The Bedford Boys: One American Town's Ultimate D-day Sacrifice

I thoroughly enjoyed this book and learning about the contribution the Bedford Boys and the community played is support of winning of WW II. Being part of a Gold Start Tamil it brings to light what my own family had to endear. Thank to all who contributed.

This is one of the best WWII books I've ever read, and I've read many. I was at the Normandy beaches a couple weeks ago, and of course it's a powerful experience. Reading this shortly after visiting really brings it home. The small town of Bedford VA suffered a catastrophic loss, way out of proportion to its population, and in this book you get to know all of the soldiers that were in the first wave of troops to land on Omaha Beach. By getting to know them before they were active duty Army, and understand the training they went through in England, the anticipation of D-Day, and the grim reality of what they endured, along with the effect on the families back home makes this one of the best D-Day books ever. Highly recommended.

"The Bedford Boys" is the story of the men from small town Virginia who, as part of the first-wave of the Normandy invasion, spilled their blood on "Bloody Omaha". This book details the lives, loves and end of many men who served in the 29th Infantry Division. The division, made up of National Guard units from Maryland and Virginia was chosen to assault Omaha beach alongside the veteran 1st Infantry Division. The story begins with the prewar, Depression era that impacted the lives of every American, but hit rural areas like Bedford especially hard. This lack of economic opportunity led many of these men to join the National Guard. It also meant that the men of this close-knit, rural area would serve together when war came. This makes for excellent unit cohesion but also risks wiping out the manhood of an entire region when battle takes its toll. The book continues with their training, shipment to England in preparation for invasion of the continent and, finally, their role and massive losses in the amphibious assault. The author very much focuses on the human element in this book. Interviews with surviving veterans, wives and relatives as well as letters from those who perished form he core of this book. It is the story of men and women rather than battles. It delves into their stay in Great Britain and their relations with the English people. The story itself culminates in the inevitable telegrams. The young woman employed by Western Union tells about how, prior to this, she would get a "We regret to inform you..." telegram once a week or once every couple days. In the aftermath of the beach assault, they came...and came...and came. She thought the terrible notices would never end. The author does an excellent job of relating the enormity of the heartbreaking losses sustained on one day in that small Virginia town. My only criticism is that the author does not give an evaluation of the military landings themselves that consigned so many men to "the glorious dead". The fact of the matter is that these men died as a direct result of their own commanders' planning. Despite all the experience gained at the cost of much blood in the Pacific, our military deliberately chose to land our troops directly into the teeth of the German defenses. Men whose landing craft were steered off course or taken there by the strong current largely landed intact with few losses. Those that were landed where they were supposed to were slaughtered. Still and all, as a purely "human interest" type of story, the author has produced a good account of the lives of these "Bedford Boys". May their sacrifice always be remembered. Four stars.

BOOK REVIEW: The Bedford Boys by Alex Kershaw Heroes Born of Hardship: The Bedford Boys’ WWII Story The Bedford Boys by Alex Kershaw is a moving tribute to a group of young men from the impoverished mountains of rural Virginia whose sense of duty and responsibility led them to join the National Guard during World War II. Motivated less by glory than by the chance to help support their struggling families, these “boys” could not have imagined that their decision would place them at the center of the largest and most brutal battle of their lives—the D-Day invasion of Normandy. Kershaw vividly traces their shared upbringing, close-knit bonds, and collective sacrifice, showing how an entire community bore the weight of war in a single devastating day. The book powerfully illustrates how ordinary young men, shaped by hardship and loyalty to home, were thrust into extraordinary circumstances, leaving a lasting mark on American history and on the town of Bedford itself.

This is a very personalized account of a Company of National Guardsmen, their families, and their community as to how they lived, went to war and how brutally the died. The story continues to tell the sad and tragic aftermath of those few who survived and the impact to their families and friends they left behind. As a son of a WW II veteran, it brought back so many things I experienced growing up that l didn’t understand while living with my parents as well as many issues I experienced until their deaths. It continued to make me appreciate how precious our way of life is and the price our ancestors paid to keep it.

My dad, then a young captain from Pennsylvania with the headquarters company of the 116 infantry was there. He would never talk about it. My mother grew up a few miles from Bedford and knew several of the Bedford Boys. A lot of names that I heard in passing as a kid are mentioned in this book. I pray that we never forget them.

Fantastic book

著者のドキュメンタリー戦史の代表作。作戦を個々の兵を通して描くのがカーショーさんの手法。米国ヴァージニア州の田舎町ベッドフォードの若者が所属した米陸軍第29師団116A大隊を追う。元は州軍だったので実戦配備は遅く、D-day まで20ヶ月も訓練とはお気の毒さま！！いざ実戦では激戦のオマハビーチで、その戦闘の様子は個々の取材から再現され実に生々しく迫力に満ちている。上陸用舟艇の前扉（ランプ）が開くやいなや独軍の機関銃にバタバタと集中砲火を浴びる様など悲惨。上陸日に19人戦死で、米国でこんなに集中して戦死者を出した町はないそうで、そのためにこの町を取り上げることになったらしい。戦死を伝える電報がどっと届いた日の町人の様子とか、一方で無事帰郷した兵の複雑な気持ちなど哀れだ。その他、例の独軍Eボート9隻による奇襲（4月28日）への言及が興味深い。訓練中3隻のLSTが沈没、数百名が戦死、その後、厳重なかん口令がしかれ、食堂での会話も禁じられ、注文は指で示すよう指示されたとか！！？

Fascinating, detailed, moving. The impact of War on a small town and hinterland. Follows each member of the community closely.

The only one book I have received through Amazon in a really good state. Perfect

This book is part oral history and the story of young men from one small town who enlist in World War 2. It is written in journalist style and is therefore an easy and very absorbing read. As well as reading it myself, I have lent it to my sons who have also rated it highly.