Inside the Battle of the Bulge: A Private Comes of Age [Hardcover]

Roscoe C., Jr. Blunt (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 1994 | ISBN-10: 0275945456 | ISBN-13: 978-0275945459

A personal account of the final European campaign of World War II, tracing the route of the 84th "Railsplitter" Infantry Division from its embarkment from Camp Kilmer, New Jersey, in 1944. Blunt's adventure - his heroism, failures and suffering - portrays a passage from innocence to experience.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 216 pages
• Publisher: Praeger Pub (April 1994)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0275945456
• ISBN-13: 978-0275945459
• Product Dimensions: 9.3 x 6.3 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #453,785 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Well Written Personal History of the Last Year of the War., November 7, 2000

By 

John P. Rooney "John" (Massachusetts) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Inside the Battle of the Bulge: A Private Comes of Age (Hardcover)

"Inside The Battle Of The Bulge", by Roscoe C. Blunt, Jr. Westport, CT, Praeger, 1994.

If you are looking for a book that tells the story of the Battle of the Bulge, (Dec, 1944), without listing a lot of movements of this numbered division against that Panzer group, and if you are looking for a more personal and human history of the battle, then Private Blount's memoirs are for you. The sub-title of this book is, "A Private Comes Of Age". The author traces not only his march across Europe, from the logistical landing at Normandy (after the battle) up to the 84th Infantry Division's reaching the Elbe River, but also the lessons he learned about man's inhumanity to man. He grew up in the European campaign.

Unlike similar personal history books, the author presents an extra added attraction: records of the reactions of German soldiers and civilians. Young Blount had learned German in high school, so this personal memoir, written from notes he had made fifty years ago, is filled with comments from German soldiers and civilians. For example, there are some entertaining memories such as a short and chubby German woman who berated the advancing American troops, until Blount smacked her on the behind with the stock of his M-1. On the serious side, Private Blount describes in vivid detail the wounds suffered by both American and German soldiers, and how it was possible to become insensitive to such suffering. His description, however, of the concentration camp victims at "Nord Stalag III, Ohrdruf, is heart rending, on pages 173-174.

The author pulls no punches in describing the officers of the American army. In fact, his account of some incidents, such as the lieutenant being awarded a Bronze Star, while not even mentioning the efforts of Pvt. Blount in destroying an enemy tank , makes you wonder if the country should shut down West Point. Further, his narrative of his court martial for fraternization with the Germans (since he was able to speak German) makes you wonder about the commonsense of some of the officers of the time.

Over the last fifty or so years, Roscoe Blount has been "an award winning investigative journalist", (according to the back flap of the book cover), so the writing in this book is excellent. I would recommend this book to any one seeking a glimpse of how it was in the American army in Europe during the last crucial year of the war.

8 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Inside the Battle of the Bulge - A Must Read, May 15, 2002

By 

Joel Thompson (East Aurora, NY USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Inside the Battle of the Bulge: A Private Comes of Age (Hardcover)

Inside the Battle of the Bulge is a must read for any one interested in personal accounts of WWII veterans. Blunt provides an honest first hand account of his days as a front line soldier fighting in the final months of the war. His recollections are vivid and touching. He is able to relate relative highs and unimaginable lows in a very, very impressive fashion. His accounts of passing through Belgian cities once occupied by Nazi forces are breathtaking. His memoirs of passing through the Nazi deathcamps is gut wrenching. This is really just a terrific read of a momentous and historical event.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars How it was, December 27, 2010

By 

M. Vernoy (New Orleans LA USA) - See all my reviews
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Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Inside the Battle of the Bulge: A Private Comes of Age (Hardcover)

This is a ground level personal look at the European war by a 'grunt', the guys who carried the burden. No high-class outfit here, just the daily grind of what it took to 'save the world for democracy'. Gives a wonderful insight into to daily battle to stay alive, stay sane, stave off hunger, keep from freezing to death. These guys took no 'sick days'. They battled frozen feet, German shelling, 'personal' bullets from snipers, contant hunger, filth, snow, and a miriad of other problems. They watched their buddies blown up next to them, followed orders, and did what it took to 'just get home' again, and return to an ordinary life. Toughened by the Depression, tested by the elements and the enemy, their greatest wish was just to get it over with so they could go home to their family. A personal view of why this was truly 'The Greatest Generation.'