Brothers In Battle, Best of Friends

by William Guarnere, Edward Heffron, Robyn Post

Tom Hanks introduces the "remarkable" (Publishers Weekly) story of two inseparable friends and soldiers portrayed in the HBO miniseries Band of Brothers.

William "Wild Bill" Guarnere and Edward "Babe" Heffron were among the first paratroopers of the U.S. Army members of an elite unit of the 101st Airborne Division called Easy Company. The crack unit was called upon for every high-risk operation of the war, including D-Day, Operation Market Garden in Holland, the Battle of the Bulge, and the capture of Hitler's Eagle's Nest in Berchtesgaden. Both men fought side by side& until Guarnere lost his leg in the Battle of the Bulge and was sent home. Heffron went on to liberate concentration camps and take Hitler's Eagle's Nest hideout. United by their experience, they reconnected at the war's end and have been best friends ever since. Their story is a tribute to the lasting bond forged between comrades in arms and to all those who fought for freedom.

Genres: History, Nonfiction, World War II, Biography, War, Military Fiction, Military History

320 pages, Hardcover

First published October 2, 2007

About the author

William J. Guarnere is a former non-commissioned officer with Easy Company, 2nd Battalion, 506th Parachute Infantry Regiment, in the 101st Airborne Division of the United States Army during World War II. Guarnere was portrayed in the HBO miniseries Band of Brothers by Frank John Hughes. Guarnere wrote Brothers in Battle, Best of Friends: Two WWII Paratroopers from the Original Band of Brothers Tell Their Story with Edward Heffron and Robyn Post in 2007.

Reviews

[Wendy Holliday · Rating 4 out of 5]

I don't understand when people say things like, "Not very well written.." when it is very obvious that the 'memoir' in question is by someone who is not a writer or a novelist.

Yes, memoirs are 'helped' along by someone who knows what they are doing. But to take the 'voice' out, and make sure that there are no grammatical errors, or stuff like that would take away from the charm that these two Philly natives add to their story.

'Disappointing' too, is another adjective that I don't get when applied to this memoir... Really? You're disappointed when you read this? I ask, What did you expect?? A Hollywood version of events? More gory details?? Really? Was it too boring for you, or too detailed?

I enjoyed this book on a level that is gave me more insight into a generation who did things because it was the right thing to do. They were more motivated by a sense of duty and service to a country that has given us so much opportunity than people of today are.

[Teija · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm a bit of an Easy Company junkie, and I've come to take quite a liking to the stories of Bill Guarnere in particular (the man has a way with words!) so a whole book by him and Heffron and I was more than excited to pick it up. There's a lot of new material in this book, from their own experience -- stuff that didn't make it into Band of Brothers, or Beyond Band of Brothers, or any of the other collections that have come out about the Easy men -- and once again it was a pleasure to be able to read it and hear about their experiences in WWII. These are incredible men, simply incredible.

[Alicia · Rating 4 out of 5]

John and I and our two teenagers watched Band of Brothers a few months ago. It was hard to watch, but really, really good. I picked up this book at a rummage sale soon afterwards and my oldest daughter (she's almost 18) tore right through it and insisted that I read it too. I finally did. These guys and what they went through is rough - there's messy and uncensored stuff here - beautiful, heartfelt stuff too. It's part of our story as a country, as human beings, and I think we need to get more comfortable talking with our kids - when they're old enough - about these sorts of tough and messy things, stories, people, etc.

My daughter was right that the ending was the best. When you read Bill and Babe's explanations of the perspective they got on life from surviving the war, and what life means to them because of that, it may very well change your life too.

[Emily · Rating 4 out of 5]

AHHH I was crying by the end of this book.

My review: http://www.authoremilyannputzke.com/2...

