5 comments about The Devil Knows How To Ride: The True Story Of William Clarke Quantril And His Confederate Raiders.

1. You won't find a better, more up-to-date analysis of the border war and the guerillas and bushwackers. And now is a good time to bone up on the subject, as we are in the midst of the 150th anniversary of the Border War and the anniversary of Quantrills raid on Lawrence is just 5 years away. Lock and load, people.



2. Mild-mannered teacher. Mama's boy. Impressionable Army teamster. Professional gambler. Lady's man. Expert horseman. Cold-blooded killer.
   
   William Clarke Quantrill, the leader of the most feared group of guerrillas in American history, possessed all of these personas at one time or another in his short life. Tackling a subject of this complexity requires an author who is up to the task, and Edward Leslie proves that he is the man for the job in The Devil Knows How to Ride.
   
   Leslie does an admirable job transporting the reader back to a time when people's survival was day-to-day and the difference between life and death often depended on one's political sympathies. Leslie probably comes closer than any other author to understanding Quantrill the man and his motivations. This is all the more impressive when one considers that Quantrill, the most important figure in the story, died a month shy of his 28th birthday, leaving behind few correspondences and no memoirs.
   
   The book is thoroughly researched and meticulously detailed. Well-known events such as the Lawrence Massacre are covered. But so are little-known historical nuggets, such as the story of Quantrill escaping from the headquarters of a Confederate general who had placed him under arrest near Bonham, Texas. It seems that every raid ever undertaken by Quantrill's gang gets a mention, whether it be for one sentence or an entire chapter. Despite the book's great detail, its pulse-pounding pace is rarely compromised.
   
   Besides good research and an easy writing style, another of Leslie's hallmarks is that he brings objectivity to the subject of which he writes. He projects a balanced view that never resorts to "purple prose." Many of the more incendiary allegations against Quantrill are presented very carefully. For example, Leslie takes issue with stories of Quantrill gleefully abusing animals as a youth and attributes them to a single source who had reasons for disparaging his character. Perhaps because of Quantrill's fierce reputation, many such stories about him were taken at face value when they were first published.
   
   This book is ideal for readers with a basic knowledge of the Civil War who don't want to sift through long narratives of troop movements, flanking maneuvers, and the like. The irregular nature of guerrilla operations makes for interesting reading. The story is also interesting because guerrilla groups were small units compared with the regular Army. As a result, the participants in the story have related their experiences in very personal terms.
   
   Leslie's attention to detail and fresh perspective on Quantrill ensures that Civil War aficionados will appreciate the book as well.
   
   If you are looking for one book on Quantrill, or even one book on the Civil War in the West, you can't go wrong with The Devil Knows How to Ride.



3. I am a history fanatic and I loved this book. It is about a time of which I did not have a lot of knowledge and this was so well done.
   I am sorry Mr. Leslie doesn't have more books as he is an excellant story teller.



4. As little as I heard about William Qunatrell and as much as I wanted to know about him, I found this book sadly lacking in any depth or insight. Even though the author writes an introduction about knowing a sociopath who massacred a dozen people in a McDonald's and how this led him to be interested in serial killers and the like, he falls back on narrative devices of the Gone with the Wind cliche.
   
   Whilst there is a fascinating story buried in this narrative about a man who took up guerrilla warfare and how he scared the hell out of Kansas and Missouri, the retelling sucks the life out of it. The author relies too heavily on the original histories and reports some of the hokiness bits of dialogue and fictions without comment. Sure, the guerrila bands MIGHT have been avenging their sisters and the good southern women, or that might have just been the melodramatic recreation. Sure, a man might have said "D-mn them. They are desecrating the flag" upon seeing a Lawrence raider dragging an American flag on horseback. Or he might have just been running for his life and thought up the story later on.
   
   Sadly, this is considered the classic of the historical accounts. So it will be many more years before a better book comes along - one that actually attempts psychological insight and historical accuracy and actually discusses the original texts instead of swallowing every bit of romanticized twaddle without question.



5. ....and Colonel William Clarke Quantrill called in the debt. He sure as hell did. Hart was an assumed name that Quantrill used as a young man when he went west from Ohio seeking fame and fortune, or at least a living. Problem was, he landed right in the middle of the "Bleeding Kansas" mess that was especially hot along the Missouri-Kansas border. Quantrill worked as a teacher, and is said to have been a good one, but trouble was brewing...Charles Jennison and his Jayhawkers, John Brown and his murders of innocent whites....more than enough motivation for a young man to follow the South when war came.
   
   Missouri was even more deeply divided than the rest of the country; it really was brother against brother. The Confederate commander in Missouri was Major General Sterling Price, a fine and decent man, but not our best General. Initially, Quantrill served in the regular Confederate Army, but gradually broke away, with a band of followers, to form The Missouri Partisan Rangers, forerunner of the modern Special Forces, complete with proper Confederate commissions. At first, they played by regular rules...taking prisoners, giving paroles, etc. But when Jim Lane wantonly burned Osceola, and murdered civilians, the black flag came out...
   
   Quantrill's followers are the stuff of Legend...Captain Bloody Bill Anderson...Captain George Todd, who eventually supplanted Quantrill [I am married to a direct descendent of Captain Todd; our son will gladly tell you about it]...Archie Clement...Bill Gregg...Cole Younger...Frank James...Jesse James. Some died in the cause; others went on to fame after the war.
   
   Quantrill's Raiders lived off the countryside, and made things hot for the Yankees wherever they went. They even fought, and won, regular battles, like Baxter Springs. Finally, the Yankees imprisoned female relatives of the Raiders in a structurally unsafe jail in Kansas City...when it collapsed, five innocent girls, including Bill Anderson's sister and Cole Younger's cousin died...enough was enough, the bill was due, and Lawrence paid. When Ewing issued his infamous Order #11, clearing northwest Missouri of Southern civilians, resolve hardened.
   
   Eventually, Todd and Anderson were killed, and the war ended. Quantrill was mortally wounded in Kentucky in 1865. Or was he? He was seen alive as late as 1915...the ultimate legendary status...seen alive after death, joining such company as Jesse James [seen as late as 1951], Houdini, Elvis, and JFK. His skull was used as a prop in a college fraternity initiation for years; he finally received a military funeral, and Christian burial, in 1992. Surviving Raiders held reunions from 1898 till 1929; interestingly, there were two black Raiders at the reunions, though no one knows much about them.
   
   This is a well researched account of a little known aspect of our Civil War. "Quantrill's War" by Duane Schultz is more academic, but this is more readable...both get five stars.

5 comments about A Long Way Gone: Memoirs of a Boy Soldier.

