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Combat Jump: The Young Men Who Led the Assault into Fortress Europe, July 1943
The hair-raising, frontline account of the first American airborne invasion of World War II and of the young paratroopers who risked their lives for freedom By 1943, the war in Europe had reached a turning point. General Dwight Eisenhower was given orders to invade Sicily and head north. To achieve this, Ike had a new weapon: U.S. paratroopers. Their mission was to seize the approaches to the invasion beaches and to hold off German attacks. "Combat Jump tells the little-known story of these paratroopers and how they changed the American way of war. It takes readers on their journey from civilians to citizen soldiers, through training in the United States and later in North Africa, and then shows their daring jump into the darkness over enemy-held Sicily.
By first light on D-day, July 10, 1943, it looked as if the mission would fail. Inexperienced pilots, lost or blown off course, dropped 80 percent of the troopers from one to sixty-five miles from their targets. The American commander, James Gavin, landed so far from his objective that he was not even sure he was in Sicily. Arthur Gorham, commanding 500 men of the First Battalion, encountered two surprises when the sun came up. He and just over 100 of his men were the only GIs -- out of 3,400 dropped -- near their objective. He also discovered that the Germans on Sicily had tanks. The lightly armed paratroopers, with their rifles and hand grenades, were not equipped to take on the forty-ton panzers. But against all odds, they did. The costly lessons they learned shaped the war in Europe, for without Sicily, there might have been no airborne invasion of France in June 1944.
"Combat Jump recounts the extraordinarycontributions these young men made when their country called them to war, and it tells a classic tale of military action and remarkable courage.
By first light on D-day, July 10, 1943, it looked as if the mission would fail. Inexperienced pilots, lost or blown off course, dropped 80 percent of the troopers from one to sixty-five miles from their targets. The American commander, James Gavin, landed so far from his objective that he was not even sure he was in Sicily. Arthur Gorham, commanding 500 men of the First Battalion, encountered two surprises when the sun came up. He and just over 100 of his men were the only GIs -- out of 3,400 dropped -- near their objective. He also discovered that the Germans on Sicily had tanks. The lightly armed paratroopers, with their rifles and hand grenades, were not equipped to take on the forty-ton panzers. But against all odds, they did. The costly lessons they learned shaped the war in Europe, for without Sicily, there might have been no airborne invasion of France in June 1944.
"Combat Jump recounts the extraordinarycontributions these young men made when their country called them to war, and it tells a classic tale of military action and remarkable courage.
Hardcover
First published October 21, 2003
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About the author
Ed Ruggero
14 books105 followersEd Ruggero remembers very clearly two ambitions he had early on: he wanted to be a soldier and he wanted to be a writer.
Ruggero graduated from West Point in 1980, fulfilling one of his professional dreams. He served as an infantry officer in the Army and later returned to West Point to teach literature and writing. While he was on the faculty at West Point that Ruggero got the idea that it would be great to invite a newly famous author named Tom Clancy for a visit.
“I knew Clancy was fascinated by all things military, and West Point is a great draw. I had no travel budget to offer him, but I cheekily wrote that if he made his way to New York, I’d let him talk to my upperclass cadets.”
Clancy’s visit became a big event for the Academy, and the author was a houseguest of the Superintendent, the three-star general who is essentially the president of a university. Ruggero made good on his promise and brought Clancy to class to speak to cadets in a writing course.
“He told the cadets that he’d waited until he was forty years old to even try writing, something he’d always wanted to do. He told them not to wait.”
Ruggero took Clancy’s advice to heart and got to work on a manuscript that would become his first novel, 38 North Yankee.
“I got up at 4:30—oh-dark-thirty in Army jargon—and wrote until it was time to leave for work at six. I had two young children at the time and didn’t want to sacrifice my time in the evenings with them.”
Ruggero has written fiction, military history and several titles on leadership; and has built a business running retreats for business executives to places like Normandy and Gettysburg.
“We use the history of these battles and the challenges facing the commanders, to figure out how we can better lead our modern organizations.”
On one visit to West Point Ruggero met a graduate of the Class of 1941, who became a guide for two of his books, both non-fiction accounts of American paratroopers in World War Two. Some of the hundred and fifty or so former paratroopers Ruggero interviewed fought in six major campaigns.
“Getting to know those men and capturing their stories for later generations has been a highlight of my professional career.”
While visiting Sicily to research his non-fiction Combat Jump, about the 1943 Allied invasion, Ruggero became intrigued by the question, ”What happens after the fighting moves on?”
“The Allies had somehow to restore law and order and recreate a civil society and all its functioning parts immediately in the wake of the most violent and chaotic of human endeavors: modern war. That must have been incredibly difficult.”
That musing led Ruggero to a new fiction series that kicks off in 2019 with Blame the Dead.
