THE WAR AND PEACE SHOW 2002

Cpl. Forrest Guth was a US world war two paratrooper, member of the now famous "Easy company", 506th PIR, 101st Airborne Division - the most famous company in the American WWII history since it has been portrayed in the Spielburg/Hanks mini-series "Band of Brothers". He will be signing copies of his new biography with the author Michel De Trez. The book by D-Day publishings, tells the account of Forrest's military career. Guth was one of the few members of the company to go through the war without being hit. Now aged 81, he is enjoying his retirement in Delaware, U.S.A.

Author of Guth's new biography entitled "Cpl. Forrest Guth" is Michel De Trez, a 36 year old Belgian historian who specialises in the subject of airborne forces. It is his fourth book to be published and is the first volume in a series of books called "The way we were" "WWII Paratroopers Portrait Series". Michel writes.. "Forrest, age 81, is one of the nicest fellows you have ever seen. He will accept with great pleasure any interviews and he is much more interesting than me. (And I must say his English is much better than mine too!). 15 years ago I found a U.S. canteen bearing a name and serial number. The name was Guth. After a long research I was able to track him down and visited him in the U.S. That's how it all started."

See below to read the press release for more information.

"Cpl. Forrest Guth" - the book (click to enlarge picture)

• The Event

Forrest Guth, the veteran and Michel De Trez, the author, will be signing their new book at the War and Peace show.

• The Location

KM War and Peace Show, Beltring, Kent. STALL H-24-25 (About in the middle of the showground).

• Forrest Guth

Forrest Guth, is an original member of the "E" Company, 506th PIR, 101st Airborne Division, the most famous company in the American WWII history since it has been portrayed in the Spielburg/Hanks mini-series "Band of Brothers".
Guth would be one of the very few who would go through the way without being hit.
Guth chose to disregard orders against taking a camera into combat and snapped pictures in the Normandy fields. He took some of the most outstanding photographs to be taken in the combat zone.
At age 81, he is enjoying retirement in Delaware, USA.

• The Book

"CPL. FORREST GUTH" is the brand new Michel De Trez book. It is his fourth book published and the first volume of a series called "The Way we Were" "WWII Paratroopers Portrait Series".

This book traces the military career, via photos and artifacts, of Cpl. Forrest Guth, a member of the now famous E/506th, who served with that unit from Toccoa in 1942 into 1945. The whole concept of this book is new, tracing the activities of an obscure enlisted man through an entire war.
This project was virtually made possible by the uniqueness of Guth himself. He was one of the most colorful and prevalent men and certainly the most interesting character of the 3rd Platoon of "Easy" Company.
For inexplicable reasons, his unique personality and human valor were never developed in the HBO production 'Band of Brothers'. Although, he was in the original script and all his equipment and uniform had been reproduce from his originals, he was drop off! The duplication of his unique jump suit was simply passed on to another character.

Now, as the first volume of a WWII paratroopers portrait book series, Forrest Guth original uniforms and impressive photographic collection are presented in a 72 page book.

Price: £20

More information on D-Day publishing books: http://www.d-day-publishing.be.tf

• Readers Opinion

"First of all may I congratulate you on the excellent books on the US Airborne you have published. These are the finest examples of their kind in existence and will unlikely to ever be surpassed."
Iain Harding, England

"I visited Ciney militaria show last month. Whilst I was there I met on a book signing Forrest Guth who signed my copy of the book about 'E' company.
I have to say what a great book it is too. I buy many military books over the coarse of each year, which add to my large and ever growing collection of books. Every once in a while an outstanding book comes along, and I have to say your book is that one."
David Hucklebridge, England

"Thanks ever so much for the copy of 'The Way We Were' -- With both your dedication and that of Forrest Guth himself it becomes a collector's item right away. Please thank him as well if he is still with you in Europe.
The book arrived on Saturday and I read it through from beginning to end yesterday. Quite amazing that Guth has kept all his uniforms and equipment of those days.
I must compliment you with the design of the book and the quality of the photographs -- very well done. It certainly deserves a wide readership."
Karel Margry, After the Battle magazine editor.

