1 comments about Grant and Lee: Victorious American and Vanquished Virginian.

1. I'd like to congratulate Mr. Bonekemper for writing 'the book that had to be written.' Grant's reputation has only very slowly recovered from the trashing it took during the decades following the Civil War. Mr. Bonekemper presents us here with the kind of analysis and statistical material that points to a very different picture than we are used to having of these two Generals. Expanding on what he has already mentioned in his other books on these two Generals, 'How Robert E. Lee Lost the Civil War' and 'A Victor Not a Butcher', Bonekemper presents us with a compelling and very readable comparison account of the two generals. The scholarship is bright and worth noting, the writing is excellent. I haven't been this pleased since my reading of Bruce Catton.

2 comments about Seasons of War: The Ordeal of the Confederate Community, 1861-1865.

1. This book is a great find for anyone desiring to get the southern civilian's perspective on the Civil War. Professor Sutherland deserves praise for his efforts in finding an incredible depth of resources to tell the story of a Confederate community, which, by virtue of its strategic location, found itself in the heart of this enormous conflict. The perspective Professor Sutherland brings to his subject gives this book a "readability" that easily separates it from many other civil war histories. The book really shines in its depiction of the affect the war had on the civilian population. In addition, this book details the beginnings of the concept of "total war" as created and put in force by the Union General, Pope (a new book is due soon from Sutherland on just this subject). This book shares the side of the conflict that is not normally exposed. Tales of unionists, free blacks and slaves in the area during the war are depicted along side the narrative of a proud Southern community as it anticipates victory only to see the inevitable conclusion. Located close to many battlefields, as well as being home to significant battles at Cedar Mountain and Brandy Station, Professor Sutherland points out that Culpeper was, perhaps, the community most affected by the war. A great book - easy to read and informative. When you are finished, you will have learned a bit more about this nation and the forces that have made us what we are today.



2. I live in Culpeper County, Virginia and am extremely familiar with local history. I live a half mile from Amissville and 1 mile from Waterloo, two communities that are mentioned in the book.

   This book is well documented and right on the money in virtually all aspects; historical content, accuracy and sequencing. This book is highly recommended for those wishing to get an unvarnished perspective of the impact of the Civil War on a typical community caught in the crossfire of the Lost Cause.

   Excellent reading.

5 comments about Corps Values: Everything You Need to Know I Learned in the Marines.

1. This book is an easy delight to read. Anyone who has ever had a passion for life, other than our daily dispositions, will covet the easy-to-grasp concepts about 'core values.' However, we all know, try with all our might, these concepts (virtues) are not that simple to master. It takes a lifetime of knowledge, information and experiences for us to bear the fruits of our existence. It takes a consistent flow of discipline!
   
   First, I want to heartily thank the honorable Zell Miller for his generous lust for life! All of my life, I have been searching for a mentor who I could respect with the brightest colors of honor, dignity, courageousness and passion. I read about them, but have never heard or seen one! (Boy would I love to meet him!!!)
   
   When I saw Zell Miller, as a Dixie Southern Democrat from Georgia, speak with a twang at the Republican National Convention on television; I could not hold the tears away from my eyes. I witnessed the greatest oratory in my life. The mastery and delivery of his speech put all the other presentations in the dump in comparison to his feisty 'rooster-calls.' 'Moral authority' and all his `core values' were oozing from the impeccable Zell Miller. I recognized in a heartbeat how quickly I would pick up my pistol (former Navy Corpsman, Reserves, and proudly attached to Marine Corps, Reserves) at his calling and fight with him to hell and back!
   
   This book is an affirmation of my 'corp beliefs.' It is a refresher course for virtues that almost disappeared due to strong influences from everyone else.
   
   America is reflected as a promise for a free society. A free society demands [broad'er] "characteristics which constitute the difference between a responsible and contributing human being and an unconscionable savage bent upon taking or destroying whatever they want that they are unable or unwilling to earn for themselves." (Miller, p. 105)
   
   We should test our liberalism and our conservatism, as long as the human condition does not sway to anarchy and we do not get 'self-absorbed' by too many excesses in any direction. This is America's challenge and that, my friends, is our Birthright.



2. Reminds a person of how things can be for the better.



3. Zell learned a great deal from the Marines. Honesty, loyalty, personal pride, respect. The Marines are not the only place these things are taught, but it is one of the finest. So many young people today have never been taught any of these. It is a shame that many of our youngest (and possibly, our brightest) are doomed to failure in life because of the things parents and society SHOULD have taught them. Fortunately, the Marines haven't changed.



