ON TO BERLIN, INSCRIBED BY LT. GEN. JAMES M. GAVIN

GAVIN, James M. On to Berlin: Battles of an Airborne Commander, 1943-1946. New York: Viking, (1978). Octavo, original red and blue paper boards, original dust jacket. $300.

Book club edition (issued the same year as the first) of the 82nd Airborne's historic role in World War II by Lt. General "Jumping Jim" Gavin, with 22 maps and 30 photographic illustrations, inscribed on the half title: "Cambridge, Mass. June 6, 1978 / To Senior Master Sgt. Robt. Burlingame with best regards, James M. Gavin, Lt. Gen. U.S.A."

Lt. General James Gavin was awarded command of the 82nd Airborne after spearheading the Allied invasion of Sicily and jumping with his parachute assault section on the first night of the Normandy invasion, actions earning him the nickname of the "jumping general." At 37, he was the army's youngest commander and subsequently "led his division through the Battle of the Bulge in December 1944-January 1945 and in the Allied drive across Germany until the end of the war in Europe… He was a pioneer in developing airborne tactics and in combat he was a skillful, tough-minded and courageous leader" (ANB). Bookplates.

Pages clean. Minor rubbing to spine ends; slightly toned dust jacket with a few small edge nicks and short closed tears, one repaired with tape on verso. An extremely good inscribed copy.