Seven Roads to Hell : A Screaming Eagle at Bastogne

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Summary: I was a trooper on the line, the one who pulled the trigger
Review: I was a paratrooper in the 101st from the first day of battle to the last. I told it how it was to meet the enemy in hand to hand combat in four different campaigns. Eleven of my original Co. survived the war, most of those are now dead. I had to tell our story.

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Summary: Fantastic!
Review: I'm an avid history reader, but have read little about WWII. After reading Citizen Soldier, I found this book in the library and loved it. Great insight to the Battle for Bastogne, which was a significant part of the Battle of the Bulge. Burgett's grim descriptions of battle are as good as any book concerning a soldier's tenuous life on the front. Give it a try, you won't be disappointed.

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Summary: Evocative Story-Telling That Grounds Bastogne Nicely!
Review: I've been a student of World War Two oral histories for a few years now. This is a very excellent and "keep you to the edge of your seat" (or toilet, where ever you prefer to read!)until the 101st roll out of town! Mr. Burgett is a trained writer, with the ability to both give you the view from the foxhole as well as the overall structure and emergence of the larger battle scene. I learned a lot, not only of Mr. Burgett's experiences and reactions, but those of his buddies and leaders--and, importantly, the reactions and humanity of the german troops as well. This is a very compelling and convincing oral history. Well worth the read!

Rating:
Summary: Evocative Story-Telling That Grounds Bastogne Nicely!
Review: I've been a student of World War Two oral histories for a few years now. This is a very excellent and "keep you to the edge of your seat" (or toilet, where ever you prefer to read!)until the 101st roll out of town! Mr. Burgett is a trained writer, with the ability to both give you the view from the foxhole as well as the overall structure and emergence of the larger battle scene. I learned a lot, not only of Mr. Burgett's experiences and reactions, but those of his buddies and leaders--and, importantly, the reactions and humanity of the german troops as well. This is a very compelling and convincing oral history. Well worth the read!

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Summary: A Riveting Story
Review: I've read many memoirs of WWII combat, but this book was probably the best. The author describes a relatively short period of time (about a month) in such detail, you gain a deep appreciation for the logistics of the battle and what the soldiers actually went through. A must read.

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Summary: Awesome book
Review: If you are looking for a personal account of the siege of Bastogne during the battle of the bulge and the tremendous feat of the 101 Screaming Eagles or are just looking for a great non fiction thriller then get this book. Burgett was a member of the 506th and fought in some of the most bloody battles around Bastogne. But besides the awesome fighting sequences he describes the misery of the foxhole, freezing temps and patrols. But look for the cheap 5 dollar version of the books because it is the same thing including the pics. And if you like this then go back to the start and read Burgetts Curahee...an awesome account of his part in the airdrops during Normandy, also available in the cheap version...

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Summary: A personal account of the Battle of the Bulge.
Review: If you want a definitive account of the Battle of the Bulge, this is not the book for you. Burgett's account is a personal view of what his unit went through. In this account, one views the destruction and killing of war. Friends of Don's are killed in these battles and a soldier's reaction is to continue and survive. One wonders how soldiers continued in this environment. I read Burgett's first book Currahee, and found that this book was much more entertaining and true. No outlandish tales as in his first book.

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Summary: Excellent first-person narrative
Review: If you want to know what it was like for front-line soldier who was there, this it the book for you. It won't provide much in the way of grand strategy, but Burgett does an excellent job of portraying what he saw and experienced, physically and emotionally.

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Summary: Probably best account of an individual's combat experience
Review: Mr. Burgett gives you a real feel for what he saw and felt during one of the most awful battles of recent times. He really imparts on the reader the little nuances that are of necessity left out of books with a larger scope. Burgett's descriptions of the battles are breathtaking, but I really appreciated the little things that are seldom mentioned, like how to sip coffee from a canteen cup without burning your mouth on the rim. Little touches such as this really put you into the mindset of the soldiers, as close as you can get without really being there. Burgett does all this without the harsh criticism and finger-pointing that is somewhat common today. He tells things as they were and has a genuine respect and affection for his fellow soldiers. He tells things from the perspective of the individual soldier, moving from position to position sometimes without a clue as to why (something most veterans can relate to). This was the first book by Burgett that I read, and he rapidly became one of my favorite authors. Note* This book dovetails well with Stephen Ambrose' "Band of Brothers" as Burgett was in the same Regiment, albeit a different battalion. Band of Brothers gives you a little more understanding of the "why" of the strategies and tactics, as well as telling the story of the same battles from slightly different parts of the battlefields. If you read one you should read the other.

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Summary: Seven Roads To Hell
Review: Mr. Burgett has amazed me. He tells the truth about what the war was like. When I Read Seven Roads to Hell, I was shocked. The 101st was sent to the lines with little ammo,food and men. And yet they fought for over a month against the very best German troops. After the battle, Hitler himself said he wantted a unit like the 101, a unit that holds even when it looks hopeless.
When they ship out, Burgett tells about how some troopers were going to kill a American captain, just to get to the front lines.
This book is a must read