1. A Long Way Gone is a memoir of Ishmael Beah's days as a child soldier in Sierra Leone. Some reviewers have questioned the accuracy of the details...I read this book with an open mind, realizing that this book details the author's memories of the events he experienced as a child soldier. Beah is a good storyteller, and effectively illustrates the horrifying reality of living in a country where the government is so vulnerable to rebel forces. The details are vivid, and at times, very difficult to read. I cannot fathom how traumatic it must have been to see so many people killed, and to be one of the killers. This is Beah's story, and the fact of the matter is that what happened to Beah is going on in other countries today, and everyone needs to be aware of it. This book should be required reading in middle and/or high school. An incredible story.



2. I found this book to be quite harrowing: I frequently had to put it down and cool off, so troubling was the stuff I was reading.
   
   But that was only up to about page 50 or so. After that it became a lot easier to stomach.
   
   Why page 50? Because that's when I went to the internet and learned a little bit about the book's author, Ishmael Beah.
   
   In short, Beah, while he apparently did undergo some rather unpleasant experiences in his native Sierra Leone, evidently did not undergo all the experiences related in "A Long Way Gone," or at least not directly. Many journalists have labeled this book a fraud.
   
   If you'd like to find out about the controversy yourself, start with his Wikipedia page. Follow the links at the bottom.
   
   Anyhow, some observations:
   
   1. Beah has to be a world-class moron for not grasping that playing fast and loose with the truth in the age of the Internet is something that would later come back to haunt him. And don't tell me he was an untutored villager who had no way of understanding the implications of this: he was a student at Oberlin.
   
   2. If Beah had simply pulled a Frederick Exley and said, "Hey, folks, this is a fictionalized autobiography. I'm not so much interested in the precise truth of events so much as the effect they had on my spirit and development." He would be untouchable.
   
   3. This irony is certainly not deliberate, but you know how the central thrust of the book is that after an endless parade of horrors, you get inured? After pages and pages of blood, several limbs, and mutilated bodies, you pretty much stop caring. It's like you're an armchair boy soldier!
   
   4. Beah should be despised, not "addressing the U.N." True, he may have "forgiven himself" in some feel-good workshop, but I for one haven't forgiven him. Look, if they gave him a Kalashnikov when he was 7 or 8 and bullied him into shooting up the town, that'd be one thing. But 15? That's old enough to know the difference between right and wrong in any culture. Murderer.



3. Ishmael Beah has written an amazing memoir called A Long Way Gone, which tells the story of his life as a child soldier in Sierra Leone. This is a book that everyone should take the time to read, because it will really teach you a lot about the current problem worldwide, with young kids being drugged, traumatized, and allowed to wield guns and fight in wars.
   
   Ishmael experienced all the events in this book firsthand, and his story is utterly captivating. He moved to the United States in 1998 and finished high school in New York at the United Nations International School. In 2004 he graduated Oberlin College, and has spoken in front of many major world organizations that help fight for the estimated 300,000 children being used to fight in wars around the world today.
   
   Ishmael accomplished exactly what he wanted by writing this book- he informed hundreds of thousands of people about the horrible lives that child soldiers lead all around the world. People need to look into this problem and become informed about it so that they can help organizations like UNICEF prevent it. There are thousands of young children whose lives are being taken away from them, and they are being exposed to violence. This is something no child should ever have to go through.
   
   This book has many strengths, including things like its plot, which will make it very hard to put the book down, and all the information it gives you about wars fought in Sierra Leone. I think the only weakness was the writing style- Ishmael should have been a little bit more descriptive in his writing, and used more descriptive words to give you a better visual picture in your head of what was going on. Over all, A Long Way Gone is an outstanding true story that will teach you about the lives of child soldiers.



4. I found this book to be very good. I would have enjoyed it more if I read it without so much time in between reading. I would highly recomment this book. It is filled with stories that will tear your heart apart and stories that will really make you appreciate your own life.



5. A Long Way Gone: Memoirs of a Boy Soldier
   
   This is an excellent bio. I look forward to the rest of the story.

5 comments about Sinking the Rising Sun: Dog Fighting & Dive Bombing in World War II: A Navy Fighter Pilot's Story.

1. A very human, humorous, and often poignant account of a young man going to war. Some may be put off by the fact that more than half the book is preparatory to actual combat in the South Pacific. If you are one of those people, I would ask you to reserve judgment as the long prelude makes this fabulous story (to paraphrase what Davis says in this memoir "we began to believe in John Paul Jones' 'we have not yet begun to fight'") all the more empathetic and gut-wrenching when the combat actually comes. Davis is the "real deal"; a Navy Cross recipient who helped sink the Japanese carrier Zuikaku (the last surviving carrier from the Pearl Harbor attack). An unforgettable memoir that I'm so pleased its author decided to share.



2. I do not recommend this book. I was in this squadron and there is so much false stories and tall tales in it that it should be classed as fiction.



3. "Sinking the Rising Sun" is an excellent inside look at what it was like flying fighters in the Pacific during WWII. This book is a page turner, at times funny, and touching in the insights into the fears, hopes and sacrifices these men made. An easy read, the book takes you from the initial flight school experience, through to the final battle and return home. A great book!



4. Autobiographies of World War II Navy fighter pilots are pretty rare. In this 2007 volume from Zenith Press, William Davis, an F6F Hellcat pilot who served in the Pacific, offers a rare, from-the-cockpit look at carrier combat in the latter stages of the war. Fans of the Hellcat and the Pacific air war will enjoy his engaging memoir.
   
   Davis joined the Navy in early 1942. After various misadventures in Training Command, which are detailed in the book, he joined VF-19, commanded by Hugh Winters, in August 1943. In the typical hurry-up-and-wait military tradition, the eager Hellcat pilots of VF-19 weren't sent into the war zone until July 1944, embarked on USS Lexington.
   
   In the coming months VF-19 saw much hard combat, resulting in the squadron claiming 155 air kills and almost 200 ground kills. Davis' share of the action included scoring a bomb hit on the Japanese carrier Zuikaku, being shot down off Luzon and scoring a number of kills. In the book Davis claims at least seven kills but apparently only four were officially confirmed, his name not being found on any USN Aces list. Air Group 19 returned stateside in December 1944, Davis subsequently working for Bell Aircraft in the postwar period.
   
   SINKING THE RISING SUN is exciting and fun reading. Davis writes in an easy, engaging style, detailing the funny, exciting and boring events that made up the life of a Navy fighter pilot in the mid-war years. Recommended.



5. This is an excellent book on the flyer's of the U.S. Navy during WW II and gives a great enhancement to the books I have already read on this period of History.

5 comments about Shooter: The Autobiography of the Top-Ranked Marine Sniper.

