This rarely frank account of the U.S. infantry experience in northern Europe takes the reader from the beaches of Normandy through the giddy drive across France, to the brutal battles on the Westwall, the Ardennes, and finally to the conquest of Germany itself. Michael Bilder, a member of the U.S. 5th (Red Diamond) Infantry Division, played a unique role in the Third Army's onslaught. A rifleman foremost, he was also a ?German-speaker?, called upon for interrogations and special duties. An astute observer, he relates numerous fascinating insights into the campaign, from dealing with German snipers to intoxicated Frenchwoman, as well as relaying the often morbid humour of combat. 16 pages of illustrations
