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5525. Seven Roads to Hell A Screaming Eagle at Bastogne, by Donald R. Burgett (read 12 Jan 2018) The author of this book was born 5 Apr 1925 so was only 19 when he served as a paratrooper in Normandy, Holland, and the Battle of the Bulge. In this book he tells of his experience at the Battle of the Bulge, with much verve and swagger. He claims he wrote the account right after the war, but this book was not published till 1999. It is extremely detailed and he wonders why he did not get killed--he certainly came close to being killed several times and does not sound as it he was very cautious and some of his account sounds as if it might have been improved over the actual happening but it is often exciting and tells of much heroism. As war memoirs go it may be hyped some but there is little reason to doubt his account of how gung ho he was. Despite all the punishment his body took in the War it is good to know that he lived to be 91, dying on 23 March 2017. He has three other books about his war experiences but I am not tempted to read them, since I feel I understand his attitude and efforts sufficiently and since there is so much one wants to read. ( )

This book follows Burgett's career in the paratroops as a sequel to his first two books where he relates the stories of the D-Day and Operation Market Garden landings. In "Seven Roads" Burgett relates his personal experiences as his unit is called up from a rest area to be thrown into Bastonge ahead of the on-coming German Army in what would be called the Battle of the Bulge. The author is an above-average writer who manages to balance first person experiences with overviews of the battle. Recommended for the military reader. ( )