American Warriors - History of US Paratroopers prior to Normandy 1944

Description: American Warriors Pictorial History of American Paratroopers Prior to Normandy ----- Written by Michel De Trez ---------------------------------------------- D-Day Publishing, 1994 - First Edition ---------------------------------------------- Hardcover : Like New Condition. Very, very Slight wear to the corner tips, otherwise crisp and bright. Clean inside - no prior owner marks 209 pages - Loaded with photos and illustrations. Printed in French and English in a side by side, column format============================from the D-Day Publishing Website AMERICAN WARRIORS is the first volume of the “Campaign series” a series covering the involvement of the American paratroopers in the invasion of Europe.This series, written in both French and English, is a unique illustrated insight into the operations fought by the famous American paratroops on their way to liberate the fortress Europe. Contained in its 211 pages is the first striking pictorial record covering the paratrooper’s preparation for Operation Overlord – including their training, their bases and their staging areas. Those days prior to the jump in history have been extremely well represented with nearly 300 superb, very clear, black & white and a few color period photographs. It also includes many full color close-ups on Airborne memorabilia, including many items recovered from the battlefield as well as veterans’ uniforms and equipment. Michel De Trez was born in 1965. He has had an interest in WWII history since his early years. As a child, he starts to collect some objects in the family home left in Belgium by American soldiers. Among these, a canteen on which a name and a serial number can be seen: “Guth”. Quite naturally, when he plays war games with the other children of his age, Michel is called Guth. But, who was this soldier? What could have been the motivation for these young Americans who had deliberately left their country, their family, all that they had or liked, to risk losing everything to liberate us from the Nazi regime? Was he still alive? These are questions he often raise, but at the time there was no Internet and it was not easy to find someone living in another country.At the age of 17, managing only a few words of English, he undertakes his very first trip, alone, to the United States with the idea of meeting American veterans to gather their war recollections. And who knows, maybe tracking down Mister Guth. His interest revolves around the History of the American paratroopers with a specific interest in the WWII pictures depicting paratroopers taken by war photographers. For months on end, he searches through the records of the National Archives of Washington, listing and collecting pictures, classifying them by campaign, unit and attends veterans’ numerous reunions to identify, as much as possible, the men on these photos and the location where they were taken.A meticulous work of investigation is carried out and thanks to this passion he can then build up unique archives… maybe the world’s largest on the subject.Following a meeting with Cornell Capa, the young brother of the famous photographer and war reporter Robert Capa, he’s invited to the international Center of Photography of the 5th avenue of New York and granted access to the prestigious collection of photos shot by Robert Capa for Life Magazine.Nine years passed, and what about Guth you may think? Still no trace of him.Michel has collected, identified and classified thousands of photographs never released before that he would like to share with as many people as possible. To do this, he plans on publishing through a series of books covering the campaigns carried out by American paratroopers in Europe. To complete this project his own way, he founds the publishing company D-Day Publishing. Whilst writing his first book in 1992, he comes across a photograph published in a book : “Band of Brothers.” A caption identifies an American soldier on a photograph: Forrest Guth. Guth… could it be the owner of the canteen?In the book, we learn that Guth is of German origin and like many German immigrants, he resided with his family in a region of Pennsylvania before the war.A phone book on hand, a few phone calls and there he is on the line with Forrest Guth whom he meets at his home a few months later. It is definitely his writing, his army serial number matches, there is no doubt, the canteen is his and now it can tell its story: “In 1944, Forrest, a paratrooper, fought in Belgium …” ===================================Thank you for supporting independent booksellers ! (not bulk resellers who don't know the first thing about what they are selling !) I pride myself on knowing my stock, accurate descriptions, and good packing !!! The Rock Top Book Shop and Bindery Cashtown, Pennsylvania ====================================== Thanks for Looking !!! ---------------------------------------------------------- Postage is free (within Continental US - others at cost) either by media mail or priority depending upon the final sale price of the items(s). I always include delivery confirmation, and will insure more expensive packages at my cost. Check my other auctions for other mostly military (all periods) related books, documents, and ephemera, plus the occasional other book or curiosity.

Price: 100 USD

Location: Cashtown, Pennsylvania

End Time: 2025-01-16T15:41:39.000Z

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