5 comments about The Only War We Had: A Platoon Leader's Journal of Vietnam (Texas a&M University Military History Series).

1. This is one of the best books I've ever read, when it comes to documenting the day to day events of a soldier in war. Based on the writer's journal as an Infantry platoon leader, and reinforced with letters sent & kept by the authors wife, this book is both poignant and detailed.From simple remembrances of c-rations and malaria pills, to major battles and the loss of friends, Lanning's book remembers them all, and shares them with the reader.



2. This author misses the mark completely. His account gives none of the day to day feel of the misery and discomfort of living in the field in Vietnam and putting life on the line every day. His recollections are so stale and based on one line journal entrys that they never live up to the promise. I was sorry to see him fall in to the I "I was the best" trap that so many first hand accounts fall into. He clearly wasn't the best, nor was his platoon any better than most. His glee at hearing that a Col who chewed him out for getting too many men blown up in a booby trap had been shot down and seriously injured was, to say the least, morbid! They are too many good first hand accounts available to waste time on this one.



3. I missed the Vietnam War by a year or two. I served as an 11B from 72-78. I always wondered what it would have been like to have been there in a rifle company. Plenty of books about SF and LRRPs, but not very many written by a real infantry platoon leader. I never had a tremensous desire to be an elite soldier in an elite unit (if I could have even made it). I only wanted to be a rifle squad leader. This book really made me feel what it would have been like. What I missed. It is a real world book. Not a battle every minute book filled with stories of great exploits. Just a real world grunt in Vietnam book. I highly recommend the companion book Company Commanders Journal.



4. I've had these books for more then 20 years now - taking them with me through flood and fire. The first is the first 6 months of his tour and the 2nd is the second 6 months of his tour in Vietnam in 1968-1969.
   
   M. Lee Lanning was the youngest person ever to lead an entire Company of 200 soldiers even though he was only a First Lieutenant, all at the age of 23.
   
   I find these books truly fascinating - they show the horror, the boredom, the friendships made and the attempts at comedy used to stay sane during wartime. I never thought that a "War Memoir" would ever capture my attention, but this did it. Many (if not most) war books are written by the pencil pushers or REMF's and not someone who actually held a rifle and saw the enemy.
   
   Each page is straight from the diary that his father gave him before he shipped out - then what follows is his memory of that day.
   
   One of my favorite excerpts:
   
   "Our move was delayed when one of the FNG's (F-ing New Guy), who had joined Bravo Co. at Crystal (their main base) a few days before, saw something in a clump of bamboo. Seconds later he approached me carrying a heavy, cone-shaped object that I immediately recognized as a 105mm artillery round. From it's shiny exterior, I deduced it was a "dud" from our fire before assaulting the bunkers.
   
   The FNG, proud of his find, had no clue what he was cradling in his arms. As calmly as possible, I told the man to walk back into the jungle for at least 50 meters, gently place the object on the ground and return to my location. The tone of my voice, and the fact that all the others were scrambling for cover, definitely got the troop's attention.
   
   Without a word, he followed my instructions. I braced for the expected explosion as he turned away and slowly walked towards the jungle..."
   
   If you get this make sure you also get "A Company Commanders Journal" that is the second of this series - it contains his journal entries from the second 6 months of his tour.



5. This author put together an interesting book from his own journal keep at the time of the book. And augmented by the letters he sent home to his wife and family.
   This book revolves around the portion of the authors tour up to his R&R to Hawaii. He has a second book that covers the second portion of his tour: Vietnam 1969-1970 A Company Commander"s Journal. I have the second book and I'm really looking forward to reading it.
   Col Lanning style of starting by quoting his entry from his journal and then commenting on those quotes from the perspective of today, and including what was going on with his family mad this book very compelling,
   As VN vet myself I found his experiences familiar, but as time has gone by I find myself more and more interested in hearing other vets experiences.
   This is a very well done book about one man's experiences and reflections.
   I wouldn't hesitate to recommend this book to anyone.

3 comments about Optional Wars.

1. This is a remarkable "first book" by Mr. Unger. Old themes are revisited in a Post Vietman world illuminated by poignant observations impacting on
   the tragic specter of global wars and endless conflicts looming from fountains of ignorance that menance all our lives every day with no relief in sight. While not exactly a "doomsday scenario" this a gripping up-front, expertly conceived, realistic narrative illuminated by near death experiences validating survival and life values with extreme situations reduced to routine vicissitudes...A sobering perspective of life under fire by a professional marine in the face of endless adversity. It is a good and entertaining read...highly recommended.



2. Optional Wars is a superbly written book, inclusive of anecdotes, which are witty, somber, and sometimes optimistic. The author loves his Marine Corps and this is exuded on each page. Mr. Unger's insight into Viet Nam and Iraq is unique, due to his status as a Combat Wounded and Decorated Marine.
   
