Parachute Infantry

An American Paratrooper's Memoir of D-Day and the Fall of the Third Reich

De: David Kenyon Webster

Narrado por: Alan Sklar

David Kenyon Webster's memoir is a clear-eyed, emotionally charged chronicle of youth, camaraderie, and the chaos of war. Relying on his own letters home and recollections he penned just after his discharge, Webster gives a firsthand account of life in E Company, 101st Airborne Division, crafting a memoir that resonates with the immediacy of a gripping novel. From the beaches of Normandy to the blood-dimmed battlefields of Holland, here are acts of courage and cowardice, moments of irritating boredom punctuated by moments of sheer terror, and pitched urban warfare. Offering a remarkable snapshot of what it was like to enter Germany in the last days of World War II, Webster presents a vivid, varied cast of young paratroopers from all walks of life, and unforgettable glimpses of enemy soldiers and hapless civilians caught up in the melee. Parachute Infantry is at once harsh and moving, boisterous and tragic, and it stands today as an unsurpassed chronicle of war - how men fight it, survive it, and remember it.

©1994, 2002 David Kenyon Webster (P)2014 Tantor

Great book and performance.

My only issue was that I cringed every time the narrator incorrectly pronounced Bill Guarnere's last name. Interestingly enough, he pronounces it the exact same way that the narrator pronounces it in the Band of Brothers audiobook, and it's not even the same narrator. Otherwise, his narration is one of the best I've had the pleasure of listening to.

Easy Company from a non-com's perspective

I loved hearing the exploits of Easy Company from another perspective. Sometimes his point of view is very limited, but this is definitely worth a listen.

before the fame

Importing to remember when he wrote this, much earlier than most books about Easy Company, 506 PIR. If you enjoy the Easy Company history I recommend this because Webster is very unique, that's one way of putting it. Any former NCO will understand what is meant by that.

Good to hear another side of the story

While Band of Brothers was a great book, it was nice to read and hear something from someone else who was there that offered a different perspective.

Poor pronunciation

This is a book on the most written about rifle company in history. Mispronunciation of names by the narrator is unacceptable.

Turn up your listening speed

What did you love best about Parachute Infantry?

I have only one thing to say. Turn up the speed of your player. This guy is slow... REALLY slooooow.

Awesome Stories

Gritty, unfiltered and captivating, even if you didn't watch Band of Brothers, you will enjoy this. If you did watch BoB, you will hear many familiar names, as Webster was one of the main people, esp in the second half. Only downside for me was it was heavy on post war life in Europe, and I would have enjoyed more war stories. but that's also a plus, bc you get details on army life you don't get any where else. The letters home will hit you hard, and make you really care and feel for him. This was an excellent inclusion. At the end, you wish there was more, and want to continue following Webster's life, and find out what happened after he got back. All in all, an excellent journey into his experience and life. I got this book bc I enjoyed the character in Band of Brothers, as Webster was my favorite, and wanted to know more about him, and the book delivered. Even if he wasn't your favorite, an excellent read, and you will gain insight into other people from the show, and life in general as it was back then. The stories do jump around a little, but I would highly recommend it. It is well read, but I think the guy reading is older than I picture Webster as, but he does an outstanding job.

Underwhelming

I had high expectations for this listen as Webster was a beloved member of the Band of Brothers. My pros and cons:
Pros:
*The jump on D-Day was great.
*This book did flesh out some stories that Ambrose could only touch on in Band of Brothers; I loved the added parts about Market Garden and a few stories of B.o.B. member Donald Hoobler (Count Hoobler).
*The extra stories of Berchastgaden were also welcome.
*Webster helped describe what an Infantryman goes through in war.

Cons:
The narrator. His voice reminds me of an older person telling a younger man's story. Not to criticize too much, but I wanted to hear this story in a younger man's tone. (Plus, add the narrator to the long list of people that cannot pronounce Will Bill Guarnere's name correctly)
*Not enough combat. The book does a good job of getting you right up to the combat parts, and then almost skips over them and then goes right back into same unexciting parts of WW2.

Final Notes: I would not listen to this book again. I can listen to Band of Brothers anytime and I just did not feel the same way about Parachute Infantry.

Listen this to speed of 1:10

The performance is great at this speed.
otherwise is is poor
the material outstanding

11B1P

Upfront and personal. Provides the context and helps understand the composite story told in Band of Brothers. An every-paratrooper's story worthbtelling.