FROM THE FRYING PAN TO MITTERSILL – FOX COMPANY, 502ND PARACHUTE INFANTRY REGIMENT 1942-1945 – LTC Jos Groen MSc
$39.50
Fox Company, 502nd PIR, 101st Airborne Division “Screaming Eagles”
For orders in Europe (Netherlands excluded) contact info@flyingpencil.nl for more information!
During WWII, the paratroopers of Fox Company took part in three of the main campaigns in Western Europe: D-Day, Market Garden, and the Battle of the Bulge. Their efforts and sacrifices ultimately helped crush the armed forces of Nazi Germany. This book will give you an astonishing insight into the characters of these highly trained WWII paratroopers who fought so gallantly during this war.
The historical narrative of Fox Company is based on numerous resources that have never been published before, which makes these stories and the company’s combat record unique. These are the untold stories of the men who saw the war up close and personal. Their accounts show the whole gamut of emotions a combat soldier experiences: from his fears, suffering and the anxiety of engaging with the enemy, to the humor, comradeship in despair and mutual bonds. The unique pictures that accompany the written words will leave a lasting impression on you.
Specs ‘From the Frying Pan to Mittersill’:
Hardcover;
Dust cover;
Full color;
Reading ribbon;
A4-format (8,3”x 11,7”);
336 pages;
130 images and maps (some unpublished)
$ 39.50 with free shipping in the USA only. Shipping rates other countries on request.
riley –
Super interesting stories and very nice design. Definitely recommend!
Jerry –
Great book! Reading their personal accounts of the men of F-Company makes you feel like you were there.
John de Neef –
You must have this book in your collection. It is detailed and contains the personal stories of the men who fought so hard for the liberation of Europe. Recommended!
Tom Timmermans –
I read “From the Frying Pan to Mittersil Fox Company, 502nd Parachute Infantry Regiment 1942-1945” with great interest and pleasure. The book is composed in an unusual way by author Jos Groen. He has in fact collected all imaginable and available information about “F” Company of the American 502nd Parachute Infantry Regiment. After first systematically organizing all of this, he then made a running and readable story of it. With what was factually captured in morning reports, together with personal stories from letters and interviews filled with more individual emotion, the fullest possible story is told from the unit starting with training in the States to the end of the war in Western Europe. Personally, I think the story of Sergeant Charles Dohun, who forced an army surgeon at gunpoint to operate on his badly wounded company commander, Captain LeGrand Johnson, is the most precious one of the book. I had known this story since childhood from the movie “A Bridge Too Far” and from the historical book about the 101st Airborne Division “Rendezvous With Destiny”, but now I was able to read it in every nitty-gritty detail, thanks to the author’s thorough research.
Personally, I think the use of an abundance of footnotes is a good choice by the author. I always want to know the source of every story. The reader may choose to continue reading Fox Company’s ongoing story or, as I often do, check the footnotes to learn even more details and where the story is specifically found. I recommend the book to anyone interested in our Allied liberators and in particular the stories of (American) airborne troops.
Donald van den Bogert –
Really enjoyed reading the new book by LTC (Ret) Jos Groen on Fox Company 502nd PIR, 101st A/B Division. “From the Frying Pan to Mittersill” is meticulously written with perfect attention for detail and the much beloved “small unit scuttlebutt” which tales, legends, and very quotable stories are made of. A great addition to the overall picture and the rare jigsaw puzzle of the under researched 502nd Parachute Infantry Regiment. Great to see so much addition, and confirmation, to my personal research. References are clear and plenty, Mark Bando had a heavy hand in sharing pics from his collection. With Terry Poyser’s (and Bill Brown’s) book on F/506 we are now waiting in anticipation on a book about F/501 to complete the 101st A/B Division “PIR F-Co trilogy”.
My advice: get the book and follow F/502 from the first Paratroops Parachute Infantry Battalion days in the US in March 1941 to VE-Day in the ETO in May 1945.
“F-Company did it!” (Joe Pistone)
S Page –
“From The Frying Pan to Mittersill”, the story of the men in Fox Company, 502nd Parachute Infantry Regiment 1942-1945 by LTC Jos Groen MSc, is a literary monument honoring the bravery and devotion to duty of these men. It is well written and organized from the formation of the company to the end of World War II as told by those that returned from their commitment to do whatever was required to liberate Europe. The details in all the richly described and very personal stories of many of the Fox Company paratroopers make this of interest to families, friends, loved ones and others interested in WW II paratrooper stories. Their stories are presented with respect and honor. The commemoration of those that gave their all is especially well done throughout the book and honors their service in a way rarely achieved in historical books. For years, my family only knew a few details of our Uncle’s service and untimely death until the story of Fox Company was documented and published. With this book, several of the mysteries that surrounded the death of our uncle, SGT Garson “Bull” Durham at the Battle of the Bulge, are finally unveiled which gives us all some peace of mind. Jos Groen’s commitment to honor the sacrifice of these men by name and story is a special tribute to them and a stark reminder that “freedom is not free”.