   This is the first book I have read that is impeccably truthful, no-holds barred, and it tells the reader what our government and newspapers leave out. An American classic, on guerilla wars, and our problem with them. This is a first-class book. I highly recommend it.



3. Optional Wars is a superbly written book on the implications of the wars that were or are being undertaken with no eminent danger or need for our national well being. Mr. Unger speaks from his personal experience in eye-witnessing the horrors of the Vietnam war. He has first described the horror of the wound that he received and then nation-splitting consequence of the Vietnam War. Similarly, the Iraq war also was an option, but the leadership dragged us into this. Mr. Unger aptly surmises the negative effects it is having on the America's future and standing in the world.
   
   His insightful narratives and implications are succinct. I recommend the book for every library and to everyone for a good and objective perspective on the wars in general, and specifically on the wars that are optional. We as a nation must exercise our national options and standing and scarce resources wisely and for the betterment of the world with an appreciation of different cultures.

5 comments about An Emotional Gauntlet: From Life in Peacetime America to the War in European Skies.

1. Stuart Wright owes m several hours of sleep that I missed because I had a very hard time putting the book down. The style is fascinating and compelling. Even though I was a B-17 driver, even though I went to the Eighth on a replacement crew (not original cadre), even though I never had the pain of losing a crewmember, teh book riveted my attention because of the resonance it established between me and the characters of the book's crews. This book is a towering addition to the literature of the Eighth Air Force. Thank you.
   Craig Harris B-17 pilot 457th BG, Station 130 Glatton.
   e: charris4@nc.rr.com



2. A long look at one airplane, one crew involved in the air war against Germany during World War II. The airplane is the Corky, a B-24 Liberator. The story starts with the people the made up the crew before they entered the military service. Finally on Tuesday 7 September 1943 the crew met together as Crew 25, 734th Squadron, 453 Bomb Group. Five months later on the 5th of February the first of a couple of milk runs over France, within a week they were over Germany. By the 25th of June the crew, not without loss, had completed their combat tours. Their war was over.
   
   Stuart Wright is from the small village in England where the 453rd was stationed. He grew up on stories about the Yanks in and around the village. A chance meeting when he was fourteen began a friendship and collaboration with Bill Eagleson, the pilot of Crew 25. Years of research later, this book is the result. As Mr. Wright says: "This is not so much a book about airplanes or war; but a book about people." One crew of people that made a difference.



3. One of the problems for those interested in books about air warfare in World War Two is that you've read it all before. At least it seems that way. There are books so imitative of other books that the reader may question whether he read it all before.
   You won't get that feeling when you read "An Emotional Gauntlet". No, Sir. This is as fresh as the smell of 100 octane on a crisp morning. Author Stuart J. Wright brings freshness to his topic that we thought had been burned away in the 50's and 60's.
   
   You are not confined to barracks when you read "Gauntlet." The author takes you to British hamlets and cities where the Luftwaffe can be expected when least expected. B17s and 24s machine guns hammer.
   
   This is good stuff! You are not going to fall asleep reading it. Stuart was too young for WW2 but he researched his book for more than ten years! He interviewed a great many survivors of Europe's air war some of whom you may recognize if you flew out of Blighty when the going was rough or at any other time.
   
   This is not pulp fiction. Veterans of the Eighth may well recognize planes and people from their own wartime experiences Former bombardier Alan Eagleson, a character in the book has turned up at air shows in the Greater Boston area and your Reviewer, a 10th AF vet, has enjoyed talking to him.
   
   "An Emotional Gauntlet" is filled with photographs. What fun on a snowy evening to scan the photos with the aid of a magnifying glass and perhaps identifying a long lost pal in a long ago scene. READ IT AND ENJOY!
   John Brennan



4. This is a must read for anyone interested in the daily life of a real B-24 combat crew. Stuart has done an excellent job of presenting the difficulties and challenges of an American air crew in England, as he takes you from the early days of crew training to each of the (very)tough missions flown. One feels as if you are actually part of this team. I came away with a sense of awe and admiration for these men "just doing their job" amid the daily horrors of combat over Germany, and the very real risk that they would not be coming back every time they flew.



5. As an aspiring WW2 B-24 and 392nd BG researcher, I regard Wright as a real teacher in his use of archival and original sources. A review of the bibliography, notes and appendix is a quick education in how to use available research tools. Going thru the boxes of unit histories, Missing Air Crew Reports and German KU files on downed allied aircraft at the National Archives in Washington, DC, is something I also would like to do. His efforts in tracking people down by any means, including letters to very old addresses, is a new option for me. In addition Wright is a fine story teller and interesting to read.The Corky crew flew during the first half of 1944, some of the toughest, highest attrition missions as the 8th AF broke the Luftwaffe prior to D-Day. The detail of each crewman's life during the war and after is such a huge task, requiring years and years, very hard to put this down. Our father was a Lead Pilot in the 392nd BG, a few miles from Old Buckenham, and flew on these same missions, so this is indeed a special book for us.

