Ghost Army of World War II

by Jack Kneece

Book Overview

In 1942, the U.S. began to form a handpicked army to fight in Europe. What made it different is that its troops were composed of artists, actors, meteorologists, and sound technicians, and their true mission was not to fight, but to deceive the German army.

Information about the 23rd Headquarters Special Troops was classified top secret until 1996. Following the declassification, Jack Kneece interviewed many of the key personnel involved...

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1565548760
• ISBN13: 9781565548763
• Release Date: May 2001
• Publisher: Pelican Publishing Company
• Length: 280 Pages
• Weight: 1.35 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.1" x 6.4" x 9.2"

Customer Reviews

A great original story told well

I'm already on my third copy -- it's impossible to get away from house guests after they've begun reading it. A dear friend and veteran of WWII came to visit and was captivated by it. It left on the plane with him.I dearly love the retelling of stories of WWII, as has been done so well recently by Brokaw in The Greatest Generation, but there is something special about an important, completely original story. Discovering formerly classified documents, the author has told a previously little known story. The anecdotes are fascinating, and the historical context is interesting without being intruding.The story is almost too unlikely to be believed, something like a "Kelly's Heroes" or "Dirty Dozen" war movie. Future fashion icon Bill Blass joins with other highly talented people to trick the enemy repeatedly into misplacing resources to counter a ghost army. (The scene in Kelly's Heroes where Donald Sutherland uses loudspeakers to blast music at the Germans and adds a steel tube to the tank to make them think he has a bigger cannon is eerily reminiscent of what really happened in the "Ghost Army".)The book is a good read and a welcome addition to the library of any WWII buff.

Unearthing one of WW II's Best Kept Secrets

For more than 50 years the exploits of the "Ghost Army" - actually the Twenty-third Headquarters Special Troops - were a closely guarded military secret. These 1,100 men had a special talent to decieve, mislead and confuse the enemy (traits I am sure ex-president Bill Clinton would have admired and issued them medals for if he had ever been told about them. Kneece, a veteran reporter and excellent story-teller, recreates the thrills and dangers these men encountered in a humorous and revealing account that fascinates and makes you chest-thumping proud of men who could perform so intelligently and innovatively in life and death situations. Unlike many writers of history, Kneece's account reflects the accuracy of what actually happened through hundreds of interviews with the survivors - many of whom never told their wives what they did in World War II until the records concerning the Ghost Army were declassified in 1996. Kneece is to be commended for writing a compelling, funny and historically important book. This is a work that cries out for recognition, both for the veterans who saved tens of thousands of lives as World War II soldiers and for Kneece, who has given them the recognition they so deserve. Ghost Army is a movie waiting to happen. Casting should begin immediately for who will play Bill Blass (who became a world-famous fashion designer); Lt. Dick Syracuse, the poker-playing, fun-loving, well-liked leader; Pvt. Bob Tompkins, whose real-life love story is better than Ben Afleck's in the movie "Pearl Harbor", or Cpl. Bill Enderlein, who has begun to recognize how over-looked for their war contributions the 23rd has been. It's rare that a history book comes along that tells the story in a way that you can feel compassion for the soldiers, understand the officers, laugh at the enemy and verify it all after the fact. A must-read for any history buff and a fun-read for everyone.

Ghost Army WW2 reads like Ernie Pyle revisited 55 yrs later

Author and journalist Jack Kneece tells the story of the heretofore secret exploits of the 23rd HQ (Special Troops}under Bradley's 15th Corps to deceive German Army deployment by deception, stealth, and phoney troop movements. Landing shortly after DDay at Normandy this 1100 man unit could and did imitate an Armored Division...Via personal interviews with surviving members (from PFCs, corporals, and junior officers)ala Pyle.. the writer depicts numerous events both humorous and serious. Their presence on the flanks of friendly US Army units is believed to have saved untold thousands of lives, both Allied & German. According to Kneece The Ghost Army survivors are still striving to gain recognition of their Unit, let alone appropriate awards.

Ghost Army of World War II

This story is fascinating and reads like a mystery thriller. I could not put the book down.

PROUD OF OUR VETS

THIS WAS AN AMAZING BOOK. THE HARDSIPS OUR VETS OF THE GHOST ARMY SUFFERED WAS EXCEEDED ONLY BY THEIR RAW TALENTS AND HONOR TO OUR COUNTRY. I DID NOT REALIZE HOW MUCH WE OWE THESE VETS WHO WERE INSTRUMENTAL IN FOOLING THE NAZI FORCES. TO DISCOVER THAT BILL BLASS AND MEN LIKE HIM SAVED THOUSANDS OF LIVES DURING THE WAR WAS UNBELIEVABLE. THE FACT THAT NO ONE WAS EVER TOLD OF THEIR EXPLOITS IS BEYOND BELIEF. THEY WORKED LONG HARD HOURS UNDER A SEVERE BLANKET OF TOP SECRET COVER THAT LASTED 50 YEARS AND DEPRIVED THESE BRAVE VETS OF THE RECONGITION THEY SO RICHELY DESERVE. MY HAT IS OFF TO THOSE BRAVE SOULS AND THE AUTHOR WHO BROUGHT THEIR ASTONISHING DEEDS TO LIGHT. I HOPE SOMEONE WILL LEAN ON THOSE WHO CAN RECOGNIZE THEIR DEED AND SEE THAT THEY GET THE RECGONITION THE EARNED, BUT NEVER RECEIVED.THANKS TO THEM ALL,PHIL KING