Does anyone have a copy of Irzyk's "He Rode Up Front for Patton?"

[Marlow]

If anyone has a copy, a couple questions:

How detailed is the treatment of his unit's (CCB, 4th Armored) advance to Bastogne?

Does it include detailed maps?

[benpark]

Marlow,

I have a copy that I received from my grandfather (1st. Lt. 113 Cav from D+3 to VE day+). He was friends with Irzyk from UMass Agricultural School in the late '30's and early '40's. I have not had a chance to slog through it yet, as I am going over Ryan's The Last Battle in anticipation of CMBB. It is next on my list.

From flipping through quickly: There are a few maps, and the armor battles seem to be recoanted in great detail. The story is told in 3rd person, however, which seems a bit odd. Over all it seems like a good read. I can let you know in a few weeks, if you would like.

[aka_tom_w]

found this review on the internet:

""He Rode Up Front For Patton is the intimate and true story of a young tank commander whose own tanks were often the lead elements

of General Patton's famed Third Army. This autobiographical account describes the detailed adventures of how American men lived and

worked in their tanks during the arduous push from England, across Europe to Czechoslovakia. Irzyk's intuitive glimpses into the lives

of the men around him provide an insightful portrayal of the daily struggles they faced. He Rode Up Front For Patton is a personalized

chronicle about the constant fight to wrest ground and defeat the Germans while endeavoring to spare the men he had the honor to

lead unnecessary hardships and useless losses during one of the most momentous times of World War II. It provides a rare, unique,

first hand account of life during combat, culminating in Irzyk's final and unprecedented encounter with General Patton. He Rode Up

Front For Patton is a terrific insider's account of the horrors and heroics and mechanized combat in the European theatre. No World War

II collection is complete without He Rode Up Front For Patton. "

"

Sounds like a GREAT book

thanks for bringing it to our attention

-tom w

[aka_tom_w]

more about the book and the author here:

http://www.fourtharmored.com/firstintobastogne.htm

"

A veteran of the Battle of the Bulge tells the story of the 4th Armored Division's

Combat Command B and the relief of the encircled city.

By Brig. Gen. Albin F. Irzyk, U.S. Army (ret.)

Just before dark on the day after Christmas 1944, elementsof Lieutenant General George S.

Patton, Jr.'s 4th Armored Division, attacking from the south, succeeded in making contact with

the beleaguered Americans at Bastogne. The encircled 101st Airborne Division had occupied that

critically vital Belgian town for several days, categorically refusing German demands for

surrender.

The dramatic linkup of the two forces broke the siege of Bastogne and was one of the great

turning points in the Battle of the Bulge. This legendary event has often been described in

histories of World War II, but there is a fascinating subplot to the story that is little-known.

It took the 4th Armored Division five days of bitter, costly fighting to break the ring of German

units encircling the 101st, but only six days before the linkup, elements of that same division had

actually been in Bastogne on the day it was being encircled. In fact, during that earlier movement

into the town, those forces had come within one kilometer of the same spot to which they would

return six days later, after heavy fighting. How could this have happened? "

-tom w

[Marlow]

Originally posted by benpark:

Marlow,

I have a copy that I received from my grandfather (1st. Lt. 113 Cav from D+3 to VE day+). He was friends with Irzyk from UMass Agricultural School in the late '30's and early '40's. I have not had a chance to slog through it yet, as I am going over Ryan's The Last Battle in anticipation of CMBB. It is next on my list.

From flipping through quickly: There are a few maps, and the armor battles seem to be recoanted in great detail. The story is told in 3rd person, however, which seems a bit odd. Over all it seems like a good read. I can let you know in a few weeks, if you would like.

Thanks. Sounds like a worthwhile read. I wanted a few details before I shelled out the 32 bucks that Amazon wants for the book. The reason for the questions about the relief of Bastogne is that CCB's fight looks like a good subject for a CM scenario or operation, but a detailed account is hard to come by, and I was wondering if the book could help.

[Agua]

Originally posted by Marlow:

A scenario has been made: Assenois by McAuliffe.

An operation would be a blast.

[Marlow]

Originally posted by Agua:

</font><blockquote>quote:</font><hr />Originally posted by Marlow:

A scenario has been made: Assenois by McAuliffe.

An operation would be a blast.</font>

Wrong unit. Assenois was Abrams and CCA of the 4th. CCB ran into a little more trouble at a place called Chaumont.

[Agua]

Originally posted by Marlow:

Wrong unit. Assenois was Abrams and CCA of the 4th. CCB ran into a little more trouble at a place called Chaumont.

Then by all means do a scenario AND an operation.

[edit follows:] Actually, I thought the breakthrough unit was CCR. Just coming up with that though from memory, long ago.

[ July 23, 2002, 05:13 PM: Message edited by: Agua ]

[benpark]

The book is definately worth the 32 bucks. The maps are few, but period with markings for US unit movement. There are 2 maps of actions in France, and one of Darmstadt in Germany. CMBO map ready.

[Lawyer]

Marlow, you servile dog of Swedish socialist capitalists. (Tell them Swedish "personal" products sell best in America if they vibrate.)

I shall be scouting the Ardennes area again for two weeks in August. I'll look for any stray details of CCB lying along the road or caught in the memory of 80-year-old Chaumont women sidling along.

Then again, maybe I won't. I'll soon be posting my Baugnez scenario for your pleasure in getting blown up elegantly. I used real maps and everything.

Seriously, if you need pictures of Chaumont, let me know.

[ July 23, 2002, 07:55 PM: Message edited by: Lawyer ]

[McAuliffe]

Originally posted by Marlow:

If anyone has a copy, a couple questions:

How detailed is the treatment of his unit's (CCB, 4th Armored) advance to Bastogne?

Does it include detailed maps?

Don't have the book, but can help you with some maps. Chaumont is a small hamlet south of Clochimont and Assenois.

Look here for the location on a 1:100.000 modern topomap : Bastognemap

and here for a detailed 1:25.000 topomap :

Chaumont

[Liebchen]

Go to www.theblitz.org and locate Don Fox on either the Campaign System ladder or the historical discussion board. He not only is familiar with the book, but interviewed Irzyk fextensively or his own upcoming book (which is in pre-publishing status, IIRC). Tell him I sent you. :cool:

[Marlow]

Originally posted by McAuliffe:

</font><blockquote>quote:</font><hr />Originally posted by Marlow:

If anyone has a copy, a couple questions:

How detailed is the treatment of his unit's (CCB, 4th Armored) advance to Bastogne?

Does it include detailed maps?

Don't have the book, but can help you with some maps. Chaumont is a small hamlet south of Clochimont and Assenois.

Look here for the location on a 1:100.000 modern topomap : Bastognemap

and here for a detailed 1:25.000 topomap :

Chaumont</font>

[Marlow]

Originally posted by Liebchen:

Go to www.theblitz.org and locate Don Fox on either the Campaign System ladder or the historical discussion board. He not only is familiar with the book, but interviewed Irzyk fextensively or his own upcoming book (which is in pre-publishing status, IIRC). Tell him I sent you. :cool:

Thanks. I had already e-mailed him a couple of times about it a while ago. He helped me clear up a couple of things about OOB and a few of the events of the battle.