- Reaction score
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- Points
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http://cnews.canoe.ca/CNEWS/MediaNews/2006/11/16/2379025-ap.html
Another great soldier and great citizen goes to the ancestors.
I never met the man but from what I understand he was a truly amazing person. His 'Guns' trilogy is a phenomenal first-person account of World War 2, from the outbreak of the war and the formation of the 4th field artillery regiment throught normandy and on to the end of the war. I've read the set several times, and it is a great historical account of the progress of the regiment.
I had the good luck to take The Guns of Normandy with me to France when I took my daughter over for the 60th Anniversary of D-Day. It was amazing to walk the Verrieres Ridge as I read about the battles that had taken place there 60 years ago. The books paint an amazing picture of the confusion and horror of the war, but it has some pretty funny parts. My favourite was when he returned from an o-group to find his soldiers staggering around a farmyard drunk as skunks. The farmer was some pissed off about it, and said something to the effect of 'I had all this Calvados hidden from the Germans for 5 years and the damn Canadians find it in 5 minutes!'
I don't mean to run on about the books, but that's how I knew him and I admire him a great deal. If anyone knew him and has any interesting stories to share, I would love to read them. And if you have not read these books, put them on your Christmas wish list - you won't be disappointed.
Another great soldier and great citizen goes to the ancestors.
I never met the man but from what I understand he was a truly amazing person. His 'Guns' trilogy is a phenomenal first-person account of World War 2, from the outbreak of the war and the formation of the 4th field artillery regiment throught normandy and on to the end of the war. I've read the set several times, and it is a great historical account of the progress of the regiment.
I had the good luck to take The Guns of Normandy with me to France when I took my daughter over for the 60th Anniversary of D-Day. It was amazing to walk the Verrieres Ridge as I read about the battles that had taken place there 60 years ago. The books paint an amazing picture of the confusion and horror of the war, but it has some pretty funny parts. My favourite was when he returned from an o-group to find his soldiers staggering around a farmyard drunk as skunks. The farmer was some pissed off about it, and said something to the effect of 'I had all this Calvados hidden from the Germans for 5 years and the damn Canadians find it in 5 minutes!'
I don't mean to run on about the books, but that's how I knew him and I admire him a great deal. If anyone knew him and has any interesting stories to share, I would love to read them. And if you have not read these books, put them on your Christmas wish list - you won't be disappointed.
