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When Angels Fall: From Toccoa to Tokyo: The 511th Parachute Infantry Regiment in World War II, MacArthur’s Secret Weapon & Heroes of Los Baños
Discover the history of the 11th Airborne Division, the Angels, in World War II. Written by historian Jeremy C. Holm, WHEN ANGELS FALL covers the division's story from Camp Toccoa to Tokyo, including the bloody campaigns to liberate Leyte and Luzon with a focus on the legendary 511th Parachute Infantry Regiment.
Utilizing firsthand experiences and interviews with members of the 511th PIR, including his grandfather 1st Lieutenant Andrew Carrico of Company D, Jeremy tells the story of this historic unit from Camp Toccoa to Tokyo, including the training grounds of Camp Mackall and New Guinea. The Angels faced hell together and bonded during the nightmarish months of combat of the Leyte and Luzon campaigns. WHEN ANGELS FALL is a masterful narrative by a former journalist and historian who here tells the full story of a group of America’s heroes, the elite Paratroopers of the 511th PIR, 11th Airborne in World War II.
SSGT Jim Wilson of Company B said, "WHEN ANGELS FALL is the most accurate book I've seen on our unit. Jeremy got it right. It has the most detail of all the books on the Angels. This is the best."
Brigadier General Henry "Butch" Muller said, "I thoroughly enjoyed it. Well done and thank you for keeping the Division's legacy alive."
SSGT Albert Roe of H-511 said, "Jeremy's book was wonderful to read! I really enjoyed it and it brought back a lot of memories for me, some pleasant, some not. It is a great history of our regiment in World War II, I highly recommend it."
MacArthur's secret weapon and heroes of the Los Baños Raid, the 511th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 11th Airborne Division fought with distinction during the vicious Leyte and Luzon campaigns. In this book you will learn about one of America's most elite fighting forces and one of the only parachute units to fight in the Pacific Theater. Their loyalty to each other, ability to endure combat's harsh realities and the emotional struggles they faced to help win the war has earned the 511th PIR the nickname, "The Band of Brothers of the Pacific."
Led by Colonel Orin "Hard Rock" Haugen, the Angels of the 511th PIR helped save the United States Airborne, liberate Manila, rescued 2,147 internees at the Los Baños prison camp, were the first full unit into Japan at the end of World War II, formed General MacArthur's Honor Guard and protected the Allied dignitaries during the surrender ceremony on the USS Missouri. And their average age was 21.The Angels were an exceptionally lethal “secret weapon” according to General Douglas MacArthur. General Walter Krueger, commander of the U.S. Sixth Army during the war said, went one step further, saying that the 511th PIR was “the fightingest outfit I have ever seen!” After landing on Leyte, the division fought across the island’s interior, destroying an estimated 5,760 enemy between November 22-December 23, 1944 with a 45-to-1 kill ratio (on Luzon it was 22-to-1). No Angel ever boasted, just recited the number like it was a baseball statistic.
After enduring 204 days of combat and 1,100 casualties, the 511th PIR became the first full regiment to occupy Japan in the country’s long history. The Angels took 13 Unit Citations with them, as well as two Medals of Honor, 9 Distinguished Service Crosses, 432 Silver Stars, 10 Legions of Merit, 56 Soldiers Medals, 1,515 Bronze Stars and 41 Air Medals. Several elements within the 511th PIR received the Presidential Unit Citation and the Philippine Presidential Unit Citation as they earned Campaign Streamers inscribed with New Guinea, Leyte and Luzon with an Assault Arrowhead. No wonder General Robert L. Eichelberger, commander of the U.S. Eighth Army, declared "No one could have asked for finer fighting men.
Utilizing firsthand experiences and interviews with members of the 511th PIR, including his grandfather 1st Lieutenant Andrew Carrico of Company D, Jeremy tells the story of this historic unit from Camp Toccoa to Tokyo, including the training grounds of Camp Mackall and New Guinea. The Angels faced hell together and bonded during the nightmarish months of combat of the Leyte and Luzon campaigns. WHEN ANGELS FALL is a masterful narrative by a former journalist and historian who here tells the full story of a group of America’s heroes, the elite Paratroopers of the 511th PIR, 11th Airborne in World War II.
SSGT Jim Wilson of Company B said, "WHEN ANGELS FALL is the most accurate book I've seen on our unit. Jeremy got it right. It has the most detail of all the books on the Angels. This is the best."
Brigadier General Henry "Butch" Muller said, "I thoroughly enjoyed it. Well done and thank you for keeping the Division's legacy alive."
SSGT Albert Roe of H-511 said, "Jeremy's book was wonderful to read! I really enjoyed it and it brought back a lot of memories for me, some pleasant, some not. It is a great history of our regiment in World War II, I highly recommend it."
MacArthur's secret weapon and heroes of the Los Baños Raid, the 511th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 11th Airborne Division fought with distinction during the vicious Leyte and Luzon campaigns. In this book you will learn about one of America's most elite fighting forces and one of the only parachute units to fight in the Pacific Theater. Their loyalty to each other, ability to endure combat's harsh realities and the emotional struggles they faced to help win the war has earned the 511th PIR the nickname, "The Band of Brothers of the Pacific."
