2 comments about Tanks on the Beaches: A Marine Tanker in the Pacific War (Texas A&M University Military History Series, 85.).

1. Tanks On The Beaches: A Marine Tanker In The Pacific War is the memoir of Robert M. Neiman, a United States Marine Corps combat commander, who served in the battles of Iwo Jima and Okinawa. A tale of struggling against an implacably determined foe, tracing the journey from the deadly fields war in the Pacific, to the uncertainties of war's aftermath, to the voyage home, Tanks On The Beaches (written with the assistance of Kenneth W. Estes) offers a vivid and firsthand account and is a welcome and highly recommended contribution to the growing library of World War II battlefield autobiographies and memoirs.



2. great book well researched honors the men who fought in some of the most
   horrible conditions in WWII

3 comments about Reluctant Lieutenant: From Basic to Ocs in the Sixties (Texas a & M University Military History Series).

1. Reluctant Lieutenant: From Basic To OCS In The Sixties is the true story of one man's experience in the training regiment of the U.S. Army in the late 1960s. Jerry Morton's journey through basic training, advanced infantry training, and Infantry Officer Candidate School during the Vietnam era are all recounted with a natural knack for storytelling, that draws the reader in to the picture of daily life, and the hell that military instructors put their cadets through - in the hope of making them better able to survive the hell that is war. A handful of black-and-white photographs illustrate this candid military memoir.



2. Reluctant Lieutenant is not like the usual war memior. Since Morton did not see combat, basic training was the biggest part of his short military career. Others who have seen combat will focus on combat in thier writings. I had the honor of listening to Jerry Morton speak to my class and was in awe of his military intelligence. You notice it too in the book that, eventhough he would not see combat and that he had no interest in the Army before "enlisting," Morton has an acute knowlege of warcraft that makes the reader wonder "would he have been a good combat leader?" I believe so.



3. This is a good book for veterans of the 1960s Army, since it's one careful writer's reconstructed memoir of the major events of Basic, Infantry AIT and Infantry OCS. Remember Zero Week? I'd forgotten. Remember the fear of having to repeat Basic? Author Jerry Morton doesn't waste energy finding reasons to hate the Army, and he builds his story with details not generalities. But being a Phd psychologist, he can be pedantic at times. He also seems to run out of gas by the concluding, OCS segment. His Infantry OCS was different from mine, in several respects, but he went through a year earlier, in the first half of 1967, so it might have changed by the time I got to Fort Benning in 1968. Basic and Infantry AIT, which will appeal to the greatest number of Army veterans, get the most careful attention. Morton did them in the fall of 1966 at Fort Dix, NJ, and Ft. McClellan, AL. Even if you weren't there (I did Basic and Cavalry Scout AIT at Fort Knox, KY) his details will spark plenty of memories. He uses pseudonyms and reconstructed (at best) dialogue to keep things moving, and often finds his truths in humor: "We had no idea how far we were going or where we were going. We were just going."

5 comments about Wreaking Havoc: A Year in an A-20 (Texas a & M University Military History Series, 91.).

1. Wreaking Havoc: A Year In An A-20 by Joseph W. Rutter (who served with the 312th Bomb Group in the Southwest Pacific and completed 63 missions over New Guinea and the Phillippines) is the personal story of an A-208 airplane, nicknamed "the Havoc" for the damage it inflicted, during 1944 in the Pacific theater. An in-depth recounting of the horrors of war and the singular experience of piloting airborne destruction for the sake of one's country, Wreaking Havoc is a riveting testimony and a highly recommended addition to World War II and Military Aviation studies reading lists and reference collections.



2. "Wreaking Havoc" by Joseph W. Rutter, Sub-titled, "a Year In An A-20". Texas A& M University Press, 2004.

   For many of us who were young boys during World War II, or directly after, the most famous aircraft were the big bombers: the B17 "Flying Fortress", the B24 "Liberator" and the B29 "Superfortress". The relatively small A20 "Havoc" was hardly mentioned.

   This book corrects that ommission. Joseph Rutter flew the A20 "Havoc" in some 64 combat missions in the A20 in the Pacific Theatre. The author lists all 64 missions on pages xv through xxi in the preface to the his book , which is quite a personal memoir of his war. The book actually starts with his father getting the author out of bed "...at 6 A.M. on Sunday, September 3, 1939 to listen to Great Britain's declaration of war on Germany..." Page 8. The author then tells of growing up, graduating high school, going to work for the FBI, and then leaving for flight school. He learned to fly both the B25 "Mitchell" and the A20 "Havoc", but it is apparent, in my humble opinion, that Mr. Rutter really loved the A20 the best.

   The book presents many details about the A20, with pictures scattered appropriately throughout the book. On page 105, the photo shows a pilot, Maury Owen, seated in an A20 cockpit. It is a tight fit. A big person, (say, the actor John Wayne, for easy identification), could never fit in the standard A20 cockpit. Rutter gives many somewhat technical details about flying the A20, including setting the manifold pressure to prevent backfiring of the engines, how to lean the gas mixture to fly the maximum distance and the proper method of firing the guns to prevent jams, and all of this material makes you understand in small fashion what it was like to live and fly in the Pacific War. Since the author was able to develop many of the pictures he snapped , he was able to bring the photos home with him. Therefore, the book is nicely illustrated with contemporary photos , including, for example, the village church at Dagupan, Luzon, the Philippines. (Page 184).

   If you want a complete story of what it was like, flying and fighting in the Pacific Theater in World War II, this book is an excellent choice.




3. This book only helped me understand a little more about the A-20 from a purely technical viewpoint. There was very little combat to speak of until one big mission over the Phillipines in 1944. I was expecting some more barge hunting, attacks on sea convoys and such.
   
   I've already read enough books on the Pacific war from a variety of campaigns to know about life during the island hopping campaigns and such. So, this book came as quite a disappointment.
   
   Not badly written, but not really a lot to sink one's teeth into.



4. Wreaking Havoc is an outstanding book well worth the money. The author was in the 312th Bomb Group from Hollandia, New Guinea and later he flew with the 389th Squadron, until the end of the Philippines Campaign and the Formosa Campaign. This year of battle left the author with many interesting comments and views of the war. He has included a number of excellent black and white photographs. As a pilot he does explain some technical things about the Douglas A-20 Havoc. He explains these things in a very easy to understand fashion for the non-pilots among us. He correlates his story with several clear and easy to read maps. After I turned fifty years old, maps became harder to read and these maps are clear and easy to read! He also speaks of his neighbor Bomb Group the 3rd Attack Group as they call it. He has excellent insight in military matters. The author says he has attended many reunions since 1948 and has drawn not only on his own recollections but also on the recollections of his fellow pilots and offical records. He does such an excellent job that I would like to see another volume come out in the future. This book is for the most part a people book. These are real people and he explains how they deal with war from day to day. While this does have some explanations of battles he was in, this is not the focus of the book. If you want to learn the history of the Army Air Corps battles in the Pacific War you should look to another book. This book is about men, their flying machines, and war. In this context it is a very well written book that was not only fun to read but also very informative. If I was given the opportunity to turn back time and buy this book again I would buy it without question!



5. My Dad flew in A-20's in 1942 and 1943 in the SWPA. He loved them. Unfortunately he did not write about his experiences. John Rutter's excellent book describes candidly and in detail what my Dad saw. Thank you from the bottom of my heart.

5 comments about In The Company Of Heroes.

1. Durant's story takes us from Black Hawk Down and gives us a persalized look into his ordeal in Somalia. But he also gives an itimate look into the lives and beliefs of his captors. This is must read book for anyone interested in the survival of the human spirit.



2. Excellent,excellent book. I'd recommend reading Black Hawk Down first for an overview of the battle, but even if you don't, either way, this is a great book. Mr Durant just tries to tell it like it is, how it happened, and tell the stories of his fallen comrades, who are the "heroes" from the title.
   
   I was in the 101st, in fact I was at Campbell when Durant was flying non SOG missions, and I went to Panama, so his career flashbacks were cool to read as I could relate. But even for someone who may not have been there, the flashbacks provide a backdrop for who he is, who the Night Stalkers were, and the mentality of these SOG operators.
   
   Fantastic read, highly recommend.



3. A riveting true story, well written. If you didn't already respect the skill and bravery of the US armed forces, you will after reading this book.



4. The book, In the Company of Heroes by Michael J. Durant, describes the life of a prisoner of war in Somalia. The fact that the officer actually was the prisoner, makes the book an autobiography. Durant wrote this book in hopes of bringing his life and death situations as a prisoner of war, to the real world. He wanted to explain how difficult life truly was and the experiences he went through on a day-to-day basis. He wanted everyone to see eye-to-eye on ideas such as war. By writing this book, those hopes can be expressed. This shows that there are many hardships but you have to persevere no matter how painful it may be.
   Michael J. Durant was born on July 23, 1961 in Berlin, New Hampshire. He then went on to enter the U.S army in August 1979. Michael was Chief Warrant Officer 3 in the United States Army 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment. In the war, he was captured and held prisoner on October 3, 1993. He was very high up on the list of positions in the army. The importance of his job also came with many responsibilities. For example, he had to learn and teach how to fly helicopters. Up until the war in Somalia, he led a pretty normal life. He has a wife named Lisa, and a son named Joey. Devastated to leave his family, he got prepared to fight for his country, which is something he was meant to do. His adventurous character has led him to do great things.
   Michael J. Durant did a fantastic job writing this book. He tells the story with great detail. This true story implants extreme images in your head. Coming from a first hand source, the story is even more meaningful. It makes you feel like you were actually there.
   Many positives were found throughout the story. One example would be how it shows Durant's life before and after he encounters his captivity. It was interesting to learn about the daily struggles he had to go through in order to survive and how different his survival instincts were before the war. The book is very suspenseful and keeps its interest throughout every chapter. The only negative would be that the book is long and at certain points, difficult to read for younger people.
   I would definitely recommend this book to anyone who loves suspense, intensity, and life or death situations.



5. I recently purchased this book, and I wish there were words enough to relay just how great it is. In the Company of Heros illistrates brilliantly the account of Night Stalker pilot Mike Durant, and his experience in somolian captivity. Mr. Durant may be a pilot by trade, however his story and how he tells it are amazing. This book is a great buy for anyone, but it is a MUST READ for any Army aviation pilots or aircrewmen.

No comments about Sea Time.

No comments about Music Bravely Ringing.

No comments about (I am) A Real American: Memoirs of a 3rd Generation Japanese-American USAF Fighter Pilot.

5 comments about Beyond Glory: Medal of Honor Heroes in Their Own Words.

1. The interviews are ace and remarkable in their clarity and insight. These are let down by the lack of context as to the battle within the wider campaign and a map or two would have enabled the reader to see the landscape and the positions, both would have added to the understanding of the action taken by each of the medal winners. Another example is the cover photo, listed as US Army coming ashore on Tinian Island in the Pacific Islands, which is sort of correct but Tinian is one of the northern Mariana islands (next to Sapian which was a major Marine victory) and was the home of the 509th Bomb Group which lead the atomic raids on Japan, a small detail yet one that would context this good book even better.



2. The book is wonderful...especially if you want to read about just people who through circumstances become- whether they want to or not---heros.

   If you want to see some of these stories brought to life---from now through May 2, 2004 you can see Stephen Lang (Stonewall Jackson "Gods and Generals") portray eight Recipients interviewed for this book at the Women's Armed Forces Memorial at Arlington Cemetery. (go to www.beyondglory.org) You will witness a performance that will leave quite an impression




3. Larry Smith's book brings you the reality of true heroes in their own words, just ordinary folks doing their jobs. Actor/writer/director Stephen Lang's theatrical production of "Beyond Glory" may bring you to tears as you join these men "just doing their jobs" in a most extraordinary way. Lang's transition from character to character is as fascinating as each character's endearing story. The play is currently running in Arlington, VA, at the Women's Memorial Theater now, but Lang hopes to take it on the road to colleges and community theaters across the country.



4. Beyond Glory is a book full of the memoirs of Veterans. The Veterans are Medal of Honor recipients who are telling their stories from WWII to Vietnam. This is a book for anyone interested in war related things. Since I like that sort of thing, I found this book to be excellent and worthwhile. The genre of this book is Non- fiction since it is real stories from real people. The author, Larry Smith, went to many living recipients and personally interviewed them to get their stories literally in their own words. That is another thing that makes this book so good. He also used great detail and seemed like he was really there telling you the story. I thought this book was excellently written and very interesting. I would rate it 5 stars out of 5 stars. This, in truth, was one of the best books I have ever read and recommend it to everyone, especially if you are a history buff and like to read about War.



5. This is the story of men who won the Congressional Medal of Honor. If you ever wondered what kind of men they were, this is the book for you. Each man's life is profiled, up to and beyond the event that defined their military life. The book ends with the actual words used when they were presented with the Medal. If you don't shed a few tears while reading this book, you don't have an ounce of patriotism.
   
   I thought it couldn't get better than the Medic who wouldn't bear arms, yet saved over 100 men single handedly in WWII, then I read the stories of ordinary men and real foul ups, who showed moments of profound bravery in the frozen Chosin Reservoir in Korea. I read the story of the longest held prisoner of war in Vietnam, horribly tortured, and of his wife, who led the crusade to finally get the men released. This is just an awesome book. You owe it to yourself and to your children, to read about the kind of people who have upheld this country against those who would destroy us.

5 comments about I Served.

1. ...It is beyond the shadow of a doubt, the best book I have ever read.
   I am retired, and reading non-fiction books about the Vietnam experience is what I like to do best. In the year I've been retired, I have read as of 5/8/03 between 75 and 80 books all relating to Vietnam and what these people went through.
   Mr. and Mrs. Hall's book "I Served" is without a doubt the best I have ever read. In all honesty and truthfulness, I can't imagine a better book to read. It has more to offer than any book, and I loved every word of it. The writing has a way of making you feel like your standing right there watching it all take place. It is a very rare quality to be able to write like that. I honestly feel if Mr. Hall ever wanted to, he could be one heck of an auther, and probably could write a good number of book's and have before long, a following of faithful readers.
   I would recommend this book to anyone and everyone over any other book I have ever read. I would like to say, Please check this book out. It's not an expensive book, it's worth is far greater than any amount you would pay for it. I can guarentee, you will love it the same way I and everbody else who read it does. This is a book you will be sorry you didn't read. And that's the truth. So help me God.
   From his day's in an orphanage, to the end of his tour in Vietnam, Mr. Hall reveils so much about himself that other people wouldn't want anybody to know. It is so honest and forthright as to put it a league all it's own.
   I will keep this book for as long as I live. And I will hope and pray that my two son's find the time time read it. I know it will have a positive effect on them both. And I'm sure it will have the same effect on you. You won't be sorry you bought and read this book, so please do for your sake.



2. This book sets a new standard in memoir writing with supporting documentation backing up the facts in this book, 'I Served.' It was the motto of the unit, 'I SERVE' that the author, Don Hall takes the title from and he has done the men a great service in this award winning book.
   
   Wait for the documentary 'Silent Victory' by, Don Hall and Annette Hall to come out! These two projects are the best to have been made showing the real faces of the Vietnam War from the men who were there and did the most dangerous job in the Army at the time ---- LURPING.
   
   On a side note, it is unconscionable how so many trifling and jealous Random House/Ivy/Ballantine Book authors (a dozen or more at least) have tried to stop the filming of their documentary and how they have smeared the names of all the good veterans in this outstanding book. Read it, believe it, because it's not one of those, "believe me 'cause I was there, this is what I remembered three decades later and I have all these fake and made up military awards" types of books.
   
   This book is based on actual radio communications and records from teams on the ground, other units, the gunships and controlled by the C&C ship of Lt. Colonel William C. Maus, Jr. (commanding) who was put in for the Medal of Honor for his actions during Tet 1968 with this unit.
   
   These men (220 strong), pulled an inordinate back-to-back patrols never witnessed before in military history and unlike the other platoon-sized Lurps of the time period. These men are the silent warriors written about with clarity, in-sight, character, and bravery in a modest way that Don Hall touchs you with each person in the book. This unit, as a whole, was so valuable in obtaining intelligence on the enemy, destroying the enemy that, in fact, the U.S. Army War College studied this unit Foxtrot Company, 51st LRP (Airborne) Infantry to set up the current-day 75th Ranger Regiment of the U.S. Army Rangers and F Company, 51st LRS (Long Range Surveillance) at Fort Bragg, NC. A must read with valuable lessons to be learned for the military historians and those interested in the times because it is more than a war tale. It's about the characters.



3. I was under the impression that this book was a true to life accounting of events leading up to the Tet Offensive of 1968. I bought the book based upon the recommendations here. I was disappointed to find that it was more of a heavily gilded diary, with little to no credibility where actual events are recounted.
   
   Further, I did not enjoy the overall ego-centricity of the contents, and would've like to read about the accomplishments of the men in this LRP unit, rather than the personal jabs (sometimes scornful) and off-hand speculations of the first-person author.
   
   I've judged the contents of this book as misleading, but perhaps others will enjoy it more as a story that plays fast and loose with the facts. I guess I was just expecting this book to be more of a hard-core Vietnam era combat account. [...]



4. Don and Annette Hall's "I Served" is plainspoken when compared to more literary works such as Michael Herr's "Dispatches" or Neil Sheehan's "Bright and Shining Lies". But it is an engaging first person account that accurately reflects the world view of some extraordinarily brave soldiers who were routinely in contact with the enemy.
   
   Reviewers who served with Don's unit have attested to the veracity of his story and I certainly concur. I was an Army photojournalist in 1967 and 1968 and to my knowledge was the only reporter/photographer to cover an F Company team on an ambush mission. I trained with Sgt. Carter's team for a week before we were inserted in an area of suspected enemy activity. The team was extremely well disciplined and were masters of stealth, moving silently from the LV through dry brush that would snap crackle and pop under the careless feet of most infantry units I accompanied. When the point man climbed a tree and spotted a base camp across a river, we hunkered down in a small clearing to observe enemy activity and determine the size of the force. That night an emeny patrol walked by no more than 10 feet from our concealed position. The next day, a team inserted nearby came under fire and we were extracted in advance of an artillery barrage and an infantry sweep.
   
   Decades later my memories of F Co. 51st Infantry LRPS are very clear but reading Don's book gave me insight into the unit I would never have known otherwise. It's clear that he and Annette have gone to great lengths to reconstruct events where memory alone fails. Back in the day most of us were prohibited from keeping journals so Don's National Archive research is instructional for anyone who would look to write about their own experiences. For those who study the Vietnam experience, Don and Annette provide an important testimony for those who served in front of the front lines.



5. I felt really touched by the life story of Don Hall. It is one of those veteran memoirs that are also a great story about love, healing, faith, redemption, compassion, courage and friendship. This book has all those things that can make your heart break or warm up. It is a story of a young boy who endures many emotional and physical hardships in a lonely and cold hearted orphanage, long before he was on his way to Vietnam to face the NVA and VC.
   
   Knowing Don and Annette as I do, made this story even better because I can tell that what was in the book was really all about love. That romance is still alive and well today. The book explores their relationship but it also explores the world that a young Don found himself in during the Vietnam War.
   
   What Don faced in Nam and how he handles himself makes for a real action packed adventure sure to satisfy those readers who enjoy war genre books however, there is much more spiritual and emotional depth to the story line as you follow the unfolding of the man Don was to become.
   
   I highly recommend this book to all readers. I believe that women may find this a book that they can take to their hearts. This is not a combat book but a book about one man's personal journey through his life in search of meaning and love.

3 comments about Surviving Bataan And Beyond: Colonel Irvin Alexander's Odyssey As A Japanese Prisoner Of War (Stackpole Military History Series).

1. I cannot of course write a review of this book yet as I do not have a copy. I do have the original manuscript and I will give you my opinions after I read the book. I am his daughter in law and the mother of his four grandchildren.

   Janet Alexander 4910 Meadowlark ln. DICKINSON tX, 77539




2. This was one of the best books on the subject of the Bataan death March and Philippine Invasion that I've read. Col. Alexander's personal account brings the events upfront and real to the reader. You truly feel part of the Col.'s ordeal. I reccomend it highly.



3. The editing was sloppy with reference numbers wrong. He irritatingly keeps using the word `object' when he means of course `abject' Annoying to have to keep flipping to the back of the book which is composed of one third references.
   However bearing he was an amateur I thought it was an interesting book and yes well worth a read of a first hand account of a quite dreadful experience.