Airborne: The Combat Story of Ed Shames of Easy Company

by Ian Gardner, Ed Shames (Foreword by), Ed Shames (Introduction)

Overview

The engrossing account of one of World War II's legendary figures.

A member of the legendary Band of Brothers, Ed Shames was involved in some of the most important battles of World War II. His incredible combat record includes parachuting into Normandy on D-Day, and service during Operation Market Garden, at Bastogne and in Germany itself.

Shames' own words and recollections fuel a searing account that gives a soldier's glimpse into the ferocity of the fighting on the ground and the close fellowship that developed between the men in Easy Company. The first member of the 101st Airborne Division to enter Dachau concentration camp, just days after its liberation, Shames ended the war in the bombed out shell of Hitler's Eagles Nest, surrounded by his comrades in arms.

Written by the author of the critically acclaimed Tonight We Die As Men, this is the phenomenal story
of a remarkable young lieutenant during World War II, from training at Toccoa, Georgia right through to the collapse of the Third Reich.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781472813435
Publisher:	Bloomsbury Publishing
Publication date:	04/20/2015
Series:	General Military
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	340
File size:	10 MB

About the Author

Col. Ed Shames is a 'Band of Brothers' veteran. He received a battlefield commission into E ('Easy') Company of the 506th PIR on 13 June 1944 in Carentan, France. He survived the war before eventually retiring as a Colonel. He is an active member of veterans' societies.

Ian Gardner served for five years in Support Company, 10th Battalion, The Parachute Regiment as a medic before leaving the Territorial Army in 1993 due to injury. Always enthusiastic about military history, several years after leaving 10 Para Ian became interested in World War II US Paratroopers. After a visit to Normandy in 2000 he decided to focus on the 101st Airborne Division, and in particular the Battalion of the 506th Parachute Infantry Regiment, which led to the critically acclaimed Tonight We Die As Men, co-written with Roger Day. Currently self-employed, he is married with two grown up children and lives near Aldershot in Hampshire.
Ian Gardner served for five years in Support Company, 10th Battalion, The Parachute Regiment. Always enthusiastic about military history, several years after leaving 10 Para Ian became interested in World War II US Paratroopers. After a visit to Normandy in 2000 he decided to focus on the 3rd Battalion of the 506th Parachute Infantry Regiment, which led to the critically acclaimed trilogy Tonight We Die As Men, Deliver Us From Darkness and No Victory in Valhalla. He is also the author of Airborne: The Combat Biography of Ed Shames of Easy Company. He is married with two grown-up children and lives near Aldershot in Hampshire.

Table of Contents

Foreword by James C. Roberts
Introduction
Acknowledgments

1. "Take the A train"
2. "Beyond golden fields"
3. "The other side of tomorrow"
4. "The river runs red"
5. "Five seconds to forget"
6. "Bullets from the sun"
7. "Dead men's shoes"
8. "The bucket list"
9. "And the rain drank champagne"
10. "Faith and justice"
11. "Northwind"
12. "Ruhr Pocket"
13. "Last stand"
14. "Ameritocracy"

Epilogue by Ed Shames
Bibliography
Glossary
Index