“The protagonist is a former Philadelphia beat cop, Eddie Harkins, who winds up investigating the murder of a US Army surgeon. Among other problems, Harkins learns that many of the victim’s colleagues think that the dead man—who was something of a low-life—pretty much got what he deserved.”
“But, as Harkins says, you can hardly blame the dead guy for his own murder.”
Ruggero and his wife, Marcia Noa, divide their time between Media, Pennsylvania and Lewes, Delaware. Ruggero spent seven years as a trustee of the Philadelphia Outward Bound School.
“I often think of Tom Clancy’s advice to my cadets, which helped me in no small way to find a job I love.”
Ruggero graduated from West Point in 1980, fulfilling one of his professional dreams. He served as an infantry officer in the Army and later returned to West Point to teach literature and writing. While he was on the faculty at West Point that Ruggero got the idea that it would be great to invite a newly famous author named Tom Clancy for a visit.
“I knew Clancy was fascinated by all things military, and West Point is a great draw. I had no travel budget to offer him, but I cheekily wrote that if he made his way to New York, I’d let him talk to my upperclass cadets.”
Clancy’s visit became a big event for the Academy, and the author was a houseguest of the Superintendent, the three-star general who is essentially the president of a university. Ruggero made good on his promise and brought Clancy to class to speak to cadets in a writing course.
“He told the cadets that he’d waited until he was forty years old to even try writing, something he’d always wanted to do. He told them not to wait.”
Ruggero took Clancy’s advice to heart and got to work on a manuscript that would become his first novel, 38 North Yankee.
“I got up at 4:30—oh-dark-thirty in Army jargon—and wrote until it was time to leave for work at six. I had two young children at the time and didn’t want to sacrifice my time in the evenings with them.”
Ruggero has written fiction, military history and several titles on leadership; and has built a business running retreats for business executives to places like Normandy and Gettysburg.
“We use the history of these battles and the challenges facing the commanders, to figure out how we can better lead our modern organizations.”
On one visit to West Point Ruggero met a graduate of the Class of 1941, who became a guide for two of his books, both non-fiction accounts of American paratroopers in World War Two. Some of the hundred and fifty or so former paratroopers Ruggero interviewed fought in six major campaigns.
“Getting to know those men and capturing their stories for later generations has been a highlight of my professional career.”
While visiting Sicily to research his non-fiction Combat Jump, about the 1943 Allied invasion, Ruggero became intrigued by the question, ”What happens after the fighting moves on?”
“The Allies had somehow to restore law and order and recreate a civil society and all its functioning parts immediately in the wake of the most violent and chaotic of human endeavors: modern war. That must have been incredibly difficult.”
That musing led Ruggero to a new fiction series that kicks off in 2019 with Blame the Dead.
“The protagonist is a former Philadelphia beat cop, Eddie Harkins, who winds up investigating the murder of a US Army surgeon. Among other problems, Harkins learns that many of the victim’s colleagues think that the dead man—who was something of a low-life—pretty much got what he deserved.”
“But, as Harkins says, you can hardly blame the dead guy for his own murder.”
Ruggero and his wife, Marcia Noa, divide their time between Media, Pennsylvania and Lewes, Delaware. Ruggero spent seven years as a trustee of the Philadelphia Outward Bound School.
“I often think of Tom Clancy’s advice to my cadets, which helped me in no small way to find a job I love.”
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
April 9, 2021
What drew me to the title initially was that it covered the 82nd Airborne and their role in Operation Husky. It seems most histories, if they are going to be about American Airborne troops in WWII, cover the 101st and Normandy.
I appreciated this insight, the author does a great job of weaving first hand accounts into a cohesive narrative. There isn't a ton of strategic level viewpoints and there really doesn't need to be in my opinion. The book does just what it says on the cover and does it very well.
I appreciated this insight, the author does a great job of weaving first hand accounts into a cohesive narrative. There isn't a ton of strategic level viewpoints and there really doesn't need to be in my opinion. The book does just what it says on the cover and does it very well.
October 11, 2018
Combat Jump is a good 3 Star account of the development of the 505th Parachute Infantry Regiment specifically, the first significant combat jump into Sicily and the American airborne forces in general. A short background is given on the main characters and the timeline involved in the 505th PIR. The 505th PIR jumps into Sicily and everything is truly SNAFU. Few land anywhere near the planed drop zone, so many are scattered up to 90 miles from their objectives and plenty are injured; the usefulness of airborne forces hangs in the balance. But the paratroopers follow their guidance: “engage the enemy where you find them” and the German and Italian forces are very confused. The paratroopers were not told (deliberately) that there were German Panzer units on Sicily, and many of the fights involve the German and Italian armor. The paratroopers only have puny bazookas to fight off Tiger tanks. Not an even fight. Don’t expect a clear narrative on the fighting in Sicily. The book, like the situation, accurately portrays the confused, swirling situation where no one really had a clue but the 505th PIR just fought hard everywhere.