1 comments about Stonewall Jackson And The American Civil War.

1. I have been a fan of the American Civil War for over five years, and I have read many books on the subject and especially on Stonewall Jackson. I have never found a book more thorough about both subjects in my life. The author dives into several contravercies like: Why did the Civil War started, Did Stonewall fall asleep at the Seven day Battle? He also doesn't just stick to Stonewall, he also talks about other important figures in the Civil War. So if you are interested, kinda like, or a fanatic about Civil War and Stonewall Jackson like I am, I would recammend this book to every one!

5 comments about The Quiet Hero: The Untold Medal of Honor Story of George E. Wahlen at the Battle for Iwo Jima.

1. The Quiet Hero is a down to earth written story about a down to earth good guy. The author has not followed a traditional war story format, in my view at least. It is easy to read.



2. George E. Wahlen was born in Utah on August 8, 1924. By February, 1945, George would be many miles from his beloved family and friends. He was stationed on a remote volcanic island in the Western Pacific. In the two weeks that George was on the island, he would distinguish himself many times and earn the respect of his fellow men. The name of the island was Iwo Jima, and George served as a Marine combat medic.
   
   In his younger days, George dreamed of becoming an aircraft mechanic, but his father refused to let him enlist in the Army. So, George volunteered to be drafted. He was sent to California for basic training, where he was trained as a medic. Despite his love of repairing airplanes, he quickly adjusted to his new role as a medic and he became proficient in his new job.
   
   As time passed, George's unit continued to train for combat, and the training became more and more difficult. Eventually, George's unit was sent to the island of Guam to prepare for the invasion of Iwo Jima. George's unit landed on D-Day, which was February 19, 1945. For the next two weeks, George spent his time tending to wounded Marines, all the while ignoring his own safety. He faced numerous Japanese mortar attacks, banzai charges, and infantry raids, but he never ignored the call of a wounded comrade. During one action, while wounded himself, he stayed in the field of fire for over twenty minutes tending to wounded Marines. During this time, he managed to save fourteen men who might otherwise have died. Another time, again while wounded, he crawled on his stomach for over fifty yards to drag a wounded Marine to safety. These selfless acts of bravery quickly earned George the respect of his fellow men. His superiors took note of his actions as well, for on September 14, 1945, George received the Navy Cross and the Gold Star. Then on October 5, 1945, he was awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor by President Harry S. Truman.
   
   George didn't retire from the armed forces after receiving his awards. Instead, he enlisted in the U.S. Army, where he served in both the Korean and Vietnam wars. He retired from military service on August 11, 1969. Not many servicemen served in World War II, Korea, and Vietnam. George E. Wahlen did.
   
   As a fan of World War II history, and especially the battle of Iwo Jima, I was very impressed with this book. I have always enjoyed reading about the lives of militaty personnel, and this book does a remarkable job in describing the heroics of one of the numerous individuals who won the Medal of Honor on Iwo Jima. Author Gary W. Toyn writes with a style that places the reader at the forefront of the battle with George as he's tending to his wounded comrades. The battle is vividly brought to life throughout the pages of the book, and I learned some things about the battle that I previously didn't know.
   
   I recommend this book very highly. This fine biography of George E. Wahlen embellishes the epitaph of Iwo Jima; uncommon valor was a common virtue. George Wahlen upheld the code of the United States Marines to the fullest, and his life serves as an example to future generations of Marines.



3. The book tells the story of a Hospital Corpsman who was thrust into the bloodiest battle in the Pacific. It was well written and really explained the horrors of what a Navy Corpsman has to go through to do his job. To keep as many Marines at as many guns for as long as possible. Armed with only a 45 and his vast ability to operate under extreme fire and his limited medical skills Pharmacist Mate Second Class George E. Wahlen shows us readers in the highest way possible what it means to be a US Navy Corpsman! Warning! Once you pick up this book you won't be able to put it down!



4. What most impressed me about George Wahlen is that it was only many years after the war ended that his wife finally found out about his Medal of Honor. That reminds me of my own parents. I cannot ever remember them bragging about themselves.
   
   George Wahlen is not only a true hero, but a humble one at that. Thus, the title of the book.



5. The Quiet Hero: The Untold Medal of Honor Story of George E. Wahlen at the Battle for Iwo Jima, by Gary W. Toyn, is one of those books where important history would be lost if not for the vision of the author. Toyn details the life of a common Utah man who left home at age 18, to enlist in the Navy shortly after the outbreak of World War II. Two years later, George E. Wahlen found himself on a spot of land in the middle of the Pacific, battling the Japanese for control of Iwo Jima.
   
