These memories and deeds document what ordinary American citizens went through to prepare for a not-so-ordinary challenge--saving the world from conquest and catastrophe. This is a book about war. There is little on these pages about heartwarming events, human interest, or the warm fuzzy problems of interpersonal relationships. Although, there is a love story buried in these pages that you will certainly recognize. This book is more about the gore and destruction that follows in the wake of conquering armies. There is nothing here about the moral lessons learned from winning or losing battles in a world war, nor about the preservation, revitalization, and reaffirmation of human dignity lost in a war but regained after hostilities are over. Instead, this story traces memories, events, and military units of the Third United States Army that defeated the Nazi forces of Adolph Hitler from D-Day in 1944 through the end of the Battle of the Bulge in 1945. This is a story about fine American leaders and war heroes who rose to the challenge of the times. A few of them, such as General George S. Patton Jr. were military visionaries. This is about those of us who served under General George S. Patton Jr. Please read these words and don't ever let this happen again.