Library: Rangers

Saving Private Ryan | D-Day | Rangers | Airborne | Miscellaneous

BOOKS

Beyond Valor

World War II's Ranger and Airborne Veterans Reveal the Heart of Combat

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  • Author: Patrick K O'Donnell
  • Publication Date: February 15, 2001
  • Publisher: Free Press
  • Format: Hardcover
  • Pages: 384
  • ISBN: 0684873842

The success of Tom Brokaw's Greatest Generation has sparked a renewed interest in books about World War II and the people who fought in it. Patrick K. O'Donnell maintains, however, that behind those official histories and carefully crafted memoirs lies a "hidden war"—"a bottled up, buried version shielded even from family members because many of the memories are too painful to discuss." In Beyond Valor, O'Donnell brings this hidden war to the surface, allowing men from the elite forces to tell their own stories, thus creating a fascinating combat history of WWII.

Darby's Rangers: 1942–1945

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  • Author: Mir Bahmanyar and Michael Welply
  • Publication Date: April 1, 2003
  • Publisher: Osprey Publishing
  • Format: Softcover
  • Pages: 64
  • ISBN: 1841766275

This title follows one recruit through commando, raiding and amphibious training in Scotland, and into action. It shows how the Rangers differed from the standard infantryman in both their combat mission and their combat skills, and how tactics were modified in the light of lessons learned. The experiences of battle covered include the Rangers' first action during the 1942 Dieppe raid, fighting elite Italian Bersaglieri units at Station de Sened and the Afrika Korps at Dernaia Pass in 1943, spearheading the invasion of Sicily and Italy in late 1943, and the gruelling combat up the Italian boot until war's end. Packed with first hand accounts, and many unpublished photographs, it provides a vivid description of life among the elite soldiers of Darby's Rangers.

The Liberation of Pointe du Hoc

The 2nd Rangers at Normandy, June 6–8, 1944

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  • Author: Joanna MacDonald
  • Publication Date: April 1, 2000
  • Publisher: Rank and File Publishers
  • Format: Softcover
  • Pages: 200
  • ISBN: 1888967064

In one of the remarkable stories of D-Day, the task of liberating a small but significant German stronghold—Pointe du Hoc—fell to 225 brave souls from the 2nd Ranger Battalion. Led by Lt. Col. James Rudder, the men scaled the 100 foot cliff and fought their way into history.

Rangers in World War II

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  • Author: Robert Black
  • Publication Date: October 2, 2001
  • Publisher: Presidio Press
  • Format: Paperback
  • Pages: 448
  • ISBN: 0804105650

From the deadly shores of North Africa to the invasion of Sicily to the fierce jungle hell of the Pacific, the contribution of the World War II Ranger Battalions far outweighed their numbers. They were ordinary men on an extraordinary mission, experiencing the full measure of the fear, exhaustion, and heroism of combat in nearly every major invasion of the war. Whether spearheading a landing force or scouting deep behind enemy lines, these highly motivated, highly trained volunteers led the way for other soldiers—they were Rangers.

The Road to Victory

The Story of the Elite WW2 2nd Ranger Battalion

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  • Author: Morris Prince
  • Publication Date: September, 2001
  • Publisher: Meadowlark Pub.
  • Format: Paperback
  • Pages: 240
  • ISBN: 0970525710

This is a first-hand account of WWII's elite Rangers. Written in Czechoslovakia by Pfc. Morris Prince in 1945, the author takes the reader from D-Day to V-E Day, capturing the events and battles of "A" Company, 2nd Battalion Rangers in accurate detail and interesting observations. It is a rare find, historically recording the courage of this commando-type unit—their failures and successes, in a first voice narrative.

Rudder's Rangers

The True Story of the 2nd Ranger Battalion D-Day Combat Action

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  • Author: Ronald L. Lane
  • Publication Date: June 1, 1995 (reissue)
  • Publisher: Ranger Assoc.
  • Format: Paperback
  • Pages: 201
  • ISBN: 0934588007

D-Day was characterized by sacrifice and uncommon valor. Yet even among the valorous deeds that were common on 6 June 1944, the exploits of the Rangers at Pointe du Hoc stand out as tributes to human courage. This book details the true story of Lieutenant Colonel James Earl Rudder and his 2nd Ranger Battalion. It is a true story of courage, human ingenuity, achievement and ultimate sacrifice. The story of Rudder's Rangers is brought to life by Ronald L. Lane. Lane's familiarity with Rangers stems from his personal experience as an airborne ranger with the 101st Airborne Division.