By Christopher Miskimon

A small stone bridge over the Merderet River was a linchpin in the Allied invasion of Normandy, part of a causeway through marshy land that would allow troops from Utah Beach to get to Cherbourgh—the only deepwater port that could support such a massive military offensive.

This meticulously researched and comprehensive telling of the actions of the 82 Airborne Division during this pivotal moment in history is bolstered by the personal stories and information gleaned from interviews with a dozen veterans of the 82nd who were there on D-Day and more than 100 relatives of others who were also there. In addition to archives, records and accounts both official and unofficial, Donovan visited France to see firsthand where the action occurred.

Nothing but Courage: The 82nd Airborne’s Daring D-Day Mission—and Their Heroic Charge Across the La Fière Bridge (James Donovan, Dutton Caliber, New York, NY, 2025, 448pp., $35, HC)

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