Library Journal Review
Journalist Hampton breathes new life into the little-known story of the Rochambeau Group, made up of women ambulance drivers attached to French forces in the latter part of World War II. This group was organized by Florence Conrad, a determined, wealthy American widow and Francophile who had served as a nurse in World War I. Collecting enough donations for 19 ambulances and recruiting mainly French women who had fled from German occupiers, Conrad approached Gen. Philippe Leclerc of the French 2nd Armored Division with the donation, insisting that the women be the ambulance drivers. Figuring 19 ambulances were better than none, Leclerc relented, believing the women would flee at the first sign of battle and then could be replaced with "proper male drivers." For her intriguing account of the 51 ambulance drivers who proved Leclerc wrong and served with the division from Normandy to Berchestgarden, Hampton used published and unpublished memoirs as well as interviewing surviving members. A captivating read; highly recommended for public libraries.-Patti C. McCall, Albany Molecular Research Inc., NY (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.