About this item
The injustices of 1940s Jim Crow America are brought to life in this extraordinary blend of military and social history - a story that pays tribute to the valor of an all-black battalion whose crucial contributions at D-Day have gone unrecognized to this day.In the early hours of June 6, 1944, the 320th Barrage Balloon Battalion, a unit of African-American soldiers, landed on the beaches of France. Their orders were to man a curtain of armed balloons meant to deter enemy aircraft. One member of the 320th would be nominated for the Medal of Honor, an award he would never receive. The nation's highest decoration was not given to black soldiers in World War II.Drawing on newly uncovered military records and dozens of original interviews with surviving members of the 320th and their families, Linda Hervieux tells the story of these heroic men charged with an extraordinary mission, whose contributions to one of the most celebrated events in modern history have been overlooked.
About the Author
Linda Hervieux is a journalist and photographer whose work has appeared in publications including The New York Times, International Herald Tribune, the New York Daily News, and Fodor's Paris. A native of Lowell, Massachusetts, she lives in Paris, France, with her husband, and their dog, Alfie. This is her first book. Follow the men of the 320th Barrage Balloon Battalion her website, www.lindahervieux.com.
