Post by Larry Heider on Sept 7, 2014 22:17:26 GMT -5
The Fightin' 589th by Col. Thomas P. Kelly
One of the problems found in researching the history of the 106th is the fact that there were no official reporters or correspondents attached to the division when the battle of the bulge began. This book offers a unique solution to that issue by combining the personal recollections of 12 men who joined battle against an armored and mechanized infantry force of determined German units.
"The Fightin' 589th" is a intriguing account of the battle known as "Parker's Crossroads". It has a narrative style all it's own. It presents a storyline that begins with the formation of the 589th Field Artillery Battalion in Fort Jackson, So. Carolina, where the author learns the basics of artillery training/coordination, and proceeds to Camp Atterbury, Indiana for final training and refitting for combat. Col. Kelly relates his experiences with great honesty and humor, his style of writing easily drawing the reader into the story as it unfolds. The move to Camp Miles Standish for embarkation to England and from there to St. Vith is told in a straight forward manner-a reflection of Kelly's personal way of sorting out logistical and bureaucrat military difficulties.
After a week of settling into positions in the Schnee Eifel, the onset of the Bulge changes everything, including the narration of the book. One after another, in a linear timeframe, the other members of the 589th present their personal stories, creating a multi-dimension overview of the battle as it ensues. From the early morning of Dec. 16, 1944 to the final blows on Dec. 23, the men of the 106th become their own war correspondents, reporting in detail their most intimate and personal experiences. This is a true goldmine of realtime information about who and what determined the outcome of the battle for the crossroads and, for most of the men, their time in a series of POW camps where they face a very different struggle for survival.
This is an important book that anyone who yearns for accurate, personal and real histories of the men of the Golden Lions Division. It is available in hard cover or paperback at Amazon.com.
One of the problems found in researching the history of the 106th is the fact that there were no official reporters or correspondents attached to the division when the battle of the bulge began. This book offers a unique solution to that issue by combining the personal recollections of 12 men who joined battle against an armored and mechanized infantry force of determined German units.
"The Fightin' 589th" is a intriguing account of the battle known as "Parker's Crossroads". It has a narrative style all it's own. It presents a storyline that begins with the formation of the 589th Field Artillery Battalion in Fort Jackson, So. Carolina, where the author learns the basics of artillery training/coordination, and proceeds to Camp Atterbury, Indiana for final training and refitting for combat. Col. Kelly relates his experiences with great honesty and humor, his style of writing easily drawing the reader into the story as it unfolds. The move to Camp Miles Standish for embarkation to England and from there to St. Vith is told in a straight forward manner-a reflection of Kelly's personal way of sorting out logistical and bureaucrat military difficulties.
After a week of settling into positions in the Schnee Eifel, the onset of the Bulge changes everything, including the narration of the book. One after another, in a linear timeframe, the other members of the 589th present their personal stories, creating a multi-dimension overview of the battle as it ensues. From the early morning of Dec. 16, 1944 to the final blows on Dec. 23, the men of the 106th become their own war correspondents, reporting in detail their most intimate and personal experiences. This is a true goldmine of realtime information about who and what determined the outcome of the battle for the crossroads and, for most of the men, their time in a series of POW camps where they face a very different struggle for survival.
This is an important book that anyone who yearns for accurate, personal and real histories of the men of the Golden Lions Division. It is available in hard cover or paperback at Amazon.com.
