An Army at Dawn

V guy · October 20, 2010, 17:16

http://liberationtrilogy.com/

I have both of Rick Atkinsons published books in his Trilogy. He is working on the 3rd.

It is the story of the US in the war against Hitler.
If you are into the details and personalities and little stories about how the war passed day by day, event by event, these books are for you.

It is amazing how long it took to get us to get to the point that we could invade N. Africa and win.
"We knew nothing" in the words of Sgt Schultz, and that was correct at the time.

Little details like did you know that there were severe storms preceeding each of the big invasions? Africa, Scicily and Normandy all had monstrous gully washers. All the mistakes that could be made were made.

Atkinson can write so well as he tells the story, that it is like eating cheesecake--it is so full of details and info that it is "rich" reading. Atkinson has Patton and everyone else "nailed". Patton sounded like Bobby Kennedy, and as I read, I use that tidbit to hear Patton shout and scream in his Boston accent.

I should also plug the newly released "Strong men Armed"--by Bob Lekkie, of "The Pacific".
Lekki did great research and covered every last invasion that the Marines did in WWII.
His version of Guadalcanal in this book, is far different from his limited view in "Helmet for my Pillow". Lekkies account of Guadalcanal is about the best I have read so far.

His coverage of Bougainville, the atolls, Saipan, Tinian Guam, etc etc is amazing.
Marines are about the best thing that this nation had going for it.

Ssarge · October 21, 2010, 08:36

Patton with a Boston accent? He was born and raised in California, went to VMI and West Point. Where did he come up with a Boston accent?

V guy · October 21, 2010, 10:55

Patton met his wealthy Boston wife, Beatrice Ayers in the early 1900's, on annual vacations back east.
She said that at age 14 she was going to marry him.

After graduation from West Point, Patton married into Beatrices well established Boston family, the Ayers, who tried to change his career ideas, to business in Boston.
Patton obviously spent a lot of time in Boston in his early years. Polo, horses, fencing ,etc became his hobbies there, and at the Point.

Pattons voice quickly picked up the Boston accent from all the family and people contact there.
California does not have much of an accent and that would be normal. Patton just picked up the accent and kept it.

He no doubt knew the Kennedy's too--- Joe Kennedy the father, for sure and all the Irish gang, there in Boston society circles.

Patton's higher pitched voice and the Boston accent, now sounds just like Bobby Kennedy's. Patton emulated the Boston style.

There are very few speeches by Patton on youtube, but they are there.

Pattons son who also became a General-- had the voice his father wished he had. His son sounded just like George C. Scott, according to sources.

Patton's family home became Boston and the family estate.
It is just one of those things Boston- eastern things.

Pattons son's family home was Boston also. He died in 2004. More or less, Patton is now considered a Bostonian- Patrician, elite guy.

Ssarge · October 21, 2010, 11:14

GSPIII had 2d Armored Division at Ft. Hood while I was in 1st Cav Division. He went on to 7 Corp in Germany and then got releived from duty there.
Thanks for the clarification.

V guy · October 21, 2010, 11:26

The kids story is kind of tragic. Graduated from West Point in '46.
Vietnam vet- 3 tours. Shot down three times in choppers. Got a silver star in Korea.

They made him a Major General.

He kept a lifetime of diaries from childhood about he and his old man.

One of his discarded cigars burned up the basement office where he kept the diaries, and he got 2nd degree burns trying to salvage them.
He never had the heart to put it all back together from the scraps.

He had a friendship with Rommels son when in Germany. Kind of ironic, the two sons getting together.

He lived in the shadow of the old man his whole life until he died at age 80, in 2004.
His son did not choose a military career, terribly disappointing him too.

1stSSPZ · October 26, 2010, 07:30

Both books are fantastic, eagerly awaiting the third in the series. Are you in the Military History book club? I have been since the early 70's...

My .02, Leckies book pales in comparision with Eugene Sledge's book "With the Old Breed" at Peleliu and Okinawa.

V guy · October 26, 2010, 11:52

I agree about Leckies "Helmet for my Pillow", being so so, but his "Strong Men, Armed" about all the WWII Marine invasions, was a much better read.

What happened on Saipan, Tinian and Guam in the summer of '44, was nuts, and is in that book.

No military book club. I still get a bill from them, from back in the early 80's from time to time ,for books I paid for twice.

Ironhandjohn · October 30, 2010, 09:39

I've been trying to work my way through 'Day of Battle' by Atkinson, with varying degrees of success. I'm used to the folksy style of narration of Stephen Ambrose, and 'DoB' feels like a textbook in comparison.

