The Letters of a Combat Rifleman

By Charles Davis

No Synopsis Available.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0805950478
• ISBN13: 9780805950472
• Release Date: January 2000
• Publisher: Dorrance Pub Co
• Length: 249 Pages
• Weight: 0.95 lbs.
• Dimensions: 8.5" x 0.5" x 5.8"

Customer Reviews

Lock and Load!

This personal memoir of a combat rifleman in the ETO during WWIIgives one a bird's eye view of the dogface's experience in the battle of Germany during the closing months of the war. It is based on the author's letters written home at the time which were saved by the spouse. As such it gives a contemporaneous account of the author's wartime activities from a personal perspective. It is interspersed with other recollections of his unit's movement in pursuit of the German Army towards Berlinand the long-awaited victory and return home to his family. It reads well and is highly recommended to all.

Read why war is hell on earth

The Letters of a Combat Rifleman By Charles Davis Books written by soldiers of their experiences in war hold a special place for me. I have the utmost respect for these veterans who take time to write down their experiences for future generations, so we never forget how horrible war is. Hollywood tries to glamorize war when in fact it is a dirty, dirty business. Private Davis was assigned to the 104th Oregon Timberwolf Division at Zundert, Holland. For the next 185 days he would be a part of the Army that pushed through Holland, Belgium and finally into the heartland of Germany until the war was finally over. Mr. Davis portrays his story from letters that he wrote home and a diary he kept of his days in combat. He tells of little known facts that the history books don't mention. History books and regimental records only tell of troop movements, battles engaged, won or lost but fail to cover the misery the foot slogging infantry soldier endures day after day. After all wars are won by the grunts on the ground. History books also do not tell of the mistakes, misjudgments and downright negligence of the command structure in combat. Most of the non-commissioned officers he meets know their job through experience. However, many of the officers of whom the author speaks have combat experience, but make many bad decisions that cost men their lives, including some of Mr. Davis' closest friends. As he pointed out, he went through three company commanders in a very short period of time. Total confusion, troops lost, misdirected movements of men, street fighting, night fighting are all covered in this book. This will give the uninitiated a glimmer of why war is hell on earth. He also witnesses first hand of the European War's highest ace, Major George E. Preddy, Jr. being shot down by friendly fire, while the author is trying to hunt ducks. Mr. Davis points out many of the glaring inadequacies of the training the men received before being sent into the meat grinder called war. Many would lose their lives from very simple errors, like not having their rifles zeroed in, misdirected fire from artillery, bombs from aircraft or being strafed by "friendlies." (Today we call this friendly fire or fratricide.) He also gives you an insight of the mindset of a scared, dirty, hungry, bone weary soldier who enjoys the simplest joys of life, such as a hot meal, a bath and clean clothes after seven weeks on the line or finally getting sleeping bags in January 1945. There was also the constant fear of death as men all around him die, or are severely wounded. By the end of the war in April 1945, there very few men left that he started out with 185 days earlier. I recommend this book for anyone interested in history. It will fill in all the dirty details that history books omit. Mr. Davis takes you back to a time of utmost horror in a contest that can kill or maim you in a heartbeat. Other times he talks of the civilians they encounter and their ha