No Better Place to Die [Paperback]

Robert M. Murphy (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: March 1, 2000

Described by S.L.A. Marshall as "The bloodiest small unit struggle in the experience of American arms", the Battle for La Fiere Bridge is at the heart of Robert Murphy's "No Better Place to Die." Murphy, an 82nd Airborne Pathfinder and Normany combat veteran dropped behind Nazi lines the night before D-Day to prepare the way for the rest of his division. His personal story is intertwined in the struggle for the key terrain in and around Ste. Mere Eglise; terrain vital for the protection of Utah Beach from enemy panzers. This is the _only_ book that details this battle.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"Suggested reading..." -- American Society of the French Legion of Honor ASFLN Newsletter, March 2000 issue

Back in June of this year I attended the 55th anniversary of the D-Day invasion and had the luck to meet Mr. Murphy in the town of St. Mere Eglise and got to talk with him a bit while he showed us around the museum there. I purchased his book from you not long ago and thought it was great... -- Darren Kapsimalis

About the Author

Following his combat experiences in Sicily, Normandy and Holland, as a soldier in the 505th Parachute Infantry Regiment, author Bob Murpphy survived his war injuries to return home and begin a long and distinguished career as a Boston lawyer. Murphy later served as President of the 82nd Airborne's Veteran's Association and paved the way for the creation of the famous La Fiere replica of 'Iron Mike', the statue that stands as a sentinel at the gates of Fort Bragg, North Carolina.

The new 'Iron Mike' now stands at the La Fiere causeway, scene of the famous battle for the bridge over the Merderet River which Murphy personally took part in. Murphy's efforts include refurbishing the D-Day veteran C-47 aircraft that currently stands at the museum in Ste. Mere Eglise (making a parachute jump from the plane as it was being delivered in 1964!)

Accounts of author Murphy's combat actions can be found in books ranging from Cornelius Ryan's "The Longest Day" and official Army Histories. He is considered an expert on the subject of combat action by the 82nd Airborne in Normandy, often consulted for books and films. Bob Murphy currently serves as President of Reunions for the 82nd Airborne's 505th Parachute Infantry Regiment.

Product Details

• Paperback: 128 pages
• Publisher: Critical Hit, Inc. (March 1, 2000)
• ISBN-10: 1929307004
• ISBN-13: 978-1929307005
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 5.9 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (17 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,781,634 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

49 of 50 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars First person accounts of the airborne assault into Normandy, May 13, 2009

By 

J. Rudy "Major, USAF" (Fairfax, VA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: NO BETTER PLACE TO DIE: Ste-Mere Eglise, June 1944-The Battle for la Fiere Bridge (Hardcover)

Robert M. Murphy retells his personal experiences during the 82d Airborne Division's airdrop into the Normandy Peninsula. Between June 6th and June 9th, paratroopers held this bridge against horrific mortar & artillery fire, and fierce German counterattacks. Armed with only what they could carry in the airborne drop & a few anti-tank guns recovered from broken gliders, the paratroopers held off two Panzer attacks supported by 200 infantrymen in each of the attacks. Major General Gavin is attributed as saying when the fighting ended "the [Meredet] causeway - some 500 yards - was so thick with bodies you could have walked from end to end without ever touching the ground." This is the story of the men and women who experienced this fierce battle.

The La Fiere bridge is located about 2 miles west of St Mere Eglise. The men of the 505 Parachute Infantry Regiment (PIR) were assigned the mission of securing this bridge and defending it until relieved. This bridge was one of the few roads that offered a direct path to the exit roads off of Utah Beach. A successful German counter-attack along this road would have delayed the American exit off of this beachhead. The success of the men of the 505 PIR directly contributed to the rapid departure of Utah beach.

The book is laid out into four major sections. First and foremost is an explanation of the battle, written in a proper historical format. The story is laid out in chronological order, using multiple sources to corroborate the actual events of the battle. There are a few interjections of supporting material, such as the mission of the pathfinders. Murphy was a pathfinder, a special paratrooper dropped into a landing zone one day prior to the assault. He carried a homing radar and other signaling aids to mark the correct drop zone for the rest of the paratroopers. This supporting information greatly enhanced the understanding of the book for "legs" [non-paratroopers].

The three subsequent parts of the book are personal recollections of American soldiers; German soldiers; and the French civilians who live through the battle. I emphasize "personal" because in many cases, individuals could only explain what was going on in front of their gun sight, without any understanding of the overall tactical picture.

As a child growing up, my first experience with D Day was the classic movie "The Longest Day (Two-Disc Collector's Edition)". This book sets straight two of the more memorable characters in the movie. Red Buttons portrayed John Steele, a private whose parachute snagged on the steeple of St. Mere Eglise's church. The true story is far more fascinating than what was fictionalized in the movie. The second character was Lt Col Vandervoort, portrayed by John Wayne. Many of the soldiers have fond memories of this outstanding combat commander. These soldiers did not directly fight at La Fiere bridge, but they were all part of the 505th Parachute Infantry Regiment who fought and died in the area surrounding St. Mere Eglise.

The original version of this book was self-published. With the assistance of a great editor, this book is now clearly organized. The book is well supported with photographs on almost every page. The battle narrative also includes official battle maps prepared by the US Army's cartographic division. These maps perfectly explained the layout of the battle as it unfolded.

For a fictionalized account of these events, I highly recommend Jeff Shaara's "The Steel Wave: A Novel of World War II" which includes the exploits of the men of the 505th PIR.

15 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars No Better Place to Die, June 17, 2009

By 

Carl Dominic "Three Panther Two" (Chesapeake, VA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: NO BETTER PLACE TO DIE: Ste-Mere Eglise, June 1944-The Battle for la Fiere Bridge (Hardcover)

Excellent historical account of the fight by 1/505 PIR, 82d Airborne Division at the La Fiere Causeway by a paratrooper who was there. Highly recommended and an easy read compared to other World War II historical writings. All the way - H-Minus!

21 of 24 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars WHAT? ANOTHER BOOK OF WW2., May 14, 2009

By 

Kay's Husband (Virginia, U.S.A.) - See all my reviews
(TOP 500 REVIEWER)   

This review is from: NO BETTER PLACE TO DIE: Ste-Mere Eglise, June 1944-The Battle for la Fiere Bridge (Hardcover)

What? Another book of WW2, haven't we had more than enough, they keep rolling off the presses almost daily.

But seriously, wait, you don't need to hold this one in your hand more than a short time to know this is one terrific book. For some length of time I have felt we needed a primary (first person) narrative of someone who was there, and saw it all, and can relate it in a manner we can all pretty much experience. As I've said, this is the one. When I received my copy from the The History Book Club I immediately sat down to absorb it.

You will too, if you have any interest in the pathfinders and Normandy, '44.

Semper Fi.