[Mellissa · Rating 5 out of 5]

5/5⭐️//👂🏻// In honor of Memorial Day I read this book. It was great! If you loved Band of Brothers this is a deeper look into Wild Bill and Babe. They discuss the stories you know, but add even more context. You learn so much more about their personalities and their feelings about what they went through. They also discuss their feelings on the book Band of Brothers, the show, and Saving Private Ryan. (50/110) #readlist2023

[mackenzie · Rating 5 out of 5]

“The heroes are the kids who gave 100 percent; they gave their lives. The heroes are the mothers who gave up a son, who carried him for nine months, and raised him to do right, and he does right, and at eighteen, he goes to fight for his country, and he dies doing right. That's a hero.“

Okay, so I just gotta say that I am obsessed with this book. It has to be the best one I’ve read by the Easy Company men so far. This is excellent and a must read if you’re a fan of Band of Brothers.

[Allan · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was an Audible Daily Deal, aptly on sale on D Day, June 6th, and told the stories of two US paratroopers from 'Easy Company' of 101st Airborne, Bill Guarnere and Babe Hefron, from their growing up on the streets of South Philadelphia during the Great Depression, to their being immortalised in the HBO series 'Band of Brothers', but focussing unsurprisingly on their service during some of the bloodiest battles in Europe in World War 2.

I was fascinated as a child by my grandfather's reminiscence of his travels and experiences during the war, and immersed myself from an early age in comics and children's novels set during that period, but obviously none of these captured the true horrors that those engaging in heavy combat had to go through, at what was a very young age (most were still only 18 or 19). Bill and Babe recount their experiences, including some chilling cold blooded moments that would be frowned upon by society today, with a lot of humour and frankness, at all times playing down their own bravery in the face of often horrendous odds.

While it's hard to be completely sympathetic toward such unreformed characters while looking at them through 21st century eyes, one can't help but admire the sacrifices they and their fellow soldiers made throughout the theatre of war in 1939-45, and it's fitting that their stories have been immortalised in books like this one, and via the aforementioned mini series 'Band of Brothers', which I intend to watch on the back of reading this book.

[Audrey · Rating 4 out of 5]

So, so good. A few weeks ago, I watched the HBO series "Band of Brothers", about the 101st Airborne Division during WWII, and LOVED it. It was like 11 hours long, but as soon as it was over I popped the first disc in to watch it again (Just for the record, I've been working on some super-secret Christmas presents that are fairly time intensive, so I watch a lot of TV while I'm working on them. I try not to watch that much normally.). Anyway, I loved it. So I was looking at the show's Wikipedia page, and there are a lot of books written by the members of the company. This is one of many that I'm sure I'll try to finish this year. I picked it up at like 10 at night on a Sunday night, thinking I would just read a few pages before bed. Nope. Finished it at 1 in the morning and was useless at work the next day (actually, I may have called in? Anyway. Not relevant). It was awesome to read the first-hand stories of the things I had seen in the miniseries. Totally recommended, if you're at all interested in the history of the European Front during WWII.

[Jonelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am only half way through, I already know this book will get the 5 stars.
I've met both Bill and Babe and have listened to Bill tell some of these stories, and now as I read this, I can hear his voice, picture the cigarette between his fingers as he claps his hands and says his, "bing-bang-boom" or does that whistle thing as he tells certain stories. I can hear Babe's quieter voice--I was in Holland for the 60th anniversary of Market Garden and was with a group with (Bill and) Babe as he described the canal and bridge fights--and tells the story of the eldely Dutch woman hitting the German soldier with her purse. Reading this book makes me appreciate so much more the sacrifices made and histories that these men can tell.

The format of the book is great--it maintains their voices, dialect, and grammar without some cleansing editor's input.

This book is a must read if you have even the slightest admiration for a WW2 vet, or if you enjoyed the BoB series.

[Abby Jones · Rating 4 out of 5]

I stumbled on this little treasure at Half-Price Bookstore and read it on Black Friday instead of going shopping. Anytime I watch Band of Brothers I tend to get a little obsessed. This is the third book I've read about Easy Company. There are also some interviews on YouTube that I'm working through. This book focuses on only two members of Easy Company: Wild Bill and Babe. They grew up only blocks from each other without ever meeting and served together in Market Garden and the Battle of the Bulge where Wild Bill lost his leg. After the war was over Babe looked Wild Bill up and they've been best pals ever since, dying only months apart.

