I'd meant to skip this one, thinking that `Seven Roads' might stand as representative of all Burgett's books but then my mum found this for me at a church fete, so here it is after all. I'm glad too as this is a war account in every respect. A lot of men die and Burgett is very lucky to avoid death in training and in battle. I think of it like this. If you have a thousand men, split into groups of ten, each of whom draw straws to select a winner. Then you take all the winners, regroup them and put them through the same process and then put the new winners through again, you get a sense of how Burgett survived. Also as fantasy writer David Gemmell wrote, among all warriors there are princes (in terms of their skill/luck etc), and then amongst the princes there are kings. To me men like Burgett were a bit like this. Men who were lucky but who also made there own luck by being quicker and more deadly than their enemies. He himself is astonished at how he continued to survive when so many others died.

This is Burgett's first book and it covers his training as well as his fighting in Normandy. Maybe it's partly to do with the 1960s layout but at times this seemed more like a lurid fictional work than a memoir, something like a Commando comic or an episode of `Combat'. Again authenticity doesn't seem in question. Perhaps it's because this book was published in the 60s, it reflects the war writing styles of the day. I recall reading that Webster's book was knocked back by many publishers as they were seeking more sensational, fictional type war accounts. Perhaps these influenced Burgett. Perhaps it's also to do with the fact that Burgett simply killed a lot of Germans. He was in an especially target rich environment but no one else has written of so many specific instances. Indeed, taking into account an episode where he is temporary on a machine gun, I think he surpasses James Megallas in total `kills'- and that's just in this one battle! He doesn't reflect too much on this though. He really is a hard man in this respect. His training and hunting experience simply makes him a very deadly soldier indeed.

There are quite a few jaw-drop moments too. The one where he sought, though ultimately was dissuaded by intense machine gun fire, a unique and particularly ghoulish souvenir was almost unbelievable. There is another, where several dozen prisoners are forced to march up a road to discourage German machine gunners from firing is also very jarring. For several reasons, I'd almost be inclined not to believe it, except Burgett has seeming established his bona-fides. Aside from his ongoing naming of the others who were with him, several of his experiences have been quoted in other books on the battle, for instance, the one with the two Germans horribly injured by artillery fire. On this, there are several very graphic descriptions of battle injuries that are quite astonishing. These are the sort of things people want to forget but as Burgett himself writes - how could you? Burgett has an eye for such things and his descriptions are vivid and blunt and not for the faint hearted.

This is more war book than memoir if that makes any sense. Bizarrely, having been on the hunt for an account that really lets go in terms of killing, now I've found one, it's left me a bit squeamish. I have only praise for the author's candour however. In terms of explicit combat this book is on a par with Sledge's `With the Old Breed'. Very highly recommended.

Reading this book led me to read all of the books written by him. His details are so amazing! I tell everyone about these books and tell them to read them. His details about training camp all the way to the Battle of the Bluge are unforgetable! If your looking for an FIRST PERSON account like I do then these books are for you! I felt like i was there when he told about the battle of the bulge. Some of his stories about not taking prisoners or fighting in the snow....I dont believe making a movie and making it super-bloody would even come close to what really happen. If you like to read about FIRST PERSON account in WW II and anyone who fought along side the BAND OF BROTHERS MOVIE SERIES then this is it for you! YOU WILL NOT BE DISAPPOINTED....I PROMISE!

Note: This review is for the hardback 1999 edition.

I first read this under the title of As Eagles Scream back in 1977. Having completed a re-reading of it (actually have done it several other times) I wanted to put my review down for others.

Currahee! Is Mr. Burgett's account as a paratrooper from induction thru Normandy serving in A Company, 506th Regiment, 101st Airborne Division. There are four sections; Training for Combat, Waiting for Combat, Combat, and Afterward. All parts give Mr. Burgett's experiences at that particular point in his career. Focus is always on what he sees and experiences, not the "big scene" around him. The Afterward was written when Currahee! was a stand alone book.

My Likes:
Wow, where to begin. Seldom have I read a personal account of warfare that contains the details this book has. Mr. Burgett's memory is exact and to the point. In telling his story he mixes no bones and calls what he did. If he screwed up, he tells you that he did and what the effects were from it. The descriptions are detailed, down to telling you minute details (one of my favorites from when I first read the book was his telling of breakfast in training to be a paratrooper; cornflakes and coffee, either eat the cornflakes dry or wet with coffee. Btw, that was after their morning run). The best section for these details was the Combat section. Here Mr. Burgett shines by describing is drop (in excellent detail), his experiences upon landing, and the running battles with the Germans thru his wounding. Of particular interest is his description of how Dead Man's Corner earned it's name.

My Dislikes:
OK, I have one; I wish Mr. Burgett would have divided the Combat section into two to make for easier reading. The only other possible dislike is that the story cuts off after Normandy and we have to buy The Road to Arnhem: A Screaming Eagle in Holland (World War II Library). There are minor problems with him referencing non-airborne weapons (a M3/M5 Stuart is references as a M3 Lee/Grant and few problems with German equipment).

The Rating:
Five Stars! An Ab Fab writing with a great personal story. I'd love to have toured Normandy with Mr. Burgett. But then reading is book is almost like touring his fight with him. I highly recommend reading this book if you're interested in what the 101st Airborne did during Normandy, particularly from the individual's point of view. There are some excellent photographs, only two maps (I wanted more), the second one is nicely detailed.