Glider Infantryman Personal Memoir

Hi All,

I'm the co-author along with 327 Regiment Glider Infantry 101st Airborne soldier PFC Don Rich. Don was a good friend of my Dad (who was also a WW2 Vet). After my parents died, I offered to write up Don's WW2 story as a favor to his family. I thought it would be short. For a number of years he didn't give me much to work with that I couldn't get out of books. Then the Iraq War started and he went into depression for about six months. As he came out of the depression (he still suffered from PTSD) he started talking. From that I was able to network with other vets he served with and find the 327 records in National Archives. What resulted was Texas A and M Press' #1 selling book for 2012.

The name of the book is Glider Infantryman Behind Enemy Lines in WW2. The book is written from a first person (Don's) perspective and is well documented. Don passed away in 2013, but not before he was able to autograph countless books. The book is available from Amazon, Barnes and Noble and most other distributors. One of the main other soldiers is still living. It is available in hard copy and paperback.

http://www.amazon.com/Glider-Infantryman-Williams-Ford-University-Military/dp/1603444246

http://www.amazon.com/Glider-Infantryman-Williams-Ford-University-Military/dp/1603444246/ref=sr_1_2?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1439654365&sr=1-2&keywords=glider+infantryman+behind+enemy+lines+in+world+war+ii

The book describes training and glider flights. It also touches on PTSD. Here are the highlights:

1. 327 Co G goes ashore by boat at Normandy. They suffer heavy casualties as they attack Carentan from the east. As a side note, G has about 40% casualties in France and are actually the main unit that captures Carentan. Don is severely wounded but recovers.

2. G glides into the Netherlands during Market. They suffer huge losses in the Veghel Church yard. Later they hold the west perimeter of Ophuesden against heavy armor attacks. They leave the Netherlands with only 105 men after arriving with almost 200.

3. They go to Bastogne and defend the SE perimeter. (The 327 holds 1/2 of the Bastogne perimeter and engage in about 2/3 of the main battles around Bastogne. They were the main or one of the main regiments in these fights). Co's F and G are over run by tanks in the 2nd Marvie fight. The Germans basically won and had tanks operating behind Co G lines on the outskirts of Bastogne. The enemy didn't understand what had happened and pulled back (there are several reasons for this).

4. 327 fights at Foy and do a heroic open field run suffering high casualties. Easy 506 was not the only company to fight at Foy. After the siege, Co G takes on 75 replacements. They march out of Bastogne with only 42 able bodied men and truck to Alsace and later fight at Dusseldorf.

I have a facebook page with loads of informationhttps://www.facebook.com/pages/327-Glider-Infantry-Screaming-Eagle/109600119062869

Please feel free to ask questions about the 327 Glidermen.

Kevin

 

I have this book and I can't wait to read it, Kevin!

 

Thx! The facebook page has a lot of maps and pictures if you want to use that as you go through the book!