3 comments about Arabian Knight: Colonel Bill Eddy USMC and the Rise of American Power in the Middle East.

1. An apt conjugation of author and subject makes for a revealing work on the bases for the United States' position in the Middle East. Lippman is a former Middle East bureau chief of the Washington Post and author of four books on the interrelated topics of the Arab world, Islam, and American foreign policy as well as a regular commentator on today's swirling, often violent and threatening developments in the Middle East. His subject of U. S. Marine Corps Colonel Bill Eddy was born in Lebanon, spoke fluent Arabic, fought in World War I, and was a noted scholar of English literature. During World War II, he served as a spymaster in North Africa in preparation for the Allied landings; a role which gave him position and influence in the formation of the CIA. From his incomparable experience and position, he facilitated the historic meeting of F.D.R. with Saudi Arabia's King Abdul Aziz in 1945. This meeting was a cornerstone for the wide-ranging developing and the complex current situation of the U.S. in the region.
   
   Eddy's unique blend of roots in the Arab world, talents and interests, and commitment to the United States made him invaluable in the critical circumstances and often deceptive appearances of the Middle East in the World War II era and its aftermath. After World War II, American foreign policy people and politicians focused on the Soviet Union and the related spread of Communism as the greatest threat. As early as 1947, however, Eddy advised that it was not the spread of Communism which should be the greatest concern in American relations in the Middle East, but the "rise of Islamic militancy." These are Lippman's words for elements Eddy identified in countries across the Middle East; which elements have come to be termed "Islamic fundamentalism" especially as manifest by jihadists. Believing Israel would be defeated by an alliance of Arab states, Eddy cautioned U.S. policymakers against a hard and fast identification with the fledgling Jewish state. While his belief that Israel would be militarily defeated was wrong, his broader views about the damage to the U.S. position and interests throughout the Middle East and emerging Islamic militancy were prescient.
   
   The early years of Eddy's adventurous career in World War I and spying for the North Africa invasion are covered dramatically and concretely. Most of the text though (about half) covers his more involved and delicate work in laying the grounds for the meetings of U.S. and Saudi Arabia heads of state and subsequent developments in other parts of the Middle East and ensuing American politics and diplomacy. Thus Lippmann's biography is of particular interest to today's readers. Eddy's activities are like a window onto the origins of U.S. relationships and policies throughout the Middle East, especially centered on Saudi Arabia and oil. And as such, the activities shed much light on how the U.S. position has become undermined and how policies have gone awry or become counterproductive.



2. As a former Eurocentric American, this book is a terrific introduction to what often seems our love/hate relationship with the Middle East. With striking, straight-forward prose, Thomas Lippman makes history a personal and urgent proposition for every reader. Lippman breathes life into this history through the compelling human story of Colonel Bill Eddy. As a reader, I particularly admire the portrayal of Eddy's vigorous and astute role in defining relationships with Saudi Arabia, and later, his work during the Truman administration to create a viable and autonomous intelligence community. With ARABIAN KNIGHT, Thomas Lippman truly delivers to the reader a remarkable story of an American writ large in the world.



3. At the beginning of "Arabian Knight" a State Department official is quoted as saying that "Bill Eddy was probably the nearest thing the United States had to a Lawrence of Arabia." I have never had a high opinion of T.E. Lawrence, based on his numerous self-promotional actions; his openly racist statements made in his "classic," - "Seven Pillars of Wisdom;" to his essential dishonesty, as confirmed by historians such as David Fromkin. Based on the excellent biography of Eddy by Lippman, I would consider such a comparison an insult to the memory of Eddy, who was the antithesis of so many of Lawrence's character flaws. The one characteristic they shared was an outsider's perspective on Saudi Arabia during its formative period.
   
   Bill Eddy was born in Sidon, Lebanon, in 1896, the son of missionary parents. He became fluent in the street Arabic patois of his childhood playmates. This was one talent that served him well throughout his life. Upon his death in 1962, he was buried in a cemetery in Sidon, and along with his family members, are the only non-Arabs buried there. Eddy's life was eventful, with several key junctures with critical points in American history.
   
   For the first 100 pages Lippman establishes Eddy's bona fides as the quintessential American patriot and man of action. Immediately after graduating from Princeton in 1917, he joined the Marine Corps, and saw action in the battles at Belleau Wood and the St. Mihiel salient, in France, in the First World War. Towards the very end of the war he was struck down by the Spanish influenza, which killed more people than all the casualties in the "Great War." As a result, he almost died in an American military hospital; he ultimately recovered, but walked with a limp for the rest of his life. After the war he spent some time at the newly founded American University in Cairo, but eventually accepted the position of president of Hobart College in New York State for family reasons. He spent much of the inter-war period there, but tired of managing academic squabbles, and returned to Cairo, in government service, just prior to WW II. As an intelligence officer he was soon posted to Tangiers, in Morocco, which Lippman says had much of the intrigue and duplicity that were depicted in the movie "Casablanca." The author states that based on Eddy's intelligence assessments, delivered personally to the Allied High Command, Operation "Torch", the invasion of North Africa in 1942, was given the go-ahead.
   
   The core of the book is the next 100 pages. While WW II still raged, the political leadership in Washington was formulating the structure of the post-war world. One component of this would be to recognize the importance of the Kingdom, as oil wealth would help transform it from one of the world's poorest countries. Eddy was sent to Jeddah in 1944, as a "Special Assistant" to the American resident. His Arabic language ability was an important component in establishing a good working relationship and friendship with King Abdul Aziz. But so to was a basic attitude of treating "the natives" in a manner of equality and respect, unlike numerous of his compatriots. Eddy was the sole interpreter, trusted by both parties, when President Roosevelt met King Abdul Aziz on the USS Quincy, on the Great Bitter Lake, in the very waning days of the war. Eddy was one of the most effective advocates of the mutual benefits of a strong American-Saudi relationship. He was again tapped to be the American who would establish diplomatic relationships with the most reclusive area of the Arabian Peninsula - the Yemen. In 1946 he went to San'a to meet Imam Yahya. It took him three weeks to cover the 100 miles from the coast by horseback.
   
   In the bibliography Lippman fittingly lists Dean Acheson's "Present at the Creation," an appropriate theme for Eddy's life. Not only was he a driving force behind the creation of a strong American - Saudi bilateral relationship, he was also a central force in the creation of the CIA from the components of the OSS, the organization he worked for during WW II. The later part of the book covers the bureaucratic fighting in Washington, which Eddy participated in, that established the CIA. Since Eddy preferred, and felt he was more effective, not working as a self-promoter, but as a man of reticence, it was difficult for Lippman to determine the full extent of Eddy's role in the overthrow of the democratic government of Syria. This coup, along with the CIA's overthrow of the democratic government of Iran, in 1953, could have been explored further by Lippman, to underscore the continued mistrust of the American government by the peoples of the Middle East, and why inquisitive Americans are often accused of being in the CIA.
   
