History at the Memorial Summer Series with Author William R. Hogan
Join us for a lunchtime lecture on Wednesday, July 9th as we welcome author William R. Hogan, who will discuss his book Task Force Hogan: The World War II Tank Battalion That Spearheaded the Liberation of Europe.
A fourth-generation soldier tells the story of his father’s tank battalion, the “Spearhead,” that selflessly led the charge on the front lines from Normandy into Germany—against impossible odds, technologically superior weaponry, and a fanatical enemy on its home turf—and the heroes whose sacrifice won World War II.
At twenty-eight, Sam Hogan is one of the youngest lieutenant colonels in the U.S. Army. The West Point graduate from Texas stands in the commander’s hatch of his Sherman tank, behind him a steel wedge of seventeen other Shermans of his tank battalion. Two weeks after the now-infamous D-Day landings, Sam is preparing to give the order to advance into the German defenses that enclose the Normandy beachheads. Ahead of Sam lies seemingly impossible odds for survival: technologically superior Nazi tanks, camouflaged anti-tank guns, and infantry armed with new anti-tank rockets. But Sam has prepared for this moment for the past seven years. With a guttural call to move out accompanied by diesel fumes and the squeak of tank treads, Sam and his men begin their long journey to liberate Europe—a journey from which many of them would not return.
So begins the story of Sam Hogan and his colorful band of tanker heroes of the Third Armored Division—the “Spearhead”—as they battle on the front lines of some of the war’s toughest fights, from Normandy to the Elbe to the Battle of the Bulge.
Through contemporary unit logs, after-action reports, his father’s correspondence and interviews, William Hogan tells the story of the heroes of Task Force Hogan, 3rd Armored Division and pays tribute to the soldiers of the greatest generation.
Registration is not required for this free program. Pack your lunch and join our Summer Teacher Institute attendees for this special Author Talk. Free parking is available.
