Visions From a Foxhole: A Rifleman in Patton's Ghost Corps

Extra Special Personal Memoir. "Visions From A Foxhole" by William A. Foley, Jr. Subtitled "A rifleman In Patton's Ghost Corps". Ballantine Books, NY 2003. This is the story of a young man, seeking to find himself, while at the same time he is defending his country. His father had served in world War I, and William A. Foley, Jr., is not only learning about himself during his time in the European Theatre of Operations but also about his father's experience in the First World War. Foley, Jr., as a lower ranking soldier, is part of the 94th Infantry Division which went through some heavy fighting, for example, in the Ruhr, crossing the Saar River and then crossing the Rhine River. His written personal recollections are made all the more vivid by his drawings. Almost for relief, Foley had begun to draw, in pencil on paper, the scenes of war, as he experienced them He realized that he had more talent than most people, so he began to accumulate and protect his drawings from action to action, town to town, river to river. Despite dunkings in rivers, shellings, winter weather and so much more, the author saved most of his drawings and presented a selection in this book. These contemporary drawings confirm the harshness of the battle. The drawings combined with his written words makes this an extra special personal memoir. The author also has a web site, tied in with the title of the book. Just as an aside, my Professor in Historiography once stated that "Spell checker" has ruined many an editor. On page 139, the book states that the author "...sneaked a peak {sic}"... while in other pages of the book, he was sneaking a "peek", the proper spelling for looking discretely. On page 209, the Greek letter "Pi" appears before the date "16 March". Spell Checker ignores Greek Letters. Don`t let this distract from your enjoyment of this excellent book. ...

My name is Russell Bryant. I was a rifleman B company, 376th regiment, 94th division at the same time as Mr Foley. My war didn't last as long as Foley's as I was seriously wounded in a boat trying to cross the Saar river on 23 February, l945. I saw action around Sinz, took part in the marching fire attack that took Banholz Woods and the attack on the far end of Munzingen Ridge. Mr Foley's drawings more accurately portray the faces and eyes of front line riflemen than any that I have seen. His narrative descriptions of war seem to me to be very accurate. I was deeply moved as I read and re-read the book. I find ilt strange that some who claim to have their own very unusual experiences find it necessary to criticize some of Foley's experiences. It was my experience that the "unusual" in combat is really the usual. I have given copies of the book to many people who are very interested in "our war" every single one of them expressed their praises. Thankfully, Mr. Foley did not attempt to write a broad "history" of WW11. We have many of those with their broad views and sweeping generalities. Thank you Bill Foley for showing the true story of individuals who literally "ground" out the war.

I've read hundreds of World War II memoirs and none have given as vivid a picture of combat from the grunt point of view as this book. He does what few memoir writers accomplish: he gives us a brutal vision of the inner feelings and changes that take place when a young man is thrust into combat. If you're going to buy any WW II memoir, make it this one.

This is an American Classic and a must read for anyone who wants live in the shoes of an American rifleman in an infantry platoon. The author is also an excellent artist and his wartime pictures are so compelling that you are living with him.I am the Historian of the 35th Infantry Div. and served in Normandy till the end of the war and frankly I didn't expect that the book would be so compelling. After all Foley was a replacement who didn't arrive in the battle area until mid January of 1945 when the battle of the Bulge was starting to wind down. I was wrong.Foley landed in the middle of some of the most vicious small units battles of the war and he tells his story in great detail as his memory draws a picture that brings the reader into the foxhole with him. It is not a pretty picture and he does not hide his faults and the savage instincts that come into play when you are fighting for your life.His pictures are dramatic in impact.Ater reading this book even a layman can understand why buddies who fought together have such close personal relationsships more like brothers than friends.Medals for valor go to men like this but not often enough, you have to survive and someone has also survived has to submit the story etc. It just does not get done. Your reward for surviving one viscious fight is to go to the next one until you are a KIA, Mia or the war ends.

This is aterrific account of WWII as told by a lowly GI. He re-creates all of the terror, heartaches, and trauma of being involved in front line fighting.Like other great books (like The Men of Company K) Mr. Foley's accounts are in great details and very personal. Add to it his terrific sketches and you really are taken right there.I strongly recommend this book to anyone who wants a first hand account of life for a GI during WWII.