   Eddy was also an advocate of the Arab point of view concerning the creation of the State of Israel. Lippman does an admirable job in negotiating this sensitive, emotional subject with as neutral a point of view as possible. I felt he failed only once, when he said: "The Arabs, by clinging to their absolutist position and refusing to yield any land to the Zionists, forfeited the political high ground, to their lasting detriment." (p228) Clearly they had already yielded much land, and had accepted substantial immigration; they simply did not want to become a minority in their own country - an issue on a far lesser scale that concerns Americans today about immigration into their own country. By in large, having lost this struggle for influence, Eddy and his family retreated to his origins - Lebanon, where he worked for Aramco, and almost certainly the CIA, to the end of his days.
   
   The book has a stellar graphic design, essential maps, numerous photos from Eddy's life and a solid bibliography. Lippman has done a wonderful service in writing an excellent biography on the life of one American who was deeply involved in numerous important events in American history - from the Western Front of WW I, to Operation Torch in WW II, to the establishment of the American - Saudi relationship as well as the creation of the CIA. It is an essential read for anyone exploring those "present at the creation" of the current world.

5 comments about Call of Duty: My Life Before, During and After the Band of Brothers.

1. I have listen to all of the Band of Brother's books and watched the show many times. While going to Afghanistan, Germany, and other places. Finally there is more coming to light about these great Americans. With Buck you learn just how much of a hard and charmed life he has lead. From losing his Father to at a hard time, acting with famout people like Mickey Rooney. His life after WWII is just as interesting as any other time. Buck has shown a true zest for life while clearing up many misconceptions from the Band of Brothers shows and the book. In fact I highly recommend you read his buddie's book from Don Malarkey. I read them both back to back and they do compliment each other. I truly wish I could get Buck to speak at our Change of Command ceremony in a few weeks at the Air Guard. You can't go wrong in any way buying these books, unless you feel disappointed like I do not having any way to contact Lt Col Compton to personally thank him.



2. This isn't really in depth on the war. It is a life memoir, and in Buck's life the war was a small part. He did not allow the horrific things he saw in battle riun his life. Instead he went out and served his country as police officer, prosecutor, and final as a judge. Buck truly is a real American. This should be a must read in high school history classes, so the youth today could learn what being an America is really about.



3. This book is more than a re-telling of Band of Brothers. But I really only appreciated that fact when I had finished reading the book.
   
   I have read most of the books written by or about members of Easy Company. I do the same thing every time; that is, to approach it with the idea that the material will expand the information in the Ambrose book, and bring even more details of the fighting. That's not exactly the case here.
   
   Reflections on Band of Brothers deal mostly with Mr. Compton trying to correct inaccuracies in the mini-series or clarifying events that are depicted that didn't actually happen. I found some of the effort to correct the mini-series sort of squashed my fun as I had accepted the HBO series as accurate. I'm fine to now know that some of the events are made up, but it doesn't in any way make me appreciate the series any less. Rather, it adds clarity and helps explain the truth behind some of what we see on the screen.
   
   Really, the real joy of the book had little to do with Band of Brothers. I was fascinated to read of Mr. Compton's early career as an actor. I was inspired by the way he worked to get on with his life after the tragic death of his father. Some of the most interesting reading was the coverage of life after the war. The people he came into contact with and the events he was involved in were just terrific reading.
   
   My favorite part of the book was the rant portion at the end. It was nice to read what someone as experienced with life as Buck Compton thinks about the state of our nation. I'd like to make that section required reading for all high school students. I highly recommend this book to anyone interested in modern culture or contemporary political science.
   
   If you're looking only for another re-telling of Band of Brothers, this is not your book. If, on the other hand you want to read about the life of a true hero, one of the Band of Brothers, this book is a must for you.



4. This is an interesting read! I got the idea that all Buck went through with Easy Company, laid a good foundation for his success in later life! I have been a WWII buff for a long time, and this book gave me a greater appreciation for some of the situations the veterans had to confront once the war was over.



5. Really good book by a guy who has experienced a very full and interesting life. As a fan of Band of Brothers I have gone back and read all of the books by the E-company soldiers, Winters, Webster, Malarkey, Guarnere and Heffron. Compton had an amazing life and his book is a great read.

5 comments about Flyboys: A True Story of Courage.

1. Flyboys: A True Story of Courage
   As a WW11 veteran I enjoyed this book very much. I didn't want to put it down.



2. "Flyboys" is a surprisingly even-sided look at the war in the Pacific, which is most often seen as a manichaean struggle between Allied light and goodness versus Japanese savagery and darkness. The contuining thread of the book is the story of the Naval fliers who involved with the campaign against Chichi Jima, Iwo Jima's island neighbor. Using declassified data, trial transcripts and interviews, Bradley pieces together the story of eight fliers who were captured and mistreated by the Japanese. This is the campaign in which future president George H. W. Bush was shot down, coming perilously close to sharing the fate of the men who were captured.
   
   But Bradley goes the extra nautical mile to provide needed context to this harrowing tale. Early on, we get a broad-stroked history of late 19th century US colonial aspirations, with an eye-opening portrayal of the way America flexed its muscle when it "opened" Japan via Commodore Perry's steel fleet -- an act not unlike a brutal deflowering. Bradley follows with a very harsh (if accurate) portrayal of US intentions and atrocities in the Phillipines, propelled by American greed, ambition and Teddy Roosevelt's racist, America-centric world view. Bradley suggests that it was this history that Japan emulated when expanding its own empire, only to be blocked by the pious tsk-tsking of the great Christian empires-- the US, Britain and France -- who had and were still following the same route when it suited them. Bradley gives us the story of Billy Mitchell, the military Cassandra who accurately forecast the need for developing air power for the next war. We learn about the brutal Japanese military culture, which drove its later attitudes toward American POWs. Bradley covers the Allied bombing of Japanese cities (conventional and nuclear) that destroyed the lives and homes of hundreds of thousands of civilians at the end of the war. He ends with the sometimes sordid and little-known aftermath of the Pacific war and the deal-making that kept some of Japan's worst war criminals out of prison and off the gallows.
   
   Bradley's point (made over and over) is that brutality is in the eye of the beholder. Both sides saw themselves as morally superior to the other. Both were implicated in mass death and destruction. While not shying away from the fanatical bloodthirstiness of certain members of the Japanese army, Bradley attempts to show the humanity and moral conflict of at least some Japanese. By the end of this harrowing book, you will have experienced the war from many angles, and come to appreciate why so many Americans and Japanese former soldiers have become friends after the hostilities ended.
   
   Great history told with a flair for the dramatic, the grotesque and the true.



3. James Bradley is a great author. He writes very directly and flowingly. The book reveals what actually had happened to the emen who had a special mission to fulfill in WWII. It reveals the heinous details as to what had happened to the men. The information was withheld from their families by the U.S. government in order to not make the families of the fallen men be devestated. Bradley gives rich details as to what happened to the men. His first few chapters cover how Japan had risen to become a formidable force in the world at the time prior to WWII. Such historical information is crucial and informative to the history buff. Bradley, as he has done in "Flags of Our Fathers," gives biographical information about each soldier, hence, keeping their existence in high regard and esteem. President George H. W. Bush's in the secret mission as a Navy pilot is also told in this fascinating book. Generally, he has revealed what was a classified and widely believed to be forgotten phenomenon as to the real truth about the men who were to carry out a secret and important mission at Chichi Jima. I reccommend this book to all Americans to read, espeically those who like to study and learn about World War II.



4. I first heard of James Bradley's "Flyboys: A True Story of Courage" from someone who was in the process of reading it. As the person doing the recommending had not yet reached halfway point of the book, he emphasized the role of former President George Bush's flying in the Pacific and of his being shot down. This was a story about which I knew at least a little. Still, the reader was quite enthralled and strongly recommended that I read it.
   
   I ordered my own copy thinking that the book dealt primarily with Bush's flying record. Once I started reading, however, that impression quickly proved to be an inaccurate. Flyboys delivers a disturbing but definitely worthwhile look into the horrors of war in the Pacific theater during the Second World War. Despite the fact that the book deals primarily with the barbaric treatment of several US airmen shot down and captured by the Japanese, it is certainly not an exercise in Japan-bashing. Bradley brings balance to the discussion of Japanese atrocities by mentioning similar--although, clearly, much less systematic--misbehavior on the part of US and allied soldiers.
   
   You will be riveted by Bradley's telling of this story. You will also be moved. By the end of this book, exhausted, you'll learn a redeeming and terribly moving secret involving one of the Japanese captors.
   
   John Cathcart
   Author Delta 7



5. I listened to this unabridged book on audio. It was a long listen. The story loosely centers around a number of servicemen who were shot down over Chichi Jima (north of Iwo Jima) and their stories. One of those shot down was President George H. W. Bush (he obviously survived). However, these stories only take up about 30% of the book. The rest of the book focuses on the Pacific theater in World War II and the role of air power in defeating the Japanese. The history of Japanese-US relations and of military air power are also explored.
   
   I found the book to be very interesting, even considering I listened to it for about 14 hours straight. The history and background are illuminating when considering the story of the flyboys and the larger war in the Pacific. I came away from the book with an increased appreciation and understanding on the need to use the atom bomb, the very different psychology of the Japanese, and of the incredible destruction Japan endured. It was a very good history lesson.
   
   There are shortcomings. The book does spend a long time on tangents which can be distracting. It also gets a little grisly at parts. However, I believe most students of history will appreciate this book.

5 comments about Rule Number Two: Lessons I Learned in a Combat Hospital.

1. ..is how I would describe this book. It is not wriiten in complex and deep philosophical style, but its simple, honest and sometimes heart-rending frankness and bare-all simplicity makes it powerful and moving. A soldiers suffering is palpable and deeply felt, but you will admire the courage that calmly masks the underlying longing for family, and the plainly written details of turnoil from witnessing the psychological devastation of fellow soldiers will move your heart.



2. While I will credit the book with being a good personal account of one person's short experience in Iraq, I found the book to be very insulting-especially to other military branches. As I write this review, I am trying to imgaine how this book would benefit civilian readers. I'm sure it gives a glimpse into what a combat zone is actually like-although there are many other books that do so with more experience behind the author. If I were affialited with the Marines-I would be happy with the book perhaps...but I am an Army spouse, stationed overseas, married to a soldier who is going on his 4th deployment-his 3rd to Iraq. I found this book was condensending, 2 references in particularly that insult the Army. How dare a Special Forces soldier NOT be intimidated by 10 Naval Officers! To claim that the Army was waved too and praised as they rolled into Iraqi towns while the Marines are getting shot at is not only inaccuate but very demeaning. We should be proud of ALL service members none of who enter a war zone and come back the same. I also found it disturbing that midway through the book the author decided to leave the Navy because being with family is more important. Surely those soldiers, sailors and airmen who, despite missing YEARS (not months like the author) of their children's lives, are saying that family is less important. Serving one's country is a high calling and it should NOT be compaired to a choice between ones devotion to their family or their country. A big THANK YOU should be extended to those who, DESPITE having to leave their family STILL PROUDLY serve. The freedoms and safety we sleep under each night is provided curtesy of those who VOLUNTEER to serve. And being caught without your kevlar? How nice to go to Iraq and be so lax about having this with you at all times. These are just several of the irriatations I found in the book.
   I appreciate the author's attempt to bring to civilian light one person's account of her time in Iraq, but the constant irriatations took away from the book for me.



3. This was a very good book. It gave me a better appreciation for what our troops are going through in Iraq and Afghanistan - from the point of view of a young mother serving her country.



4. All I can say is that this woman really did her share of caring for critically wounded soldiers. She is a heroine of the first order! Kudos to her and those like her serving our country. Her story should be shared and discussed everywhere.



5. This book offers very powerful insight to the struggle of mental health specialists in the field of combat. I highly recommend this to anyone interested in psychology and combat medicine. Even if you're not, this book is certainly worth it.

5 comments about For Cause and Comrades: Why Men Fought in the Civil War.

1. I was very satisfied with the level of customer service that I recieved from Amazon.com. I love the low prices and the customer service.



2. This book is mainly for academics and true historians. It's a short book, which makes it a quick read, but it's not as good as some of McPherson's other Civil War books. (like "Ordeal by Fire"). His thesis is that Civil War soldiers, both Union and Confederate, fought for three different reasons (or "motivations"). These are related to reasons why soldiers chose to enlist (enlistment motivation), to fight (combat motivation), and to stay in the service (sustaining motivation). The book seems pieced together to me and the chapters are not put in chronological order like most history books are. He uses so many excerpts from soldier's letters and diaries that it was hard for me to follow. Even though I understood his thesis, I did not like the book's style. I would give this one a pass unless you have nothing else to do!!



3. This month marks the 147th Anniversary of the beginning of the American Civil War and the fight to preserve the union and end slavery.
   
