5 comments about Now the Hell Will Start: One Soldier's Flight from the Greatest Manhunt of World War II.

1. S. T. Chisam, Jr. says:
   Ledo Road Legend "Now the Hell Will Start"
   Brendan Koerner has done a great service to the black troops who served in the China-Burma India theater during WWII. His meticulous research has provided an accurate and gripping recounting of the life of Herman Perry, a black soldier who murdered a white officer and led his pursuers on a desperate and riveting chase. He has done a marvelous job of melding Perry's story into a history of the building of the Ledo Road and the war to reclaim Burma from the Japanese. His efforts have captured the true conditions endured by American troops in this far-off and nearly forgotten theater of war, the very essence of what it was like to live in that miserable climate. I can attest to his accuracy because I was there as a member of the 502nd. Military Police battallion, working as a motorcycle rider and truck driver. I hasten to add that our Headquarters Company was not connected with running the infamous Ledo stockade and as soon as the road was pushed into Shingbwiyang we were relocated there.
   Koerner has a great gift for storytelling, his book reads fast and you won't be able to put it down.



2. Crafting narrative non-fiction, especially in an historical context, is extremely challenging. Novelists can make up facts, but the non-fiction writer must make do with what he or she has. Yet Brendan Koerner has managed to produce a disturbing yet fascinating portrayal of a WWII soldier who kills an officer and goes native in the jungles of Burma. Koerner himself traveled to Burma to retrace some of his protagonist's steps, offering juicy gems and observations from people he interviewed. It's a powerful work, rare in this age of cookie-cutter narratives and celebrity obsession. (Full disclosure: I am a colleague and friend of Brendan's, so don't take my word for it. See the Washington Post review, as well as many others, which also give him kudos.)



3. Among the many strange and sad tales of World War II, one of the most peculiar ones is that of Private Herman Perry, who died in the jungles of Burma, one of the Americans sent there for the expensive and doomed Ledo Road that was to link India and China. Perhaps his story has been forgotten because of the futility of that particular expedition; perhaps it was because Perry was executed as a murderer; perhaps it is because his story is part of the shameful Jim Crow attitude of the Army, and of the nation, at that time. Whatever the reason, there are many important aspects of history surrounding Perry's story, and Brendan I. Koerner has done an admirable job covering a previously untold story in _Now the Hell Will Start: One Soldier's Flight from the Greatest Manhunt of World War II_ (Penguin Press). Although Koerner has written most extensively on technology, he was researching military executions when he came across Perry's story, and became obsessed with telling it. He has produced an insightful book of history, in addition to telling Perry's sad and forgotten tale.
   
   Perry was drafted after Pearl Harbor, but there was a delay in his entry because the Army didn't have enough segregated facilities to train black enlistees. He was one of the fifteen thousand American troops assigned to Burma to build the Ledo Road, whose ostensible purpose was to keep supplies flowing into America's Chinese Allies. Perry and the other soldiers worked sixteen hours a day. They got rations of corned beef and rice, and water with bacteria in it. Most of them got malaria. They fought off leeches and lice. Some were mauled by tigers. Perry's carefree disposition would not last in such an environment. He shot and killed a Lt. Cady when Cady attempted to arrest him, and he fled into the jungle to join a camp of Naga tribesmen, headhunters who had a mistrust of the strange newcomers to their region. When he was caught, he was sentenced to hang, but he escaped, and successfully eluded capture by the Army, tantalizing them with near-misses. His eventual capture was inevitable, and he was driven to the gallows on 15 March 1945. The Army worried that since Perry had symbolized the frustrations of the black soldier, there might be an attempt to attack the convoy, and the officers were told that in such a situation, they were to kill Perry before defending themselves. There was no such attack.
   
   Perry's family in Washington knew little of what was happening to him on the other side of the world. They were bewildered by what they knew of his situation, his trial, and his death. They did not know even where he was buried, but Koerner has played a role last year in bringing Perry's ashes back to his remaining sister. There was a China-Burma-India Veterans Association until attrition closed it in 2005; anyone who served three weeks in the region could join, but not one black was seen at the meetings, for it seems they had no nostalgia for their time there. Perry's story deserves the remembrance in this exciting and illuminating book. He was a clever guy, not a beacon of morality but also not born to be a murderer. Even if his life was not particularly important, his actions played out in a stupid and brutal arena of war, during a time when the Army and American society deliberately and overtly advocated oppression of black Americans. Understanding these times is still important; the crimes here (and they are more than the murder of Lt. Cady) did not have to happen.



4. _Now the Hell Will Start_ is ostensibly the story of Herman Perry, an African-American private who murdered a white officer, eluding the Army's search for him for months (even escaping imprisonment) before he was finally caught and executed. Through this story we learn of an oft-neglected theater in World War II, and of the deplorable conditions in which soldiers worked and fought, made worse by a Jim Crow Army. That Perry mentally cracked under such conditions is certainly understandable.
   
   The "Lido Road" was supposed to be a supply line to assist Chinese General Chiang-Kai Shek. At a cost of $164 million (in 1945 dollars - around $1.8 billion today) and an estimated 2 men per mile, it was a boondoggle of the first order. Constructed entirely by hand, men had to contend not only with Japanese booby-traps and monsoon rains that frequently washed away their efforts, but also suffer flash floods, leeches, lice, typhus, malaria, dysentery, and (literally) man-eating tigers.
   
   Added to this was the appalling treatment of African-American soldiers who built the road in a segregated Army that treated German POW's better than Black troops. Koerner makes Perry's case a microcosm for the maltreatment of African-American soldiers, and the regular injustices they faced - for example, while being searched for, Perry (rightly) fears that the MP's will shoot to kill rather than attempt to capture him and take him to trial. Koerner's history of the this part of the war, and of Perry's part in it was excellent.
   
   Perry sought and found refuge among the native Naga in the jungles of Burma, the primary reason the Army couldn't find him. (In accordance with the prejudical racial views of the time that held that African-Americans were lascivious sub-humans, they spent the majority of their time searching for him in brothels in Calcutta.) I was less enthused with his writing of Perry's time on the run - Koerner overly dramatized Perry's time with the Naga, an event that in and of itself was dramatic enough.
   
