Parachute Infantry

By: David Kenyon Webster

Narrated by: Alan Sklar

Length: 17 hrs and 57 mins

Publisher's Summary

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

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.

3 of 3 people found this review helpful

loved this Book

This book takes you to the front lines. I felt like I was there. If your a WW2 buff it's a must listen.

3 of 3 people found this review helpful

The Finest Infantry Memoir of WWII

Any additional comments?

Story: I cannot believe this was only published in 1994. This is David Webster's memoir of his time in Easy Company of Band of Brothers fame. This is the most honest accounting of any infantry man I have ever read, and I have read them all from both Axis and Allied sides. The writing is outstanding and flows beautifully, while telling an honest tale. No bullshit here. He shares his mind openly and artfully.

Performance: Superb Narration. There's really not much else to say. Absolutely perfect.

Summary: If you can only read two books about combat, one should be "Fighter Pilot" by Robin Olds and this one should be the other.

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

Disappointing

Any additional comments?

The author offers a good description of parachuting into Europe on D-Day, but then bogs down in excruciating details of everyday conversations and activities. He skipped through the important historical and military action with frustratingly little detail, leaving me with the impression that most of the book is spent on overly detailed descriptions of the looting and drinking binges he and his comrades indulged in.

2 of 3 people found this review helpful

Not your typical take on WWII Paratroopers

Not bad, but it dragged after awhile. I wouldn’t say the book is action packed, some interesting behind the scenes behavior, but not what I thought it would be.

Waste of time and money

If your looking for a sob story from a cowardly boy unlike the rest of the stories you hear about easy company and read by a boring narrator this is your book personally I'll stick to the ones that aren't 16 or so hours of crying none stop

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.

Well written but I did not enjoy this book.

Having read and enjoyed books by all the other members of the 'Band of Brothers' sadly this one left me cold. Webster appears to have been unhappy for most of his time in the Army and is constant in telling the reader his feelings. Unlike almost every other memoir I have read, I skipped through the last 3 chapters as I couldn't face more of the same.

Brilliant

Brilliant. As personal war stories go this one is the best. well performed and very detailed.
great book

0 of 1 people found this review helpful