The classic mass market paperback era featured successors to the high production pulp magazine writers: Ben Haas, Ralph Hayes, Peter McCurtin, James Reasoner, Robert Randisi, and Len Levinson. These guys could produce four or more paperbacks a year. I remember reading that Zebra Books was interested in Karl Edward Wagner’s “Adrian Becker” character as a paperback series wanting four books a year. Wagner could not do it.

I enjoy some war fiction. Probably my favorite WW2 novel is Richard Matheson’s The Beardless Warriors. James Jones’ The Thin Red Line might be #2.

One of Len Levinson’s series was “The Sergeant” from Bantam Books as by “Gordon Davis.” This series appeared in nine volumes from 1980 to 1981. Bullet Bridge is #7, from November 1981. The books feature Sgt. Clarence J. Mahoney of the 15^th Regiment in the 33^rd “Hammerhead” Infantry Division in Patton’s Third Army in Western Europe in 1944 during WW2.

Bullet Bridge is #7 in the series. The Hammerhead Division has just taken Metz and about to push into the Saar. The novel starts out with a Panzer attack. The Germans capture Sgt. Mahoney. He manages to escape via stolen motorcycle to American lines.

An infantry assault on a strategic hill is the next section of action. The commanding general leads the attack and dies of a heart attack. Mahoney is wounded.

There is a hospital interlude and then the return to his unit.

The third act is a push to the town of Saarlauten. There is a hell bent for leather motorized assault, taking of a very important bridge, and then holding out until relieving forces can arrive.

This is the way paperback fiction should be. Lots of action, a little sex, and profanity-laden dialogue. I knocked this one off in a few evenings. I will pick up more books in The Sergeant series.