   It is a well written history: the strategic details between Stilwell, Chaing and Roosevelt contrast powerfully with the suffering and pointless drugery of the enlisted soldiers, their plight compounded by the Army's racial policies. The story of one soldier's experiences - and his resistance, resiliance, strength and brilliance makes for riveting reading. Recommended.



5. The tale of Herman Perry is beyond incredible. The details of his personal journey are thrilling and touching and it is remarkable that the story hasn't been told hundreds of times before. That said, I expect it to be told from now on. (No doubt a movie will be in the making soon - it has all the required elements in abundance.) Koerner manages to make the story into a complete and compelling narrative, no small feat, I think, given the dearth of material available on this matter.
   
   The bigger story surrounding Perry's individual trials, the institutional racism employed throughout the US armed forces throughout World War II, was a real eye-opener for me. The book is filled with details of the humiliation and suffering, both large and small, of black soldiers and officers. It is a wonder, as I believe Koerner himself expresses in the book, that there not greater riots and insurrections beyond those that did occur and were contained; the injustice is gross.
   
   All in all, a thrilling and informative book that I thoroughly enjoyed. If all historical biographies were this pleasant to read my shelves would be full of them. A great book.

5 comments about Boots on the Ground by Dusk: My Tribute to Pat Tillman.

1. Our country was shocked when Pat Tillman, who left a lucrative NFL career to join the army, was killed in Afghanistan in April, 2004. But that was just the beginning of it. The circumstances under which Tillman was killed, were unclear, and as it turned out were covered up. Now comes this book from Pat Tillman's mom.
   
   In "Boots on the Ground by Dusk: My Tribute to Pat Tillman" (344 pages), Mary Tillman (with help from journalist Narda Zacchino) brings an blistering indictment of how the Army misinformed and covered up the circumstances of Pat Tillman's death that fateful day. The first part of the book brings a mix of the author's memories about her son, together with the confusion if those early days and weeks after his death of what happened. Mary Tillman's recounts of how she dealt with the loss of her son are heartbreaking (I found myself choking up one a number of occasions). But the real value of this book comes in the second part of the book, in which she dissects, page after page, fact after fact, how the Army's explanations were inconsistent and untruthful. It is nothing short of an eye-opener.
   
   When a country is at war, "friendly fires" are going to happen, you can say. But is it not acceptable that the authorities (in this case: the Army) are not forthcoming about what really happened. The culprits in this tragedy are many. I do not understand the mentality that clearly exists about covering up the facts. Pat Tillman was a 'celebrity' and hence this incident has gotten a lot of attention, but as Mary Tillman points out in her book, there are many other incidents like it that have not gotten the attention but still happen. This book is not an easy book to read, in fact it makes for a devastating read, but I nevertheless highly recommend it. The "authorities" need to be accounted for, and be held accountable. The last has not been said on the Tillman case. Meanwhile my heart goes out to Mary Tillman and her family.



2. Mary Tillman has skillfully written a complex account of military and political blunder and deceit into which she expertly intermingles her own story and that of her family. The resulting narrative is personal, political and readable - all at the same time.
   
   Since the beginning of the war in Afghanistan over 500 American soldiers have died. Since George W. Bush invaded Iraq, in March of 2003, over 4100 have been killed and almost 4000 of those have died since the president's infamous declaration of "Mission Accomplished." Tillman's "Boots on the Ground By Dusk" is the beautifully written, but gut-wrenching story of one of those soldiers.
   
   By this time, I suppose, there can be few Americans who do not understand the general outline of the Bush Administration's complex push for war in Iraq. That campaign, as it has been uncovered elsewhere, involved the deliberate use of distortion and misinformation ranging from unambiguous lies suggesting a link between Saddam Hussein and al Qaeda, to tales of the non-existent WMDs, to neocon assertions of an American democratizing mission in the middle east.
   
   The larger-scale story of the Iraq war involves, among other things, the international repercussions of President Bush's attempt to assert American global hegemony in the 21st century. In stark contrast, this very personal book, written by the mother of pro-footballer-turned-soldier, Pat Tillman, is connected to that war at only the most basic level; that of the individual soldier. Nevertheless, as the book unfolds, it reveals a web of deception that matches the distortions at the international level. It is as if everyone connected to this administration's war effort is simply unable to tell the truth. It is as if dishonesty and manipulation have become part of their DNA.
   
   The book begins with Mrs. Tillman's account of staring into a fire pit. She is sitting in front of her home, the home in which she raised her children, smoking, listening to the crackling logs, and thinking, "I light my cigarette wondering what I would do if I couldn't smoke, if I couldn't blow out my anger, frustration, and sense of crippling loss into the night." It is a stunning description of the isolation and helplessness that accompanies unbearable loss, but the book that follows is, in one sense, an answer to her question. When blowing out anger and loss "into the night" was no longer enough she would ask questions, investigate contradictions, and write.
   
   In the earliest pages the reader is introduced to the extended Tillman family and how they become the people they are. They share ideas and debate issues. The attacks of 9/11 hit them hard and, in response, the two oldest sons, Pat and Kevin, decide to join the Army. It is not a popular decision. The youngest brother, Richard, reacts with anger, others are worried, and still others confused. Kevin is just about to leave a life in minor league baseball, but Pat will have to give up a promising career in pro football with the Arizona Cardinals. Pat and Kevin Tillman both become Army Rangers. On April 22, 2004 Pat is killed in Afghanistan.
   
   Initially the family is presented a version of Pat's death that has him leading a charge up a hill. That story is soon contradicted by news (first heard from a reporter!) that Pat may have been killed by "friendly fire." The army then constructs an official version of death by fratricide, but as the reports come in they are full of contradiction and ambiguity. The family, led by the author, demands answers. After intensive investigation and vigorous questioning the official version of death by "friendly fire" is altered. As more reports are written and, as the family investigates each the story, the official version is altered again and again. Tillman convincingly demonstrates that none of the distortions are accidental. Even the narrative that accompanies Pat Tillman's posthumous silver star is shown to be deliberately false. Despite the fact that the story involves detailed descriptions of volumes of official reports and two congressional hearings the book reads like a good mystery with the reader anticipating the next twist, the next revelation.
   
