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Paratrooper: The Life of General James M. Gavin
World War II, which occurred precisely at the juncture between air transport capability and the invention of the helicopter, saw history’s first and only mass use of paratroopers dropped into battle from the sky, perhaps the most courageous combat task seen in modern warfare. And "Jumpin' Jim" Gavin was by all accounts America’s best paratrooper leader.
His first combat jump was in Sicily, where as a battalion commander he found his men scattered all over the landscape in one of airborne’s greatest fiascos. Yet his stand with a few stalwarts at Biazza Ridge is credited with saving the U.S. invasion front. In Normandy, as assistant division commander of the 82nd Airborne, he won the eternal affection of his men for continuing to lead in combat, M-1 slung over his shoulder, even as his paratroopers were similarly scattered and faced German fire on all sides. His cool leadership served to coalesce the paratrooper bridgehead behind enemy lines until infantry from the beaches could finally reach them.
During Operation Market Garden, now as commander of the 82nd, Gavin wrote a new chapter in paratrooper heroism, seizing all his objectives despite a serious spinal injury on landing. With hardly a respite after the grueling campaign in Holland, Gavin and his men were called upon for perhaps their most dangerous task—stemming the German onslaught during the Battle of the Bulge. Though most historical kudos have gone to the 101st Airborne in that battle, for their gallant stand at Bastogne, it was the 82nd’s stand at St. Vith—where the Germans truly wanted to break through—that equally foiled Hitler’s last offensive attempt in the west.
After the war Gavin continued to earn as much respect from policymakers as he had from his men, providing commentary on our Cold War stance, the war in Vietnam, and as Kennedy’s ambassador to France. He was not an unflawed individual, as this comprehensive biography reveals, but an exceptional one in every sense, especially during his days of combat leadership during history’s greatest war.
His first combat jump was in Sicily, where as a battalion commander he found his men scattered all over the landscape in one of airborne’s greatest fiascos. Yet his stand with a few stalwarts at Biazza Ridge is credited with saving the U.S. invasion front. In Normandy, as assistant division commander of the 82nd Airborne, he won the eternal affection of his men for continuing to lead in combat, M-1 slung over his shoulder, even as his paratroopers were similarly scattered and faced German fire on all sides. His cool leadership served to coalesce the paratrooper bridgehead behind enemy lines until infantry from the beaches could finally reach them.
During Operation Market Garden, now as commander of the 82nd, Gavin wrote a new chapter in paratrooper heroism, seizing all his objectives despite a serious spinal injury on landing. With hardly a respite after the grueling campaign in Holland, Gavin and his men were called upon for perhaps their most dangerous task—stemming the German onslaught during the Battle of the Bulge. Though most historical kudos have gone to the 101st Airborne in that battle, for their gallant stand at Bastogne, it was the 82nd’s stand at St. Vith—where the Germans truly wanted to break through—that equally foiled Hitler’s last offensive attempt in the west.
After the war Gavin continued to earn as much respect from policymakers as he had from his men, providing commentary on our Cold War stance, the war in Vietnam, and as Kennedy’s ambassador to France. He was not an unflawed individual, as this comprehensive biography reveals, but an exceptional one in every sense, especially during his days of combat leadership during history’s greatest war.
496 pages, Hardcover
First published April 1, 1994
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
May 26, 2017
Jumping Jim Gavin was an orphan, an entrepreneur, a womanizer, an excellent soldier, an opponent of the racial segregation in the U.S. Army, a pioneering paratrooper, a dedicated leader, and a true American hero! He was dedicated to the welfare of the officers and men under his command, and literally wrote the book on airborne warfare techniques for the World War II U.S. Army. I can't believe no one has made a major motion picture about this guy. Then again, no one these days would probably believe that men like this really existed.
April 26, 2018
An interesting book by a one of the youngest Major Generals of WWII. A lot of information about the General was new to me. Read the book.
October 7, 2013
This is a whole-life biography of James Gavin detailing his life before and after as well as during WW II. The primary focus is on his airborne service. Having created the paratroops, the high command felt obliged to utilize them. Unfortunately the missions were poorly planned (Market Garden) and the troops too often delivered to the wrong target (Sicily) or subjected to friendly fire (Italy). While Gavin was the first off the plane and carried an infantryman's M-1, other rear echelon commanders were more focused on military politics than on the grunts on the ground. This book provides insights into the character and personality of a combat leader.
March 5, 2013
I really enjoyed this book about Gen Gavin. It is the second book about him that I have read. This one talked about his chilhood and his life arter the Army. What I really liked was the facts about WWII. My father fought with the 82 (508), he spoke about Gen Gavin, as being one of the guys doing everything they were doing which is why those men and boys fought like they did. You get that from reading this book. You also get a real sense of what happened in the war not hollywoods. I hope more people would look for it to read.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews