Rating: 
Summary: Fantastic story about true D-Day heroes
Review: Great story of the British glider troups that captured (and then bravely held) the bridge on the eastern edge of D-Day beaches in early hours of June 6, 1944. One of the great rarely-told stories of D-Day. Very easy read, great maps and photos. Once started, can not be put down!
Rating: 
Summary: Good War Story
Review: Hats off to Capt. John Howard and D Company of Britain's "Ox and Bucks" regiment. As the first Allied unit to land in France on D-Day, these glider borne men had the job of capturing two bridges that would help secure the flank of Operation Overlord.Stephen Ambrose makes a good case that had these men failed, the German panzers may have had the opportunity to crush first the British 6th Airborne Division and then roll up the invasion beaches. We'll never know, because these men did not fail. Silently landing within yards of their target, they quickly secured the Caen Canal Bridge and an adjacent span fifty yards away over the Orne River. Both had been wired for demolition and were guarded (although not by boys from the Fatherland but forced conscripts from occupied Eastern Europe the Germans had rounded up to fill their need for men). Howard's men literally stole the bridges in a manner of minutes with minimal fighting. They then established a perimiter to beat off any German counter-attack until they could be relieved by paratroopers who dropped shortly after D Company pulled off their coup de main. While waiting for relief, they faced a tank counter-attack. Holding only one Piat, a hand held anti-tank weapon that was not held in high regard by the troops, a sergeant nailed the lead tank at a distance of forty yards. This persuaded the rest of the German column to retreat and wait -- thinking that Howard's men possessed larger anti-tank weapons. Thus less than two hundred glider borne air troopers were able to attack, take and hold two critical bridges -- and right under the nose of a nearby enemy tank regiment. This is a delightful book that moves along at Ambrose's usual fast pace. He fills it with first hand accounts from British, German and French participants -- luckily many of the principals were alive when he wrote the book which gives it an unparralled directness and detail. Ambrose goes into the personalities of the principals and discusses the training and planning that went into making D Company a premeir fighting outfit. Capt. Howard deserves much of the credit for sharpening his unit into what must have been one of the most effective small units in the war. Over a period of almost two years, he put them through his own designed training regimen that earned for them the mission. This is a short book at less than two hundred pages (and oddly shaped -- I've never read a book as tall and skinny and am curious as to why it was published in these dimensions). Perfect if one has the hours to dive into and finish a good war story in one sitting.
Rating:
Summary: Good War Story
Review: Hats off to Capt. John Howard and D Company of Britain's "Ox and Bucks" regiment. As the first Allied unit to land in France on D-Day, these glider borne men had the job of capturing two bridges that would help secure the flank of Operation Overlord. Stephen Ambrose makes a good case that had these men failed, the German panzers may have had the opportunity to crush first the British 6th Airborne Division and then roll up the invasion beaches. We'll never know, because these men did not fail. Silently landing within yards of their target, they quickly secured the Caen Canal Bridge and an adjacent span fifty yards away over the Orne River. Both had been wired for demolition and were guarded (although not by boys from the Fatherland but forced conscripts from occupied Eastern Europe the Germans had rounded up to fill their need for men). Howard's men literally stole the bridges in a manner of minutes with minimal fighting. They then established a perimiter to beat off any German counter-attack until they could be relieved by paratroopers who dropped shortly after D Company pulled off their coup de main. While waiting for relief, they faced a tank counter-attack. Holding only one Piat, a hand held anti-tank weapon that was not held in high regard by the troops, a sergeant nailed the lead tank at a distance of forty yards. This persuaded the rest of the German column to retreat and wait -- thinking that Howard's men possessed larger anti-tank weapons. Thus less than two hundred glider borne air troopers were able to attack, take and hold two critical bridges -- and right under the nose of a nearby enemy tank regiment. This is a delightful book that moves along at Ambrose's usual fast pace. He fills it with first hand accounts from British, German and French participants -- luckily many of the principals were alive when he wrote the book which gives it an unparralled directness and detail. Ambrose goes into the personalities of the principals and discusses the training and planning that went into making D Company a premeir fighting outfit. Capt. Howard deserves much of the credit for sharpening his unit into what must have been one of the most effective small units in the war. Over a period of almost two years, he put them through his own designed training regimen that earned for them the mission. This is a short book at less than two hundred pages (and oddly shaped -- I've never read a book as tall and skinny and am curious as to why it was published in these dimensions). Perfect if one has the hours to dive into and finish a good war story in one sitting.
Rating:
Summary: Great story and excellent guide book.
Review: Having been stationed in Germany for three years I was fortunate enough to travel to many of the WWII battlegrounds that exist in Europe and the beaches that made up Operation Overlord is one trip that I will never forget. Before making the trip I read "Citizen Soldier," "D-Day" and "Pegasus Bridge" all written by Stephen Ambrose. I carried "D-Day" and "Pegasus Bridge" with me during my trip to use as a reference as I visited 4 of the 5 beaches involved in the D-Day invasion.
"Pegasus Bridge" is the story of the men from D company from the Ox and Bucks Light Infantry Regiment of the British 6th Airborne Division. Ambrose does a masterful job of relating the story of these men and tying to results of the battle to the overall operation of D-Day. Ambrose gives the background on the training of the men, personal insights of many of the men, and the man who held them all together Major John Howard.