   Appropriately, it all begins with a quote from Charles A. Beard: "When it is dark enough, you can see the stars." In Mary Tillman's examination of this very dark incident in her life and, by extension, her examination of this very dark stain on contemporary American leadership, she manages to reveal some real stars. A mother who does not give up. Family members able to support each other in horribly difficult times. And Pat Tillman, a man of honesty and honor, who deserved better treatment from his government. "Boots on the Ground By Dusk" is an important contribution to our understanding of what has become of us in an era of politics by propaganda, but it is also a wonderful story of a family dedicated to finding the truth no matter what.



3. This book was so good that I read it in just 2 days. It was so good that I was unable to put it down. I would recommend this book to everyone I know.



4. This book turned out to be something of a puzzlement to me. According to its title, it is intended as a "Tribute to Pat Tillman," and the early chapters certainly bear that title out. They document a mother's trials and tribulations as she confronts an entrenched military organization in her attempt to learn the truth about when, where, how, and why her son died in Afghanistan. But there are also frequent flashbacks to Pat's earlier days. In those chapters, Pat Tillman can be seen in his true essence as the son that every mother would dearly love to have. It is clear that Pat Tillman was an exceptionally fine young man who dearly loved his life, his mother, his family, and his country; and that Pat's mother dearly loved her son.
   
   The latter half of the book, however, seems to deviate from this theme. Rather than continuing the "tribute" to Pat, amplified by such memories, it appears to document the author's frustration and anger as she struggles to determine who tried to cover-up the facts concerning his death, and at what levels of the military and/or the government it was authorized. I can't help but admire her for her efforts, but, to me at least, how and why her son died and who attempted to cover-up the facts and why are two different things. It is very easy to hypothesize any number of possible scenarios for either case, but as Mary Tillman and her family learned through this long and arduous process; chances are the truth will never be known; especially where it concerns those who instigated the cover-up and why they did it. I, for one, would very much like to know, but I don't consider that a tribute.
   
   The facts concerning the events surrounding Pat Tillman's death, however, appear to be quite clear if one is willing to accept the on-sight investigation and the interviews performed by Captain Scott within twenty-four hours of the event. But, for some inexplicable reason, the Army seems unwilling to give them any credence. To me it is obvious that Pat Tillman's death was a tragic mistake set in motion by poor decisions and inexcusable negligence, but also contingent on a remarkable sequence of events, a change in any one of which might have altered the outcome. What if the humvee hadn't broken down? Or, the platoon hadn't been split? Or, the jinga truck had been able to negotiate the road to Tit? Or, if Serial-1 hadn't missed the turn-off to Manah and, therefore, was long gone? Or, if the firing vehicle's view hadn't been obstructed causing them to cease fire just as Tillman tossed his smoke grenade? Or, if Tillman had waited just a little bit longer to ensure that firing had ceased before stepping into the open?
   
   I have often wondered why people write biographies of twenty-something actors and entertainers. What have they really accomplished? What does it matter? And, why should anyone care? Granted: Pat Tillman was a twenty-something when he died, but he is also an American hero and his life is over -- and it does matter. So I'm glad this book was written. It is unfortunate, however, that all the facts concerning his death will likely never be known.



5. the passages from the memorial services are alone worth the read, Pat Tillman was someone I had an enormous amount of respect for and his brother, Kevin and mother, carry his memory with respect and appropriate outrage.

5 comments about Rogue Warrior.

1. For those looking for info or accounts of escapades and adventures a la The Unit, look no further. Richard Marcinko lived the life, lead the life, and ultimately had to deal with that life. From it all he is able to capture an image and accurately convey this to us, and to it is a style all his own.
   
   Right from the first page you are drawn into Marcinko's life and you want to cheer for him. He is fighting for our country and protecting us. Of course there is the gruesome side of the necessity of killing, of the almost joy of killing that underlies Marcinko's writing, not only within himself but within his fellow Seals as well. Alas, to those not in the field this may be hard to understand, but putting yourself in their shoes with enemies all around you, the only course of action is to shoot to kill, and who better to have do this than those that live on that thrill? Gruesome? Yes. Necessary? Yes, in real life and in Marcinko's writing of his life.
   
   We follow him from when he was a Frogman to joining the Seals and going to Vietnam. His personality is very strong and this flared to life in Vietnam and ultimately started his move up the ranks. Then there is the creation of Seal Team Six, which to the laymen is only fathomable on the television, so to hear Marcinko describe what he and his men were up to was absolutely fascinating. Further on his deployment to test the nation's most "secure" facilities... This was a hoot and I loved reading about this. Granted, I don't want to see that our tax paid facilities are as vulnerable as they were, but I would rather have our experts discover these flaws than some other bad guy.
   
   All in all, a great read. We are able to see Marcinko's life with a flare of writing to accurately convey his personality. I would recommend this to anyone.
   
   5 stars.



2. An old pants crapping hippy from the 60s will probably tell you about tripping on LSD for the first time, well Richard Marcinko tripped on Cobra venom in Cambodia. Yes he eats an entire Cobra piece by piece, eats the venom sacs and starts seeing bizarre checkerboard patterns in black n white.
   Wearing tire tread sandals on his feet dressed in black gym shorts Marcinko hunts down VC, shoots, dismembers, blows away and cusses out anyone in his path. Inbetween that he drinks a lot and screws a ton of women.
   
   This book rules, thats about all I can say. I read it in a day, passed it to some friends who also finished in one day. A classic, if you have any desire to check it out, check it out, its like used for 1 cent.



3. I really enjoyed this book Marcinko was one of the last of a dying breed in the military. I have spent most of my adult life in the armed forces and can definitely relate. Oddly enough his story ring true when now more then ever our military is so riddled with political correctness and politics you can't even do your job.



4. This book is an exciting roller coaster ride throught the life of Marcinko. It was hard to put down.
   
   I'm amazed that Marcinko as able to reach the rank and levels of authority he did. He was truly a "rogue" warrior. Amazing man, but clearly one who operated outside the norms of the military.
   