1. this autobiography largely focuses on the author's tour in iraq (operation: iraqi freedom), and while it does provide some brief glimpses into the mind and training of a sniper, the job they have to do, and the burden they carry, most of these positives are notably eclipsed by the endless complaining about the lack of action (re: fighting), macho head games with personnel he runs into, and redundant observations (ie. no emotional attachments with targets, no joy in killing even though it has to be done). all these factors significantly slow the pace of the book down until the next fire fight. in addition, the level of writing is a bit amateurish even with the assistance of a credited author. i would've preferred more detail regarding training, preparation, and skill settings rather than the glossed-over descriptions provided.
   
   the book isn't a total loss. the fire fights that are described are often times somewhat exciting, and it's interesting to get another perspective of the war in iraq as many of the operations often times coincide with other written materials by former marines on the war and have some overlap.
   
   note that i have the utmost respect for men and women serving in the armed forces and the sacrifices made. i do not doubt the validity of coughlin's stories, his toughness, or his skill. unfortunately, this autobiography falls short of my expectations based on the jacket description and the positive reviews from other readers online.



2. The author relates his successful struggle with the USMC top brass to utilize the skill sets of Scout/Snipers in front line battle situations, rather than relegating them to taking out occasional designated targets. The editing is very poor leaving the reader the task of grinding through some very sophomoric prose, none-the-less, the story is worth the grind.



3. We're all raised hearing things like, "Don't hit your brother," and "Be a good boy," etc. So how does one go from being taught to "be nice" to being a trained killer? Shooter takes you inside the mind of a sniper. The author is a trained professional, and takes his "art" (as he refers to it) very seriously. Because he and others like him are experts at their job, American lives are saved. He admits to being haunted by his former targets in his dreams and is open about the strain of being deployed had on his marriage. Recommended.



4. While the title suggests it is an autobiography the majority of the book is concerned with the authors time in Iraq during the campaign to overthrow Saddam Hussein.
   
   The author was an experienced sniper with previous combat experience before going to Iraq. What comes through clearly is the very aggressive attitude of the Marine Corp and the author's desire to participate in the fighting. This is counter-pointed by an incident late in the campaign which obviously left a deep impression on the author and highlights the difficulties of modern fighting and trying to prevent civilian casualties.
   
   What also comes through clearly are the problems of trying to maintain a family life and being in an elite military unit. These problems led to the author's marriage breaking down and to his decision to leave the Marine Corp. He also details some of the frustrations he found serving with some people who are less than professional and his disgust at one person in particular being rewarded for his service was another reason for leaving the Corps.
   
   All in all, an intersting book with insight at what motivates a sniper but I would have liked to see more about the author's life other than in Iraq.



5. Shortly into the story it becomes pretty evident that this wasn't the "confession" of an honored and admirable soldier. This is not a warrior who wanted to share his story with the world to ease the burden of killing men who were fighting for their beliefs, even if those beliefs where not the same as his.
   
   Jack was a soldier and sniper who saw "the dumbest man in all of Iraq" in the first day of battle. The Iraqi fighter was not dumb to Jack because he watched him do something truly stupid, like load bullets into his AK47 backwards. This fighter was "the dumbest man in Iraq" because he was 1/2 mile away and felt secure and concealed enough behind a thick bush to attack from that position (remember that these soldiers are fighting based on experience and not from years of hardcore training like our Marines). Jack took this son/grandson/cousin/fathers/brother/friends/Iraqi soldier's life from his family. I honestly believe that the Iraqi fighter should have been killed because he was attacking our countrymen. However, I would respect Jack a little more if he treated a man that was so destitute in his beliefs he was brave enough to attack an entire force of American soldier, with a little more grace and respect. Instead, Jack takes credit for his cold bore 1000 meter (hahaha...oh but his rifle was already zeroed into the EXACT, no kidding he says it in the book, distance of the target haha) shot that saved an ENTIRE BATTALIONS MAIN COMMUNICATIONS HUBS from the ONE GUY ONLY PACKING AN AK47.
   
   Sorry for the brief ramble, but this book is filled with complete ego. I am ex-military and have been hunting and shooting for 17 of my 25 years on this earth and I have more respect for the deer/elk/beer/mtn. lions that I harvest than Jack has for the soldiers he has killed in battle. Through the book I was trying to tell myself that a sniper has to have an inflated confidence in themselves, but this was ridiculous!
   
   By the time I finished I thought of Jack as a supply and backline soldier who wanted to try to convince SOMEONE that he was good at his job as a sniper because he couldn't convince the Marines. It seemed that he killed not only because it was his job, but because he enjoyed it as well.
   
   ~Cam

5 comments about Hard Fighting Soldier: Finding God in Trials, Tragedies, and Triumphs.

1. This book is amazing. I finished it in two days, the only reason it took me that long was because I started in the evening of a busy night for me. For me to finish a book that fast says a lot because I have only finished maybe 5 books in high school and college (I'm a sophomore in college now) and I have taken AP English courses in high school and literature courses in college. I just don't typically enjoy reading, but this book was so good that I could not put it down. Well written and great theology and Christian experience anyone, not just athletes, can gain from.



2. This book is quite different from a lot of books on the Christian faith. It has many short chapters and moves quickly from one area of Chette's life to another. It does cover some details of Auburn football because that is an early part of his life and his current position is as Chaplain for the Tigers. However a good bit of the book covers his family life, interactions with friends growing up, and his early work in Christian ministries. I thought the style of writing was execellent because it blends his view, with comments from other coaches, team members, and friends that provides a compelling view of how God does work in each of our lives - many times in ways that we only understand many years after He does the work.
   
   It is an easy read, and very entertaining to hear some of the behind the scenes stories of Division I football. I really enjoyed reading it.



3. Once started I was unable to put down Chette Williams wonderful book full of life stories and messages of hope. Don't shy away if your not part of the Tiger Family or a football fan. This book is about life and what we make of it as individuals and has a group of people.
   Thank you Chaplain Williams for sharing your journey with us.



4. Just an unbelievable testimony to the work God did in Chette's life at Auburn as a player and now as the team chaplain. God has used Chette in enormous ways both on and off the field and you can read about them first hand in this book. If you are like me, you won't be able to put it down and it will change your life!! Thanks Chette!!



5. Chette Williams' passion and living faith come alive in this simply elegant touching work. It is a personal, genuine and inspirational account of his challenging life as an initially troubled and lost college student and football player who in God's hands is transformed into first a team leader, and then is miraculously led on to be a minister and "fighting soldier" from the toughest neighborhoods of New Orleans to his return as chaplain for Auburn University fooball, where he continues to this day helping tranform the lives of players, coaches and all those God allows to cross his path. It is not a self help book, but with Chette's passionate anecdotal style and the intense experiences and challenges he describes, it is a markedly relevant tool for coaches, teachers and anyone ministering to or leading young people. Don't miss it. When you finish, you'll wish every college student in America could know these truths.