   Any war, as a violent, organized explosion of human emotions, produces some very unnatural responses on the part of soldiers and civilians alike. James McPherson, undoubtedly now the preeminent American Civil War scholar has, in the words of his own introduction, tried to make sense of what was similar to other wars but also what was different about that experience for the soldiers on both sides of the divide in that war. Working from a plethora of soldiers' letters and other observations he has tried to explain why the citizen soldiers on both sides of that bloody conflict kept at it despite the grueling circumstances, including extremely high casualty rates.
   
   I make no bones about my partisanship for the Northern, Union and anti-slavery side in that conflict. However in war, and civil war in particular, one can note the attributes of bravery, honor and heroism of the opposing side without giving an inch on the political questions. If one thinks about it if one does not recognize those characteristics in the soldiers of the other side one places oneself in a very hard place. The Geneva Conventions, weak as they are, codify that understanding.
   
   McPherson goes into great detail about the phases of the war-the general bloodthirsty and energetic desire of both sides to get at it; the sobering effects of actual combat; the psychological traumas produced in men before, during and after battle. In short, the passion and anger that drive men to fight-and soldiers to reflect a bit afterward. He details the sense of patriotism, honor, manhood, shame and other virtues of mid-Victorian America that further drove these men. Probably his weakest part is an examination of the personal politics of the soldiers, although that may be, in part, a function of the fuzziness of their goals as they became overwhelmed by the other considerations previously listed.
   
   However, overall, McPherson more than adequately makes his point that many considerations entered into the calculations of those who freely volunteered for the citizen armies on both sides, fought tremendous and bloody battles and slogged on through thick and thin. I will stop here with one comment that struck me from a Northern soldier about his reasons for fighting. Admittedly this soldier was a high abolitionist but here is what he said-" I want to be able to sing `John Brown' [John Brown's Body, the anti-slavery hymn and precursor for the Battle Hymn of The Republic] in the streets of Charleston [South Carolina]." Yes, I can, indeed, get behind that sentiment as a reason for fighting.



4. ...well almost. In 'For Cause & Comrades' James McPherson has set out to explain exactly why the average soldier sacrificed so much for his respective cause in the American Civil War. He has succeeded in convincing me. As the backbone of his thesis, McPherson has used hundreds of letters and diary entries from both Confederate and Union soldiers that offer some glaring insight into their motivations and beliefs. He first touches on the more universal motivations of warriors such as honor, duty, comradery, religion, vengeance and so on. And while these all played a significant part in the Civil War, McPherson argues that what ultimately separated Civil war soldiers from those of most other wars was a fervent belief in the righteousness of their cause. In other words, this was a truly ideological war and these convictions of righteousness, on both sides, was what carried these men through such horrific fighting to the bitter end.
   
   While I can't say there were any shocking revelations here, I was slightly surprised, for instance, at how many Union soldiers were fervently dedicated to their cause. It usually goes without saying that the Confederate side was truly motivated to defend their cause, but I had always assumed that most Union men served out of a grudging sense of duty. It turns out that many truly felt that they were defending the American experiment as a whole from the despised "traitors and rebels." In fact, this seems to have been a bigger factor than slavery for most, as a large portion of Union men were just as racist as their Southern adversaries. Which makes it somewhat ironic that they felt they represented the cause of the entire free world against tyranny and oppression. It should be noted though that many Union soldiers did passionately oppose slavery and this was an equally compelling cause for them. The Union side seems to be very complex. On the other hand, the Confederate cause seemed to be much less complicated. They were fighting not only for the right to continue slavery, but also for their independence from the hated Yankee. As much as white supremacy was a chief motivator (even poor, non-slaveholders resented the notion of black equality), most Southerners truly believed they were fighting for their own liberty and way of life.
   
   Of course McPherson concedes that not every soldier fit this description. There are skulkers, dodgers, draftees, and otherwise reluctant soldiers in every army, but as McPherson shows, there was a significant core of truly ideological fighters on both sides who refused to accept anything less than total victory. While those well versed in Civil War history might not find anything new here, I found it to be a concise and convincing survey on Civil War motivations and I would highly recommend it.



5. James M. McPherson's For Cause and Comrades: Why Men Fought in the Civil War aims to answer the simple question of what motivated the men who became solders in the Civil War to fight and die in this conflict. The simple answer according to McPherson was duty, honor, patriotism, ideological beliefs such as liberty and freedom, and religious beliefs. These ideals or ideas are pretty much the same motivating factors soldiers from other wars in the 20th Century or those historians of ancient wars give to explain why they fought and died. McPherson certainly did his homework by reading twenty-five thousand letters and two hundred fifty diaries from soldiers to come to his conclusion that it was truly duty, honor, patriotism, ideological beliefs in liberty and freedom, and religious beliefs that motivated these men to fight and die in the Civil War cause. As a reader I was hoping for something more or different than the tired and tedious five reasons that every soldier indicates as motivating factors for them. There is not a dispute that these five factors are for the most part true. The excerpts from the letters indicate these five motivating factors over and over. Even though these were excerpts and pulling text out of the original context of a document can significantly change its meaning, for the most part the excerpts painted the picture that supported McPherson's argument that, "Yet for Civil War soldiers the group cohesion and peer pressure that were powerful factors in combat motivation were not unrelated to the complex mixture of patriotism, ideology, concepts of duty, honor, manhood, and community or peer pressure that prompted them to enlist in the first place." (p. 13)
   
   The reading of For Cause and Comrades felt as though it was another book that put soldiers and war up on a pedestal of what a great sacrifice soldiers gave to their country by participating in the horrors of war and akin to a child's hero worship. For Cause and Comrades also seemed as though it was reiterating the tired and worn out American patriotic themes of liberty, freedom, duty, honor, and religion. The book generated visions from daily life on par with "The Few, the Proud, the Marines" commercials on television to recruit soldiers, or popular mass media inundating the masses with typical American ideology such as Superman standing for truth, justice, and the American way, or another person who feels a particular generation was the "Greatest Generation" above all others. Watch out Tom Brokaw, McPherson feels Civil War soldiers out does any other group of soldiers including your beloved World War Two soldiers in the area of duty, honor, patriotism, freedom and liberty loving, and devotion to a higher power. McPherson did mention through the words of the soldiers that war was a horrible affair, but then uses it to idolize these men in their accomplishment of overcoming adversity and "staying the course" instead of ever mentioning that war is lowest form and action of human existence and should be something to be avoided at all costs. A true hero is one that can solve problems without resorting to violence. A truly wise hero knows not only how to solve problems without violence but also knows that war that involves murder, gruesome mutilation, and destruction which result in unspeakable pain, misery, and suffering whether physical or the destructive psychological impact on soldiers and civilians of the society and is a course that should never be traveled.
   