   My only exposure to SEALs was during 3 weeks of Airborne training over 25 years ago. A team was in my class and in many ways they fit the image portrayed in this book. They were extremely close knit non-conformist who could do so many push-ups that the drill sergeants (black hats) had to take turns yelling at them because their voices would go out before they even broke a sweat.
   
   To paraphrase a familiar quote - these are the "rough men" who allow us to sleep soundly in our beds because they are ready to visit violence on those who would do us harm.



5. A good book for military buffs. It's hard to say what is real or fiction in next book,
   but he says he did it all in this one. Made me laugh out loud more than once.
   Marcinko goes into great detail of characters.

5 comments about From Baghdad to America: Life Lessons from a Dog Named Lava.

1. Jay Kopelman's latest is, on the surface, a book about how a man and a dog re-adjusted to life in America after escaping the trauma of war in Iraq. It's also among the best personal memoirs I've read from the war, as well as a moving story of the deep bonds between humans and canines. Like his owner, Lava the dog is excited to be home and thrilled by the simple joys of being alive, but also scarred by experiencing things no creature should ever have to witness. Kopelman digs into the ramifications of post-traumatic stress disorder for thousands of veterans, and uses his own experiences - as well as Lava's - to illustrate how subtle yet pervasive it can be. Yet despite the heaviness of the subject and the sharpness of his often-brutal honesty, the book is engaging and uplifting.
   
   Lava's presence throughout, as well as personal accounts of other veterans aided by dogs in their combat experiences, serves to help weave the story together. I felt like I was having a conversation at a bar, and I wanted to keep buying the writer drinks so I could hear more. Kopelman pulls this off smoothly and humorously, with his unpretentious yet in-your-face Marine personality intact. This is terrific writing, and I look forward to more of it in the future.



2. With so much written and said about this war by reporters, pundits and politicians, it is important to hear from the soldiers themselves about the experience and its aftermath, and even better in a way that is accessible and enjoyable. Kopelman is quickly becoming an engaging voice for Iraqi vets.



3. Just finished 'FROM BAGHDAD TO AMERICA: Life Lessons from a Dog Named Lava' and found Kopelman's second book to be just as inspiring as his first. This book is GRITTY and HONEST and FORTHCOMING about issues many Americans don't want to face up to - what happens to our soldiers, men and women alike, when they come home from a war. As a daughter of a WWII veteran, I gained insight into my father's "story" and how what he experienced in Europe colored every single thing that came afterwards. What I find frightening is that our YOUNG military personnel go into such a situation without the life experience that Kopelman had under his belt -- with age comes wisdom and hope; the youth that are going overseas might not have enough HOPE built up in reserve - they can't know what Kopelman knows: life IS worth living, even after living through such horrors as war and terrorism. What can America, particularly all branches of the military, do for these soldiers? READ this book. It's not just about Lava, though "life after war" from a dog's perspective - PTSD included - is an engaging twist. Thank you, Jay, for all that you do for your community - and THANK YOU, Jay, for writing another solid account of what it's been like for you - as a Marine, as a man, as "pack leader" to Lava, and now, as a husband and father.



4. Jay Kopelman's 2nd book about his relationship with Lava is a wonderful story of the strong bond that can exist between man and dog. It should be a "must read" for anyone who does not agree that the United States is providing a necessary service in Iraq and also for someone who understands why we are there. As a dog owner I know that these animals do not judge, but love you just the way you are. If dogs like Lava can help our soldiers with stress or rehabilitation while stationed in Iraq or after their return, I agree with the author that the benefits would be enormous. If you like dogs...read this book. If you have a connection with any military branch...read this book. It is a real eye-opener about the personal effects serving in a military war zone can have on our favorite sons and daughters.



5. All the questions Jay has in his book can be answered when he listens to San Diego AM radio station 1170 midnight to 2 a.m. Listening will give him further explanation and a way to listen at more appealing hours.
   A book about THIS journey, if taken, would be smart.

5 comments about The Last True Story I'll Ever Tell: An Accidental Soldier's Account of the War in Iraq.

1. I just finished reading John Crawford's book, "The Last True Story I will Ever Tell -- An Accidental Soldier's Account of the War in Iraq."
   An easy and excellent read that provides vivid images of war's ugly, soul-sapping aftermath. Crawford nails it with original descriptions and bitter humor. This is no war story; it's about the horror that always follows.
   
   Crawford was newly married and two credits away from earning his BA in Anthropology at Florida State University when he was tapped to go to Iraq for four years of war as an infantryman with the 101st Airborne Division to fulfill his National Guard commitment. This book has nothing to do with heroism but it gives readers some idea of the price people pay for war, any war, no matter where it is. Crawford simply shows it to you the way is, the dirty underbelly of postwar from the closest perspective possible -- that of the foot-slogging infantryman. He offers no excuses but ends his book with a statement every soldier who has ever tasted action knows to be true. Here it is:
   
   "Naturally the common people don't want war, but after all, it is the leaders of the country who determine the policy, and it is always a simple matter to drag the people along whether it is a democracy, or a fascist dictatorship, or a parliament, or a communist dictatorship. Voice or no voice, the people can always be brought to the bidding of the leaders. This is easy. All you have to do it tell them they are being attacked, and denounce the pacifists for lack of patriotism and exposing the country to danger. It works the same in every country."
   
   --HERMAN GOERING, SPEAKING AT THE NUREMBERG TRIALS AFTER WORLD WAR 2
   
   (Yes, indeed, and it still works doesn't it?)
   
   Robert F. Burgess
   Formerly with the 88th Division
   Ski Troops, Northern Italy, WW2



2. For the most part, I've been avoiding the deluge of books coming out of the Iraq War. I've had family serve there, and it's one part of modern history that's simply too depressing for me to dig into. Nonetheless, this personal account looked more appealing than most, and its bite-sized vignettes seemed more likely to contain truth than some of the massive tomes seeking to make particular points.
   
   It's important to acknowledge right from the start that the book is burdened the unwise use of "an accidental soldier" in the book's subtitle. The general consensus is that if you sign up to take the National Guard money for school, you can't complain if you get called into action. Some reviewers seem to find Crawford's take on his unit's call-up overly whiny, however it seemed to me that his main gripe was with his unit's continued indefinite deployment following multiple assurances of being sent home. His unit was repeatedly attached to "regular" Army units that got rotated back home, while he and his fellow Guardsmen stayed. Whatever one's position on this, throughout history it has been the privilege and solace of soldiers everywhere to gripe about their lot -- and this memoir is firmly part of that tradition.
   
