Hello to My Friends; Seventy years ago, courageous soldiers, sailors, and airmen conducted the largest amphibious operation in history. To coincide with this landmark anniversary, I am pleased to announce the publication of my latest book, American Heroes of World War II - Normandy June 6, 1944. Everything that was done was done by small groups led by the real heroes in any war. Most of them were killed, and very, very few were decorated, chiefly because no one was left to tell what they did. The minefields behind the beach were strewn with these guys. They were lying around the hedgerows on top of the bluffs and of course, they were piled literally on the beach proper. ––Major Sidney V. Bingham, Jr., commanding officer, 2nd Battalion, 116th Infantry My contribution to the heroic tradition of the United States Army might have been the smallest achievement in the history of courage, but at least for a time I had walked in the company of very brave men. When you talk about combat leadership under fire on the beach at Normandy, I don’t see how the credit can go to anyone other than the company grade officers and senior NCOs who led the way. It is good to be reminded that there are such men, that there always have been and that there always will be. We sometimes forget, I think, that you can manufacture weapons and you can purchase ammunition, but you can’t buy valor and you can’t pull heroes off an assembly line. True courage is found in those who believe that there are things in life that are worth fighting for and worth dying for. And there are men who are willing to do the fighting and the dying. There are those who will tell you today that patriotism is an eroded word. When I hear such talk, I think of Normandy and I know that it’s not true. ––Sergeant John Ellery, 16th Infantry Only 235 soldiers, sailors, and airmen were awarded the Distinguished Service Cross, the Navy Cross, or the Medal of Honor for extraordinary acts of heroism on D-Day. The incredible stories of these heroic actions are told through the eyes of those who witnessed them and in a few cases, by the recipients themselves. The book includes over one hundred photos of the battlefield, weapons, and equipment, including over forty rare images of German fortifications and heavy weapons found on Utah Beach, Pointe du Hoc, and Omaha Beach. The award citations of all of the recipients are included in the book, along with 268 photos of the recipients–many of which were taken at the ceremonies as they were awarded the medals–putting faces with the names and actions of these incredibly courageous men. This is the first in a series of books about American heroes of World War II written by Phil Nordyke, the author of six highly acclaimed books about the World War II 82nd Airborne Division. Using awards files, interviews, memoirs, and after-action reports, Nordyke has successfully woven these accounts of incredible heroism into the D-Day timeline, creating a powerful and compelling narrative which puts the reader into the middle of the action. I had hoped to have this book published a month ago, but I have been afflicted with severe vertigo. The manuscript was finished in April, but my illness held up the the editing process and proofreading. Therefore, both were conducted twice to insure that the book didn't have any quality issues. The book is now available online through Amazon UK at http://www.amazon.co.uk/American-Heroes-...rld+war+II and Amazon Europe at http://www.amazon.fr/American-Heroes-Wor...rld+war+II. This book is large format (8.5x11 inches) and includes almost 400 photographs, many of which are full page in size. The book is 456 pages in length, but the large format equates to roughly twice the page count if was printed in the normal 6x9 inch format. For those of you located in the United States, the book is available online through Amazon.com at http://www.amazon.com/American-Heroes-Wo...811&sr=1-1. In addition, for those with mailing addresses in the United States only, autographed copies of this book and several of my earlier books about the WWII 82nd Airborne Division is available through mail order (order form attached). My apologies to my friends in the UK, Europe, and other international locations, but the cost of mailing has become more expensive than the prices of the books and some packages are invariably lost in transit. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact me via email at philnordyke@att.net. This book was written to memorialize the courage and sacrifices of the heroes of the invasion. I would appreciate it if you would spread the word about the book. Respectfully, Phil Nordyke