Algeriet, Tunesien 1942-43. Sicilien 1943. Vestfront 1944-45 bl.a. Ardennerne. Slutløb i Harzen.

No mission too difficult, no sacrifice too great, duty first.—The motto of the First Division. The heroic, hard-fought history of the “Big Red One” is recorded by the men who fought in the campaigns across North Africa and Europe. A regular army unit, the First Infantry Division was one of the first combat formations to move overseas in WWII. Overseas: 7 August 1942. Campaigns: Algeria-French Morocco, Tunisia, Sicily, Normandy, Northern France, Rhineland, Ardennes, Alsace, Central Europe. Days of Combat: 443. The 1st Infantry Division saw its first combat in World War II in North Africa, landing at Oran and taking part in the initial fighting, 8-10 November 1942. Elements then took part in see-saw combat at Maktar, Medjez el Bab, Kasserine Pass, Gafsa, El Guettar, Beja, and Mateur, 21 January-9 May 1943, helping secure Tunisia. The First was the first ashore in the invasion of Sicily, 10 July 1943; it fought a series of short, fierce battles on the island's tortuous terrain. When that campaign was over, the Division returned to England to prepare for the Normandy invasion. The First Division assaulted Omaha Beach on D-day, 6 June 1944, some units suffering 30 percent casualties in the first hour, and secured Formigny and Caumont in the beachhead. The Division followed up the St. Lô breakthrough with an attack on Marigny, 27 July 1944, and then drove across France in a continuous offensive, reaching the German border at Aachen in September. The Division laid siege to Aachen, taking the city after a direct assault, 21 October 1944. The First then attacked east of Aachen through Hürtgen Forest, driving to the Roer, and moved to a rest area 7 December for its first real rest in 6 months' combat, when the von Rundstedt offensive suddenly broke loose, 16 December. The Division raced to the Ardennes, and fighting continuously from 17 December 1944 to 28 January 1945, helped blunt and turn back the German offensive. Thereupon, the Division attacked and again breached the Siegfried Line, fought across the Roer, 23 February 1945, and drove on to the Rhine, crossing at the Remagen bridgehead, 15-16 March 1945. The Division broke out of the bridgehead, took part in the encirclement of the Ruhr Pocket, captured Paderborn, pushed through the Harz Mountains, and was in Czechoslovakia, at Kinsperk, Sangerberg, and Mnichov, when the war in Europe ended. Richly illustrated with 115 photos and 19 maps.

This is a new release of the original 1947 edition.

As a combat medical aidman of Company B, 1st Medical Battalion, First Infantry Division, Allen N. Towne experienced some of the pivotal events of World War II. "Doctor B," as his unit was known, was attached to the 18th Regimental Combat Team and moved with them, providing continuous close medical support. Covering both little-known engagements, and such historic moments as the campaign in Sicily and the D Day landings at Omaha Beach, this book is both a memoir and a history of one of the war's most impressive units. The text is based on both official "morning reports" and the author's personal notes, providing accuracy as well as human insight. In Doctor Danger Forward ("danger forward" was the code name of the First Division headquarters), Towne, who received the Bronze Star and Oak Leaf Cluster for his heroism at Omaha Beach and Normandy, chronicles events both epic and intimate, profoundly serious as well as humorous. There are numerous maps and photographs, including many taken by the author.

Rare memoir of a risky job performed by relatively few troops. Honest and observant narrative describes the good, bad, and ugly of the war. Covers World War II's closing months in eastern France and Germany.