Customer Reviews

He Rode Up Front for Patton

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Albin Irzyk's book on his experiences in WW II is a must for any student of armored combat. As commander of the 8th tank battalion of the 4th AD in WW II he has great insights into both how the war was executed and what it was like to fight from the tank. Serving on both the M-3 Stuart, and the M-4 Sherman, he gives accounts of how these vehicles were operated in combat. This book includes excellent accounts of the tank breakout in France in 44, as well as the German counterattack in the Ardennes. I would highly recommend this to anyone interested in the European theater of WW II or in armored combat.

(ret) Brigadier General Al Irzyk's account of his experience in WWII is one of the best accounts of armored warfare on the Western Front you are ever likely to read.

Irzyk tells his story from within the Fourth Armorerd Division's 8th Tank Battlion. As the S-3, and later the battalion's commanding officer, Irzyk often had the unique perspective of having his command tank "up front" in the thick of things. When combined with his knowledge of the "big picture" at the division, combat command, and task force levels, you will find that his insight knows no literary rival. His narrative captures virtually every aspect of the life of a tank battalion, and the tankers who comprise it.

No matter the cost, this is a book that every WWII enthusiast would be fortunate to have on their shelf.

First, this is a biography, not an autobiography(my favorite) like I was expecting. Second, I found the author to be one of those that deifies his subject to the point that it gets in the way of the story telling. Kinda like J. Alfred Phelp's biography of Daniel James Jr "Chappie". Try as I might, I just couldn't get into it.