The Fool Lieutenant; a Personal Account of D-Day and WWII

by Marcia Moen, Margo Heinen

A personal account of D-Day and World War II as told by Ranger Robert Edlin, Platoon Commander of A Company, 2nd Ranger Battalion. Using a single hand grenade, he and his all-star patrol captured an entire German garrison of 800 people, earning him the Distinguished Service Cross and the title - "The Fool Lieutenant". The Rangers were an elite group of the Army Infantry - all volunteers. The Army Ranger exemplified the highest standards of courage, determination, ruggedness and fighting ability.

320 pages, Paperback

First published August 15, 2002

Reviews

[Donovan Martin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very well written. The stories recorded here bring in so many of the smaller details that are easily missed in many accounts of D-Day and the role the Rangers and others had in WWII.

What I really enjoyed were the stories of events that don't get the publicity that many others already have and it really broadens the perspective of how large the war was and how many smaller victories were taking place to ensure the grander victory overall.

I am very thankful for this generation and for those who shared their stories.

[Kate · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderful book ! You will follow the combat experience of Robert Edlin A Coy of the 2nd Ranger battalion from his training in England to the end of WWII (Normandy, Brest and Hurtgen Forest). Very very interesting !

[Johanna · Rating 4 out of 5]

Robert T. Edlin, the "Fool Lieutenant" as he was dubbed, was 1st Lieutenant of the First Platoon in A Compnay, of the 2nd Ranger Battalion in WWII. This book is a fascinating account of his life from growing up in a family of seven children during the Depression, to joining the National Guard at the age of seventeen, to storming the beaches of Normandy at the head of his platoon as a 22 year old Lieutenant, to causing the surrender of 850 Germans and the Graf Spree Battery on the Brest Peninsula in France with his four man patrol and a hand grenade, surviving the battles and the bitter cold of the Hurtgen Forest, and much much more all the way up to VE day and beyond. This book never dragged, it was captivating from cover to cover and full of great first hand accounts! One of my only complaints is that the book many times has a rough way of telling things. I know one is unfortunately suppose to expect a rough soldiers mouth in any war account, but I really can't stand vulgarity and wish I didn't have to trudge through dirt to get to the gold of the tale! Other then that I really enjoyed the book, I take a special interest in WWII as my grandfather fought in it. I am especially thankful for men like my grandfather, and Lt. Edlin, and the thousands upon thousands of honored others today; December 7, "a date which will live in infamy". Thank the Lord for such men and their courage and sense of duty!

[Chris · Rating 5 out of 5]

A good book telling about an amazing individual. This book has a very reader friendly feel and a smooth, relaxed flowing narrative.... A very interesting read.