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

1. This book will provide you an exclusive look and feel into the locked enviroment and crew as they atempted to transit the polar route. As you read and only a submariner will note, two other important achievements in their attempts to travel under the ice. (1)The Emergency Air Breathing System now known as EABs became a standard on all Submarines. (2)The reinforced sail/superstructures resulted from these mission attempts.
   A great book that presents to the reader the hard work dedication talent and life of present day crew members currently on patrol.
   
   F. Silvia
   TRICCSMA Test Director ret.



2. The Ice Diaries
   The Untold Story of the Cold War's Most Daring Mission
   By Captain William Anderson with Don Keith
   
   
   Publisher Thomas Nelson
   Pp
   2008
   Photos
   Index
   
   
   
   
   I looked at the dust jacket The Ice Diaries, The Untold Story of the Cold War's Most Daring Mission and it caught my eye. The reason I looked at it was very simple design a miniature submarine and the title and the author's name. I usually do not read many books about the United States let alone books dealing specifically with submarines. The book is about the Nautilus, its crew, and their two attempts and finally, the success of being the first nuclear submarine to go under the North Pole.
   
   
   I have been aboard the Nautilus in Groton, Connecticut. It was the US Navy's first nuclear submarine and it was ahead of its time. When I toured the boat I noticed it was much bigger than World War II submarines. The interior of the Nautilus is clean and a great deal of the areas is stainless steel. The diagram on the tour guides shows all the areas except the nuclear power plant.
   
   I took it for granted that submarines could go under the North Pole and could operate years with out refueling. I did not realize how difficult it was to do. The book Ice Diaries takes you back to the 1950's when the Russians were launching satellites and our own rockets were blowing up on the launch pad. The reader discovers President Eisenhower was behind the mission to go under the North Pole. He wanted to show the world that the United States had the ability to accomplish a technical challenge that no one else had done before.
   
   Reading Ice Diaries, I learned that Admiral Rickover was initially opposed to the Nautilus going under the North Pole. The reader will feel the frustration of the two failed attempts and the success of the third mission. There was much riding on these voyages our national pride was at stake.
   As a soldier, I learned how a submarine and crew work together as team. I know why the Nautilus was our premier sub and has been preserved for future generations. Ice Diaries is a very interesting book. I suggest you read the book and then visit the Nautilus in Groton, CT and you will understand what a crowning achievement this one submarine made in our history.
   
   
   Eric Shuler
   MAJ NJARNG (ret)



3. I was pleasantly surprised at the nice hardcover binding Ice Diaries book. I am very happy about the quality of the book and although I did not read yet, after skimming through I can't wait to read it.



4. 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. 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.

5 comments about Partners in Command: George Marshall and Dwight Eisenhower in War and Peace.

1. I own the hardcover edition of this book. I picked it up not really knowing much about it other that I want to learn more about General Marshall. Of all the personalities of World War II, he is the most over looked and yet is probably one of the most important people in the 20th century. This book is hard to put down once I started. There are discrepencies and some slow parts but overall a book that borders on great. Like good books, it left me wanting more. I am on the hunt now for Forest Pogues bio of Marshall.



2. This book does a good job of giving us WWII and the Cold War at a high-level view, through the eyes of our two best military leaders. Mentored by Marshall, Eisenhower was the glue that held the Allies together during WWII. Buffeted by the incredibly large egos of such as Churchill, Patton, and Monty, Ike kept his cool, and with good counsel kept the Alliance together.
   
   I had no idea that Ike had such a hard job. Surprisingly (to me at least), the Brits were very hesitant to get behind Overlord, while the Russians were screaming for a second front as they were being pounded by the Axis during Barbarosa. Also, there was competition for resources from MacArthur in the Pacific War, which was given second-class status via the `Germany First' policy. Then there was the competition among the countries as well as among the different branches of the armed forces.
   
   Ike had some good things behind him. He had Marshall as an almost-father-figure and a very cool and wise military and political head. He had Roosevelt, who was the most powerful person in the world. Finally, he had great self-command; he was not one to fly off the handle when things got tough.
   
   I have no idea how he did it, or how they did it (Marshall and especially Ike). The motto of his presidential campaign works for me: I Like Ike!



3. This isn't actually a military book. This is about the politics of the military and the intellectual formation of Eisenhower (more so than Marshall). It is exemplary in terms of helping to understand the differences between the American and the British ways of war, the political motivations behind the North Africa campaign, Italy, and Normandy, and the relationship between personality and the level of command that one can attain.
   
   There are some passages in this book that bear deep study. I recommend it highly.



4. I was a small child during WWII and don't remember much about it. What I know I've read. This is an excellent book. I didn't know anything about George Marshall really except for the Marshall Plan. I'd like to do some more research on him.



5. 'Partners in Command' by Mark Perry
   
   Mr. Perry's book does a wonderful job of defining the relationship between Ike and General of the Army, George C. Marshall. Gain insight into the talents, and conversely, the weaknesses of these two tremendously important historic leaders. As much, if not more importantly, you'll recognize their conscious (or subconscious) self-realization of these internal characteristics and how they melded their personalities into an unshakable leadership duo.
   
