Military Books

Professor Richard L. Rubenstein introduced me to this book.

Documented meticulously.

Substantiated understanding of the process of mass murder.

Definitely one of those must read books.

I was reading a work by Christopher Browning recently and he stated how just as many historians were starting to realize the functionalist understanding of the Shoah, Hilberg refined it to a even more nuanced level. Always dilligent, deeper and a step ahead. I had read many books on the subject prior to this one, and frankly had put of buying it because of the price, yet don't regret the purchase one bit. Too many historians use the prhase "magnum opus" when refering to this work and frankly I agree 100%

Hilberg's brilliant and dispassionate treatment of attempts throughout history to destroy the Jews sets a new standard for scholarship and for the historical analysis of emotionally charge subjects. Through his own efficient analytic framework of precedents, antecedents, and scope of organization, Hilberg gives us a lucid formula for both understanding and explaining the subtext, context, and pretext of the 1500-year old continuously running saga of anti-Semitism. The effect is to place the reader in the cockpit of the planners of one of the worst disasters known to man, the holocaust of World War-II. But more importantly, he also provides us with all the necessary facts that go with, and that load his framework.

The context of the holocaust is 1500 years of progressive improvements in ways of addressing the so-called "Jewish problem (or threat)," and corresponding Jewish cultural adaptations to these improved attempts to annihilate them. The improvements have ranged from failed attempts by Catholics to convert Jews into Christians, to expelling them from Europe, to Hitler's creation of a bureaucracy of industrialized death to implement his "final solution." (The author summarizes this progression as conversion, expulsion, and annihilation.)

The subtext of anti-Semitism ostensibly has always been about the "predatory Jewish character" but in fact has been about fears, fears of cultural, religious and ethnic differences and about independence from ordinary orthodoxy. It is precisely these fears that are the most easily serviceable, and most easily ignited into action during times of stress. They are best facilitated through hatred -- especially when guided by a catalyst of evil, ignorance, demagoguery, or demented and corrupt leaders. Inexorably they pass through a process of condoned and sanctioned violence to collective murder. (Fear of Jewish independence and failure to accept the Christian Jesus as their religious messiah and savior have throughout history served as one of the key subtexts of anti-Semitism).

Just as the pattern that serves as the subtext for anti-Semitism is generalizable to other forms of chauvinism, racism and hatred, so too is the pretext: The target is first demonized, dehumanized and vilified; and then disenfranchised, hounded and spatially as well socially segregated. This process of dehumanization then leads logically to, and serves as justification and collective psychological cover for, committing criminal acts against the targeted groups -- including mass industrialized murder. (Jewish religious idolatry, and ethnic character flaws, i.e. their predatory business acumen and slipperiness, their fear of honest work, etc. has throughout history served as the pretext for justifying criminal acts against Jews).

This book puts to rest the popular "magic bullet theory" of the holocaust: that explaining Hitler explains everything anyone would ever need to know about the holocaust. It does not. The anti-Semitic pressures along fault lines leading up to the holocaust had been building up for more than 1500 years. It was these pressures and not Hitler that bear the primary responsibility for the holocaust. Hitler just happened to be the demented catalyst that sparked an anti-Semitic eruption at a time when a demoralized German people needed a tonic for restoring their national pride.

Five Stars.

One of the best books I have ever read about the holocaust. A serious research and it is indeed a great contribution for the studies on this horrible moment of the history of mankind!

The text I read (three volume hard cover) is the definitive work on the Holocaust. It profiles all aspects of a demonic criminal conspiracy, as well as the practical planning and ultimate consequences.

I urge all to read Hilberg. It is the standard work.

Skip O'Neill flew with the Lafayette Escadrille, he flew fighters in the ETO and the Pacific in WWII, he flew fighters in all the conflicts since Vietnam as well. But this book is about Skip and his life in the air and on the ground during the Vietnam war. For Skip O'Neill's story is the story of all fighter pilot warriors. Anyone who flew in any war can relate to many episodes in this book and certainly the characters. And for those who want to know what it means to be in a fighter cockpit while shooting and being shot at will find the answer in "The Eagle's Last Flight." Soar to the heights with Colonel Skip O'Neill. And when one finishes the book, pilot or not, they will find themselves having several moments of quiet reflection, not unlike finishing a Richard Bach book.

Reviewed by William E. Cooper for Reader Views (2/07)

As a work of fiction Colonel Standerfer has produced a book that places his readers well within the realm of reality. It is the story of a decorated combat pilot who is dying of leukemia. The story takes us through his training (which he nearly fails to complete) to his association with veteran World War II and Korean War fighter pilots. These friends take him under their wing and teach him the realities of combat flying. He is assigned to combat operations in Vietnam and proves himself and capable and heroic pilot. Colonel Standerfer's writing skill puts you in the cockpit with pilot Skip O'Neill as he maneuvers and engages in aerial combat. The fact that the author himself flew 237 combat missions in Vietnam provides the background and real knowledge and skills to take the reader with him back into the fight.

