Reviews
War and conflict are human creations and Nightingale's book draws on human interaction and experience underpinned by historical context. He describes the strategy and operations only to the depth necessary to frame the significance of the human experiences placed in the events., A truly unique perspective on the Normandy Invasion by a battle-hardened, Army Ranger Leader, Colonel (Retired) Keith Nightingale. Informed by over 40 years of annual visits to Normandy to walk and talk with literally hundreds of veterans of the 'longest day'--Colonel Nightingale masterfully weaves the personal remembrances of Generals Ridgeway and Gavin and the Captains, Sergeants and Privates who fought on the beaches, roads, and villages of Normandy. The human dimension of this conflict shines through the veterans' words and emotions and underscores the eternal importance of Normandy., Keith's personal essays are inspired by specific discussions or multiple interviews. Taken together, the cogent human observations of these participants who assisted him further expand and illuminate our depth of understanding of what it must have been like to be pinned down under intense fire and must do something heroic to get out of it., A stirring, inspirational read! An extraordinary account of the heroics on D-Day, captured by a great writer (and great soldier) who walked the beaches and drop zones of Normandy with the men of that day over more than four decades. Keith Nightingale captures brilliantly--and uniquely--the human face of D-Day, the essence of why those men fought and how they ultimately prevailed in this wonderfully illuminating book.
