Customer Reviews

Descending From The Clouds: A Memoir of Combat in the 505 Parachute Infantry Regiment, 82d Airborne Division

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I really enjoyed this book. I've read dozens and dozens of books about World War Two. What distinguishes Descending from the Clouds from most of the others is the feeling and passion contained in the pages. Col. Wurst recounts not only what he saw, heard, and felt, but also the impression it left on him for the rest of his life. When I finished reading this book I took some time to reflect on what I had read. I came away thankful for the sacrifices men and women like Col. Wurst have made in the history of our nation that allow me to live free and relatively safe.

Honestly, this book is the best first person account of infantry tactics relating to World War Two that I've ever read. I highly recommend it.

Like Spencer Wurst, my late father was a paratrooper in the famed 82nd Airborne Division during World War II. He was also career Army, and his postings took us around the world. As a very young girl, I know that he brought me to the beaches at Normandy. A few years later, I stood by his side as he pointed out the field in Holland where he had landed in September 1944. My father was very proud of his service with the 82nd, and I was raised knowing the Division's history. However, my father never really said anything specific about his own war experience. Sadly, my father died before I realized that perhaps he was just waiting for me to ask.

Fifteen years after his death, I returned to that field in Holland, traveling with my father's wartime "foxhole buddy" who did his best to tell me about their war. As an historian in the more than ten years since, I have sought out World War II veterans and encouraged them to tell their stories; and in so doing, I have come to realize why my father was perhaps so reticent.

It is a gut-wrenching experience to remember and to recount the deprivation, hardship, fear, and scenes of death that define front-line combat to anyone who has not shared the same experience. As Spencer Wurst wrote in the preface of his book, how does one "find the words to convey the unnamable?" But finally, Mr. Wurst realized that his own inability or refusal to talk about the war had deprived his children of a vital part of their heritage, and I wholeheartedly agree - and thank Mr. Wurst for finding the words to "convey the unnamable."

He also wrote that he hoped other survivors might find themselves in his story, and I believe they will - but more importantly, by reading "Descending From The Clouds," their families will come to know, to understand, and to appreciate their service and sacrifice. Want to thank a veteran? Read this book.

Having recently returned from Iraq, I have been digging around for wartime memoirs, especially WWII since I enjoy reading about this period in American history. Mr. Wurst's narrative is a moving account of an American airborne soldier and his trials and experiences during the 82nd Airborne's campaign through Europe. From the first sentence, I was hooked. Wurst's has a powerful way of reconstructing his personal combat memories. I highly recommend this title.

Reading Spencer Wurst's book: Descending From the Clouds, brings both the serious and casual reader of World War 2 history, into the mind of a young paratrooper. Vivid in detail, Mr. Wurst, is able to weave his early life in Erie, Pa, and set it in relationship to the events happening in Pre-War America. His enlistment in the National Guard at a very young age, and subsquent service in the 82nd Airborne, remind the reader of the many young men, who "grew up" in the military during the war. What makes this story so compelling is the fact that Mr. Wurst and the idea of airborne warfare, "grew up" together.

Clearly written, Mr. Wurst takes the reader into the life of a paratrooper from Italy, through D-Day and into Bulge. His rememberances of comrades lost, and his own fears confronted, are balanced by the accounting of his somewhat rebellous actions during his downtime. All of which, serves to remind the reader, that this war was not fought by the John Wayne types that we might won the war, but by the young, and in this case very young men, who endured and suffered, and gave their lives for each other, and us.

This book brings to light, the face of combat as seen by one young man, and the impact that experience had on him and his friends. Wurst does not blow his own horn, but his actions on the battlefield and his matter of fact delivery only serve to underline the heroes of this war, are the young men, now grown old, who can tell what it was really like to be on the line. As the voices of this generation pass into history, books like this, will serve as a touchstone for those who want to know what it was like to be a common soldier, in a world gone mad.

