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

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'Spearhead' by Adam Makos focuses on the story of WWII tank gunner, Clarence Smoyer, during the last 6 months of the war. The narrative also involves other individuals who end up dying soon after their introduction, making the storytelling somewhat disjointed. delves into the experiences of soldiers on both sides of the war, providing a detailed account of the battles and personal connections formed during this tumultuous time.

Writing/Prose:

The writing merges factual detail with narrative flair, drawing readers into the emotional landscape of the characters while facing criticism for historical accuracy.

Plot/Storyline:

The narrative centers around Clarence Smoyer, his tank crew's experiences in WWII, and a pivotal confrontation with a German tank, highlighting personal and historical aspects.

Setting:

The setting captures the final phases of WWII in Europe, focusing on battle-scarred locales, particularly in Germany.

Pacing:

Pacing begins well with intense battles but may falter in character depth and narrative coherence.
Traveling solo or in pairs with the rising sun at their backs, multiple companies of Shermans flooded across the Mons countryside to extend the division’s reach, pressing the enemy into an ever-tighte...

Notes:

The book focuses on the experiences of Clarence Smoyer, an American tank gunner during WWII.
It highlights the legendary 3rd Armored Division, known for its role in the final push into Germany.
Clarence Smoyer was considered a natural shooter despite lacking formal training.
The American Sherman tanks were at a severe disadvantage compared to the German Panther tanks.
The climax features a duel between Smoyer's American Pershing tank and a German Panther tank.
The author, Adam Makos, used extensive research, including military archives and interviews, to create the narrative.
Footage shot during the battle shows actual moments from the duel between Smoyer and a German gunner.
Clarence Smoyer and the German gunner, Gustav Schaefer, met years later to discuss their experiences during the battle.
The book serves as a reminder that WWII veterans are still alive, suffering from their wartime memories.
Readers noted it reads more like historical fiction due to some creative liberties in character thoughts and motivations.

Sensitive Topics/Content Warnings

The book contains themes related to war violence, trauma, and loss, which may be distressing for some readers.

From The Publisher:

THE NEW YORK TIMES, WALL STREET JOURNAL, LOS ANGELES TIMES, AND USA TODAY BESTSELLER

"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

From the author of the international bestseller A Higher Call comes the riveting World War II story of an American tank gunner's journey into the heart of the Third Reich, where he will meet destiny in an iconic armor duel-and forge an enduring bond with his enemy.

When Clarence Smoyer is assigned to the gunner's seat of his Sherman tank, his crewmates discover that the gentle giant from Pennsylvania has 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 German Panther, with a gun so murderous it could shoot through one Sherman and into the next. Soon a pattern emerged: The lead tank always gets hit.

After Clarence sees his friends cut down breaching the West Wall and holding the line in the Battle of the Bulge, he and his crew are given a weapon with the power to avenge their fallen brothers: the Pershing, a state-of-the-art "super tank," one of twenty in the European theater.

But with it comes a harrowing new responsibility: Now they will spearhead every attack. That's how Clarence, the corporal from coal country, 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.

Battling through the ruins, 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.

As Clarence and Gustav trade fire down a long boulevard, they are taken by surprise by a tragic mistake of war. 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.

Praise for Spearhead

"A detailed, gripping account . . . the remarkable story of two tank crewmen, from opposite sides of the conflict, who endure the grisly nature of tank warfare."

-USA Today (four out of four stars)

"Strong and dramatic . . . Makos established himself as a meticulous researcher who's equally adept at spinning a good old-fashioned yarn. . . . For a World War II aficionado, it will read like a dream."

-Associated Press

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About the Author:

Hailed as "a masterful storyteller" by the Associated Press, Adam Makos is the author of the New York Timesbestseller A Higher Call 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…

 
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