Nuts! How to get a Free Copy of this World War II Book… Written by a Loyal 4Patriots Customer
You just never know who is going to call.
Charlene and Margo are members of our outstanding Customer Service team. Recently they were chatting on the phone with a 4Patriots customer.
They soon learned that the voice on the other end of the line belonged to a decorated war hero. That fact alone was worth celebrating. They thanked him for his service.
But as the conversation continued, they learned he is also an author. Vincent Speranza wrote the book titled Nuts! A 101st Airborne Division Machine Gunner at Bastogne. The 93-year-old gentleman was told he’d be fortunate to sell 500 copies.
He’s now at 4,000 copies and counting. The book is a first-person account of Vincent’s experiences in World War II. Both harrowing and hilarious.
Keep reading and you’ll learn how you can enter a special drawing to get a free copy of Vincent’s book.
A 19-Year-Old Private in the Battle of the Bulge
A few days before Christmas in 1944, the Battle of the Bulge was raging. The Germans had surrounded the Belgian town of Bastogne. That’s where Brigadier General Anthony McAuliffe was acting commanding general of the U.S. 101st Airborne Division.
A German messenger showed up and handed over a note from his commander. It demanded the division’s surrender. McAuliffe provided the messenger with a one-word reply: “Nuts!”
Sitting in a foxhole at the time was a 19-year-old Army private and machine gunner. He was with the 501st Parachute Infantry Regiment. That private was Vincent Speranza.
His riveting book recounts the Battle of the Bulge, as well as his life before and after the battle. In fact, Vincent shares many memories of his childhood and his military service. As well as his post-war life.
A Parachute Infantry Volunteer
Vincent was born in March 1925 in Manhattan, New York. He grew up on Staten Island in a large Italian family (six brothers and sisters) during the Great Depression.
After graduating from high school in 1943, he enrolled at the City College of New York. Later that year he was drafted into the U.S. Army.
Speranza was trained at Fort Upton in New York and Fort Benning in Georgia. He then volunteered for the Parachute Infantry.
He went overseas with Company H, 3rd Battalion, 501st Parachute Infantry Regiment, 101st Airborne Division on board the Queen Mary. His unit landed in France, where it was stationed.
Still Jumping Out of Planes in His 90’s
There’s something else that Charlene and Margo learned about Vincent. He doesn’t merely stockpile the items he acquires from 4Patriots. He uses them regularly.
He told us that he travels to Canada each year to his fishing cabin. He wanted to fix the place up last time he went. So, he took his Patriot Power Generator 1500 in order to charge his drill.
And he told us something else we found pretty interesting. You’re never too old to jump out of an airplane.
At age 91, he planned to do his first jump in 70 years. After being advised by many folks not to do a solo jump, he chose a tandem jump instead. He jumped with his instructor, Mike Elliott, who has jumped three times with President George H.W. Bush.
Oh, one more thing about Vincent. He is still remembered today as the guy who found a working beer tap in a bombed-out tavern. Why? Because he then delivered a helmet full of beer to a comrade suffering from shrapnel wounds in both legs. Vincent’s action has been immortalized on the label of Bastogne Airborne beer.
Our Customer Service Reps Care
This isn’t the first time 4Patriots customer representatives have come across an intriguing individual with a fascinating story. It happens regularly.
In fact, our reps often share tidbits about our customer lives or comments on a company chat that the entire 4Patriots team reads on a daily basis.
Hearing about each of you brings true meaning to what we do every day here in the office.
When I read about Vincent’s story on our company chat, I thought, “We have to do something with this.” Together our team came up with the idea to give free copies of this book to our customers.
After all, we know how much you appreciate the sacrifices of our active duty troops and veterans. They do it so we can enjoy life in the land of the free and the home of the brave.
Here’s How to Enter the Drawing
So, as promised, here’s how you can enter the drawing. 4Patriots purchased 25 copies of Vincent’s book and we set up the drawing through Amazon.
Just go here to enter before August 20th at Midnight Pacific Time.
Amazon will then randomly select entrants until all 25 people have been chosen to get their own copy of the book.
From time to time, we’ll be sharing more of our customers’ stories. And coming up with other fun and exciting ways to benefit you. So stay tuned.
I hope 1 day to meet Bince at one of 101st Airborne Division Association reunions. It would be my privilege and honor to meet a true hero of the Battle of the Bulge
I knew and have just berried another Bastogne hero at 91 years . He was also, a machine gunner in the BULDGE (Island). Member of CO-A 506 PIN. All are dying out now. The YOUTH of today will never understand the GREAT history of the HEROs. GOD KEEP BLESSING THE USA!!!
This is a great article about part of our history. I wish every Liberal was required to read the book. I’ve always enjoyed true stories from our senior vets. I love the fact that we have a strong and interesting history in America.
This is a great article about part of our history, and I wish every Liberal was required to read it. I’ve always enjoyed true stories from our senior vets. I love the fact that we have a strong history in America. God bless this gentleman.
Gen. McAuliffe’s reply of “Nuts” was the best! I will have to get that book one way or another.
I knew two guys who were in the Pacific theater. One was only 18 and he was in the navy. He manned the landing craft full of troops and dropped the ramp when they reach just off shore of four islands: Iwo Jima, Saipan, Leyte, and Luzon..
Another guy I knew was on Iwo and as he went into a cave, he saw a samari sword on the wall. He was about to get it, but saw two stocking feet sticking out of another part of the tunnel. He decided it might be a trap so he left.
I also knew a guy who spent time in a Stalag. In fact, Hogan’s Heroes were patterned after the on he was in. They had people that would dig tunnels and once, they dug one 300 ft. in the middle of the camp! They did it just to bother the Germans, not to escape. When the rains came, here was a 300 ft. trench in the middle of the camp. They had five slats on their beds and they would split them and use that wood to brace the tunnels. For a deck of cards, they used cardboard to make them so they had a very large stack! Hope Ididn’t write too much.
I was stationed in Germany 1962-1965. I interacted with many who had lived under Hitler’s rule and were so happy with Americans. They wanted to thank all american service personnel. I informed I was only a baby at that time but would let all vet know that you thank them. Please inform Vincent that the German THANK him for their freedom from Hitler. Thank You.
From my Indiana village was an Army cook named Ray Lang. He was also pulled into the ‘Bulge’ for that freezing winter event! He died about 9 yrs ago at age 92.
Best wishes to Victor.
I recently received your latest protean package. Yesterday my local newspaper had an food advertisement, which offered dried
PINTO BEANS for $.77 per pound. True there is no myler packing.
..
I am an 11 year active duty veteran of the US Navy having been enlisted for 6 years and then commissioned for 5 serving from January 1965 through October 1975. First years as an Aviation Machinist Mate, finished as ADR 2, and last years as Division Officer on USS King, DLG-10, LTJG last rank. I bought 3 large cans of Patriot Power Greens and did not like the flavor. So, I mixed it with Lipton’s Green Tea with citrus which helped a lot.
Vince was at a 101 reunion several years ago, had a chance to visit with him. Great guy, should be in recruiting…
That’s great that you two connected, Rick. Thanks for letting us know.