5 comments about Broken Jewel: A Novel.

1. I wonder where the audience is for "Broken Jewel". The setting should appeal to WWII military buffs who enjoy authors like Jeff Shaara, but it moves much too slowly. There is a lot of detailed information about the Japanese "comfort women", probably too much for readers interested in combat history. Author Robbins obviously has a lot of justified outrage at the moral horror of "comfort women". The Japanese government will still not admit to the mass degradation of thousands of helpless women.
   
   But the melding of the greatest military rescue in WWII with the absolute evil of the "comfort women" is an uneasy fit. And the "happy" ending is simplistic to the point of being juvenile and is unworthy of the rest of the novel.



2. I ussually don't like books set during WWII or WWI but I really enjoyed this story. It had me on the edge of my seat and I read it in three days. Great characters and the author does a fantastic job of telling the story.



3. Very well done! David L Robbins re-visits the Japanese occupation of the Philippines and how the internees and Filipinos fared. His story telling makes the memories of our parents, who went through the hardships and terrors of the occupation be more vivid to the next generation. This book definitely goes on the list of presents for parents of friends and families who survived the war.



4. Broken Jewel is the story of a little known episode of the Pacific War. Only David L. Robbins can bring to the reader an event that for years has not been revealed. Robbins describes an event that was overlooked partially by Japanese Government cover-up, denial and guilt. He is an author that makes historical events a moving and intriguing chapter in the never ending epic that is World War II.
   Robbins proves that Good fiction entertains; Great fiction informs.



5. After reading Broken Jewel, I discovered that, as alleged in the end notes, the book reflects the real world of the camps in the Philippines in WWII. Very good read, apparently true to the awful reality of the times.

5 comments about Six Silent Men (101st Lrp/Rangers).

1. This book is very informative, and includes the accounts of various LRRPs who served in the LRRPs of the 101st. This is excellent, as you get different views on the experiences. If you are interested in the LRRPs of Vietnam, then this is one you should definately add to your collection!



2. THE THIRD OF THE THREE BOOKS TELLING THE STORY OF THE LRP'S ROLE IN THE VIETNAM WAR. TOLD BY ONE WHO WAS THERE FOR MORE THAN ONE TOUR. GO ON PATROL, FEEL THE TENSION AND EXPERIENCE THE FEAR AND EXCITEMENT OF COMBAT. A GREAT READ!!



3. Martinez writes about the early years of the LRRPs in Vietnam; about formation and transformation of the unit and their training and equipment. Furthermore the book is filled with dozens of accounts of LRRP missions. From observation missions to kidnap missions etc. These accounts come from a nummber of ex-LRRPs who Martinez interviewed and from the author who was a LRRP himself. Result is a book full of interesting facts and stories full of heroism, action, drama, humor or whatsoever.



4. This is a great book written about war and comraderie. The stories are riveting and the bond between these brothers is something I miss to this day.



5. The book is interesting reading. The story does jump around a bit being told by different guys point of view but it's easy to follow.

4 comments about The Battered Bastards of Bastogne: The 101st Airborne and the Battle of the Bulge, December 19,1944-January 17,1945.

1. This third book in Koskimaki's series relating the personal experiences of the men of the 101st Airborne Division continues with the same strong style of his previous books. The main interest in these books is that Koskimaki drew on the personal reminiscences and action reports of the men who were there. It gives a great sense of just how chaotic the battle would have been for the troops.
   
   Although I thoroughly enjoyed the "worms eye" view of the battle for Bastogne and learned from the book, I do have a couple of caveats. First, this book is not for people who are not familiar with the battle as the connecting narrative between the personal accounts is weak and the author sometimes drops some very interesting and important threads. Second, unlike the previous two books where Koskimaki contributes a lot of his own accounts to the mix, he shows up very little in this one which leaves a slightly clinical touch to the book.
   
   Those two reservations aside, I highly recommend this and the other two books by Koskimaki about the 101st Airborne during World War II. They provide a much different view than people get from the very good narrative found in "Band of Brothers."



2. PFC Donald J. Rich "The bazooka section had not set up yet when someone yelled' There comes a German tank!' I grabbed my bazooka and told one man to come with me. We ran up the street and into a house. I told the man with me to take the bazooka and stay at a window. I went into the next room to watch and told him to wait till the tank went by and then fire at it. He must have stuck his head up before the tank went by because the tanker fired into the house and blew a hole about three or four feet in diameter. I went rolling across the floor. I jumped up to see how my buddy made out. He came staggering out of the room. I rushed him to the medics. I never knew if he had serious wounds or if he made it. I ran back to the house to retrieve the bazooka. It was bent, with the barrel opening sealed. Someone else got that tank father on."
   George E. Koskimaki, Division Signals Company, 101st Airborne. continues with his awesome series on the actions of the 101st through their only words. His research and interviews with 530 airborne soldiers of the Sceaming Eagles who fought at Bastogne makes for a unforgetable and amazing work!
   I salute you George. This is a great and new "classic". A must read for World War Two historians and readers.



3. This is an extensive dissertation of the Bastogne painstakingly recreated in a someone dysfunctional fashion. Dysfunctional as the author chooses to run chronologically backwards and forward every couple of pages. It recreates the battle via editorial comments and letters and stories from the vets themselves. I found reading the smaller print (vets stories) easier than trying to follow the flow of the book. If you want to know what happened in the battle for Bastogne you'll get it here. You need to enjoy hopping, skipping and jumping to and fro.



4. The publication of Stephen Ambrose's richly detailed histories, Spielberg's "Saving Private Ryan" and the runaway HBO miniseries "Band of Brothers," have all conspired to make the history of the second world war not only accessible, but also interesting to the general public. Having whetted our appetities for more information on the War to End All Wars, many sought out other works about the generals and men who fought for country's survival. However, not all books on the subject are the same, as is evidenced by this tome.
   
   Koskimaki is sort of an informal historian of the 501st and in other volumes about the war relates many of the personal experiences of the men from D-Day to the surrender of Germany. However, he is not a professional writer and this book shows it. It is long on the eyewitness accounts of those who were actually there, but the material is presented in a haphazard fashion, using direct quote paragraphs with little or no narrative thread running in between to keep the reader grounded in the story. In other words, it reads like a History Channel documentary on the subject, with personal memories of the soldiers woven in around footage, which provides the thread of narrative. But in a book there is no footage; narrative must be presented by the writer and Koskimaki presents little, if any, causing the reader to become hopelessly bogged down and unable to see the forest for the trees. After awhile, one returns to someone such as Ambrose to find out what they missed while Koskimaki was bombarded us with eyewitness accounts. Looking for a good book on the subject? Then pick-up one by Ambrose, Atkinson or any other well versed historian. Looking for fill-in facts to complete the story? Then pick up this book. But only after.

5 comments about In the Company of Soldiers: A Chronicle of Combat.

1. In the Company of Soldiers is an excellent book; very gripping. It shows that Gen. Petraeus is one of the best military leaders in American history.



2. Award winning author Rick Atkinson has produced an impressive story of the many considerations a modern commander must endure in order to lead a successful campaign.
   
   If nothing else, many readers should be interested in this account due to the close personal account of then Major General David Patraeus. Atkinson was an embedded journalist with the 101st Airborne Division, which Patraeus commanded at the beginning of the war. Patraeus deals effectively with issues ranging from changing leadership directives to logistical delays i9n moving his unit from FT Campbell, KY, to Kuwait for the initial invasion.
   
   I highly recommend this book.



3. This was a great book and came in a reasonable amount of time and in good condition as described.



4. Rick Atkinson captures the high level leadership of our Army prior to and during Desert Storm. He is present during decision making conferences and provides an insight into the high level officers and how they arrived at these decisions. He gets as close to MG Petrause (sp) as anyone has been and gives us a private look at his dispare and joys during this brief war. Atkinson portrays MG Petrause (sp) as a very intellegent, complex, and capable leader.



