Players use cards, dice and tiny plastic soldiers on a fold out map board to mimic famous WWII battles, using strategies and a bit of luck to outpace the real life officers and men who fought and died in these places. I play a well known gateway board game called Memoir '44. Ambrose does an excellent job of honoring the men and woman who were the first allied soldiers to trigger the end of 'Fortress Europa,' and pave the way final victory. The story isn't so much about the invasion on June 6, it is more about the men who partook in the action. Imagine training for over two years before applying your craft and still able to maintain at a 'razor's edge.' Many men were broken either mentally, physically or both.

The years of training was brutal and tiresome. What I enjoyed the most was the training the soldiers endured to become one of the elite. The scene is well documented in the movie 'The Longest Day.' Remember the famous lines, 'hold until relieved?' That is exactly what these men did. The book recalls the men and eventsthat allowed the British Glider and Parachute regiment to capture the all important bridge crossing the Orne and adjacent canal in order to prevent the 21st Panzer Division from disrupting and possibly defeating the landings at Sword, Juno and Gold Beach. This isn't the greatest of Stephens Books, but it is worthy of any collector and historian.

Pegasus bridge stephen e ambrose