   The eighteen pieces are all more or less all vignettes linked only by Crawford's presence and desire to be elsewhere. They run the gamut: the boredom of guarding a gas station and bouncing line-jumpers, dealing with corpses cut in half by .50 caliber rounds, botched ambushes, the lure of morphine, spending Christmas at a traffic control point, a beer heist, the consequences of befriending a local homeless kid and flirting with a local girl, broken or inadequate equipment, serving under bad officers, and so on. On the plus side, Crawford writes with apparent candor and conviction. On the minus side, his generally plain-spoken naturalistic prose sometimes drifts into pretension and cliche. Also, some of his episodes have a familiar feel to them, which is probably a function of the basic similarity of war throughout time.
   
   Several reviewers seem to have misread a paragraph in the final part of the book, interpreting it as some kind of statement that the memoir is a work of fiction. What the passage actually says is that the initial item he wrote for the book (and which does not appear in it) was a work of fiction -- not that the pieces included in the book are fiction. For confirmation, check out the review posted by a soldier from his unit, affirming the veracity of Crawford's stories. And to a certain extent, it doesn't even matter -- he was there, I wasn't, and his writing made the war quite real and alive, in all it's banal and surreal ingloriousness.



3. This is the book I hoped JARHEAD would be, but wasn't: a tough, terse, horror-packed memior from a man with no chip on his shoulder, just as desire to unload the truckload of baggage he's been carrying around ever since he returned from Iraq. And my, does he unload. This is a short book, the type you can read in a couple of days, but it doesn't spare the reader for a second. If there was any fat on THE LAST TRUE STORY, it's sawdust somewhere on the editing-room floor.
   
   John Crawford was like hundreds of thousands of other Americans back in 2003 - a regular guy who happened to have an obligation to the United States military. In this case, the Florida National Guard. In fact, he was a newlywed, just two credits short of graduating from college, when the call came to gear up and head to Saddam Hussein's penitentiary state on a task of "democracy building" or "finding weapons of mass destruction" or whatever the hell the reason was at the time.
   
   Crawford, I hasten to add, was "just" a National Guardsman. Not a Special Forces guy, Ranger, Marine - not even a regular Army infantryman. And yet he repeatedly points out that his unit more than held its own in the field and gave nothing away to any of the above, despite conditions which were appalling even by wartime standards. (I hasten to add here that it was the 29th Infantry which was in the first wave at D-Day...and it was a National Guard outfit). First, his unit was equpped not merely with "soft" (unarmored) Humvees, they were carrying flak vests and M-16s which were of Vietnam vintage and had so few spare parts that their night vision gear was paperweight material after a few weeks in-country. Second, Crawford felt as if most of the NG officers were skulking careerists who didn't give a damn about their men and were interested mainly in earning points towards promotion. Third, his outfit was not deployed in its own right but stuck like a band-aid and "attached" (subordinated) to other units, who naturally used it to absorb the punishment they themselves were taking. The orphans of the Army, the men of Crawford's outfit quickly learned that if they wanted to survive, they were going to have to take care of themselves.
   
   Crawford takes a certain pleasure in shoving the reader, face-first, through the superheated, gasoline-drenched, feces-crusted streets of Baghdad, where every rooftop can contain a sniper and every yard of road a bomb. Where every CNN reporter is trying his hardest to get the ordinary soldier court-martialed and most of the officers care more about paperwork than the lives of their men. Where nearly everyone you see wants you dead and even the people you depend on the most can be your worst enemies. And where every minute of the tension-filled, boredom-suffocated, sweat-soaked days and nights you wonder what your wife or sweetheart is doing back home...and who she's doing it with. Swafford's book, JARHEAD, was really about the psychological strain that accompanies waiting endlessly in a miserable environment for a fight that never comes; THE LAST TRUE STORY is about the fight itself. About losing close friends, about dealing with the fear of death on an hourly basis, about physical misery - stench, filth, sweat, exhaustion, dehydration, heat, scorpions in your boots, sand in your eyeballs and no relief in sight - not tomorrow, not next month, and maybe never if the next bomb has your name on it. And as for the Why of it - who knows? It's not your war. You're just fighting it.
   
   In sum, every American, regardless of political opinion or feelings about the war, regardless of military experience or lack of it, should read this book. Because it's the closest thing to being there, and we owe it to the hundreds of thousands of John Crawfords in this country to have at least a paper understanding of what they went through.



4. Well, 140+ reviews are already in, but I'll throw my two cents in. Let me preface this by saying I'm not a soldier and never will be, don't support the Iraq war, but would support a well-managed war on terrorists who actually threaten our safety. I suppose that makes me reasonably unbiased. i started this book not knowing a thing about its contents or the attitudes of the author.
   
   It's a collection of possibly quasi-fictive vignettes and memories of the author's tour patrolling the streets of Baghdad for over a year. Crawford is an extremely bitter man, and I was struck by how entitled and selfish he paints himself, how little empathy he shows. Even the subtitle, "an accidental soldier," is misleading: he wasn't drafted, he signed up for the National Guard. If he didn't think that made him a soldier, then I pity his ignorance.
   
   But much worse, throughout the book, his behavior and attitudes are shocking. He knows and cares nothing for the culture, history or people of Iraq: this from an anthropology major (one who was, he informs the reader several times, "just two credits away from graduation," as if that makes a difference). His stories are straight out of Kubrick's Full Metal Jacket: these are not patriotic soldiers, or even the devil-may-care kids out for violence and glory depicted in Generation Kill. They're drug-taking, food-stealing, rule-breaking, apathetic clowns.
   
   Crawford's stories condemn him again and again: he steals food from Iraqi refugee packets; he steals an Iraqi's motorbike; he flirts with Iraqi women, getting one possibly thrown into the street as a whore; he befriends but does not protect a loyal Iraqi shopkeeper; he watches with glee a small boy about to be beaten by a gang. In short, he depicts himself as a terrible person, which makes his stories of incompetence, clueless superiors, and failure throughout the Army, even if true, less moving.
   
