Ghost Army of World War II

by Jack Kneece

Book Overview

In 1942, the U.S. began to form a handpicked army to fight in Europe. What made it different is that its troops were composed of artists, actors, meteorologists, and sound technicians, and their true mission was not to fight, but to deceive the German army.

Information about the 23rd Headquarters Special Troops was classified top secret until 1996. Following the declassification, Jack Kneece interviewed many of the key personnel involved...

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1565548760
• ISBN13: 9781565548763
• Release Date: May 2001
• Publisher: Pelican Publishing Company
• Length: 280 Pages
• Weight: 1.30 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.1" x 6.4" x 9.2"

Customer Reviews

A great original story told well

I'm already on my third copy -- it's impossible to get away from house guests after they've begun reading it. A dear friend and veteran of WWII came to visit and was captivated by it. It left on the plane with him.I dearly love the retelling of stories of WWII, as has been done so well recently by Brokaw in The Greatest Generation, but there is something special about an important, completely original story. Discovering formerly classified documents, the author has told a previously little known story. The anecdotes are fascinating, and the historical context is interesting without being intruding.The story is almost too unlikely to be believed, something like a "Kelly's Heroes" or "Dirty Dozen" war movie. Future fashion icon Bill Blass joins with other highly talented people to trick the enemy repeatedly into misplacing resources to counter a ghost army. (The scene in Kelly's Heroes where Donald Sutherland uses loudspeakers to blast music at the Germans and adds a steel tube to the tank to make them think he has a bigger cannon is eerily reminiscent of what really happened in the "Ghost Army".)The book is a good read and a welcome addition to the library of any WWII buff.

Ghost Army WW2 reads like Ernie Pyle revisited 55 yrs later

Author and journalist Jack Kneece tells the story of the heretofore secret exploits of the 23rd HQ (Special Troops}under Bradley's 15th Corps to deceive German Army deployment by deception, stealth, and phoney troop movements. Landing shortly after DDay at Normandy this 1100 man unit could and did imitate an Armored Division...Via personal interviews with surviving members (from PFCs, corporals, and junior officers)ala Pyle.. the writer depicts numerous events both humorous and serious. Their presence on the flanks of friendly US Army units is believed to have saved untold thousands of lives, both Allied & German. According to Kneece The Ghost Army survivors are still striving to gain recognition of their Unit, let alone appropriate awards.

Ghost Army of World War II

This story is fascinating and reads like a mystery thriller. I could not put the book down.

PROUD OF OUR VETS

THIS WAS AN AMAZING BOOK. THE HARDSIPS OUR VETS OF THE GHOST ARMY SUFFERED WAS EXCEEDED ONLY BY THEIR RAW TALENTS AND HONOR TO OUR COUNTRY. I DID NOT REALIZE HOW MUCH WE OWE THESE VETS WHO WERE INSTRUMENTAL IN FOOLING THE NAZI FORCES. TO DISCOVER THAT BILL BLASS AND MEN LIKE HIM SAVED THOUSANDS OF LIVES DURING THE WAR WAS UNBELIEVABLE. THE FACT THAT NO ONE WAS EVER TOLD OF THEIR EXPLOITS IS BEYOND BELIEF. THEY WORKED LONG HARD HOURS UNDER A SEVERE BLANKET OF TOP SECRET COVER THAT LASTED 50 YEARS AND DEPRIVED THESE BRAVE VETS OF THE RECONGITION THEY SO RICHELY DESERVE. MY HAT IS OFF TO THOSE BRAVE SOULS AND THE AUTHOR WHO BROUGHT THEIR ASTONISHING DEEDS TO LIGHT. I HOPE SOMEONE WILL LEAN ON THOSE WHO CAN RECOGNIZE THEIR DEED AND SEE THAT THEY GET THE RECGONITION THE EARNED, BUT NEVER RECEIVED.THANKS TO THEM ALL,PHIL KING