   Contents:
   Foreword
   Introduction
   Preface
   Chapter 1: D-Day, February 19.1945
   Chapter 2: Birth to Boot Camp
   Chapter 3: Sailor to Marine
   Chapter 4: Training to Training
   Chapter 5: Hawaii is Hell
   Chapter 6: Finding God
   Chapter 7: "Operation Detachment"
   Chapter 8: D-Day, February 19.1945
   Chapter 9: D-Day Afternoon
   Chapter 10: D+1 and D+2: The First Casualty
   Chapter 11: D+3: This Lousy, Stinking Island
   Chapter 12: D+4: A Shift in Momentum
   Chapter 13: D+5 and D+6: The Calm Before The Storm
   Chapter 14: D+7 A.M.: The Crucible
   Chapter 15: D+7 P.M: My Job...No More...No Less
   Chapter 16: D+8: Regimental Reserve
   Chapter 17: D+9: Dig and Hold
   Chapter 18: D+10: Taking Hill 362A
   Chapter 19: D+11: Caught From Behind
   Chapter 20: D+12: The Final Act of Heroism
   Chapter 21: Evacuation
   Chapter 22: From Patient to "Pill Pusher"
   Chapter 23: Home and Discharge
   Chapter 24: Post WWII
   Epilogue: From Mettle to Medal
   Appendix A: Two Navy Crosses for a Medal of Honor
   Appendix B: Timeline
   In Memoriam
   Acknowledgements
   Helpful Terms
   Notes and Sources
   Photograph/Image Credits
   Index
   
   For his actions during the Battle for Iwo Jima, Pharmacist's Mate Second Class, George E. Wahlen was awarded the Medal of Honor. His rank, Pharmacist's Mate, is misleading to civilians as he was a corpsman from the Navy assigned to a Marine Battalion. He provided first aid to wounded Marines. But since he was attached to the Marines, he had to not only learn first aid and how to dress wounds, he was also required to go through the same training as any other Marine. It was during this training that Wahlen had self doubts as he was a Navy man, just a corpsman, and was worried that if he found himself under fire, that he would let down the Marines that he was supposed to help. Due to his actions on Iwo Jima, Wahlen was awarded the Medal of Honor. He did not wilt under the pressure of battle, gaining the admiration of the Marines that served with him.
   
   Toyn's book takes you through Wahlen's life, including his time on Iwo Jima, through present day. As I read the book, I was struck by the tone. Much like George Wahlen himself, Toyn writes is a very understated way. It isn't until we are presented with the actual text of Medal of Honor commendation that you realize that what you just read was an incredible story of valor, honor, and duty. It is a testament to the foundation that Toyn has built. At one point in the book, after an extremely difficult day on Iwo Jima, Toyn writes of George:
   
   "...[He] was no longer concerned about acting cowardly in the face of battle . . . he figured that what he had accomplished was no more heroic that what anyone else in his unit had done . . . "
   
   It is that attitude that permeates this book; Wahlen just doing his job.
   
   "Hero" is a word that has lost a lot of meaning these days. In the pages of this book, you will learn what that word really means. And it isn't limited to just the story of George Wahlen. The men that he served with also deserve that title, and their stories are in this book, too. This book is a tribute to George Wahlen and the memories of the men that gave the ultimate sacrifice to this nation.

5 comments about Hitler's Commander: Field Marshal Walther Model--Hitler's Favorite General.

1. Exhaustive research gives us an intriguing account of one of Hitler's most trusted commanders
   
   Walther Model was the German commander thrown by Adolph Hitler into so many of World War II's worst crises that contemporaries nicknamed him the `Fuhrer's fireman.'
   
   The son of a music teacher, he sported a monocle and a field marshal's baton. He also stood up to Hitler in a way that hardly anyone else dared.
   
   Newton dispels rumors and myths that discount Model's intellectual prowess and tactical acumen. Model's motivation was patriotism, but more likely he `internalized almost an eighteenth-century model of the professional soldier...one who served primarily for the glory of the fight...(with) single-minded focus on his own military success.'
   
   Newton suggests that Model's suicide had less to do with honor than his inability to face his own future in defeat. Copious notes and bibliography show the extensive research the author did in both German and American archives and in German war diaries and memoirs. A treasure for history buffs!



2. This book offers 365 pages of reading material and a few photos sprinkled throughout. The only book available in english about Walther Model unfortunately. It offers a mere glimpse at one of the most extraordinary commanders in the annals of modern warfare.
   