   My dislike of the man doesn't color the literary side of the review, however, and Crawford gets three stars for several powerful stories, and a stirring, provocative argument that certainly makes you think.



5. I am very grateful to all the men and women who have fought our nation's wars. However, I hated this book and threw it disgustedly into the trash. I have read hundreds of books, but I have only destroyed three: this one, one by demented "comedian" Lewis Black, and a book by that creepy bounty hunter Duane Chapman.
   I understand that soldiers use profanity, especially those in combat. I was in the U.S. Army in the Vietnam era. Excessive and incessant profanity in print is tedious at best and, in fact, repugnant.
   Crawford tries to use clever literary devices but they just don't work. His gear changes are abrupt and grinding, leaving the reader puzzled and confused. Frankly, I could not tell when the author was trying to tell the truth. I found the book extremely disturbing. Perhaps that was Crawford's objective.

5 comments about Destroyer Captain: Lessons of a First Command.

1. You...will...love...this...book. But only if you want to know of honesty, humility, humor, the courage of everyday acts of service by others, and the peaks and valleys of leadership. Not to mention wonderful writing, anecdotes, and insights by a distinguished military commander writing as a young officer, a decade and a half before pinning on the four-stars of an admiral.
   If you want a great book about the wanderings of a homesick warrior with duties he must discharge before being reunited with his family, Homer's "Odyssey" is pretty tough to beat. If you are looking for a primer on leadership, Stephen Covey's "7 Habits..." is the blockbuster choice of millions. For inspirational stories of ships and men and the sea, Jack London, Patrick O'Brien and a few others invented and nurtured a timeless genre. For a personal catalog of humility and insignificance against the greatness of life and a higher power, "The Confessions of St. Augustine" are available.
   And then there is "Destroyer Captain," which has a tincture of these works and more, is entirely accessible, and a terrific read. Painfully well-written, poignant, and complete, this book opens a window onto a world that hums along with quiet, powerful, efficient ordinariness everyday across the globe: the U.S. Navy defending the empire of liberty.
   Jim Stavridis, one of our nation's most senior military officers, has published the journals he kept while a first-time captain at sea in the mid-1990s. Stavridis is a friend of many years, and someone I know to be of great good humor and a fine leader. Even so, there is nothing like the well written word for true insight. Stavridis gives brutally raw honesty as he describes his expectations, his fears, his longing for home and hearth while thousands of miles away, and the timeless bonds that develop among the crew of a ship at sea.
   Stavridis paints with equal skill in bold brush strokes and pointillist precision as he colors the everyday routine at sea, and the non-stop demands on the captain. As he puts it -- and the book is infused with the obviousness of it -- "for no one is the term service more applicable than the commanding officer who is doing his job." Stavridis describes in wonderful detail -- and with an easy but extraordinarily fine style -- the 24/7 nature of what it means to be a captain of a weapon-packed man of war, with a crew whose average age is probably about 22 years old, and the captain himself in his thirties. He describes what it is like to sit in judgment of others at "captain's mast," the navy's unique system of self-discipline that reaches back to ancient times. Forget what you may think you know of the all-powerful captain at sea; here's the real deal as Stavridis describes a mast at which he restricted to the ship a young petty officer who had been thrown in jail for a shoreside brawl: "As the captain's mast concluded, I walked out, feeling diminished myself. Judgment is the hardest of human tasks..."
   But this is no "woe is me for the burdens of command" cri de coeur. The book fairly tingles with the sheer pleasure Stavridis takes in being "the captain." He knows he is a lucky man, having been entrusted with the most advanced warship ever built, a crew of 350 men he clearly loves, and ordered by his country to ply "the magic monotony of existence between sky and water," as Stavridis quotes Conrad. An avid reader, Stavridis writes of his early decision to sit in his elevated chair on the bridge of the ship while at sea, generally observing the daily routines but benignly ignoring them as he reads -- not from important dispatches or operational manuals, but "a good novel." Why? "I think it's important to show the younger folk that (a) reading matters and, more important, that (b) it is a good deal being the captain. If I can't communicate the joy of command to my wardroom, why would any of them want to stick around? It sure isn't for the pay!"
   Captain Bligh, step aside. You have been relieved as proto-typical literary commander at sea. READ THIS BOOK and know about duty, honor, country...and seasickness, liberty call, carving turkeys for a Thanksgiving dinner of 350, and lots lots more.



2. Everyone needs a hero in life, Jim is one of mine. He is more than just a great writer, demonstrative leader, caring father, and compassionate husband; he is a great human being. This book brought back many wonderful memories from a special time in my life and I appreciate the author's candor. Semper Fi Jim Stavridis!
   Stan Brown (former CSMM/CMC in BARRY)



3. Adm. Stavridis takes the reader aboard the destroyer Barry with a day to day briefing.
   
   He shares his hopes, many fears , and his personal life. He is able to convey the constant pressure from the sea, his superiors,and the members of his crew, during his command.
   
   After reading Adm. Stavridis'diary, one has a new appreciation of the dedication of our service men and women for the defense of the United States.



4. This is a first-rate book. I am delighted I read it. I found it to be touching, informative, funny, and readable.
   
   It also confirms, once again, what I think of those in the American military----they are very good people, and dedicated professionals.
   
   It is not surprising to note that Admiral Stavridis is an avid reader. It shows in his selection of books, and in his writing. If you don't read, you can't write well, and he writes well. I respect the way he is in touch with history, and literature. I also respect the way he is in touch with reality---he cares about those under his command, and he takes every bit of his job seriously.
   
   I was interested in the Admiral's observations about the Middle East, and the problems America has there.
   The book was written before 9/11, and some of the observations caught my attention. He noted that Iran is the real problem in the region, which is hardly a surprise. He also wrote that it might be useful to turn Iraq into a democracy as a challenge to Iran. I gather this idea was around a long time before George W. Bush adopted it.
   
   I do not know if its right or wrong. The "surge" seems to be effective, after all, and it might just work out.
   it would be interesting to know what Admiral Stavridis thinks about it now.
   
   I would recommend this book to anyone with an interest in naval history, naval warfare, and history in general. It is well worth reading.



5. As a former Navy service member I looked forward to reading this book. I wanted to see what someone else's experiences in command were, particularly on an new destroyer. The book was a real disappointment. I'm not sure how this officer made it to flag rank, he must have more chops than are exhibited in this book. He relates the significant accomplishments of the ship (which were certainly significant) but the tone of the book is rather off putting. The man is self-deprecating to a fault. He seems to have great second thoughts about his ability to command and whether he will be successful. Generally, all the officers and sailors in his book are "outstanding" in all ways, there are few descriptions of incompetent officers and with the exception of descriptions of incompetent enlisted men...everyone is seemingly perfect for the most part. About halfway through the book I just wanted to finish it and be done with it. I usually hand off books to friends, this one went to Goodwill.

2 comments about The Ice Diaries: The True Story of One of Mankind's Greatest Adventures.

1. You might not think that an account of a real world event such as the first visit to the North Pole (and transit of the Arctic Ocean) with its outcome well known could be suspenseful and gripping. If so, you have not read "The Ice Diaries: The Untold Story of the USS Nautilus and the Cold War's Most Daring Mission" by William R. Anderson (the commander of Nautilus during that historic voyage) and Don Keith. Although the story has been told before, this time many previously classified aspects are explored in detail and perhaps for the first time the real nature of risks and daring are evident. Anderson and Keith describe the first two attempts to reach the Pole, both defeated by inexperience, faulty equipment, and sheer lack of knowledge of underwater Arctic conditions. But Anderson and the crew of Nautilus persevered and performed brilliantly to achieve not only reaching the Pole, but to cross all the way from the Pacific to the Atlantic in doing so. "The Ice Diaries" is a page-turner of the best sort. And it is pleasing to report that Anderson took great pains to make clear the contributions of everyone involved, although he remained modest about his own role. Fifty years afterwards, it may be difficult to realize what an extraordinary achievement it was, and the impact it had, both upon public opinion and on Cold War strategic thinking. The voyage of Nautilus from the Pacific to the Atlantic via the North Pole can justly stand alongside the Apollo moon missions as one of the greatest adventures of the Twentieth century made possible by evolving technology.



2. Having been blessed to be a crewman in US Nautilus on all three of her Arctic cruises, one in 1957 and two in 1958, with the last successfully gaining the North Pole, I'm familiar with all the details. However, it was such a pleasure to read our late skipper's recent and highly updated accounting of those wonderful days. Anderson's first book,'Nautilus 90 North', written just after the Polar trip of 1958 was also a great read, but of necessity, omitted much of the background information and intrigue that led up to all these trips, especially the 1957 trip. Capt. Anderson was one of the most remarkable and humble men I've ever had the privilege to know, and as was his nature, always put the interest of the crew and ship before himself. This is reflected in his writings and as I read 'Ice Diaries', I could hear his soft Tennasee accent speaking right off the pages. Anyone who has an interest in history, the sea, the Navy, or especially submarines, will enjoy this book. It is a complete accounting of our adventures across two years of under ice excursions and I highly recomend it. It should be on every school library shelf in the country. John C. Yuill

5 comments about Flags of Our Fathers (Movie Tie-in Edition).

1. I'd read "Flags of Our Fathers" after the superb "Flyboys," and perhaps it was only too easy to be disappointed. "Flyboys" is an amazing book, both focused on the immediate and on the greater picture; even for people who've read plenty of history, there are fresh revelations on every page.
   
   "Flags of our Fathers," on the other hand, is a much more conventional history book, much more narrowly focused. Bradley does do a good job of reaching beyond his father, as he didn't have to do; but he doesn't do a particularly good job of bringing readers into the moment, or of putting them into the greater context.
   
   The story of the men in the famous -- almost ignored -- photo is one that could be told, and should have been told, and was told well enough in "Flags of our Fathers." It's just hard not to wish for something a bit more, as when the author caught his voice in "Flyboys."



2. This is super book by James Bradley. It is a colorful, engrossing account of not only the larger battle of Iwo Jima, but also the lives of some typical citizen soldiers before, during and after the war. The book tells the only-human story behind those iconic marines in the famous photo.



3. I saw the movie first and later on read the book. The book has a lot of information that re-caps events that have taken place and explains places. Bradley did a remarkable job. The story is nice and an excellent piece of literature that all Americans should read.



4. This book is a poignant reminder that freedom is never free. The book is as much a tribute to the men who gave their lives on the island of Iowa Jima as it is an exploration of the lives of those who raised the flag in one of the most iconic photos of all time. Flags of our Fathers aptly illustrates the bravery of our servicemen in the bloodiest battle in the history of the Marines. Every American needs to read Bradley's description of this battle and the human cost of our victory in WWII.
   
   Bradley deftly humanizes the flag raisers, painting their lives with careful detail. He is always fair, portraying their successes and failures with an even, historical tone. At times there is a sentimental quality to his writing, but this doesn't detract from the book as a whole. Who would not have a certain level of sentimentality writing about their war-hero father and his comrades?
   
   This book is a captivating examination of all that is right, and unfortunately, all that is wrong with America and the WWII era. The selflessness of the servicemen both in combat and then as part of war bond drives is both heroic and admirable. The way the US government treated these men, and the way they preyed on their heroism is disgusting and shameful. The US propaganda machine, the racism suffered by the Native American Ezra Hayes, and the failure to offer our soldiers any real counseling or assistance with their mental health after their return to the States are equally disgraceful.
   
   It would be nice, if some 60 years later things had changed, but just go to a movie theater and wait for a National Guard commercial, and you'll realize that as a Nation we are still using our servicemen and women as pawns in political machinations. Research the way soldiers returning from Iraq suffering PTSD are being treated, and it quickly becomes apparent that we have many of the same problems now that we did then. We need to start acknowledging our soldier's bravery and sacrifice without entangling them in the dirty world of politics. We also need to take responsibility for their mental health after we send them to war.
   
   Flags of our Fathers does not take a stance on the modern context of these issues. It doesn't need to. It describes what America did well, what it didn't, and the very real consequences of both extremes in the lives of the men portrayed in the book. It should be a lesson to us all, and this is why I believe every American should read it.



