1 comments about The National Guard: An Illustrated History of America's Citizen Soldiers (Photographic Histories).

1. The collaborative effort of retired Army National Guard colonel Michael D. Doubler and retired Army National Guard chief warrant officer John W. Listman, Jr., The National Guard: An Illustrated History Of America's Citizen-Soldiers combines black-and-white photographs with a rousing, inspirational history text showcasing this proud and honorable institution charged with protecting America's security. A straightforward and engaging account written for readers of all backgrounds, The National Guard is a welcome and appreciated contribution to personal, school, and community library Military History reference collections and reading lists.

1 comments about Private Soldiers: A Year in Iraq with a Wisconsin National Guard Unit.

1. Excellent book. Shows us all how it really is. Certainly too bad that since these pictures were taken some will not come back.
   
   good read!

5 comments about They Are Soldiers (Coyle, Harold).

1. Rather slow for Coyle...Spent a lot of time waiting for the big battle that never came....Maybe I was expecting too much...????



2. As usual a strong well written novel with a familiar storyline.
   
   A word of warning - read 'against all enemies' and God's children' first.



3. With They are Soldiers, Coyle brings forth a tale that is easily imaginable in today's geopolitical climate. The story follows a National Guard unit from Bedlow, VA as it is called up and deployed on a mission in the security zone currently manned by the Israeli military. The unit is under the command of Nathan Dixon, a character familiar to readers of some of Coyle's previous works. Coyle provides good insight into the unique aspects, both positive and negative, of the National Guard and its role in the overall security of the country. He effectively sets the stage with some action from D-Day in WWII and quickly pulls the reader into the present day. While the story itself seems to get bogged down occasionally, Coyle effectively sets the stage for the climactic end to the book. My biggest complaint was that the whole thing seemed to end very abruptly. This is not among Coyle's best works, but it is certainly worth the time for loyal fans.



4. A plausible setup marred by flawed execution. While Coyles early work (Team Yankee, Sword Point, The 10.000) is among the best (both plots and writing) military fiction I have read this latest work is marred by two fatal flaws, to much emphasis on military procedure which detracts from the action and an seemingly absense of editing after the work was written (which in addition to the writing could have also corrected the former flaw). Also the plot while overal believable - and disturbing - has a fatal flaw. The introduction of a biological weapon is handled so clumsily that it is hard to believe that the author has done any research on the subject let alone spoke to any person with even elementary knowledge of virology or epidemology.
   A good read for fans of the genre and this author, otherwise - especially if this is your first outing into military fiction - there are many books that are a lot better. Some of the best mentioned above by this author.



5. While I generally like Harold Coyle's writing, this is not his best work. It's not bad, and it is topical, but it could have been better.
   
   He spends a great deal of time impressing upon the readers the different thinking of National Guard troops compared to regular and reservists. Don't get me wrong, he does an excellent job at this, but he could have reduced the number of times he brings up the subject.
   
   My second complaint is that nothing really happens until 3/4 of the way through the book. Harold needs to go back and read his own book, Team Yankee, which is probably the finest of the cold-war era military novels, better than Clancy. In that book, things start happening with a few pages, and the action never stops. Here, not so much, as the current hip phrase goes.
   
   Lastly, the book stops, it does not end. Most books come to a well-written ending that wraps up the story. This books just stops. It tries to end, but fails miserably.
   
   I think Harold really needs a new editor.

No comments about The Speed of Heat: An Airlift Wing at War in Iraq and Afghanistan.

1 comments about The minute man in peace and war;: A history of the National Guard.

1. Even though it was published 40 years ago, this is a must read for any person who is serious about understanding the difference between good and bad military personnel management. If you are a guardsman, or a regular who knows little about the history of the Guard, read this.

1 comments about The Highlanders: Charlie Company goes to the Iraq Training Center.

1. After four years of war in Iraq and with no end in sight, there has been enough coverage of it to both fatigue the reader and to set expectations of the story: brave young men doing their duty under difficult circumstances, officers who weren't trained for such a fight doing their best, a stirring litany of intense fights without real conclusion. You've heard it all before, right?
   
   Rob Kauder has written a book with all of those things and none of them, presenting a far more complex--and far more real--picture of the war in Iraq than you have read before.
   
