Band of brothers : E Company, 506th Regiment, 101st Airborne : from Normandy to Hitler's Eagle's nest

Easy Company, 506th Airborne Division, U.S. Army, was as good a rifle company as any in the world. From their rigorous training in Georgia in 1942 to D-Day and victory, Ambrose tells the story of this remarkable company, which kept getting the tough assignments. Easy Company was responsible for everything from parachuting into France early D-Day morning to the capture of Hitler's Eagle's Nest at Berchtesgaden. "Band of Brothers" is the account of the men of this remarkable unit who fought, went hungry, froze, and died, a company that took 150 percent casualties and considered the Purple Heart a badge of office. Drawing on hours of interviews with survivors as well as the soldiers' journals and letters, Stephen Ambrose tells the stories, often in the men's own words, of these American heroes. Show More Show Less "They came together, citizen soldiers, in the summer of 1942, drawn to Airborne by the $50 monthly bonus and a desire to be better than the other guy. And at its peak -- in Holland and the Ardennes -- Easy Company was as good a rifle company as any in the world. From the rigorous training in Georgia in 1942 to the disbanding in 1945, Stephen E. Ambrose tells the story of this remarkable group. In combat, the reward for a job well done is the next tough assignment, and as they advanced through Europe, the men of Easy kept getting the tough assignments. They parachuted into France early D-Day morning and knocked out a battery of four 105 mm cannon looking down Utah Beach; they parachuted into Holland during the Arnhem campaign; they were the Battered Bastards of the Bastion of Bastogne, brought in to hold the line, although surrounded, in the Battle of the Bulge; and then they spearheaded the counteroffensive. Finally, they captured Hitler's Bavarian outpost, his Eagle's Nest at Berchtesgaden. They were rough-and-ready guys, battered by the Depression, mistrustful and suspicious. They drank too much French wine, looted too many German cameras and watches, and fought too often with other GIs. But in training and combat they learned selflessness and found the closest brotherhood they ever knew. They discovered that in war, men who loved life would give their lives for them. This is the story of the men who fought, of the martinet they hated who trained them well, and of the captain they loved who led them. E Company was a company of men who went hungry, froze, and died for each other, a company that took 150 percent casualties, a company where the Purple Heart was not a medal -- it was a badge of office." -- Book jacket

They came together in the summer of 1942. It was as good a rifle company as any in the world. Here is the story of E Company -- men who went hungry, froze, and died for each other -- from the rigorous training in Georgia in 1942 to their disbanding in 1945.

Publishers Weekly

Ambrose (Pegasus Bridge) narrates in vivid detail the adventures, misadventures, triumphs and tragedies of a single U.S. Army infantry company over its span of organizational life. Formed in July 1944 and deactivated in November 1945, E Company was one of the most successful light infantry units in the European theater. Its troops saw their first action on D-Day behind the Normandy beachhead, took part in Operation Market Garden in Holland, held the perimeter around Bastogne during the Battle of the Bulge, and were the first to reach Hitler's Bavarian outpost at Berchtesgaden. The book is enlivened with pertinent comments by veterans of Easy Company,'' who recall not only the combat action but their relations with their officers (one company commander was a petty tyrant of the worst type, but his oppressive ways had much to do with the unit's impressive esprit de corps ) and their impressions of the countries through which they campaigned (hated the French, loved the Germans). This is a terrific read for WW II actions buffs.

"We wanted those wings"; Camp Toccoa, July-December 1942 -- "Stand up and hook up"; Benning, Mackall, Bragg, Shanks, December 1942-September 1943 -- "Duties of the latrine orderly"; Aldbourne, September 1943-March 1944 -- "Look out, Hitler! Here we come!"; Slapton Sands, Uppottery, April 1-June 5, 1944 -- "Follow me"; Normandy, June 6, 1944 -- "Move out!"; Carentan, June 7-July 12, 1944 -- Healing wounds and scrubbed missions; Aldbourne, July 13-Septmeber 16, 1944 -- "Hell's highway"; Holland, September 17-October 1, 1944 -- Island; Holland, October 2-November 25, 1944 -- Resting, recovering, and refitting: Mourmelon-le-Grand, November 26-December 18, 1944 -- "They got us surrounded-the poor bastards"; Bastogne, December 19-31, 1944 -- Breaking point; Bastogne, January 1-13, 1945 -- Attack; Noville, January 14-17, 1945 -- Patrol: Haguenau, January 18-February 23, 1945 -- "Best feeling in the world": Mourmelon, February 25-April 2, 1945 -- Getting to know the enemy: Germany, April 2-30, 1945 -- Drinking Hitler's champagne; Berchtesgaden, May 1-8, 1945 -- Soldier's dream life; Austria, May 8-July 31, 1945 -- Postwar careers; 1945-1991. "As good a rifle company as any in the world, Easy Company, 506th Airborne Division, U.S. Army, kept getting the tough assignements - responsible for everything from parachuting into France early D-Day morning to the capture of Hitler's Eagle's Nest at Berchtesgaden. In Band of Brothers, Ambrose tells of the men in this brave unit who fought, went hungry, froze, and died, a company that took 150 percent casualties and considered the Purple Heart a badge of office. Drawing on hours of interviews with survivors as well as the soldiers' journals and letters, Stephen Ambrose recounts the stories, often in the men's own words, of these American heroes."--Jacket "As good a rifle company as any in the world. Easy Company, 506th Airborne Division, U.S. Army, kept getting the tough assignments responsible for everything from parachuting into France early D-Day morning to the capture of Hitler's Eagle's Nest at Berchtesgaden. Ambrose tells of the men in this brave unit who fought, went hungry, froze, and died, a company that took 150 percent casualties and considered the Purple Heart a badge of office."--Back cover THE MEN OF EASY COMPANY, 506th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 101st Airborne Division, U.S Army, came from different backgrounds, different parts of the country. Follows the 101st Airbone as it drops into Normandy on D-Day and fights its way through Europe to the end of World War II. The story of the men who were in Easy Company, 506th Regiment, 101st Airborne during World War II.