Led by Colonel Orin "Hard Rock" Haugen, the Angels of the 511th PIR helped save the United States Airborne, liberate Manila, rescued 2,147 internees at the Los Baños prison camp, were the first full unit into Japan at the end of World War II, formed General MacArthur's Honor Guard and protected the Allied dignitaries during the surrender ceremony on the USS Missouri. And their average age was 21.The Angels were an exceptionally lethal “secret weapon” according to General Douglas MacArthur. General Walter Krueger, commander of the U.S. Sixth Army during the war said, went one step further, saying that the 511th PIR was “the fightingest outfit I have ever seen!” After landing on Leyte, the division fought across the island’s interior, destroying an estimated 5,760 enemy between November 22-December 23, 1944 with a 45-to-1 kill ratio (on Luzon it was 22-to-1). No Angel ever boasted, just recited the number like it was a baseball statistic.
After enduring 204 days of combat and 1,100 casualties, the 511th PIR became the first full regiment to occupy Japan in the country’s long history. The Angels took 13 Unit Citations with them, as well as two Medals of Honor, 9 Distinguished Service Crosses, 432 Silver Stars, 10 Legions of Merit, 56 Soldiers Medals, 1,515 Bronze Stars and 41 Air Medals. Several elements within the 511th PIR received the Presidential Unit Citation and the Philippine Presidential Unit Citation as they earned Campaign Streamers inscribed with New Guinea, Leyte and Luzon with an Assault Arrowhead. No wonder General Robert L. Eichelberger, commander of the U.S. Eighth Army, declared "No one could have asked for finer fighting men.
- GenresWorld War IIHistory
349 pages, Kindle Edition
Published March 27, 2020
42 people are currently reading
55 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
February 7, 2022
An engaging historical account of the history of the 511th Parachute Infantry Regiment of the 11th Airborne Division in World War II-a unit that was no less a "band of brothers" than the 506th with exploits no less amazing or hard-fought. While I would love to see more maps, an index, and a glossary (perhaps in a future edition?), this was a very enjoyable read. Ultimately, though, what gives this book 5 stars for me is my own family's connection to this unit. My great-uncle was a member of the 511th PIR, D Company and was killed in action in the siege of Manila. His loss is recounted along with so many other personal stories. Needless to say, I really appreciated this excellent book.
April 30, 2020
It took me a while to read this book, because from about half-way through, nearly every page made me cry and I had to stop and get a grip on myself.
For a while now I've been reading up on the Pacific operations of WWII. As a Pole, from the youngest of ages we are taught mainly of our own war struggles and the "bad guys" Germans who invaded us in 1939. God knows, there's plenty to tell. But as I've been living in Australia for the past 15 years, I'm now catching up on the equally heart-wrenching and bloody history of my current neck of the woods. It's a strange feeling to have the long-standing villains of the story replaced with another nation, but it gives me a new, much-needed perspective. It's a good thing.
I've had some great laughs and spilled many, many tears reading this book. I love how personal all the stories feel. I've marked many pages to go back to.
For a while now I've been reading up on the Pacific operations of WWII. As a Pole, from the youngest of ages we are taught mainly of our own war struggles and the "bad guys" Germans who invaded us in 1939. God knows, there's plenty to tell. But as I've been living in Australia for the past 15 years, I'm now catching up on the equally heart-wrenching and bloody history of my current neck of the woods. It's a strange feeling to have the long-standing villains of the story replaced with another nation, but it gives me a new, much-needed perspective. It's a good thing.
I've had some great laughs and spilled many, many tears reading this book. I love how personal all the stories feel. I've marked many pages to go back to.
May 31, 2021
As a history teacher that teaches WW2 it is not every day you get to read a book about your grandfather’s unit during WW2. This book gave me a whole new appreciation of the paratroopers of WW2 that don’t get talked about and my family and I are truly thankful for this book. It’s a wonderful read and if you want to read about the hero’s that Hollywood doesn’t mention I highly recommend this book.
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February 16, 2022I appreciate the history of the 11th Airborne Division as recounted by Mr.Holm. My father served with the Angels at the battle for Nichols field and was seriously wounded. This book helped me to understand what my father went through. Thanks for filing in my knowledge of this phase of his life.
July 27, 2020
An outstanding history of the 511th and a great tribute to this man's grandfather.
April 23, 2022
When Angels Fall
Good history read. Full of facts and you actually get very good descriptions of the soldiers this book is abpu.
Good history read. Full of facts and you actually get very good descriptions of the soldiers this book is abpu.
January 30, 2024
Most excellent accounting of a seriously badass bunch of warriors
My father always lamented, People think it was the damn Marines who fought the Pacific war. Or that the only airborne to note were 82nd and 101st. THIS books helps set the record straight. Saying they gave the last full measure of devotion minimizes their feat.
Only complaint is the words are all bunched up on the Kindle version, making it a challenge to read. So get the hard or soft backs. It will be worth your time.
My father always lamented, People think it was the damn Marines who fought the Pacific war. Or that the only airborne to note were 82nd and 101st. THIS books helps set the record straight. Saying they gave the last full measure of devotion minimizes their feat.
Only complaint is the words are all bunched up on the Kindle version, making it a challenge to read. So get the hard or soft backs. It will be worth your time.
February 18, 2023
This is an important story and while it has been well told elsewhere, it is obvious that this is not the work of a professional writer / editor / publisher but rather it is an amazing and detailed labor of love from a grandson to his grandfather.
I see there aren’t many readers/reviewers yet so I hope that a publishing house gets wind of this remarkable story and can do what needs to be done to bring this to the masses.
I see there aren’t many readers/reviewers yet so I hope that a publishing house gets wind of this remarkable story and can do what needs to be done to bring this to the masses.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews