Caissons Across Europe

Rating:
Summary: FANTASTIC WELL WRITEN ACCOUNT OF COMBAT EXPERIENCES.
Review: I CAME ACROSS THIS BOOK BY ACCIDENT WHILE STATIONED IN GERMANY WITH THE US ARMY. GLANCING THROUGH THE PHOTO SECTION I NOTICED THE EIGHTH ARMORED DIVISION PATCH. MY DAD WAS WITH THAT DIVISION IN THE WAR AND HIS COMMANDING OFFICER WAS MENTIONED IN THE BOOK. THE YEAR PRIOR TO READING THIS BOOK I TOOK MY DAD THRU A WORLDWIND TOUR OF ALL THE TOWNS AND BATTLE FIELDS THAT ARE MENTIONED IN THIS BOOK. BULLET SCARRED HOMES STILL STAND, PARTICULARLY THE OLD SANDSTONE TRAIN STATION IN NENNING, GERMANY. THE BOOK FLOWS SO SMOOTHLY THAT YOU FEEL THAT MR HARDISON IS TELLING HIS STORY SEATED ACROSS FROM YOU IN A LAZYBOY. SINCE I AM AN EX-ENLISTED SOLDER I APPRECIATED HIS ACCOUNTS OF LIFE ON THE BOTTOM OF THE FOOD CHAIN. THE MINISCULE HEARTACHES, MISERIES AND BOREDOM INTERUPTED WITH QUICK VIOLENCE, DEATH AND DESTRUCTION.THOROUGHLY ENJOYABLE TALES WITH HISTORIC ACCURACY. DR. (LTC) ERNIE RICCI SON OF T-5 ALFRED RICCI 88TH RECON SQN 1942-45

Rating:
Summary: they did their part
Review: i was happy to find this book because my father was in the 8th armored, 53 rd engineers during the war and i was able to follow his path from ft polk to europe. What i enjoyed most besides the historical content is that is written by a vet who 'just tells' his story as he lived it. It is a good supplement to the 8th story in 'tornados wake' it talks about the years as a cadre unit training others before deploying to the battle themselves. in addition to the combat experiences this piece is also a significant albeit sometimes thankless contribution i appreciate that the author took the time to memorialize his adventure