   McPherson's expertise in writing about this subject is not disputed nor is his findings. McPherson has been a professor at Princeton University since 1962 and his entire academic career has been focused on many aspects of the Civil War era. He has been nationally recognized numerous times for his work in this field including receiving the Lincoln Prize for For Cause and Comrades. For Cause and Comrades has made an important contribution in historical research by giving a voice to people who can no longer speak for themselves and illustrates their experience to give a more in depth well rounded picture of history. Futhermore, everyone is entitled to their own perspective and interpretation on any subject. Unfortunately, for this reader, it was filled with too much hero worship, idolization, and the standard tired historical interpretations of soldiers and war as being something someone does if they have a sense of duty, are honorable, patriotic, revere freedom and liberty, and are spiritual. These themes should stay in fiction such as stories of King Arthur and the Knights of the Roundtable. People in the real world should find other avenues besides war to achieve the admirable qualities of duty, honor, patriotism, believing in ideals, and spirituality and it should be the responsibility of learned people to point that out instead of seemingly making war and people who fight in wars the pillar and standard for achieving all those admirable qualities.

5 comments about No Atheists In Foxholes: Reflections and Prayers From the Front.

1. Chaplains are pastors who risk their lives to give soldiers a spiritual shoulder to lean on in the crisis-filled area of the battle field. "No Atheists in Foxholes: Prayers and Reflections from the Front" is a collection of thoughts and reflections on the importance of religion in the Iraq conflict that rages on to this day. Telling stories of his times and offering poignant prayers, Chaplain McLaughlin tells a moving story of his times with his marines unit. "No Atheists in Foxholes" is a must for anyone who wishes to read about God in the Iraq conflict.



2. This is a thoughtful book on a very private and personal subject.
   
   First-time author Patrick McLaughlin is a Lutheran pastor who has served two tours in Iraq as an active-duty Navy Chaplain assigned to both surgical shock trauma and mortuary affairs units with the Marine Corps - and prior to that, he served as President and Mrs Bush's chaplain at Camp David prior to - and during - the early stages of the war in Iraq.
   
   As such Cmdr McLaughlin understands war, and its effect on the Marines who fight it. His book consists of fifty prayers he'd written in order to get him through some incredibly trying days - answering questions like "will I lose my foot", will I be OK" and "will I wake up again" from these young Marines must either challenge or reinforce one's faith in God, and this book opens a very private window into the war for the reader. One's political stance on the war is easily cast away when we read of his experiences outside the operating room as he writes "at these moments, the very real presence of God is felt among us."
   
   But is there a prayer adequate when he gave blood to save a Marine, yet the surgery was unsuccessful ? Probably not, for as McLauglin writes "I stand quietly and watch as the priest prays over the body of this heroic Marine." Yet McLaughlin had another year of duty in Iraq, and those too-regular tragedies need to be pushed to the back of his mind as he readied himself for the next day.
   
   This will be a difficult book to read for anyone who has a son, spouse, or daughter serving overseas as it describes in detail more of the war than the media will ever understand or the Marines or soldiers will share with a non-combatant. But it is highly recommended because now we know that our family members are in the good hands of Chaps McLaughlin and his fellow combat chaplains. You've written an awesome book, Chaps, thank you and Semper Fi.



3. 
   Reviewed by Gina Holland for RebeccasReads (6/08)
   
   When Patrick McLaughlin became the Chaplain for Camp David, he was excited and thrilled. He thought that would be the best thing that could ever happen in his life. When September 11th happened, he was watching his infant son sleep in his bed, and all he could think about was prayer and peace. Little did he know that he would soon be going to Iraq, where danger and death would be all around him. This book contains words, emails, letters and poems from his experiences in the military. I am sure that the Chaplain put this book together for us to be able to see and to read firsthand what goes on in that part of the world. As you read this you might cry, become angry, or even be amazed at some of the things that these soldiers go through.
   
   "No Atheists" was put together in a way that people can get an up close look at what goes on in the minds of these men and women who serve for us. We are also seeing it from the Chaplain's point-of-view as well. There is one particular story in this book that got to me. McLaughlin is there when a young Iraqi soldier, dying, is trying to be saved by the doctors there. All he can do is pray for this young man, and hope that he lives. But the young man dies anyway, despite all of the Chaplain's praying and the doctor's efforts. It's such a sad story. I know a lot of people would not feel bad for this soldier because he is working for the other side, but he is human after all. Another life lost because of this awful war. What human could not feel something for this young man? Even if he fights for the wrong side, I feel bad for him, and for every other young man that dies in war.
   
   The meaning of this memoir is very clear. It is wonderful, but sad. Read this and look into a world of chaos, destruction, and tragedy. It shows us that even men and women who do not believe in God, find themselves praying in time of need, when they think they are about to die, or when they might be praying for a friend or a fellow soldier. I loved all the poems and words of "No Atheists in Foxholes," and look forward to more books from McLaughlin.



4. Chaplain McLaughlin has shared his experience in Iraq with prayers and personal reflections that capture the human and spiritual aspects of combat. As a retired Army Chaplain, I am so grateful for this resource that other chaplains can use in their ministry to our nation's military personnel. This is an outstanding book that anyone who wants an insider's view of combat ought to read. Hooah!



5. Chaplain McLaughlin's book is an interesting and engaging collection of stories, reflections and prayers. It brings to light many interesting stories about the war in Iraq.... many are inspirational, many are sad, many are amazing .... it will cause you to examine your own life, and hopefully make you realize the price so many others pay for our freedoms.

5 comments about Storm of Steel (Penguin Classics).

1. For most people who only know World War I from their high school days when they did a book review on "All Quiet On The Western Front" this book is required reading. Against the spate of anti-war books by those who saw limited service and little combat, Ernst Juenger's book is truly authentic. He fought for his nation to win, and it was not until the Ludendorf offensive that he participated in during the Spring of 1918 was stopped (in his opinion, due to German artillery blocking the infantry's advance), that the author came to feel that Germany might lose the war. After all, at that time Romania, Serbia and Russia had been defeated, Italy was in disarray, the French relatively inactive, and the Americans had not yet arrived in strength. And it must be remembered that Germany always possessed inferior numbers compared to the allies on the Western front.
   
   The author has been condemned and marginalized in the US for his unabashed nationalism by the American leftist academic and political elite to the point that he is almost unknown in the English-speaking world. Juenger did his duty willingly and with enthusiam for four long years in combat on the Western front during World War I, and his refusal to condemn war has made him anathema to the Western literary world. Even though Juenger was not a Nazi and resisted Hitler's siren songs, his love for his country was enough to have his work censored through silence.
   