5 comments about War Letters: Extraordinary Correspondence from American Wars.

1. Good perspective of several wars from the point of those who served.
   
   Some really touching letters especially when the author reveals
   what happened to the letter writers.
   
   Some good outcomes, some not so much ...



2. There are letters from `very' different types of people such as George W. Bush (after he was shot down) and from George McGovern (who was a bomber pilot). I really don't care whose side (politically speaking) the authors of the various letters represent as long as it deals with the stated topic (WAR LETTERS). This is why I only gave the book 3 stars. What in the blue blazes are letters from Helen Keller (who is writing about a friend she once knew who is now in jail for being an American commie) & a letter from the American commie traitor Alger Hiss doing in the book? Neither of these letters even remotely have anything to do with an American War.
   There are other letters which also have very little to do with a U.S. war but I looked over these as they `sort of' and that is a stretch - were leading up to a war. I do not know for sure - but I believe the author is a left of center sort of guy and it comes through in the letters he chose.



3. This book is a great read. It is refeshing to be able to read words, thoughts and dreams from people as they perform such honorable duty overseas. This book is powerful and should be required reading for all, especially Americans.
   
   Some anti-war activist may think it is "pro-war" but it isn't just that. This book reveals personal thoughts and challenges faced by American military personnel in wars from the Civil War until the later conflicts in the 20th century. It is pro-war, anti-war and everything in between.
   
   This book reminds me of the sacrifice that so many make for their country. It is a great tribute for those who have served.



4. i only gave it three stars because many of the stories were more about patriotism than about the war themselves. Of course every book has its bias so its still a useful and moving read when taken with this grain of salt.



5. I received this book as a gift because my family knows I love reading personal histories from those who lived it and "War Letters" seemed perfect for that. I enjoy learning what life was like for the average citizen in an era, whether its someone riding the Erie Canal in 1840, a foot soldier in the American revolution, or a journal from the Civil War.
   
   This is a remarkable book and taken individually there are many, many heart-rending emotional stories that probably need to be read by many people. It does in fact put a personal face on war. Because it is a collection of letters, the book is easily read in short spurts; you don't want (and shouldn't) read this book quickly.
   
   I only gave the book 4 stars because I actually found it hard to read. While the personal letters (the spelling, mannerisms of the authors) help tell their stories, it also keeps the book from developing any flow. Some letters are agonzingly slow to read and understand. I'm certainly not faulting the authors or their stories; but if you're looking for a great, well-written, smooth-flowing story that you can't put down, this isn't it.

5 comments about Forever Flying.

1. I AM AN AUSTRALIAN AND I VISITED OSHKOSH IN 1997 WITH MY WIFE AND HAD THE PRIVILEGE OF SEEING BOB HOOVER FLY.I HEARD BOB AND CHUCK YEAGER TALK AND RIB EACH OTHER, AS ONLY GOOD FRIENDS AND PEOPLE WHO HAVE THE GREATEST RESPECT
   FOR EACH OTHER CAN DO.THIS BOOK IS A REAL TREASURE.IT REVEALS THE SKILL AND BRAVERY OF THIS VERY SPECIAL MAN.IT ALSO SHOWS THE CHARACTER ,FORTITUDE AND STRENGTH OF BOB HOOVER,COUPLED WITH HIS LOVE FOR HIS COUNTRY; AS INDICATED WHEN HE TOLD TWO YOUNG BOYS ,WHO WERE SEATED, TO STAND WHEN THE NATIONAL ANTHEM WAS BEING PLAYED...SOMETHING PEOPLE TODAY NEED TO VALUE.I HIGHLY RECOMMEND THIS BOOK TO EVERY PERSON WHO LOVES FLYING ,BECAUSE BOB REALLY COVERED IT ALL.



2. This well written book is a must read for all pilots. When you read this you will be taken back in time to WWII, to landing on the moon, breaking the sound barrier, and the first man in space. Mr. Hoover has been an active participant in many historical events, he even tells why he was not the first to break the sound barrier. The book chronicals his exploits and then he backs up the stories with photos. I gave the book to my youngest son, who is going to fly in the USAF, and he could not put it down. If you like flying or airshows or history you need to read this book.



3. BUY IT !!
   
   You'll love it. This is a page turner if ever there was one.



4. I did not know who Bob Hoover was before I started reading this book. Wow! What an amazing human and pilot. It's on my A list of autobiographies.
   
   And, if you are a pilot, you will definitely want to read Forever Flying.



5. Some years ago I was at an airshow and watched Bob Hoover do things with a Shrike Commander that no twin-engined commuter airliner should be able to do. Afterwards he was amazingly modest and easy to talk to. Hoover is one of the greats - a life dedicated to flying and as a war pilot, a test pilot and an air display pilot he's done it all. Everything is faithfully recounted in this book. Yet there's something missing. True, it's an easy read. But it's also a bit sterile and I don't think it truly captures the man. Sadly the 'ghost' writer has done a less than brilliant job and the endless testimonies that appear would have been much more convincing had they been incorporated in the text. Also, they keep saying Lindberg was the first man to fly the Atlantic, but of course Alcock and Brown did it many years earlier. It's a great story but might have been better told.

5 comments about The Grunt Padre.

1. Books
   
   The Grunt Padre
   By Father Daniel L. Mode
   Reviewed by Cos Ferrara
   
   When Vincent R. Capodanno, Jr. decided to become a Maryknoll priest, he expected to be bringing the word of Christ to foreign lands. But it is unlikely that he expected to be the Christ-bearer to American soldiers in Vietnam during one of the deadliest of wars. After spending seven years in Taiwan and Hong Kong, Father Vincent requested permission to become a U. S. Navy chaplain and serve Marines in the field of battle. And serve he did.
   The Grunt Padre by Father Daniel L. Mode (CMJ Marian Publishers, Oak Lawn, IL, 2000), tells his story. The book is the result of painstaking research over a number of years into the life and death of a quietly heroic Catholic priest. Father Mode read every available account on Father Vincent. He spoke to Father Vincent's family, his fellow Marines, and military officials who investigated the priest's heroism before the appropriate medals and honors could be bestowed on him. Once word of his research spread, Marines from across the country sent their accounts of the grunt Padre to be included in the book.
   
