Airborne: The Combat Story of Ed Shames of Easy Company

By Ian Gardner

Some men are born to be warriors, and Ed Shames is one of those men. His incredible combat record includes service at D-Day, Operation Market Garden, Bastogne and finally in Germany itself. He was one of the first men in the Dachau concentration camp and helped capture Hitler's infamous Eagle's Nest. Shames featured in Band of Brothers but now, with the comprehensive support of the man himself, the full story of his experiences can be told. Written by the co-author of Tonight We Die As Men this is a searing account of the combat career of a remarkable young lieutenant during World War II. His insistence on high standards together with a perfection of tactics and techniques did not always win him friends but that was never the intention. His aim was to win each encounter, each battle and ultimately the war itself with a minimum loss of life amongst his men. He was once told by one of his subordinates, 'Shames, you are the meanest, roughest son of a bitch I've ever had to deal with. But you brought us home.'

• Language: English
• Publisher: Osprey Publishing Ltd
• Release date: Apr 20, 2015
• ISBN: 9781472813435

Ian Gardner

Ian Gardner served for five years in Support Company, 10th Battalion, The Parachute Regiment. Always enthusiastic about military history, several years after leaving 10 Para Ian became interested in World War II US Paratroopers. After a visit to Normandy in 2000 he decided to focus on the 3rd Battalion of the 506th Parachute Infantry Regiment, which led to the critically acclaimed trilogy Tonight We Die As Men, Deliver Us From Darkness and No Victory in Valhalla. He is also the author of Airborne: The Combat Biography of Ed Shames of Easy Company. He is married with two grown-up children and lives near Aldershot in Hampshire.

Reviews for Airborne

[libstaff2 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

3.25-3.5 StarsA detailed biography of Ed Shames during WWII. If you haven't read many E Company or 101st Airborne histories, then this book is an excellent start. The chronological descriptions are very thorough. At times, the writing is a bit technical or dry, but there are some good mini stories mixed in here and there. It's interesting to see where Ed Shames' story merged with the popular ones known throughout the world, but nice when it splits off to something new as well. There are some great photos included and a good sources list (primary and secondary) at the end which is perfect for further reading.Net Galley Feedback