4. Recently while conducting a manager orientation I realized that every value we want our managers to hold is expressed in Corps Values.
   Zell Miller captures the essence of what is missing in our approach to our everyday dealings.Anyone who has read The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People should also read Caorps Values. They go hand-in-hand.
   I have purchased copies for all of our managers and plan on having my children read this once they hit their teen years.Corps Values is a great resource for anyone looking for direction. This is true self-help.



5. I agree with LTC Kennedy. This is a great book for instructing young people. I do wish that Gov. Miller would read it for books-on-tape, most certainly in an unabridged version. Some of us just learn so much more listening to the voice and twang of a good Southern teacher, much like Shelby Foote.

4 comments about Tours of Duty: World War II Veterans' Personal Stories.

1. Whatever your station in life, Tours of Duty will touch you. In its pages Eleanor gives us a warm understanding of those who gave their hearts to us in defense of our nation. It is personal, touching, and accurate.
   This is a keeper, one you will want to share with family and friends.
   Bill Broach
   Retired Navy flyer, P3 F/E
   Retired airline pilot, L188, DC8, Boeing 727



2. Tours of Duty just 'gets it.' My father was a POW in Oflag 64 and endured the hardships of loss of liberty and freedom. Eleanor Bertrand captures all the inside feelings of this life as well as tells of Abe Baum's gallant efforts to carry out his orders.
   
   I believe she has brought to life the best of "If not me, then who: If not now the when?" The military persons picked represent America and how better to learn than to read about their lives in Tours of Duty.
   
   George Patton Waters



3. Ms. Bertrand has captured the soul of the Greatest Generation with her frequently heart-wrenching book of World War II veterans' stories. During her years of travel as a nurse with Military Historical Tours, the tour agency which specializes in taking veterans back to their battle sites, Ms. Bertrand collected wartime memories and lasting friendships. Now, as these World War II veterans pass into the winter of their years, Ms. Bertrand has gone one step further and put into print the kind of warmth and caring that these veterans had come to appreciate in person. As a real heir to the best tenets of the Greatest Generation she does them further service by revealing to future generations how our veterans can and should be befriended and honored. While her book is a definite "keeper", I plan to place a copy of Ms. Bertrand's book instead of a flower at the World War II Memorial on my next visit to our nation's capital.
   Rebecca M. Jackson



4. Nurse Ellie Bertrand's "Tours of Duty" is an exceptional accounting in first person voices of what it must have been like to serve in WW II. There is immediacy and truth in the many stories of the men she includes in the book. If you want to know how it was on Iwo Jima, Saipan, Tinian, the Battle of the Bulge, etc. how it really was to think your next breath might be your last, yet continue to do your job for yourself, your buddies, your country, you'll find it here. A great read!
   Dr. Jerry Brooker

4 comments about Amazing Women of the Civil War: Fascinating True Stories of Women Who Made a Difference.

1. This book did an excellent job on describing the roles in which women took part in during the Civil War. Webb Garrison did an excellent job choosing women to write about. Both Southern and Northern women were talked about, showing readers that these women were not as different as they had thought they were.



2. This was really good. It's about various women that helped shape the Civil War, whether by being Spies, Soldiers, Journalists, Angels of Mercy, or whatever. You'll be surprised how far some of these women went for their cause, and how much they accomplished in that time frame that provided them with so little independent resources. This book is a good introduction into these women, that may trigger your interest to learn more about them. I wish it provided even more information on these people, but basically it seemed to be a book to introduce you to these women and tell of their actions, then go locate more information about them.



3. I am a graduate student in American History with a focus on women and their roles in the Civil War. As such I was pleased to find Garrison's Amazing Women. However, once I started reading the book I was extremely disappointed. One of the first things I noticed was the lack of citations and a bibliography. Garrison neglects to credit anyone with the information he gathered for this particular work except to say that you can find alot of information on the internet. And while I understand Garrison's intended audience to be the general public where footnotes are found to be annoying, a bibliography would surely be helpful to anyone interested in learning more about these women. Furthermore, Garrison displays an attitude throughout the work that some of the acts and actions credited to women must surely be exaggerated. What I found to be particularly annoying with the work was the attention given to the men that were spouses to the women chosen for the work. If the book is about women, write about the women. To make matters worse, Garrison also includes among his Amazing Women a man that cross-dresses. This information is irrelevant to the subject. The only positive thing I can say about Amazing Women is that Garrison provides a nice list of women who played important and diverse roles during the war. So, if you are looking for research, this book is a huge disappointment. But if you are looking for a quick read where all the information is assumed to be correct, without providing any proof then this is your book. However, if you are truly interested in learning about women's roles in the Civil War I would suggest Mary Elizabeth Massey's Women in the Civil War (University of Nebraska Press, 1966) or Elizabeth D. Leonard's All the Daring of the Soldier (Penguin Books, 1999).



