A Russian in the American Army - WWII - by Karl Thomson (Paperback)

Book Synopsis

This is the story of a young Russian boy brought to the United states in the early 1930's. He grew up in New York City, joined the U.S. Army upon graduation from high school. In the army he showed great promise and by the time he went ashore at Utah beach on D-day he was a sergeant in the 4th Infantry Division. His service was noted, and he received recommendations for his bravery and leadership qualities and receiving the Bronze star for them. As the war continued, he was given a battlefield Commission and a platoon to lead. Before D-day in England he had fallen madly in love with a beautiful young British girl, but both knew the risk of war so they waited until the war was over to get married. Alexander Vetov progressed from Second Lieutenant through First Lieutenant to Captain and his own Company. As the fall of 1944 arrived many thought the war was ending and would be over soon. They did not realize that a losing Germany was going to fight much harder than ever. At this point Alexander Vetov's leadership was now over a much larger group of men. This was making him study the German army much harder to give his men the edge in their battles. After fighting two of the hardest battles of WWII. The battle of Hurtgen Forest and straight into the Battle of the Bulge. His Commanders noticed his planning and intelligence work and put him into army intelligence. This was when Alex got a dear John letter from the love of his life and he thought it was going to kill him. Instead he went to work harder than ever. As the war came to a close, entire army Divisions were being closed down. The 4th was on the chopping block and General Patton asked for Alexander Vetov to be transferred to him as Patton was to remain in Europe. After Patton's death even though all Intelligence is was having it's funding cut off. Alex went through several Departments until the Counterintelligence became the CIA. Here Alex stuck through the hot and cold times with many exploits in his life and a new love in his life that stuck with him for the rest of his life. Korea, Vietnam, and hundreds of small operations keep Alex hopping from one thing to another until finally his age slowed him down just a little. However now he was the Director of a Division of the CIA and worked from Langley and no longer traveled the world. This put him directly involved with getting information to the President until he retired under President Ronald Reagan.