The Battalion: The Dramatic Story of the 2nd Ranger Battalion in World War II (Stackpole Military History S.) [Hardcover]

Col. Robert W. Black (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: November 10, 2006 | Series: Stackpole Military History S.

Goes into exceptional detail on the D-Day assault of the gun positions at Pointe du Hoc, including how it almost ended in total failure and lists the names of the Rangers who fought in the 2nd Battalion

Unlike most books on the U.S. Army Rangers, this one also covers the many battles fought by the Rangers after D-Day

Based on original documents and interviews with the surviving veterans by the author

With a centuries' old warrior heritage, American Rangers endured the most difficult training that man could devise to overcome the most difficult challenges of the enemy and nature. For more than fourteen months, the volunteers that made up the 2nd Ranger Battalion had been finely honed for combat. Now, on June 6, 1944--D-Day--their battle would begin. The payoff was at hand. As the ramps of the landing craft went down, rockets on the sides of the ship fired ropes and grapnels skyward toward the cliff top. Some ropes fell short, men stepped into water that was over their heads and, loaded with equipment weighing over a hundred pounds, sank like stones. Sound and fury combined with fear and determination. Some men thought of the words they had heard each time they were tempted to complain: "You volunteered."

Editorial Reviews

Review

"Black is ‘the dean of Ranger history.’" -- New York Times best-selling author Douglas Brinkley

About the Author

Col. Robert W. Black, a highly decorated Ranger veteran of Korea and Vietnam, is a member of the Ranger Hall of Fame. He lives in Carlisle, Pennsylvania, and Port Charlotte, Florida.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 384 pages
• Publisher: Stackpole Books (November 10, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0811701840
• ISBN-13: 978-0811701846
• Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 6.4 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (10 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #955,224 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

16 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Rivals "Band of Brothers" for WWII History!, December 18, 2006

By 

J. Duddy (APO, AE United States) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: The Battalion: The Dramatic Story of the 2nd Ranger Battalion in World War II (Stackpole Military History S.) (Hardcover)

Col Robert Black's story of the 2nd Rangers rivals (and in some ways) eclipses Ambroses' "Band of Brothers." It is an extremely detailed and readable account of the unit from formation and training through the acid-test of the Normandy Invasion to the misery of the Hurtgen Forest campaign. I have read dozens of books on the D-Day operation, and Black was able to come up with information on that battle I had not found in any of them. His account of the pre-invasion preparations is particularly valuable, as well as his almost minute-by-minute summary of the landings and Pointe du Hoc. The chapters on other operations in France (Brest) and the Hurtgen Forest fill a very big void in Ranger history for WWII. He is to be commended for his broad view that battles are not won by individuals alone, but, as in the case of Normandy, by a superb joint-service team. Only criticism of the book would be (and suggestion for revised edition) that it lacks maps of the battle areas beyond Normandy. These are less well know to readers and require some visual help in understanding the terrain involved. But the writing is first-class and it's hard to imagine that any detail concerning the 2nd Rangers was left out! I was lucky enough to meet several Ranger vets at Pointe du Hoc on June 6, 2004 and this book is an excellent tribute to them.

13 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Rangers Lead the Way!!, January 14, 2007

By 

Tim Swain (Peoria, IL USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: The Battalion: The Dramatic Story of the 2nd Ranger Battalion in World War II (Stackpole Military History S.) (Hardcover)

Rangers remain a special breed of warrior. Aggressive, confident, self-starters. The author's description of the small groups (2 to 3) of Rangers reaching the top of Point du Hoc and immediately moving forward to their objectives typifies the traditional Ranger action-spirit and ability. Twenty three Rangers have been awarded the Medal of Honor. The book is an enjoyable read as one learns about the famed 2nd Ranger Battalion in a factual way interspersed with the author's wry humor, insights and honest reporting that flows throughout the book. The cast of characters found in the Rangers is captured - one of whose favorite war cry was "We're heading for pay dirt!" Weapons and their care is given high importance by the Rangers, and their on-going marksmanship training pays off as they aggressively and effectively use their favorite weapons (Thompson, BAR, M-1) to kill the enemy. Respect and appreciation is accorded to the Navy support on D-Day - with a breath-taking description of the gallant and gutsy USS Satterlee (DD626) moving at flank speed parallel to and "so close in shore it appeared to be only a few feet off the beach" off Pointe du Hoc as it effectively blasted the Germans with its 5-inch and 20mm guns. And, toward the end of WWII when the 2nd Battalion teamed up with the Armor (102nd Cavalry) to roll across one objective after another with the enemy only being administered swift death and destruction. Worth its weight in historical-gold are the Appendixes that contain, among other things, a complete roster of the 2nd Battalion. Anyone interested in learning the type of American who volunteers for the Rangers, should read this book. Its author is a fully-credentialed combat veteran Ranger, and is one of 228 select members of the Ranger Hall of Fame.

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars When Expert Authority Meets Artistry, January 5, 2007

By 

L. Smerling - See all my reviews
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This review is from: The Battalion: The Dramatic Story of the 2nd Ranger Battalion in World War II (Stackpole Military History S.) (Hardcover)

When you want true, indepth storytelling, you can always depend on Author Col. Robert W. Black. I have read all his books and found them educational as well as entertaining. The war-time accounts of The Battalion are events of historic magnitude and are artisticlly narrated. This book is written for the experienced WWII veteran as well as the young gung-ho soldier and every reader interested in learning about history thu the mind and words of a storytelling genius. Learn about this historic event in Ranger history and get to know some of the great personalities in war-time drama. Here they are brought to life like the characters in a renowned novel. Read the book now, because The Battalion will undoubtedly become an award winning movie and you will want to say...I new that story when...!