Jensen, Marvin. Strike Swiftly: The 70th Tank Battalion from North Africa to Normandy to Germany. Novato, CA: Presidio Press, 1997.

350 pages
ISBN 780891 416104

Foreword; Preface; Introduction; maps; photos; Epilogue; Notes; Bibliography; Index.

The 70th was an independent tank battalion, a pre-war formation that went into battle early and stayed there until the very end.

They landed in French North Africa in November 1942 as part of Operation Torch and in December moved into Tunisia where they stayed in action until the fall of Bizerte and Tunis. Two months later they landed in Sicily on D+3 and fought there, remaining on the island until November when they shipped to England. The battalion then landed at Utah Beach on D-Day, participated in the capture of Cherbourg, slugged it out in the hedgerows, broke out at St Lo, entered Paris in August, drove to the Siegfried Line, and took part in the Battle of the Huertgen Forest. In December the 70th was transferred to George Patton's Third Army and helped reduce the German gains made in the Battle of the Bulge. Afterwards it crossed the Rhine in the final offensive of the war and almost reached the Austrian border by VE Day.

Marvin Jensen, a veteran of many of the 70th's WWII battles, has gathered together his own recollections and those of many other veterans to paint a GI's view of his tank battalion at war. From the amphibious landings to the knocked out tanks to the dead comrades to the successful engagements and lighter moments, they all remember their time at war as vividly as though it happened only yesterday.

Private Carl Hallstrom was the loader in a B Company tank waiting for the order to attack. "We were all set; conversation lagged. Somebody would ask for a light or for the time, but most of us were silent." It was a hot day, and with the tension Hallstrom was sweating profusely. "Over the radio, a voice said, 'Move out.' The gunner asked one more time if the gun was in working order. I gave him a nod and we were on our way. I was looking out of my periscope when I saw #1 tank, which was in the lead, burst into flames." Five men bailed out and jumped for the cover of a ditch just below a hedgerow. "Our own infantry was about four hedgerows behind. Jerry was shooting at the five men from over the top of the hedgerow, so we sprayed the hedge with our machine gun. The tank commander spoke to the driver over the intercom. 'Pull up behind #1 so that those five men can use us for cover.' 'If we go up there, we'll get knocked off,' said the driver. 'Let's go anyway,' said the commander. We made it OK and the five men crowded behind our tank."

As they slowly backed off, Hallstrom through his periscope saw a bright spurt from the hedge. "It seemed like a ball of fire was hurtling toward us. Then the flames were roaring all about my body, licking at my face. I pushed the hatch open and dove out. I reached the ground ten feet below in one leap and started running. I believe my legs were in motion before I reached the ground." The Germans were only thirty yards away and firing at them. "I don't know how they missed us. Bullets were kicking up dust all around us. Once I glanced over my shoulder at the tank we had left. Flames were leaping from the hatches, and the ammunition inside was exploding with tracers from the machine-gun ammunition shooting out the hatches."

Recommended for those who enjoy reading personal stories of comrades in arms under fire. Do remember, though, that not every GI memory of the wider and higher conduct of the war should be accepted as gospel.

Available from mail order booksellers and local bookstores, or directly from Presidio.

Thanks to Presidio Press for providing this review copy.