The American Airborne troops training at Ft Benning Georgia are being asked to buy war bonds at an Easter breakfast hosted by the base commander, not exactly exciting. Arthur Oldfield, intel officer has an idea that will get the troops in the buying mood::
Even in wartime, you still have to do a good weight and balance calculation prior to takeoff:
Col Gavin’s war does not get off to a rousing start, dropped 30 miles away from his objective and with only 6 men out of 3400 in his unit. His little group finds an Italian soldier and interrogate him on where they are. The soldier is so scared, he can’t speak:
The American Airborne troops training at Ft Benning Georgia are being asked to buy war bonds at an Easter breakfast hosted by the base commander, not exactly exciting. Arthur Oldfield, intel officer has an idea that will get the troops in the buying mood::
Even in wartime, you still have to do a good weight and balance calculation prior to takeoff:
Col Gavin’s war does not get off to a rousing start, dropped 30 miles away from his objective and with only 6 men out of 3400 in his unit. His little group finds an Italian soldier and interrogate him on where they are. The soldier is so scared, he can’t speak:
October 3, 2012
What happens when you take a group of young fresh-faced American boys, train them to become parachute infantry and drop them erroneously all over an island with a poorly conceived plan and faulty intelligence? Well, if they’re members of the 82nd Airborne Division and under the command of James T. Gavin, they simply get the job done anyway! This is the story that is depicted in Combat Jump. By all accounts, no one knew what to truly expect when the green 505th Regimental Combat Team was tasked with the first vertical envelopment of regimental size in the history of the United States Army. It was an experiment where the lab rats were the young sons of America and the test tube was the crucible of Sicily. They were told there were no Germans on the island, no tanks and, after a concentrated drop, they would simply have to block the roads to prevent the Italian forces from attacking the beaches.
In reality, the young paratroopers were scattered all over the island, came up against the Hermann Goering Panzer Division with its monster Tiger tanks and their reinforcement drop was attacked and decimated by friendly fire the next night. The overall casualties were so great that General Eisenhower almost completely abandoned any future plans for airborne operations. What changed his mind was that the young, feisty paratroopers actually completed their mission and then some. Just how these courageous boys overcame all of these failures against insurmountable odds is brilliantly told through the voices of the veterans who served in that campaign.
Combat Jump describes the baptism of fire that taught the hard lessons and forged the doctrine of the airborne fighting forces that would become victorious in Normandy, Holland, the Battle of the Bulge and the Rhine River crossing.
In reality, the young paratroopers were scattered all over the island, came up against the Hermann Goering Panzer Division with its monster Tiger tanks and their reinforcement drop was attacked and decimated by friendly fire the next night. The overall casualties were so great that General Eisenhower almost completely abandoned any future plans for airborne operations. What changed his mind was that the young, feisty paratroopers actually completed their mission and then some. Just how these courageous boys overcame all of these failures against insurmountable odds is brilliantly told through the voices of the veterans who served in that campaign.
Combat Jump describes the baptism of fire that taught the hard lessons and forged the doctrine of the airborne fighting forces that would become victorious in Normandy, Holland, the Battle of the Bulge and the Rhine River crossing.
June 5, 2022
A first rate account of the first airborne assault conducted by the United States. Sicily 1943.
November 9, 2020
We often think of airborne as the daring service that has been an accepted part of warfare since aircraft became large enough to carry passengers. In fact, its World War II advent was controversial and its position had to be won on the battlefield. “Combat “Jump” is the tale of the men of the 505th Parachute Infantry Regiment who, in July 1943, dropped from the sky over Sicily and into martial lore.
This work is more what I call “small history” rather than “big history”. It is the saga of the officers and men who trained, excelled or washed out, made the jump, reunited, oriented themselves, and took the battle to the enemy wherever they could find them. Drawn from numerous interviews and other sources, it tells the story that could only be obtained from participants themselves. It is military history through the gunsights, from men who only knew what they saw.
From the recorded observations the reader learns much about airborne combat. It had not occurred to me that the movement of the plane ensures that the “stick” (soldiers jumping from one plane) will be scattered along its path. The missed drop zones, injuries on landing, loss of equipment, separation and faulty intelligence on the enemy all enhanced the challenges above those encountered by many other warriors.
This tome examines the first major American airborne assault into Europe. Landing in Sicily in 1943 the “05” entered a war zone with limited roads, rough terrain, little resources with which to live off the land and opposition that ranged from formidable German Panzer tanks to Italian forces eager to surrender to Americans. The Sicily jump was an experiment. Could the landing drop zones (DP) be found by night flying pilots (in many cases, no) would the men be able to form up in their units after landing (often not), could these lightly armed infantry seize and hold the bridges, crossroads and other targets so as to interdict reinforcements to oppose the amphibious landings (so, so) and was the airborne assault something that should be tried again (yes, despite doubts)?
