Insights into the daily lives of history's fighting men and women, past and present, detailing their motivation, training, tactics, weaponry and experiences. The ETO is seen by many as the major theater of World War II, with more infantry regiments serving there than in any other theater. This title follows one soldier ("Joseph") as he is drafted in February 1941, trains with the 22d Infantry in the United States and then ships to England in January 1944. On D-Day he lands on Utah Beach and in the following months fights through France and Belgium and into Germany. The problems the common soldier faced between June 1944 and May 1945 are discussed in detail in this authoritative and moving book.

Introduction -- Different Headquarters and separate Companies : Regimental Headquarters and Headquarters Company ; Battalion Headquarters and Headquarters Company ; Antitank Company ; Cannon Company ; Service Company ; Medical Detachment ; The Rifle Company -- Weapons and weapons systems: Individual weapons: Carbines, rifles, and pistols ; Heavy weapons within the Infantry Regiment's separate companies -- The first draft: The European Theater of Operations ; The Regular Army ; The 22d Infantry -- Chronology -- Induction, prewar and post-Pearl Harbor training: The draft ; Training ; England -- First blood, Normandy June-July 1944: Promotion ; Hurtgenwald ; Resupply and replacements -- Casualties -- Prum, R & R, and crossing the Rhine -- Going home -- Museums, collections and re-enactment.