5. From the perspective of six years after the events in the book, General David Petraeus's repeated comment of "tell me how this ends" to Rick Atkinson jumps out (sadly). Well, now we know what happened after the initial war, and you can see hints of that at points in the book. In fact, there may be three reasons to read (or listen to, in my case) this book, which otherwise probably has little appeal to a disaffected populace.
   
   First is traditional interest in military accounts, second is to read about General Petraeus, who is the dominant figure in the book, and third is to look back and try to figure out what went wrong.
   
   As an account of the run-up to the war and the war itself through the 101st, Atkinson had exceptional access and a sharp eye from deep experience in military matters well beyond what a fresh journalist might have done, and outstanding natural ability, of course. Even for a short engagement, the "play by play" at times might not have much appeal for some. Atkinson was a real trouper himself, in often miserable conditions, with an edgy sense of humor that might be considered sardonic. Two little items from late in the action come to mind: soldiers find a collection of box cutters, and Atkinson wonders whether they had at last found a link between Iraq and Al Qaeda, and his observation about how quickly "liberation" turned to looting was mournfully funny.
   
   Atkinson seemed to play it straight on the struggles helicopters had in Iraqi conditions. No cover-up and certainly a willingness to remind us that when an Apache crashed in the dust, there went another $20M. On a more positive note, he credited the multi-force action where totally outclassed defenses could be wiped out by coordinated air, ground and artillery engagement, even if we didn't need GPS coordinates down to a couple of feet.
   
   Atkinson was fortunate to have hooked up with someone whose career took off, General Petraeus, while also being an interesting subject. A senior officer in Petraeus's staff suggests that Atkinson had a closer relationship with Petraeus than any of the officers, and that very well could be true. Some reviewers have complained that the focus on the staff instead of the front-line soldiers was a flaw, whereas for me it was a highlight. The behind the scenes planning and execution, with its fits and starts and highs and lows and dependence on logistics fit better with Iraq than life in the heat and dust for the soldiers.
   
   The third reason to pick up the book now is to remember how far off American leaders were in their thinking and what that perspective was at the time of the original action. Gas as a weapon was considered probable and the Americans were to be recognized as liberators, not occupiers. How hard could it be? Many times the cultural dissonance between American expectations and reality were apparent, with the military engaging a country where few Americans, even those with high intelligence and good intentions, really knew the people.

No comments about An Angel From Hell.

5 comments about Desperate Lands: The War on Terror Through the Eyes of a Special Forces Soldier.

1. I recommend that you read Desperate Lands. It gave me a valuable glimpse into the war that can only be told by a hero who has been there, faithfully serving the rest of us. It is not a highly action-packed drama, but an opportunity to see reality in places I have never been, through a soldier's eyes. I am impressed by the training and professionalism applied to this difficult and dangerous job. The visions have come back to my mind from this unbiased story which is missing in my morning newspaper. We are proud to have you as one of us, Reggie, and thankful that you came home unharmed.



2. I'm sure MSG Zapata is very good at his job. However, his ability to write is lacking, to say the least. The content and the story line is mundane, often times nothing more than rambling on about daily activities. Sure, there are some fancy acronyms in there, but for those of us who actually know what they mean, it's easy to see that it's just filler.
   There are typos in the text. MSG Zapata's use of terms, both technical, and those known as jargon, are inaccurate and misused. Many times both sentences and paragraphs are just redundant and drawn out.
   MSG's contribution to the Global War on Terror and to the service of our great nation should never go unappreciated -- and this is not what this review is implying. I'm simply stating that the book is lacking substance.



3. Think you're having a bad day, a bad week, a bad year?
   
   This story gives the reader a glimpse of all the difficulties, obstacles and annoyances of what it is to serve as a special forces soldier in a war where the enemy wears the same uniform as the civilian, and another army (Pakistani soldiers) are less than cooperative.
   