As good as Ambrose tells the story of D company nothing compares to actually standing on that bridge and the feeling that you get thinking that right here is where the D-Day invasion began! Ambrose has included some great photos and drawing of the gliders landing site. When you visit the bridge itself you will find markers indicating the locations of the first three gliders and it is only then you will realize what a magnificent job of piloting Staff Sergeant Jim Wallwork did in landing the nose of his glider "to break through the barbed wire" as requested by Major Howard. Some the machine gun nest are still there beside the bridge and gives you an idea of what the men faced. The original bridge, replaced with a modern bridge, but thankfully was saved and is located nearby as part of a museum.
"The first place liberated in France" is what the Gondrée's café has as a label according to a plague affixed over the entrance to the café. If you do not go inside you will miss a stunning collection of "Pegasus" military memorabilia! If you are lucky, you might even meet Madam Gondrée, who was a child at the time of the battle, and was still running the café at the time of my visit. She sat with friends and me and related a few stories concerning the story of the bridge and their current fight with the local government to preserve the café and other local building from a campaign to broaden the canal.
As I walk around outside the café and bridge site, I used Ambrose's book to take me through the battle almost moment by moment. I could almost hear Lt. Brotheridge's Sten gun rattle off as he killed one of the two guards on the bridge that night and sadly wonder if he knew what he and his men accomplished that night as he lay dying only moments after engaging the Germans.
If have any interest in the D-Day invasion then you cannot go wrong with this book. Ambrose does a wonderful job in presenting the story. The book is easy to read; I finished it in two days, yet does not insult your intelligence. If you do visit the Normandy region make sure you block out at least half a day to visit the bridge and Madam Gondrée's café you will not be disappointed. Ste.-Mère-Église is another place not to miss, but that is another story.
Rating:
Summary: Pegasus Bridge
Review: Having visited Normandy including Pegasus Bridge and Ranville in August 2001 I decided to do some more reading on D-day and read Pegasus Bridge by Stephen E. Ambrose.
I couldn't put it down, it was fascinating to read how these soldiers were trained and the precision with which they were expected to carry out their capture of the bridge.
I read this book cover to cover in 2 days, I haven't read a book that quickly for about 15 years so believe me this is a big recommendation.
I will certainly read more books by this author on this subject as soon as possible. Read it even if you don't have an interest, you will learn something about what another generation did for us so that we could live in freedom.
Rating:
Summary: The Stuff Movies Are Made Of(or should be)
Review: Hollywood's resent production of "Saving Private Ryan" is a wonderful tribute ot the men who took part in one of the greatest of endevours of World War II, however, THAT NEVER REALLY HAPPENED! I feel that it is sad that many people feel the need to invent some feat of grand military derry-do to make a good story. If one studies the history of any great event, such as the Normandy invasion, one can find real heros and real acts of heroism that far out shine any fictional event a Hollywood writter might dream up. This event, involving a mere company of British Paras, is one of those actions. Mr. Ambrose did a fine job of telling their story, and hopefully, keeping Major Howard from fading into obscurity, as have other heros, such as Lt.Col Frost, Lt Col Herbert Jones, and countless others.
Rating:
Summary: The Stuff Movies (Should) Be Made Of
Review: Hollywood's resent production of "Saving Private Ryan" is a wonderful tribute ot the men who took part in the greatest of endevour of World War II, however, THAT NEVER HAPPENED! I feel that it is sad that many people feel the need to invent some feat of grand military derry-do To make a good story. If one studies the history of any great event, such as the Normandy invasion, one can find real heros and real acts of heroism that far out shine any fictional event a Hollywood writter might dream up. This event, involving a mere company of British Paras, is one of those actions. Mr. Ambrose did a fine job of telling their story, and hopefully, keeping Major Howard from fading into obscurity, as have other heros, such as Lt.Col Frost, Lt Col Herbert Jones, and countless others.
Rating:
Summary: Take This Book With You To Normandy
Review: I don't know what I can say about this marvelous work other than to advise anyone heading for Normandy to take this book with you. We were lost trying to find our way from Honfleur to the far eastern beaches when - VOILA - , there was Pegasus Bridge! It was the first D-Day sight we saw, and fittingly so, since it was the first battle of D-Day. Seeing the place so vividly described by Ambrose was haunting, made so by the personal stories relayed in this book. Seeing the memorial to Den Brotheridge brought the whole thing home - right between the eyes.
Rating: 
Summary: Do not buy if you like war action !
Review: I had lot of expectations in this book. Unfortunately, the most important fight in the early hourd of D-Day were very little covered. Too much silly episodes, rather than a more comprhensive description of the firefight. On the other hand, you can find a very good introduction of training of company, the glider landing and the first minutes of the combat. After all, after LT. Brotheridge died, nothing more is clear, there is not anymore a storyline, it seemed that the author had to finish the book at a glance.
Rating:
Summary: Glad it Was Written
Review: I noted with sadness the passing of Maj. John Howard, the principal protagonist of this book. As more of the WWII vets join the legions of the Army Eternal, it is important to recoginze books such as Pegasus Bridge, and authors such as Stephen Ambrose, who helped preserve their stories. The book is immediate and touching and brings home to those of us fortunate enough not to have been in a major war, the horrors of war. Profound thanks for this and your other great books.
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