   This book takes you into the White House as well as the battlefield command centers of WWII for an up close view of the highest levels of the machinations of warfare command. Experience the stress, exhilaration, support, comradeship and undying patriotism these two commanders had for each other. The jaw drops when considering the sacrifices these men, and millions others, made for their country and the effort they deemed paramount to the freedom of mankind.
   
   Mr. Perry provides us a detail-rich and very well written book, which is easily read yet difficult to put down. There are sections that will leave you wishing were expanded upon, however, on balance this is a one of a kind work that should be read my military historians and those just looking for a taste of WWII history and leadership. A very good book, indeed. I greatly look forward to Mr. Perry's next project.

5 comments about Absolutely American: Four Years at West Point.

1. ABSOLUTELY AMERICAN is well-written and interesting. Parts of it are inspirational, and most of it causes me to fear for America. Lipsky's cadets are not officers I respect; theyre more like self-absorbed clowns.
   
   I was in Vietnam, and I recall 2nd Louie's arriving in-country, obsessed with uniforms and military courtesy, and seriously unplugged. Second lieutenants bring to war what they know, and what West Point creates are parade field martinettes.



2. In its effort to live up to the title, this book goes out of its way to over-accentuate some bad things that have happened which make the very unusual seem usual. The book probably discourages the right type of people from coming to West Point and encourages the type that West Point does not and should not want. The book does a disservice to the vast majority of cadets and graduates. If you want to understand what West Point is really all about, I do not recommend this book. There are others that you can read.



3. 'Absolutely American' is a fantastic book. It brings the reader into West Point and into the hearts and minds of the cadets. The author, a writer for Rolling Stone, begins skeptical of what he might find on the Hudson but leaves fascinated and a bit awed by the young men and women who take on the challenges that West Point puts before them. I thought of going to West Point when choosing a college in 1981. I chose Harvard instead, and I sometimes wonder if I made the right choice. This book tells me I made the right choice but not for the reasons that I had in 1981. I made the right choice because I am pretty darned sure after reading this book that I couldn't have made it through West Point.
   
   One wonders how we continue to produce the kind of people who willingly put their lives on the line for the rest of us. 'Absolutely American' only redoubled my admiration for all in uniform. The book is not merely a cheerleading effort. The author makes clear West Point's faults, and there are many. But they are the product of good intention, and perhaps necessity.
   
   I highly recommend this book for anyone who wants to understand the modern military and/or for those young people thinking of the noblest of endeavors.



4. I bought this for my 15yo son who wants to go to West Point. He watched it several times and took lots of notes of what is going to be required of him. Excellent video for any wanna be cadet.



5. While I enjoyed the read from a purely entertaining and pride perspective, I found the book fairly unrepresentative of the Corps as a whole. As a graduate, I know what life at West Point is like, and how the Corps thinks and acts. It is unfortunate that Mr. Lipsky chose such a narrow prism of cadets to portray as the whole. For those who truly want a sense of what life at USMA is like, do yourself a favor and visit.

5 comments about Terror of the Autumn Skies: The True Story of Frank Luke, America's Rogue Ace of World War I.

1. Though the WWI exploits of the 'Arizona Balloon Buster' have been covered in other biographies, TERROR OF THE AUTUMN SKIES is in a class by itself. Blaine Pardoe's book may, in fact, be THE definitive Frank Luke biography.
   
   The exploits of few aces have been so mythologized as Luke's, especially those acomplished during his last mission. Using a wealth of research materials, Pardoe recreates Luke's early life and military career in an exemplary, easy-flowing fashion. (The book's bibliography is 20 pages long). Where information is lacking on various incidents, Pardoe has no qualms in stating his sequence of events is what probably happened!
   
   Likewise he does an excellent job in bringing to life the headstrong, Medal of Honor-winning ace, his squadronmates,group and squadron commanders and so on. Using a wealth of first-person anecdotes, combat reports and other materials, Pardoe produces living, breathing human beings rather than stereotypes. And, along the way, he lays to rest various myths and distortions that have cropped up over the years regarding America's #2 WWI ace.
   
   All in all, TERROR OF THE AUTUMN SKIES is an example of aviation research and aviation history at its best. Well-researched and well-written with a nice selection of photographs, Pardoe's book should be welcomed by all WWI aviation buffs. Unless something better comes along, it's in the running to be the definitive account of the Arizona Balloon Buster. It's just a shame it took 90 years for the truth to come out! Highly recommended.



2. "This is the best book about Frank Luke, Jr. the magnificent, flying cowboy from Arizona who flew into History. One of a kind? Sean Penn could have played a movie role bringing Luke back to life.
   This is the story of Air-To-Air combat. The "dogfight".
   It is the beginning of the U.S. Fighter Groups and guys like Frank Luke, Jr. the first "Top Guns".
   The author researched the facts making this story important as well as educational.
   I followed Frank and his Flying Friends (especially, Lt. Ivan Roberts of Lees, Ma.).
   Brian Pardoe's book belongs in every library of W. W One, Aviation buffs".
   [...]



