Table of Contents

Foreword by Ed Shames Preface by George Koskimaki Acknowledgements Introduction by James “Pee Wee” Martin 1. “Johnny, we hardly knew you” Camp Châlons, Mournmelon-le-Grand – November 28–December 18, 1944 2. “Ghost front” December 17–19, 1944 3 “Today is the only reality” December 20, 1944 4. “Epitaph for a generation” December 21–24, 1944 5. “The deep six” The worst winter in 50 years 6. “Steel whirlwind” Post-Christmas breakthrough 7. “Hell night” Clearing the Falzone Woods – January 9, 1945 8. “Salute the new dawn” The final attacks on Foy and Noville – January 13–17, 1945 9. “After the storm” Alsace Lorraine and the Colmar Pocket – January 21–February 25, 1945 10. “Home alive in 45” Return to Mournmelon – February 26–April 2, 1945 11. “Setting sons” The Ruhr, western Germany – April 3–24, 1945 12. “Striking back” The plight of the 3rd Battalion POWs – June 1944–May 1945 13. “Candle for the dead Southern Bavaria – April 28–May 3, 1945 14. “The roaring silence” Berchtesgaden, Austria, and France – May 4–November 30, 1945 Epilogue Bibliography Glossary Index Chapter 2 "Into the Abyss - Bastogne" December 17 - 19, 1944 Chapter 3 "Today is the only Reality" December 20, 1944 Chapter 4 "Thin Blue Line" December 21 - 24, 1944 Chapter 5 "The Deep Six" The Worst Winter in Fifty Years - Christmas to New Year Chapter 6 "Hell Night" The Fazone Woods - January 9, 1945 Chapter 7 "Stars and Stripes" The Battered Bastards of Bastogne Chapter 8 "Home Alive in 45" Alsace Lorraine, Jan 21 - February 25, 1945 Chapter 9 "Redemption Day" The Plight of the POW's Chapter 10 "A Walk in the Sun" Return to Mourmelon, February 26 - April 1, 1945 Chapter 11 "The Last Stand" The Battle of the Ruhr Pocket, Germany - April 1945 Chapter 12 "War The Ultimate Experience" Berchtesgaden & Austria - Summer 1945 Chapter 13 "The Last Jump" Joigny, France - August 1945 Chapter 14 "Welcome Home" September/October 1945

Promotional Information

This final installment of the story of the 3/506 PIR covers its involvement in the bitter fighting to hold Bastogne during the Battle of the Bulge through the battalion's involvement of the Nazi concentration camps to its final destination of Berchtesgarden, Hitler's mountain retreat.

About the Author

Ian Gardner served for five years in Support Company, 10th Battalion, the Parachute Regiment as a medic before leaving the Territorial Army in 1993 due to injury. Always enthusiastic about military history, several years after leaving 10 Para Ian became interested in World War II US Paratroopers. After a visit to Normandy in 2000 he decided to focus on the 101st Airborne Division, and in particular the 3rd Battalion of the 506th Parachute Infantry Regiment, which led to the critically acclaimed Tonight We Die As Men, co-written with Roger Day. This, his second historical work, continues their story.