Description
Ever since Allied forces landed on the beaches of Normandy, the men who survived have sought to return, to honour their dead, and to teach others of what they went through to liberate Europe.
Soldier Keith Nightingale has conducted terrain walks in Normandy for over forty years with veterans, active-duty military, and local French civilians. Over the decades Nightingale conducted dozens of formal interviews and informal conversations with many of the principals of the day, including Generals Bradley, Collins, Gavin, Ridgway and Hill. Added to this rare, new primary material from the top brass are numerous conversations with lower-ranking vets who did the heavy lifting, many of which took place as they actually walked the battlefield with Nightingale - Major Howard of Pegasus Bridge; LTC Otway of Merville Battery; Captain Piper of La Fiere Bridge; LTC Vandervoort, CO of the 2-505/82d; Cpt Raeen of the 5th Rangers; Lt Dick Winters of Brecourt Manor; PFC Marcucci of Omaha Beach; and SSG Lem Lomell of Pointe Du Hoc.
This unique approach to D-Day combines the author's discussions with veteran and civilian participants in D-Day, his personal reflections on Operation Overlord, and the insights that occur - often at the very site of a battle. Interspersed with veterans' remarks, Nightingale's personal essays are inspired by specific discussions or multiple interviews. Taken together, the succinct, human observations of these participants illuminate the hard facts to create a unique work of long-lasting interest that will attract specialists, military history buffs, armchair generals, and general readers alike.
About the Author
Keith Nightingale was commissioned a 2nd Lieutenant in 1965 from Claremont McKenna College. He graduated from Airborne, Jumpmaster, and Ranger Schools and retired as a Colonel in 1993. During this time he commanded four rifle companies, three battalions, and two brigades - all Airborne or Ranger units, and some in combat. He served two tours in Vietnam, was part of the Iran hostage rescue attempt, commanded an assault force in Grenada, and managed the Department of Defense Interagency Counterdrug Task Force for Latin America from Panama. After retiring from the military, he joined Science Applications International Corporation as Senior Corporate Vice President, managing over a thousand international contracts and security programs in the Middle East conflict zone. He presently serves as a consultant and advisor to several government personalities and organisations and conducts leadership seminars for several Fortune 500 companies. Col (Ret) Nightingale is a member of the 82nd Airborne and Ranger Hall of Fame, and is the author of The Human Face of D-Day (Casemate, 2023).
Reviews
Keith's personal essays are inspired by specific discussions or multiple interviews. Taken together, the cogent human observations of these participants who assisted him further expand and illuminate our depth of understanding of what it must have been like to be pinned down under intense fire and must do something heroic to get out of it. * ARGunners.com *
Book Information
ISBN 9781636241029
Author Keith Nightingale
Format Hardback
Page Count 288
Imprint Casemate Publishers
Publisher Casemate Publishers
Soldier Keith Nightingale has conducted terrain walks in Normandy for over forty years with veterans, active-duty military, and local French civilians. Over the decades Nightingale conducted dozens of formal interviews and informal conversations with many of the principals of the day, including Generals Bradley, Collins, Gavin, Ridgway and Hill. Added to this rare, new primary material from the top brass are numerous conversations with lower-ranking vets who did the heavy lifting, many of which took place as they actually walked the battlefield with Nightingale - Major Howard of Pegasus Bridge; LTC Otway of Merville Battery; Captain Piper of La Fiere Bridge; LTC Vandervoort, CO of the 2-505/82d; Cpt Raeen of the 5th Rangers; Lt Dick Winters of Brecourt Manor; PFC Marcucci of Omaha Beach; and SSG Lem Lomell of Pointe Du Hoc.
This unique approach to D-Day combines the author's discussions with veteran and civilian participants in D-Day, his personal reflections on Operation Overlord, and the insights that occur - often at the very site of a battle. Interspersed with veterans' remarks, Nightingale's personal essays are inspired by specific discussions or multiple interviews. Taken together, the succinct, human observations of these participants illuminate the hard facts to create a unique work of long-lasting interest that will attract specialists, military history buffs, armchair generals, and general readers alike.
About the Author
Keith Nightingale was commissioned a 2nd Lieutenant in 1965 from Claremont McKenna College. He graduated from Airborne, Jumpmaster, and Ranger Schools and retired as a Colonel in 1993. During this time he commanded four rifle companies, three battalions, and two brigades - all Airborne or Ranger units, and some in combat. He served two tours in Vietnam, was part of the Iran hostage rescue attempt, commanded an assault force in Grenada, and managed the Department of Defense Interagency Counterdrug Task Force for Latin America from Panama. After retiring from the military, he joined Science Applications International Corporation as Senior Corporate Vice President, managing over a thousand international contracts and security programs in the Middle East conflict zone. He presently serves as a consultant and advisor to several government personalities and organisations and conducts leadership seminars for several Fortune 500 companies. Col (Ret) Nightingale is a member of the 82nd Airborne and Ranger Hall of Fame, and is the author of The Human Face of D-Day (Casemate, 2023).
Reviews
Keith's personal essays are inspired by specific discussions or multiple interviews. Taken together, the cogent human observations of these participants who assisted him further expand and illuminate our depth of understanding of what it must have been like to be pinned down under intense fire and must do something heroic to get out of it. * ARGunners.com *
Book Information
ISBN 9781636241029
Author Keith Nightingale
Format Hardback
Page Count 288
Imprint Casemate Publishers
Publisher Casemate Publishers