   Master Sergeant Zapata takes you on a journey from the U.S. to different outposts of the War on Terror, from Africa to Afghanistan. It is a journey of uncertainty, and constant change, of always having to deal with the unexpected, and never knowing what the road ahead will be. Along with fighting, there is the task of having to establish relations with warlords, and everyday citizens, to gain their trust, and their help.
   
   This is no easy war to fight, and Sergeant Zapata's story provides an explanation as to why.
   
   My humble respect goes to him and all those like him. We are in good hands.



4. Sgt. Zapata Has placed in print, the first hand account of what it is like for the Spec Forces Soldiers to live in a constant Battle zone. He brings the war home in his book and places, You the reader right in the middle of the War on Terror, seeing it through the eyes of the Spec Ops Soldier. This is an excellent read. This Soldier helps You to understand the real War and what Our men are Fighting for!!!



5. MSgt Zapata's book is a great addition to the professional's tactical library and a great read for the general public as well. It gives an inside look at the workings of Special Forces in hostile territory through the eyes of a senior SF NCO. The book is a fast read. The prose is compact and to the point and the text is well illustrated with excellent photos.

2 comments about AWACS & Hawkeyes: The Complete History of Airborne Early Warning Aircraft.

1. I enjoyed this book. As an officer who flies on the E-3 I found the book did a great job following the history of all US Radar control planes. The listing of World AEW platforms was also good for short ref. list. It is not a radar employment manual but more of a platform employment manual and historical discussion.

   I found the book focused a little more on the E-2 than the E-3 though with the author's Navy background that makes sense. All of the E-3 info is accurate just not quite as indepth as the E-2. Not only did I recommend the book in my squadron but to my friends who wonder 'what I do'.




2. Covers them all, with a little heavier on the Navy side. Getting dated, but gives excellent history of the early days.

5 comments about Parachute Infantry: An American Paratrooper's Memoir of D-Day and the Fall of the Third Reich (Dell War Series).

1. Webster is a fantastic writer. The memoir feels very fresh, since he wrote it soon after the war. The only negative thing I have to say is that Webster's personality is a little different than the other 'Band of Brothers'. I don't know how fair this criticism is, because it may just be his nature. I have read the books of the other men from Easy Company, and they just seem different..they have more of a "professional" outlook on the war. Don't get me wrong, I know that not every soldier has the same experiences or gung-ho attitude, but I just wanted to make this comment on him. If you have seen the series, the episode that focuses somewhat on Webster is very different from the way he tells things. Bottom line is, you will not be dissapointed in this book in any way if you love this sort of history.



2. Love that title - well the `Parachute Infantry' part and I quite liked the book as well. It took me a little while to get into Webster's style or at least the point of view he takes but then I found it a very interesting read indeed. In fact the full reproductions of a number of Webster's amazingly detailed letters in the appendix were a real treat.
   
   Webster was with the 506th Para Regt of the 101st Airborne. After a bit of bouncing around he ends up with `E' company and it was fascinating reading his take on the `Band of Brothers' exploits. Obviously his account was written a few decades before Ambrose and the subsequent TV series and it is quite evident that this was a primary source for those efforts. Note though, not all of the TV `Webster' is faithful to what is revealed in this book. If the series is of interest to you, there is much here to flesh out some of the stories and characters. I enjoyed making the connections.
   
   Webster's account starts with the waiting for D-Day. He spends quite a bit of time being frustrated and stuffed around. It is very clear early on that Webster is a great cynic about military life. His attitude is ironic given his decision to volunteer. He recognises this and writes about the contradictions. His views are very interesting. He was a highly literate and thoughtful man and it is fascinating at times to read his thoughts on everything. Anyone who can write, "The night was a collie that barked and whirled around us, and we were the sheep, pushing together for warmth and courage" will do me. He makes routine things, like ratting through houses fascinating. The last quarter of the book, regarding the occupation, is surprisingly good value.
   
