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Brothers in Battle, Best of Friends: Two WWII Paratroopers from the Original Band of Brothers Tell Their Story Audiobook
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(4.54) - 56 listener ratings
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Publisher Description
Tom Hanks introduces the rousing story of two inseparable friends and soldiers portrayed in the HBO miniseries Band of Brothers. William "Wild Bill" Guarnere and Edward "Babe" Heffron were among the first paratroopers of the U.S. Army—members of an elite unit of the 101st Airborne Division called Easy Company. Arguably the bravest, most efficient, physically fit, and tight-knit group of soldiers the Army has ever produced, the unit was called upon for every high-risk operation of the war, including D-Day, Operation Market Garden in Holland, the Battle of the Bulge, and the capture of Hitler's Eagle's Nest in Berchtesgaden. Both fought side-by-side until Guarnere lost his leg in the Battle of the Bulge and was sent home. Heffron went on to liberate concentration camps and rake Hitler's Eagle's Nest hideout. United by their experience, the two reconnected at the war's end and have been the best of friends ever since. Their story is a tribute to the lasting bond forged between comrades in arms—and to all those who fought for freedom.
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"I thought the true voices of Wild Bill and Babe came through. Allowing both of these men to tell their version of the events leading up to and after WWii when they formed their friendship seemed to give a more complete view of how things were. I really enjoyed learning of how their friendship blossomed post-war and how they've grown up together. I had worried that I had heard it all about Easy Company with all of the other books I've read on this topic, but I was wrong of course. Everyone has a story to tell and I enjoyed hearing theirs."
— Miranda (4 out of 5 stars)
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“Remarkable…a must-read for anyone who enjoyed Band of Brothers in print or on screen.”
— Publishers Weekly -
Each of them delivers a relentlessly gripping account highlighting heroism, sacrifice and terrible suffering.
— Kirkus
Brothers in Battle, Best of Friends Listener Reviews
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" Excellent, excellent history lesson. This candid eyewitness account does so much more than any boring textbook can. It's not a glorification of war, but a wonderful memorial to Easy Company which must have been a rather special bunch of guys. It was hard stuff at times, but well balanced with some very hilarious scene (Bill's attempted escape from the hospital comes to mind). A really great read I'll happily pick up again some time. "
— Kissmekate, 2/15/2014 -
" I thoroughly enjoyed it, but I also knew most of the story prior to reading it as we watch the mini-series at least once a year. "
— Liesel, 2/12/2014 -
" I thought this book was written in an interesting way, with each chapter bouncing back and forth between the two veterans as they took you from their childhood homes in Philly, through basic training and into airbourne school, and to the trenches of Europe during WWII. It showed how tightly knit the group was as a whole, and gives an uncensored look at the life of a soldier during the war. I very much enjoyed this book. "
— Marie, 2/12/2014 -
" Excellent read, a personal, sad and funny read all at the same time. "
— Paige, 1/18/2014 -
" Fills in some holes from Band of Brothers. Written by enlisted men is much grittier than other WW2 autobiographies. "
— Pete, 1/12/2014 -
" I loved this book so much. I can't even say how many times I've gone back to it. I don't know why I find Bill Guarnere and Babe Heffron so fascinating, but I do! And it's a very easy read, it feels like you're listening to your grandfather's war stories. Best way I can think of to describe it. "
— Kara, 1/6/2014 -
" My mom told me about this book because the gentlemen who were interviewed for the book came from her neighborhood where she grew up as a child. It helped me connect her life in Philadelphia to the stories she has told me. It is a genuine book about the soldiers, families and what they went through during the war. "
— Lisa, 12/29/2013 -
" These are two really likable guys. At first I was annoyed because the way they talk seems a bit uneducated, but then it starts to feel like some old guys sitting around telling stories. It was a good "behind the scenes" point of view of band of brothers. "
— Dan, 12/28/2013 -
