books

If you know of other books by or about our members, please let us know so they can be included here.

“I didn’t choose involvement in World War II; circumstances forced me into the war.” This is how Henri Levaufre begins his exciting tale of what it was like to endure German occupation of his country and then celebrate with the Allies when they liberated France. As a thirteen-year-old boy, he witnessed the war’s effects in Periers, his hometown: the perils of combat, two bombings, and his family’s evacuation. After the war, as an Electrical Engineer, he visited the battle fields of Normandy frequently to design and install power lines. This sparked Levaufre’s interest in “the pathway of recent battles”. Slowly, with his family, he began to map out every trench and foxhole in the area. He also collected other war artifacts. After decades of research, he is now an award-winning authority on what happened in Normandy. He has also become the devoted friend and host to many soldiers – on both sides – who fought there.

This is the story of Pvt. Charles Goodson, from Childress, Texas, who came in as a replacement before Hill 122 and remained through the Battle of the Bulge. It is a history that tracks the movements of the 358th Regiment and contains tactical and strategic actions from Normandy to the German border. It is available through Amazon.com, Barnes and Noble.com and Xlibris.com or through the author, John Sandifer. See more at www.onetoughombre.com

The stories of the doctor who treated many of the men of the 90th Division. Considered to be one of the best histories of the 90th available.

Over 300 letters Pfc. Ellingson faithfully wrote home to North dakota while serving with the 90th Infantry Division, 359th Regiment, 3rd Bn HQ Co during extended training at Camp Barkley, the Louisiana swamp, the Arizona - California desert, Great Britain, and with Patton's Third Army in Europe during WWII. Over 700 photos and illustrations visually enhance the story.

$29.95 + $5 Shipping / Handling [$2.10 , 7% New Mexico sales tax if Applicable]

They Were All Young Kids Life as a tanker in World War II from a tanker's perspective. The story of the 712th Tank Battalion and others - from the Tankbooks collection by Aaron Elson. Link courtesy of Aaron Elson. Features include the story of Jim Flowers' experiences.

Tanks for the memories - stories of the veterans of the 712th bank Battalion- from the Tankbooks collection by Aaron Elson. Link courtesy of Aaron Elson

Below the Salt:How the Fighting 90th Division Struck Gold and Art Treasure in a Salt Mine

From D-day thru the end, stories of the war by those that were there, including many Tough 'Ombres.

The Friendly Invasion of Leominster, an account of the US Military units billeted around Leominster, Herefordshire, England in 1943-1945 by Fran and Martin Collins.

The book relates the activities of a number of American units, including the 90th, based in Leominster during World War II and describes each unit’s time in the town, using eyewitness accounts and photographs, and then follows the units across the English Channel and through Europe.

The climactic Battle of WWII as told by the participants, including many Tough 'Ombres.

Captain Mac: War Hero, My Hero

A biography of Captain Robert McHolland, K Company, 3rd Battalion, 358th Infantry Regiment, 90th Infantry Division. Captain McHolland was commander of the noted "K Kompany Kraut Killers" from July 1944 until he was killed in action just inside Germany on 24 November 1944. The story of Captain McHolland's life is recounted by an admiring nephew who conducted countless interviews of family, friends, and army buddies. The author also drew heavily upon information contained in letters his uncle wrote home from combat, unit histories, and other historical accounts of World War Two to tell the life story of his lifelong hero.

Cost of the book is $20 plus $3 for shipping. To order, contact the author Jerry Wiley, 26115 Cedarwood Lane, Shell Knob, MO 65747-7514 or by email at sheila095@centurytel.net.

Memoirs of a Field Artillery Pilot in WWII. The details of a flight log combined with personal reflections and anecdotes from one of Patton's 90th Division Field Artillery Air Observers.

"Landing in Normandy on D+2, medical unit for the 90th Infantry Division, we followed Patton as part of his Third Army across Europe, into Czechoslovakia on V-E Day, and back to Germany as Occupation troops. Battle scenes alternate with contacts (both amusing and moving) we had with individual Europeans"

Paperback: 240 pages
Publisher: Publish America, Inc. ; ISBN: 1588519996; (November 2001)

For the 3d US Army under General Patton, V-E Day, the end of World War II, marked the completion of 281 days of constant battle in the heart of Europe. This study chronicles, day-by-day, the situations which developed and the tactical combinations evolved for their successful solution.

Ann Arbor Weaver 1959. 432 memoirs of a Major-General in the ETO; 90th, 8th Division and SHAEF. First edition.

The Battle of the Bulge - Hitler's Last Hope - by Robin Cross

"Undoubtedly the greatest American battle of the War [the Battle of the Bulge] will, I believe, be regarded an ever-famous American victory." -- Prime Minister Winston S. Churchill, January 18, 1945. (Battle of the Bulge, 1944, p. 153)

"This new book from Casemate outlines all aspects of the battle from the layout of the battleground, the factors that led Hitler to believe that such an attack could be successful, the launch of 'Autumn Mist' on the ill-prepared American troops, the Massacre at Malmedy, and the resultant rally of American resolve which eventually led to one of the greatest American victories of the war at Bastogne.

