All American All The Way: The Combat History Of The 82nd Airborne Division In World War II

by Phil Nordyke

The 82nd Airborne Division - known as the "All-Americans" - parachuted into history as America’s first airborne division to see combat. Always at the forefront of some of the heaviest fighting in WWII, the 82nd helped spearhead the Allied drive to victory. This book is the first to tell the full combat history of these gallant All-Americans -- from their first perilous night drop into Sicily to their acclaimed victory parade up New York's 5th Avenue in 1946. Currently, the 82nd remains the only active American parachute division. The 82nd Airborne Division ? dubbed the All-Americans during WWI, when Sgt. Alvin York was among its soldiers ? parachuted into history on July, 9, 1943, as the opening salvo in Operation Husky, the invasion of Sicily. This book, the first to tell the full story of the 82nd ? America’s first airborne division to see combat, and the only American parachute division still active today ? follows these all-Americans from their first perilous drop to their victory parade up 5th Avenue in January 1946. From the shore of Sicily to the beaches of Normandy, from the Rhine to the Elbe to the German surrender and the U.S. occupation of Berlin, this is military history at its best, often told in the words of the soldiers themselves. It is a fitting ? and long overdue ? tribute to the valorous service of one of America’s most celebrated fighting divisions.

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

868 pages, Hardcover

First published May 19, 2005

Reviews

[Iain · Rating 5 out of 5]

Granted, I have only read portions of this tomb related to specific campaigns / operations of interest. That qualifier stated, Nordyke's narrative blends a discussion of the strategic with tactical level details and an absolute treasure trove of first person accounts. There are even excellent maps.

Its a love letter to the 82nd and the best book of this type (either a unit history or collection of anecdotes) that I have been lucky enough to find.

A must read (at a comfortable pace) for anyone interested in the 82nd and further recommend for anyone interested in first person accounts of Americans in WWII.

[Michael Stoudt · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a very good, comprehensive history of the 82nd Airborne Division in WWII. I really enjoyed it.

[Stephen Lyon · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is really entertaining and was a real treat to stumble upon after finishing Band of Brothers but not nearly having my appetite satisfied for European theater airborne warfare. The 82nd and 101st airborne divisions, along with the Ranger Battalions and the "BigRedOne" and 3rd divisions, were literally the American's spear tip in Europe during WW2, and that tip was finely sharpened. I didn't realized the caliber of training these guys had, small-arms, squad level-tactics, compas&map reading, ect.

As a division the 82nd Airborne actually saw more combat than the 101st, parachuting into and fighitng in Sicily and Italy before teaming up with the 101st in England for the Normandy drop. I'm about 60 pages past Biazzo Ridge, somewhere around 270, before I had to put it down for school ..getting butchered fending off that tiger tank battalion of the Luftwaffe Panzer Division, sheer tenacity that could be achieved only through good training and conditioning by a very select group of tough buggers

I highlight all my books and I have to say that it is also written superbly, there are no grammatical errors, not to mention that everything is very well-organized, my advice if you're not sure to get this or the other recent history of the 82nd airborne written by an entirely different author, can't remember his name, is to read Atkitson's Day of Battle along with.

If you want broad organization and tactical decision-making, first person combat, squad, platoon, company and regimental level tactics and combat and an overall history of one of the very best allied divisions in WW2, then you'll have to read this. It's superbly entertaining, gotta get that tanker jacket to get through the cold Ardennes, then i'll be going All The Way

[Ron · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lengthy written and oral history of the 82nd Airborne in World War II. Extremely well done by a guy that cares. Phil Nordyke is a sincere person. I have met Him and the Heroes in this book. It was a real honor.

[Christopher · Rating 5 out of 5]

Detailed accounting of the division in WWII through the use of documented history and personal stories.

[Nick Boldrini · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good book, sometimes get bogged down with minutiae which interrupt the flow of events, but very readable