Over the past several years, I have communicated with the author about his experiences in the paratroops and have long awaited this book. I was not disappointed, and read each page with great interest. There are plenty of generals' perspectives to be found on World War II, but too few from the enlisted man's level--in this case a sergeant squad-leader. My husband jokes that I am earning myself a doctorate in World War II, and IF I am, it is because of priceless records like "Descending from the Clouds." Sidenote: The PFC in Spencer Wurst's squad named Arthur Lemieux was from my city of Marquette, Michigan, and finding his grave is what sparked my interest in World War II.

One really needs more than 5 stars to rate this book. It deserves 7 or 8 stars. I have read many personal accounts from veterans of the 82nd Airborne Division and this is by far the best. If one is interested in knowing what it was like to be a WWII paratroopoer day by day, battle by battle one absolutely has to read this book.

Lucky for me that I'm retired and can spend a whole day doing nothing but read. Lucky for me that I found this book at the local library. I went cover to cover in one day and part of a night -- This really is a top-notch first-person story of life as a grunt. Strongly recommended.

This is really one of the better stand-alone books written by an American paratrooper from World War Two. It really sets quite the scene when a young boy, enthralled by the military joins his state's national guard out of pride and hunger. But I won't ruin the book by giving away too many details in this review.

Wurst survived his national guard duty, joined the 82nd Airborne and made three combat jumps in the war and fought in Italy, Normandy and Holland from the platoon level.

Some of the more interesting details regarding this book are descriptions of the 1930s and 40s, the national guard at the time, training, and blistering street-to-street combat. But I also enjoyed his commentary on the state of the guard in the late 30s and early 40s. He makes clear how rapidly we advanced as a military in the 1940s.

If you liked this book I would recommend any of Don Burgett's famous books, Parachute Infantry by David Webster, Those Devils in Baggy Pants and All the way to Berlin.

And a memoir of combat it is! Spencer served with F Company, 2nd Battalion, making three combat jumps. It is very much his story, everything is written as he saw it, the co-author (his niece I think) helped with the editing and together they have produced a very readable account of Spencer's war service.

Spencer had it rough prior to the war. The Depression and family breakdown meant he had to make do with very little and in the end he left school and joined the National Guard - at the age of 15! His time with the 112th Regt of the 28th Division is quite interesting. The archaic practices and weapons of the pre war army are almost laughable but to his credit he made the most of his peacetime soldiering, always seeking to learn from his mistakes and often showing up his superiors as a result. The whole process toughens him up, enabling him to adapt well to the demanding training he encounters when he joins the airborne. There is a lot of good description on his experiences here, including some excellent stuff on his weaponry and equipment.

Spencer first finds combat in Italy, after being assigned to the 505th. He jumps at Salerno and sees combat on the drive to Naples. He has quite a few close calls. Next he jumps into Normandy and fights in Ste. Mere-Eglise. Then, in what is almost a rarity, he writes extensively on his experiences in the hedgerows. Interestingly, despite their reputation, they offer quite a bit of assistance at times and proved to be difficult conditions for the Germans too. The detail here is very good. Spencer writes about shooting Germans for the first time and this affected him for the rest of his life. There is also some blunt recounting of very black GI humour. Spencer is very forthright. There are a few jarring notes here!

Next up is Market Garden and Spencer's fighting in Nijmegen is for me the books highlight. He is a senior NCO and the attack to capture the South end of the Highway Bridge is just a corker! This is gripping stuff. The SS (9th Recon he writes) put up very strenuous resistance and Spencer's actions are pivotal (he is awarded the Silver Star). He shoots a lot, leads attacks, directs fire from a tank and again experiences very close calls. This is one of the most intense battles described by any of the authors I have read.

Following this operation, Spencer is rushed to the Ardennes where he again is in the front line. It is here that his sniping abilities are put to deadly use and his thoughts on the killing of these Germans, is reminiscent of Gantter. There is something about the crisp description of the acts that is very confronting. Spencer writes about how this came up in later life too and this is very revealing. This is never gratuitous or boastful, it is stark and honest. Indeed, there is an element of confession here I think.

