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David Kenyon Webster

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Parachute Infantry: An American Paratrooper's Memoir of D-Day and the Fall of the Third Reich Audio CD – CD, October 28, 2014

by David Kenyon Webster (Author), Alan Sklar (Narrator)

4.4 999 ratings

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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.

Language

English
Publisher

Tantor Audio
Publication date

October 28, 2014
Dimensions

6.4 x 1.1 x 5.3 inches
ISBN-10

1494506157
ISBN-13

978-1494506155
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Product details

Publisher ‏ : ‎ Tantor Audio; Unabridged CD edition (October 28, 2014)
Language ‏ : ‎ English
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1494506157
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1494506155
Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 2.79 ounces
Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 6.4 x 1.1 x 5.3 inches

Customer Reviews:
4.4 999 ratings

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David Kenyon Webster

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4.4 out of 5

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Ben

Great

Reviewed in the United States on February 10, 2024

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An excellent book, especially after reading Band of Brothers.

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DACHokie

Band of Brothers ... before Ambrose and Hollywood Intervened ...

Reviewed in the United States on December 22, 2010

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Ever since HBO glorified this group of men, I have made it a point ... well, now it's a mission, to read any/all of the books associated with Easy Company. Reading Ambrose's book prior to the release of the HBO miniseries served as an appetizer to the main course (the 10 part series), but there was still plenty of room left for desert as I was hungry for more information about these men, their upbringing, their bond, their deeds and their lives after their service. My mission has been blessed with a virtual avalanche of books that have contributed to satisfying my craving for "all things Easy Company", but they are all products of the Band of Brother's cash cow and perhaps a scant indulgent. Ironically, it was actually the debut of HBO's "The Pacific" which led me to David Kenyon Webster's book. Just like E.B. Sledge's "With the Old Breed" and Robert Leckie's "Helmet for My Pillow" provided the foundation for "the Pacific", "Parachute Infantry" serves as the raw material needed for "Band of Brothers". In his book, Webster authors a genuine, personal and detailed look at Easy Company almost four decades before Ambrose gave these men a global introduction. The pleasant surprise with this book is that it provides so much more than the miniseries could have hoped to deliver.

What makes Webster's book a worthy read is that he wrote it decades before Ambrose even considered writing about a company from the 506 Division (it was actually Ambrose who initiated the memoir actually being published) ... in other words, "Parachute Infantry" is arguably the original manuscript for the Band of Brothers book and miniseries. And Webster delivers a wonderfully detailed account of his wartime experience, the military life he absolutely hated and a war that left an indelible imprint on his life. A constant theme throughout the memoir is the author's utter disdain for the military and all of its pettiness and ineptitude. Additionally, Webster displays a similar distaste toward the French, their arrogance and unappreciative, elitist nature. It becomes obvious from the beginning of the book that David Webster clearly viewed military life beneath him. Webster articulates his experiences and opinions in a dry, witty manner and illustrates them with great detail. The reader never experiences moments where more information is desired.

One of the more surprising aspects of "Parachute Infantry" is that the individuals made popular by Ambrose and the HBO miniseries are, for the most part, absent. Most of the individuals close to Webster are mostly fringe characters in the miniseries. But, it is obvious, that he felt a kinship to many of the men who shared his experience. If anything, Webster's book is reminiscent of Robert Leckie's "Helmet for My Pillow" in that the focus of the book is more of personal reflection of military life, bonding and the deep impact of what is being witnessed rather than a pure combat memoir. It is not that Webster didn't see combat (he was wounded in Holland and earned a Bronze Star), but his focus is less on the actual battles as it is on the indelible affect their aftermath had on him.

"Parachute Infantry" starts out slow and can be somewhat verbose initially, creating a somewhat tedious read. However, as the book progresses, Webster's attention to detail becomes more appreciated and enjoyable to read. His keen eye for specifics is evident as the reader is immersed in a lush and colorful environment on each point of Webster's journey through Europe; this attention to minutia adds to the reader's experience. In my opinion, one of the best segments of the miniseries is the final episode when the war draws to a close and the men of Easy Company take Hitler's Eagle's Nest in Berchtesgaden, Germany and eventually report to Austria. This particular episode is where I believe "Parachute Infantry" really shines and it becomes clear that the miniseries drew heavily from Webster's account as the description he provides of these two locales is just as breathtaking to read about as it is viewed on television. His recollection of spending the end of the war in Austria reads a lot like a military version of a Jack Kerouac adventure.

