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COMPANY COMMANDER the classic infantry memoir of WWII
In this extraordinary book, Charles B. MacDonald recounts his personal, authentic story of the front-line during World War Two.
As a newly commissioned captain of a veteran Army regiment, MacDonald’s first experience of combat was war at its most hellish — the Battle of the Bulge.
In this eloquent narrative we live each minute at MacDonald’s side, sharing in combat’s misery, terror and drama. His stories are not pretty and his characters are not heroes. In his own words “they are cold, dirty, rough, miserable characters . . . but they win wars.”
Company Commander is a stark but very human view of war. It speaks to younger generations with almost the same immediacy as it did to the Greatest Generation.
How this green commander gains his men’s loyalty in the snows of war-torn Europe is one of the great, true, unforgettable war stories of all time.
PRAISE FOR CHARLES
‘Nowhere is there a more honest, unassuming portrayal of the hopes and dreams and fears of a young infantry captain.’ Saturday Review
‘Impressive.’ New York Times
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘A truly excellent read . . . I think this is the best description of the foot soldier’s war, nasty, brutish, and often short.’ Local Flyer 56.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘Gripping and atmospheric account of one of the toughest battles in the Western European campaign.’ Jim T.
Charles B. MacDonald was a Deputy Chief Historian for the United States Army. During the war, he rose to the rank of Captain of the 23rd Infantry of the 2nd Division and was awarded the Purple Heart and the Silver Star. He also wrote A Time for Trumpets among other books. He died in 1990.
As a newly commissioned captain of a veteran Army regiment, MacDonald’s first experience of combat was war at its most hellish — the Battle of the Bulge.
In this eloquent narrative we live each minute at MacDonald’s side, sharing in combat’s misery, terror and drama. His stories are not pretty and his characters are not heroes. In his own words “they are cold, dirty, rough, miserable characters . . . but they win wars.”
Company Commander is a stark but very human view of war. It speaks to younger generations with almost the same immediacy as it did to the Greatest Generation.
How this green commander gains his men’s loyalty in the snows of war-torn Europe is one of the great, true, unforgettable war stories of all time.
PRAISE FOR CHARLES
‘Nowhere is there a more honest, unassuming portrayal of the hopes and dreams and fears of a young infantry captain.’ Saturday Review
‘Impressive.’ New York Times
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘A truly excellent read . . . I think this is the best description of the foot soldier’s war, nasty, brutish, and often short.’ Local Flyer 56.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘Gripping and atmospheric account of one of the toughest battles in the Western European campaign.’ Jim T.
Charles B. MacDonald was a Deputy Chief Historian for the United States Army. During the war, he rose to the rank of Captain of the 23rd Infantry of the 2nd Division and was awarded the Purple Heart and the Silver Star. He also wrote A Time for Trumpets among other books. He died in 1990.
411 pages, Kindle Edition
Published January 23, 2024
306 people are currently reading
23 people want to read
About the author
Charles B. MacDonald
51 books31 followersCharles B. MacDonald was a former Deputy Chief Historian for the United States Army. He wrote several of the Army's official histories of World War II.
After graduating from Presbyterian College, MacDonald was commissioned as a US Army officer through the Army ROTC and deployed to Europe. By September 1944, as a 21 year old Captain , he commanded a rifle company in the 23rd Infantry Regiment, 2nd Infantry Division. MacDonald received the Silver Star and the Purple Heart.
His first book, ''Company Commander'', was published in 1947, while his wartime experiences were fresh in his mind.
MacDonald wrote the final volume of the Green Series on the European Theatre, ''The Last Offensive''. He retired as Deputy Chief Historian, United States Army Center of Military History in 1979.
After his retirement, MacDonald wrote ''A Time for Trumpets'', his last book, a personal history of the Ardennes Offensive which concentrates on the first two weeks of the battle, which he spent five years researching. MacDonald also wrote or co-wrote two other books of the Green Series, ''The Siegfried Line Campaign'' and ''Three Battles: Arnaville, Altuzzo, and Schmidt''. He also contributed to ''Command Decisions''.
MacDonald suffered from cancer and lung disease and he died on December 4, 1990 at his home in Arlington, Virginia.
After graduating from Presbyterian College, MacDonald was commissioned as a US Army officer through the Army ROTC and deployed to Europe. By September 1944, as a 21 year old Captain , he commanded a rifle company in the 23rd Infantry Regiment, 2nd Infantry Division. MacDonald received the Silver Star and the Purple Heart.
His first book, ''Company Commander'', was published in 1947, while his wartime experiences were fresh in his mind.
