Maczuga Posted March 3, 2020 Share #1 Posted March 3, 2020 (Don't know which section of the forum I can post this) My name is Loïc, nearly 27 years old and I am french. After nearly ten years of 'work' I self-published my very first book last may about the Independent Airborne troops in Southern France. This book entitled "The 517's Gang" tell the untold story of the 517th Parachute Regimental Combat Team from Italy to Southern France told only by veterans. After many years or research, I realized that dozens of testimonies never used were written by these veterans over the years. I have been able to collecting all these testimonies and I decided to organize them in a coherent and chronological way with the help of other documents and testimonies as well as some present in the few books dedicated to the unit. It is then a long work of investigation which was put in place. The unit was particularly known - for the little it was - for its fights it had delivered in Provence, but the fights in Italy in the Ardennes and Hürtgen were much more unknown. After I have published the French version in May 2019 which get a great interest about an outfit mainly forgotten, many people asked for an English one that I did, after many month or translation and adaptation. Forums for me was over since a while as I work a lot for my book project and in my professional job (graphic designer). None of you probably know me, but this book have been wrote with many details, and using an even more rigorous approach. There are approximately ~450 photos in the book, most of them unpublished. I have to say however that it was very difficult to find photos about such a specific theme, so the reader should be warned that the number of high quality unpublished photos is limited, though there are a lot of them. Every English-speaking airborne enthusiast should find this book interesting to read, because of the numerous personal stories. Below I will show a few pages from the book, to present the style and features that can be expected in it. The book in English is 248 pages long with the same content as French. More than 450 pictures and historical artefact (helmets, webgear) are included coming from various private collection in Southern France and Belgium. Book can be ordered only on my personnal website (no Amazon, abebooks or other website) : https://1stabtf.com/en/boutique/the-517ths-gang-us-eng-version/ A few veterans get it recently. Bob Webber, 1/517 Heavy Mortar Platoon Allan Johnson, 3/596th Airborne Engineer Company Thank you very much for you interest Loïc Jankowiak, author of The 517's Gang Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Charlie Flick Posted March 4, 2020 Share #2 Posted March 4, 2020 Hello Loic: Your new book looks very interesting. I don't think that the 517th RCT has ever gotten the coverage or credit which it deserves. I congratulate you on what appears to be a fine effort. The book's cover indicates that it is Part 1. Am I correct in assuming that a Part 2 will be forthcoming and will cover the Ardennes Campaign of the 517th? Would it be possible for you to post a picture of your Table of Contents? Thank you. Charlie Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Maczuga Posted March 4, 2020 Author Share #3 Posted March 4, 2020 Hello Charlie, you have totally right ! Part two will cover the battle of the Bulge as well as the Hürtgen Forrest through the end of the war. Here is the Table of contents Regards, Loïc. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
63 RECON Posted March 4, 2020 Share #4 Posted March 4, 2020 Looks very cool, ill definitely get a copy. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Maczuga Posted March 5, 2020 Author Share #5 Posted March 5, 2020 Looks very cool, ill definitely get a copy. Thank you ! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Longhorn92 Posted March 5, 2020 Share #6 Posted March 5, 2020 I placed my order yesterday. Look forward to adding it to my library. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kammo-man Posted March 9, 2020 Share #7 Posted March 9, 2020 Great job ! I like the style very much Owen Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GIKyle Posted March 10, 2020 Share #8 Posted March 10, 2020 Congrats! I love that you got copies into the hands of surviving vets - no doubt they had nothing but praise for your effort. Kyle Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Maczuga Posted March 12, 2020 Author Share #9 Posted March 12, 2020 Thank you all for your kind comments ! Loïc. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kadet Posted March 17, 2020 Share #10 Posted March 17, 2020 Received my copy yesterday...well done, it is a fascinating book Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pathfinder505 Posted March 17, 2020 Share #11 Posted March 17, 2020 Just ordered a copy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Longhorn92 Posted March 17, 2020 Share #12 Posted March 17, 2020 Got mine yesterday, too. Looks great. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Maczuga Posted April 19, 2020 Author Share #13 Posted April 19, 2020 Thank you all ! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
carrabassett Posted January 18, 2022 Share #14 Posted January 18, 2022 Just ordered a copy, really looking forward to it! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Controvich Library Posted March 25 Share #15 Posted March 25 How does one get a copy? Jim The Controvich Library Springfield, MA Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Charlie Flick Posted March 28 Share #16 Posted March 28 On 3/25/2024 at 2:09 PM, Controvich Library said: How does one get a copy? Jim: As per the first post above you must purchase the book from the author directly using his website located at: https://1stabtf.com/en/boutique/the-517ths-gang-us-eng-version/ Charlie Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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