   The Grunt Padre
   Father Vincent Capodanno arrived in Vietnam in April 1966, to begin his 12-month tour. The United States had 385,000 troops there, with an average of 40 US soldiers dying there every month. In speaking of Father Vincent's ministry, one Marine said: "He was not standing on any soapboxes. The only thing he asked of the grunt Marines was the honor to be with them, and that meant he had to become one of them." "Grunt Marine" is a term that by rights should only be used by enlisted infantry Marines. They use it to remind themselves of the seriousness of their training: sweat in peace saves lives in war.
   Father Vincent lived as a grunt Marine. Another Marine said he "was not a religious leader who did his job and then returned to the comfort of his own circle. Wherever they went, he went. Whatever burdens they had to carry, he shared the load. No problem was too large or too small to take to Father Vincent. He was available to them day and night. In a short time, the grunt Marines recognized Father Vincent's determination to be with them and one of them. The men respectfully and affectionately dubbed him "The Grunt Padre."
   
   Whatever It Takes
   He heard confessions, instructed converts, and administered the sacraments. He also walked dangerous perimeters, accompanying Marines positioned in distant jungle outposts.
   In his spare time, Father Vincent wrote letters of condolence and information to families of dead and wounded Marines. One family later wrote of such a letter they had received from Father Vincent: "It had been a week of terrible worry for us, and his letter was the most important thing in the world to us."
   Asking to be assigned to the operations entailing the greatest risk, Father Vincent went on many dangerous operations. On November 25, 1966, during Operation Rio Blanco, Captain David L. Walker was wounded in an open, flat rice paddy. He lay hopelessly in pain and exposed to enemy fire. He could not move. He later said:
   
   Father Capodanno was the first at my side, even though he had to run about 75 meters through heavy enemy small arms fire. After summoning a Corpsman, he then assisted in carrying me to a safe area where I was med-evaced. During this time he was constantly exposed to enemy fire.
   
   With the Medical Battalion
   After eight months working with field combat units, Father Capodanno was transferred to the 1st Medical Battalion. The wounded were carried by helicopter to the hospital 24 hours a day. During 1966, the Medical Corps there treated more than a million South Vietnamese civilians and nearly 6400 wounded Marines and sailors.
   The Sacrament of Reconciliation was particularly important to the wounded who were fearful that they might die. In addition, Father administered the sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick, known then as Extreme Unction, to many about to die.
   Lieutenant Joseph L. LaHood, a Navy doctor, commented on the gentle and effective way Father Vincent carried out his pastoral duties:
   
   I am a doctor and after a year in Vietnam saw much. But never had I seen such dedication and selflessness, not as a sticky "piety" but as a "way." For the hundreds of cigarettes he held for the wounded, many of whom could no longer reach their hands to their lips, and for the hundreds of letters he wrote and helped to write for his men, the Marines will never forget that he is one of them. This priest of God is a hero.
   
   Operation Swift
   With three months left on his tour, Father Vincent asked for a six-month extension. On September 4, 1967, while people back home were celebrating Labor Day, Father Vincent was accompanying his Marines on Operation Swift. Lieutenant Joseph E. Pilon, M.D., gave this account:
   
   On Labor Day our battalion ran into a world of trouble. When Father C. arrived at the scene it was 500 Marines against 2500 North Vietnamese Army regulars.....
   Casualties were running high and Father C. had his work cut out for him. Early in the day, he was shot through the right hand, which all but shattered his hand--one corpsman patched him up and tried to med-evac him but Father C. declined, saying he had work to do.
   A few hours later a mortar landed near him and left his right arm in shreds hanging from his side. Once again he was patched up and once again he refused evacuation. There he was, moving slowly from wounded to dead to wounded using his left arm to support his right as he gave absolution or last rights, when he suddenly spied a corpsman get knocked down by the burst of an automatic weapon.
   The corpsman was shot in the leg and couldn't move and understandably panicked. Father C. ran out to him and positioned himself between the injured boy and the automatic weapon. Suddenly, the weapon opened up again and this time riddled Father C. from the back of his head to the base of his spine.
   
   Father Vincent was one of 127 Marines who died in Operation Swift in the Que-Son Valley that day. He was awarded the Bronze Star of Valor, the Medal of Honor, the highest military award the United States can present. He also was given the Purple Heart. A United States Navy vessel was named in his honor--the USS Capodanno. Perhaps the tribute that would mean the most to Father Vincent is having his name inscribed on the Vietnam Memorial on the Mall in Washington, D.C., along with the other 58,181 dead and missing soldiers from the Vietnam War.
   
   In May 2006, Father Capodanno was publicly declared Servant of God, the first step toward canonization as a saint in the Catholic Church.
   
   A Painful but Uplifting Read
   
   While this book is not for the feint of heart, it does tell a story of Christian sacrifice that should be heard.
   
   
   1187 words



2. This is a must read. I met Father Vincent while I was in a Chu Lai hospital where he was stationed. It was sometime in January 1967. I remember his first visit with me; he brought to me a small transistor radio and some cookies he had received in the mail. I was immediately awed by his presence. He raised my spirits and made me feel special in a place that was overwhelming and intimidating. For the brief time I was there I would visit him in the chapel and had some wonderful conversations with him. When I returned to my company (C 1/7) area I would occasionally see him. I recall we were on an operation and one Sunday he provided services right there out in the field (one of the pictures in the book). A number of us Marines (regardless of faith) would gather and he would lead the service. It exemplified the importance of faith and the unimportance of individual beliefs; we would all prey to the same God. I recall we were on a line sweep across a field and a Marine about three down from me had tripped a land mind. Two Marines were down. Father Vince ran at full speed past me and went in front of the line with no regard for himself. Within a matter of moments he was the first to arrive at the aid of the fallen Marines. I knew then that he would not survive in Vietnam; his dedication to us would be his sacrifice. It wasn't until after I ended my tour of duty and was home that I learned of his death. There is not a day goes by that I do not think about him. I have this book proudly displayed in my office and enjoy talking about him when anyone asks. Recently I published a book Life with an Angel and I'm working on a sequel which will be based on my experiences in Vietnam and will be dedicated to Father Capodanno. He has had a profound impact in my entire life. For that I will always be thankful that God allowed me to share a small part of Father Vincent's life. I hope that this book and his memory and inspiration will live forever.



3. A lot of things come when you hear those words. Being a Veteran from the US Navy a Hospital Corpsman I know all to well what those words mean. I know the sacrifices that a Non Combatant goes through when he accepts that Torch of Freedom. Fr Vincent Capadano also understood what it meant to be a Non Combatant as well. He died coming to the aid of a Fellow Non Combatant a Mortally Wounded Corpsman. I read this book and I was forced to put it down several times to calm my nerves and tears. Never before has a book moved me like Grunt Padre.
   
   A week ago I sat in the Stands of Parris Island watching my son graduate Basic Training as a brand new Marine. My thoughts returned to that book I read so many years ago. I bought the book and am giving it to my son as one of his Christmas Gifts. Every Marine should read this book. Every Catholic should Read this book.



