Seven Roads to Hell: A Screaming Eagle at Bastogne [Illustrated] [Hardcover]

Donald R. Burgett (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 14, 1999

The Screaming Eagles of the 101st Airborne Division (fictional Private Ryan's unit) were ready for some well earned rest and recuperation. Following their combat in the Normandy Invasion, the division had been mauled during Field Marshal Montgomery's ill-fated Operation Market Garden, the campaign for the bridge too far immoratalized by Cornelius Ryan.

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal

Burgett is a veteran of the 101st Airborne and the author of Currahee!, a memoir of the Normandy invasion written shortly after World War II. This is a memoir of Burgetts experiences during the momentous Battle of the Bulge. His narrative flows from one experience to the next with compelling momentum, and his harrowing accounts of battle will leave readers in awe of the courage of soldiers. Burgett provides enough background and description to set the stage for each part of the battle that swirled around him, and numerous maps and photographs detail the action. Burgetts story is not one that he lived through some distance from the lineshis division was right in the thick of battle. He provides a complete picture of the brutality of war and an excellent account of one of the wars most pivotal battles. Recommended for both public and academic libraries.Mark E. Ellis, Albany State Univ., GA
Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Booklist

Burgett follows Currahee!, his memoir of the Normandy invasion with the 101st Airborne Division--the "Screaming Eagles" --with the story of the legendary stand at Bastogne during the Battle of the Bulge. There, surrounded and outnumbered, the 101st and a few other units held the vital junction of seven roads. Burgett's account is unsparingly realistic about the lot of even the elite infantryman. Only partially recovered from its campaign in the Low Countries, the 101st was rushed into combat. For much of the Battle of Bastogne, it was short of ammunition and medical supplies, without air cover, with little or no winter clothing, and with only a motley array of weapons, some of them captured from the Germans or borrowed from other American units. Burgett is eloquent about the hardships and hazards that he survived, while many good friends did not, as well as about some of the 101st's supporters, including an African American howitzer battalion that fought to the limits of its ammunition supply. A sterling addition on the infantryman's World War II. Roland Green

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 256 pages
• Publisher: Presidio Press (April 14, 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0891416803
• ISBN-13: 978-0891416807
• Product Dimensions: 8.5 x 5.9 x 1.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 10.4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (64 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #170,725 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

17 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A paratrooper's tale, December 31, 1999

By 

Henry E. Shelnutt "Ed Shelnutt" (Watkinsville, GA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Seven Roads to Hell: A Screaming Eagle at Bastogne (Hardcover)

As a former paratrooper, and having several uncles and older cousins who served in airborne units in World War II, I can only say that Mr. Burgett captures the essentials of airborne combat in WWII. One of my uncles had great difficulty reading this book. "It brought back too many memories". Mr. Burgett's earlier book, "Currahee", brought the reader to England prior to the NOrmandy invasion, and then to Normandy with all the confusion, savage combat and gallows humor found in line outfits. This volume continues in that line, and complements greatly works like "A Time For Trumpets" and Toland's "Battle". The book offers no political insights, second guessing of commanders. It offers the insight and observations of a young American GI fighting far away from home, watching friends die, and wondering who was next. A fine job!

15 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Withstanding the storm, December 19, 2002

By 

Paul H. (Michigan) - See all my reviews

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This review is from: Seven Roads to Hell: A Screaming Eagle at Bastogne (Mass Market Paperback)

Mr. Burgett was a 19 year old paratrooper in the 101st airborne who had the luck (good or bad) to witness some of the fiercest fighting that took place during the second world war. This book provides you with the feel from the trenches of those terrible dark days when it looked like the Wehrmacht and Hitler's Germany were striking forward again. The terrible cold, fear, and the brutality of the combat spring to life in this well written account. This text is an easy and quick read, I finished it on one 3 hour plane flight.
Mr. Burgett participated in multiple attacks and defenses and his writing of them is extremely detailed as I suppose those memories linger quite clearly. This is not a book of strategy or an overview of the Battle of Bastogne, but simply how one man experienced the combat and the losses. No quarter was given or asked for. Prisoners were given no solace as there was no food, medicine or even men to guard them. This was combat in its rawest form. A good reminder to all of what war really is in its basic form - young men killing other young men. Mr. Burgett experienced this at arms length and is kind enough to share his experiences. Read this and be thankful for the freedom from fascism that we share!

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Awesome book, December 30, 2000

By 

Chad R. Reihm (Miami Beach, FL USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Seven Roads to Hell: A Screaming Eagle at Bastogne (Hardcover)

If you are looking for a personal account of the siege of Bastogne during the battle of the bulge and the tremendous feat of the 101 Screaming Eagles or are just looking for a great non fiction thriller then get this book. Burgett was a member of the 506th and fought in some of the most bloody battles around Bastogne. But besides the awesome fighting sequences he describes the misery of the foxhole, freezing temps and patrols. But look for the cheap 5 dollar version of the books because it is the same thing including the pics. And if you like this then go back to the start and read Burgetts Curahee...an awesome account of his part in the airdrops during Normandy, also available in the cheap version...