Road to Victory (P)

A very readable paperback on the structure and importance of the Red Ball Express -which operated for 81 days in the European Theater of Operations during WWII. While I agree with the other reviewer's criticisms on flow and organization of book, the author's presentation of first hand accounts of life (and combat) on the Red Ball Express, discussions of trucking/supply logistics, and other facets make for an interesting read. However, I will say that this book is a "drill-down" piece- meaning that if one doesn't like to probe too deeply into the WWII experience, you probably won't like its selective focus. Also, the content is fairly interesting, but the writing style doesn't soar-like that of HW Brands and other authors.

This book tells a story that has remained untold for too many generations. Most Americans are vaguely aware or totally ignorant of the fact that the U.S. Armed Forces remained racially segregated by unit until after the Second World War. Over the decades, Hollywood has generally reinforced this willful ignorance with story after story showing black and white American soldiers fighting shoulder-to-shoulder against the evil, racist Nazis. Even 1952's "Red Ball Express" featuring a 25-year-old Sydney Poiter, is a fanciful piece of fiction focused on an integrated platoon.The fact is that African-American troops in Europe constantly had to fight not only the enemy, but the bigotry of their own fellow Americans. My father, Lt. Colonel Jack Harrison, was privileged to serve as executive officer of the 543rd HQ Battalion, which was part of the Red Ball and similar operations on the continent. As was the case with most "colored units" in the American Army, all of the enlisted men and about half the junior officers in the 543rd were African American. The senior officers were all white and mostly from the south. Apparently, the pervasive philosophy among the Army brass was that southern whites somehow had more experience and expertise dealing with African Americans, who were generally regarded by our government as second class soldiers unfit for combat duty. This book struck a deeply personal note with me. Many of the actual anecdotes and soldier?s tales in the book reminded me of the few war stories that I was ever able to coax out of Dad. Beyond that, however, this book is a solid and well-researched piece of history that should simultaneously inspire both shame and pride in the heart of any real American, black or white. In recent years, African-American combat units, like the Tuskegee Airmen, have begun to receive their just recognition. With this book, David Colley finally paints a true picture of the African American service troops whose valor, dedication and courage made the Allied victory possible.

"The Road to Victory" is not an old Bob Hope/Dorothy Lamour movie. Instead, RV tells the tale of World War 2 in Europe during the climactic months after the Normandy invasion of June 1944. It does not dwell on heroics or bravery in combat. Instead it is concerned with other heroics- the sheer logistical day by day avalanche of men and materiel that was required to supply the quickly advancing Allied Armies. Author Colley actually succeeds in shedding the crunching tonnage of Army Supply into a readable novel. From this Army veteran, that is high praise! Key to it all was the Red Ball Express. These were large truck convoys that raced across France from the Channel ports through Luxembourg and Belgium to the borders of Germany. The majority of convoy drivers were African American, doing critical work for a segregated, often unappreciative and sometimes even hostile U.S. Army. This contrasts sharply with the more liberal Europeans they came in contact with. The author weaves interesting combinations: human interest in the hard working Black drivers, the difficulties and dangers they faced on the road, the military "foul-ups" (for lack of a stronger word), and enough statistics and numbers to warm the heart of any QMC or TC man. True, RV is a bit dry, but not to any detrimental effect. This reviewer has read many military works and it's always gratifying to read one that explores a new story, a different angle or a fresh approach. RV is such a book. Once it appears in paperback, military history fans should pounce. Civil Rights students should ignore the military jargon and strongly consider RV too.