4. "The Grunt Padre" is by all definitions a true testimony to the spirit of peace and slavation that Christ brought mankind and the humble example of Christ's teaching in action as epitomized by Lt Capadono's ministry to his 'Marine congregation.' His story is further testimony to the efficacy of the Chaplain's Corps in maintaining the soldier's ethical and moral compass in the most trying of circumstances . . . war.
   
   One need not wonder that if Chaplains such as Lt. Capadano had been assigned to Ahbu Ghraib whether such atrocities would have ever occurred.
   
   This book should be on every middle school and high school summer reading list if not mandatory reading during the school year. Such a story needs to be told to all our children!



5. I saw the documentary of Fr Vincent Capadano and tears came from my eyes. Something that never or rarely happens in my life. I now have to re read the book again.

5 comments about General Patton: A Soldier's Life.

1. Aside from excellent points made by other reviewers, I found Hirsohson's book full of repetitions, untenable assumptions or conclusions and in some cases too much detail; all of which reminded me of the lecture of a brilliant history professor who has been kept on the job too long and whose mind is approaching senility. There is useful new information about Patton and some of his subordinate generals but this is not the "definitive" biography.



2. I was reviewing my wish list and noted the low average rating this book received. The author invested more than a decade reviewing source documents and interviewing primary sources in order to complete this book. The book is very readable, entertaining, comprehensive, flows well, and is replete with relevant facts, as it should be. Any rating below five is ridiculous.



3. I read somewhere that great men have great flaws and General George S. Patton was no exception. Gruff, volatile, arrogant, and self-promoting, Patton was nonetheless a bold tactician. Stanley Hirshson, far from presenting a hagiography, has decided to concentrate on the former. Indeed, it appears Hirshson has a sizeable axe to grind.
   
   Though no particular fan of Patton, I couldn't help but notice that much of the author's unfavorable narrative was not only anecdotal but defamatory. True, Patton was an extremely controversial figure with viewpoints any objective person would question, but Hirshson plainly contradicts himself when accusing the general of ant-semitism. His claim that Patton did not respect Jewish junior officers seems to be at odds with the fact that Patton sent several to free his son-in-law from a POW camp in Germany.
   
   One also detects a socialist ideologue deeply offended by the concept of meritocracy. Patton simply didn't share the author's worldview and Hirshson's dismay at this bleeds through to the written page. When not immersed in these complexities, Hirshson does the battlefield a disservice with maps that are basically worthless. The troop dispositions and maneuvers of the ETO's most daring general are completely ignored. Rather, we are given town names and not a heck of a lot more.
   
   Can Hirshson write well? He can. Did the book hold my interest? It did. But, as I closed the book for the final time, I did not feel the satisfaction that a good book provides. Instead, I felt I'd been piloted through the life of Patton by a man not disinterested enough to drive. 3 stars.



4. Overall, GENERAL PATTON: A SOLDIER'S LIFE is a good, solid, if unspectacular tracing of George Patton's life.
   
   There is a photograph in the book that shows Bing Crosby visiting a war zone to entertain the troops. The crooner has eschewed a steel helmet, and wears instead a less-protective soft cap. The caption announces that General Patton threatened, in fact, to have Bing Crosby court-martialed for his choice of headgear.
   
   Okay. So here's my question. Was General Patton being serious? (Which would mean he was a mean old son-of-a-gun.) Or was Old Blood and Guts just teasing? (Which would mean he had a caustic sense of humor). I don't know: nowhere in the body of the text is Bing Crosby mentioned.
   
   Similarly: George Patton's fatal car accident is mentioned. But we don't learn whether this was a dumb, avoidable car accident, or a one-in-a-million, odds-defying tragedy, or possibly a conspiracy. Stanley Hirshson, the book's author, doesn't take us to that level of detail.
   
   Similarly: we learn a good bit about George Patton's performance as an Olympic athlete. But we don't really learn what **Patton himself** felt about the experience. We just get second-hand stuff. Mustn't Patton have spoken or written about his pentathalon performance at some point? If so--let's have it!
   
   In short, this book will give you a good overview of Patton's life and it raises some interesting, even provocative ideas, but overall it remains just a bit flat and incomplete.



5. Stanley P. Hirshon has written an average study of an important American war hero. Two and a half stars is really the rating I would like to give this book. Hirshon argues that he has written a different book from other biographers. While that is true, what he is really trying to do with that statement is distinguish himself from Carlo D'Este who published his Patton biography after Hirshon had invested four years of research into this project. He encourages his readers to compare his biography to others. I am not sure most people will do that, but I am also writing a book on the making of the film "Patton." As a result, I have consulted and examined both biographies and what I find is that Hirshon comes to a number of different conclusions, but most of them seem to exaggerate minor differences and/or reflect a lack of familiarity with the military.
   
   
   
   Hirshon uncovers a number of vignettes about Patton's life that are new. His coverage of Patton's experiences in the Olympics is particularly good. One of D'Este's major themes was that the most significant factor in shaping Patton's life was his dyslexia. A major theme that Hirshon pursues without mentioning D'Este's name is that Patton was NOT dyslexic. He certainly has an argument, but he takes it too far. He also spends a good deal of time discussing Patton's father and the wide divergence in their political views. The senior Patton was an important politician in California, who played a key and underappreciated role in getting Woodrow Wilson reelected in 1916. While Patton's relationship with his father could have been better than it was and their different political values are part of that story, the differences are not what made the son historically important and the emphasis Hirshon places on them seems excessive.
   
   
   
   When most people think of Patton, they think of a 43-year old raspy-voiced actor named George C. Scott standing in front of a giant U.S. flag giving a war speech: "We have the finest food and equipment, the best spirit and the best men in the world. You know, by God I actually pity those poor bastards we're going up against. By God, I do. We're not just going to shoot the bastards, we're going to cut out their living guts and use them to grease the treads of our tanks. We're going to murder those lousy Hun bastards by the bushel." Hirshon spends a lot of time discussing the real speeches that Patton delivered to his soldiers and argues that these were the basis for atrocities that troops under his command committed. The story of killing civilians is hardly as new as Hirshon claims--other historians have looked into these events--and while some soldiers at the time tried to say they were following Patton's instructions there is a world of difference between giving a blood thirsty speech designed to inspire men to go into combat, and giving a formal order to kill non-combatants. Hirshon believes that had this event been better investigated at the time that it would have led to Patton's removal from command. This argument is difficult to accept, but one on which the author places great emphasis.
   