   Professor Newton has created a book out of thin air and it shows. Not meaning to belittle his herculean efforts in putting this book together from a maze of other individual accounts and offical records, for unfortunately Walther Model took all his knowledge to his grave and made sure nothing survived upon which an author could build an accurate picture of the man and the soldier. For this reason the book lacks cohesion and the one predominant task at hand seems to be the discrediting of one Walther Model. Professor Newton's evaluations seem prejudiced and if anything I am now more confused as refers to Model, the man and the soldier than before reading the book. R. Hinze's fine book, East Front Drama 1944 describes in full detail the impossible task Model had to tackle to rebuild a new and cohesive front after operation Bagrattion tore army group center up in mid 1944. The loss of 50 german divisions (most a mere shadow of their former selves) would have spelled total disaster for any commander. Model arrived well after disaster struck finding himself in the midst of a situation which if not checked would have spelled the end of the war in east. His daunting achievement alone of rebuilding the front should suffice to secure his place in the annals of warfare as one of it's most capable tacticians, yet professor Newton merely skims over this and other of Model's incredible military deeds while dwelling on his failures, specially at Kursk.
   
   Professor Newton spends an inordinately high number of pages at the beginning of the book trying to link Model to war crimes (war crimes as a whole are treated throughout the work as usual, the germans were criminals the allies represented a wholesome mixture of goodness), at this point the writing swerves in a totally different direction for too long and when he finally returns and tries to focus back on Model he does so without conviction basing his evaluation solely on the opinions of men who despised Model for his national socialist stance. There are no interviews of rank and file soldiers who served under Model who idolized him for the most part.
   
   Like I once said, while an author has all the elements for judgment at his disposal and 20/20 hindsight, a soldier does not. Walther Model's field decisions must be judged out of the rationale that he was thrust into situations that were not of his own making, with very little knowledge about them and yet he was expected to find a viable solution for them. I dare say that 90% of the time he managed the impossible and snatched his armies from certain defeat. I fail to envision any allied commander endowed with Model's extraordinary abilities of organization and tactical leadership specially on the defensive, I must agree he was not a grand strategist like von Manstein, but who was? Had Walther Model lived and been interrogated by the allies I have no doubt his contributions would have set the standard for years to come, as is I think a deeper look at his individual campaigns should be made and the man judged accordingly by his achievements on this account, until this happens and he receives his just niche amongst the great commanders of all time, Walther Model will remain as enigmatic as the sphynx. A commander's uttermost obligation should always be to the rank and file, for it is the individual soldier who bears the brunt of his decisions for better or worse and in this respect no one can say Walther Model failed.



3. This is a very interesting and informative account of Walther Model as a military commander.
   
   There seems to be a paucity of material relating directly to Model (he destroyed his personal papers at the end of the war), and the author has done a very good job of piecing together this well-written narrative. There is not much in it about his personal life - a few lines about his upbringing, and the odd allusion to things like his drinking. He seems to have had only one period of leave, 3 months at the end of 1943. It does not gloss over his character, especially his treatment of his fellow officers and superiors, and suggests why they mostly disliked him, whilst the ordinary soldier may have felt somewhat differently. (When he left one of his commands he had been disliked so much that only one office escorted him away, and after Model had taken off in th eplane phoned to tell the others `Schweinfurt' - not a reference to the town, but `the pig has flow'!).
   
   The book is really about his military career, from before WW1 to his suicide in 1945. I found the author to be fair in his opinions - praise where due, criticism where not, though there was no hindsight judgements. It made clear why Model was supreme in defence. There is quite a bit of information about some of the lesser know battles on the Eastern Front, for instance the defence of the Orel salient during the Kursk battle. The scale of the fighting, and casualties, is made apparent. His relationship to Hitler is explored, and suggests reasons why he was one of Hitler's favourite Generals in spite of - or perhaps because of - Model standing up to him. The half-truths of some of the postwar Generals' accounts is also made apparent. All in all a very informative read. The one major criticism I had was the lack of maps, so it was often hard to follow the battles. There is no map of Poland in 1939 for instance, so it is impossible to follow any of the fighting there. I always feel that in works of military history where possible every place name should figure on a map, and this book falls badly short in that respect. There also seem to be a few unnecessary digressions, for instance a longer than needed account of the German atrocities in WW1 and the reasons for them. However all in all a very informative account, and the author does well in trying to flesh out the details of Model's military career.



4. Much needed and overdue biography. FM Model served on both the Eastern and Western fronts and commanded all kinds and sizes of German Army units. Professor Newton gives a fair, balanced and thorough description of the man and the commander. This book is for both those who specialize in the German Army and those who will like a good biography.



5. While not recognized in the Pantheon of higher acclaimed German World War II generals (Rommel, von Manstein, et. al., , Newton attempt to shed some light on the enigmatic Walther Model. The problem is, as Newton himself suggests, there 'ain't' much to work with. Model's papers were destroyed near wars' end and much of the 'story' is second/third hand accounts from mostly rivals of the exaggerated-termed 'Hitler's Favorite General'. Granted, Newton give his best effort - his text on the Bulge and Ruhr pocket are grand. Sadly, tho', no one can possibly give us a true biography of this defensive minded FeldMarshal. If I may also note: this book is available thru Hamiliton Books discount service - I paid -oh- $7.99 perhaps. Best to all...Charles C. DiVincenti Jr.