"This book's authoritative text is complemented with detailed maps explaining the troop movements, which took place during the battle. It also includes appendices with information on orders of battle and losses and equipment. The Battle of the Bulge: Hitler's Last Hope is a comprehensive account of the battle that saw a German attempt to relive the successes of 1940, but one that was effectively doomed from the beginning and the consequences of that failure for Hitler's Third Reich."

Jim Reid, Executive Secretary/Treasurer of the 90th Division Association has read the book and says, "It is an excellent book; fascinating reading that is written from the German perspective; and would make a wonderful gift for anyone interested in the history of the Battle of the Bulge."

click on book cover for flysheet Available in bookstores

After the Battle - a magazine published in England.
"If you are interested in the Second World War — and want to know how the places where it was fought appear today, in what remains to be seen and the discoveries that are still being made — then After The Battle publications will interest you. After the Battle brings military history alive as our theme is to present the battlefields as they are today using then and now comparison photography."
Nice photography and interesting stories.

Books by Anthony Kemp

There are three books currently in print which can be obtained via Amazon and other on-line booksellers.

Then there is the story of D-Day and the Battle of Normandy published for the 50th anniversary and due to be reissued next year for the 60th. The English version was published by Abrams NEW York as D-Day and the Invasion of Normandy.

Metz 1944 - One More River

should be in print by the end of the month as the translation of the French version has taken longer that expected. Copies should arrive in the USA and clear customs by early July. Anyone wishing to make sure of a copy in advance should contact davidf@casematepublishing.com who can provide information re. price, shipping etc.

See Tony's site for more information : www.milhist.org

I would like to recommend a book of a 90th division member...Mr. R. L. Goodson. It is a wonderful book, I started reading it and couldn't put it down, I read it from cover to cover.

Following is a note I posted on a WWII website for Mr. Goodson about his book. He is in his 80's and not in real good health but pretty sharp:

I go to church with a dear gentlemen, Mr.R. L. Goodson who after 60 years published a book on his experience in WWII, "Flashbacks".

There is information on our church website on the book and how to get in contact with Mr. Goodson and his wife Sue if you would like to obtain a copy.

Some info - They traveled on the Queen Elizabeth from New York to England...then from England to France on the Susan B. Anthony. Their ship hit a mine and they were delayed from being in the first wave on Omaha Beach. They were eventually loaded onto barges and were in the second wave on Omaha Beach having been delayed by about 4 hours.

"We were loaded on barges and headed for shore. When the barge stopped, the front end dropped down and the order came, "Hit the water". I was the second in line.....In our barge, all the men made it, but some of the other barges got shelled with one hundred men in them. No one could ever dream a dream as bad as it was. But remember we were four hours late. We had a picnic to what the others were in."

R. L.'s company was completely replaced five times. He was one of only five survivors of his original company. R. L. was awarded the Purple Heart on July 3, 1944; a Silver Star on February 3, 1945; a Good Conduct Medal; EAMETO MED WDS; and a Bronze Star for each campaign he served in in Normandy, Northern France, Ardennes and Germany.

It is a wonderful book....and makes you proud of our military who fought then and fight today for the freedom's that we have.

Patton's Bulldog: The Life and Service of General Walton H. Walker, authored by COL (Ret) Wilson A. Heefner, is the biography of the World War II commander of XX Corps, in which the 90th Infantry Division served during the campaign for Metz and during the crossing of the Saar River in early December 1944. Walker fondly referred to the 90th as his "favorite division." Walker gained additional fame for his dogged defense of the Pusan Perimeter during the Korean War. The book is available for $29.95 from www.barnesandnoble.com or from the publisher, White Mane Books, P.O. Box 708, Shippensburg, PA 17257-0708, (717) 532-2237,

Two new books - Story of A Citizen Soldier (about and by a TO, Charles Bryan of the 358th) and The Battle of Iwo Jima,- have both been reviewed by members of the 90th Division Association and are highly recommended.

'With emotional honesty, the narrative follows the author from toy soldiers in Iowa to basic training in Texas, through bloody battles in France to Hitler’s Bavarian retreat at Berchtesgaden. Life and death become intimate and real throughout the dramatic transition from boyhood to manhood."

'After over sixty years of holding it deep within, an aging American soldier shares his harrowing tale of life and death on Northern Europe’s front lines. Join Recon Sergeant Hobert Winebrenner as he leads you back into World War II. From Utah Beach, through the hedgerows of Normandy, the liberation of France, the Battle of the Bulge, the assault on Germany and the chase in Czechoslovakia, follow in his BOOTPRINTS. Wounded twice and captured once, he saw much in his WALK THROUGH WORLD WAR II.

“In what promises to be one of our country’s final World War II memoirs, BOOTPRINTS has saved the best for last. Winebrenner and McCoy walk you through the worst imaginable—life along Northern Europe’s front lines.” – Rick Batholomew, USMC Vietnam Veteran, author of Dig In and publisher of Nam Magazine.'