There is no book about W.W.II like this book or any book in the annals of history. The stories are "un-edited" handwritten or typed actual experiences by a regiment of Glidermen who landed in North Africa and fought in every major battle in Europe. This is not oral history where a professional author writes the story and makes sure that litigation will not follow. It is the story by the men who fought the battles in their own words. Unedited! Good or bad - it is their story! It is from the heart and the trail they wish to leave behind.
Father Thuring, Groesbeek, Holland, author of the "Roll of Honor" of the 82nd Airborne Division W.W.II, authors the final chapter in Glide to Glory. A complete day-by-day account of each combat action for the 325th Glider Infantry Regiment is given, along with each soldier (748) killed in action or in the line of duty, is in this book. Date of death, place, first burial, final burial is located in this book. History more or less goes to the grave site! Many of the photographs are out of the "Liberation Museum" in Groesbeek. If you lost a kin or a friend while in the service of the 325th Glider Infantry, you can locate him in this book.
The members of the 325th Glider Infantry Association know the author as he also writes as the associate editor of their newspaper. He was also a member of the honor guard that met the first shipment of 6,251 war dead from Europe. In this shipment was the unknown soldier of World War II.
In this book you will read the story of a battalion commander at Normandy, several company commanders, the arrival by glider of Senator Strom Thurmond with Captain Joe Shealy, arrival of the first graves administrator for burying the dead at Normandy and how the bodies were processed, the charge across the Utah Beach by Col. Raff and Lu Young as 325/401 Infantry, a seasoned glider pilot and a pilot, what army historians printed and how the story of the La Fier causeway at Normandy differs from recorded history, a doctor who worked to save his wounded men, a medic in combat, those that did not talk about the war until years later, Captain Ko who took a chapter in The Greatest Generation, a daughter who never knew her father, a love story by an English war bride, the German wolf packs on the trip to England across the Atlantic, the First Sgt. of Berlin's Honor Guard and many more interesting stories including the liberation of the Wobbelin Concentration Camp. Some of real combat and some that are just plain humor. Some will make you cry and some will make you laugh. Once you read this book, you will talk about it, and think about it for years to come.
As the author and also a "Gliderman", I feel that this book will be part of the required reading someday in school classrooms. Gliders only existed for a few short years from 1943 until 1947 and "never before and never again" will ring forever. These glidermen were one tough bunch who fought hard, died hard and gave their country all they could so you could live in freedom. This book is not fiction. These "Glidermen" are also gentlemen!
Martin Litton, formerly with the LA Times and recipient if the Ernie Pyle Award for Journalism:
"Jerry, your book kept me up all night! It is possible that it may rank with the great books that came out of World War Two! Great Book!"
Wesley Ko, Captain 325th Glider Infantry, editor of The Tow Line:
"Jerry, you have created a winner. Even though I have not by any means read all, the manner you have presented these true pieces of history will be long remembered. Just as the 82nd Airborne Division was comprised from all ethnic groups all walks of life and all areas of the country,Glide to Glory retains the flavor with the unedited descriptions of the actual personal involments in these actions.These essays of history will be retained forever."
Wayne Pierce, Author "Lets Go!" Captain Co. C, 325th Glider Infantry:
"You have done it! How you put that out in such a short time is a miracle! I have liked every story I have read so far They are all good.You can be Proud! A great book!"
