David Kenyon Webster’s memoir is a clear-eyed, emotionally charged chronicle of youth, camaraderie, and the chaos of war. Relying on his own letters home and recollections he penned just after his discharge, Webster gives a first hand account of life in E Company, 101st Airborne Division, crafting a memoir that resonates with the immediacy of a gripping novel.From the beaches of Normandy to … of Normandy to the blood-dimmed battlefields of Holland, here are acts of courage and cowardice, moments of irritating boredom punctuated by moments of sheer terror, and pitched urban warfare. Offering a remarkable snapshot of what it was like to enter Germany in the last days of World War II, Webster presents a vivid, varied cast of young paratroopers from all walks of life, and unforgettable glimpses of enemy soldiers and hapless civilians caught up in the melee. Parachute Infantry is at once harsh and moving, boisterous and tragic, and stands today as an unsurpassed chronicle of war—how men fight it, survive it, and remember it.
NOTE: This edition does not include photos.
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This is a must-read for Band of Brother fans. David Webster is actually one of the main true-life characters featured in the HBO WW2 series. Since it’s a memoir, at times it gets a little laborious to read (skipped several parts because of this), but the perspective he shares is so unique and authentic, I still really enjoyed this book. You can …
I like reading military history. This was a really good book with humor and the horror of war. It was told from a private’s point of view and from a private who really hated officers. I would hope if I ever had to face combat, I would approach it the way the writer of this book did.
After seeing Band of Brothers on television I was intrigued by David Webster. This is the book he wrote shortly after the war. It is an honest portrayal by him of his actions in the war and of the unit as a whole. This is a well written book by a man that came from privilege but did not pretend to be anything than what he was, a small part of a …
My father served in WW2 and he never wanted to talk about his experiences. This book helped me understand why. This was a very realistic and honest portrayal of war. War is sometimes necessary but it is never glorious or romantic. This was almost like a very detailed diary of a foot soldier’s three year service in Europe, mainly in France, …
An incredibly detailed historical account following American paratroopers and Dutch civilians involved in the Market-Garden operation through first person reminiscences. The accounts often overlap, showing incidents through the eyes of multiple participants.
It’s exciting, informative, and full of surprising incidents.
Well written first-hand account of WWII soldier. Another example of the greatest generation at its finest.
I would recommend this book to current and former army members. I am sure they will see the humor.
He spent more time gripping than talking about what was happening.
Probably the best book about the combat experience I’ve read, and I’ve read a lot of them. The author sugar-coats nothing, including his own behavior, and I admire him for his honesty. He says he isn’t brave, but he is.
Parachute Infantry is not as captivating as Band of Brothers. However, if you are fascinated with the 506th, then you will enjoy the book. If you are looking for just one book about the outfit, I would read Ambrose’’s Band of Brothers.
Good, albeit not great, war memoir.
My Dad was in the 82nd as a demolitions expert. He never talked about the war except for the frivolous stuff state side. He is dead now and I miss him every day.
I have read many accounts by soldiers in WW2 including Helmet for a Piilow and With the Old Breed – two of the best. I consider this book right up there with those two. It is realistic in that it is not all combat, but describes the life of a frontline grunt as well as anyone.