   The reader should carefully read the review by the Washington Post writer given above. Tellingly he states his personal viewpoint, "Like many people, I have absolutely no love for the martial spirit, detest all forms of nationalism, and feel queasy at the sight of blood." Hopefully the ER personnel attending to him following an accident will be able to function while seeing blood, but I guess "God Bless America" is out, and the Post reviewer will avoid service in the American Army with whatever excuse. This is the contemporary attitude of the liberal elite and media, formed over the last sixty years of leftist propaganda in our schools, universities, and on television. Juenger would be appalled.
   
   This translation by Hofmann is better than the ones I have read previously, but German speakers are advised to read his works in their original German. Hofmann effectively translates the German idioms that have stumped other translators and the Introduction should be read carefully to understand why a faithful translation is important. This volume is based on Juenger's revised edition (Juenger revised his book at least eight times), most probably the latest one from 1961.
   
   This book was written from Juenger's diary originally in 1920, is not fiction, and is the only extensive work from World War I from a long-serving combat soldier in the war. That alone makes it important, but that it is well-written and describes four major battles from the viewpoint of the soldier in the trenches makes it uniquely invaluable. That it remains almost unknown in the US is a tragedy and due exclusively to the powers that abhor the military and nationalism at any level -- even that for the United States.
   
   The details I leave to the many other reviewers who have more than adequately covered the tragedy and frightfulness of war. Juenger retains a sense of humor throughout, and even suggests that war is the most pronounced experience that a man can undergo. For the doubters, please read Glenn Gray's "The Warriors." In many respects, World War I was probably the most terrifying war in history for the individual infantryman. He lived a terrible existence in mud and squalor, subject to death at any moment from the ever-present artillery fire, and his survival depended more on chance than on his own skills. To some degree that changed in World War II and in subsequent wars where individual skills played an increasingly larger part in determining a soldier's survival.
   
   In short, BUY & READ this book. Don't accept passively what you are told to believe by the media, your teachers and professors. Juenger is well worth the read and you may actually learn something about lives of soldiers in World War I. Juenger is certainly an Alpha-male type, but his true story is as important as those written by anti-war fiction writers and those with political agendas.



2. STORM OF STEEL offers WWI from a German soldier's point of view, but Erich Maria Remarque it ain't. All told, author Ernst Junger was shot multiple times, yet would live not only to write this book (and many others) but to celebrate his 103rd birthday (attended by an unusually patient Grim Reaper-in-Waiting).
   
   On the penultimate page of this book, he writes: "Leaving out trifles such as ricochets and grazes, I was hit at least fourteen times, these being five bullets, two shell splinters, one shrapnel ball, four hand-grenade splinters and two bullet splinters, which, with entry and exit wounds, left me an even twenty scars." Like George Washington (who also was shot at, over, under, and through), someone seemed to be watching over Junger.
   
   Fans of war literature will relish this book. Junger takes the reader through the trenches of Flanders, the Somme, Cambrai, Langemarck, and many other WWI locales. His narrative is straightforward and blunt, including many details on soldiers' deaths (German AND British) with a full compliment of gory details. He seldom editorializes or pontificates, and even acts as if gas attacks are normal (well, they were -- then). The narrative has that "rubbernecker" effect going for it. The appalling body counts almost carry you forward, despite your disbelief at the complete waste of humanity. Meanwhile, Junger riffs on tests of manhood and the rush (along with the fear) that is war.
   
   Junger writes: "In war you learn your lessons, and they stay learned, but the tuition fees are high." Understatement. With examples of both mercy and bloody resolve, Junger's behavior will continue to astonish readers as they read his detailed account. Unencumbered by any attempts at high art or literary flair, STORM OF STEEL will put you there, giving you a real taste of how fleeting life was for these young men. The War had no winner and only one loser -- humanity itself -- only Junger chooses not to state as much. Instead, he trusts in his readers. Recommended for fans of history, WWI, and war literature. If you've read other works in the WWI canon, this is a worthy addition.



3. a straight-forward soldier's book written by a man who went through the whole war in the front lines - and survived! pleasingly free of the political whining and hand-wringing the saturates so many of the accounts written by 'our side' about this bloody and pointless conflict. the narrative touches on all aspects of the military experience of a member of the p.b.i. (poor bloody infantry) and can serve for those on any side or army in this meat grinder of a war. i've been reading a couple of books a week on military history for about 50 years and rate this book in the top three personal accounts - a truly excellent work.



4. This is an amazing book to read. Junger was a stormtrooper--the German soldiers who lead the first wave into the trenches--for something like four years. It seems extraordinary that anyone could have survived such a holocaust, let alone four years of it. There is very little in the way of emotional expression in this book, or personal or political observation. Junger devoted his writing to the material details of the battle. This book takes you right into it with unforgettable detail--the acrid smoke, the seemingly ceaseless rain of artillery. More of Jungers men seem to be felled by German artillery than the opposition. Junger describes a scene in which a battery is destroyed and a single horse survives, fleeing across the desolate landscape, "a white ghostly figure." From the very first minutes on the line, artillery remained a constant danger for these men. The book describes harrowing scenes of shootouts with snipers and machine gunners, shooting men at pointblank range with pistols. One scene describes a group of British cornered in a trench. Junger's men throw grenades into the trench. After each blast, helmets, rags of body parts, and blood flies up in the air. His unit moves forward to the edge of the smoking trench to finish the British off, only to be mowed down by British rifle fire as they prepare to fire. This is combat at its most intense! An ungorgettable read that takes you into the eye of the storm of steel. Definitely, good reading. You won't be able to put it down.



5. At first I thought this book was going to turn out to be one of those books that were written at a different time that just couldnt have a style to keep readers this day and age interested. I was wrong. Junger has a style all his own and you will feel has if you are the one standing in his boots through all the epic battles and hardships. You can almost see the mortor shells landing around him with all the carnage that goes with them. You will feel happy when he triumphs, and sad when men are there one minute and gone forever the next. This book will only get better the further you get into and the ending I will admit put a tear to my eye, this man deserved everything he earned and more. His final battle is one you will not be able to put down. I found my self reading paragraphs two and even three times over again convincing my self that my eyes were not playing tricks on me. This book is a must have for anyone who is even mildly interested in combat novels.

5 comments about Delta Force: The Army's Elite Counterterrorist Unit.

1. The promise was always present, always ready to poke its head out and play peek-a-boo with the reader. Unfortunately it was never able to gain enough ground and become interesting to the reader. Beckwith's book can be broken down into three sections: Vietnam, Delta Initiation and Delta Organization.
   
