More Than Courage: Sicily, Naples-Foggia, Anzio, Rhineland, Ardennes-Alsace, Central Europe: The Combat History of the 5

by Phil Nordyke

Drawing on many oral and unpublished written accounts from veterans of the 504th Parachute Infantry Regiment, Phil Nordyke brings the history of the regiment to life, conveying with remarkable immediacy and power what it was like to be there. This is history as it was lived by the men of the 504th, from their pre-war coming of age in the regiment, through the end of World War II, when they marched in the Victory Parade down Fifth Avenue in New York. The 504th earned three bronze stars for their parachute wings, one for each of their combat jumps.

480 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2008

Reviews

[Matt · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing read on the men of the 504 Regiment (82 Airborne), AKA the Devils in Baggy Pants (a name earned from a German officer's diary). Much has been made in recent years of the "Band of Brothers" (E Company, 506 Regiment, 101 Airborne), but the 504 was already a hardened combat unit while the 506 was still in training in the US. They took part in the first combat parachute jumps in Sicily, the first of many stories of tragedy and heroism. Unfortunately, due to the heavy losses at Anzio, the 504 had lost too many to join in the drops for D-Day, a frustration that left them out of the most well-known, oft-covered combat operation of WWII.

The brutal fighting in Italy, particularly Anzio, the infamous Market Garden Operation, and the painful Battle of the Bulge are also a big part of this book. Through it all, the 504 achieved their objectives and never retreated, a particular point of pride for WWII 504 vets. They earned Presidential Unit Citations for stopping a massive German attack at Anzio, the astounding and costly Waal River crossing in Market Garden, and the devastating assault on Cheneux during the Battle of the Bulge.

The book consists heavily of the first-hand accounts of the actual soldiers, heavily quoting their own words, including my own Grandpa, who fought in B Company of the 504. This book gave me the opportunity to understand what happened, particularly at Cheneux; I now understand why my Grandpa talked very little about his actual combat in WWII.

[Fredrick Danysh · Rating 4 out of 5]

The 504th Parachute Regiment was was part of the 82nd Division during World War II. It served in the North Africa, Italy, and Europe theaters. More Than Courage gives many personal accounts based on interviews with members of the 504th as well as published and unpublished sources.

[Stephen Avery · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing work. By far the best detailed history of the 504 PIR's service during WWII. Full of facts but reads like a novel.

[Carl Bailey]

Very good gritty combat history.