Tanks for the Memories: Expanded Second Edition [Paperback]

Aaron Elson (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: January 1, 2002

"Tanks for the Memories" tells the stories, in their own words, of the veterans of one of America's most distinguished "small" units in World War II, the 712th Tank Battalion. From their beginnings in the throes of the Great Depression, to their days in the horse cavalry, to their training as tankers, to 11 months on the front lines in Europe, their stories are not only powerful reading, but show how ordinary men performed extraordinary feats of courage and heroism under the deadliest of conditions.

Editorial Reviews

From the Publisher

The original "Tanks for the Memories" was published in 1994. It was a learning experience in that it was a debut work for both the author and the publisher. The production left a great deal to be desired. Perhaps the oddest thing about the book was that it had legs. People were always contacting us saying that their copy had walked on over to a friend's house and the friend gave it to somebody else to read, and now they need another copy. Because so many of those copies just walked away, the first edition has sold out. Because the author continued to record the oral histories of battalion members after the book came out, he chose to write an expanded edition, incorporating all of the original material. The result is a book that is twice as long, twice as good, and only a little more expensive.

From the Author

My father served with the 712th Tank Battalion in World War II. When I first attended one of their reunions, in 1987, I found myself riveted as I would listen in on story after story, many of which which I soon realized these veterans didn't share with their children, and even their wives. I thought these stories would make a great book. At the time, I didn't know that I would write that book. But I think you'll find "Tanks for the Memories" to be in the greatest tradition of authors such as Studs Terkel and Stephen Ambrose.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 357 pages
• Publisher: Chi Chi Press (January 1, 2002)
• ISBN-10: 096406118X
• ISBN-13: 978-0964061187
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 5.9 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.3 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,659,740 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Oral History at its Best., July 26, 2002

By 

Gregory Canellis "Student of military history... (Tuckerton, NJ USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Tanks for the Memories: Expanded Second Edition (Paperback)

In 1984, Tom Brokaw became enamored with the D-Day veterans he was assigned to cover for the fortieth-anniversary of that "longest day." This affection eventually materialized into his best selling book: THE GREATEST GENERATION. In 1988, Steven Ambrose attended a reunion of E Company, 506th Parachute Infantry Regiment and was fascinated by their stories. This led to an award winning book and HBO mini-series: BAND OF BROTHERS. Less known, however, are the growing legions of amateur military and oral historians, whose efforts to break the silence and delve into the memories of a quickly dwindling generation of World War II veterans, are producing significant testimonies. Aaron Elson is one such historian and this book _TANKS for the Memories: The 712th Tank Battalion During World War II_ belongs on the shelf of anyone seriously interested in the American GI. What began as an attempt to learn more about his own father's service in this unit, flowered into oral history at its best. The veterans whose stories fill these pages represent a cross-section of American society; they are true citizen soldiers. From humble beginnings in the 11th Cavalry at Camp Seeley, Calif to a cadre for the 10th Armored Division, the 712th TB would eventually fight in some of the bloodiest campaigns in Northwest Europe. Landing at UTAH Beach on D + 22, the 712th was attached to the hard-luck 90th Infantry Division, whose mauling in the hedgerows of Normandy nearly caused its demise as a fighting unit. Their luck would change, however, and the 90th Division would go on to become one of the best in General George S. Patton's Third Army. And the 712th would be in the thick of the fighting, from the mud and toil of the Saar, to the cracking of the Siegfried Line. Elson allows the veterans to tell the entire story. In fact, with the exception of a "Timeline," maps, and chapters that are arranged chronologically, there is no historical narrative to put the veteran's testimonies in perspective. As a result, those with a minimum of background knowledge of the war in the ETO may be at a disadvantage and would benefit by having an accompanying overview volume of the war handy. Likewise, Elson omits some of the amenities found in other works such as notes and an index. Elson does, however, include a substantial number of photos, both wartime and recent reunions, to put a human face to the stories. Putting the minor stylistic and organizational critiques aside, this book is a gem. Perhaps Elson realizes that nobody can tell what it was like to train and fight in an armored unit in World War II like those who did the actual fighting. For this reason, Elson's book serves not only as a valuable resource to future researchers, but also anyone who ever has asked, or wanted to ask: "what did you do in the war, dad?"

7 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Tanks, Mr. Elson!, December 10, 2002

By 

Dawn M. Decker (DeFuniak Springs, FL United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Tanks for the Memories: Expanded Second Edition (Paperback)

This book includes a wonderful oral history of the men in the 712th tank battalion. Mr. Elson has also added pictures and stories that will touch the heart of any American that knows anything about the war. Most of the men did not want to be a part of this war, and the stories have stuck with them through thick and thin as if it just happened yesterday. The stories are told in the veterans' own words, and described in such detail that you can feel their fear, and their longing to be home with their families instead of driving a tank. Mr. Elson has done a fabulous job and I would recommend this book to anyone who wants to learn more about the war, and especially to historians. Thank you, Mr. Elson!

7 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Voices of the Veterans, August 5, 2002

By 

Paul H. (Michigan) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Tanks for the Memories: Expanded Second Edition (Paperback)

Mr. Elson has provided a labor of love and a transparent view into the experiences and the lives of the men who served in the 712th Tank Battalion. Mr. Elson compiled an oral history of the veterans using their own words to describe their service and experiences. The interviews range from the initial training with the horse cavalry to VE day in Czechoslovakia. There is no overview or analysis or second guessing to go with the text, only chapter titles that group stories related to particular events or themes (for example "Blood and Guts" about encounters with Gen. Patton). This is really like sitting down with your own grandfather and his friends and hearing them tell the tales of the second world war, only an audio version of the actual interviews would be more personable. The stories range from the mundane (what it was like to see Patton) to the horrific (what it was like to be in a tank covered with the remains of a friend, maimed by an armor piercing round with the tank on fire). The variety of the GI's experiences is well documented in "Tanks for the Memories".
Mr. Elson's father served and was wounded with the 712th so this topic is close to his heart, and it shows. The tales told by these once young soldiers of battles, lost comrades, killing the enemy, being wounded, missing family and friends, and the fear, boredom, and deprivation of service put a very human touch on this view of WWII. This is not history in the purest academic sense; this is a compilation of hero's tales. If you are interested in WWII, tank warfare, the GI in Europe, or the experiences of men doing their utmost for their comrades and country, read this book.