Memoir of Matthew Ridgway, the man who transformed the 82nd Infantry Division into the 82nd Airborne Division during World War II, and took over from Douglas MacArthur in Korea.

Combat jump -- Farewell to the all-American -- Memories of a soldier's son -- Rebirth of the 82nd -- Sicily, test for men and tactics -- Catastrophe averted -- To Naples from the sea -- England, the eagles' nest -- War comes to captive Holland -- Panzers in the Ardennes -- "The beast we must slay" -- Smashing the Siegfried Line -- The drop across the Rhine -- Cleaning out the Ruhr pocket -- Meeting with the Russians -- The Pacific, and back to Italy -- Peacetime soldiers -- Slow hound on a cold trail -- Tough talk to a tough Russian -- Bogota in riot time -- Panama idyll -- War in Korea -- "Eighth Army is yours" -- There to stay -- Ice on the Han River -- Eighth Army finds itself -- Supreme Commander, Far East -- Supreme Commander, Europe -- Monty, Mr. Churchill, and the Queen -- Chief of Staff -- The statesman versus the soldier -- Indo-China, Quemoy, and Matsu -- A day in the Pentagon -- Under pressure -- National strategy -- The army's role -- The army in the Atomic Age -- Final report to Mr. Wilson.