While I have been recovering from the "creeping crud" better known as walking pneumonia, I have been trying to get to reading some of the books on my list. With a Kindle Fire it makes acquisition much easier. The recent D-Day Conneaut event really motivated me to do more research into the the every day life of a World War II paratrooper. Talking with veterans and diving into books is just about the only way you can understand how to portray and honor these soldiers.
With that in mind, I thought I would pass on a few recently read book titles for those of you who are looking to get some reading and research done this Fall and Winter.
"Parachute Infantry: An American Paratrooper's Memoir of D-Day and the Fall of the Third Reich" by David Kenyond Webster
I have wanted to read this for a long time and wasn't disappointed. A real down and dirty soldier's look at things. David Webster was a member of Easy Company and his character was featured in the Band of Brothers episode The Last Patrol. A real writer and journalist, Webster's account of his experience as an paratrooper is not only wonderful to read, it is also honest and descriptive in a way that put you in his shoes. His narrative lead-up to the Normandy jump had me so tense that I couldn't sleep well that night. Webster wrote "Parachute Infantry" after the war. As you will recall from the epilogue in the final episode of Band of Brothers, Webster was lost at sea in 1961.
"Brothers in Battle, Best of Friends" by Bill Guarnere, Babe Hefron and Robyn Post
Certainly not as intense as Webster's recounting, this book by another couple of Easy Company men (based on interviews by Robyn Post) is a great read none the less. Often times hilarious. What a couple of characters then and still today. It shows you why the Airborne was able to do what they did. With soldiers like Wild Bill and Babe, you really get to see what made up the backbone of the elite troops of the US Army.
"Beyond Band of Brothers: The War Memoirs of Major Dick Winters" by Dick Winters and Cole Kingseed
I wanted to start off my Band of Brothers run of books with this biography from Winters though I had read "Biggest Brother: The Life Of Major Dick Winters" by Larry Alexander some time ago. There wasn't anything new here but it is always great to read the words of Major Winters, especially his take on the popularity of the HBO miniseries and the Easy Company fame that followed. His perspectives on leadership are a must-read.
"Tonight We Die As Men: The Untold Story of Third Battalion 506 Infantry Regiment from Toccoa to D-Day" by Ian Gardner and Roger Day
Often over shadowed by East Company and the 506th, this is a fantastic book on the training and combat life of the American paratrooper. Filled with first had accounts and a great book for a new Airborne reenactor to read. Dale Dye's movie production company has currently optioned this book.
As I said, since D-Day Conneaut, I have been doing a lot of reading and researching. Hopefully some of these titles might be a good suggestion for your book self as well.
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