Spearhead: An American Tank Gunner, His Enemy, and a Collision of Lives in World War II
Feb 2019 · Sold by Ballantine Books
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NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • The acclaimed author of A Higher Call and Devotion presents the “engrossing” (CNN) true story of an American tank gunner’s journey into the heart of the Third Reich during World War II, where he will meet destiny in an iconic armor duel—and forge an enduring bond with his enemy.
“A band of brothers in an American tank . . . Makos drops the reader back into the Pershing’s turret and dials up a battle scene to rival the peak moments of Fury.”—The Wall Street Journal
When Clarence Smoyer is assigned to the gunner’s seat of his Sherman tank, he discovers a hidden talent: He’s a natural-born shooter. At first, Clarence and his fellow crews in the legendary 3rd Armored Division—“Spearhead”—thought their tanks were invincible. Then they met the murderous German Panther and a pattern soon emerged: The lead tank always gets hit.
After Clarence sees his friends cut down at the West Wall and in the Battle of the Bulge, he and his crew are given a weapon with the power to avenge their fellow comrades—the Pershing, a state-of-the-art “super tank.” But with it comes a harrowing new responsibility: Now they will spearhead every attack.
That’s how Clarence finds himself leading the U.S. Army into its largest urban battle of the European war, the fight for Cologne, the “Fortress City” of Germany. Clarence will engage the fearsome Panther in a duel immortalized by an army cameraman. And he will square off with Gustav Schaefer, a teenager behind the trigger in a Panzer IV tank, whose crew has been sent on a suicide mission to stop the Americans.
What happens next will haunt Clarence to the modern day, drawing him back to Cologne to do the unthinkable: to face his enemy, one last time.
“A band of brothers in an American tank . . . Makos drops the reader back into the Pershing’s turret and dials up a battle scene to rival the peak moments of Fury.”—The Wall Street Journal
When Clarence Smoyer is assigned to the gunner’s seat of his Sherman tank, he discovers a hidden talent: He’s a natural-born shooter. At first, Clarence and his fellow crews in the legendary 3rd Armored Division—“Spearhead”—thought their tanks were invincible. Then they met the murderous German Panther and a pattern soon emerged: The lead tank always gets hit.
After Clarence sees his friends cut down at the West Wall and in the Battle of the Bulge, he and his crew are given a weapon with the power to avenge their fellow comrades—the Pershing, a state-of-the-art “super tank.” But with it comes a harrowing new responsibility: Now they will spearhead every attack.
That’s how Clarence finds himself leading the U.S. Army into its largest urban battle of the European war, the fight for Cologne, the “Fortress City” of Germany. Clarence will engage the fearsome Panther in a duel immortalized by an army cameraman. And he will square off with Gustav Schaefer, a teenager behind the trigger in a Panzer IV tank, whose crew has been sent on a suicide mission to stop the Americans.
What happens next will haunt Clarence to the modern day, drawing him back to Cologne to do the unthinkable: to face his enemy, one last time.
NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • The acclaimed author of A Higher Call and Devotion presents the “engrossing” (CNN) true story of an American tank gunner’s journey into the heart of the Third Reich during World War II, where he will meet destiny in an iconic armor duel—and forge an enduring bond with ...
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41 reviews
Robert Moon
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February 24, 2019
A big rip-off. Lots of pages filled up with a few interesting things. The so called "duel" was vastly overplayed. I got hooked by a n exciting review In the Wall Street Journal which did not materialize in the book. Save Ur money for the $1.99 paperback edition. Sour Grapes
2 people found this review helpful
Pat Kennedy
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July 21, 2019
I always find the tails of real people at war are much different than the fictional ones. Ordinary people sometimes do heroic deeds but most just do normal acts. This book has both and portrays the people in a believable way. Good read.
Trenton White
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April 27, 2019
I was hooked before I finished the first chapter. The book dives right into the action and stays there, but not in a way that neglects the men and women who were there. The author's vivid storytelling and the way in which he honors the stories of the souls who were involved in the conflict are simply amazing. I recommend this book to anyone, and especially armor enthusiasts.
2 people found this review helpful
About the author
Hailed as “a masterful storyteller” by the Associated Press, Adam Makos is the author of the New York Times bestsellers A Higher Call and Spearhead and the critically acclaimed Devotion. Inspired by his grandfathers’ service, Makos chronicles the stories of American veterans in his trademark fusion of intense human drama and fast-paced military action, securing his place “in the top ranks of military writers,” according to the Los Angeles Times. In the course of his research, Makos has flown a World War II bomber, accompanied a Special Forces raid in Iraq, and journeyed into North Korea in search of an MIA American airman.
Hailed as “a masterful storyteller” by the Associated Press, Adam Makos is the author of the New York Times bestsellers A Higher Call and Spearhead and the critically acclaimed Devotion. Inspired by his grandfathers’ service, Makos chronicles the stories of American veterans in his trademark fusi...
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