Honesty is a trait of the author. His writing style is very readable and just right for the revelations he makes. Aside from combat, Spencer also goes further than any here about the less savoury aspects of a soldier's life. There is a lot on drinking and the pursuit of female company. This is not sordid but not too coy either. Spencer writes that he wrote this book for his children and grandchildren, and all I can say is that if they read between the lines there'd been a fair bit of blushing when next they all met!

Mercifully there is little combat for Spencer after the Bulge but interestingly his most awful experiences occur when taking over the line in the Huertgen forest. Here he finds hundreds of dead US troops, including many from his old unit, the 112th. A lot of what he wrote here was new to me. The carnage was the worst that Spencer saw in the war.

Spencer has managed to describe the harsh reality of his war with just the right balance. His book is not a sordid or blood thirsty read. It is though just the thing to answer the questions that most readers would have about the complete experience of a World War 2 soldier. Spencer writes very well, if not quite to the standard of the top flight college boys - indeed he is probably more accessible as a result. I was very impressed in every way. I rate this book just under Foley's and Gantter's - Very Highly recommended!

Spencer Wurst's book from the 82nd Airborne Division entitled "Descending from the Clouds" is a superb and thorough tale of some of World War II's most important moments. The Airborne divisions were almost always the tip of the spear in Allied operations. This gives each individual story great relevance within the larger war effort.

Wurst's book is written in a straightforward and simple prose (with the help of his niece Gayle Wurst), much like the demeanor of the author. Wurst was raised outside of Erie, Pennsylvania during the Great Depression. The accounts of his early years are hard to say the least, as his family struggled to make ends meet. Spencer grew up in several different homes as his parents were divorced which added to the instability of his youth. At the age of 15, Wurst finally found a solid life as he lied about his age and joined the Army, becoming a member of the National Guard within the 112th regiment of the 28th Division. As the story progresses, the reader can really get a taste of army life--both the boredom and hardships along with the character building experience of the average soldier. It is apparent that Wurst was fiercely proud of his service in the 28th. It gave his young life a solid anchor and provided the means for distinction in society. This desire to prove himself a success would lead Wurst to greater challenges as he volunteers for the paratroops in 1942. He completes training and is shuttled around to various Airborne regiments (the 507th and 513th) before finding a permanent assignment in Company F of the 505th PIR.

Wurst is shipped to North Africa where his recollections of the chaos and poverty of the inhabitants provides his introduction into the war zone. He sits out the July 1943 jump into Sicily because of he was transferred to an engineering unit, but quickly requests to rejoin the 505 as a Squad leader. Though he jumps in Operation Avalanche around the Salerno beachhead in September, his unit doesn't see much action except for a few heavy skirmishes around the town of Arnone and a lot of heavy patrolling through the mountains. While the 504th PIR stay in Italy and participate in the Anzio landings, Wurst and the remainder of the 82nd (505, 508, 325) prepare for the invasion of France.

His recollections of Normandy are solid, but admittedly scattered due to the "fog of war" which the author believes blurs events together, making every detail hard to precisely remember. The author writes of numerous skirmishes and a generally chaotic feel to the fighting in the earliest days of Operation Overlord, as the 82nd Airborne moves west attached to Collins' VII Corps, cutting the Contentin Peninsula in half. After a month of fighting, they are sent back to Enlgand, only to jump in September into Holland in the most infamous blunder of the war, Operation Market Garden. Wurst's account of the fight around the bridge in Nijmegan is the stuff of legend as books and movies have been made in its' honor. He earns the Silver Star for keeping his platoon tight while nearly all his company's superior officers were wounded and evacuated from the raging fight around the Waal River. I found this part of the book to be the best as his recollection of that specific fight is extremely clear and well written.
Wurst's participation in the Bulge is short lived as he is evacuated after only ten days from pneumonia, but returns to see the 82nd advance on the northern side of the Bulge and cut into Germany to end the war through the Hurtgen forest. The carnage of the previous fall is everywhere as Wurst lists these memories as the most gruesome. The book is concluded rather quickly as Wurst struggles a bit to readjust to civilian life, but finds happiness with a new bride in 1946.