Paratrooper: The Life of General James M. Gavin

Paratrooper: The Life of General James M. Gavin
- Used Book in Good Condition
World War II, which occurred precisely at the juncture between air transport capability and the invention of the helicopter, saw historyâ€™s first and only mass use of paratroopers dropped into battle from the sky, perhaps the most courageous combat task seen in modern warfare. And "Jumpin' Jim" Gavin was by all accounts Americaâ€™s best paratrooper leader.

His first combat jump was in Sicily, where as a battalion commander he found his men scattered all over the landscape in one of airborneâ€™s greatest fiascos. Yet his stand with a few stalwarts at Biazza Ridge is credited with saving the U.S. invasion front. In Normandy, as assistant division commander of the 82nd Airborne, he won the eternal affection of his men for continuing to lead in combat, M-1 slung over his shoulder, even as his paratroopers were similarly scattered and faced German fire on all sides. His cool leadership served to coalesce the paratrooper bridgehead behind enemy lines until infantry from the beaches could finally reach them.

During Operation Market Garden, now as commander of the 82nd, Gavin wrote a new chapter in paratrooper heroism, seizing all his objectives despite a serious spinal injury on landing. With hardly a respite after the grueling campaign in Holland, Gavin and his men were called upon for perhaps their most dangerous taskâ€•stemming the German onslaught during the Battle of the Bulge. Though most historical kudos have gone to the 101st Airborne in that battle, for their gallant stand at Bastogne, it was the 82ndâ€™s stand at St. Vithâ€•where the Germans truly wanted to break throughâ€•that equally foiled Hitlerâ€™s last offensive attempt in the west.

After the war Gavin continued to earn as much respect from policymakers as he had from his men, providing commentary on our Cold War stance, the war in Vietnam, and as Kennedyâ€™s ambassador to France. He was not an unflawed individual, as this comprehensive biography reveals, but an exceptional one in every sense, especially during his days of combat leadership during historyâ€™s greatest war.

REVIEWS

â€œ a riveting account of an exceptional American soldierâ€¦.reveals that Gavin had his flaws but he was an extraordinary person in every sense especially as a leader in combat during WW2.
Toy Soldier Model Figure

â€œâ€¦offers a remarkable portrait of one of Americaâ€™s greatest field commanders. It analyzes his unique leadership, unveils his stormy private life (including affairs with actress Marlene Dietrich and correspondent Martha Gellhorn) and explores the revolutionary advances in warfare spearheaded by his beloved 82nd Airborne.â€
WORLD WAR II Magazine

"The book describes combat both from an overall perspective and from the perspective of Gavin and his men. The descriptions are gripping. They show Gavin to be a brilliant commander, though not without flaws. . . . Throughout his professional life he remained a vital voice in US military policy decisions. Paratrooper is a fitting tribute to his remarkable life and legacy."

America in WWII

â€œParatrooper is well researched and well written, and the book successfully conveys the warrior qualities of courage and determination that made Gavin such an exemplary leader in battleâ€¦â€
Journal of Americaâ€™s Military Past
Country USA
Brand Casemate
Manufacturer Casemate
Binding Hardcover
UnitCount 1
EANs 9781612001272
ReleaseDate 0000-00-00

Country	USA
Brand	Casemate
Manufacturer	Casemate
Binding	Hardcover
UnitCount	1
EANs	9781612001272
ReleaseDate	0000-00-00

Paratrooper: The Life of General James M. Gavin

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