Best Ww2 Autobiographies?

I don't know whether anyone else has noticed this but in both Band Of Brothers and the books by Donald Burgett on 101st airborne there is a somewhat unpleasant and sneering anti-British tone at times. Was this common to American servicemen in the war or a peculiarity of 101st Airborne? I've never detected much like this in British front-line memoirs.

 

Originally posted by Mark Hone@Jun 12 2005, 07:26 AM
I don't know whether anyone else has noticed this but in both Band Of Brothers and the books by Donald Burgett on 101st airborne there is a somewhat unpleasant and sneering anti-British tone at times. Was this common to American servicemen in the war or a peculiarity of 101st Airborne? I've never detected much like this in British front-line memoirs.
[post=35249]Quoted post[/post]
Yes, in "Band of Brothers," the men of Easy Company seem unimpressed with the tactics, operational art, and rations of their British allies. They did not operate together as smoothly as they should have, which I attribute to the hurried nature of the Market-Garden planning. The world's biggest airborne assault was put together in a week.

 

They Hosed Them Out by Sgt. John Beede. he was an air gunner in Bomber Command. Completed three tours. A wrenching but compelling read
No bended Knee by Gen. Merrill Twinning USMC tells his story of Guadalcanal

 

Night Fighter by C F Rawnsley and Robert Wright.
He (CFR) flew first as an air gunner with John (Cat's Eyes) Cunningham in Demon fighters and moved with him into night fighters as an AI operator in Blenheims through Beaufighters to finally, Mosquitos.
Very self-effacing and good descriptions of RAF life and development of AI.

 

The very best book for me, is the volume "Cameos of War" It describes the fortunes of Five men from the beaches of Normandy onwards... two infantrymen; one from the Suffolk's. One from the East York's. a young Sapper, a Sapper officer and a Sailor from one of the assault craft carriers.

Why do I think it is great? Simple! I wrote it. But for family and close friends only, not for public as it contains other men's intellectual property.
Its been around the world on loan. Always returned...from Germany. France. Belgium. Holland. USA. twice ! Only one of those men made it to Bremen and V in E...The late Captain Edwards RE Three platoon commander of my company.
Sapper

 

"The Road Past Mandalay" by John Masters is excellent.

And a few that I've read recently and I'd also recommend

"Flying Start" by RAF officer Hugh Dundas
"U-Boat Killer" by Captain Donald Macintyre
and the previously recommended "Quartered Safe Out Here" by George MacDonald Fraser, which is a great read.

 

Please let me read it!

Or at least do a limited run for us ww2talkers...


The very best book for me, is the volume "Cameos of War" It describes the fortunes of Five men from the beaches of Normandy onwards... two infantrymen; one from the Suffolk's. One from the East York's. a young Sapper, a Sapper officer and a Sailor from one of the assault craft carriers.

Why do I think it is great? Simple! I wrote it. But for family and close friends only, not for public as it contains other men's intellectual property.
Its been around the world on loan. Always returned...from Germany. France. Belgium. Holland. USA. twice ! Only one of those men made it to Bremen and V in E...The late Captain Edwards RE Three platoon commander of my company.
Sapper

 

I'd fully recommend the following:

- through the maelstrom - boris gorbachevsky.
A story of a red army infantryman.

- lion rampant - Robert woolcombe.
A 15th Scottish division officer's story.

- the fortress - Raleigh trevelyan.
The story of an officer at Anzio.

 

I've just finished reading 'Better Born Lucky than Rich' by Eddie Lovejoy. I thought it was a gem of a find, as it appears one of the most honest accounts i've come across. He is honest that his piloting skills were not the best, so he told his CO he shouldn't fly, was accused of cowardice, but stood his ground and became a Navigator of great distinction instead. He was also at Scampton during the Dambusters raid, so has some interesting anecdotes. Boasts the worse front cover of all time, hot pink with a horseshoe and a small picture of him taken years afterwards. You'd never spot it as a RAF memoir if you were just browsing a second hand bookshop!

 

Crusade in Europe by Eisenhower.

Ike's writing ability is why he was held in staff positions all through the twenties and thirties. He always made his superiors look good and they didn't want to lose him. MacArthur called him 'The Mighty Pen'

Duel of Eagles by Peter Townsend

Guadalcanal Diary by Richard Tregaskis

Dave

 

There is one written by my grandfather. Its called Medals By George Leoleis
He was in the 82nd airborne 501 PIR 3rd battalion I company.

 

Hello Daniel, welcome.... and don't be shy about letting everyone know about your grandfather,
after all he was a highly decorated war hero!.

http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/metrowestdailynews/obituary.aspx?n=george-leoleis&pid=165521665#fbLoggedOut