101st Airborne: The Screaming Eagles in World War II

by Mark Bando

In 1942, the 82nd Infantry Division at Camp Claiborne, Louisiana, was split in two. One of the new divisions began intense preparations and training for a surprise landing on the Nazi-occupied European continent. The location was Normandy, France; the date was June 6, 1944; and the division was the 101st Airborne: the legendary "band of brothers."

This is the story of that divisions heroic performance on D-Day, and right up to the Allied...

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0760329842
• ISBN13: 9780760329849
• Release Date: September 2007
• Publisher: Zenith Press
• Length: 256 Pages
• Weight: 0.05 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.1" x 9.5" x 11.1"

Customer Reviews

Bando brings WWII 101st oral history to life in this marvelous photo-documented study.

Mark Bando, a name synonymous with the history of the 101st Airborne Division in World War II, has delivered his finest work to date. Having just completed this masterpiece, 101st Airborne - The Screaming Eagles In World War II, I must admit that I was disappointed by one thing, that it came to an END! For those of you who have already read it, what more can I say? And for those of you who will read it, you had better set aside a good amount of time because you won't put it down once you start. For Bando, this represents the pinnacle of a lifetime devoted to gathering and preserving WWII Screaming Eagle history. You will not be disappointed. This book is special. In the past, Bando has produced outstanding works. His distinct style, that of basing his work primarily on first hand oral accounts, has brought to us the history of the 101st Division in a manner typically lacking in other books. It is this personal account approach that sets Bando's books apart from the rest and where 101st Airborne... excels. By combining these accounts with hundreds of incredible, never before seen photographs, Bando brings the story to life. This book delivers both in a large format with top quality photo reproduction and is the reason 101st Airborne... stands apart from the rest of his books. It is a gorgeous book that sets a new standard for preserving history. From unit formation and stateside training, to the end of the war, 101st Airborne... spans the entire history of the 101st during WWII. The story starts with a fitting tribute to Dick Winters for his courageous leadership, exemplifying the 101st paratrooper, and ends with a unique chapter detailing the good and the bad of collecting Airborne related artifacts in today's challenging environment. In between, besides utilizing first hand accounts to explain the history of the 101st, the reader is treated to unique side-stories [personal vignettes] that are highlighted in grey shaded boxes. These stories alone are some of the best parts of the book. Of special note are five accounts related to Don Hettrick's incredible experiences. Other stories, such as the ones with Reg Davies and Guy Whidden deliver equally remarkable combat accounts. But just as enjoyable are the hundreds of fascinating photos, carefully selected by Bando, to illuminate the history of the Screaming Eagles. These photos demonstrate the trials and tribulations of the veterans who accomplished so much. The sources for these photos are manifold but especially noteworthy are the ones provided by Jim Bigley, Don Hettrick, Al Krochka, Joe Pangerl, John Reeder, Nadine Wierzbowski-Field and Don Zahn. Utilized extensively throughout the book, these photographs capture the true essence of life and death for the 101st soldier. They are the heartbeat of the book. Other special goodies such as a copy of Gen.Maxwell Taylor's typed message to the troops prior to Market-Garden combine to make this a great read. After over thirty years of documenting per

Finest work!

Mark Bando has achieved a level few authors ever have or truly ever will, he has produced a historical record unsurpassed in documentation, artifacts, photos and first person accounts. 101st Airborne: The Screaming Eagles in World War II takes the scholar/historian/reader through every phase of the unit, from the standing up of a Division to the men who volunteered to become a part of it, through the bitter fighting of Normandy, Holland, Bastogne, and beyond. This work has completed Marks journey as a true historian; if you believe Cicero defined what a historian really is: "The first law of the historian is that he shall never dare utter an untruth. The second is that he shall suppress nothing that is true. Moreover, there shall be no suspicion of partiality in his writing, or of malice." - Cicero (106-43 B.C.) I believe this is where Mark stands above other, possibly more (in)famous author-historians; from "Vanguard...", "Avenging Eagles", "101st Airborne: ... Normandy", "101st Airborne: ....Holland to Hitler's Eagles Nest", and now 101st Airborne: The Screaming Eagles in World War II culminates a lifetime of dedication to the Division, and has brought us full circle in recording the history and the actions of the 101st, and when others have embellished, omitted, or changed the history of the units they write about, Mark speaks of the good and bad, the heroic and disturbing, the way it was for the real 101st Airborne Division in WWII. His devotion to his work, his love of those men, and his desire to share their history are evident on every page. Those of us who love military history owe Mark Bando more than we can ever repay.