3. A very enjoyable read. Anyone with an interest in the history of US aviation or military aviation will appreciate the attention to detail in this book. Mr. Pardoe obviously did a tremendous amount of work to ensure that Frank Luke is portrayed as not only an incredible WWI Flying Ace, but also as a human being with the usual foibles, drama and faults we all have. His interest and commitment to Frank Luke's story is apparent in each chapter as he describes the events of his life from his promising start in Phoenix, to his tragic end in Europe. Mr. Pardoe paints a picture of how brave and - quite frankly - crazy these Aces were by carefully describing what it must have been like in a dog fight, with little more than stiffened fabric as feeble protection. I appreciated how Mr. Pardoe focused not only the events surrounding the circumstances of Mr. Luke's death, but also the richness and depth of his short life. He brings the reader along for the ride with the extreme joy of the wonder of flight, and the sacrifices everyday heros must sometimes make.



4. This book is a wonderful read. Mr. Pardoe does a great job providing the reader a glimpse into the entire life of Frank Luke. Not only does he do a masterful job of describing the battles fought by Frank Luke in the Great War, but he also provides an insight into his life and the people who he knew and held dear. Mr. Pardoe shows how the events of Frank Luke's life and the people in it helped to make him the man that he was.
   
   The new information regarding Frank's fiance was fascinating as well. It showed a different dimension to the "ungallant loner". I also enjoyed the way that Mr. Pardoe presented and explained the background for the many myths and legends surrounding Frank Luke. I felt that he did a good job presenting the facts and leaving it up to the reader to decide what he/she believes.
   
   All in all I feel that this is a great read for anyone, whether you enjoy military history or not. Probably more so if you do.



5. Blaine Pardoe does a credible job telling the story of WW I Ace, Frank Luke, Jr. New information about his fiancé is interesting, but he spends too much time trying to refute other writer's claims about this Ace from Arizona's ultimate demise.
   
   The book moved along at a novel-like pace, but if it goes to a re-print, needs more careful editing. I found so many sentences with structure problems; enough to give an English teacher heartburn. Subject-predicate and pronoun problems abound. This detracted from a great story.
   
   I also disagree with his underlying assumption that Luke didn't have PTSD, which was so apparent with other Aces at the front, including Luke. Pardoe mentions some of Luke's personal problems, while glossing over others.
   
   I also found his attempt to lower Luke's number of "kills," even with data to the contrary. Let's face it, Luke doesn't need to have his reputation rehabilitated like that of Billy Bishop, the controversial Canadian Ace who's "kill" record is more than he's entitled to. Bishop was a known liar, who inflated his "kill rate" and his morals and ethics are still hotly defended/debated to this day.
   
   The Pardoe book is a great read, but needs some serious editing.

5 comments about George Washington and Benedict Arnold: A Tale of Two Patriots.

1. Excellent piece of history -- incredible detail -- easy reading. Dave Palmer is a retired general and past supervisor at West Point. He is also a terrific speaker and a very ethical person. (Obviously, I have heard him speak, after which I bought the book).



2. Reading Palmer's great book made me think about today's events in Iraq. Those who don't read history believe that most events that occur are happening for the first time. They believe things have never been worse. As Palmer so eloquently writes, Washington had major problems in his execution of the war and had not only enemies on both sides, but cabals of fellow military men working for his defeat and wanting his job. Some of these narratives were revelations about our first president. He lost more battles than he won, the war was going terribly and the morale of his troops was so low they were loathe to re-up when the terms of their duty had expired. More than once he had to intervene to keep from losing troops to desertion. He acted firmly in handling all these obstacles and persevered to win the war and save the fledgling nation. There may not have been a CNN, MSNBC or NY Times working to bring him down. But, as Palmer tells us, there were many who published the most vicious things about Washington, and sometimes, directly to him, and wished him ill throughout the war. So, some things never change. Things go wrong in wars. People, including the Congress, carp and think they can do better. Washington had the character to see the plan through to its satisfactory ending. This in spite of having a "friend" like Benedict Arnold working eventually to defeat him and the rest of the new nation. Palmer's book serves as a defining account of the Revolutionary War and why George Washington deserves a day in his honor. It should never have been diluted into a "President's Day." Read the book and learn more than you've ever known about Washington, Arnold and the Revolutionary War.



3. I enjoyed this book for the good narrative that it is. Most of my pleasure came from learning the rough details of Benedict Arnold's treason. I had only known him as a traitor prior to reading this book, but had no idea that he was "America's Hannibal" prior to becoming a turncoat, nor was I aware of the reasons for his treason or the way in which he tried to execute it.
   
   The book is a quick, enjoyable, and easy read, which I am also grateful for, because if it weren't, I probably would have put it down and tried to find something more comprehensive on the subject of Arnold to read instead. I have never read a book on a subject such as this that contains no bibliography. Palmer includes a few suggested readings at the end of the book, but it is only about 10 books altogether, and two of them are prior works of his own.
   
   Even within the text, Palmer several times says something like "as a prominent modern historian says 'George Washington was...'"
   
   Well, who is the historian?!
   
   This unwillingness to cite anyone else within the text or in a bibliography really bothered me the whole time I was reading the book. The whole thing reads like something a high school student would turn in to his history teacher. The only difference between this book and the student's essay is that the book is nearly 400 pages long.
   
   There may be some very good reason for not including a bibliography or giving a prominent modern historian credit for his words in the text. I am not accusing Palmer of anything, only saying that these things bothered me quite a bit.
   
