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The General and His DaughterEndorsementsPraise For The General and His Daughter |
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"Provides a unique insight into the personal life of one of America's greatest military commanders....Barbara's narrative, which contains a great deal of little-known information about the General's early life and military career, is fascinating" ----Phil Nordyke , author, All American All the Way: The Combat History of the 82nd ABD in World War II The All Americans in World War II : A Photographic History of the 82nd Airborne Division at War Four Stars of Valor: The Combat History of The 505th Parachute Infantry Regiment in World War II "A must read for any military historian and especially for those of us who have been fascinated by the training, readiness, and exploits of the World War II airborne units. "Slim Jim" Gavin was probably the most famous warrior-leader in these units, revered and loved to this day by the paratroopers he led into battle. These letters home...reveal a personal side of General Gavin not recorded in any previous work." ---General Wayne A. Downing, U.S. Army, retired. 173rd Airborne Brigade. "These letters by a legendary World War II warrior general provide an incredible display of devotion, fatherly concern, and above all love for his young daughter, and insight into a side of Jim Gavin very few people ever saw. Fascinating reading." ---General James J. Lindsay, U.S. Army, retired. Former Commander 82nd Airborne Division, XVIII Airborne Corps and U.S. Special Operations Command "Reveals the true personality and provides enormous insight into the incredible courage, integrity, and selfless service of Jim Gavin. This personal World War II account of the road from North Africa to Berlin is a fascinating story of a combat leader whose character and commitment are the standard by which airborne leaders will be measured for generations to come." ---Lieutenant General James H. Johnson, JR., U.S. Army, retired. Former Commander, 82nd Airborne Division. "I was fortunate to serve under General Jim Gavin in units from company to Division size, and I believe him to be one of the greatest troop leaders of World War II. This collection of letters to his daughter fills in another fascinating, and until now little-known, facet of this outstanding warrior's character." ---Brigadier General Ed Thomas, U.S. Army, retired. 505th Regimental Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division. "Mrs. Barbara Gavin Fauntleroy has with rare and gentle talent taken the wartime letters of her father, James M. Gavin, written to her during World War II, and given us rare insight into the many accomplishments of the General." ---Colonel Edwin M. Sayre, U.S. Army, retired. 505th Regimental Combat Team. "A magnificent book that for the first time reveals the true character of a man who has become a legendary figure in Airborne circles. He set the standard for future Airborne commanders to follow."---James Megellas, author, All the Way to Berlin |
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"THE GENERAL AND HIS DAUGHTER There are a lot of books written about WWII and its commanding generals. These are usually written by historians, or participants writing long after the battles. This book is different. These are the wartime letters written by Jim Gavin to his daughter Barbara. They begin in 1943 when Gavin, then a Colonel left the states commander of the 505th Parachute Infantry Regiment of the 82nd Airborne Division. At that time Barbara was nine. There are approximately 200 letters included in the book. They were written on board ships, in foxholes and tents. They do not have the afterthoughts or "point-proving" of books written later. They are the personal messages of a father to his daughter. They talk about the day to day realities of what Gavin was doing at the time, and about his personal reactions to combat and the war. The book provides an insight into the man and the times that is rare to find." ---Books-On-Line "---provides an excellent portrait of the American experience in World War II, telling of a commander who at the age of 37 became the 82nd Parachute Infantry's commanding general, and the youngest to become a major general since the Civil War. His letters were written from the field to his nine year old daughter Barbara and provide plenty of "you are there" insights into the realities of combat. It's a "must" for any serious, in-depth World War II collection, especially libraries specializing in memoirs and writings from participants." ---The Military Shelf The Midwest Book Review |
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