   There is lots of combat, including some great stuff in the air prior to his two jumps. His D-Day revelations seem a bit short at first but he later reflects back on various events. The encounter and destruction of a battalion of 6th FJ is particularly eye opening. There is a lot more detail regarding his time in Holland, including his involvement (initially) with the fight on the Island. Webster has a great eye for detail and his descriptions are very vivid. Dialogue is sharp and the pages just flew. He only writes once about shooting a German soldier. Interestingly he doesn't dwell on this. Given his anti-army stance it is also intriguing that he shows no reluctance to kill. The incident with the wounded German on the river bank who they tried to kill with grenades is also quite revealing - Webster had planned to swim across and bayonet him! So some good combat accounts but very a few where Webster himself is pulling the trigger. He claims though to have been known as the worst shot in the company.
   
   There is a lot to be fascinated by here. His cynicism towards the army stands out but he really shines when writing of his return to `E' Co after recovering from wounds. He is overjoyed to be back but jarred to learn of all the deaths in the Ardennes. No other author has captured the camaraderie and resultant pain so well. Webster's war was not as horrific as others here and though he was very much a combat soldier, he didn't reveal a lot of his own involvement and I've chopped a star off accordingly. Even so, I enjoyed this book so I'll hedge slightly and on balance, describe it as - `Quite highly recommended'



3. This is written by one of the members of group made famous by "The Band of Brothers" but written by one of the participants in the first hand. I loved it and enjoyed to deeper insight given by an active participant of such and magnificent group. Webster really had talent.
   
   This is a must read for any student of WW2



4. David Webster was the most intellectual and purportedly the most educated of Easy Company's enlisted men. His memoir of his experiences were written much before the rest of the member's of WWII's most famous and chronicled airborne companies. Webster has approached his life leading up to joining the war and his decision to experience the war from an infrantryman's perspective, lead you to believe that he intended to write about his experiences should he survive the fighting. This is well-handled in his profile during the HBO series "Band of Brothers". His exclamation upon being wounded at The Island during the Holland campaign: "They got me!" and his embarrassment for having said that typify Webster's level of irony. Webster never wanted to be a leader in the Army as he did not want others to have to depend on him too much. He did, however want to experience the war on his terms as much as possible. In fact, he was a steady, dependable soldier who lived his post-war years on his own terms and seemed to be at peace with himself when he was lost at sea.
   
   This book is good reading and gives a different look at a life of one of The Band of Brothers.



5. If you think that war is stupid, ugly, randomly destructive, and of no possible use to anyone, than this book is for you. Webster is the soldier who is least like Hemingway's heroes and most like the real GIs I've met. A little bit curious about war and a lot frightened by it. He's also a terrific writer. His descriptions of combat and the time before and after are spot on.

5 comments about Beyond Band of Brothers: The War Memoirs of Major Dick Winters.

1. 
   
   Dick Winter's Beyond Band of Brothers: The War Memories of Major Dick Winters is an exceptional look at three extremely interesting and important subjects in American History and everyday life:
   1) America's role in the Second World War, 2) one man's journey through the war, and lastly, 3) the subject of leadership.
   
   I really enjoyed this stirring book mainly because Dick Winters, who commanded Easy Company, or better known as The Band of Brothers, presents his memories of the war in Europe through his first-person account, with a very humble and yet truthful attitude about himself and what he did to make the Band of Brothers what they were.
   
   This book does not give you the "cookie cutter" leadership plan, because quite honestly, there isn't one. But the author does do a wonderful job explaining how to lead and what a good leader should be.
   
   Although this book has some very action-filled and dramatic parts, it isn't a book for those who are wanting an action-packed read,
   but would be very useful for anyone in a leadership position who wants some tips and advice.
   
   All and all, I feel it is a very good book that I really liked reading and would recommend to others interested in World War Two, The Band of Brothers, and good leadership.



