 2024).

 

In the next month or so I will also create a blog site for some of the snippets I had to edit out for length, including extended biographies of some of the key officers, unit organization and casualties, a detailed account of the night battle at Mairy, and some other bits.

 

Good stuff Richard, best of luck with the new book.

Reading your bio, I was interested to see that you worked with Trevor Dupuy. Do you happen to know if he ever recorded anything about his own service in Burma? I believe that he was working on an autobiography but it was unfinished when he died.

My grandfather (who served in 36 Division) worked with his multi-national artillery group in North Burma during the last few months of 1944. I get the impression from 36 Div's diaries and documents that Dupuy was highly regarded by the small British component of NCAC, and have been hoping to track down anything written by Dupuy himself on that unusual period.

Martin

 

Hi Martin, Trevor was very proud of his ability to mold a multi-national group into a cohesive artillery force. He loved both the Chinese and British components of his group and was always highly complimentary of them.

As far as I know his autobiography, such as it is, is in the hands of one of his sons, whom I have lost contact with. I will see what I can find out through other contacts.

 

Many thanks Richard, I would be very interested in anything that might turn up. From the little I know of him, he seems to have been an absolutely remarkable man who deserves to be better remembered.

 

Thanks for the heads-up Richard, I'm planning to get this one for Xmas - if we are all still here by then!!

Regards

Tom

 

Due to the wisdom of Stackpole Books, my book has been re-titled and is now Tough 'Hombres in Normandy: The Rise of the 90th Infantry Division in World War II. It is now available for pre-order from Amazon https://www.amazon.com/Tough-Ombres-Normandy-Infantry-Division/dp/0811778339 Barnes & Noble https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/to...rd-c-anderson-jr/1149525937?ean=9780811778336 and other book retailers with publication set for 26 October 2026.

Indigo (Canada) https://www.indigo.ca/en-ca/tough-o...-ii/a6296b20-2592-3bdb-9ac6-cd77bf40b609.html
Waterstones (UK) https://www.waterstones.com/book/sp...o-falaise/anderson-jr-richard-c/9780811778336

I will also shortly be launching my website, Military History Books by Richard C. Anderson Jr., where in addition to being able to order my other titles, you will be able to access the ten appendices, bibliography, and extended officer biographies I was forced to edit out of the final draft of Tough 'Hombres due to space considerations. The site will also include links to me favorite online research sites and eventually I will also use it to post some of the research work I have written over the years, that otherwise isn't publishable, such as The European Theater of Operations, U.S. Army, Order of Battle, Operation NEPTUNE, D-Day 1944.

 

My website Military History Books by Richard C. Anderson Jr. | Discover Military History - Learn & Reflect is in soft launch mode. It is a work in progress, but you can preview my next book, Tough 'Ombres in Normandy and my other books there through various online retail links, and access the appendices and bibliography.

Enjoy! Happy for feedback too.

 

I had a real problem to understand the title at first.
Would breakthrough mean the same?
breakout to me a technical term for molded parts with one large opening and up to 7 small ones to fit on to a power cable end

Stefan.

 

"Breakthrough" is what happened west of St Lo on 25-27 July 1944.

"Breakout" is what happened at Pontaubault after the morning of 31 July 1944.

 

Thanks Richard,

Cheers Stefan.