4. This book gave too many unwanted details and needed to cover the women in general. I do like interesting facts every once in while, but these facts weren't even interesting. It was also poorly written. I would not recommend this book to anyone!

5 comments about My Battle of Algiers: A Memoir.

1. This book is a real pageturner. I had a hard time putting it down and finished it in record time. This is the kind of book you will refer back to. It has many memorable passages. I don't want to say too much in order not to ruin the story for anyone. But I particulary enjoyed how events kind of turned the tables on the writer. The fact that it is all based on real events makes it that much more interesting.
   
   The author mixes the story telling between a first person account of his experiences and an overview of what was happening at that time in the larger picture. He also fills you in on what becomes of all the characters you are introduced to in the story. As far as the criticism I read in another review that the author doesn't document enough, I don't agree with that criticism because it's very clear that this is an account of his experience as he percieved it. When the author is writing of events that others told him about, he says so. He leaves it up to you to decide whether to believe what others told him or not. If someone doesn't agree with one of the authors opinions then they should just say so instead of inventing phoney criticisms. I didn't agree with all of the authors opinions but I appreciate knowing them. Again when the author of this book is expressing his opinion it is clear from the writing style.
   
   Over all I enjoyed this book tremendously and recommend it to anyone interested in the subject matter. This one is a keeper.



2. There should be no question about whether everything in this book is exact or not- it is the truth of a worldly man reflecting upon the truth of his experience as a young man in war. All wars resemble each other. Algeria seems especially notable because of its brutality and in some ways its simplicity. The inherent contradictions of a split society of colonials and arabs were thrown into relief during the war forcing, as planned, the untenability of French rule. The violence was staggering in its casualness: everything was permitted. Similarities of the battle of Algiers to current conflicts are there to be made and perhaps should be made placing the course of future wars along a continuum beginning after WWII. There might be some utility in that.
   As a report from an ardent young man compelled by duty and conscience the war was a hard reckoning. There is not an ounce of self pity here but a reader can't help but wonder if without his charm and line whether he would have not ended up like his friend Dourakine, hardened and antinomian, indifferent to the result when passed, prepared for more of the same, likeable but inexorable.
   Morgan is charmed ( he has amazing luck) but the cost must have been immense despite the hand of serendipity which after all can explain only so much.
   He writes well and I'm glad he told his story in his clear unflinching prose.



3. Morgan chronicles his experience as a conscripted French soldier sent to Algiers during the mid 1950s. There is some interesting history and Morgan's recollection of events is almost suspiciously detailed. Though generally well-written, I had a couple of problems with this book that keep me from giving it more stars. First, Morgan has a habit of referring to, and describing several public figures in a familiar way, as if he knew and interacted with them regularly which he clearly did not. This is important because Morgan ascribes motives to many of these people which, as far as I can tell, he has no basis for. Secondly, Morgan in his preface asserts that the use of torture by French paratroop regiments brought about the puting down of the FLN. Though I have no doubt that harsh and sadistic tactics were employed as described by Morgan, he was not party to those sorts of interrogations and his knowledge of the use of torture and the resultant intelligence gained from its use is purely second and third hand which makes me question whether he is in a position to make assertions as to its degree of effectiveness in acquiring actionable information. Morgan further discussses the dehumanization of the torturer and his victim, but again, Morgan has no first-hand experience (with the exception of a single instance in which he repeatedly punched a prisoner w/o interrogating the person) on which to base (what is probably an accurate) this hypothesis. I could not help but sense that Morgan is the type of person who harbors petty and immature resentment of others, based on his offhand slap at his cousin, John Negroponte as well as the general air that seemed to be present within the French military at the time. Namely, paratroops were seen by the rest of the conscripted army as overly gung-ho warmongers, wheras the conscripted ranks come across as little more than lazy, negativistic whiners.



