First to Jump: How the Band of Brothers was Aided by the Brave Paratroopers of Pathfinders Company

by Jerome Preisler

The U.S. Army Pathfinders. The vanguard of the Allied forces in World War II Europe. Countless times they preceded invasions and battles vital to bringing the enemy to its knees.

Because before the front lines could move forward, the Pathfinders had to move behind enemy lines . . .

The first into combat, and the last out, their advance jumps into enemy territory were considered suicide missions by those who sent them into action. World War Two’s special operations commandos, they relied on their stealth, expert prowess, and matchless courage and audacity to set the stage for airborne drops and glider landings throughout Europe.

They were born of hard necessity. After the invasion of Sicily almost ended in disaster, General Jim Gavin was determined to form an all-new unit of specialized soldiers who would jump ahead of the airborne forces—including the now legendary Easy Company—without any additional support, stealing across enemy terrain to scout and mark out drop zones with a unique array of homing equipment.

Sporting Mohawk haircuts, war paint, and an attitude of brash confidence, they were the best of the best. Their heroic feats behind the lines were critical to nearly all of the Allies’ major victories from Normandy to snowy Bastogne—where they saved the day for thousands of besieged American troops in an operation almost forgotten by history—to the attack on the Ruhr River in Germany.

This is the story of the U.S. Army Pathfinders—their training, bonding, and battlefield exploits—told from the perspectives of the daring men who jumped and the equally bold transport crews who risked everything to fly them into action.

INCLUDES PHOTOS
 

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

288 pages, Hardcover

First published September 2, 2014

About the author

Jerome Preisler is the prolific author of almost forty books of fiction and narrative nonfiction, including all eight novels in the New York Times bestselling TOM CLANCY'S POWER PLAYS series.

His latest book is NET FORCE:DARK WEB (November 2019), the first novel in a relaunch of the New York Times bestselling series co-created by Tom Clancy. Forthcoming in May 2020 is the enovella NET FORCE: EYE OF THE DRONE.

Among Jerome's recent works of narrative history are CODE NAME CAESAR: The Secret Hunt for U-boat 864 During World War Two, and FIRST TO JUMP: How the Band of Brothers Was Aided by the Brave Paratroopers of Pathfinders Company. His next book of nonfiction, CIVIL WAR COMMANDO: William Cushing's Daring Raid to Sink the Invincible Ironclad C.S.S. Albemarle,will be published by Regnery Books in October 2020.

Jerome lives in New York City and coastal Maine.

Reviews

[Al Lock · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book desperately needed a proof-reader who knows the subject matter. There were so many technical mistakes (a BAR is not .50 caliber for example) that it detracts from the book. Although fairly well written, it is not footnoted, just providing an extensive bibliography, but no idea of what came from where, which makes the scholarship difficult to check.

Although an interesting book, this isn't a serious history. It needs to be gone over by a good proof-reader who knows the subject and a good history editor to tell the author what he needs to footnote.

[Deborah · Rating 4 out of 5]

Tom Perkins brings character and voice to the wide range of personas who encompass the U.S. Army pathfinders that sport Mohawk haircuts, war paint, and defiance in the face of their enemy. Jerome Priesler weaves biographical military history into the most compelling tales, leaving you holding onto your parachute.

[Tonet Rivera · Rating 4 out of 5]

Stories That Needed to be Told

Well-researched, documented and comprehensive accounts focused on the actions of the Airborne Pathfinder teams assigned to the 101st Airborne Division's D-Day drop zones in Normandy, and in the Market-Garden drop zones in the Netherlands. More focused and complete than in most other accounts of Airborne operations in other publications. Detailed and researched from various separate sources. One downside -- many navigational errors, like an editor or the author had a map of Normandy completely upside down when the book was written and edited. South became North, East became West. If you have actually been to the American drop zones in Normandy, the persistent errors get annoying. Nevertheless, a fine documentary of individual Pathfinder stories from D-Day and Market Garden.

[Leslie Davis · Rating 5 out of 5]

While the writing was slightly on the simple side, I gave this one five stories for the thoroughness of the coverage and the amazing bravery it revealed. Of all the WWII things I've read, I'd never heard of the Pathfinders - those who basically went on what was considered suicide missions to aid in the landing of gliders and more paratroopers on D-Day and other battles later. They were an integral part of the defeat of Hitler.

[Joe Spoto · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was aware of the pathfinders. One of my great Uncles was a pathfinder as well as my state representative when I was a young child. It was an interesting book, the military part was familiar to me, but it also told the stories of some of the men who were behind the scenes & less publicized than Easy company. For anyone interested in WWII it is a good book to read.

[Warren Higgins · Rating 5 out of 5]

Interesting account of the brave men who put their lives on the line to save the World.

[Don Paske · Rating 4 out of 5]

Maybe 4 1/2 stars. An excellent book on a subject no one ever heard of: Pathfinders.

[Don Paske · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent read. I never had heard of the Pathfinders, so I learned a lot.

[Todd A · Rating 3 out of 5]

Agree with others. This could use a little editing and another draft. That said, the topic is great and little told. So it was great to hear the stories. I appreciate the detail.

[Michael · Rating 4 out of 5]

This true story, a largely unknown one of the paratroopers who went into Europe first, reads like a page turning novel. The story is all the more amazing in the knowledge that it's true.

[Steve Ewing · Rating 3 out of 5]

An interesting read - would have been better if the author would have provided maps to follow the action of the story.

[Lee · Rating 3 out of 5]

Brief overview of the Pathfinders. Left you feeling that this was written when most of the sources are already gone and with little materials left. Good job though.
1) Didn't know about the Pathfinders, Eureka, Rebecca etc etc...
2) Didn't know they jumped into Bastogne to guide the supplies replenishment drops
Overall an interesting book of mighty brave men!