Because you get to see their lives from the beginning, you get a sense of why their generation was able to do what they did. They grew up hard and fast, but with strong families and close friends. Then they joined the unique training experiment of the 101st Airborne and . . . the rest is history.

Rated PG-13 (Young men at war, war)

[Scott Ashby · Rating 5 out of 5]

I can't recommend this book highly enough. 11/10. It really affected me.

[Max-ray · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm a fan of WWII stories, I've read most of Ambrose's books on the subject. When I was younger, I read many books that focused on the "Big Picture"; the General's strategies, where the front lines were drawn, the weaponry and units involved. All a Top Down view of war.

What I have come to enjoy so much more are the stories of the men in the trenches, the Privates, Seargents and Leutenants in a battle. These guys have no idea what is going on from a General's point of view. All they know is that they've been sent here to attack or hold this position. That is what they were trained to do and damn if they weren't going to accomplish the task given them.

Bill and Babe make a great story. They are truely the best of friends. It took a war for them to meet each other, but they were destined to meet. If you've seen the HBO series Band of Brothers, you already know who these two are. The book is still worth a read. It is almost a flow of concousness, as if the recorder was just left on and the editor only needed to transcribe the interview.

The final chapters are of Bill and Babe going back to Europe. Their recounting of Bastogne is rather chilling and the visits to gravesites where their friends are buried is tearful. It closes with the actors from the HBO series commenting on the friendship they made with these two veterans.

I'm glad they put their life experiances of WWII and post WWII down for others to read. It is a window into a world we will only experiance through them.

[Kelsey · Rating 5 out of 5]

What I loved the most about these books was that I could relate so well because I had already seen the series. It was awesome to be able to read through Babe and Bill's stories and think back on how it was portrayed by HBO. And I think they did a really great job, to be honest. And both of the guys had nothing but praise for Tom Hanks, Steven Speilberg, and especially Robin Laing and Frank John Hughes, the two that played them It was so cool, in the prologue and the epilogue, to see how Bill and Babe interacted with the cast and the crew of the series. They all just loved each other. The epilogues that Robin Laing and Frank John Hughes give are so touching, and well written. I would totally recommend this to anyone who has seen the series and wants more.

[Devon · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am in love with this book. Honestly, you would be hard pressed to find a book that was written with so much emotion and...gah, there are no words. Babe and Bill are excellent at telling stories that make your heart race on the same page with stories that make tears come to your eyes. (But not actually cry, because let's just face it...my heart is made of stone.) When I wasn't laughing or feeling like I needed a good cry I was saying "ohmygodohmygod" over and over again. I've read Band of Brothers and I've read Beyond Band of Brothers and this one is definitely the best of the three.

[Leslie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this! I am just on a roll of reading through war memoirs and particularly the guys from Easy Company (101st Airborne). This was fun to have both perspectives of Sgt. Bill Guarnere and Pfc ‘Babe’ Heffron intertwined in one memoir. I listened to the audiobook and the narrator (while a little cheesy at points) read the story as if the two guys were talking to you in person over a beer. Some parts were very moving and others were very funny. Definitely recommend to any war buffs.

[Sariya · Rating 5 out of 5]

If people are learning about history and the importance of freedom I’ll be as happy as a lark. Remember, the past is a prelude to the future. Teaches you how to go forward.
- William “Wild Bill” Guarnere

I absolutely loved reading about Sgt. William "Wild Bill" Guarnere and Pfc. Edward "Babe" Heffron. You can really hear these two South Philly guys throughout the book, and their accents too, which I found really unique! I would've loved to have met these two in real life.

Their friendship over the years was very beautiful to read about. Their descriptions of their time in the 506th is bone-chilling, devastating and unbelievable - they don't gloss over the reality of war, which is important because people should know these truths. There are some heart-warming moments and bits of humour here and there that made me laugh out loud.

Hearing about their childhood growing up as working-class Depression-era kids in South Philly was really insightful. I also enjoyed reading about them going back to the battle sites after the war, the Easy Company reunions, and them visiting the Band of Brothers set, plus the epilogues from the actors who portrayed them in the miniseries.