"I received the new book and could not put it down! I have read it already. It is the most enjoyable book that I have read in a long time."
Mark, USA

"Your new book arrived this week, and it is outstanding! Congratulations on another triumph. Thank you for preserving the experiences and collection of Forrest Guth for future generations. I will look forward to the next one in the series!"
Frank Robertson, USA

"Michel 'Mike' De Trez, is not only a man of great drive, but also one of great Vision. He conceives of a vivid, fascinating book project, then brings it into creation. His latest effort is a trade paperback on all-glossy paper, with many B&W and Color photos.
Guth used a camera in Normandy and took all the best photos which appear in Ambrose's book of the same title, including the lineup in St Marie du Mont, which appears on the cover. But he took much more than those…
Guth was also an avid collector of German souvenirs, as well as a saver of his own uniforms, equipment, and insignia and Michel D. has skillfully blended the photos and artifacts together, to make a delightful presentation which I'm sure will sell MANY copies, especially with the current craze about Easy 506th.
There has never been a book quite like this. Highly recommended."
Mark Bando, 101st Airborne Historian, USA.

"I just wanted to let you know that I received the two books this weekend and they are unbelievable. To have your new book signed by both yourself and Mr. Guth is such an honor. Thank you so much."
Glen Nakata, USA

"I received the book today in the mail. WOW! What a wonderful book. I really like the layout as well as all of the original artifacts belonging to Guth. I don't know how many more of these books you are planning to put out, but I will definitely purchase the whole series."
Grant Bias, USA

• The Author

Michel De Trez is a 36-year-old Belgian historian who specializes in the subject of airborne forces. He is an avid and passionate collector of WWII airborne history and equipment, and runs a museum in Brussels, Belgium dedicated to the airborne veterans. Michel is considered to be an international authority on the subject having a unique access to many veterans' personal archives.

Michel frequently travels worldwide meticulously researching and conducting interviews with veterans, visiting public archives, library's, battlefields, WWII celebrations and attending reunions with veterans. He has a great respect for the sacrifices and bravery exhibited by the WWII generation. He is moved by a need to make available the history depicting the service and sacrifice that the American paratroopers gave for their country and for Europe. He feels the stories need to be saved for future generations to appreciate and study. The reason he has chosen to devote most of his time and energy to the American paratroopers is that he does not want the sacrifice of all those brave men who fought and died during WWII to be in vein. He has the deepest respect for those who freed his country some sixty years ago and wants the people of his generation and younger to know about these heroic soldiers, who they were and what they did for us, he feels they must never be forgotten.

He is a regular contributor to numerous historical military publications and has also worked for the film industry and television, which also include the two famous movies Saving Pvt. Ryan and Band of Brothers.

He is currently working on writing and publishing two series of pictorial books covering and portraying the involvement of the American airborne troops.

• The KM War and Peace Show

Organised in conjunction with The Invicta Military Vehicle Preservation Society, it is the world's biggest military collectors event.
Over 3,500 vehicles and 12,000 participants
The Hop Farm Country Park, Beltring, SE England
17 -21st July 2002
More information on the show: http://www.thewarandpeaceshow.com

• "Band of Brothers", the miniseries

The $120,000,000 budget HBO miniseries based on Stephen Ambrose's unit history nonfiction best seller about a WWII US Army paratrooper unit, broacasted for ten weeks on BBC during 2001. Another program followed, consisting of interviews with actual vets of Easy Company, who survived WW2 and are still with us.
Produced by Steven Spielberg and Tom Hanks, "Band of Brothers" was filmed at Hatfield Studios near London, which also served as the location base for Spielberg's production of "Saving Private Ryan". It recounts the achievements of an elite parachute company during WWII.

Contact :
Michel De Trez
103 Rue Marcelis
1970 Wezembeek Oppem
Belgium
Tel/fax 32/2 731.32.24
e-mail : This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it
Website : www.d-day-publishing.be.tf

The War and Peace Show 2002