World War II Book

March 22, 2024

March 22, 1944 – Rest camp, replacements, and those amazing LSTs

March 22 Late in March, some units of the 3rd Infantry Division began to come out of the line after more than 60 consecutive days of […]
March 21, 2024

March 21, 1944 – Bombing brings new suffering to Anzio hospital but swimming and baseball continues

Every square inch of Anzio was constantly under bombardment, including the hospital and operating rooms. One headline stated, “Debris is cleared away after an attack on […]
March 20, 2024

March 20, 1944 – On Anzio a beachhead order to the men to wear steel hats or pay fine

AP correspondent, Richard G. Massock, observed, “Germans are being killed on the Anzio beachhead by “some pretty grim looking characters.”[1]
March 20, 2024

A recording of my WWII presentation at the LSU Military Museum

This presentation, “At First Light: How a Teenager Became a WWII Hero” was delivered at the William A. Brookshire LSU Military Museum in October 2023 as […]
March 19, 2024

March 19, 1944 – Not a single spot on Anzio Beachhead is safe from enemy gunfire

Journalist George Tucker wrote, “To appreciate Anzio it is necessary to remember that the beachhead is shaped like a fan, the handle of which is a […]
March 18, 2024

March 18, 1944 – To seize a beachhead like Anzio was one thing—to hold it indefinitely was another

The miserly affection with which the limited ground on the Anzio, Italy beachhead was coveted is shown by the fact that during March the 3rd Infantry […]
March 17, 2024

March 17, 1944 – Dad’s first medal of valor caused Mount Vesuvius to blow her top

Well, not really. But the two events occurred in close proximity to each other. Phil’s first medal of valor was the Silver Star the Army’s third […]
March 16, 2024

March 16, 1944 – Baptism by fire (Part 2)

“No soldier in any of our theaters of operations is better acquainted with this war than is the Infantryman, and no Infantryman knows war more intimately […]
August 13, 2022

Saturday Book Report – A Major Review in Army Magazine

I wanted to share some wonderful news with you! On Wednesday, July 20, 2022, the Association of the United States Army (AUSA) pre-released a major review of […]
August 20, 2022

Saturday Book Report – “At First Light” named an Page Turner Book Award Finalist

The Page Turner Awards judges considered almost 1,000 nominations for their International Book Awards. At First Light was nominated. So, what happened?
August 27, 2022

Saturday Book Report – Don’t miss my WWII interview on the History Unplugged Podcast

One of the very first interviews I did on my new WWII book, At First Light, had finally seen the light of day. I think you’ll […]
September 2, 2022

Monthly Family Update – September 2022

Here are the contents of this month’s newsletter: My WWII book awarded a Silver Medal by the Military Writers Society of America A Major Review of […]
September 3, 2022

Saturday Book Report – WWII Book a Silver Medalist at the Military Writers Society of America awards ceremony

https://amzn.to/3Lp0MCw Barb and I traveled to New Orleans for the Military Writers Society of America (MWSA) Conference and Awards Ceremony held at the Higgins Hotel, which is […]
September 10, 2022

Saturday Book Report – “At First Light” sells out its first printing

Mike Yorkey and I were delighted to learn that our WWII book about my father’s exploits and heroics, At First Light: A True World War II […]