Magnificent

Let me be honest - I buy a lot of WWII books, probably 1 a week. I do so not only because I am a working battlefield tour guide and historian but because I love to read about the men who fought for the freedoms we enjoy today. What adjectives can I use about Mark Bando's new book - authoritative, complete, unrivalled, stunning, beautiful, fascinating? These are just a few that spring to mind. For a one-stop book telling the story of the famous Screaming Eagles look no further than this gorgeous volume. Not only, as another reviewer states has the author got the historical credentials to back up his writing, he also has a great knack for getting to the heart of a story concisely and entertainingly. But best of all in this book (and I have all his others too) is the stunning quality of the photographic images. Reproduced in crisp black and white on heavyweight glossy paper the famous oft-printed photos look better than ever and the new unpublished gems leap off the page. This book will not go un-read onto my shelves to sit with the mistake purchases, within a year I expect this book to be oft-read, well thumbed and constantly on my desk. Well done Mr Bando!

Another exceptional Bando book on the 101st Airborne

This is not my favorite Mark Bando book, but I guess I'm a bit spoiled in that it's the fifth Mark Bando authored book I own, and two of them are long out of print. That said, 101st Airborne, The Screaming Eagles in World War II is an excellent addition to the history of the 101st Airborne. The chronological narrative, from inception and training, through Berchtesgaden and the end of World War II, is classic Bando; chock full of anecdotes, historical tid-bits, and many previously unpublished photos. While there are many troopers who have written first-person accounts, and many individuals who have interviewed 101st Airborne troopers and written books featuring those interviews, no one has known and interviewed more troopers than Bando. The flavor and feeling Bando pulls from those interviews sets his work well apart from other books about the 101st Airborne. No matter how much you think you know about the 101st Airborne, there will undoubtedly be parts of this book that have you saying to yourself, "wow, I didn't know that!". And that is part of the great joy of any Mark Bando book; the fresh perspective on a subject that many would claim has already been dealt with overwhelmingly. All of Mark Bando's books on the 101st Airborne are treasures. Whether you're a long-time fan of the 101st Airborne, or someone who's picking up a book on the Screaming Eagles for the first time, this volume certainly warrants a spot in your book collection.

Stand Up, Hook Up! A WWII 101st Airborne Classic!!!

It is easy to be an admirer of Mark Bando, a former Detroit Police Officer and a man who has devoted the better part of his life learning first-hand the history of the 101st Airborne Division in WWII from the Men who made it. This unbridled passion, admiration and unparalleled repect for the Screaming Eagles has led Bando to write what is nothing short of a classic. While I have always enjoyed Mr. Bando's books, his 7th, in my opinion, is the best to date. An absolute historical masterpiece. This book claims the distinction of 'can't put down' status, that is, once you start reading and viewing it, you won't stop until you reach the last word and the last picture on the last page. Once you reach this point, unquestionably, you will start all over again - it is truly that good! This book will be enjoyed by those who have a thirst to learn about the history of the 101st for the first time, yet will be equally satisfying and thoroughly enjoyed by those who have studied this great Airborne Division for several years. The 101st Airborne: The Screaming Eagles in WWII, masterfully weaves together the history of this elite Division, from it's inception to its deactivation. By utilizing unforgettable and widely published images of the 101st during WWII, and by introducing a plethora of photographs that have never been published before, the author truly has delivered a pictorial history of the 101st Airborne that is a classic. But what this book it not, is simply a pictorial history. It is much more. What really brings this book home is the author's unparalleled and truly humbling knowledge of the history of the 101st in WWII, and the men who made it. The author has been interviewing these Great Americans since 1968, and through his life's dedication, he has enabled himself to unquestionably be the world's leading and most knowledgeable WWII 101st Airborne historian - and deservedly so. Just when you think Mr. Bando has revealed all he has learned about the 101st, he skillfully delivers a booked packed with a voluminous amount of riveting and historically important information about the Screaming Eagles. His amazing ability to recall and recite the history of the 101st is laden with such precise detail, that one would think the author actually lived out these events during the war. I couldn't help but feel while I was reading this book that I, the reader, was experiencing these events as well, as the precise detail delivered by the author, and the first-hand accounts from the Veterans truly deliver an exhilarating reading experience. The last time a book made me feel this way was Philip Caputo's "A Rumor of War." This book will make you laugh (`packing a parachute is like making love to a porcupine.. both are done very carefully) and will make you cry. It will inspire you. It will humble you. A nice touch is the section on collecting 101st Airborne artifacts, which to the unassuming and uninformed, is a treacherous and unforgiving mi