   Part of a Washington State National Guard unit deployed to Baghdad in 2004 for "stability" operations, Kauder's experience is presented unvarnished and without agenda. The bravery is there and the success; so too are tales of cowardice, incompetence, and loss. The camaradery which binds together men from such disparate backgrounds is woven through all of it. Both the successes and the costs of battle are described, as is the increasing stratification of military bureacracy. And perhaps most importantly, the neglected story of what happens when they come home is told... the real effects of the war on the most average of us, the amputations, emotional distress, and havoc wrought on the personal lives of our citizen soldiers.
   
   Similar in tone and texture to Generation Kill and With the Old Breed: At Peleliu and Okinawa, The Highlanders doesn't pull punches or polish up the author's macho credentials. Through all that happened to him, Kauder manages to maintain (or at least consistently return to) a journalistic detachment that helps put the day to day operations of his company into perspective with both the stated and unstated aims of the war effort.
   
   From the shattered remnants of Saddam's nuclear weapons program to the Green Zone to Spokane, the odyssey of The Highlanders is sure to make your blood boil, regardless of your opinions of the war itself.

1 comments about The Rise of the National Guard: The Evolution of the American Militia, 1865-1920 (Studies in War, Society, and the Militar).

1. A well-researched and -written work on how state militias evolved into the early National Guard, in the years between the Civil War and WWI. It was this period in which state militias, a force originally designed by the Framers to be an alternative to a standing army, only then took on some cohesion -- and gradually came under national control. (Mr. Cooper does provide brief reviews of pre-1865 and post-WWI militia to put all this in context). Given that the National Guard today (June 2005) is a major part of national effort both in home defense and in the war overseas, this book is a fine start in understanding how the Guard began -- and that beginning is during the period this book covers. Recommended especially for legal and serious military scholars. If this is a first volume, to be continued into 1920-2000 as the Guard became a predominantly national defense asset (and less and less that of the States), then Mr. Cooper's next work on the Guard will be something to look forward to.

4 comments about How to Rent a Fire Lookout in the Pacific Northwest: A Guide to Renting Fire Lookouts, Guard Stations, Ranger Cabins, Warming Shelters and Bunkhouses in the National Forests of Oregon and Washington.

1. Just astounding! I have stayed at three of the lookout featured in the book, and they are every bit as wonderful as the book illustrates. This book is a must for the nature lover. I'm not much of a hiker or skier, so fortunately this book tells you how difficult it is to reach each lookout. And most all the lookouts are a mere $25-$40 a night! My lookout trips have been the best vacations I've ever had. Please, please pick up this book if you plan to be in Oregon for any length of time and love great scenery...



2. How to Rent a Fire Lookout in the Pacific Northwest is a valuable tool for exploring the beautiful backcountry of the Northwest! Authors Tom Foley and Tish Steinfeld have given a great gift to those of us in search of outdoor adventure. As a seeker of Oregon Stories within the landscape, I am enjoying this book immensely. I will include it in preparation of future sauntering and discovery!



3. Now in a newly updated and expanded second edition, How To Rent A Fire Lookout In The Pacific Northwest is the essential reference guide for anyone seeking to spend a weekend in a remote forest ranger lookout tower offering a bird's-eye view of the trees and clouds -- and an impressively memorable view of both sunrise and sunset. Covering a total of sixty-five cabins, guard stations, and fire lookouts available for rent in Oregon and Washington, the sites range from pleasant bungalows just off the road, to 60-foot towers deep in the wilderness. Travelers and vacationers can available themselves of lodging in these scenic, secluded and historic structures offering personal sanctuaries in private places. Information on rental procedures, cost, capacity, and dates of availability for all 65 locations are provided, along with website addresses for each property where available, detailed directions on finding them, tips on local attractions, cabin history, maps, and illustrations of each individual location. The collaborative work of Tish McFadden and Tom Foley, How To Rent A Fire Lookout In The Pacific Northwest is a unique, practical, and ideal planning resource.



4. This book is a great tool to locate outdoor shelters available to the public. This is the new updated version which has the latest pricing info. and great comparison charts between locations. However, I think it could use more maps and directions. Also, the older version of this book gave much better photos to help you understand what really to expect at these locations.

