Big Red One, The: Gi Series Vol.31

Greenhill's GI Series is the definitive guide to the history of the American soldier, his uniform and his equipment and has so far covered the full range of American history from Custer and the role of American Indians in the Civil War to a detailed examination of the technical innovation displayed in the equipment used by GIs during the Gulf War. Every volume is fully illustrated with original contemporary photographs and includes eight pages of color pictures. This volume covers The Big Red One, one of the finest American divisions ever to have existed. The unit was hastily assembled in April 1917, after Woodrow Wilson declared war on Imperial Germany and its Allies. The division became known as the Big Red One, because of the insignia of a red numeral one. The nickname also gave rise to the phrase, "If you gotta be one, be a Big Red One". Christopher Anderson expertly tracks the development of the division from its formation, through garrison and peacetime routine, to its role in World War II, where it was selected for one of the most difficult missions of the D-Day landings at Omaha beach. The story continues through to its deployment in Vietnam and eventual return back to US as Fort Riley.