" Funny, sad, horrifying memoir by two of the most colorful members of Easy Company, 101 Airborne, Wild Bill Guarnere and Babe Heffron. A great companion to Stephen Ambrose's Band Of Brothers. "
— Dr., 11/24/2013 -
" A great story! If you're a fan of The Band of Brothers then this is for you "
— Pat, 11/18/2013 -
" Wow. Really gripping stories. Even better than Band of Brothers. This follows just Wild Bill Guarnere and Babe Hefron and tells of not just the battles, but also what happens after. Heartfelt, and two men that really know how to live life to its very fullest. "
— Janet, 9/16/2013 -
" fantastic and one of the absolute best books from the BofB soldiers. "
— Nicole, 4/30/2013 -
" Bill and Babe's personality really shine in this book. I thought it was a wonderful read. It is poignant when you realize that these paratroopers were not quitters....in war and in life. "
— Stephanie, 1/7/2013 -
" My favorite duo of all time. Fantastic. "
— Sunny, 12/9/2012 -
" Great book with insight to the series and book... "
— Robert, 9/17/2012 -
" Phenomenal book! Read it if you have time and love history! "
— Rick, 9/15/2012 -
" Another one of my favs. Another true story. "
— Brianne, 7/30/2011 -
" fantastic and one of the absolute best books from the BofB soldiers. "
— Nicole, 5/4/2011 -
" In the HBO series Band Of Brothers, tells us about mens of the 101st airborne division who ot pass D-day all the way to the Eagle nest. In other cases this book tells us how Sgt.Bill Guarnere and Pfc.Babe Heffron met and found out that they live close by in Southern Philly. "
— Robby123, 4/22/2011 -
" Narration by Dick Hill is wonderful. "
— Melinda, 1/20/2011 -
" Wow. Really gripping stories. Even better than Band of Brothers. This follows just Wild Bill Guarnere and Babe Hefron and tells of not just the battles, but also what happens after. Heartfelt, and two men that really know how to live life to its very fullest. "
— Janet, 10/24/2010 -
" Phenomenal book! Read it if you have time and love history! "
— Rick, 10/11/2010 -
" What a fantastic book. It is an easy read, but really captures the mood and tone of WWII. It is told from Babe and Wild Bill's perspective, almost a word for word account, because of that you really feel like you get to know these men...that is what makes this book so wonderful. "
— Misty, 7/9/2010 -
" Great book with insight to the series and book... "
— Robert, 3/1/2010 -
" Bill and Babe's personality really shine in this book. I thought it was a wonderful read. It is poignant when you realize that these paratroopers were not quitters....in war and in life. "
— Stephanie, 2/23/2010 -
" Very well written. Even though this book follows the history of the 101st airborne, it is still a captivating read. It is more a story than a history and you find you have to keep reminding yourself that it is a non-fiction book. A great book telling the story of 2 extraordinary men! "
— Danielle, 7/14/2009 -
" After reading The War by Geoffrey Ward and Ken Burns, Brothers In Battle seemed slightly simplistic. "
— Adsadafafas, 6/22/2009
About the Authors
William “Wild Bill” Guarnere, a U.S. paratrooper during World War II, was portrayed in the HBO miniseries Band of Brothers, produced by Steven Spielberg and Tom Hanks. Guarnere, a tough street kid, grew up in South Philly and went on to become brothers in battle and best of friends with Edward “Babe” Heffron.
Edward “Babe” Heffron, a U.S. paratrooper during World War II, was portrayed in the HBO miniseries Band of Brothers, produced by Steven Spielberg and Tom Hanks. Heffron, a thoughtful and introspective boy, grew up in South Philly and went on to become brothers in battle and best of friends with William “Wild Bill” Guarnere.
Robyn Post has been a magazine journalist for twenty years and has written for such regional and national publications as Parade, Philadelphia, Cosmopolitan, Men’s Health, Details, New Jersey Life and others. She is co-author of the best selling book, Brothers in Battle, Best of Friends: Two WWII Paratroopers from the Original Band of Brothers Tell Their Story, with William “Wild Bill” Guarnere and Edward “Babe” Heffron. She writes about inspirational people, business, personal finance and the psychology and neuroscience behind success.
About Dick Hill
Laural Merlington is an audiobook narrator with over two hundred titles to her credit and a winner of multiple Earphones Awards. An Audie Award nominee, she has also directed over one hundred audiobooks. She has performed and directed for thirty years in theaters throughout the country. In addition to her extensive theater and voice-over work, she teaches college in her home state of Michigan.