"I'm the 82nd Airborne Division!" is the most comprehensive collection of combat narratives, after action reports, documents, maps, and photographs detailing the saga of one of the most famous units in the Second World War. These original documents are now published for the first time since they were created sixty years ago. The Division comes alive, as individuals and units of the 82nd tell their own stories. Maps illustrate day-by-day movements of the various regiments during campaigns. Appendices list commander, casualties, and captured equipment. Special photographic essays show helmet markings and ephemera. From designation as the U.S. Army's first airborne division in 1942 through the campaigns in Sicily, Italy, Anzio, Normandy, Holland, Belgium, and Germany all the way to the occupation of Berlin and the victory parade in New York, this is the story of the 82nd Airborne Division - The All American in World War II. A great reference for anyone interested in the 82nd Airborne Division in World War II and a fitting tribute to those who served in its ranks. 400 colour & b/w photos

Karl Zinsmeister's Boots on the Ground includes 32 color photographs taken by the author during the month he was embedded with the 82nd in Kuwait and Iraq. This is a riveting account of the war in Iraq moving north with the 82nd Airborne. Units of the 82nd depart Kuwait and convoy to Iraq's Tallil Air Base en route to night-and-day battles within the major city of Samawah and its intact bridges across the Euphrates. Boots on the Ground quickly becomes an action-filled microcosm of the new kinds of ultramodern war fighting showcased in the overall battle for Iraq. At the same time it remains specific to the daily travails of the soldiers. Karl Zinsmeister, a frontline reporter who traveled with the 82nd, vividly conveys the careful planning and technical wizardry that go into today's warfare, even local firefights, and he brings to life the constant air-ground interactions that are the great innovation of modern precision combat. What exactly does it feel like to travel with a spirited body of fighting men? To come under fire? To cope with the battlefield stresses of sleep-deprivation, and a steady diet of field rations for weeks on end? Readers of this day-to-day diary are left with not only a flashing sequence of strong mental images, but also a notion of the sounds and smells and physical sensations that make modern military action unforgettable. Ultimately, Boots on the Ground is a human story: a moving portrayal of the powerful bonds of affection, trust, fear, and dedication that bind real soldiers involved in battle. There are unexpected elements: The humor that bubbles up amidst dangerous fighting. The pathos of a badly wounded young boy. The affection openly exhibited by many American soldiers--love of country, love of family and hometown, love of each other. This is a true-life tale of superbly trained men in extraordinary circumstances, packed with concrete detail, often surpassing fiction for sheer drama.

From decorated veteran, acclaimed West Point lecturer, and inspirational military speaker Guy LoFaro, the first complete history of America's legendary World War II airborne division.

Drawing recruits from all 48 states at the time of its inception, the 82nd Airborne earned the nickname “All American.” And indeed, from its beginnings in 1917 to its service today in Afghanistan and Iraq, the 82nd has remained the nation’s best-known--and most widely respected--airborne unit. This book traces the 82nd Airborne’s history from its roots in the 82nd Infantry Division to its current service. While providing a historical overview of the grand heritage of the All Americans--the unit’s stellar service during World War II, its reserve status during the Cold War, its peacekeeping mission in the Dominican Republic and sustained action in Vietnam--82nd Airborne focuses primarily on the unit’s contemporary service. Author Fred J. Pushies discusses the division’s involvement in small conflicts, including Grenada and Panama, throughout the 1980s. And he details the 82nd’s service throughout the 1990s in Iraq, Haiti, Bosnia, and Kosovo--and, since 9/11, in Afghanistan and Iraq. His is the most thorough and up-to-date account of the legendary All Americans in the modern era.

An epic tale of a brotherhood forged by war—masterfully told by a lifelong journalist, war correspondent, and U.S. Army veteran. “A must-read by military historians who follow the 82nd Airborne Division. It is a compilation of fascinating stories by brave soldiers who found themselves in the crucible of fierce combat.” —LTG (Retired) James H. Johnson, 82nd Airborne Division Commander, Panama and Desert Storm “This book is the best I have ever read about the real situation experienced by infantrymen in the Vietnam War. The stories honor the American soldier and their families, and demonstrate the pride all of us had in these men and their leaders…. A grand slam hit out of the park.” —Robert D. Murrill, Esq., Distinguished Member of the 508th Parachute Infantry Regiment in the Golden Brigade “It is a story that needs to be told, and one that all paratroopers, young and old, need to know. When the nation calls, there were and must always be those who will answer—even if it means they sacrifice their todays so that others will experience their tomorrows.” —J. Thomas Hennessey Jr., Colonel (Retired), Distinguished Member of the 505th Parachute Infantry Regiment, Chief of Staff Emeritus at George Mason University “A solid chunk of history about an extraordinary brotherhood of warriors.” —Vietnam Veterans of America

On the night of 9/10 July 1943 the All Americans of the 82nd Airborne Division jumped into history as they made their first parachute assault of World War II. Three others would follow: Salerno, Normandy, and Holland. In total the division served more than three hundred days in combat, a record unmatched by any other American division. With nearly 400 historic photographs, many never before published, The All Americans in World War II provides a complete photographic history of the 82nd Airborne Division as it fought it way across Sicily, Italy, France, Belgium, and Germany, ultimately all the way to Berlin as part of the American occupation forces. This book is an essential addition to any serious World War II collection and a tribute to the fighting spirit of this legendary division.

This fast-moving memoir of T. Moffatt Burriss shows his extraordinary role as a platoon leader and company commander with the 504th Parachute Infantry Regiment in Europe and North Africa during World War II. He saw a great deal of combat on Sicily, at Salerno, on Anzio Beach, in Holland during Operation Market Garden, and during the drive into Germany. This book portrays World War II as seen vividly through the eyes of the young American citizen-soldier.