Author Ed Ruggero has crafted an attention seizing narrative of the mission. He follows several individuals including commander Jim Gavin, Ed Sayre who began his service in the Texas National Guard and Berge Avadanian, the Massachusetts native who left his job training workers in Howard Johnson Restaurants to enlist after hearing President Roosevelt’s plea for a declaration of war, to name a few. He follows some who performed heroic deeds, others who were injured by accident or enemy action and some who were killed. He records accounts of man against man, infantry against tanks, friendly and frightened civilians, tragic friendly fire incidents and full measures of devotion. “Combat Jump’ is a great choice for readers seeking insights into the airborne’s war.
This work is more what I call “small history” rather than “big history”. It is the saga of the officers and men who trained, excelled or washed out, made the jump, reunited, oriented themselves, and took the battle to the enemy wherever they could find them. Drawn from numerous interviews and other sources, it tells the story that could only be obtained from participants themselves. It is military history through the gunsights, from men who only knew what they saw.
From the recorded observations the reader learns much about airborne combat. It had not occurred to me that the movement of the plane ensures that the “stick” (soldiers jumping from one plane) will be scattered along its path. The missed drop zones, injuries on landing, loss of equipment, separation and faulty intelligence on the enemy all enhanced the challenges above those encountered by many other warriors.
This tome examines the first major American airborne assault into Europe. Landing in Sicily in 1943 the “05” entered a war zone with limited roads, rough terrain, little resources with which to live off the land and opposition that ranged from formidable German Panzer tanks to Italian forces eager to surrender to Americans. The Sicily jump was an experiment. Could the landing drop zones (DP) be found by night flying pilots (in many cases, no) would the men be able to form up in their units after landing (often not), could these lightly armed infantry seize and hold the bridges, crossroads and other targets so as to interdict reinforcements to oppose the amphibious landings (so, so) and was the airborne assault something that should be tried again (yes, despite doubts)?
Author Ed Ruggero has crafted an attention seizing narrative of the mission. He follows several individuals including commander Jim Gavin, Ed Sayre who began his service in the Texas National Guard and Berge Avadanian, the Massachusetts native who left his job training workers in Howard Johnson Restaurants to enlist after hearing President Roosevelt’s plea for a declaration of war, to name a few. He follows some who performed heroic deeds, others who were injured by accident or enemy action and some who were killed. He records accounts of man against man, infantry against tanks, friendly and frightened civilians, tragic friendly fire incidents and full measures of devotion. “Combat Jump’ is a great choice for readers seeking insights into the airborne’s war.
May 25, 2013
U.S. paratroopers of the 82nd Airborne Division led by Colonel James M. Gavin a 36 year old invade Sicily in July 1943 with nothing but small arms take on the powerful German Army. This use of airborne forces paves the way for their use in Normandy less than 11 months later, but hard lessons are learned Sicily like too few planes, wrong landing zones, costly misidentification of allied aircraft, yet with all that 82nd Airborne Division makes a difference in Sicilian campaign. Good read on the use of airborne troops in the beginning of WWII.
January 6, 2014
This book covers the formation of early US Airborne units and some of the men who joined including Jumping Jim Gavin and goes to the first large US jump on Sicily. This is one of the better treatments of the 82nd I've read for Sicily including the fight for Biazza Ridge. the one area it falls short is a fairly light treatment of the tragic 504th landing the second night, where spooked allied sailors in the landing fleet shot up the airborne force as they made flew over to the drop zones. Overall a good book worth reading for early 82nd Airborne history.
February 19, 2016
This is one of the better books I've read on airborne combat in World War II which wasn't written by the participant(s). The author combines a very good narrative with plenty of personal recollections he gathered from countless interviews and correspondence with the men who were there. If you're a fan of personal accounts of combat, this is a book for you. This book makes a good companion to General James Gavin's "On To Berlin" and provides a nice profile of the general. I'm definitely looking forward to reading more of Ed Ruggero's work after reading this book!
May 2, 2012
Well written. Starts quickly and flows smoothly. The first third of the book covers the establishment of the Airborne, gathering and training of the first troops, which is interesting but not engrossing (for me). Once they start the assault on Sicily, it's hard to put down. Page after page of personal, amazing stories. Not too much detail.
July 24, 2013
One of the best military histories I've read in terms of making the men involved actual men/boys and not just a number. Personal stories lead the narration of events making this read more like a novel. If you enjoy WWII history, this is a must read.
May 25, 2010
A rather dry military history, but not bad.
January 7, 2010
Very good story of the actions of the 82nd Airborne in the assult on Sicily.
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews