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The Tenth Command: A WWII Novel of Leadership, Redemption, and the 10th Mountain Division
Not yet published
Expected 25 Jan 26This is the story of the men who led them.
Early 1945. The road to the Alps—and the heart of the Third Reich—is blocked by two Hitler’s last mountain fortress in Italy and the haunting memory of failure.
To break the deadlock, Major General Price Hays, the “Rock of the Marne,” makes a terrifying his men will assault the fortified slopes of Mount Belvedere in the dead of night—with empty rifles.
It is a command that defies doctrine and demands absolute trust. Silence is their only armor.
Meanwhile, Colonel Will Darby, the legendary founder of Darby’s Rangers, returns to the front like a ghost. Exiled after the nightmare at Cisterna, he seeks not glory, but atonement. Guided by Annie, a British codebreaker who sees the man behind the legend, Darby must face the deadliest sin of coveting a victory bought with other men’s blood.
As the division launches its final drive to seal the Brenner Pass—the last escape route for Germany’s army in Italy—mentor and protégé reunite.
From the terrifying order to assault Belvedere with empty rifles to the race through the death-haunted tunnels above Lake Garda, Hays and Darby must walk through fire to break the enemy’s final line.
For one, it is a race to end the war. For the other, it is a chance to save his soul.
Inspired by True Based on the incredible lives of Major General George “Price” Hays and Colonel William “Will” O. Darby, The Tenth Command is the powerful finale to The Tenth Series.
Early 1945. The road to the Alps—and the heart of the Third Reich—is blocked by two Hitler’s last mountain fortress in Italy and the haunting memory of failure.
To break the deadlock, Major General Price Hays, the “Rock of the Marne,” makes a terrifying his men will assault the fortified slopes of Mount Belvedere in the dead of night—with empty rifles.
It is a command that defies doctrine and demands absolute trust. Silence is their only armor.
Meanwhile, Colonel Will Darby, the legendary founder of Darby’s Rangers, returns to the front like a ghost. Exiled after the nightmare at Cisterna, he seeks not glory, but atonement. Guided by Annie, a British codebreaker who sees the man behind the legend, Darby must face the deadliest sin of coveting a victory bought with other men’s blood.
As the division launches its final drive to seal the Brenner Pass—the last escape route for Germany’s army in Italy—mentor and protégé reunite.
From the terrifying order to assault Belvedere with empty rifles to the race through the death-haunted tunnels above Lake Garda, Hays and Darby must walk through fire to break the enemy’s final line.
For one, it is a race to end the war. For the other, it is a chance to save his soul.
Inspired by True Based on the incredible lives of Major General George “Price” Hays and Colonel William “Will” O. Darby, The Tenth Command is the powerful finale to The Tenth Series.
351 pages, Kindle Edition
Expected publication January 25, 2026
About the author
Joe Looby
3 books30 followers"The Tenth Series are works of historical fiction originally inspired by the real events of the battles at Riva Ridge and Mount Belvedere. My father served with the 10th Mountain Division during that campaign. He fought in those mountains and was wounded in battle. His courage—and the courage of the men he served alongside—is something I carry with me. Writing these stories is my way of honoring not just their bravery but the human experience behind the history: the fear, the grit, the humor, the heartbreak, and the extraordinary strength of ordinary men."— Joe Looby
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