   The first section is a rather dull account of Beckwith's life in Vietnam. We get to see some of the details and descriptions of his exploits in Vietnam, but for the most part he doesn't really tell the reader much. The height of his Vietnam days are his rescue of a surrounded camp. Then it ends with Beckwith back in the States.
   
   Section two drones on and on about how he was beating his head against a wall trying to get people within the army to recognize that there is a need for a Special Operations force such as Delta. We all know where this one ends, so no need for elaboration.
   
   Section three is perhaps the most boring section. We finally get to see Delta Force come together. Will we get to hear about some of the details of their missions? No, in fact most of the latter half of the book is devoted to telling the day to day detail of what each officer and soldier was doing in order to maintain their training. So and so would wake up, blow up a wall, then do some running and push ups and then go and have a few beers. So and so would crunch the intel data and assess any threats, then he would brief the unit, and return to do some more data crunching before heading home early to get four hours of sleep, only to return the next day and start all over again. This could be interesting except for the fact that Beckwith does nothing but write about this for hundreds of pages. Finally, action, something to break up the monotony. We finally get to see a glimpse of Delta as it prepares to infiltrate Iran and free the hostages in the American Embassy. Some interesting detail here, but then it ends. Nothing really happened.
   
   The book ends with nothing interesting being shared at all. If you discount the landing and subsequent take off in Iran then you are left with a Delta that did absolutely nothing except waste tax payer's dollars. Granted, Beckwith is still in the army, and perhaps they did do some missions that are still top secret and thus Beckwith couldn't talk about. Who really knows the circumstances? But not enough was talked about. Too much was talked about the set up and organization of Delta without showing what they could actually do.
   
   Beckwith's writing is also quite horrible. Nothing about his writing made me want to read more. If you were to read it out loud I would imagine it would come out in a very monotone voice, with virtually no characterization. With Marcinko's Rogue Warrior you at least got to see and feel some of the action, to understand Marcinko's character and see it vividly within the words of his book. Not so here.
   
   Because of the uniqueness of what Beckwith was writing on, as well as the fact that he might very well not have been able to write about other missions that could have been classified, I would give this an okay rating. I would certainly not recommend this book to others.
   
   2.5 stars.



2. Easy reading; interesting how a new unit has difficulty in coming of age in the armed forces; read this first then follow it up with "Inside Delta Force" which will give more information on what it took for an individual to function within the Unit.



3. I really enjoyed this book. It gives a great history of the formation of Delta Force, but if you are only going to read one book on the subject; INSIDE DELTA FORCE by Eric Haney is much better. That said, this book is a page-turner and well written. There's a bit of self-congratulation; but Beckwith was an impressive individual.



4. If I had not read Eric Haney's book "Inside Delta Force" before I read this one, I probably would have loved it. The inherent problem is that both books cover roughly the same time frame, with Beckwith's book beginning earlier (going back to Vietnam inspirations) and ending while Haney was still in Delta. Both books provide detailed coverage of Operation Eagle Claw, which can be a little redundant, but that's no one's fault really. What I liked about Beckwith's book was the understanding it gave about where the idea for Delta came from, what his operational credibility was, and the intense opposition he faced in birthing this elite unit. Some folks will be bored with the various political machinations at work, but I found it interesting to see how something like this comes to be. Less interesting to me was Beckwith's account of Selection and the like because he didn't have to go through it like Haney did. I'd definitely recommend this book, but if you only want to read ONE book on Delta, I'd recommend Haney's first. And while there is certainly some overlap in information between the two works, I read them back to back and still enjoyed them.



5. The book was in excellant condition, arrived on time.

5 comments about Ulysses S. Grant : Memoirs and Selected Letters : Personal Memoirs of U.S. Grant / Selected Letters, 1839-1865 (Library of America).

1. Well written history is a rare treat, and rarer still is a history by one who lived through it. Grant writes engagingly and humorously and with great humility for a man who achieved so much. That he wrote this in the throes of cancer, finishing it on death's door and yet has no sence of savig himself or self pity is remarkable. It's a pity there is no one like this in the elections.



2. 
   
   
   References to political memoirs often suggest that Grant's memoirs are some of the best ever published. Have worked my way slowly through almost 800 pages of his memoirs, the accolades are deserved. Autobiographies by their nature are bound to be someway self-serving (he makes no reference to his well documented drink problems) and I am sure many historians could pick flaws with some of Grant's recollections, but the book is exceptionally well written and interesting. To my surprise, the author comes across as being compassionate and showing a high degree of empathy for many he fought against during the civil war.
   
   He is very honest in his commentaries and is not afraid to be critical of US policy. The Mexican-American war (1846-1848) was unnecessarily provoked and in his opinion "the war which resulted, as one of the most unjust ever waged by a stronger nation against a weaker nation. ... We were sent to provoke a fight, but it was essential that the Mexicans should commence it."
   
   Grant is not shy in admitting that especially in his early military career, he was often frightened and would rather have been somewhere else when the bullets were flying. He is also self-effacing and sometimes humorous about his impact in early combat situations. "My exploit was equal to that of the soldier who boasted that he had cut of the leg of one of the enemy. When asked why he had not cut off his head, he replied: `Someone had done that before.' "
   
   Grant is a very good storyteller and has an excellent eye for detail and description. His contrasting profiles of Generals Taylor and Scott whom he fought under during the Mexican war are models of clarity and painting pictures with words.
   
   His account of the civil war contains numerous interesting anecdotes including one instance when inspecting a picket line which was close to a Confederate picket line. After his picket line called "Turn out the guard for the commanding General," he heard a similar command from the Confederate picket and a reference to General Grant. The Confederate line saluted "which I returned." - Amazing!
   
   Obviously, the bulk of his memoirs relate to the civil war. He suggests that he was of the same mind set as Secretary of State Seward, "that the war would be over in ninety days." Grant is very respectful of many of his former colleagues who fought against him during this war. He has little respect for the "Demagogues who were to old to enter the army ... others who entertained so high an opinion of their own ability that they did not believe they could be spared from the direction of the state of affairs," but who constantly poured oil on the secessionist fire.
   
   He lauds many of his comrades including Generals Sherman and Sheridan. While respecting Secretary of War Stanton, he does not appear to have been a great fan of his style of management. He also writes approvingly of Confederate Generals Longstreet, Lee, Bragg, Joseph Johnston and others, and takes great delight in ridiculing the military genius of Confederate President Jefferson Davis who he obviously despised. Grant writes sensitively of General Lee and the surrender at Appomattox.
   