   
   
   On other matters, the writing is adequate. The research is good and the author has consulted new sources that other biographers have not but their importances is open to question. What strikes me most is that Hirshon came to dislike his subject during this project and it shows. On the other hand, D'Este offers his readers a detached and balanced account that shows his readers Patton's strengths and weaknesses. D'Este is also quite alert to the details of military life. (I gave it five stars in an amazon.com review). You won't go wrong reading Hirshon's book, but there are other titles out there that are better on the same subject.

5 comments about MAJOR GENERAL ROBERT E RODES OF THE ARMY OF NORTHERN VIRGINIA: A Biography.

1. Robert Rodes received great praise from his fellow officers in the vaunted Army of Northern Virginia and much respect and admiration from superior and subordinate alike. And for good reason. He was truly one of Lee's best. But despite his consistent performances as a dependable battlefield commander, Rodes has remained for far too long in the vast shadows of historical obscurity. So when I discovered that Savas-Beatie--one of the finest names in Civil War publishing with a great reputation for producing first-class works of history--published a biography of Rodes, it became for me a must read.
   Author Darrel Collins has written a stellar biography; one of those works I found difficult to put down once I began reading. Relying upon a wide-range of primary source materials, Collins has presented a fair and entirely objective portrait of this fine military commander. We learn of Rodes's childhood in Lynchburg, Virginia, his studies as a cadet at the Virginia Military Institute, and his difficult path in establishing a career as civil engineer, working on the railroads. Three-quarters of the book, naturally, focuses on Rodes's experiences in the Civil War, from the opening shots at Bull Run until his death at the age of thirty-five at Winchester in September 1864.
   I would highly recommend this work to anyone interested in the American Civil War. And for those serious students of the conflict, especially those interested in the Army of Northern Virginia, this is a MUST. Collins's biography of Rodes is a welcome and important addition to the vast annals of Civil War historiography.



2. I agree whole-heartedly with the earlier three fine reviews by Durney, Brunelle and Jordan that this work by Collins is an excellent biography. It is even more surprising in light of the battle casualties that decimated those who served under him (John B. Gordon excepted) and eliminated many of the normal sources on this fine officer. Even worse is that his wife Hortense destroyed all of his papers after the war.
   
   Author Collins is extremely even-handed in his depiction of Rodes, even remarking the Rodes seemed insensitive to the potential breaking up of his slave's family. He was also sometimes harsh and unreasonable, alternatively loved and hated by his men. In short, the author presents Rodes with warts and all, although his portrayal is definitely sympathetic.
   
   The book presents Rodes as the best or one of the best division commanders in the Army of Northern Virginia. That is certainly open to question and debate. Mapmaker Hotchkiss said Rodes was the best, but Hotchkiss was not a fighting man. Douglas Southhall Freeman issued the verdict in his time in his "Lee's Lieutenants" with:
   
   "The young professor of engineering at the Virginia Military Institute continues to look like a Norse god in Confederate gray, but he does not retain as division commander the consistent distinction that has been his as a Brigadier. Perhaps on July 1 at Gettsburg -- the first day he has ever led his own Division in battle -- he tries too hard with feeble instruments. The next day, he halts his advance before it attempts to scale Cemetary Hill. Doubtless he is right, but it is not like the Rodes of Chancellorsville. When he goes back to the Wilderness in 1864, he has the furious, oldtime dash, and at the Bloody Angle he rivals his comrades Gordon and Ramseur. With them, under "Jube" Early, he goes to the Shenandoah Valley, and there, at a moment when he did not know the battle was lost, he leaves unanswered the question whether he would have realized fully his promise as a soldier."
   
   Freeman's opinion is not contradicted by Collins's work when examined carefully, and I, for one, was saddened as a result. He was certainly fearless and a excellent commander of troops, but somehow that quality that makes a great captain seems elusive. In three years of battle, he only went from Brigadier General to Major General. Doubtless his lack of an influential patron or backed by a State (he was a Virginian commanding Alabama troops) did not help, but Lee tended to promote Virginians and specifically those who distinguished themselves in battle.
   
   Nevertheless, this book makes a strong contribution to Civil War literature and should rekindle interest in a commander who was solid, but somehow not exceptional. I recommend it to every individual interested in the Civil War.



3. "If he could," author Darrell Collins writes, "Rodes might object to being the subject of a biography. It is even possible that he would not have agreed to be interviewed for one." Yet despite his disdain of self-promotion, even Robert Rodes could not object to the fine treatment, from beginning to end, that he has received in the pages of Major General Robert E. Rodes of the Army of Northern Virginia. Collins takes us on a truly captivating journey, beginning with Rodes' days at the Virginia Military Institute and leading us to that fateful afternoon in September 1864 at Third Winchester. If you begin this book -- as many Civil War readers may -- with a pejorative preconception of Robert Rodes, be prepared to at least reconsider the conventional wisdom.
   
   Unlike most modern scholarly biographies, which merely recount an impersonal litany of dates and accomplishments, Collins helps us to encounter Robert Rodes the man; moreover, he demonstrates the linkage between his personal attributes and his military performance. Certainly, his life experiences before the war shaped the characteristics of his command on the battlefield. In downright captivating prose, the author gives us a portrait of a loyal and loving friend and family man; a diligent and well-admired engineer and scholar; and, finally, an efficient and capable officer who was able to demand the discipline of his men with a generous heart. I concur with the sentiments expressed below that you will find yourself emotional when reading of Rodes' demise, so young and so promising.
   
   Not only is this biography well-written, it is scrupulously researched and well-documented. Considering that Rodes' widow destroyed his papers after the war, this is a stunning achievement. Collins has done his homework and then some, scouring the letters and diaries of Rodes' men and associates in some twelve states and the District of Columbia. His work is based largely on these unpublished primary sources, which are then supplemented by a survey of the pertinent secondary literature where necessary.
   
   Cartographer Timothy Reese has augmented the text with a number of illuminating battle and troop position maps. As a whole, the book is very attractive and a "must read" for any student or scholar of the military history of the Civil War. I have already found it quite helpful and have cited it in my own work. While I do not agree with all of the author's assessments of Rodes' battlefield performances, he passionately makes his case in this first-class romp through the Civil War's Eastern Theater.



4. Executive summary: A very good read! Clearly written, very thorough, and covers the topic to full satisfaction.
   
   Review:
   
   You know its a very good biography when you feel saddened when reading about the death of the subject. But that's getting ahead of myself.
   
   Mr. Collins sets out to produce a complete biography of one of the best general's in the Army of Northern Virginia. A story of a man well-respected by his superiors, his peers and those who served under him. Collins notes the difficulty in getting some primary accounts about Rodes, the task made even harder because Rodes' wife destroyed their personal letters. Nonetheless, the author went out of his way to provide a large number of personal accounts from those around Rodes - in particular there seem to be a lot from men such as Major Eugene Blackford - who served directly under Rodes, thus having very close first-hand knowledge of the subject.
   