5 comments about Walking Out on the Boys.

1. Sadly, any woman who's achieved a doctorate (& not just in medicine) will relate wholeheartedly to this book. I greatly admire Dr. Conley's unbelievable courage in standing up to the Boys' Club & trying to make things better for women in academia. Hopefully this book will encourage ALL women to stand up to the misogyny & be heard.



2. Frances Conley offers a compelling indictment of gender discrimination at Stanford Medical School, past and present, focussing on her own recent experience. I started this book at midnight and could not put it down until finishing it at 4 a.m. Conley provides case after case of medical school professors given virtually absolute and unchecked power over their subordinates and their subordinates' careers, abusing that power, and the medical school administration covering up that abuse. While she never addresses the issues of solidarity in the face of sexual harassment, her cases all indicate that when one woman protests, she loses, and only a pattern of abuse reported by multiple women leads to any punishment of the harassers at all. Conley was fortunate and grateful that 37 others came forward to support her claim that Gerald Silverberg engaged in inappropriate sexual contact and other activities counterindicating his capability for leadership. I'll be passing this book onto many women who have had the choice to be treated at Stanford Hospital and may well now rethink that choice.



3. I'm not an MD or a PhD; I don't work in a hospital or academia. Yet I too have experienced sexual harassment, and I too have consulted the EEO department that is supposed to get involved in handling these issues, and I found that they were disinterested, that they gave subtle and obvious messages that the problem was "my" problem and not the corporation's, and that they relied on my being too timid or unmotivated to initiate a lawsuit so the whole thing could be, well, ignored. Sexual harassment exists because the society permits men (even encourages men) to expect that it is their right to harass women. Not all men harass, and not all men admire harassers. In fact, it is quite the opposite, but those who possess the attitude that women who dare to compete must be put down through sexual threat or debasement will harass (they also enjoy and even need it, since these men have very real problems). Through her description of her own experiences, the author illuminates the social mechanism of harassment. She also brings to light the story that all we women know -- what it feels like to be the victim not just of a troubled person but of an organization that insists she accept the role of victim. When we are harassed, we women discover the battle we are in, not against one man but against all those societies which are founded on (this does sound harsh, I know) the hatred of women. This is a marvelous book -- hard to read at times if you've been there -- but it is important that women know what we are facing (especially our daughters, who like us may have been programmed to think that all men will be nice to us, will treat us fairly, and that if someone is abusive, it is our own fault, there is something wrong with me, etc.). Important too is having the author detail the steps she took to handle the harassment. This is a very supportive book for anyone enduring just such a situation (harassment as well as gender discrimination, which is a lot more rife and a lot less obvious). I'd recommend this to any woman who is willing to step outside of the traditional role, because we all need to know what we are up against, how the system is going to fail us, and especially all the steps we are entitled to take to combat this problem so that we change society's viewpoint and not just our own. I'd also recommend this to men, because there are many who are supportive of women in the workplace. Our husbands and boyfriends need to read this book to know how difficult it is for women, because in the end we can only effect a change if we all stand together.



4. As a minority faculty in the academics Frances Conley's book vividly portrays the reality of the ivory tower that, though pretentiously progressive in ideas, is way behind the iota of gender equality that exists outside the academe. I, sometimes, feel I am living in the medieval period when entering the academe.

   When I first came across this book I thought this must have been written in the seventies and I could share it with my students as a historical autobiography of sexism in an academic institution. I was horrified to find that it was written in the nineties about one of the most prestigious institution in California.

   I have always felt alone, alienated in the academe and of course disconnected from other women who were struggling too much to bother with the problems of their women peers. This book validated my experience and helped me understand where my alienation was coming from.

   I wish this book could be a standard read for all freshman students in all universities. Only when women who appear to be in power tell their stories of powerlessness and abuse can we act collectively to stop the misogyny that exists among our men and more particularly among our elite men.




5. Men groping women. Men coming on to women, and making incredible jackasses of themselves in the process. Men getting drunk and acting like barbarians. Men with one thing in mind. Men whose compulsion to talk about sex is so strong that they do it at highly inappropriate times in public. Men who think that pressuring women is their God-given right. If you think that what I just described is a high school football team on an overdose of steroids, you're wrong. These sexual antics weren't perpetrated by adolescents with testosterone bubbling out their ears, they were committed by male doctors at Stanford University. Not being stupid, these demigods put two and two together and realized that they could use their power to pressure women. One of these men made a fatal mistake, though: he pressured Dr. Frances Conley, a topnotch neurosurgeon and renowned researcher at Stanford. Bad move, fella. I suppose that guy never learned that if you're going to pick a fight, you don't provoke someone who can whack you back so hard you just might rethink whether it's wise to be a bully.