S Page, Colonel, US Army Retired
Dave Mustow –
This book is really really good !
You feel like you are with the guys when they tell their stories.
Well done mate !!
Ilya –
Again a well written and detailed book from Jos Groen. A book that looks really beautiful and impressive from the outside, but it is the inside that matters. From page one you just want keep on reading these stories of these young men. A must read as far as I am concerned.
Philippe Pitton –
There is a lot of airborne ww2 themed documentation, some bad to very bad. And some very good. This good documentation allows us to deepen our knowledge of our favorite themes. During this past year, I have long studied the history of the F/502. This company, like others, has a rather incredible history. Luckily for me, it is that during my research, this new book has been published. This book, written by historian Jos Groen, retraces absolutely the entire course of F/502 during the Second World War, from the training for the last days of the company in Austria! Documents never published, embellished with the testimonies of veterans of F Company with whom he had the chance to be in contact with. To all those passionate about the history of the elite troops that were the American paratroopers during the last world war, I can only recommend this incredible book!
Frank Marchese –
This recently released book by Jos Groen traces the exploits of Fox
Company, 502nd Parachute Infantry Regiment, 101st Airborne during
World War II. The book presents a narrative of the heroic actions of the
paratroopers of Fox Company from D-Day to Market Garden to Bastogne
and beyond. Jos Groen has gathered an immense, thoroughly
researched, and organized tribute to the extraordinary bravery and feats
of the young men of Fox Company.
Jos has accomplished this daunting task using many sources. He has
used interviews of record as well as personal interviews with the still
living Fox Company Paratroopers or their family members. In addition,
there were Company Morning Reports, newspaper clippings and
documents to sift through. Jos also gathered surviving photos from like-minded
researchers or the Paratrooper’s family members.
This is where I came in. My father, Frank Marchese, was in Fox
Company/502. I met Jos online on Facebook as we had common interests
in WW II. When Jos said he was compiling information on Fox Company, I
mentioned I had several photos and stories passed down to me from my
father. I was very excited to hear of Jos’s efforts on his new book. Even
though my father didn’t talk much about the war in my younger years, he
started to share stories with me over a beer when I was in my fifties.
I never grew tired of hearing his personal stories whether they be
sad or humorous. I was honored that Jos took an immediate interest in
those stories as well as my father’s photos. My father had the presence
of mind to write on the back of many photos describing circumstances of
the photo. He would send the photos back to my mother for safe
keeping.
Through this book Jos has cleared up some unanswered questions
and mysteries concerning my father and his “Brother’s in Arms” exploits
during WW II. These were indeed gallant members of Fox Company/502.
I am honored to have collaborated with Jos in the production of his
book. Seeing my father’s pictures and related stories was an emotional
and uplifting experience. I was excited to see some my father’s photos of
the other identified Paratroopers of his unit also in this book.
Most if not all the Eagles in this book have soared. Their
experiences will be remembered, thanks to Jos, for future generations as
they indeed should.
I plan to give copies of “From the Frying Pan to Mittersill” to my
father’s Grandchildren and Great – Grandchildren. They are also keenly
interested in “Great Frank’s” experiences during WW II.
The book itself, from Flying Pencil publishing, is a well-made,
handsome production. The pages are printed on heavy quality paper and
even has its own bound bookmark. There are numerous photos, maps,
personal stories, and bios. The book is supported by an immense library
of footnotes which follow each chapter. The footnotes cite sources and
clarifications and other interesting information. It is most worthy of a
tribute to not only the Screaming Eagles of Fox Company but to Jos
Groen’s tireless research as well.
I will treasure my copy forever.
Frank Marchese (Jr)
Richard McBride –
When I read it, I kept say wow as I understood how the battles unfold. how each group went into battle and how there were back up groups support major areas. Over the years I have heard many of the stories from Uncle Dan. But I had no frame of reference as to when each story (or battle) took place. So this helped me understand the timeline and the magnitude of these battles. Just before I read the book, I also watched Band of Brothers movie, so between your book and that movie, I could better visualize what my Uncle must have endured. Then when you add to it the descriptions from other soldiers in the same battle, and the descriptions of how bad those battles were, it really made me appreciate what these guys did. Thank you.
Kees Meijer –
A fantastically written book. Lots of information and personal experiences from the troopers. This combination ensures that you are taken into history.
Paul Lotakis –
I have every book on the 101st Airborne. Now, very grateful to add this book to that collection for several reasons. It is dedicated to Fox Company/502 part of the original regiment of the 101st.
LTC Jos Groen has done a magnificent service by telling the individual stories about these men, revealing that each one was special and unique, which undoubtably made them a formidable fighting force.
Thank you, Lt Col Groen for bringing these men to life by your writing their stories.
Highly recommend!