   Now, I will find some more books on Benedict Arnold to get the full story.



4. Gen. Palmer came and spoke to the Betty Martin Chapter of the National Society of the Daughters of the American Revolution to review his book. We found out that every penny of profit that would be his is sent to fund Mt. Vernon, Washington's home. The book is an interesting contrast of two men with eerily similar backgrounds. Gen. Palmer contends that the difference in the outcome of the two lives is CHARACTER. Gen. Palmer is an excellent speaker. In his book, he presents a clear picture of the lives of these two very different men - each of whom played a major role in the foundation of our country. The character of the man determined the content of that role. I gave copies of the book as gifts at Christmas.



5. This is a great book! It is extremely well researched and powerfully written.
   
   Composed by career soldier and historian David Palmer, "George Washington and Benedict Arnold" tells the story of two Revolutionary War patriots who left such diametrically opposed legacies, despite life trajectories that were at one time so parallel.
   
   George Washington and Benedict Arnold were both more than just patriots and American soldiers, they were the heart of the American military movement against the British.
   
   Washington was the brains, soul and conscience of the Continental Army, while Benedict Arnold was the sword of the Revolution. A soldier of tremendous courage, talent and energy, he managed, time after time, to turn defeat into victory on almost every major battlefield and changed the course of the war.
   
   Indeed, Arnold's victories eventually convinced the French to enter the war on the side of the Americans. Shortly afterward, Spain and the Netherlands followed, turning a rebellion into a world war and all but ensuring a British defeat.
   
   But as the war progressed and Arnold failed to recieve the recognition and rewards he desperately craved, the thoughts of America's premier soldier turned to treason. Had he succeeded in his betrayal, Washington would surely have lost the war and America her independence.
   
   How is it that two men with lives that paralleled and intertwined so closely have legacies so vastly different?
   
   George Washington is remembered as America's greatest soldier and the father of his country, while Benedict Arnold is still considered the greatest traitor in the history of the United States.
   
   To quote the author:
   
   "Your thoughts become your words.
   Your words become your actions.
   Your actions become your habits.
   Your habits become your character.
   Your character becomes your destiny."
   
   "George Washington and Benedict Arnold" is a tremendously good read, recommended for those interested in America's war for independence and the impact of character on destiny.

5 comments about Personal Memoirs of Ulysses S. Grant.

1. This is the amazing memoir by U.S. Grant, who rose from obscurity at the outbreak of the war to be the Union's brightest military light. It is slightly apologetic in tone, but much less so than it could have been, considering the degree of scrutiny Grant's command decisions had endured. Among his few regrets are the assaults upon Vicksburg and Cold Harbor.
   
   One telling anecdote comes from his early life, when he went to buy a colt from a Mr. Ralston. Upon arrival he tells Ralston, "Papa says I may offer you twenty dollars for the colt, but if you won't take that, I am to offer twenty-two and a half, and if you won't take that, to give you twenty-five." As the child is father to the man, so is the horse trader father to the general.



2. Very detailed and complete rendition of the chronology of his personal life as well as his military life. I learned details of both aspects of this era in history.



3. Written by the dying hand of one of the chosen men of his time. For any scholar of Grant, Civil War or Military History, these readings are a must. Grant's military genius was without equal. Had his superiors, early on, had his keen foresight, the Civil War could have ended a year or two earlier. Another great read is "Grant" by Jean Smith.



4. Grant finished this lengthy memoir on the eve of his death from throat cancer. Impoverished at the time, the ex-President made his wife rich from the proceeds. Simple, straightforward, earnest narrative, sometimes ironic, sometimes colorful, always unpretentious. Inevitably self-justifying, but candid nonetheless.
   
   The most memorable anecdote describes his first action in the 1861-65 war. Although he was a combat veteran of the Mexican War fourteen years earlier, he was scared, almost frozen, as he led his men against the enemy position. When he arrived, the enemy had evacuated. "The reb commander was as scared as I was. It was a lesson that served me well for the next four years."
   
   Excellent general's-eye descriptions of the battles for Fort Donaldson, Shiloh, Vicksburg, Cold Harbor. His proudest contribution to the Union victory seems to be his strategy of "coordinated attack". He believed the early rebel success was due to the fragmentation of the National fources, which allowed the outmanned rebels to concentrate on one fragment at a time.
   
   Grant is full of forthright and fascinating judgments: he revered Lincoln and Sherman, detested Hallek, disliked Stanton but respected him.
   
   Civil war buff? Don't neglect this.



5. This has long been regarded as one of the better memoirs to come out of the post-Civil War period and I can see why. Grant seemed convinced that the course he was on, and more importantly, the course the Union was on, would lead to eventual victory. Grant wrote his memoirs in the hope of providing some financial security for his wife and family upon the event of his death, which came very soon after finishing his memoirs. This is a refreshingly honest, fair, and generally unpretentious account detailing his own role in this pivotal event in American history.
   
