Bf 109 Defence of the Reich Aces

In 1940, the author was accepted for RAF flying crew, then changed his mind and opted for the infantry (Why? - see book). As he survived 6 years (4 in the front-lines of N.Africa, Italy and NW Europe) 'without a scratch', he has never regretted the change.

Back in Civvy Street after the war, and having voted Churchill out of office, his diaries were relegated to the attic, and brought out only recently as of interest in his old age, and a change from the boredom of TV etc. They did more than relieve boredom however, as they reminded him that his service, although not overtly recognised, was something to be proud of. He decided that an 'easy reading' book would be of interest to his two children and the family name, as well as an opportunity to dispel a number of fallacies of that time, and to give a true insight into the life and thoughts of a ranker 'in the field'.

The author believes that most war-books are biased to some extent, occasionally unintended, but often intentionally, so he stresses that this book adheres to the diary entries, written on site at the time, occasionally whilst still 'under fire'. His views tend to be confrontational, but have not been challenged in the course of a private issue. This book is intended for a wider readership.

The Men of Fox Company: History and Recollections of Company F, 291st Infantry Regiment, Seventy-Fifth Infantry Division describes the actions of an infantry rifle company fighting in Europe during World War II. Sometimes the Seventy-Fifth Division was called the ?Diaper Division? because the mean age of the men was just twenty-two years versus the widely acknowledged average age of twenty-six years for most other divisions. Fox Company was part of Second Battalion, 291st Infantry Regiment of the Seventy-Fifth ID, which were formally activated at Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri, on April 15, 1943.

The division was thrown into combat soon after arriving in Europe in December of 1944. Over the next ninety-four days, they fought three campaigns in Europe. Fox Company first went into combat during the Battle of the Bulge and then moved to southern France to fight in the Colmar Pocket. Next, they went to Holland, where they defended along the Maas River and later in Germany along the Rhine River. Finally, Fox Company fought in the battle for the Ruhr.

The Men of Fox Company includes the recollections of several men providing a view of the war not often seen?directly from the soldiers, sergeants, and officers who survived the experience to tell their personal stories.