The Last Hill by Bob Drury and Tom Clavin

 

The Last Hill: The Epic Story of A Ranger Battalion and the Battle that Defined World War II by Bob Drury and Tom Clavin -398 pages

These authors have written several popular history titles, including The Last Stand of Fox Company related to the Chosin Reservoir battle in Korea. The hill in the title was located in the Hurtgen Forest and its capture in early December 1944 allowed U.S. forces to finally enter Germany. The cost to the Ranger battalion was very high, as the Germans desperately wanted to control this last high ground along their border. The book spends too much time providing background on the Rangers' training and the campaign in Normandy, but it is a good account of a stellar fighting force.

Sua Sponte: The Forging of a Modern American Ranger by Dick Couch

 Sua Sponte: The Forging of an American Ranger by Dick Couch -364 pages

The author was allowed to observe the rigorous training of a class of Army Ranger candidates during the height of the war in Afghanistan. The book gives a brief history of Ranger units before detailing the current 75 Ranger Regiment and their "direct action" role in the war on terror. The Ranger Regiment is expected to set the standard for fitness and training for all other Army units. It difficult to earn a place in the regiment and tougher to stay in the unit because of the high standards. The title is based on a Latin phrase meaning of their own accord, referring to Rangers' ability to improvise in the field. The book leaves the reader with an appreciation of the dedication required to be part of an elite unit undergoing constant deployments. 

Rangers at Dieppe: The First Combat Action of U. S. Army Rangers in World War II by Jim Defelice

Rangers at Dieppe by Jim Defelice -300 pages

The author is a journalist who gives an account of the first combat mission of U. S. Army Rangers in World War II. The August 1942 raid on the French coastal town of Dieppe was a disaster from the start as the landing force was spotted by Axis patrol boats, and little naval or air cover was provided. Most of the participants were Canadian and British commandos, but there were several small units of U. S. Rangers along for the raid. The mission was rushed in an effort to build "morale" and demonstrate the Allies could strike back at Nazi Germany, but was a hard lesson in the complexity of amphibious assaults.