Recollections of World War II with the First Infantry Division

Maj. Uffner chronicles his experiences as a young officer with the infamous First Division during World War II, from the pre-war build-up of American forces, combat in North Africa, Allied invasion of Sicily, to the D-Day landing in Normandy and beyond.
As a child growing up in the Bronx during the 1920’s, Raphael ("Ray") Uffner was fascinated by the photographs and movies of the Great War, subsequently developing a strong interest in the Army.
Entering CCNY at sixteen in 1934, he concurrently joined the ROTC and New York National Guard. Continuing to add military activities to his college schedule, Ray honed his soldiering skills long before any rumblings about another war in Europe. Around this time he met the love of his life, Edythe, whom he would later wed days before shipping out for the front lines. Maj. Uffner's adoration for Edythe is obvious in the snippets of letters to her that appear throughout the book.
In the years leading up to the United States’ entry into World War II, Uffner earned his officer’s commission; became a champion marksman; learned drill, maneuvers, small-unit tactics, infantry weapons, amphibious training, horsemanship and skiing; and served as an officer with the Regular Army. When the time came to go to war, he was ready.
There is plenty of history here, as Maj. Uffner richly details his experiences leading up to and including decisive battles in North Africa, Sicily, and France; in fact, several references to this work appear in the Pulitzer Prize-winning An Army at Dawn, by journalist Rick Atkinson.
But there is much more than history in this memoir. It is a story of an officer's bravery, ingenuity, and unfaltering commitment to his duty and the welfare of his men.