reference

America's Finest: U.S. Airborne Uniforms, Equipment, and Insignia of WW2 (ETO)
Gary Howard, Greenhill Books, ISBN 1-87341-269-X
Private English collection of airborn artifacts. A very good source for anyone considering doing a parachute or glider infantry impression; the best thing about this book is the large collection of never before published photographs of airborne troops taken on the eve of the Normandy invasion.

Closing With the Enemy (How GI's Fought the War in Europe 1944-45)
Michael Doubler, University Press of Kansas, ISBN 0-7006-0744-7
Examines the frequently painful development of U.S. Army combat tactics during WW2, starting with infantry level tactics and including the evolution of close air support and the role of the Army Air Forces.

Doughboy to GI (U.S. Army Clothing and Equipment 1900-1945)
Kenneth Lewis, Norman D. Landing Company, ISBN 0-9521523-0-4
Another private English collection. This book is good, but not quite the comprehensive reference book its title would suggest; if the item wasn't in the author's collection, then it wasn't included in the book. For the price, many people expected more.

G.I. Series #1 The War in Europe (From the Kasserine Pass to Berlin 1942-1945)
John P. Langellier, Stackpole Books, ISBN 1-85367-220-3
Period color and black & white photographs of infantrymen and their uniforms and equipment. A good source of reference photos for the money.

Standard Guide to U.S. World Wat II Tanks & Artillery
Konrad Schreier, Jr. Krause Publications, ISBN 0-87341-297-4
Not only details the heavy equipment that all U.S. soldiers should be familiar with, but explains how they were used as well. Covers everything from the M32 recovery vehicle to the 37mm anti-tank gun.

The U.S. Army 1941-1945
Philip Katcher, Osprey Men-At-Arms Series #70
One of the most basic reference works and a classic; everybody owns this one.

U.S. Army Combat Equipments 1910-1988
Gordon Rottman, Osprey Men-At-Arms Series #205
Typically good general refernce sources from the gang at Osprey. This covers the different web gear worn by all U.S. soldiers since the early 20th Century.

U.S. Army Handbook 1939-1945
George Forty, Alan Sutton Publishing Limited, ISBN 0-7509-1078-X
One of, if not the, most comprehensive reference books on the U.S. Army. Covers almost everything, and in a convenient size. Get this book!

U.S. Infantry Weapons of World War II
Bruce Canfield, Andrew Mowbray Inc., ISBN 0-917218-67-1
The best single reference source for every weapon carried by the U.S. infantryman in WW2. From knives to recoiless rifles, including collectors notes, its all here!

The WW2 GI - U.S. Army Uniforms 194-1945 (In Color Photographs)
Windrow and Hawkins, Motorbooks International, ISBN 0-87938-832-3
Modern color photographs of authentic WW2 army uniforms and equipment used by the common infantryman in realistic settings.

Silent Wings-The Saga of the U.S. Army & Marine Combat Glider Pilots During WWII
Gerard M. Devlin, St. Martin's Press, ISBN 0-312-72460-8
A comprehensive history of not only the American glider forces, but the glider forces of all nations.

The Glider Gang - An Eyewitness History of World War II Glider Combat
Milton Dank, J. B. Lippincott Company, ISBN 0-397-01161-X
Another great story of the American glider pilots, written by a glider pilot.

Glidermen of Neptune - The American D-Day Glider Attack
Charles J. Masters, Southern Illinois University Press, ISBN 0-8093-2007-X
Written by the son of a 325th Gliderman, covers in great detail the glider forces chapter in the Normandy invasion.

The Greatest Generation
Tom Brokaw, Random House, Inc., ISBN 0-375-50202-5
A classic, a must read for anyone interested in the men and women who "when they were young, saved the world." Includes the story of Wesley Ko, 325th Gliderman.