The Dead and Those About to Die: D-Day: The Big Red One at Omaha Beach

Marc Notes: Nicknamed the Big Red One, 1st Division had fought from North Africa to Sicily, earning a reputation as stalwart warriors. Yet on D-Day, these veterans melded with fresh-faced replacements to accomplish one of the most challenging and deadly missions ever. As the men hit the beach their equipment was destroyed or washed away. Soldiers were cut down by the dozens. In this in-depth study of that mission, McManus explores the heroes that survived as well as the Gap Assault Team engineers who dealt with the extensive mines and obstacles, suffering nearly a 50% casualty rate. Review Quotes: "[A] simply magnificent narrative of one of the most famous and gripping events of modern military history."--Paul Kennedy, "New York Times "bestselling author of "Engineers of Victory" "This is gripping history--beautifully and masterfully told by one of America's premier historians."--Patrick K. O'Donnell, national bestselling author of" Dog Company" "Magnificent! I could not put this book down!"--Joseph Balkoski, author of "Omaha Beach "and "Utah Beach" "A gripping account of the desperate battle for Omaha Beach on D-Day by the legendary 1st Infantry Division, the Big Red One."--Carlo D'Este, author o"f Patton: A Genius for War" Biographical Note: John C. McManus is the author of "September Hope: The American Side of a Bridge Too Far." He earned a PhD in American and Military History from the University of Tennessee, where he served as Assistant Director of the Center for the Study of War and Society and was a Normandy Scholar. As a leading authority on the Normandy invasion, he holds a Cantigny First Division Museum Fellowship. He is currently a full professor of U. S. Military History at Missouri University of Science and Technology, where he teaches a variety of courses, including one on World War II and another on the Modern American Combat Experience. He also serves as the official historian for the United States Army's Seventh Infantry Regiment. Publisher Marketing: Nicknamed the Big Red One, 1st Division had fought from North Africa to Sicily, earning a reputation as stalwart warriors on the front lines and rabble-rousers in the rear. Yet on D-Day, these veterans melded with fresh-faced replacements to accomplish one of the most challenging and deadly missions ever. As the men hit the beach, their equipment was destroyed or washed away, soldiers were cut down by the dozens, and heroes emerged: Sergeant Raymond Strojny, who grabbed a bazooka and engaged in a death duel with a fortified German antitank gun; T/5 Joe Pinder, who braved enemy fire to save a vital radio; Lieutenant John Spalding and Sergeant Phil Streczyk, who together demolished a German strong point overlooking Easy Red, where hundreds of Americans had landed. Along the way, McManus explores the Gap Assault Team engineers who dealt with the extensive mines and obstacles, suffering nearly a fifty percent casualty rate; highlights officers such as Brigadier General Willard Wyman and Colonel George Taylor, who led the way to victory; and punctures scores of myths surrounding this long-misunderstood battle. Drawing on a rich array of new or recently unearthed sources, including interviews with veterans, this is the unforgettable story of the Big Red One's nineteen hours of hell--and their ultimate triumph--on June 6, 1944. INCLUDES PHOTOGRAPHS Review Citations: Kirkus Reviews 04/01/2014 (EAN 9780451415295, Hardcover) Contributor Bio:  McManus, John C John C. McManus is associate professor of U. S. Military History at Missouri University of Science and Technology. The author of military history books, including "The 7th Infantry Regiment: Combat in an Age of Terror, the Korean War through the Present", he is a leading expert on the history of Americans in combat. A member of the editorial advisory board at "World War II" magazine and "World War II Quarterly", McManus was recently named to History News Network's list of Top Young Historians. He currently serves as official historian for the 7th Infantry Regiment Association. He lives in St. Louis with his wife Nancy.