   The author believes the death of Lincoln was a disaster not just for the North, but for the vanquished South. "He would have proven the best friend the South could have had." Interestingly, Grant makes no reference to the Gettysburg Address and to the best of my recollection only references the Battle of Gettysburg but once. He was otherwise involved in the Battle of Vicksburg at the same time.
   
   I glossed over some of the detailed military and battle descriptions in this book, but overall it is a great read. It is also interesting to note that the book saved Grant's penurious family from a life of poverty. Published by his friend Samuel Clemens, these memoirs became a bestseller after Grant died from throat cancer.



3. U.S. Grant is often said to have been a failure at everything in his life except his marriage, war, and his memoirs. The latter, written as he was dying of throat cancer in 1884-1885, provide a straightforward account of his years in uniform during the Civil War.
   
   Grant passes quickly over his Ohio boyhood and time at the United States Military Academy. His service in the Mexican War and his financial misfortunes out of uniform between the wars get only slightly more coverage. His story really begins with his return to uniform in 1861 as a commander of Illinois volunteers. The narrative follows Grant's campaigns in Missouri, Tennessee, Vicksburg, Chattanooga, his elevation to supreme command of the Union Armies, and the final grinding agony of the war in Virgina. The account ends with the cessation of hostilies in 1865.
   
   Grant's memoirs are remarkable reading for a number of reasons. First, they provide insight into the first-rate military mind of a consistantly successful general. Grant's ability to determine the essentials of a situation and remain focused on them are evident. Second, the memoirs are a classic example of clear, simple, English narrative. Third, they display the considerable modesty of a naturally reserved man, a departure from the egotism often found in the personal memoirs of famous men. Grant himself continues to be something of a mystery to historians; these memoirs do not really lift the veil of his sense of privacy.
   
   The Union Army of the Civil War had more than its fair share of politicians in uniform and politically-minded generals. Grant was not immune to spinning history his way; careful-eyed scholars have found more than a few instances where Grant remembered only part of the story or settled a few scores with old opponents. Nevertheless, Grant's memoirs are a valuable resource for understanding the conduct of the Civil War, not least because Grant became such a key figure in the winning of it.
   
   Grant's memoirs are highly recommended to students of the Civil War, and to scholars seeking to understand the art of war in the midst of rebellion.



4. General Grant's use of the English language is very interesting and informative. Absolutely a pleasure to read.



5. This book is a must-read for any Civil War or American history buff. Grant's writing is consistently clear, elegant, beautiful. He gives an engaging account of his wartime experiences that are accurate to the best of his ability, and he writes with introspection and humility. The personal letters at the end of the volume reveal much about this fascinating man, and are a welcome addition. Please read this one! Another wonderful book in this series is the volume containing Frederick Douglass's autobiographical works.

5 comments about The Forgotten Soldier.

1. This was one of the earlier first hand accounts of soldiers life on the Eastern Front that I have read. It is also one of my favorites to this day.The Author spent time in various units in the German Army. Then how he went to the SS because he got leave to do it. It was a soldiers story. That I could relate to, being a soldier myself. I also found it interesting that his Father was French. the bond he shared with his fellow soldiers. How they all shared the piece of cake they had. Even though they hadn't eaten for days. I was impressed and everything made sense in a way I could relate to. I have read this book a couple of times and I find it, just as interesting every time.



2. The wind sucks the breath out of my mouth, even though covered. Ice crystals form on the outer layer of my sock-mask. If I did not knock the crystal off I fear that I would no longer be able to fear. As I wander endless white do I dream or hallucinate of summer at the lake. I have never been so cold and oh so alone..............
   Though I read this book 20 odd years ago I still shiver when I encounter this book on some lost shelf in some back alley bookstore. Sajer glares at me from the cover with his scruffly sunken cheeks. The fear in his eyes tell me he is at an end and I should leave him as fast as I can. Alas I cannot. We had fought together and now we must survive. I am haunted.
   This book is touted as a work of fiction, which clearly bases it plot in the reality of the Eastern Front in WW II. Yet the writing style could almost best be described as an autobiogrphical account of one man's suffering. Few authors have the knack of drawing in their readers so intensly, i.e. Remarque,Manchester,Shiver,Rand even Silverman. If the story is true then I feel more sympathetic for Sajer. Be it fiction then I have been duped, but quite happily had I gone along toward my embarrassment.
   I had heard that this book had been produced as a movie, but as of yet have been unable to confirm that claim. The conseus being that a movie would not prove worthy of the book (unlike say "The Sand Pebbles")
   any student of WW II, owes it to him/herself to read this story and to seek out similar such books. For they reflect war on a deeply personal level of suffering other than the ultimate suffering of non-existence. We read the history, the oral historys, the "big picture" analysis books and we say oh, wasn't that terrible. Seldom do we think that those are people suffering and dying in those sentences. With "The Forgotten Soldier" we can see and if you concentrate, hear and feel what a true, tired warrior felt. You can walk away from this book and if you are lucky you may be able to forget this book. But the book is a ghost, eventually you won't be able to escape - and then Winter sets in.



3. What an amazing book. The author's luck in surviving nearly 3 years of combat as a conscripted 17 year old is eye opening. He describes in detail how his training and first missions went as a supply soldier attempting to rescue Stalingrad. The difficulties in logistics in providing food, shelter, and sanitation in the vast open Russian steppe is clearly made.
   
   The author also describes how he and others in his unit were recruited as "volunteers" for the Gross Deutschland Division as infantry soldiers and the training they received as replacements. The difficulties of survival, the mental and emotional toll that war has on people is also described.
   
   Also noteworthy is the personal impact war has on families where he meets the parents of his best friend, who was killed by a fighter plane strafing run. The impact of years of Allied bombing on the German civilians, their ability to provide food to themselves and their army, is also described from the ground level perspective.
   
   This book is a first person account and avoids "armchair analysis" of senior leader decisions. The author describes how those on the ground, in the mud, endured the extreme cold to fight against the Soviets reclaiming their country in executing senior leader decisions.
   
   For "armchair analysis", after reading this book, one wonders how the US Army would have fared fighting in Russia if Patton was allowed to battle the Communists in 1946? Would the American supply system been able to function in the road-less and open steppe?
   
   A humbling book, we are so very fortunate to live in peace, not having to endure the suffering of total war.



4. This is a good read. Most people don't know this, but this book is required reading at the US War college at West Point.
   
   Yes, he may get some of his facts mixed up a little, but hey.... it's WAR! Many people have trouble remembering the small stuff through the haze of war.



5. I've quite a few excellent WWII histories but this one is one of the most visceral and savage accounts I've ever seen. Your feelings about the universality of the foot soldier will never be the same.