4. This is a personal history recounted a half-century after the fact, so Ted Morgan (formerly Sanche, the Count of Gramont) should be given a little journalistic license. Many of the scenes are recounted with a novelist's precision, with pages of dialogue that the author couldn't possibly recount verbatim.
   
   The author wins us over at the outset by his self-depiction as a rather silly, spoiled, and lazy young man. A diplomatic brat raised in both America and France, he transfers from the Sorbonne to Yale. Then comes the Columbia J-School and some dullish work for a paper in Worcester, Mass. The French Consulate phones him up and reminds him it is time for his National Service. And so the scenes shift quickly to a hellish French-army bootcamp, officers' school, the back hills of Algeria, and then at long last to the lush and legendary city of Algiers, where he works in the propaganda department of counterterrorism chief Gen. Jacques Massu.
   
   The year is 1957, and the Battle of Algiers is on. The FLN is leaving package-bombs throughout the European quarters of the city, killing and maiming dozens. Thanks to brilliant intelligence officers and dedicated, seasoned paratroopers, Massu and company completely break the FLN network and win the war. (A few years later Algeria would be handed over to the FLN revolutionaries, but that was an outcome of French political debate rather than military failure.)
   
   During his free time, the author has an affair with a wealthy colonial woman (a real-estate heiress named Georgette Cohen; her husband is conveniently out of town), and then an irksome friendship with an Arab girl with FLN sympathies and a day job with the French government. He entertains visiting American politicians and socialites when they come to town. These social notes let Morgan suggest things that would be hard to substantiate in a more serious history.
   
   For example: the French (in France) were not too fond of Algeria, and didn't feel particularly attached to it. The police corps in Algiers was corrupt, under the thumb of the Corsican mafia (these are the author's recollections, remember). Only a large minority of the one million colons, or colonists, were actually French in origin: the rest were Maltese, Spanish, Italian, Jewish, German. Furthermore at least 15% of the non-Arab population of Algeria were Jews. Many were of Sephardic background--they'd been there for hundreds of years--yet unlike the Arabs they were given full French citizenship.
   
   The Algerian War was therefore not really a matter of Arab vs. European. Morgan tells us that funding and encouragement for the FLN came as much from European activists as from pan-Arab ideologues. The army regarded the colons are selfish and annoying, a tail wagging the dog, a colonial mistake well past its sell-by date. I had vaguely imagined that the army in Algiers was a seething nest of disgrunted OAS men, but that does not seem to have been the case in 1957.
   
   The book has two endings, the conventional one in which we're told how the French finally pulled out of Algeria in 1962, and Ted Morgan's personal one. Shortly before his national-service term was up, he got arrested and held for three days on suspicion of espionage (for the USA). Though the incident ended fairly amicably, it appears it put Sanche de Gramont off his native country for good.



5. This was a great book! The author presented an evenhanded and accurate account of events. I HIGHLY HIGHLY recommend this to anyone with an interest in French history, North Africa, or International Affairs/History.

No comments about Red Partisan: Memoirs of a Soviet Resistance Fighter on the Eastern Front.

5 comments about Heavy Metal: A Tank Company's Battle to Baghdad.

1. Kudos and thanks to Captain Jason Conroy and veteran journalist Ron Martz for a compelling, inspiring and instructive combat story about Charlie Company's battle to Baghdad. The book provides a clearer vision of war for those of us who have never been in combat and presents some awesome personal stories in that "up close & personal" way. This is an amazing story of survival - all came home - from Charlie Company. The story is told in an "unspun" version which is very refreshing. Telling us what went right and what went horribly wrong shows that Capt Conroy and Ron Martz took off any "armor" that some may use to hide the truth. The portrayal of courage and the commitment of the young soldiers was very poignant. The book should be read and viewed as one of those rare accounts you can read and truly look at the "lessons learned" and carry them as vital tools for the future. One cannot be the same person after reading this gripping story of what these men went through on their way to Baghdad. I highly recommend this book to any person who wants to learn more about the reality of war and a profound example of the human spirit at work under adverse and life threatening conditions.
   Review by: J. Glenn Ebersole, Jr., Founder & Chief Executive, J. G. Ebersole Associates and The Renaissance Group (TM), and author of "Glenn's Guiding Lines - Thoughts From Your Strategic Thinking Coach" Newsletter.