   We get a brief glimpse into his early years, his time as a student at West Point, his military service in the Mexican American War and the most well-known period of Grant's life, his service in the Union army during the Civil War. I found the early part of the book to be very illuminating as I did not know that much about his life before the Civil War. He could be very self-effacing, could admit weaknesses, in other words he just seems to come across as plain spoken and honest about himself. Throughout the book he utters what I considered to be very insightful and thoughtful comments. For example, he admitted the reputation attached to Lee by the Northern press and other Union commanders, but he realized that Lee was still human. He also relates his first encounter as a commander in the Union army as he's about to face the enemy and finds that the enemy was just as frightened as he was. Grant's attitudes toward the earlier war with Mexico and the Southerners' attachment to their cause also offer revealing sentiments.
   
   I'm not going to describe every campaign Grant was involved in, but you will encounter Grant in the western theatre first, with notable successes achieved at Forts Henry and Donelson, Shiloh, Vicksburg, Chattanooga, and etc., up to his appointment as Lieutenant General and head of all U.S. armies in the field. The nearly epic battles fought between Lee and Grant in Virginia from the spring of 1864 up through Lee's surrender at Appomattox in April 1865 are obviously covered, though we also get information on Sherman's movements in Georgia and the Carolinas and other important sections where the war was being waged. I think it's fair to say there is a certain amount of spin or a sort of expectations game being displayed in Grant's memoirs, for example, how the Union armies usually always inflicted heavier casualties on the Confederates, how the North, despite its superiority in numbers, actually had many disadvantages and etc. Some of his points are very valid, but there can also be no doubt that his victories in Virginia came at very heavy costs in terms of Union casualties.
   
   Grant offers opinions on the quality of the soldiers and officers, both North and South. He also demonstrates throughout his memoirs his rather magnanimous feelings toward his opponents, the rights of Southern citizens and their property (i.e., showing restraint in terms of looting and wanton destruction of private property and etc.). Some of this, I'm sure, was an attempt to improve his own image, but no doubt, there had to be some truth in his sentiments expressed. The maps included in this volume are very detailed, but often difficult to read. As a military narrative of the movements, battles and strategies of the Union armies, this is a must read.

5 comments about Six Minutes to Freedom.

1. Almost from the first time I heard about Kurt Muse I felt that there was something missing in this story. Seeing him on television, watching a documentary about him, and reading this book, I felt that he was being disingenuous in his telling of it.
   If you see what the American government spent and risked to get him back, it's pretty obvious that he was a much bigger player than how he portrays himself.
   Compare the treatment of Kurt Muse against that of Tom Bleming, another American captured by Noriega (and told in his book, "Panama: Echoes from a revolution"). Beaten, starved, tortured, threatened daily with death, Bleming's incarceration contrasts so sharply with the treatment of Muse that you have to wonder if the fix was in.
   Bleming was captured by the very same people who grabbed up Muse, yet Bleming receives no mention by Muse, even though their times in captivity overlap.
   
   I've always felt that Kurt Muse was a C.I. A. agent, or at the very least, a contract employee. I know that he's gone to great lengths to deny it, but it's still there, like a bad odor in an elevator. You just can't get away from it.
   
   Bleming appears to have handled his captivity much better than Muse, and walked out under his own power. After Panama, he involved himself in other adventures, his latest being a guerrilla in Burma with the KNLA. He even wrote a book about that, "War in Karen Country".
   
   If I were to go off somewhere and involve myself in other peoples problems, i have to say that Bleming would be my first choice of companions, and Kurt Muse a distant second.



2. This is a true story of true heroes. Not only is Kurt Muse, the author and subject an authentic hero, the F Team of Delta Force Assaulters that rescued him from certain death at the hands of the dictator Noriega are authentic as well. Muse fought the dictator with creativity, wit and humor. F Team fought him with bullets and grenades.
   
   A measure of the man Muse is that on the anniversary of his rescue he calls each of his 23 rescuers on the anniversary of his liberation, to thank them and to update them on the life and family of the man they saved. A measure of the Delta operators is that even those gravely wounded returned to the service of our Nation.
   
   This is a political thriller with a difference: the story is true; only the names have been changed to protect the victorious from the revenge of the defeated. I have had the privilege to meet one of the Delta operators that participated in the raid on Modelo Prison; no finer friend can you have, no fiercer enemy if you're an enemy of our Nation.
   
   Read this book for insight into real people at the center of one of the geopolitical events of our time. It's not just history, it's humanity.



3. This book made me relive the fear and the anxiety most Panamanians experienced under Manuel Noriega's dictatorship.
   I believe that the book exagerates somewhat on the overall role that Kurt Muse played in the huge movement to get rid of the military regime, but the only clear error I found (very small if one considers the length of the book) is that Dr. Hugo Spadafora, who was horribly tortured and beheaded by Noriega's orders, had not previously been an anti-Sandinista guerrilla, as indicated in the book, but an anti-Somoza guerrilla.
   Another detail that I interpret differently is that I think that the permanent guard soldier who was ordered to kill Kurt Muse if an American invasion took place had just gone to the restroom when the rescue mission started, which I think was an answer to all the prayers for Kurt's life.



4. I had seen this book once in a book store and passed it up. From reading the description and review on [...] I decided to buy it. The book was well written and very informative. I knew of the incident, Operation Urgent Fury and the rescue of Muse, but knew very few details. My attention was held until the very end. Although somewhat limited or shrouded I especially enjoyed th details of the rescue and the rescuers. This is one of those books that just make you proud to be an American.



