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| The Fighting First: The Untold Story Of The Big Red One on D-Day [Paperback] The author of two other WWII histories (Soldiers on Skis and The Rock of Anzio), Whitlock now focuses on the often overlooked 1st Infantry Division that, along with the well-chronicled 29th Division, stormed Omaha beach during the D-Day invasion of Normandy. Nicknamed "The Big Red One," the 1st Division was already seasoned in the North Africa and Sicily campaigns and expected to be transferred from the Mediterranean to a cushy job training green recruits stateside. Instead, the haggard, battle-hardy division was sent to England to train for Operation Overload under a new commander, Clarence Huebner. Through interviews, unpublished manuscripts and other primary sources, Whitlock recounts their determined, if exhausted, preparation for the invasion of France: they stoically survived warm British beer and rigorously trained replacements for their fallen brothers- in-arms. Burdened with every piece of equipment they could possibly need (and some they didn’t), the 1st fought their way through barbed wire, mines and machine guns, past formidable German fortifications and into the hedgerow country beyond the beach cliffs. They won three D-Day Medals of Honor for those 12 hours of fighting alone. The rest of the book covers the high points of the European campaign, moving along with the 1st through street fighting in Aachen, the Battle of the Bulge and the liberation of Bonn. Altogether this book is a worthwhile chronicle of a small group of worn-out men who were called to do yet another duty and did it well. 50 b&w photographs, 20 maps Paperback: 400 pages Publisher: Basic Books (May 10, 2005) Language: English ISBN-10: 0813343178 ISBN-13: 978-0813343174 |
| The Big Red One: America's Legendary 1st Infantry Division from World War I to Desert Storm (Modern War Studies) [Hardcover] "No mission too difficult, no sacrifice too great--Duty First!" For almost a century, from the Western Front of World War I to the deserts of Iraq, this motto has spurred the soldiers who wear the shoulder patch bearing the Big Red One. In this first comprehensive history of America's 1st Infantry Division, James Scott Wheeler chronicles its major combat engagements and peacetime duties during its legendary service to the nation. The oldest continuously serving division in the U.S. Army, the "Fighting First" has consistently played a crucial role in America's foreign wars. It was the first American division to see combat and achieve victory in World War I and set the standard for discipline, training, endurance, and tactical innovation. One of the few intact divisions between the wars, it was the first army unit to train for amphibious warfare. During World War II, the First Division spearheaded the invasions of North Africa and Sicily before leading the Normandy invasion at Omaha Beach and fighting on through the Hürtgen Forest, the Battle of the Bulge, the Ruhr Pocket, and deep into Germany. By war's end, it had developed successful combined-arms, regimental combat teams and made advances in night operations. Meticulously detailed and engagingly written, The Big Red One reflects the larger chronicle of America's military experience over the past century. Hardcover: 594 pages Publisher: University Press of Kansas; First edition (November 2007) Language: English ISBN-10: 0700615520 ISBN-13: 978-0700615520 |
| The Battle for Sicily Stepping Stone to Victory by Ian Blackwell On the night of 9-10 July 1943, an Allied armada launched the invasion of Sicily, a larger operation than the Normandy landings the following year. Over the next thirty-eight days, half a million Allied servicemen fought the Germans and Italians for control of this rocky island, which was to become the first part of Axis homeland to fall during World War II. Despite their success in capturing the island, inter-Allied and inter-service divisions and rivalries robbed them of the opportunity to inflict a crushing defeat on the Germans and Italians, who were able to conduct a fighting withdrawal to the Italian mainland and save sizable forces to continue the war. Regarded by some as a 'blind alley', by others as the way into Europe via the 'soft underbelly', the decision to invade Sicily was and remains controversial. Notwithstanding the campaign's failure to achieve its potential, invaluable lessons were learned which contributed to success in France later. Many of the leading generals who were to take prominent roles in North-West Europe - amongst them Eisenhower, Montgomery, Bradley and Patton - brought with them the experience of Sicily. CLICK BOOK TO ORDER |
| Seven Months to D-Day: An American Regiment in Dorset by Robin Pearce Paperback - 86 pages First Published 27 October, 2000 The Dovecote Press Ltd; ISBN: 1874336849 Synopsis Interesting and informative local history about the 16th Infantry Regiment of the 1st US Infantry Division in Dorset during World War II. There are plenty of personal recollections from the American soldiers that were part of the Division at that time and pictures of the regiment in Dorset. This is good for anybody with an interest in the Big Red One |
| World War II GI US Army Uniforms 1941-45 by Richard Windrow Hardcover - 143 pages First Published 20 September, 1999 The Crowood Press; ISBN: 1861263023 An exploration of the American soldier's dress and equipment throughout World War II. Logically arranged photographic sequences show a range of uniforms and authentic weapons in characteristic use, accompanied by concise identifying and explanatory captions. Rare original uniforms and gear are posed at different seasons and in convincing settings. |
| G.I. Collector's Guide Vol 1 by Henri-Paul Enjames Hardcover 252 pages First Published December 8, 2003 Publisher: Histoire and Collections ISBN: 2913903878 Inspired by the 1943 US "Quartermaster Government Issue Supply Catalog", this collection features photographs of the American soldier's kit from 1943 to 1945. Text notes and extended captions accompany the photographs. |
| US 1st Infantry Division - "Big Red One" (Spearhead) by Ian West Paperback - 96 pages First Published 30 September, 2002 Ian Allan Publishing Ltd; ISBN: 0711029237 The oldest continuously serving division in the US Army, the 1st Infantry Division, called the Big Red One because of the red numeral '1' on the uniform shoulder patch, was the first regular army division organised in June 1917 to fight in France with the Allied armies. More than 28,000 men - including soldiers with very familiar names, like George C. Marshall, Theodore Roosevelt Jnr, and Lesley J. McNair - served with the division in World War 1. It was selected for participation in Operation Torch, the invasion of North Africa, landing in Algeria on 8 November 1942. It then fought through Sicily, leaving the theatre to train for the invasion. It was part of the forces that landed on D-Day and then fought with distinction through Europe. 1st Infantry Division's battle honours are Tunisia, Sicily, Normandy, the Bulge, Germany. Postwar, the division served in Europe, Vletnam, Desert Shield, Desert Storm and Bosnia. It is currently based in Germany. |
| G.I. Collector's Guide Vol 2 by Henri-Paul Enjames Hardcover 272 pages First Published December 8, 2003 Publisher: Histoire and Collections ISBN: 13: 9782352500797 All chapters from volume 1 have been revised and updated (among others: uniforms, signal and medical equipment) and new sections have been added, including personal equipment, Stateside training, and the life of POWs in German camps. More than 1,000 new artifacts with detailed captions are featured in this completely revised new work. Volume 2 of the G.I. Collectors Guide provides a complete and unequaled source of American ground force documentation for collectors and enthusiasts alike. |
| The First Division in Action, 2010. Over the year The First Division has strived to promote the WWII L.H.A and the hobby of living history / battle re-enactment. To do so the group has maintained high standards of presentation, discipline and safety at both public and private events. The First Division has focused its display upon E Company, 2nd Battalion, 16th Infantry Regiment, U.S. 1st Infantry Division. In doing so we can ensure that as far as possible the clothing, arms and equipment used gives an accurate representation of U.S. Infantry soldiers in Northwest Europe. This book is not a history reference book, but a record of The First Division, its members and it's displays during 2010. With nearly a 1000 pictures, see those special events that make this group the only 1st Division and US GI group offically approved by the 1st Division Museum in Cantigny, USA. CLICK HERE TO ORDER |