   As publicity spread about Dr. Conley's fight, more and more women came forward to reveal their stories. This was certainly an eye-opening book. Before reading it, I'd never given much thought about the sexual harassment of women in medicine and allied healthcare fields. Perhaps we're more civilized here in Michigan, because I've never seen or heard of any such hanky-panky. Well, let me revise that last statement: I have witnessed a lot of sexual inducement, but what I saw was women chasing men not the other way around. But everyone knows that those California folks are trendsetters.

   Dr. Conley never envisioned herself as a trendsetter, though. For years, she passively participated in the abuse until a concatenation of events convinced her that it was time to draw a line in the sand. To make a long story short, the men didn't believe she'd put up much of a fight, but she did, and they lost. Big time.

   (...) Perhaps the most chilling message in this book is that some men in positions of power are willing to use that power to stifle the careers of women. So what is an attractive woman to assume? That if she goes into medicine her pulchritude will serve as a magnet for sexual harassment? Perhaps this abuse is, unbeknownst to me, more pervasive than I think. I suppose because most of my friends are women, I can't understand men who view women as being somehow inferior. However, you shouldn't necessarily construe from that statement that I think women physicians are as competent, on average, as male physicians. There's no doubt that some are, and there's no doubt that Dr. Conley is a superior physician, not just competent. (...) My only major criticism of the book is that it is too focused upon abuse of women by men. Since the core of this book is hinged upon some of the depredations that ensue when power is abused, I think she could have achieved a more balanced perspective by pointing out that powerful people often use their power against men, too ý not just women. I've seen male docs fight one another with such a vehemence that it made the stories in Dr. Conley's book seem as pleasant as afternoon tea and cookies with a neighbor. Consequently, while I don't intend to trivialize the unfortunate reality of the abuse Dr. Conley documents, it's important to keep in mind that this abuse is but one aspect of a much larger problem. In defense of Dr. Conley, broadening the scope of this book to include other aspects of hospital politics would have diluted the message she wished to inculcate, and it would have made for a very unwieldy book. With that in mind, I suppose I'm on shaky ground by wishing that her book had a wider focus. Her book, her demeanor, her dedication, her resolve, and her competence are commendable. Dr. Conley is a great doctor and I am happy to have met her, however indirectly, by reading this book.

   Review by Kevin Pezzi, M.D.

5 comments about Cast A Giant Shadow: The Story of Mickey Marcus Who Died to Save Jerusalem.

1. An unusual, rather bold title; however, 'Mickey' Marcus was an unusual, incredibly bold man. The author keeps you turning each page with disbelief that this book is covering the shortened lifetime of ONE man! His list of accomplishments would look like a who's who list, only they were all accomplished by ONLY him. No matter how avid a reader, you will find yourself saying "How could one guy pull ALL this off and How come I've never heard of him before" I usually read a biography a day. This is by all means the most unforgettable and without a doubt my highest recommendation for anyone interested in the flame within man. And once you have heard of him (for this is not a book that you could put down without finishing) you will find there are thousands of web pages honoring multitudes of his individual achievements; but, this is THE book about ALL his achievements and his biographer is a GREAT writer allowing us an intimate look at an amazing person.



2. This book is a fantastic biography of an amazing man. He is a man who should be loved by those who love freedom, and hated by those who despise freedom. This book intimately details the sacrifices of this war hero in both WWII and the Israeli War of Independence. Ted Berkman does a superb job in documenting the feats of this man, enabling David Mickey Marcus to serve as a role model for future generations.



3. A well written story of one of the most unusual American war heroes as well as a stirring account of the birth of Israel.



