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A Foot Soldier for Patton

The Story of a "Red Diamond" Infantryman with the US Third Army

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About this listen

A brutally honest depiction of day-to-day combat in World War II...

A rarely frank account of the US infantry experience in northern Europe, A Foot Soldier for Patton takes the listener from the beaches of Normandy through the giddy drive across France to the brutal battles on the Westwall, in the Ardennes, and finally to the conquest of Germany itself.

Patton's army is best known for dashing armored attacks; its commander combining the firepower of tanks with their historic lineage as cavalry. But when the Germans stood firm, the greatest fighting was done by Patton's long undersung infantry - the foot sloggers who were called upon to reduce enemy strong points and who took the brunt of German counterattacks.

Michael Bilder, a member of the 5th Infantry ("Red Diamond" division), played a unique role in the Third Army's onslaught. A rifleman foremost, he was also a German-speaker, called upon for interrogations and special duties.

Incidents common to the ordinary GI, but which seldom see the light of day in histories, are routinely related in this book, enriching the listener's sense of the true reality of World War II combat.

©2008 Michael C. Bilder and James G. Bilder (P)2018 Tantor Military Military & War World World War II Veteran War Imperialism
All stars
Most relevant
… Eugene B Sledge’s ‘With the Old Breed’, inter alia in the ETO.

Moving, tragic, visceral and memorable in the extreme.

The detail is both informatively historical and a reminder of man’s inhumanity to man AND a startling account of the survival of an infantryman under continuous fire. Astonishing.

Like Sledge, it seems totally miraculous that Bilder survived.

An equally significant wartime memoir as…

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worthwhile and felt honest all the way. a lot of memoirs fluff things up a bit for dramatic effect, but this was spot on. the most interesting bit was a discussion between himself and German troops in the dead of night, separated by a wall, each doing their own thing.

Patton's famous quote at wars end that got him killed was not mentioned, and I missed that - hoping to get his thoughts about it. still giving it a 5/5 - something I rarely do

Great listen

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Well worth a listen.

Really interesting insight into one man’s journey from enlistment to VE Day.

Fascinating journey

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The written style, honest accountability and attention to detail are fantastic. I can honestly say Bilder’s memoir is my favourite WW2 biography that I have read to date. An absolute must for anyone interested in the European campaign of WW2, from the perspective of the infantryman.

The best WW2 memoir I have ever read

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This is a great story from start to end of war by a regular foot soldier. A really interesting account of life in ww2.

What a life

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