Spearhead: An American Tank Gunner, His Enemy, and a Collision of Lives in World War II

After 112 reviews, all but three being 5 stars, it's probably unnecessary to write another one for a best-seller like "Spearhead." However, I feel compelled to do it anyway. Great writers should always be recognized and praised for their efforts. I haven't read any of the author's previous books but noticed another one was also a New York Times Bestseller. So it may not be surprising that this one is, too. Adam Makos is a gifted writer and this is one of the best books on small unit actions of W.W. II that I have ever read (and I've read many!). He interviewed several veterans on both the American and German side and thoroughly researched his topic to produce a magnificent work. The fact that it centers around tank action in NW Europe, which happens to be one of my favorite subjects, just adds icing to the cake. Where the movie "Fury" was fictionalized history, this is the REAL thing. This actually happened the way the author describes it. The climactic scene in Cologne, Germany was even caught on film at the time by an Army combat cameraman. Makos looked for and found a story very much worth telling, and managed to get to it before all of the eye-witnesses were gone. It is said that truth is stranger than fiction, but I believe it is much more fascinating. It is certainly more compelling to know that what you're reading really happened. You get to know the characters and feel as if you were there. That's great writing, great story-telling, & history the way it should be written. You will enjoy this one. Don't miss it! Now if Makos could only write another "tank" book placed in the hedgerow country of Normandy, France in 1944. There are stories to be told there, as well, if he could only get to the veterans before they're gone. That is my MOST favorite W.W. II subject. Here's hoping!

Do yourself a favor. Get this book and read it! Where do I begin with this review? Of the 4 books Adam Makos has released to date (A Higher Call, Devotion, Voices of the Pacific and now, Spearhead), I own and have read all. He is batting 1.000 as far as I am concerned! 4 for 4 … and counting… Spearhead is a Great Story, served up for all types of readers...History, Action, Drama…you name it, it’s in there! His style of writing takes an unbelievable story in the most unbelievable circumstances and makes you feel like you are there in the middle of it; as if you are personally looking through Jim Bates’ camera lens. Clarence Smoyer, Buck Marsh and crew were front and center at one of the most crucial times in our nation, when it needed them the most. The Call of Duty rang and they answered! Now we, as readers, get to be front and center in the telling of this amazing story of strategy, survival and even sorrow. Yes, even sorrow! The unravelling of Clarence, from a “who is this guy on the trigger” to a “force to be reckoned with gunner” describes how the men from his generation were. 'His life or mine' was the name of the game and to me, this story demonstrates that for Clarence, sometimes intuition most certainly trumps strategy (Intentionally shooting at a building or the ground)! I dove head first into this story and didn’t surface for air until it was completed. My only criticism of this book is, I’m sure in stark contrast to the thoughts of these men that lived it out. In the moment, they didn’t see chapters and page numbers. They didn’t know when it was going to end, or if any particular day would be their last. I, on the other hand, could see the end of the book coming and I didn’t want it to be so. Having had the opportunity to meet Adam and Buck in Atlanta, and listen to some of the stories behind the story, put the exclamation on the entire experience that is "Spearhead!" Wind 'em up!

Get this book! I’ve read more books on WWII than I can count, including all the “famous” ones, and done a D-Day tour with Smithsonian Journeys. This fascinating and great book gave new insights into parts of the battles that were unique. This book is one of my favorites beside Eugene Sledge’s With the Old Breed at Peleliu and Okinawa.

This was an exciting and fast-paced story about a crew of American tank men in WW II and their odyssey from shortly after D-Day to the German surrender. The combat scenes are vivid and describe tank-on-tank duels between the collapsing German forces and the American juggernaut. The general inferiority of the US Sherman tank to the German Panzer and Tiger are described in detail. The advent late in the war of the US Pershing tank was a great equalizer, but there were far too few of them. The crew in our story is awarded a Pershing based on their outstanding gunnery record. The book describes the men's stories and is told in a very personal way. Although the men see much violence, they don't appear to be turned into hardened monsters as a result. The story has the flavor of Tom Brokaw's Greatest Generation, fighting for a noble cause without loosing their humanity. It was interesting to contrast this with the movie Fury, which depicted similar tank warfare in a much bloodier, violent setting, and showed the American tankers as becoming hardened killers by war's end, with special brutality directed toward the Nazi SS troops (which was perhaps deserved). Never having experienced war, I have to think the truth lies somewhere in between.

Excellent vivid emotional hair raising account of a incredible saga of skill mastery and survival in WWII Breath taking every single page

This book was just a great read. From page 1 it grips you hard and gets you to come back to read at every opportunity you have. Makos’s style of paralleling the two stories of the main character is unaltered and it feels like reading “A Higher Call”. The end of the book leaves you wanting for more. Interesting pictures are present in the book. This book is a just an awesome read! If you are looking for a detailed chronostory of the 3rd armored division actions in WW2, you may be disappointed as this book is a first-gand (real) tale of two fighters and their tanks. It makes you feel like you were having a dinner with them and listening to their stories. Not a chronostory of events.

what a story what a read, couldn't put it down flew through book👍

The writing's crisp, vivid and apropos description transports the reader to the environment as if the reader is experiencing the same emotions and reliving the situation.

What a story. Adam Makos does it again with this amazing account of the intersect of men's lives and their WW2 fighting machines. These men fought to the death -- in crates of steel on the ground and in the air, or on foot or the water -- for the liberties we now often take for granted. May we never forget what freedom cost.