The Combat Diaries II: True Stories from the Frontlines of Europe

From the beaches of Normandy to the forests of Bastogne. From the skies over Occupied France to the battlefields of Nazi Germany.

At the height of World War II, the US military drew some 16 million men into its ranks. They came from nearly every walk of life-farmers, tradesmen, teachers, lawyers, professional athletes, and even Hollywood celebrities. But whether they came from the wheat fields of Kansas, the streets of New York, or the backlots of Tinseltown, these everyday heroes answered the call of duty when their country needed them.

They were ordinary men who accomplished extraordinary things. Today, we call them the "Greatest Generation.

The Combat Diaries II continues their story.

Focusing exclusively on the European Theater of Operations, this volume follows nearly a dozen US servicemen through some of the war's most dramatic campaigns.

Their stories include:

- A B-24 gunner who became the sole survivor of his crew and evaded capture with help from the French Resistance.

- An infantryman who fought his way onto Omaha Beach with nothing more than a pistol and a gas mask, then later witnessed the final surrender of Nazi Germany at Allied Headquarters.

- A cavalry scout who survived a German ambush, endured months as a prisoner of war, and found himself stranded in Eastern Europe after liberation.

- An American soldier who returned home with one of Hermann Göring's personal Iron Crosses as a unique trophy of war.

...and many more.

These are the stories of men who carried rifles, flew bombers, manned gun turrets, crossed minefields, endured artillery barrages, liberated cities, and watched friends disappear beside them.

As the ranks of the Greatest Generation continue to diminish with every passing year, The Combat Diaries II preserves the legacy of those who helped liberate Europe-and ensures that their remarkable stories will not be forgotten.