October 20, 2010, 17:16	#1
V guy Registered FALaholic #: 10282 Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: miami Posts: 8,193	An Army at Dawn http://liberationtrilogy.com/ I have both of Rick Atkinsons published books in his Trilogy. He is working on the 3rd. It is the story of the US in the war against Hitler. If you are into the details and personalities and little stories about how the war passed day by day, event by event, these books are for you. It is amazing how long it took to get us to get to the point that we could invade N. Africa and win. "We knew nothing" in the words of Sgt Schultz, and that was correct at the time. Little details like did you know that there were severe storms preceeding each of the big invasions? Africa, Scicily and Normandy all had monstrous gully washers. All the mistakes that could be made were made. Atkinson can write so well as he tells the story, that it is like eating cheesecake--it is so full of details and info that it is "rich" reading. Atkinson has Patton and everyone else "nailed". Patton sounded like Bobby Kennedy, and as I read, I use that tidbit to hear Patton shout and scream in his Boston accent. I should also plug the newly released "Strong men Armed"--by Bob Lekkie, of "The Pacific". Lekki did great research and covered every last invasion that the Marines did in WWII. His version of Guadalcanal in this book, is far different from his limited view in "Helmet for my Pillow". Lekkies account of Guadalcanal is about the best I have read so far. His coverage of Bougainville, the atolls, Saipan, Tinian Guam, etc etc is amazing. Marines are about the best thing that this nation had going for it.

October 21, 2010, 08:36	#2
Ssarge Registered FALaholic #: 247 Join Date: Jul 2000 Location: Pensacola, Florida Posts: 7,473	Patton with a Boston accent? He was born and raised in California, went to VMI and West Point. Where did he come up with a Boston accent? __________________ http://militarysignatures.com/signatures/member899.png

October 21, 2010, 11:14	#4
Ssarge Registered FALaholic #: 247 Join Date: Jul 2000 Location: Pensacola, Florida Posts: 7,473	GSPIII had 2d Armored Division at Ft. Hood while I was in 1st Cav Division. He went on to 7 Corp in Germany and then got releived from duty there. Thanks for the clarification. __________________ http://militarysignatures.com/signatures/member899.png

October 21, 2010, 11:26	#5
V guy Registered FALaholic #: 10282 Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: miami Posts: 8,193	The kids story is kind of tragic. Graduated from West Point in '46. Vietnam vet- 3 tours. Shot down three times in choppers. Got a silver star in Korea. They made him a Major General. He kept a lifetime of diaries from childhood about he and his old man. One of his discarded cigars burned up the basement office where he kept the diaries, and he got 2nd degree burns trying to salvage them. He never had the heart to put it all back together from the scraps. He had a friendship with Rommels son when in Germany. Kind of ironic, the two sons getting together. He lived in the shadow of the old man his whole life until he died at age 80, in 2004. His son did not choose a military career, terribly disappointing him too. Last edited by V guy; October 21, 2010 at 11:31.

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October 21, 2010, 10:55	#3
V guy Registered FALaholic #: 10282 Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: miami Posts: 8,193	Patton met his wealthy Boston wife, Beatrice Ayers in the early 1900's, on annual vacations back east. She said that at age 14 she was going to marry him. After graduation from West Point, Patton married into Beatrices well established Boston family, the Ayers, who tried to change his career ideas, to business in Boston. Patton obviously spent a lot of time in Boston in his early years. Polo, horses, fencing ,etc became his hobbies there, and at the Point. Pattons voice quickly picked up the Boston accent from all the family and people contact there. California does not have much of an accent and that would be normal. Patton just picked up the accent and kept it. He no doubt knew the Kennedy's too--- Joe Kennedy the father, for sure and all the Irish gang, there in Boston society circles. Patton's higher pitched voice and the Boston accent, now sounds just like Bobby Kennedy's. Patton emulated the Boston style. There are very few speeches by Patton on youtube, but they are there. Pattons son who also became a General-- had the voice his father wished he had. His son sounded just like George C. Scott, according to sources. Patton's family home became Boston and the family estate. It is just one of those things Boston- eastern things. Pattons son's family home was Boston also. He died in 2004. More or less, Patton is now considered a Bostonian- Patrician, elite guy.

October 26, 2010, 07:30	#6
1stSSPZ Registered FALaholic #: 13771 Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Lubbock Texas Posts: 679	Both books are fantastic, eagerly awaiting the third in the series. Are you in the Military History book club? I have been since the early 70's... My .02, Leckies book pales in comparision with Eugene Sledge's book "With the Old Breed" at Peleliu and Okinawa.

October 26, 2010, 11:52	#7
V guy Registered FALaholic #: 10282 Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: miami Posts: 8,193	I agree about Leckies "Helmet for my Pillow", being so so, but his "Strong Men, Armed" about all the WWII Marine invasions, was a much better read. What happened on Saipan, Tinian and Guam in the summer of '44, was nuts, and is in that book. No military book club. I still get a bill from them, from back in the early 80's from time to time ,for books I paid for twice.

October 30, 2010, 09:39	#8
Ironhandjohn Registered FALaholic #: 11561 Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: 1187 Hundertwasser Posts: 2,351	I've been trying to work my way through 'Day of Battle' by Atkinson, with varying degrees of success. I'm used to the folksy style of narration of Stephen Ambrose, and 'DoB' feels like a textbook in comparison.