2. Heavy Metal is a very informative book without losing the reader in trivial information. Prior to reading this book I did not know much about tanks. Conroy describes tanks, their crews, and the impact of tanks in modern warfare quite well. Some other reviews have mentioned that it lacked detail, but I believe Conroy did an excellent job of describing what he saw and what his group accomplished. His portrayal of his men and the army appear to be quite honest. He admits to problems he faced while he also describes how he and his men problem solved. I would recommend this book to those entering the service as it provides perspective on leadership roles.



3. Heavy Metal is an outstanding and insightful glimpse of the innerworkings of an armor company training and going to war. The authors' dedication to put the soldiers at the forefront of the story truly shows. For this reason, Heavy Metal succeeds at clearly illustrating the bravery, tenacity, and creativity of the armor warriors that fought during the famed Thunder Runs into Baghdad.
   Considering the conditions that the authors endured and the short time involved getting this fine work to print, Heavy Metal is an indespensible reference for the combat operations that shaped the beginning of Operation Iraqi Freedom. This book will not only make you proud of the soldiers that fought through tremendous uncertainty and harsh conditions, it also illustrates how armor (tanks) can be used in future operations.



4. I picked this up to read on a month long travel trip. I ended up reading it in one sitting! Consequently, Im very glad I had also purchased a few other titles on the same topic. I really good read, disturbing and terrifying at times with a great deal of insight, but a great read.



5. Pretty good and straight to the point. Not to much offhand detail descriptions of every little thing. Pretty factual and reads quickly. I am a retired armor soldier and this was a pretty good book. I would like to find one written from a crew members point of view but this is close being a company level view of things.

3 comments about War in the Boats: My WWII Submarine Battles (Memories of War).

1. Capt. Ruhe captures the essence of the submarine officer. The frustrations, hardships and ultimate glory of the silent service are powerfully captured on every page. The patrol accounts make you feel as if you were there. Ruhe details all his daily concerns, both as a junior officer, and as the Executive officer. You get a good feel for his leadership style, and those of the other wardroom officers. I only wish he had included some of their accounts of different incidents to get a broader feel for the story. The prose is easy to read and spiced with homey wartime era ancedotes and subtle humor. I Recommend it to all Navy officers, especially Submariners and any WWII history buffs



2. As a reader from Germany interested in history I already read a number of memoirs from German submariners and technical/historical literature on the topic. So in comparing this book with the above mentioned ones my mind just forms one question: How did this bunch win their war? And the answer: Because Japanese ASW-effectiveness was near to nonexistent. Facing an adversary as Great Britain it would have been doubtful if any of the submariners in US-boats would have survived. But this author as many others lament the high losses (about 50 boats with crew; for comparision:Germany about 700 boats, 30000 of 40000 men). At least he does not boast the 'welldeserved' victory as is typical for US-authors. And he even apologizes for his sometimes jingoistic diction being result of wartime mentality. Having said this I can admit that I enjoyed reading this book,for it is an interesting and first hand insight view of US sub warfare in WW2 and a counterweight to the standard literature centered on either technic or 'big picture' history.
   I can recommend this book with the above mentioned restrictions.
   But do read some similar books written by German submariners for balance (but not 'iron coffins', that is biased to say the least).



3. War in the Boats is a classic in the field of submarine history and World War Two history. It's a good read, highly entertaining, and filled with information about the war from the first person perspective of a young officer in the silent service.
   
   Inside you'll find spine-tingling stories of what it was like to serve on a diesel boat in the war. The tight confines, harsh conditions, interesting flushing systems for toilets (let's just say you didn't want to plug the bore of this breach feed weapon), stunning bravery, chance and a depth charge so close light was seen through the ship's hull.
   
   This book really puts into perspective the dangers of submarine warfare in the war and does a very nice job of presenting the history of the Pacific war without bogging the reader down.
   
   This book easily compares well to it's contemporaries such as RADM Dick O"Kane
   s Clear the Bridge and Galltain's Take her Deep!
   
   But enough! I'll ruin the book for you if I tell you more.

1 comments about George Rogers Clark and the War in the West.

1. This is a wonderful work; well written and well researched with superb insights into events of the American Revolution that are usually ignored or only given scant coverage. The only real weakness is the book's brevity which does not allow the full development of the author's ideas or enoough detail on important issues. The bibliographic essay is wonderful and provides an outstanding guide to the sources on this fascinating topic.