5 comments about Republic: A Novel of America's Future.

1. I was a bit shocked when I began this book It is straight forward prose in style and easy to read. Lots of items hit home (DHS raids without warrants are common, plants closing for overseas with thousands in soup kitchens and the like while the Elite(s) clean up - are "normal"). Much of this is just not very "newsworthy." While WVA is a real setting for what is happening I do not believe it is the best setting for the novel. On the other hand, its uniqueness and its own culture, helps bolster the story line,
   
   I'd find such an attempted break by northern CA\, Oregon, Washington, parts of British Colombia and Idaho more in the realm of possible futures. Remember "Ecotopia" and its ilk several decades ago? This is not the last of those 60'S based ideas that disappeared. This book made me THINK. Take away the states and focus on the ideas and principles herein. I think, many Americans would shuddeer. I believe that is the author's reason for the book. It makes you THINK... And, if we just bumble along - a variant of this future may become real !



2. Charles Sheehan-Miles is up there with Matthew Stover. Unlike Stover, Mr. Sheehan-Miles' book is not Sci-Fi/Fantasy. However, it's good speculative fiction. The premise is especially timely, considering that a lot of our manufacturing jobs are going overseas due to the greed of corporate executives (this isn't a political or partisan statement, it is reality... we are moving more and more toward a post-service industry economy). The end result is a lot of hard-working Americans out of jobs and out of the means to pay for necessary services (like health care). Also well done is the premise of how America may react to another terrorist attack.
   
   The main characters are excellent. I felt for all of them. Mr. Sheehan-Miles' grasp of the military is outstanding. As far as I'm concerned, the plot is tight and on point. My only complaint is that I hated the ending, not because it stank, but because it was realistic based on what happens in the book.
   
   READ THIS BOOK!!!



3. This book has a lot of potential, but I'd call it a near miss rather than a hit. The characters were interesting but my interest in them was tempered by a very awkward writing style. I also felt the secondary characters weren't fleshed out enough to support why they took some of the actions they did.
   
   I did like how even the 'bad guys' were portrayed as well meaning bumblers though. I suspect that the decay of any society is driven more by the poor decisions of people who just aren't able to rise to the occasion than it is by black hearted malfeasance.
   
   Also, the premise of an America sliding into a repressive 'constitutional dictatorship' wasn't supported very well by events in the book. I felt we didn't get enough of the 'pre-story' to adequately support why the West Virginians were willing to stand alone in rebellion to the rest of the USA nor were we told why if things were SO bad in the USA why no other states were also close to rebellion. We were 'told' things were bad all over, but the Feds only seemed to pick on West Virginia.
   
   As speculative fiction, I just don't believe the author created a believable enough universe to support the story. I realize there was a bit of political agenda in the writing of this document, and maybe the true believers will ignore its faults (Apparently, the trash talking Daily Kos did), but there just isn't enough 'meat' to this novel to make it something the world needs to read.
   
   These type of 'alternate history' stories need an enormous amount of detail (or at least the illusion of enormous amounts of detail) to be successful, and in this area the novel fell short.



4. I hate to admit how scary this book is because I can see us living the story out in our country. The land I defended in the US Army is no longer free. The fact is the federal government continually takes more and more of our freedom in the name of security. I wish the story was more unrealistic but I don't think it is. That is why it is so gripping. The author has told a story the I can see happening. The characters are completely realistic and you will find yourself sitting on the edge of your seat.
   
   Charles Sheehan-Miles is as good an author as Clancy or Grisham.



5. I enjoyed this book. I thought the author's style gave us just enough information for us to know what's going on without boring us with detail. The characters were solid and I cared about them by the end. It's difficult for me to assess how realistic the plot is, but it did seem that too much had deteriorated too fast. I'm a big fan of dystopian fiction and I'm well aware of the encroachments of government power over the past eight years, but certain events seemed far too heavy handed without more background information about what happened between now and the time of the story. I was somewhat frustrated that we didn't receive more information in the epilogue about what happened to the country at the end, but I suppose it's covered in more detail in the sequel. Of course, this is all analysis afterward; I got caught up in the story while I was reading it and I think most readers will, too.
   
