Geronimo!: American Paratroopers in World War II - Softcover

Breuer, William B.

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0312077610 ISBN 13: 9780312077617

Publisher: St Martins Pr, 1992

Synopsis

Marking the 50th anniversary of American airborne action, here is the culmination of five years of intensive research, including interviews with over 400 paratroopers who participated in combat jumps and ground fighting in World War II. 129 photos.

About this title

From Publishers Weekly:

Breuer ( Retaking the Philippines ) here skillfully presents a combat narrative that covers every campaign in WW II that involved American paratroopers. Most of the action is provided by the 82nd Airborne and 101st Airborne in the Mediterranean and European theaters and the 11th Airborne in the Pacific. Casualties in every campaign were inordinately severe, yet, as we are shown, the airborne units never lost their tactical flexibility, efficiency, or ferocious fighting spirit. Breuer traces the fortunes of many individuals through successive battles, among them the legendary Pvt. Ted Bachenheimer, who had a compulsion to prowl behind German lines, and James Gavin, who earned rapid promotion from colonel to major general by his dashing leadership of the 82nd Airborne. The book includes an account of Marine parachute operations in the Pacific, relatively minor affairs, and the story of the all-black 555th Parachute Infantry Company. The narrative ends with a moving description of the paratroopers' participation in the 1946 victory parade in New York. Photos. Military Book Club selection.
Copyright 1989 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Library Journal:

Breuer is a writer of above-average World War II histories for the general reader. This title is more action oriented than usual: fast-moving, anecdotal, based on numerous interviews with surviving paratroopers. The technique makes for exciting reading, but the final result is not overburdened with tedious detail about airborne training, organization, or tactical doctrine. Breuer does give reasonable coverage to the neglected Pacific theater. Fans of popular military history will like the book, but Gerard Devlin's Paratrooper! (LJ 3/1/79) is generally superior in all respects. Military Book Club selection.
- Raymond L. Puffer, U.S. Air Force History Prog., Los Angeles
Copyright 1989 Reed Business Information, Inc.

About this edition

• Publisher: St Martins Pr
• Publication date: 1992
• ISBN 10: 0312077610
• ISBN 13: 9780312077617
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 640