5. I rate this book right up there with my favorites "Endurance", "Touching The Void" and "Blackhawlk Down". I had a tough time putting this book down. Kurt Muse is one strong willed indivdual.
   Edmund Burke said it best with "The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing"

5 comments about Tigers in the Mud: The Combat Career of German Panzer Commander Otto Carius (Stackpole Military History Series).

1. Was an interesting read, a little heavy on personal political views on the way the German soldier was slighted after the war. Not once was there any mention of wrongdoing by any German soldier or the validity of the war. I got the point of the hardships the front line soldiers endured, but the constant references to post Germany not appreciating their sacrifices were somewhat distracting. Definately had a lot of interesting insight on tank tactics and supply problems. It opened my eyes that Tigers were fairly vulnarable if not used correctly. The author vividly describes his methods of preparation and execution in battle. This allows the reader to understand the need for good leadership and the consequences when leadership is lacking. Overall I found the book insightful and would recommend to anyone who is interested in learning about a weapon that carries a certain respect in WWII history. T.Parfitt



2. Otto Carius tells of his days as a Panzer Commander. He starts his military career driving the Czeck made Pz 38 with a 37mm gun and bad armor and ends his days driving the excellent Tiger tanks. I knew the Tigers were a good tank that needed to be constantly fixed by their crews. However, Otto basically says the ex-Czeck tanks are junk with weak armor and this cost him some savage wounds early in the war.
   
   Otto is both a great writer but delivers a little disjounted story. That should have knocked it down to 3.5 stars (C+ grade) but the machine does not allow it. Example, we go from Otto being an enlisted man on the Pz 38 and "poof" he is an officer. We don't learn a thing about his OBC or anything like that. Now, Germans tended to view their training as secondary to the action. It's like a pro-football player talking about training camp versus the big game. However, training is how a military prepares for a fight and it's always nice to know how the German army did this.
   
   Otto gives day to day living while fighting against the Soviets. First, they lose quite a few soldiers due to slipping and then being crushed by the tracks. Second, the Germans designed the best tank hatch for the commanders in the Panzer III. The first Tiger hatches were too high and made a good target for Soviet PAKs. Otto is quite happy when the Tigers are all retrofitted with improved hatches.
   
   Now, Otto also tells a reader something this reviewer has long suspected; he was not a great tank hunter by design. He was just out in the field so much that he just saw a lot of Soviet tanks. Now, Otto killed more than 130 tanks in his career. But when you break it down to 1941 to 1945 it's not a tank a week. Otto is quite clear about the fact that if you want to get tanks then you must be in the field. Indeed, his company commander is quite upset that he never gets a tank but Otto's platoon and personal tank constantly get kills. It's like deer hunting; if you don't spend time in the field you're not going to see a deer.
   
   Otto was one of the personal reasons why the Soviets didn't break the seige of Leningrad for nearly 30 months. Any time there was an attack you could pretty much count on Otto and either a platoon or company of Tigers to break the back of a Soviet attack.
   
   Strangely, Otto knocks out his share of the excellent Stalin tanks, one of the best tanks of WWII. His gunner always knew the weak spot on the Soviet tanks.
   
   Now, after the war Otto spends time in a Soviet prison. That tale is both brutal and fast.
   
   I liked this story. Otto gives background on the German WWII tanks. In the back of the book you get to see the many awards this excellent soldier received in WWII. Boy, I wish we had soldiers like him on our side.
   
   3.5 stars and a darn fun read.



3. I found the memoir "Tigers in the Mud" interesting, but not the best or not the most exciting of the WWII memoirs I have read. I am an avid WWII reader, but not a military historian, so perhaps this book was not intended for me.
   
   For one, much of the book depends on the reader's understanding of the battles and combat situations. I am familiar with some of the major East Front battles, but I think this book would have benefited more from some summaries of the situations before launching into the details. For example, perhaps some more details prefacing "Gatschina had to be given up" would have helped to understand why the Panzer leaders were in the situation they were in. A few more maps might have helped the reader understand the situations.
   
   Secondly, the translation is a bit stilted, and full of German idioms that do not survive literal translation. I see many passages that appear lifeless. "Not a single creature was to be seen in these dead woods." I was also tired of seeing the many quoted expressions. "My 'hungry' and 'freezing' men sat at a table as if in peace-time." Was it really needed to quote hungry and freezing? Either they were or they were not. Even the word Tiger is quoted throughout the book.
   
   I also expected a bit more on the details of the Tiger tanks, or even his earlier experiences with the 38ts. These details are somewhat limited.
   
   In the end, I enjoyed the book for the details and the matters-of-fact that were mentioned, but I expected a bit more of a framework or a lively drama in which the details are given.



4. "Tigers in the Mud" I found to be very captivating and I couldn't put it down. I wish someone would make this into a authentic movie, the perils and trials Otto Carius went through was very interesting.