   The text itself needs another proofreader because there were small spelling, grammar and punctuation errors throughout that distracted me. I read the PDF version, so I don't know whether they made it to paper. Thank you, Mr. Sheehan-Miles, for making this book available free.

5 comments about The Fighting 69th: One Remarkable National Guard Unit's Journey from Ground Zero to Baghdad.

1. This is a must read book for all Americans: civilians, regulars, Congressmen, fellow reserve component Soldiers, etc. It's also a must read for the enemy, too, as you must understand the true mettle of the American fighting man when aroused or face the consequences. As a Reserve Component Infantry Soldier (both Guard and Reserve) who was also called up to do a Homeland Security mission (01-02), a tour in Bosnia (02-03), and then one in Iraq (05-06), the experiences and opinions shared in this book are shared. I said, "A-men!" or "Ha!" or "I can't believe how similar..." a lot...and loved the author's penmanship.
   
   I especially liked the comments about military bureaucrats--the antithesis of the WARRIORS we say we treasure. I was also drawn to the book because of all the connections. e.g., I met BG Basilica, the 69th's brigade commander at the War College in 07, I also went through a non-sensicle train-up in the states, went through Camp Buering (in August!) like the 69th IN, went through "Campus Victory" for a couple days, was posted in Taji for a week before going to Fallujah as an Iraqi Army advisor in 2005-06, and basically compared my experiences with theirs. I also loved how the book is a TRUE LEADERSHIP MANUAL.
   
   Only one point of order: the author claims that we got BS training in the states (and we did) because of what happened to PFC Jessica Lynch and her company of loggies. I agree with that point but the author states that she and her company were Reservists. They were not, amigo, but Regulars(small detail to correct the historical record).
   
   The modern-day 1-69th US Infantry (TF Wolfhound), which literally went from the pit to the palace, reminded me a lot of Wheat's Tigers, the infamous 1st Louisiana Special Battalion of 1861-62. In fact, they are the absolute incarnation of the original Tigers.The First Louisiana Special Battalion: Wheat's Tigers in the Civil War
   
   If the author of this book is reading this, please contact me at gary.schrecengost on my army.mil account and give me an address so I can give you all a copy of my book on Wheat's Tigers (see it on Amazon), as you fellows embody the true spirit of the American Citizen Soldier. Huzzah and a TIGER and pass the beer and the ammo and NEVER FORGET THOSE WHO GAVE THIER LIVES. The next time I'm at Gettysburg, I'll be sure to leave a card of memorandum for my brothers from the 69th at their monument along the Wheatfield. Semper Paratus, and This, We'll Defend: To the Death.



2. Hu Rah account of a rag-tag group of guys who were first on the scene after the 911 attacks and followed the war to Iraq with a personal score to settle with the radicals who murdered thier freinds and neighbors. A good read. My only complaint - I wanted to hear more about the author himself.



3. Sean Flynn offers an intimate glimpse of American fighting men in Baghdad that the U.S. media fails to reveal to the U.S. public. It is the remarkable saga of how a motley mix of National Guardsmen from New York City learned to work with their New Orleans guardsmen counterparts to outthink and ultimatly neutralize Sunni terrorist attacks along Route Irish, the principal highway into the heart of Hadhdad, Iraq. I highly recommend it to serious devotees of the genre.
   
   Al Kayworth, author
   Abenaki Warrior
   The Scalp Hunters
   Legends of the Pond
   Iceman to the Internet



4. As a long time member of the New York Army National Guard and one who has some familiararity with the "Fighting 69th" as a unit and some of the soldiers portrayed in this book, I couldn't wait to get my teeth into it. Right from the beginnings at Ground Zero and all through the unit's combat roll in Iraq, I found Captain Sean Michael Flynn's account to be both candid and honest. It's a story about a once proud and highly decorated unit, that over many years, had regressed to be rag-tag at best and how it's very fine Commander, LTC Geoffrey Slack, intervened out of pure necessity, and molded this unit into one very fine efficient combat battalion. I had trouble putting the book down and recommend it without the slightest reservation. Whether you're a Guardsman, an active duty soldier or a civilian, I believe you will find this book compelling.



5. I heard the author being interviewed and was interested as a retired reservist. Great story. I could relate to problems with 'old guard'. I was in NY on 9/11 and had that tie. My best to the 69th.