I have such great reverence for these two incredible men, their company and that whole generation who fought for what was right.

Blue skies and soft landings Bill & Babe.

[Wootamno]

I didn't pick this book up to give a verdict on beliefs; so I won't. I picked it up to learn about a person in war. These are raw memories, real lives, and that's where the value lies. Interesting read.

a tall blond-haired, blue-eyed kid who was badly wounded in the left shoulder. He was holding his shoulder, moaning in pain, and they marched him over toward us so headquarters could get some information out of him. We were all hollering, “Suffer, you son of a bitch!” when an old Dutch woman in her eighties came out, and asked him in Dutch, “Where does it hurt?” It looked like she was going to help him. He pointed to his shoulder, and she started hitting him over and over with her pocketbook right on that shoulder, screaming something like “Moffe! Moffe! Moffe!” She’s screaming at him, and he’s screaming in pain. Turned out the woman had put a brick in her pocketbook. We asked around what the woman was yelling and found out there was no translation for it in English, but it was something like “evil.”

[Malachi Cyr · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was a really interesting bit of history. Its literally entirely comprised of interviews from a couple of Vets from Easy Company, Babe Heffron and Bill Guarnere, telling of their experiences in WWII. Its very real and very personal, and really an amazing read for students of history. After reading it I wished I could have talked to those guys. Its kinda raw, though, and the guys swear like the dickens throughout the book, and some of the experiences the men shared are tough to read, so I wouldn't recommend it for anyone under 15. However, for those who can handle that, I think this is a good book to read, since it gives a true idea of what our soldiers went through in WWII. Those guys were amazing, and all of them deserve our respect and gratefulness.

[Alexa · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’ve loved every book I’ve ever read by the real life band of brothers. Such heartbreaking and captivating stories. I adore the friendship between bill and babe. Could never say enough great things about this book.

[Jay Edmonds · Rating 5 out of 5]

This engaging war memoir from two legendary Easy Company warriors is also a stirring reflection on why men fight & what the costs are. More than anything, it’s a story of brotherhood in war & peace. Worth a read for any veteran.

[Grace · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was an excellent story about two men and their friends in the 101st Airborne. The story is told by William "Wild Bill" Guarnere and Edward "Babe" Heffron of "Band of Brothers" fame. At times it was hilariously funny, at others it was exceedingly sad. The book was extremely interesting and held my attention the entire way through. The men told of their experiences beginning with their childhood growing up in Philadelphia during the depression, through the time of their enlistment with the 101st Airborne, their experiences during World War II, and it concluded with the tale of their continuing friendship which has lasted over sixty years.

These men experienced a lot of things during the war and it took many years before they were able to speak about their experiences. After hearing their story, I can understand why. My father was in World War II and traveled some of the same places that these men did. However, my father would never talk about his experiences there. Now that he is gone, I can never know what he went through. Being a person who loves to study history, I wish that I would have been able to get him to open up about it while he was still with us. But, as I said before, I can understand his desire not to speak of it. I really appreciate all the soldiers who have fought for our nation throughout its history. They deserve our heartfelt gratitude. Thanks to all of them.

[Judy · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you are a fan of the book or miniseries Band of Brothers, then this is a must read. For me, one of the most compelling soldiers that served in Easy Company was Bill Guarnere, and I loved hearing about his experiences in his voice. It was always clear that he and Babe Heffron became good friends right away, and it is just wonderful to know that they stayed best friends this whole time. I'm quite sure proximity helped as they both returned to South Philadelphia, but it really is a testament to the comradeship that develops in war, which is something that so many today just don't understand because they will never understand the military life.

I've seen some reviews that complain about the writing not being professional enough, but the fact that it is written in their voice makes it all the more compelling to me. I love how candid they are, and how unflinchingly they are able to talk about some of the most difficult experiences of their lives.

It is too easy to watch something on TV, and think that you know the people and how war affected their lives, but this book really brings those experiences to life. There's just something about hearing it in their own voice instead of through someone else in a more stilted and "professional" manner that just rings truer to my ear. If you're into Band of Brothers, definitely read this book.

