Sergeant Nibley, Ph.D.: Memories of an Unlikely Screaming Eagle [Hardcover]

Hugh Nibley (Author), Alex Nibley (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 18, 2006

Few people knew more about the history of human conflict than Professor Hugh Nibley. But on June 6, 1944, at Utah Beach, he learned more about war than he had gleaned from all the books he'd read combined. General Maxwell Taylor assigned Sergeant Nibley to educate the officers of the 101st Airborne about warfare. But it was the professor himself that received an education while fighting as a member of the most legendary unit of the United States Army. Most war memoirs come either from the bird's-eye view of the general or from the visceral but limited scope of the common soldier. Because of Nibley's unique situation, this book blends both perspectives. From the narrow view of a sergeant in a foxhole to the broader perspective of an intelligence specialist, his experience offers an intimate, realistic and articulate view of World War II.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Hugh Nibley received his Ph.D. in history from the University of California, Berkeley, in 1939, and was emeritus professor of ancient scripture at Brigham Young University. He was widely recognized as a remarkably gifted scholar, a prolific writer, a keen and witty observer, and a relentless critic of the worldly. Dr. Nibley passed away in February 2005. Alex Nibley, Hugh's son, has published numerous essays and articles on a wide variety of subjects and has had two of his plays produced. He is also a screenwriter, producer, actor, and filmmaker. He holds a B.A. degree from the University of Utah and an MFA degree from the American Conservatory Theatre, where he also taught. He has been an adjunct professor at the University of Utah, Loyola Marymount University, and Utah Valley State College.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 368 pages
• Publisher: Shadow Mountain; 1ST edition (September 18, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1573458457
• ISBN-13: 978-1573458450
• Product Dimensions: 8.8 x 7.2 x 1.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.8 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #574,668 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

18 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Different View of the Famed 101st, September 24, 2006

By 

John Matlock "Gunny" (Winnemucca, NV) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Sergeant Nibley, Ph.D.: Memories of an Unlikely Screaming Eagle (Hardcover)

This book is written from a very interesting perspective. Hugh Nibley was 32 years old and had a Ph.D. when he enlisted in the army. He went into intelligence, and presumed that he would get assigned some nice safe assignment writing reports or something like that.

But those of who have been in the Army know that the Army Gods don't work that way. He was assigned to work with the 101st Airborne, and was scheduled to go into Normandy on D-Day by glider. (Unlike the paratroopers, the glider infantry was not composed of volunteers and did not receive the extra pay.) At the last minute a General bumped him off the glider so that he went in with the 4th division over Utah Beach. (The General, sitting in Nibley's assigned seat was killed, and all the men in the glider were captured.)

Being both older and better educated Sgt. Nibley was able to see and understand a lot more about what was happening than reports from the commanders or the normal soldiers. For instance, the stories about the 101st are legend (Saving Private Ryan, Band of Brothers, etc.) but Sgt. Nibley points out that many of the volunteers were some fairly tough soldiers that had been given the choice of volunteering or going to prison.

There's a lot of comments of a similar nature throughout the book. Sgt. Nibley was a keen observer. This book belongs on any World War II library.

9 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Interesting book, March 21, 2007

By 

Robert L. Williams (Portland, OR USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Sergeant Nibley, Ph.D.: Memories of an Unlikely Screaming Eagle (Hardcover)

This book contains the wartime memoirs of Hugh Nibley, former professor
of ancient scripture at Brigham Young University, as he participated in
combat operations throughout Europe during WWII. Professor Nibley
passed away in February 2005. The book was compiled by his son Alex
Nibley from interviews and letters collected over the years. What
makes this book so interesting is that although Hugh Nibley already had
his Ph.D before the war started, and had been a member of ROTC, he
elected to enlist in the Army as a buck private, rather than become an
officer. The juxtaposition of his highly educated and intellectual
perspective against the drudgery and horror of a common foot soldier
makes for a fascinating read.

Brother Nibley wasn't in the Army very long before his education and
extensive language proficiencies were discovered. The Army promptly
pulled him out of his job as a weather forecaster and sent
him up to work in military intelligence. Once given access to
classified intelligence data, the full power of his intellect became
unleashed, to the potential benefit of the Allies. Unfortunately,
things didn't always work out that way. Although he accurately
predicted when and where many German surprise attacks would occur, and
even the date when the war would end, he couldn't get many of the top
military brass to believe him simply because he was just a lowly
enlisted man. The book documents Brother Nibley's frustrations as he
watched helplessly as numerous Allied troops were killed needlessly
from attacks that could have been avoided.

The book includes a number of spiritual elements as well. It documents
how LDS Church Apostle Melvin J. Ballard set Brother Nibley apart for a
proselyting mission to Germany in the late 1920s, and commanded him to
tell the people to repent or they would be destroyed by fire from
heaven. It was to Brother Nibley's great sorrow that he observed many
of the German cities to which he had earlier cried repentance destroyed
by Allied fire-bombing during WWII.

If you like books on WWII, and anything Nibley, I highly recommend
this one for your collection.

4 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A man of great faith and intelligence, August 23, 2007

By 

Gregory M. Mcdonough "Wisdom Seeker" (Salt Lake Ut USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

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This review is from: Sergeant Nibley, Ph.D.: Memories of an Unlikely Screaming Eagle (Hardcover)

Hugh Nibley was gifted and had a great curiosity. His WWII experiences would enlighten him as to the 'conspiring men' who seek riches from the troubles of others. He describes the sillyness of the War that was fought in places where the Romans fought and Napoleon fought. He describes terrible waste and destruction that war brings. A great adventure in which he was preserved, while others around him were lost. He describes the choices made my those in command to further their own carreeers while engaged in war. And the efforts to keep the war going.