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"The Spirit of American Youth Rising From The Waves" |
| Normandy American Cemetery, St. Laurent, France |
Written in an engaging narrative style, Before Taps Sounded is a working history of the 1st Infantry Division during World War II. In playing out this famous division's history on the stage of the war, the author marches in the shadow of one soldier, his late uncle, through three major campaigns - first, across North Africa, then up the center of Sicily, and finally onto Omaha Beach during the morning of D-Day, June 6, 1944. |
This immense sweep of history was carefully researched over six years, then organized and presented as it happened during the war. The main character in the book, a first class private, served with the 18th Regiment of the 1st Division from the time he enlisted in the army in 1940 until he was killed in action on June 9, 1944. |
Recognized throughout World War II as an elite fighting force, The Big Red One was the first to arrive in England at the beginning of the war, and the first to hit the beaches in North Africa, Sicily and Normandy. Historian Carlo D'Este, author of "Patton, a Genius for War" and other books on World War II claimed, "The saga of the legendary First Division of World War II was of a division that was consistently given the most difficult assignments, which were just as consistently carried out with brilliance and elan." |
After the first indisputable defeat inflicted on Rommel's Afrika Corps in the North African war, General Patton heaped praise on the famous "Fighting First" saying, "For twenty-two days of relentless battle, the division never faltered. Undeterred by cold, lack of sleep and by continued losses, the division conquered." Patton closed his citation with, "Your valorous exploits have brought glory to the soldiers of the United States. Your fame shall never die." |
Later, after the final push for victory in North Africa, Patton, who commanded the Seventh Army in Sicily, demanded that the Big Red One spearhead the main assaults on the island, exclaiming, "I want those 1st Division sons a bitches. I won't go on without them!"
His choice turned out to be the correct one. The division was met by a brutal counterstrike after they landed on Gela Beach, but after two days of bitter fighting the beachhead was secured. General Omar Bradley, who commanded the corps the divison fought in on Sicily, heaped praise on The Fighting First, saying, "I question whether any other US division could have repelled that charge in time to save the beach from tank penetration. Only the perverse Big Red One, with its no less perverse commander, was both hardened and experienced enough to take that attack in stride."
Bradley, who went on to command US forces in Europe, also wanted an experienced division to lead the charge on Omaha Beach during D-Day in Normandy. War correspondent Don Whitehead later confirmed Bradley's decision to use the Big Red One that day when he wrote, "In that battle alone the Fighting First won a niche among the immortals of American history. The division smashed the main strength of the Germans, and by doing so turned the key that unlocked the door to victory in Europe."
To learn more about each section of Before Taps Sounded and to download sample chapters from each of these exciting theaters of World War II, click on North Africa, Sicily or Normandy. The author is also making the Bibliography available for those who are interested.
A portion of the proceeds from the sale of Before Taps Sounded will go to the World War II Memorial Fund, a foundation dedicated to raising money to build a memorial to all World War II veterans on the Mall in Washington, D.C.
Before Taps Sounded is available only as an electronic book. It can be downloaded in sections, or in its entire length and is also available on CD-Rom. It contains approximately 20 pictures and battlefield maps, and is 410 Word pages long.
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