Battered Bastards of Bastogne

by George Koskimaki

Overview

The Battered Bastards of Bastogne is the product of contributions by 530 soldiers who were on the ground or in the air over Bastogne. They lived and made this history and much of it is told in their own words.

The material contributed by these men of the 101st Airborne Division, the Armor, Tank Destroyer, Army Air Force , and others is tailored meticulously by the author and placed on the historical framework known to most students of the Battle of the Bulge.

Pieces of a nearly 60 year old jigsaw puzzle come together in this book, when memoires related by one soldier fit with those of another unit or group pursuing the battle from another nearby piece of terrain.

George Koskimaki was a noted historian of the 101st Airborne Division. His other books include D-Day With The Screaming Eagles and Hell's Highway. He died in 2016.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781612000749
Publisher:	Casemate Publishers
Publication date:	12/12/2011
Edition description:	Reprint
Pages:	528
Product dimensions:	6.00(w) x 8.90(h) x 1.30(d)

About the Author

George Koskimaki was born in Michigan in 1922. While still in college, he enlisted in the Army and joined the famous 101st Airborne Division, The Screaming Eagles as a paratrooper and radio operator. After retiring, Koskimaki served as the Executive Secretary of the 101st Airborne Division Association.

He was a, teacher, military historian and author of multiple books on United States military operations in the European Theater of World War II, particularly operations carried out by the 101st Airborne Division.

He passed in 2016 at the age of 93.

Table of Contents

Glossary/U.S. Army Rankings
Foreword
Introduction

1. Interlude
2. The Alert
3. The Trip to Bastogne
4. December 19
5. December 20
6. December 21
7. December 22
8. December 23
9. Christmas Eve
10. Christmas Day
11. The Siege Is Broken
12. December 27
13. Calm Before a Storm
14. December 31
15. January 2, 1945
16. January 3, 1945
17. January 4, 1945
18. A Respite
19. On the Offensive
20. Mopping Up

Epilogue
Acknowledgments
Contributors
Notes
Bibliography
Index

Editorial Reviews

The author has made another fine addition to the history of World War II and that of the 101st Airborne…well worth the price and highly recommended to all

The Journal of America’s Military Past

"…Koskimaki incorporates contributions by 530 soldiers who were on the ground or in the air for the defense of Bastogne. Koskimaki's is the first such publication recording this segment of World War II history."

Inc. Book News

"fleshes out in vivid detail the entire story of the Screaming Eagles' valiant struggle. It gives us information not covered in the other books by interweaving the stories of 530 soldiers interviewed who were on the ground or in the air over Bastogne. They lived, made this history and much of it is told in their own words...did a superb job of telling the history the 101st Airborne Division. I appreciated the way the book is both descriptive and detailed. It gives you a feel that you are there with the men. The author did an outstanding job in this area. This is must reading for any student of World War II history."

Kepler’s Military History

The author has made another fine addition to the history of World War II and that of the 101st Airborne…well worth the price and highly recommended to all

The Journal of America’s Military Past

"fleshes out in vivid detail the entire story of the Screaming Eagles' valiant struggle. It gives us information not covered in the other books by interweaving the stories of 530 soldiers interviewed who were on the ground or in the air over Bastogne. They lived, made this history and much of it is told in their own words...did a superb job of telling the history the 101st Airborne Division. I appreciated the way the book is both descriptive and detailed. It gives you a feel that you are there with the men. The author did an outstanding job in this area. This is must reading for any student of World War II history."

Kepler’s Military History

"fleshes out in vivid detail the entire story of the Screaming Eagles' valiant struggle. It gives us information not covered in the other books by interweaving the stories of 530 soldiers interviewed who were on the ground or in the air over Bastogne. They lived, made this history and much of it is told in their own words...did a superb job of telling the history the 101st Airborne Division. I appreciated the way the book is both descriptive and detailed. It gives you a feel that you are there with the men. The author did an outstanding job in this area. This is must reading for any student of World War II history."

Kepler's Military History

…”Koskimaki incorporates contributions by 530 soldiers who were on the ground or in the air for the defense of Bastogne. Koskimaki's is the first such publication recording this segment of World War II history.

Book News

The author has made another fine addition to the history of World War II and that of the 101st Airborne…well worth the price and highly recommended to all.

Journal of America's Military Past