MacDonald wrote the final volume of the Green Series on the European Theatre, ''The Last Offensive''. He retired as Deputy Chief Historian, United States Army Center of Military History in 1979.
After his retirement, MacDonald wrote ''A Time for Trumpets'', his last book, a personal history of the Ardennes Offensive which concentrates on the first two weeks of the battle, which he spent five years researching. MacDonald also wrote or co-wrote two other books of the Green Series, ''The Siegfried Line Campaign'' and ''Three Battles: Arnaville, Altuzzo, and Schmidt''. He also contributed to ''Command Decisions''.
MacDonald suffered from cancer and lung disease and he died on December 4, 1990 at his home in Arlington, Virginia.
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
September 25, 2024
Disappointingly parochial.
This is an account of the authors' service. Joining his first unit at the German border, in two infantry companies in the last month's of the war. It takes him to VE day.
Whilst well written, it is understandably VERY narrow in focus. This gives scope for a wealth of detail, even down to individual GI's names and places of origin, sometimes almost visceral descriptions of combat and an insight into the authors' thought processes.
Refreshing in it's honesty, it does also help the reader understand the American attitude to Europe after the war. EVERYTHING was down to 'Murica! When describing the devastation of bombing a city, it was American bombs, NOT ALLIED bombs. Clearly, 'Murica saved Europe and no-one else was involved.
I know the author has written other books, but his style, which I admit, at times is quite enjoyable, puts me off reading more of his work. Largely because of this narrowness of focus.
This is an account of the authors' service. Joining his first unit at the German border, in two infantry companies in the last month's of the war. It takes him to VE day.
Whilst well written, it is understandably VERY narrow in focus. This gives scope for a wealth of detail, even down to individual GI's names and places of origin, sometimes almost visceral descriptions of combat and an insight into the authors' thought processes.
Refreshing in it's honesty, it does also help the reader understand the American attitude to Europe after the war. EVERYTHING was down to 'Murica! When describing the devastation of bombing a city, it was American bombs, NOT ALLIED bombs. Clearly, 'Murica saved Europe and no-one else was involved.
I know the author has written other books, but his style, which I admit, at times is quite enjoyable, puts me off reading more of his work. Largely because of this narrowness of focus.
December 29, 2025
As the title says, this is an account of the lives of the commander of a company of American Soldiers in Europe during the last few months of World War 2. It's vaguely interesting, showing how much more disorganized war is at a company level when compared to larger units. Whatever the reason, I never got any sense of purpose or direction, just a never-ending parade of daily objectives. I didn't much care for it.
January 3, 2026
Unexpected
Most stories of war tell of death and destruction, but Cpt. McDonald's tale tells of one way war is fought, the strategic way units move and communicate, their support lines and how supper is delivered and rotation to the rear for R and R. The countless times radios went dead because of the batteries and other accounts of war you don't often hear about, excellent read.
Most stories of war tell of death and destruction, but Cpt. McDonald's tale tells of one way war is fought, the strategic way units move and communicate, their support lines and how supper is delivered and rotation to the rear for R and R. The countless times radios went dead because of the batteries and other accounts of war you don't often hear about, excellent read.
June 13, 2024
Best WW2 Book I've Read!
I thought this would be another WW2 book like so many others I've read but I was wrong. What kind of story would be from a company commander. But this was different. He WAS literally in the trenches and at the front.
If you're an affectionado of WW2 history do yourself a favor and read this book.
I thought this would be another WW2 book like so many others I've read but I was wrong. What kind of story would be from a company commander. But this was different. He WAS literally in the trenches and at the front.
If you're an affectionado of WW2 history do yourself a favor and read this book.
May 16, 2024
Ok
Way too much geographical and topological details that do nothing for the story other than to be confusing to the reader. Also very little contextual detail giving a sense of the bigger picture. Maybe that was the point but it diminishes the story without much background.
Way too much geographical and topological details that do nothing for the story other than to be confusing to the reader. Also very little contextual detail giving a sense of the bigger picture. Maybe that was the point but it diminishes the story without much background.
October 3, 2025
real wartime
A wonderful story of our brave armies and the brave men who died for all of us. The ending brought tears to my eyes. Fantastic story and author.
A wonderful story of our brave armies and the brave men who died for all of us. The ending brought tears to my eyes. Fantastic story and author.
October 5, 2025
If you are game for seeing WWII from the day to day life of a single unit, you’re in for a treat. If not, you will find this monotonous and repetitive.
October 20, 2025
Interesting
Interesting from beginning to the end. Great memoir of a WW2 hero. I'm so glad Im not a part of this history.
Interesting from beginning to the end. Great memoir of a WW2 hero. I'm so glad Im not a part of this history.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews