No comments about An Uncompromising Secessionist: The Civil War of George Knox Miller, Eighth (Wade's) Confederate Cavalry.

2 comments about Bomber Harris.

1. There have been many books and comments about Bomber Harris over the years. Even Harris published his own book but didn't cover everything. This book was written using all of Harris's private papers.

   Not only does the author, Henry Probert, do a great job of presenting Harris's point of view but he presents opposing points of view as well. This book probably does the best job of presenting the most objective view of Harris to date. In some respects it does favour Harris since it is from his private papers. This is an extremely valuable book about Harris and is a must for any student of Bomber Command.

   The author does a great job of presenting Harris the man from birth until death and deals with such topics as his leadership style, the public's image of him, his contemporaries views etc. The many misperceptions of Harris and how people once meeting him in person said Harris was not anything like the image that has been painted of him. A very excellent book! We need more like this one.




2. This book gives an interesting profile of one of the great commanders of World War 2. Although written in a dry style, it brings to light many little-known facts about this most controversial man. Known as Bert to his friends, "Bomber Harris" to the press during the War, and "Butch" (short for "Butcher") to his aircrews, Harris took a demoralized and dispirited RAF Bomber Command in 1942 and built it up into a most formidable force that played a vital role in the defeat of Nazi Germany. The author points out that the policy of night-time area bombing designed to destroys the cities that served as the locations of the German war industries was decided upon before Harris became Commander-in-Chief of Bomber Command. Within a few weeks, he put together the extremely risky Operation Millenium, the thousand-bomber raid on Cologne, whose success proved to skeptics the power and effectiveness that Bomber Command was capable of wielding. Although it really took another two years to make the bombing campaign really effective, it has been proven beyond a doubt that German war production was severely damaged by the bombing campaign since it has been shown that German production increased rapidly when Bomber Command was forced to change its targets from the German cities to others in France related to Operation Overlord in the first months of 1944.
   It is true that Bomber Command suffered high casualties (a crewman had only a 30% chance of surviving a 30-operations tour of duty) but their sacrifices helped keep Stalin and the USSR in the war in 1942 and 1943 at the time when they were suffering immense losses and the prospect of a Second Front looked far away (Churchill was always afraid that Stalin might secretly make a deal with Hitler and pull out of the War). Harris worked diligently day and night to get the resources and aircraft Bomber Command needed and to keep the morale of his personnel high. Although he refrained from visiting the air fields, probably due to a reluctance to face men who could possibly be flying to their deaths in a few hours, as well as the knowledge that the station commanders could be putting on a "show" for him that masked real problems, he did maintain continuous contact with low-ranking people from the air and ground crews in order to find out help them do their jobs more effectively and comfortably.

   Probert, although very sympathetic with Harris, does not hesitate to point out flaws in his subject's personality. For example, Harris broke up his first marriage by having an affair while he was away from home and after his divorce he had a problematic relationship with his children. After the War, Harris developed a strange admiration for Hermann Goering who was not the "noble knight of the air" that some may have thought but was one of the most powerful and cruel of the Nazi hierarchy and was one of the key figures in the Nazi terror even before Hitler's rise to power and who played in role in the Holocaust. Similarly, Harris opposed the Nuremberg Trials. He also said he only felt "hatred" for the Germans once, during the bombing of London whereas others like Battle of Britain hero Group Captain Douglas Bader was not ashamed to say years after the War that he hated the Germans for the evil they brought to the world. In any event, perhaps these quirks gave him the personality traits that were needed to cooly, night after night, send thousands of young man on very dangerous missions to bring death and destruction to the German enemy. Maybe someone more sentimental and emotional, both to his family and to the enemy, would not be able to stand up to the strain. We could perhaps compare him to other great commanders like Generals Patton, Montgomery and MacArthur who also had personalities that rubbed many people the wrong way:
   Probert also demolishes myths that have sprung up after the War such as:
   (1) Harris ordered the supposedly unnecessary bombing of Dresden when Germany was already supposedly defeated out of some sense of blood-lust and vengeance. In reality, he opposed the mission since it was located in eastern Germany and would expose his aircrews to extra danger due to the longer trip, but the allied leaders insisted on having the raid carried out since it was not at all clear at that time that Germany was at the point of collapse and they wanted the Soviet Armies to advance into Germany as fast as possible
   (2) Harris had a contempt for "colonials" and sent them on the more dangerous missions as cannon fodder in order to spare "real" Britishers. In reality, Harris moved to Rhodesia as a young man and considered himself a Rhodesian. After the War he went to live in South Africa, so he indeed considered himself a "colonial"
   (3) Harris was not given a peerage after the War as were many other senior British military commanders because the Labour goverment felt "embarassed" by the strategic bombing campaign and wanted to forget about it. In reality, there is some truth in the fact that people wanted to forget about the bombing campaign, and it is also a fact that no "campaign decoration" was given to the air and ground crews in Bomber Command, but Harris was indeed offered a peerage, but turned it down, partly as a protest against the refusal to grant a campaign medal, but also for personal reasons in that outside Britain (where he intended to live) a peerage was not necessarily viewed as something desirable.

   All in all, this book is must reading for someone interested in World War 2, military history, and the characterists of a great military commander.

1 comments about In Perfect Formation: Ss Ideology & the Ss-Junkerschule-Tolz (Schiffer Military History).

1. This book discusses the philosophical basis of National Socialism, as a rejection of principles common in Western thought since the Renaissance. It focusses on the intended nature of relations of Germans among themselves, rather than the usual emphasis on relations between the German people and enemies of the state. The role of the Junkerschule Tolz in furthering this philosophy is discussed, along with a brief discussion of military training at Junkerschule Tolz. There is a nice collection of photographs of the Junkerschule Tolz.

2 comments about The Field Men: The Ss Officers Who Led the Einsatzkommandos - The Nazi Mobile Killing Units (Schiffer Military History).

1. I'm a little surprised that a review of this excellent book has not been written sooner. French McLean has once again proven his ability to conduct archival research and translate it into a creative and effective reference tool for serious historians. I highly recommend this book--it is a jolt to the senses to see how mainly ordinary bureaucrats could be lured by the "system" into committing the massive-scale murders that they did. This is probably the first book of its kind to present that depth of insight into Heydrich's SD. Well done, French.



2. Consisting of a long section presenting (very abridged) cv's, and a photo section, the photos are what makes the tome valuable. These pictures aren't to be found elsewhere, and for those who are fond of reading facial features, they make for a very interesting journey into the heinous world of everyday neighbors turned mass murderers. The leaders of the Einsatzgruppen in particular were a crowd of often accomplished lawyers conversant in several languages, so their voyage into the abyss is all the more disturbing.
   
   Not a few of the likenesses shown in this volume might have blended in at any Ivy League law school. Also, note a faint resemblance of one of the most bloodthirsty Einsatzgruppen leaders standing trial in Nuremberg, Paul Blobel, to the Unabomber. (Blobel having been the person who, driving with Albert Speer to Blobel's quarters near Kiev one night in 1941, passed through the Babiy Yar valley. According to Speer, the car headlights illuminated the earth erupting with eerie fog plumes the way the Yellowstone Park earth erupts. Blobel turned to Speer and remarked: "Here, my 30.000 Jews are resting.")
   
   As more information related to the persons shown is to be found on the internet at a mouse's stroke, the cv section is basically just a starter, and could well have been done away with.

3 comments about You Only Blow Yourself Up Once: Confessions of a World War Two Bomb Disposaleer.

1. I started reading this book on Sunday and didn't put it down until two days later when I finished it. It is a great historical perspective of Navy bomb disposal experts and their role in the Pacific during World War II. Lots of personal insights on the battle for Iwo Jima. I strongly recommend it for history bluffs and those who enjoy reading a great biographical tale from a foot soldier (or foot sailor) of one of the greatest battles in our nation's history. Captain David E. Meadows, U.S. Navy and author of Sixth Fleet & Joint Task Force series. http://www.sixthfleet.com



2. Just a wonderful book by one of Indiana WW2 hero's. Serious content but lightfully written.
   
   Wayne Brewer



3. This book catches your attention if by nothing else than its title. You Only Blow Yourself Up Once, is a first-hand account of a bomb disposal expert serving in the Pacific during World War Two.
   
   Specifically, he arrives in Quadalcanal after the hostilities had quieted down considerably. He spends the remainder of his service time, taking apart unexploded bombs, torpedoes, and making recommendations on what type of explosive to present the Japanese military with. Interesting aspects of this book include a commando mission to defuse a bomb some island locals didn't appreciate.
   
   The nice thing about this book is it really makes you appreciate what the early EOD servicemen were doing. They were a brand-new all-volunteer section of the Navy dealing with some of the most dangerous activities imaginable. After all, defusing a failed bomb that someone dropped on you must take real guts. It was interesting to note no one wanted this guy's job!
   
   I also enjoyed the humor in this book. It's a nice easy read. An ambitious person could finish it in a weekend. But it has a lot of additional sources for further information. Most of all it does a nice job in describing the birth of this unique form of service.

No comments about Gunbird Driver: A Marine Huey Pilot's War in Vietnam (Blue Jacket Bks).

1 comments about Bravo Fortissimo Glenn Gould: The Mind of a Canadian Virtuoso.

1. Many performers have the talent to master their instrument and to play it well - but very few carry with them the magical power of charisma alongside that talent. "Bravo Fortissimo Glenn Gould: The Mind of a Canadian Virtuoso" is a look at, agreed to by many pianist critics, the most influential Canadian piano player in history and the power he held over crowds during his performances and the quirky and eccentric behavior that followed him off the stage. A thoroughly well researched biography and psychological examination of a mad genius to the classical music world, "Bravo Fortissimo Glenn Gould: The Mind of a Canadian Virtuoso" is a must for any collection looking at music and the people who perform it.

3 comments about Once a Marine: Collected stories by enlisted Marine Corps Vietnam veterans - their lives 35 years later.

1. Hello Chuck....and Claude....Although I ordered 100 of our books in hardback, I was too impatient to wait for them to be delivered so I went on line and purchased the electronic version of our book and just finished reading it...Chuck, I know you made some reference to our book being better than the "Greatest Generation" by Tom Brokaw and to that end I say..... We may be the "Last Generation". The days of sitting on the front porch swing listening to family discussions and getting up at 4:00 AM to deliver newspapers for $2.50 a week and attending school for all grades in a one room schoolhouse are but a faded memory. We may be fortunate enough these days that our children and grandchildren do not have to endure these conditions but maybe by reading our accounts, they just may be able to benefit from our experiences and enhance their lives in some small way.
   
   Thank you both for all of your hard work. My wife could not believe that our book was a thought in October of last year at our reunion and now is published. She should know by now that when a Marine takes charge things get done.
   Semper Fi! Joe Wadlow



2. Since I left the Marine Corps in September 2004, I have struggled with a few things. First being if I was really still a Marine, or is the motto "Once a Marine, Always a Marine" just a really good recruiting slogan? Second, what do I bring to the table in terms of intangibles based on my experiences and service? This book trancends generations and clearly opened my eyes to 1- I am, and always be a Marine, and 2- I bring to the table certain skills that no civilian, or member of any of the other services can comprehend. From the moment I read it, it changed how I looked at myself as a professional. I am no longer just a middle school teacher, I am a Marine who is teaching middle school. I think, come the fall, I will enter the classroom with a better understanding of how to utilize what the Corps taught me in terms of leadership, teamwork, and a dedication to the mission, and to use it in a way that civilians can appreciate and not turn off my students or co-workers.



3. Big results from a "small project" . The book is a collection of writings by former Marines who served during the Vietnam era. Each story is a life in three parts growing up, being a Marine and the impact of being a Marine on later life.
   
   In a society that seeks to manufacture self esteem as if it can be bottled, the Marines possess the "secret" formula that evades so many. Worthwhile self esteem is not given, it is earned. Their culture and the intensity with which it is injected into young men frees them of so much of what burdens today's youth. As Ronald Reagan said many years ago, " many young people today are looking for a purpose in their lives, our Marines to not have that problem."
   
   Discipline, teamwork, commitment to mission and to fellow Marines leaves a lifelong change as these stories document.
   
   This is a great book for young people considering the service as a place to grow or a career. It's also a reminder that there's not just one "greatest generation" in our nation's history.
   
   Highly recommended

2 comments about Meteor of War: The John Brown Story.

1. This book reads very well and covers all of John Brown's life and death, then also the huge range of responses to him and his career. The connections that Zoe Trodd and John Stauffer make between John Brown and Timothy Mcveigh is provocative. No one who buys this book will be disappointed.



2. I agree with the reviewer above - John Brown is one of those figures that noone really understands so a full length work with sources and analysis of Brown's writings like this has been a long time coming. I teach a class on the coming of the Civil War and my students have already been taught, like most Americans, that John Brown was at best a well-meaning madman. But this book shows the various John Browns of history and myth, so that, whether you agree with the actions of Brown, you will at least understand them better and see him as a complex and human individual. The Harvard authors have a sense for biography and history, and do convincing close readings of John Brown's own writings. Fascinating sources and great prose by the authors, good analysis of art a bonus. It's a good story and told well. I have some criticisms of the politics behind the book but this doesn't detract too much from the overall quality.

3 comments about First Marine Capture in Vietnam: A Biography of Donald G. Cook.

1. Retired USMC Colonel Don Price's first book is a masterpiece of research into the life and mysterious death of Marine Colonel Donald Gilbert Cook. He was the first Marine to be captured by the Viet Cong in combat in South Vietnam, and was the only Marine ever awarded the Medal of Honor for his extraordinary heroism while a Prisoner of War. In his honor, the Navy launched the Guided Missile Destroyer USS Donald Cook (DDG75) which maintains a motto of "Faith Without Fear" - an appropriate summation of Donald Cook's philosophy of living.
   
   Don Price masterfully portrays the misery and privations of Viet Cong jungle captivity. Slow starvation rations and deliberate withholding of medicines to combat jungle diseases made dying easier than attempting to survive another day in such hellish conditions. Two of Captain Cook's fellow prisoners were executed by their Viet Cong captors, and another died from the effects of malnutrition, kidney failure, and pneumonia. All the while, Captain Cook gave hope and inspiration to his fellow prisoners to keep alive, and selflessly gave up his meager rations to help his men survive another day.
   
   Over the years, released American prisoners had recommended Cook for the Medal of Honor for his heroism and untiring inspiration to keep them alive. President Carter approved the recommendation, but then declined to take fifteen minutes to present our nation's highest award for valor to the Cook family at a White House ceremony. Instead, a small but dignified ceremony was presided over by then Secretary of the Navy, the Honorable Edward Hidalgo, at the Pentagon's Hall of Heroes on May 16, 1980.
   
   This book is a terrific read, and strongly recommended for the USMC Commandant's Reading List. Additionally it is an inspiring story for all who serve in uniform as to the responsibilities of leadership in combat, and if captured to uphold every tenet of the Code of Conduct. It is one of the top three masterpieces of Vietnam POW/MIA histories in this reviewer's opinion.



2. Despite the ultimate fate of Don Cook known from the outset of the book, oddly I found myself "cheering" for his survival while a POW as if the story of his life was just a bad dream with a happy ending afterall. This is a masterful biography ripe for a movie.



3. Long before the names and battles of Khe Sanh, Hue City, and Firebase Gloria were seared into America's consciousness, there were Marines and soldiers fighting, dying - and being captured - in Vietnam.
   
   First-time author Donald Price's brings back the terror and heartache of these times. Price's thoroughly-researched biography of Marine Col. Donald Cook blends the story of Cook's wounding and capture in December 1964 through his December 1967 death with interviews from several of the POW's imprisoned with him as well as the equally courageous story of his wife Laurette and her four small children.
   
   An advisor to the South Vietnamese Marines, Capt Cook was the first Marine captured by the Viet Cong. Unlike the American aviators shot down over North Vietnam and interned at the infamous Hanoi Hilton, Marines and soldiers captured in the south were normally locked inside small bamboo cages in small camps throughout the Mekong Delta. As opposed to the systematic and calculated isolated torture of Sen John McCain, Adm Jerimiah Denton, and others, life in the south consisted of slow starvation, disease, and simply trying to survive in an extremely harsh environment.
   
   Author Price - himself a highly decorated Marine officer from the Vietnam era - details the abject misery endured by Cook and his fellow captives. Given only starvation rations by disinterested guards who also withheld the few medicines to which they might have access, often made dying easier than attempting to survive another day. But drawing on his strength as a Roman Catholic and a Marine officer, Cook took charge of the other POW's in the camp, and did his best to give them the hope to stay alive.
   
   Through his three years of captivity, his family received only one letter from him. Her major source of comfort came from the Marine Corps, as then-commandant Gen Wallace Greene, Jr. contacted her personally and ensured she and her children were cared for to the best of the Marine Corps ability - indeed, they continued to receive the benefits commensurate with her husband's rank, as he was promoted twice `in absentia."
   
   Col Donald Cook is the only Marine ever to receive the Medal of Honor while being held prisoner of war, and Col Donald Price has written a story of honor - courage - commitment that encompasses the entire Cook family. Highly recommended !