It is a shame that David Webster was never able to see the impact or importance of his book. After reading his work, though, it becomes obvious that military service was only a small (but significant) facet of the man's life; maybe even a necessary interruption. And, like many gifted writers, he chose to view his experience as an adventure. Rather than leaning on his family's wealth to garner favoritism and avoid hazardous duty, David Webster opted to enter the military as private to see this adventure from the ground up as a low level enlisted man. The perspective he provides the reader of the Band of Brothers is both eloquent and unique.

14 people found this helpful

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DBR

We owe them all our freedoms

Reviewed in the United States on January 12, 2024

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I have read as many books written by the members of the 101-506-2-2 and while they were all in the same battles they give their own point of views about some of the experiences they lived. I would recommend not just one but as many of the books writes by these men.

Reviewed in the United States on January 6, 2024

Great book!

The most literate 'brother'

Reviewed in the United States on June 30, 2009

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Love that title - well the `Parachute Infantry' part and I quite liked the book as well. It took me a little while to get into Webster's style or at least the point of view he takes but then I found it a very interesting read indeed. In fact the full reproductions of a number of Webster's amazingly detailed letters in the appendix were a real treat.

Webster was with the 506th Para Regt of the 101st Airborne. After a bit of bouncing around he ends up with `E' company and it was fascinating reading his take on the `Band of Brothers' exploits. Obviously his account was written a few decades before Ambrose and the subsequent TV series and it is quite evident that this was a primary source for those efforts. Note though, not all of the TV `Webster' is faithful to what is revealed in this book. If the series is of interest to you, there is much here to flesh out some of the stories and characters. I enjoyed making the connections.

Webster's account starts with the waiting for D-Day. He spends quite a bit of time being frustrated and stuffed around. It is very clear early on that Webster is a great cynic about military life. His attitude is ironic given his decision to volunteer. He recognises this and writes about the contradictions. His views are very interesting. He was a highly literate and thoughtful man and it is fascinating at times to read his thoughts on everything. Anyone who can write, "The night was a collie that barked and whirled around us, and we were the sheep, pushing together for warmth and courage" will do me. He makes routine things, like ratting through houses fascinating. The last quarter of the book, regarding the occupation, is surprisingly good value.

There is lots of combat, including some great stuff in the air prior to his two jumps. His D-Day revelations seem a bit short at first but he later reflects back on various events. The encounter and destruction of a battalion of 6th FJ is particularly eye opening. There is a lot more detail regarding his time in Holland, including his involvement (initially) with the fight on the Island. Webster has a great eye for detail and his descriptions are very vivid. Dialogue is sharp and the pages just flew. He only writes once about shooting a German soldier. Interestingly he doesn't dwell on this. Given his anti-army stance it is also intriguing that he shows no reluctance to kill. The incident with the wounded German on the river bank who they tried to kill with grenades is also quite revealing - Webster had planned to swim across and bayonet him! So some good combat accounts but very a few where Webster himself is pulling the trigger. He claims though to have been known as the worst shot in the company.

There is a lot to be fascinated by here. His cynicism towards the army stands out but he really shines when writing of his return to `E' Co after recovering from wounds. He is overjoyed to be back but jarred to learn of all the deaths in the Ardennes. No other author has captured the camaraderie and resultant pain so well. Webster's war was not as horrific as others here and though he was very much a combat soldier, he didn't reveal a lot of his own involvement and I've chopped a star off accordingly. Even so, I enjoyed this book so I'll hedge slightly and on balance, describe it as - `Quite highly recommended'

18 people found this helpful

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Chief Pace

Impressive value and service!

Reviewed in the United States on October 7, 2023

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The book by Band of Brothers soldier David Kenyon Webster is hard to find. Blue Button Studios provided a nearly perfect copy at a great price. It arrived quickly and very well packed in perfect shape. Thanks so much for a superb retail experience.

Reviewed in the United States on December 11, 2023

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As a follower of Easy Company history, I found out the author’s version of the stories that differ or align with Stephen Ambrose’s stories and those depicted in the HBO miniseries, interesting. This book is a wonderful primary or supplementary source to better understand these events and gain some insights into the daily life in these units in context.

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Rick P

A candid recounting of the war

Reviewed in Canada on October 21, 2023

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Having watched Band of Brothers and read the book, I was interested to read a
personal memoir. This is an unvarnished, unsanitized retelling that puts the war into a much more personal and insightful perspective.

Well worth reading.

Pedro Marano Gonzalez

Qualidade

Reviewed in Brazil on October 5, 2020

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Livro de ótima qualidade.

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