The Dead and Those About to Die

D-Day: The Big Red One at Omaha Beach

By: John C. McManus

Narrated by: Don Hagen

A white-knuckle account of the First Infantry Division’s harrowing D-Day assault on the eastern sector of Omaha Beach - acclaimed historian John C. McManus has written a gripping history that will stand as the last word on this titanic battle. Nicknamed the Big Red One, First Division had fought from North Africa to Sicily, earning a reputation as stalwart warriors on the front lines and rabble-rousers in the rear. Yet on D-Day, these jaded combat veterans melded with fresh-faced replacements to accomplish one of the most challenging and deadly missions ever. As the men hit the beach, their equipment destroyed or washed away, soldiers cut down by the dozens, courageous heroes emerged: men such as Sergeant Raymond Strojny, who grabbed a bazooka and engaged in a death duel with a fortified German antitank gun; T/5 Joe Pinder, a former minor-league pitcher who braved enemy fire to save a vital radio; Lieutenant John Spalding, a former sportswriter, and Sergeant Phil Streczyk, a truck driver, who together demolished a German strong point overlooking Easy Red, where hundreds of Americans had landed.

Along the way, McManus explores the Gap Assault Team engineers who dealt with the extensive mines and obstacles, suffering nearly a 50 percent casualty rate; highlights officers such as Brigadier General Willard Wyman and Colonel George Taylor, who led the way to victory; and punctures scores of myths surrounding this long-misunderstood battle.

The Dead and Those about to Die draws on a rich array of new or recently unearthed sources, including interviews with veterans. The result is history at its finest, the unforgettable story of the Big Red One’s 19 hours of hell - and their ultimate triumph - on June 6, 1944.

©2014 John C. McManus (P)2014 Gildan Media LLC

Critic reviews

“Magnificent! I could not put this book down. John McManus has expanded our knowledge of D-Day history by a considerable factor. It is a great read and will appeal to both devoted students of World War II as well as those with a more casual interest. Don't miss it!” (Joseph Balkoski, author of Omaha Beach and Utah Beach)

Good story terribly narrated.

Struggled to understand details important to the overall story because of lackadaisical narration. If you could possibly make the riveting story of DDay seem dry and bland then perhaps a congratulations is in order because that's exactly what this narrator does. Professional content deserves more than a nice voice.

Outstanding

A tremendous book on the Normandy invasion on June 6th. A must read for anyone interested in the horror that took place on Omaha Beach.

not for me

did not enjoy this book because I am not big on listening to statistics find it boring. please remove this from listen list!!!!

Incredible

What an incredibly factual and sad story to listen to about a very important event in history. The author did a great job of describing events and people. I felt that the author did a great job honoring the real life people that were there on D-Day.

Detailed Account of D-Day

John C. McManus gives the reader an in depth account of what occurred on D-Day on the eastern sector of Omaha Beach. This was where the First Infantry Division had been commanded to attack. The men who had engaged in many battles for the past year felt that they should have been allowed to go home. However, the brass had a different idea. Their division was known to get the job done, Therefore, they sent the First.

The invasion was harrowing, to say the very least. Men were shot dead in the water, which continued to get deeper. The packs the men carried made it almost impossible to tread through the deep water, let alone trudge up the sandy beach.

The beach was inundated with bombs that continued to explode, taking the soldiers with them. Those that made it to the beach had to find cover so as not to be killed or wounded. However, there was hardly any cover to be found. Trenches were dug, cliffs were found but nothing would keep the German's from firing.

The First Infantry Division were not cowards and the medals that some won and the death of too many proved that this was so.

The book was researched in depth. The author used names of the men that were too many to remember. He bared wide open the description of how the men struggled. What happened to the men when the bombs exploded beneath them. All of the gory details were in the words spoken by the narrator, Dan Hagen. He did a very good job. The character's that spoke left no idea of who it was because their sentences were short but their fighting was not.

I found this book provided me with the best description of what occurred on Omaha Beach on D-Day. The men faded into the darkness, both American and German. Tomorrow would come with the sun. Some men slept, yet other's laid awake. Both sides patrolled throughout the night.

The words, Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, were not used, instead the words, Battle Fatigue. The words were and are one and the same.

Purchase, The Dead and Those About to Die, and you will be sure to listen and know just what Omaha Beach was then and remembered now and forever. The hallowed ground where American's fought and died to preserve world peace will maintain its memories forever, never to be forgotten.

D-day history.

With The Dead and Those About to Die historian John C McManus writes about the famed First Division's assault on a section Omaha Beach. This is not a comprehensive history of the WWII D-day invasion; it is a history of what happened that day on a section of Omaha Beach from the perspective of individuals. There is much horrible death and uncommon feats of valor.

Good narration,great story line.quite interesting.

very impressive the facts and figures of the invasion of Omaha Beach.it is a Great read.

Inspiring history; imperfect book

I am really glad I listened to this narrative of D-Day. It is such inspiring history! This book, though, was a bit uneven. It is mostly one anecdote after another, with a semblance of a framework. Many of those anecdotes were interesting and/or moving. There is a repetitiveness to some of this, as there was a repetitiveness to D-Day itself - more death, more maimed soldiers, more sadness, more heroism. The book rarely stays with people for very long, and I missed a more intimate connection to more soldiers. This story is inspiring, and I learned a lot.

BATTLE

John McManus tells a story of one battle in WWII. Directly and indirectly, an estimated 80 million people die. Twenty two to twenty five million military men and women are lost to their families. McManus infers all WWII’ losses are exemplified by 3,000 Allied and 1,200 Axis soldiers that die in battle at Omaha Beach. The D-Day invasion at Omaha Beach contrasts honor, bravery, and leadership with blame, weakness, and powerlessness in battle.

WWII becomes a necessary war when Hitler invades Poland in 1939. Few realize the depth of Hitler’s evil until near the end of the war. Without the honor, bravery, and leadership of Allied Forces before and after D-Day, the world would have little hope for freedom. In spite of mistakes made in life; inherent human weakness, and powerlessness in the face of inept leadership, good prevails over evil. That is the lesson of one battle; i.e. the battle for Omaha Beach. The power of good over evil is exemplified by a young boy, in 2014, who stands with an American flag on a lonely beach in France.

Hated the reader

This is the first book (in all my years of listening to Audible), that I disliked the announcer so much that I stopped listening in 10 minutes. I then downloaded the print version to finish. I thought his read was bland and uninspired. This heroic story deserved a voice that was into the subject and not just a page reader. Also the tone of his voice sounded to me condescending and arrogant. If this was a college class I would have dropped it.