Forgotten: The Untold Story of D-Day's Black Heroes

This is an odd book. It purports to be a history of 330th Barrage Balloon Battalion, a unit of African American soldiers, among the first to land on French beaches on D Day. In this guise alone, it's fascinating. How many of us would have even pondered the technology of barrage balloons, let along the racial bigotry brought to bear by US soldiers against their brothers in arms who were trying to.protect them at the time. But that is the power of this book. It's a social history in which race figures strongly, as it still does widely across the US. OK, I'm English, and I wouldn't want anyone running away with the idea there isn't a strong vein of racial bigotry in my culture too. But really, how can you be that bigoted again fellow soldiers, many of whom were heroes by anyone's standards? I was proud when it came to assembling troops in the UK that for many black.conscripts England was their first experience of being treated decently by white people. It brought tears to my eyes to read of ordinary British folk confronting institutionalised US racism by not only refusing to apply Jim Crow restrictions against black troops in pubs and clubs but by actively welcoming black troops into their homes. The book should be read widely: more needs to be known about this shameful facet of history.

It was a present so all good

Excellent read. Bought tears to my eyes. These accounts are never heard in the mainstream media. Black soldiers made such a massive contribution during WW2 and all wars prior and since with barely any recognition. They fought in the trenches, they fought hand to hand they were in the navy and flew bombers. And while doing all this for their country they fought the biggest enemy that was racism from their own country and white soldiers which they continued to fight every day of their lives during peacetime too.

Linda's book highlights the story of those forgotten in WW2. Their stories are forgotten aspects of WW2 that higlhights the war was not simply won by those depicted in Hollywood movies who were predominantly white but also by soldiers from around the world including African Americans.Their sacrifice has never been recognised fully or the contribution these soldiers have made and the book higlhights this in great detail and clarity. I would reccomend this book to all those who want to learn about thse brave men.

I perhaps learned more about the history of ballooning than was necessary but this is a very readable work on a piece of history that must never be forgotten. The role of black troops in World War 2 is badly overlooked. The lack of any black faces in Saving Private Ryan speaks volumes about how black soldiers can be airbrushed out of history. A strong academic book but also entertaining and easy to read. Highly recommended.

I just love reading or listening to anything to do with both the wars. So I highly recommend this book to anyone who is into history. It arrived on time.

Really good read - best history book I’ve read in a long while. Well researched and interspersed with personal stories to bring the narrative to life. If only all history books could be this enthralling.

An excellent well researched and professionally written book. It tells the story of D-Days forgotten black American battalion with the especially poignant story of a brave medic nominated for a medal of honor he never received. A topical subject in today's world and a worthwhile read.