5. I was very surprised after reading this book to learn that the flagraising on Mt. Suribachi in Iwo Jima was nothing more than a simple replacement flag implant. These six men were brought together from all parts of the country, assigned to Iwo Jima along with thousands of other young American men and women, and by sheer circumstance, helped one another replace a crippled original flag on top of the mountain. A photographer happened to snap a shot of the flagraising, and instantly became a national symbol of courage and eventually the monument of The Marine Corps Memorial. The book is filled with clear images of life for a World War II soldier (Pacific Theater), strength, love, friendship, humility, fear, courage, and extreme struggle. I recommend this book to every American citizen.

5 comments about The Diary of a Napoleonic Foot Soldier.

1. The "diary" (it was put together years after the Napoleonic Wars0 privides the reader with a decent perspective on the hard life of a conscript in Napoleon's Grand Armee. The fact that a conscript was literate is in itself remarkable - even more so when you judge the book's command of language (maybe with a little "help" from the editor.) But the book, as short as it is, is not for everyone. I would recommend it to those who are familiar with the Napoleonic campaigns, military historians, or those (like myself) who enjoy memoirs. The brutality and senslessness of the combat, and especially his account of the retreat out of Russia are fabulous. Less so the rest of the book, especially the letters at the end.



2. I find this book to be a great read. Almost everyone has some knowledge of the glory of Napoleon and his mighty army but few have heard about the common soldiers who fought them. This book truly depicts the hell that is war. Although it's an easy read for anyone, it's of considerable historic value. It provides a first hand account of the methods of warfare for the better party of 16th-19th century. Excellent read, go get it.



3. I had absolutely no knowledge of war in general or of this era but just happened upon this book and found it a totally compelling read. Absolutely fascinating. Keep in mind too that I am female, college educated (engineering/art) but one who avoided all history and related classes like the plague in high school & college--but I truely enjoyed this book and it made a huge impact on my mind. I plan to insist that my children read it. It certainly makes one thankful for what one enjoys in our society today.



4. An outstanding book for anyone interested in history. Although it was somewhat common for politicians, generals and admirals to keep logs, it was extremely rare for a person of lower rank to write anything. Mainly because few of them could read or write.
   
   The main part of the book and by far the most interesting is the authors diary of Napoleon's march into Russia during 1812. Nearly half of million men entered Russia. Jakob details the problems of such a large army and the lack of food. The Russians were destroying everything whilst in retreat. These problems however were nothing compared to that which was to come after the army left Moscow to return home. Only 25,000 from 500,000 survived. Jakob barely got out alive despite the hunger, attacks from other soldiers in his own army and the Cossack raids onto the rear of the retreating army.
   
   The book was not written as a daily diary. That was just not possible. Jakob wrote the diary years later. The main item that stands out is that he details the facts without clouding the images with any political views or emotions.
   
   I truly wish that there were more books of this nature by the common solider or sailor.



5. After reading a brief biography of Napoleon, I picked this book to get acquainted with the tough lives of soldiers. I agreed that Napoleon was a great soldier and strategist, but the events that ocurred in the Russian Campaign were disastrous, with a total disregard for the lives of soldiers, especially the allies. These people died slowly, mostly because of starvation and cold, fighting and dreaming to get home alive.
   
   A few people did manage to get home save, and this story is a unique account of that, in particular when the army have to "reculé" from Moscow. A fascinating book to learn the unknown facts of wars in this period.

5 comments about With Malice Toward None: A Life of Abraham Lincoln.

1. In this work, Oates succeeds in illuminating the political and personal life of Abraham Lincoln. For readers interested in the psychological and social nature of the man, this may not be the best selection. However, Oates does an excellent job portraying how Lincoln worked his fingers to the bone while developing his standing as a lawyer and politician. His description of Lincoln as a rough and tumble political longshot made 16th President of the United States in the election of 1861 is vivid and memorable. Much information is also included on how Lincoln and his administration struggled with the issue that would become his legacy: slavery in America. That said, Oates neglects to discuss in any great detail the economic influence of the nation's cotton industry on the political and social conditions of the era.



2. Professor Oates in my opinion did an outstanding job in the biography he did on Lincoln. While it is not as verbose as Donald's, it was well written and to be honest I could not set the book down. For anyone who does not have the time to read a larger volumn on Lincoln I suggest Oates. If you have time then I suggest you read both and also read "Team of Rivals. They are all outstanding volumns. This biography though is articulate, a good length and at times you can see the great passions in Lincoln the boy from Kentucky, the youth in Illnois and the 16 President of the United States. I give it a 5 stars a must read for any history student and I think a must for every American.



3. Consider the great biographies of Lincoln: Nicolay and Hay,[10 volumes] his secretaries, Carl Sandburg's Abraham Licoln [6 volumes], Benjamin's single volume and all those that preceed and follow this, you must conclude this is the best single volume biography of Abraham Lincoln, indeeed the best general biography of the President and the man. The closest rival is Carwardine's Lincoln which deals in depth in one aspect of his life. WITH MALICE TOWARD NONE IS THE BEST INTRODUCTION TO THAT COMPLEX MAN AND HIS TIME AND ACHEIVEMENTS THAT WE HAVE TO DATE.



4. This book generated controversy among Lincoln scholars. The general reading public, however, will probably enjoy both the book's prose and its story. Regardless of whether there is much, or anything, new in the volume, its account of Lincoln is told with flair. Points that disturbed some Lincoln scholars will probably not be noticed by general readers. I read the book before I knew about the dispute, and found the volume enchanting.



5. Will anyone dare to write an accurate assessment of the 16th President or are the myths that surround him just to strong to penetrate? I await a writer willing to discuss the wholesale destruction of property in the South that left thousands of civilians to starve, destruction sanctioned by Lincoln. I await a discussion on the hostage taking and the indiscriminate killing of Southern civilians. I await a thorough discussion of the Dahlgren Raid and its implications, I await a real assessment of the Lincoln/Seward relationship, and I await a real judgement on Lincoln's lack of religious belief. This book, like all the others ignores anything that might be the slightest cotroversial and that might dent the aura surrounding Abraham Lincoln.
   Alan Lowe. BA. Manchester Metropolitan University.