New combat memoirs of the ETO are very welcome at this juncture, and this one especially so, since it concerns a tank commander in the 7th Armored Division, perhaps the most neglected major combat formation in the US Army in WWII.

“Jack’s Story” is built around a large trove of detailed letters as well as oral reminiscences from Jack Wilson, a tank commander who joined the 7th AD after its rough battles in Holland, just prior to the Battle of the Bulge. It is full of interesting, often charming, details of life Stateside during the ’40s, and in England and France prior to combat. It’s in the Bulge itself, during the defense of St. Vith, that Wilson’s account becomes both thrilling and rare. The two great roadblocks to the German offensive were St. Vith and Bastogne, yet the latter has overly dominated postwar literature due to Bradley and Patton determining its narrative.

In fact, St. Vith was more directly in the path of the Germans—who wanted to swing north, not south—and the battalions of 7th Armored, supported only by fleeing remnants of the 99th and 106th divisions—were their only stumbling blocks. The tankers’ gallant combats in the very midst of 6th SS Panzer Army have been neglected in US histories because the sector had been put under British control (Monty, no less) so Bradley and Patton steered credit to their own side of the battle.

This book helps even the story, as the days of battle around St. Vith are vividly recounted by a tank commander who was there. These pages are full of unique views into combat, including when Jack is wounded in the retaking of St. Vith in January ’45, right after discovering a row of abandoned 88mm guns. The action proceeds to the Battle of the Ruhr, and a horrible scene in a village on fire. Reaching the Elbe, Jack’s unit is greeted by Russians in “beat-up Sherman tanks,” and the first Red officer that popped up from one was a woman.

Jack’s full wartime experience continues as he waits in Europe for “points” to go home and temporarily joins Graves Registration. The reader is assisted throughout the book with background research by Jack’s son John, so the context of the conflict is always clear. Overall, this is a terrific contribution to the literature of World War II, and as far as giving overdue credit to the gallantry and sacrifice of the 7th Armored Division, well overdue.

“As far as giving overdue credit to the gallantry and sacrifice of the 7th Armored Division, well overdue.”