5. I have just finished reading this very interesting book which was written from the perspective of a highly decorated panzer commander. How refreshing to read a viewpoint from a WW2 German frontline soldier. He tells his story without embellishment, there is no hollywood exaggeration here. Playing down the danger & terror which was part of the Russian front, he calmly relates details of battles he took part in, comparing the pros & cons of both the German & Russian tactics. Until the Tiger tank made an appearance at the front, the Germans had no answer to the Russian T34s & KV1s.
   It was quite clear that he respected the fighting abilities of the Russians while he was less than impressed with the Americans who relied on technology rather than properly trained personnel. And for those that had the impression that the Americans were the good guys, think again. Carius confirms that the Americans instigated a harsh post war policy of starvation & neglect on German POWs.
   I used to wonder how the Germans & their allies managed to fight on multiple fronts against the world's most powerful nations and hang on for as long as they did. The answer I think is to be found in this book, far from being an exception, men like Otto Carius were quite numerous in the German army. These were men who did not shirk responsibility, but did their duty competently both in attack and defence, who were resilient, tough & stoic under all conditions. Their principle motivation came from a strong sense of duty & loyalty to their families, homeland & comrades, qualities which are these days played down and even discouraged.
   The book also gives an insight to the real Heinrich Himmler who listened attentively to Carius's honest assessment of the worsening frontline situation.
   If you want mindless entertainment then watch Hollywood inspired movies & documentaries, if you want the truth then read books written by people who were there, on the frontline, people who survived numerous battles and lived to tell the tale.
   All I can say is that I enjoyed this book enormously, and the one criticism I can make is that it was not long enough.

5 comments about Stonewall Jackson: The Man, the Soldier, the Legend.

1. That it certainly is, all 762 pages of text buttressed by 188 additional pages of notes and indices. Yet with all this heft and obvious scholarship, "Stonewall Jackson" is a bit much. It's too long! To be concise, there is FAR too much detail here. Whole sections of pages could have been truncated by that proverbial stern editor with a sharp blue pencil. (Most of those guys were laid off long ago). One gets the distinct impression self-indulgence emanating from author Robertson. Even some great battle action is drowned out in details-details-details. The formatting of pages and paragraphs is also difficult here, though perhaps the publisher had few alternatives. This admitted mapophile was satisfied with the mapping in "Stonewall". A nice touch is the placement of a map index, allowing readers to bookmark. An interesting turn here is Professor Robertson's apparent attitude toward Jackson. The General was a difficult, stiff-necked guy. He was secretive and single-minded, a harsh disciplinarian and critical of colleagues. If there was a Stonewall Fan Club, would the good professor join up? This reviewer was reminded of another author of lengthy tomes: Robert Caro. RC has produced 3 bios of President Lyndon Johnson, none of them highly complimentary. The final call here is that "Stonewall Jackson" is not recommended for anyone but the most avid Stonewall or Civil War aficionados. Others may wish to choose another Stonewall offering-or wait for the paperback. Why the 4 stars above? This is a case of "A" for effort. Imagine the effort Professor Robertson put forth here. For that alone, the man should take a bow.



2. If it were possible, I would give this wonderful book twelve stars. Not only is it the best book on the Civil War that I have ever read, but outside of the Holy Scriptures it is the best biography I have ever read period. The work of writing a good biography requires an author of extraordinary gifts. He or she must not only be a painstaking researcher who does not mind wading through the minutia of an endless sea of details, but they must also be able to take those details and weave them into a fluid and interesting story that is vivid while not getting bogged down in the small stuff. To put it another way, the author must give enough detail to be clear and sharp, but he must not lose the forest for the trees. On all of these levels James I. Robertson's landmark work "Stonewall Jackson: The Man, The Soldier, The Legend" triumphs and succeeds marvelously. But what makes this biography so astounding is that Robertson has given us far more than a narrative set of true facts about a heroic man named Thomas Jonathan Jackson, he has given us the man himself. I knew nothing about General Jackson until I saw the film "Gods and Generals", but after viewing that movie I knew I had a new hero (Robertson himself was a historical consultant on that film, by the way). When I read Robertson's biography I realized that, like the queen of Sheba when she met King Solomon, not the half had been told. Robertson hits the nail on the head by recognizing that if you would understand Stonewall Jackson, you must discern that he was first and foremost a soldier of the cross of Jesus Christ. Robertson himself is a professing Christian and so has unique insight into Jackson that many other biographers' lack. I will never have the privilege of meeting Jackson in this present age, but as I read this book I felt that I came as close to knowing Jackson personally as I ever can in this lifetime. I saw in him a kindred spirit. Having lost an infant of my own I could relate to his pain in the loss of two infants and his first wife, but I could also relate to the grace of God and the faith in Christ that sustained him through it all. Jackson and I share the same Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, Stonewall is my brother in the Lord across the sands of time. We share the same Calvinism as well. I found myself relating to his sense of social awkwardness and wanting to emulate his devotion to duty in many ways. Like all of us Jackson was a sinner, a man with large warts and gaping flaws. Forgiveness of others did not come easy to him; he placed loyalty to state above loyalty to family, sometimes not allowing men under his command to go home to bury dead wives and children. You will not find near as much of the noble patience that Joshua Lawrence Chamberlain demonstrated towards his men residing in Jackson. Yet, under his tough and well-disciplined exterior beat the heart of a man who was tender and affectionate towards his wife and baby, who loved to play with children, and whose tender prayers to his God were not soon forgotten. When I came to the chapter that describes Jackson's death following on the heels of his victory at Chancellorsville, I literally began to weep with tears spilling down my cheeks. The image of all those Confederate soldiers pulling off their hats and holding them over their hearts in honor of Jackson's widow when she first stepped away from his death bed is indelibly stamped on my mind. Why did I weep? Because through Robertson's biography, I had found a dear friend and brother in Christ. And when I read of his death, I felt that I was losing a personal friend. Thank you, Professor Robertson, for your eight and a half years of research and for all of your labors. Thank you for introducing me to a friend and hero, Thomas Jonathan Jackson. Our fourth son is named "Thomas Jackson", but we call him "Jackson". And in regards to General Jackson, we have never met, but we shall meet by and by when our Lord and Savior comes again to take His people home. Thomas Jackson, "Bud" Robertson, and myself shall spend eternity side by side with all of God's people throughout all of time worshiping our crucified and risen Savior.



