Airborne: The Combat Story of Ed Shames of Easy Company

By Ian Gardner

Col. Ed Shames is that rare man who can call himself a true warrior. A member of Easy Company of Band of Brothers fame, Shames saw combat in some of the most ferocious battles of WW2. From jumping behind the lines of Normandy on D-Day with the 101st Airborne Division, to the near victory of Operation Market Garden, to the legendary stand at Bastogne during the Battle of the Bulge, Shames fought his way across Europe and into Germany itself.

In Airborne Shames and writer Ian Gardiner (Tonight We Die as Men) tell the gripping true story of what it was like to be at the spear point of WW2 in Europe. Neither the book nor TV series of Band of Brothers ever showed the real Ed Shames. Although he started as a private, combat soon forged Shames into a tough and inspired leader who would win a battle field commission in Normandy. Seemingly to always be where the fighting was, his two goals were to prevail in each fight with the Germans, and to keep his men alive. "Shames, you are the meanest, roughest son of a bitch I've ever had to deal with. But you brought us home," was the highest compliment he received from one of his men.

Even though he was wounded in the Ardennes, Ed Shames never stopped fighting until Germany surrendered and the war was won. He has never stopped being a warrior.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Random House Publishing Group
• Release date: Apr 21, 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