Ranger Battalion: American Rangers in World War II

By Milton J. Shapiro

Book Overview

Describes the formation of the Rangers, a volunteer Army unit whose recruits were mostly outdoorsmen and sportsmen, and details the World War II campaigns in which they distinguished themselves. This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0671329286
• ISBN13: 9780671329280
• Release Date: January 1979
• Publisher: Julian Messner
• Length: 191 Pages
• Weight: 0.80 lbs.
• Age Range: 8 to 12 years
• Grade Range: Grades 3 to 7

Customer Reviews

The "PG" Version of Rangers in WWII

This book traces the history of the Army's elite infantry fighting force-- the U.S. Rangers. Unlike today's soldiers that bear their name, these troops were not airborne commandos; rather, a highly trained and motivated all volunteer unit comprised of predominately "tread heads"-- or mechanized soldiers from the Army's First Division. Despite their lineage, these soldiers earned their baptism under fire at Dieppe and continued to spearhead many of the American led assaults throughout the rest of the war. In a language readable by the youngest of readers, Shapiro traces the history of the Rangers from their conception until the wars end, focusing primarily upon the 1st, 3d, and 4th batallions.Shapiro relates a great story; however, this book is not for the historian interested in tracing the author's work. The book does not contain footnotes and the author offers no resource list in which one could follow to ascertain his/her own impression.Still, the book contains an interesting storyline and would make an excellent supplement to other, resource rich, materials for a high school audience. Moreover, at only 200 pages, the book is able to give the inattentive reader the "down and dirty" on American military involvement in the second war.