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

Band of Brothers: E Company, 506th Regiment, 101st Airborne from Normandy to Hitler's Eagle's Nest
By Stephen E. Ambrose
Simon & Schuster, 2001. 333 pgs. Nonfiction

This is the story of one company in WWII. "Easy" company. Their basic training at Camp Toccoa in Georgia was grueling. They then literally jumped into the war at Normandy on D-day. Ambrose takes you right along with the company as they struggle to overcome the enemy while enduring extreme weather conditions, lack of food and supplies, and some difficult changes in command. Easy company participated not only at Normandy but also during operation Market Garden, the Battle of Bastogne, and the capturing of Hitler's "Eagle's Nest."

I am not at all enamored with war stories or military history, yet this was a completely engrossing story. Action is frequent. The soldiers are brought to life through Ambrose's powerful storytelling. This is one of those nonfiction page-turners.

SML