I liked this. Kind of a pop history style (as can be told from the overwrought title), but no question that the authors did plenty of research to support the story line. I also like that it focuses on a small group.
Brits had some success with "commando" (special forces) units early in WWII, and the US decided to do a similar concept though with a different name ("Rangers"). Though the Army didn't have a clear concept of how to use the units, and there were plenty of folks within the Army that didn't like the idea.
The book focuses on the 2nd Ranger Battalion - through intense training (lots of washouts); then onto Omaha beach and up the cliffs to Pont d'Huc; attacking Brest (Brittany - achieving a rather incredible surrender with two Rangers and a grenade in the commandant's crotch); then (after some less intense assignments) into the Hurtgen Forest and Hill 400.
All of these deployments were highly interesting to read about; impressive. I hadn't known about the Brest surrender before (I assume the description is accurate if unbelievable). Also hadn't read about Hurtgen Forest - the authors suggest this was not much discussed because (at least in their opinion) so many US lives were wasted repeating attack methods that were proven failures.
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