Customer Reviews

All American, All the Way: A Combat History of the 82nd Airborne Division in World War II: From Market Garden to Berlin

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All American, All the way is a fantastic read for any World War 2 or 82nd Airborne enthusiast, I would say that this is a must have. This book (part one) is a release of the large volume under the same name and the second will be released in 2010 (From Market Garden to Berlin).

I think it was a great marketing decision to split this into a two volume set, while both books will still be in excess of 400 pages it does make it manageable to read and may bring in some readers that were scared off by the all in one volume which was almost 900 pages. Ok, enough of the marketing of the book, lets talk about what you will find inside.

Phil Nordyke brings this story in our history to life giving different perspectives but continuing the story. It offers a wealth of firsthand accounts and tells the story through the eyes of the men who were there. He really hit my style of reading; there is enough information that you can follow this easily on a map and have a clear understanding of the timeline in which the campaign plays out, while at the same time the accounts are not drowned out the story because they are the story.

This is truly a great read and in my opinion a must have for any World War II fan, student or researcher. Our history is rich with the everyday way of life, the great heroics of people put into situations that really did not want to be there, but made the best of what they had. This book through its accounts brings American metal to bear and gives us a glimpse of what they sacrificed for us. It captures that moment in time and allows there and our history to be shared.

Craig Anderson
Our History Project

Phil Nordyke captures the combat history of the 82nd Airborne Division in the paperback reprint of his work "All American All the Way: From Sicily to Normady". In this case, you can judge this book by its cover -- this title exactly describes the contents of this book. What the title fails to capture is the talented writing abilities of Nordyke.

Stephen Ambrose popularized the World War II airborne troops with his work "Band of Brothers", which follows the exploits of Easy Company of the 506th Parachute Infantry Regiment from its training in Georgia through its employment across the European Continent. Nordyke's book, written with the same flowing style captures the exploits of the entire 82d Airborne Division from its employment in North Africa, in Sicily, and on to Normandy.

As I was reading the book, it struck me that it was rather difficult to keep up all the soldiers as they fought their way across Europe. The reality of the situation is that many of these line combat units had 200% or more casualty rates; in simple terms, for evey 100 soldiers assigned to a company, at least 200 soldiers were killed or wounded. This book really drives home the point of how many men it took to win the war.

The book is superbly organized, well-written, and well-supported with appropriate graphic aids. Nordyke includes many black & white photos and charts showing the approximate positions of the companies and battalions as they fought each of the battles. For readers who enjoyed "Band of Brothers : E Company, 506th Regiment, 101st Airborne from Normandy to Hitler's Eagle's Nest", by Stephen Ambrose, this book would be perfect for your library. Another outstanding book on the exploits of the 82d Airborne is "NO BETTER PLACE TO DIE: Ste-Mere Eglise, June 1944-The Battle for la Fiere Bridge", by Robert Murphy.

Zenith Press provided me with a complimentary copy of this book.

All American All the Way: From Market Garden to Berlin provides a fine World War II military history survey focusing on the experiences of the 82nd Airborne Division. Personal reports and unit histories blend with facts and a complete bibliography and index perfect for any in-depth military history holding.