This book recalls the story of 135 Americans grouped together in

a company of paratroopers of the 82^nd American Airborne from

their enlistment to the end of the Battle of Normandy.

Throughout this book you will discover what stirred them to

enlist in this new force, yet unknown even in America: the

paratroopers. After the psyhcological shock provoked by Pearl

Harbour on 7^th December 1941, this unit, like many others, was

created from nothing.

You will share with these men their daily life during their

military training in the United States through their own

accounts, most of them published here for the first time,

as well as their life in England in early1944 whilst

awaiting Operation Overlord; a plan which was kept

secret to the very last minute, even from the

paratroopers. Through original accounts, you will take

part in the final preparations on the airfield tarmac at

Folkingham, in England just before they boarded the

C47 aircraft. You will board with them onto the nine

C47s assigned to their company, from lift-off to the

great night jump onto Drop Zone "N" somewhere in the

middle of Normandy among German flak fire. You will take

this jump with them, which was the first for almost all of the

paratroopers, and, alas, the last for many. You will take an

active part in the regroupment attempts on the "high spot" of

"Hill 30". You will stay with them until the 12^th of July 1944,

date marking the end of their Battle of Normandie, at a cost of

many deaths and casualties.

You will understand the organisation of a parachute regiment, a

battalion command company, and an air transport group during the

Battle of Normandy.

This book is far from a trivial official report. It is the human

testimony of simple soldiers, many of whom have awaited their

old-age before telling their tale, for they simply didn't have

the strength to tell it earlier. Certain veterans mentioned in

this book have deceased before its publication, but the

account of their achievements will live on in history.