Spearhead

An American Tank Gunner, His Enemy, and a Collision of Lives in World War II

By: Adam Makos

Narrated by: Johnathan McClain

Length: 13 hrs and 33 mins

Publisher's summary

The New York Times, Wall Street Journal, Los Angeles Times, and USA Today Best Seller

“A band of brothers in an American tank...Makos drops the reader back into the Pershing’s turret and dials up a battle scene to rival the peak moments of Fury.” (The Wall Street Journal)

From the author of the international best seller A Higher Call comes the riveting World War II story of an American tank gunner’s journey into the heart of the Third Reich, where he will meet destiny in an iconic armor duel - and forge an enduring bond with his enemy.

When Clarence Smoyer is assigned to the gunner’s seat of his Sherman tank, his crewmates discover that the gentle giant from Pennsylvania has a hidden talent: He’s a natural-born shooter.

At first, Clarence and his fellow crews in the legendary 3rd Armored Division - “Spearhead” - thought their tanks were invincible. Then they met the German Panther, with a gun so murderous it could shoot through one Sherman and into the next. Soon a pattern emerged: The lead tank always gets hit.

After Clarence sees his friends cut down breaching the West Wall and holding the line in the Battle of the Bulge, he and his crew are given a weapon with the power to avenge their fallen brothers: the Pershing, a state-of-the-art “super tank”, one of 20 in the European theater.

But with it comes a harrowing new responsibility: Now they will spearhead every attack. That’s how Clarence, the corporal from coal country, finds himself leading the US Army into its largest urban battle of the European war, the fight for Cologne, the “Fortress City” of Germany.

Battling through the ruins, Clarence will engage the fearsome Panther in a duel immortalized by an army cameraman. And he will square off with Gustav Schaefer, a teenager behind the trigger in a Panzer IV tank, whose crew has been sent on a suicide mission to stop the Americans.

As Clarence and Gustav trade fire down a long boulevard, they are taken by surprise by a tragic mistake of war. What happens next will haunt Clarence to the modern day, drawing him back to Cologne to do the unthinkable: to face his enemy, one last time.

“A detailed, gripping account...the remarkable story of two tank crewmen, from opposite sides of the conflict, who endure the grisly nature of tank warfare.” (USA Today, four out of four stars)

©2019 Random House Audio (P)2019 Adam Makos

Critic reviews

"A band of brothers in an American tank...Makos drops the reader back into the Pershing’s turret and dials up a battle scene to rival the peak moments of Fury.... A thoroughly enjoyable battle story, and a tribute to the everyman warrior.” (Jonathan W. Jordan, The Wall Street Journal)

“A compelling, exciting adventure...an in-the-moment re-creation of the Allied breakthrough of the West Wall into Nazi Germany by a remarkable cadre of tank crewmen of the 3rd Armored Division.”(Kirkus Reviews)

“The tension, death, and courage that were everyday experiences for American tankers fill the pages of Makos’ book. This moving story of bravery and comradeship is an important contribution to WWII history that will inform and fascinate both the general reader and the military historian.” (Publishers Weekly)

Powerful, different and captivating

Yes, the Fury-like battle sequences are riveting (and, unlike in Fury, 100% true), but the tender examination of war and its effects on absolutely everyone in the last third of the book is some of the most powerful work I've ever read on any subject.

One last thing to mention, I listened to the book on Audible and the narration by Johnathan McClain is captivating. Listen to it in your car and you'll find yourself parked somewhere unable to turn it off.

Highly recommended

Perhaps the best firsthand account of a common WWII soldier I’ve listened to since “The Old Breed”.

Excellent.

Maybe the best book I’ve ever read. The narrator was almost like Grover Gardner. Highly recommended.

Brought me to tears

While the combat descriptions are riveting, the final chapters of Clarence and Gustav's meeting brought me to tears. We readers who never played a part in that war may never understand it. But we are grateful to authors like Adam Makos who can help in that endless search for understanding.

Characters were more engaging than most

What I really liked was a lot of the war / military history paint the characters in pretty dry manner. Makos makes the characters in the book easy to relate to and engaging. Makos does a great job balancing the emotion and events in a story.

The Best war biography

I have read many war biographies and this one is by far the very best by a large margin, to the point of having tears in my eyes listening to the last chapter.
The author brings out a whole new level of understanding of what both sides went threw and endured.
I am buying the hard copy so I can read it and have my two kids read it as well.

Fantastic 1st account of WII by those who lived it

The author tells about life during WII & the lives of those comrades at arms, but also of the lives of their enemy! It brings to life and death struggle from both points of view. The narrator does an excellent job of bringing the book to life!

Must Read

Amazing story that is written wonderfully. I highly recommend this book for everyone...must read.

Greatest Generation

What an incredible story of bravery and comradeship. It amazes me how these you men performed in the line of duty. I also had a heartwarming surprise when I learned that Clarence is from my home town of Lehighton PA. Would highly recommend this story to one and all.

BEAUTIFUL STORY OF AMERICA'S GREATEST GENERATION.

Just a heart wrenching and wonderful story of courage and heroism of America's greatest generation. If u love History, or WW2 stories, then this is a must.