2. I've seen the Band of Brothers miniseries and was anxious to get this book and read it. It didn't disappoint! Dick Winters insights were remarkable and provided exceptional depth to the decision making process he used during the war. He continuously shy's away from taking any credit for victories, instead opting to give the credit for success to the men under him. What does come through, notwithstanding his attempts to minimize his own actions, is that he was one of the men. At least up until he took the Battalion assignment. His leadership and personal courage come shinning through. Something else that he repeatedly brings out is the value of the training that he and the rest of the men received. This is an excellent read and the updates on the rest of Easy Company through the date of publish were greatly appreciated. There is a reason why these men are often referred to as the "Greatest Generation" and this book does nothing but enhance that moniker. They are all heroes and deserve any and all accolades that maybe bestowed upon them.



3. I've watched and re-watched and own the mini-series, "Band of Brothers". It is an excellent effort at portraying Easy Company, the 'Band of Brothers' and
   all that pertained to their exceptional experiences. I've read and re-read Ambrose's book on which the series was based. He's a fine writer and the book is a wonderful in-depth "overview" of all that went in to the forming and cementing of the Band of Brothers.
   Major Dick Winter's "Beyond Band of Brothers" is also a fine read of personal memoirs and defines "why" Winters was so successful in his efforts during WWII. He gives, with good prose, his own perspective on war, leadership and soldiering. Those are sufficient reasons to read his book and the traits he personified hold true for today's warriors and combat leaders.
   All readers should understand that no book can deliver on experience. Words, pictures and movies will not, as I'm sure we all understand, ever impact the observer in any way similar to the "participants". Those men (for the most part) who left their homes, families and careers to sacrifice some or all of their lives in the cause of world freedoms are the 'Greatest Generation'. Just 'reading' about them or 'listening' to them is an honor and education. The citizen soldiers are exactingly and lovingly described in Winter's book and I found it an excellent companion to the other books I have about Easy Company, 506th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 101st Airborne Division and the heroes that made them such a "Band of Brothers".



4. Book was just as advertised. Very happy with the prompt service. Would use this seller again.



5. Very good book. My wife bought this for me for Valentine's Day. I enjoys history and have the DVD book of the movie. I will buy the rest of the books related to Band of Brothers.

5 comments about Band of Brothers: E Company, 506th Regiment, 101st Airborne from Normandy to Hitler's Eagle's Nest.

1. Great read. Looking forward to watching series again and reading other books by this author.



2. I finally got around to reading this book and am I sorry I waited so long. This is an excellent history that gives a very accurate picture to what World War II was like for those who fought it, especially the airborne. The writing is in an engaging and entertaining style. The story is told chronologically and from multiple points of view, obviously, since it's the story of all the men involved, not just a few. This book really puts a very human face on the heroes that won the war.



3. 
   Having seen snippets of the Band of Brothers miniseries, I was very excited to read the book. Of course, as a history major and knowing that this was a history book, not a novel, I knew what not to expect...but to be completely honest, I was still a bit disappointed. Having read Ghost Soldiers (about the Bataan Death March) last year and enjoyed that book as much as I've enjoyed any novel, Band of Brothers was a bit too fast paced at times and included what I felt were too many lists of companies, names, etc. to be extremely interesting. I know that Ambrose interviewed a lot of the men of Easy Company and I think he discounted some of their quotes and personal stories in order to make this more like a book a teacher would assign and less like something one would want to read for fun. Still, because I'm used to reading books like this (and far worse!) I liked it enough to give it 3.5 out of 5 stars...of course Amazon doesn't allow half stars, and I feel that if anything, the history was accurate, hence the bump up to 4 stars here.



4. This book is excellent. It goes much deeper than the miniseries goes. The characters are developed more fully and the plot takes little turns that are not shown on the video version. I give this book a 5 out of 5.



5. The book "Band of Brothers" is a very good addition to anyone's library, especially to those who collect history books and/or books over World War II. The tv series that was based on the book is outstanding, and for those who enjoyed that series and want to find out more of the details about some of the soldiers who fought in Easy Company, the book provides many of them.