No Surrender

Description

No Surrender is the true story of an American WWII soldier who escaped a Nazi POW train and fought in the French Resistance, rivetingly told by the man himself.

A paratrooper in the 101st Airborne, James Sheeran was just a kid when he floated into Normandy-part of the historic invasion that brought more than a hundred thousand Allied soldiers into Nazi-occupied France. He survived D-Day only to be captured by German forces. Barefoot, starved, and sleep-deprived, he was forced on a marathon march, exposed to fire from American fighter planes, and herded onto a train to Germany.

But, using his jump knife, he carved his way out of the boxcar and leaped into the countryside. Stumbling into a French village, he found his way with the aid of the underground network, and fought alongside a guerrilla faction of the French Resistance.

This gripping account of war-torn Europe is, ultimately, a story about humanity’s capacity for self-sacrifice and remarkable endurance. Here Sheeran shares not only the details of his extraordinary wartime experience, but the private thoughts that guided him in his darkest moments. It is an unforgettable memoir that will speak to anyone who has faced adversity and refused to admit defeat.

James Sheeran was named a chevalier of the Order of the Legion of Honor-France’s highest order-for his heroic experiences during World War II. He was also awarded a lifetime achievement award by the New Jersey Assembly and the Congressional Bronze Star by the U.S. A former mayor of West Orange, New Jersey, he died in July 2007.US