BLESS 'EM ALL – The Legacy of the 503d Parachute Regimental Combat Team in World War II By William T. Calhoun and Paul F. Whitman The BLESS 'EM ALL series is a sweeping, deeply human, and meticulously researched tribute to one of the most courageous yet underrepresented combat units of World War II: the 503d Parachute Regimental Combat Team (PRCT). Across four compelling volumes, co-authors William T. Calhoun—himself a veteran of the 503d—and Paul Whitman bring to light the extraordinary journey of this unique airborne unit, from its earliest origins to its climactic role in liberating Corregidor. This collection is not merely a military history—it is the record of a brotherhood forged in fire and steel, bound by valor, sacrifice, and unwavering camaraderie. Drawing upon personal memoirs, archival records, declassified reports, battlefield maps, and firsthand correspondence, BLESS 'EM ALL restores the 503d PRCT to its rightful place in the historical record of the Pacific War. Volume I: Australia, New Guinea & Noemfoor
Explores the unit’s formation, training at Fort Benning, deployment to Australia, jungle warfare in New Guinea, and the intense jump at Noemfoor—all from the perspective of the 2nd Battalion. With official reports, personal journals, and battle maps, it vividly depicts the baptism by fire of the 503rd.This opening volume chronicles the formation, training, and early combat deployments of the 503d, with a particular focus on their operations in New Guinea and the evolution of airborne tactics under real combat conditions. It captures the daring spirit of a new breed of soldier: the parachute infantryman. Volume II: Leyte & Mindoro Chronicles the unit’s transformation into a full Regimental Combat Team during the Leyte and Mindoro campaigns. This volume rigorously documents amphibious landings, fierce resistance, and the meticulous preparation for Corregidor—drawing from official papers, daily logs, and living veterans’ memories
Volume III: Corregidor (Retaking The Rock) Here, the series reaches its emotional and historical peak with the daring assault on Corregidor in February 1945—one of the most dramatic airborne operations in history. Told through the eyes of those who jumped onto The Rock, this volume is an indispensable account of sacrifice and strategy against overwhelming odds. It is the single most comprehensive account of the iconic airborne invasion of Corregidor, featuring first-hand narratives, tactical analysis, and a robust collection of images. It answers “everything you wanted to ask about the retaking of Corregidor,” capturing its drama, precision and humanity.
Volume IV: The Negros Campaign Vol. IV illustrates the RCT’s role on Negros Island after Mindoro, detailing overwater movement and joint operations with the 40th Division. It examines tactical misuses, prolonged resistance in difficult terrain, and end-of-war mop-ups—from April through V-J Day—based on archival materials and rare photography. Volume V: BLESS ’EM ALL: A Pictorial Companion
A Visual Tribute to the 503rd Parachute Regimental Combat Team Volume V in the Definitive BLESS ’EM ALL Series Step into the world of the 503rd PRCT through over 400 rare and remarkable images, many never before published—straight from personal collections, veteran albums, and wartime archives. BLESS ’EM ALL: A Pictorial is not a retelling—it is a visual immersion. Spanning the full scope of the 503rd’s WWII campaigns, from Australia and New Guinea to Noemfoor, Leyte, Mindoro, Corregidor, and Negros, this 224-page large-format hardcover brings the unit’s story to life with candid snapshots, formal portraits, battlefield images, aerial drops, camp life, maps, cartoons, and handwritten documents. Key Features: More than 400 curated images, many enhanced for clarity and detail. Chronological layout, visually tracing the unit’s journey through the South-West Pacific. Captions with context, connecting photos to the events covered in Volumes I–IV.
13" × 11" landscape hardcover, matching the series’ premium aesthetic. “What they saw. How they lived. Where they fought.” This is not just a photo book—it’s the illustrated memory of a combat team that jumped, fought, and endured its way into history. Whether you're a veteran, a historian, or someone who wants to see what words alone cannot convey, this pictorial is the essential companion to the BLESS ’EM ALL series. Why These Volumes Matter The BLESS 'EM ALL series stands alone as the most comprehensive narrative of the 503d PRCT. It is written not just for historians, but for families of veterans, students of airborne warfare, and all those who seek to understand the personal cost of freedom. Through the dedication of Bill Calhoun, who lived these battles, and the detailed historical framing by Paul F. Whitman, who has carried the torch of remembrance online through corregidor.org and paulwhitman.com, this collection ensures the memory of the 503d lives on. “History is not merely the story of great events—but of the men who shaped them, and the silent sacrifices that history books too often forget. This series remembers.”
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy MTEyMDIxMA==