   I should note that the book seems to be well-footnoted, a quick look through the bibliographical contents show some fine research accompanies this work. There is an index, but I haven't really looked at it. I'm not a scholar, so I really am not qualified to judge the quality of the research, but from my readings it looks fine.
   
   The first three chapters describe Rodes childhood through his becoming a brigadier general at the start of the war. This takes about 100 pages to accomplish, and Collins fills it with enough information to not only teach you about Rodes background, but gives you a good feel for the type of man he was at the start of the war. Rodes' trials and tribulations as a railroad engineer after leaving VMI are well documented - but those tough days helped harden Rodes' into a the general he became. The road to the start of the Civil War helped Rodes learn that above all else he had to be reliant upon himself, he wasn't about to be "given" anything, it all had to be earned. The third chapter also details Rodes' entry in what became the Army of Northern Virginia and the opening battle of First Bull Run.
   
   The next 300 or so pages are broken down into 8 chapters, each based primarily around the campaigns he was in with the ANV. Collin's does a very good job here of providing enough general information so as to place Rodes' decisions and actions in proper context, while at the same time remaining focused upon Rodes as a general. In these chapters (whenever appropriate) he also discusses non-military matters that Rodes attended to - including his devotion to his wife Hortense, his fathering of two children, along with the more mundane management of his estate. We also get a very decent look at "Rodes the man" as opposed to just "Rodes the general", there's enough human stories strewn throughout the work describing Rodes more genial nature as well.
   
   As to the military aspects and judgments concerning Rodes, Collins shows fine skill as well as his own good judgment. He doesn't hold punches where Rodes perhaps doesn't perform up to what would have been expected of him. His handling of his troops at Gettysburg for example comes under close scrutiny. Collins questions some of Rodes decisions and non-decisions, while at the same time offering up the potential mitigating issues surrounding Rodes' health. But even there Collins does note that /if/ Rodes was so impaired physically, he should have turned over command. Collins' even-handed evaluation of Rodes seems very fair throughout the book - his praise for Rodes at Seven Pines, South Mountain, the Bloody Lane, or the counterattacks at the Mule Shoe are offset with questions about actions at Gettysburg and other battles where Rodes was less than perfect.
   
   On the personal side Collins also tries to show the love and devotion to Hortense, and then his children. But as the latter were born so late in his short life - his son was less than a year old and Hortense was pregnant with their second child when Rodes died - its a bit harder to understand Rodes' history on that side of the ledger. And as noted earlier, Hortense's destruction of their private correspondence removes a whole slew of potentially important clues on Rodes' personal life. Nonetheless, one does get enough information showing Rodes concern for his wife's welfare, and coupling that with the abundant evidence showing his loyalty and concern for those around him, one certainly does grow to respect and "like" Rodes as one reads the book.
   
   Besides the great job done by the author at achieving his goal, I should also mention the fine quality of book production. The book itself is quite well made, the font is eminently readable, and the book jacket is very nice as well - a fine portrait of Rodes gracing the cover.
   
   As is usual, the number and perhaps the quality of the maps /may/ be one slight negative area. History readers always clamor for more and better detailed maps, but this is really a very small quibble: This is not a military treatise per se, it is a biography after all. To offset this, there are a number of fine photographs of key people mentioned in the text, and a couple of nice pictures of Rodes as well. I don't recall seeing one of Hortense offhand, interestingly enough.
   
   And as I noted in the introduction, as one reads a well-written biography, you do grow to "know" the subject - so when they do die it can be a bit saddening. Especially with one so young, so chivalrous, and so gallant - I'll end quoting the key paragraph:
   
   
   Quote (pg. 402)
   "As [Rodes] was trying to control his mount, Rodes' head snapped violently forward. A bullet or shell fragment (the record is unclear) had struck him in his skull behind the ear. The general hesitated for a brief moment, then tumbled hard to the ground."



5. During the Civil War, it was only two promotions from command of a regiment to command of a division. Assuming you were not killed or crippled, two promotions in four years of war seems an easy project. Without a West Point education, a powerful patron and backing of a major state the second promotion was almost impossible to secure. This was even truer in the Army of Northern Virginia, the South's most professional army. A West Pointer and a Virginian fill almost every major command. The list of Brigadier Generals who assumed temporary division command but never get a division is long and distinguished. An example of these men is Evander Law. Their always seemed to be a reason that kept him from getting that second promotion. These few men lacked the necessary qualifications had to rise on merit alone. Simply put, they had to be much much better than the men in the approved group. This was no easy task. Some of the approved group was very good and all of them were connected by their West Point education and army service. Where would George Pickett have been without his association with James Longstreet?
   Robert E. Rodes was a Virginian. However, he came into Confederate service from Alabama. This put him in a position of being almost but not quite a member of both state's group and lost political support, from both, for his advancement. Robert E. Rodes was a graduate of Virginia Military Institute. In 1861, VMI was not the respected fabled school that it is now. This was a school for those not good enough for West Point who wanted a military education. He was promoted after First Manassas to Brigadier General. In January 1863, he received temporary command of Hill's division and was promoted to Major General after leading the attack at Chancellorsville. He led that division until mortally wounded in September 1864. He was considered one of the best division commanders in Lee's army, respected by all and recognized as an excellent combat officer.
   This is a military biography, Rodes was in his mid 30s when he died. Without the American Civil War, Robert E. Rodes and Thomas J. Jackson would be footnotes in a VMI history dealing with the early staff. Rodes would be one of the first graduates to assume a chair and Jackson would be known as "old Tom fool", reputed to be the worst instructor VMI ever had.
   1860 found Rodes, newly married, employed as a chief engineer for an Alabama railroad. The book covers his non-military life in about 60 pages. This gives us a good foundation of understanding and some sympathy for the man. The next 350 pages is an account of the war through his eyes. This gives us a look at life from regiment to division, not in terms of grand battles but personal issues, traumas, disappointments, triumphs and endless effort. Death, illness, exhaustion, bad food, no pay, rain, mud are all woven together into an intensely personal and readable book. The author has a very readable style and is able to describe things in a way that allows us to see and understand them. I am not a great reader of biographies. This is as much a military history on the regiment, brigade and division level as a biography. Rodes is presented fairly, the author recognizes his flaws and failures as much as his strengths and triumphs.
   The book contains nineteen excellent maps at the right location. There are pictures and illustrations throughout. One nice feature, the last picture is of Robert Emmett Rodes IV holding his Great Grandfathers sword. This is a Savas Beatie civil war book. We expect a physically attractive book, excellent maps, artwork that enhances the story. Within a well-written, informative, well-bound book. They have maintained these production values in this volume and it is a worthy member of an exclusive club.