[Luke · Rating 5 out of 5]

I had watch Band of Brothers on HBO and also read the book by Stephen Ambrose a long time ago. This book, which is biographical and written by two of the men featured in the Band of Brothers mini-series, is stunning, thought provoking and amazing in detail from the memories of these two men, who do not think of themselves as heroes, but regular men who helped fight in WWII. I hope that when I reach 80+ years old my memories of past events will be as vivid and sharp as theirs. After reading this, I am very eager to go out and find any other books about WWII that I can. Its a different world back then. America was very different. Being born in the early 1970's and growing up in the 80's/90's I can never know of the kind of America these two men lived in and fought for. I wish there were more people of their stature and courage.

[Relstuart · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really enjoyed reading this dual biography of two boys from the same town that didn't meet each other until the war started and they ended up being best friends. Having seen Band of Brothers here these two veterans relate what happened in their experience with the Screaming Eagles. They reference the show occasionally as they were consulted during production. And they give some additional details.

I enjoyed their brief description of what life was like growing up lower middle class in America and how things have changed so drastically here.

Poignant, their sense of humor shines through often but so does the pathos of their experience in the war. Their story of revisits to Europe after the war has some pretty funny moments too.

[K.M. Weiland · Rating 5 out of 5]

When I read Band of Brothers a few years ago, it was easily my favorite non-fiction book of the year. All things considered, I think I liked this one even better. I opened it almost hesitantly, not at all sure I was going to enjoy the co-writing technique applied. I would have rathered a book apiece from Guarnere and Heffron. But, as it turns out, the co-writing is half the charm, fun, and power of this book.

Seeing the events of Easy Company's participation in WWII from two perspectives was enlightening. Guanere's narrative, in particular, is a riot. It's not hard to love these guys - and love the love they have for each other - as you come out the other side. Robin Post should be commended for weaving such a seamless, entertaining, coherent, and wonderfully moving account.

[Gary Grubb · Rating 2 out of 5]

I am always interested in war stories. And I know these men fought hard, lost buddies, saw horrible atrocities, and carry life-long memories of things they'd likely rather not be carrying. The book means well. All these men are worthy of being remembered. Having made that clear, I must say that this read was very repetitive for me. Far too many instances in which both Bill and Babe repeated the same things over and over again... as if they were not sure I understood what they were saying or feeling the first time... so they would repeat it numerous times on succeeding pages. And not just one of them repeating it, but both of them. It felt like reading something akin to "Groundhog Day".

[George Xavier · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mature (very) but extremely good. The vibrant first-person narratives from wonderful story-tellers with unique lexicons are enormously delightful and the characters incredibly endearing, despite their many faults. The memoirs of grueling war experiences are never easy to read, but for a history buff they were fascinating and the unexpectedly moving and beautiful last few chapters are especially rewarding. Consider yourself warned, it is, I would say, a very mature PG 13. But none-the-less, quite a good book.

[gardienne_du_feu · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent, excellent history lesson. This candid eyewitness account does so much more than any boring textbook can. It's not a glorification of war, but a wonderful memorial to Easy Company which must have been a rather special bunch of guys. It was hard stuff at times, but well balanced with some very hilarious scene (Bill's attempted escape from the hospital comes to mind). A really great read I'll happily pick up again some time.

[Jenna White · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book!!! It was just two old men, best friends, telling their story. It is amazing the things they did and what they went through in the war...and they were just kids! I actually liked the book more than the Band of Brothers book. It just interested me more getting the story from two men who were actually there and really getting to know them and who they were. More than just the facts and the history. Listening on audiobook made it more meaningful to me too.

[Martin Koenigsberg · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love this book. A fun oral history of the war by two of the guys whose history is portrayed in the series "Band of Brothers". A Great ripping yarn.

Note: the book is not corrected for facts and many of the things the two guys say about stories not their own are myths or legends. But it shows you how they thought at the time, so its good to read anyway.