Sometimes, a book surprises me. And that’s definitely what the case has been with Parachute Infantry by David Kenyon Webster!!!
This book was given to me as a gift from my mom, probably from at least a year ago. I was probably already involved with another book at the time it was gifted, so it has since sat idly on my bookshelf until now, when I abruptly remembered I had it.
I’ve read many books about D-Day and paratroopers. However, while those books I already found amazing, as they were told from the third person by authors who had extensively researched and interviewed people involved in the event, this one took me by surprise once I realized it was written in the first person and was a firsthand account of all that went down.
Whoa.
Five hundred feet below, spread out for miles on the moonlit sea, were scores and scores of landing barges, destroyers, cruisers, and attack transports. They were bearing the infantry slowly east, like a flood of lava, to a dawn assault on the shingle shore of Normandy.
My shoulders swung away from the window. I stared at the men opposite me in the racketing, vibrating, oil-reeking, vomit-scented darkness. “Isn’t it great?” I said. “Those guys are going in!”
Webster, pg. 41
Webster’s vivid account of the war around him, even the amusing small moments in-between the fighting, deliver a story with a humble, easygoing tone that makes this account of D-Day unlike any other I’ve read; one moment, he’s describing the nail-biting action on the field, the next, he’s describing the dreamy, fairytale-like landscape of England and the Netherlands in-between the action. Which makes this book a page-turner that’s incredibly hard to put down (I’ve never read a book so fast – I’m actually a very slow reader.)
It goes without saying that I’ve quite simply fallen in love with this book, and I didn’t expect it! There are times when I purchase a book with high hopes, and it wasn’t entirely what I had hoped. Then there are times, like with this one, where I had no expectations and it sweeps me off my feet, much to my own surprise.
Outfit: Rockin’ a floral Kuromi look!!! 💜 I loved matching my Kuromi ring (a gift from my sister) with my Kuromi hair clips. Just a casual outfit I wore to go get coffee in today.
The Big Hair Diaries 
Sounds like a wonderful book. It’s hard to imagine what those soldiers went through. I love your floral Kuromi look. What is Kuromi? It looks both kittyish and cowish. Either way it’s really cute.
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It really is a great book!!! And I think Kuromi is a bunny! Isn’t she cute? 🖤💜
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That makes sense. Yes. She is cute.
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Another good book I just finished is With the Old Breed: At Peleliu and Okinawa by Eugene Sledge. It was his first hand account on the horrors of fighting in the Pacific. And yes, you are rocking that outfit.
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Whoaaaa, that sounds awesome!!! I really need to, at some point, read an account of the Pacific Theater, since I’m only familiar with the happenings of the European Theater. And thank you!!
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There are few things better than finding a forgotten book. And then, for it to be more wonderful than you expected, well that’s the dream! Parachute Infantry sounds riveting, and I love how you describe its humanity: “Webster’s vivid account of the war around him, even the amusing small moments in-between the fighting, deliver a story with a humble, easygoing tone that makes this account of D-Day unlike any other I’ve read; one moment, he’s describing the nail-biting action on the field, the next, he’s describing the dreamy, fairytale-like landscape of England and the Netherlands in-between the action.” Also, your Kuromi coffee outfit is super cute! As always, the way you styled your accessories is so striking. 🎀🖤🐰
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I so love those kind of books: I’m always amazed at the humble spirit and courage of these young Americans who experienced such turmoil. I’ll have to check that one out. And you look lovely in those colors.
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Great outfit, as always! And interesting book, as well. I’ve been meaning to get back into military history, because I also used to read it quite a bit. The way you described the book has me intrigued!
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Thanks so much!!! 😄 If I remember correctly, you were interested in books on the Korean War?
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Yes, I was reading a lot of Korean War books. It’s a fascinating topic to me. I was also reading about China’s famine under Mao, and a Mao biography. Hard stuff to read, though! So I’ve been taking a break from it…
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