4. I was surprised at how good this book is, and how much work must have gone into writing it. Berkman who for most of his professional life was a screenwriter did a tremendous amount of research to tell this story. As a screenwriter he increases its readability by casting a great deal of it in dialogue, though this raises questions about his 'fictionalizing' at certain points.
   Nonetheless there is a strong sense of the overall reliability and authenticity of the narrative. The story is a fascinating one. Marcus was a true hero , a person of tremendous personal courage and ability. He was a fighter and a man of many accomplishments. Born to a poor Jewish family, and orphaned of his father in his early years he worked hard to win entry to West Point where he was intercollegiate welterweight boxing champion. He had a successful Army career including a stretch as head of phystical training for the Army's elite Ranger unit, and was mustered out only to become Corrections Comissioner of the City of New York. But when the Second World War began he returned to the Army .He did important administrative work but eager to contribute to the battle on the ground, parachuted into the Normandy battlefield where his sense of command and battlefield savvy were vital . For his actions he won the Distinguished Service Medal, and the Bronze Star. . At the end of the war he was with Patton's forces and was among those who visited liberated Dachau. The horrors of the concentration camp deeply effected him, and were part of his decision when later called upon by emissaries from Israel, to go and volunteer and help the Jews in their fight for a homeland.
   Marcus made important contributions to the disorganized and beleaguered Jewish forces. He aided Ben- Gurion , and argued for the building of conventional forces and not simply guerilla units. He urged thus that the units of the Palmach lose their independent decision- making power and become part of the overall force of the Haganah. Marcus also made a great contribution to the Israeli forces in the battle for Jerusalem by pushing for the building of an alternative route, the Burma road to Jerusalem. It was while doing this that he was killed when a guard mistook him for an enemy soldier.
   Marcus was a character of great energy, imagination, and flair. Berkman tells how he too was a person of great humanistic ideals, a fighter for freedom and human dignity.
   One other central theme of the story is his relation to his wife Emma who suffered his long absences but remained the anchor of his existence. The book is filled with moving excerpts of his letters to her.
   Berkman's tone in this work is upbeat and promotional. He tells the story in an exciting way. Here it is possible to wonder whether he might have done more in exposing the critical opposition to Marcus.
   But the book is an overwhelmingly positive and convincing one. In the course of it not only is Marcus' story told, but we have the sense of a different time, a different world and different values. This is most apparent in Marcus description of and feeling about the Israelis he serves with. He finds them to be energetic, idealistic, youthful , innovative , and above all courageous.
   Marcus himself came to beleaguered Yishuv, an underdog in its war against five Arab Armies, and made a major contribution to its victory.



5. A fast reading biography of a truly unusual and remarkable man. I recommend the book highly.
   
   Every year, during May, The United States Military Academy (West Point) has a memorial service commemorating Col. David "Mickey" Marcus. If you are anywhere near West Point, you owe it to yourself to attend the service.

2 comments about The Day I Fired Alan Ladd and Other World War II Adventures.

1. "Nobody on latrine duty ever got the Medal of Honor." This truism may be found in the wonderfully titled _The Day I Fired Alan Ladd and Other World War II Adventures_ (University of Missouri Press) by A. E. Hotchner. Hotchner may have done some latrine duty in his time, but it wasn't latrine duty that kept him from getting a Medal of Honor. It was show business. It is hard to be a hero, he reflects, but his book is a chronicle of how he sincerely tried to get a chance to show some heroism, and how (though he did his assigned Army Air Force duties with aplomb) he never got that chance. There are many fine memoirs of World War II service, with the last ones coming out now as that "Greatest Generation" passes on. This one is a funny, unique tale of typical military snafus that often sounds as if it was a chapter in _Catch-22_.
   
   Hotchner was eager to do his duty, and he knew just what he wanted to do, become a combat Navy pilot, because he admired the naval attire Dick Powell had worn in a movie. He persuaded a friend to join him in application to Navy pilot training. The friend got in; Hotchner failed his depth perception test. He then persuaded another friend to join him in regular naval officer training. The friend got in, and Hotchner was disqualified for flat feet. But he did get to enlist in the Army Air Force, and was overjoyed to apply to bombardier school. But somehow, his personnel file indicated he had written a musical in college, so he was required to write one for "I Am an American Day." He wrote as badly as he could, and the troops loved it. Hotchner got accepted to bombardier school, but General Fickle liked the show so much, he ordered Hotchner to perform it in all the states under his command instead. Eventually he was going to go into combat, but since he had theatrical experience, his next commander figured he was just the one to make a film about patrolling for U-boats, instead of actually patrolling for U-boats. When he finally was shipped to Europe, he learned in passage that Germany had surrendered.
   
   Hotchner may have turned his repeated disappointments into amusement after many years, but his slim volume reads wonderfully well as one big joke on himself. He has breezy raconteurship for so many funny stories, but there are some episodes that are serious reflections on his times. He has a meaningful encounter with Clark Gable, for instance, going through excruciating military training as a way of getting through the pain of the death of his wife Carole Lombard. He tells us about how New Yorkers wouldn't let a man in uniform pay for his own dinner and drinks, and he shows how women were liberated at the time occupationally and sexually. It isn't his fault this isn't a memoir full of battle heroism, but the war effort was diverse, and his is a unique story.



2. It never ceases to amaze me how many people in this world blame their problems on everybody else, never looking for the way through, only the way out or around. The statement in the "official" review of this book that Alan Ladd could not read a script is probably the most ridiculous thing I've ever read, and proves that this man did not know Mr. Ladd at all. I did. And the stench of sour grapes is permeating this memoir of a frustrated, scapegoat-needing fool so badly that I don't care to read it--ever.
   Call me overly sensitive, but when an idiot insults a friend--especially by writing a tainted story about him--what person will not stand up and defend their loved one?

No comments about An American Naval Diplomat in Revolutionary Russia: The Life and Times of Vice Admiral Newton A. McCully.