3. This may be the best book I have ever read. It's detailed, thorough, yet very readable. You will know virtually everything there is to know about Stonewall Jackson by the time you finish reading this book.



4. I have several relatives who fought under Jackson and was a bit reluctant to read this book. Robertson is the premier historian of the Army of Northern Virginia and I thought this would be deification of Jackson. I was so wrong. Robertson has written THE definative work on Stonewall Jackson. Going back in his family history had my interest from the start.
   Robertson does a wonderful job of looking at Jackson-warts and all. He brings out all of Jackson and explains so many aspects of him and is certaintly not an apoligist. Without a doubt, Jackson was one of the most complex people to don an American uniform, next to Patton. When he was one his game he was briliant-such as The Valley Campaign, Second Bull Run or Chancellorsville. But When he was cold he was horrible-such was First Kernstown or the Pennicula Campaign. Robertson tells the story as it was, without excuses. If you want to really know the great Stonewall-read Robertsons book.



5. This is a great book that helps its readers understand how a poor orphan from Virginia became arguably the greatest general in American history.

5 comments about Baa Baa Black Sheep.

1. My family and I enjoyed this show so much that my wife actually started clapping at the end of one episode! She didn't even realize it! I watched this show as a young boy and loved it. We really hope that the second season is put out on DVD!!!



2. I was deeply touched by Pappy Boyington's thoughtful and apparently honest insights about himself in this book. Especially interesting was his descriptive telling of the 20 months he spent as a secret prisoner of the Japanese. His appreciation of cultural difference seems ahead of his time. His very human flaws made the book even more interesting to me. From the difficult upbringing he had, I can appreciate what he was to accomplish in his life (flaws and all).



3. The autobiography of one of America's top five aerial combat aces of World War II, Greg Boyington, is not only a great read about a very gifted and very human pilot, but also provides some enlightening historical insight that applies even today.



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5. I came to this book believing that "Pappy" Boyington was a pugnacious drunken spendthrift that the Marine Corps was anxious to be rid of, and that he may not have been the leading Marine Corps ace of World War II as he was thought to be. From what I had read, Boyington spent most of his time on the ground as a member of the American Volunteer Group (AVG), better known as "The Flying Tigers," and was only credited with shooting down 3 ½ Japanese planes (although he claimed six). I also understood that Boyington left the AVG early and was the only man ever dishonorably discharged from that organization. In addition, I questioned his account of the final action in which he was shot down, another unseen action in which he claimed two more enemy planes.
   
   After reading this book, however, I'm not quite so sure. In it, Boyington readily admits that he was a "drunk" and a "bum," and he allows as how he liked to wrestle a bit. As to his claim of six enemy planes while with the AVG, his explanation is easily believable. As he explains it: In order to get credit for a kill with the AVG you almost had to bring your victim back to the landing field in your teeth and drop it where everyone could see it, whereas the majority of his kills had been 75 to 100 miles away, most times behind enemy lines. In addition, and most likely with some merit, he states that the records of his actions at Rangoon were lost when that city fell to the Japanese. With regard to his being "dishonorably discharged" from the AVG, Boyington acknowledges that he left shortly before the remaining volunteers were forced/coerced into the Army Air Corps as 2nd lieutenants. But once again his explanation rings true. Boyington correctly states that he wasn't the only member of the AVG to leave the group, that the reason he left was because he wanted to return to the Marine Corps rather than be conscripted into the Army, and that it was ridiculous to claim that you could "dishonorably discharge" someone from a civilian volunteer organization. As to his account of his final, once again unseen action, Boyington's account is so vivid as to be easily believable.
   
   Having read a number of books which touched upon the life and times of Gregory "Pappy" Boyington before reading this one, I had already formed a somewhat negative impression of the man. After reading this book, however, I have concluded that it is one thing to view a man from the outside, especially from a distance in time, recounting his every fault and failure, but it is quite another thing to view that same man from the inside looking out.
   
   So, although much about Boyington is and will always remain a mystery, he certainly was an American hero and he certainly could tell an interesting, believable, and highly entertaining tale. And this is one of them. But don't stop reading too early. You certainly won't want to miss the chapters in which he recounts his nineteen months as a "captive" of the Japanese. To me, that's the best part of the book. Six stars anyone?