Following his combat experiences O'Neill volunteers to be an observer at the testing of atomic bombs. Without the knowledge of radiation and the proximity to the detonation, O'Neill is exposed to what will become lethal doses of radiation, over time. He contracts leukemia and the story follows his treatments and reflections of his experiences. As the disease progresses, O'Neill decides to accept his fate with courage and dignity. He reflects over his life and career experiences while deciding how to meet his end. Colonel Standerfer creates and ending for the book which is both surprising and emotional. This review will not reveal that ending as the reader needs to experience it alone.

For anyone who reads, "The Eagle's Last Flight" should be added to your library. It is a well-composed and well-written story, and certainly worth your time and expense to get and read it. I have to tell Colonel Standefer very well done sir, very well done. Be proud of this work.

Explosive! The Eagle's Last Flight, a highly-charged, human drama is told with consummate skill and intrigue - filled with gripping twists and turns a pilot must execute for survival. It's a revealing slice of memorable air force life served up close and personal. This one's definitely an all-nighter. For the serious aviation buff, Ron Standerfer, a veteran AF pilot is eminently qualified to pen this rare, must-have book.

By -- Bill Guenon, author: SECRET And DANGEROUS - Night of the Son Tay P.O.W. Raid

Standerfer follows the life of a young fighter pilot caught up flying the F-100 jet fighter during the war in South East Asia. Interwoven into this main theme are several sub-themes that dove-tail beautifully into overall scenario. Action is crackling, fast and breathtaking. Get this book and witness how difficult it is to put it down, once started.

If you wannabe a fighter pilot, read this book. If you always wanted to be a fighter pilor and never were, read this book. If you were or are a fighter pilot, read this book. I guarantee enjoyment. This is one of the best books about flying fighters, life in the military, war and the humans who do it, all with the best of characters shrouded in history, mixed with realism, sex, joy, tragedy, sadness, mystery. I could feel the Gs, taste the martinis and smell the perfume. I felt like I knew the characters, or someone just like them, and saw every fighter pilot in "Skip" and every fighter pilot's wife in "Christy" - go get this book NOW - and put it on the top of your stack - you won't be disappointed - Don Shepperd, author and CNN Military Analyst

I finished this book on Memorial Day 2008. It is still relevant to our
position of freedom and life.

Escape From Laos is truly an amazing tale of survival. Having a first hand perspective like no one else has, Dengler tells this story with almost no emotion, describing each terrible situation without shying away from the reality or overdramatizing. A quick and interesting read.

Best book I read in 2007 and I'm squeamish about war narratives. Riveting, astounding, a profile of courage and mental agility. This is the bible of survival techniques.

I shudder to think what details were edited OUT of this book.

I also recommend the film "Little Dieter Needs to Fly" where Dengler himself takes one back to the scene of these horrors.Little Dieter needs to Fly

On February 1, 1966 the American pilot Dieter Dengler (1938-2001) took enemy fire and crash-landed his plane in Laos while on a secret mission. After surviving in the jungle on his own he was captured, tortured (hung upside down with an ant nest around his neck, submerged in a well, dragged by an ox through a village), then taken on a three-week jungle trek to a Pathet Lao prison camp called Par Kung. Dengler recalls that it was nothing like he imagined a prison camp might be, but instead a tiny enclave of a few huts exactly twenty-one by twenty-two steps in size. There he met six other POWS, two American and four Asian (which later became a source of tension), who had been imprisoned as long as two and a half years. Later they were transferred to the very similar Hoi Het camp. When starvation threatened both the prisoners and the guards, and the prisoners overheard the guards saying that they planned to shoot them, they made an elaborate plan and escaped. The fellow POWS were separated after the escape, and Dengler and his buddy Duane Martin teamed up. Lice, leeches, ticks, ants ("the true torment of the jungle"), sweltering days and cold nights, torrential rain, dumb mistakes and incredibly good luck, and the human will to survive--these are only part of Dengler's first person narrative. Incredibly, after soldiering on for so long, Dengler and Martin stumbled onto some villagers, scared them, and in the space of a minute they had beheaded Duane. After surviving twenty-three days in the jungle after his escape, hallucinations, wandering in a circle, tumbling over water falls, and eating things you never should eat, Dengler was rescued in an improbable stroke of luck. He lost sixty pounds in the six-month ordeal. In 1997 Werner Herzog made a documentary about Dengler called Little Dieter Needs to Fly. More recently Herzog dramatized this survivor's tale in the film Rescue Dawn (2007). This is a gripping book that reminded me of Alfred Lansing's Endurance about Shackleton's Antarctic survival story.

Mine will be the eleventh review of this book and consistent with my reviewing colleagues, I too give this masterpiece a 5-star rating. So, Dieter, wherever you are, you are 11 for 11. Not too shabby. (For those of you who didn't know, Dieter passed away in 2001 from ALS.)

But what's so good about it? In a word, honesty. He simply told it like it happened, confident the story would do the work. No bluster, no bravado, and best of all, it does not read like a medal citation the way so many first-hand accounts of this genre do. Just simple honesty.

A collateral benefit of this story is how different we modern westerners are from the Third World. Today, we struggle over dealing with unsavory characters, whether torture can play a valid role in the 'War on Terror,' whether it's okay to incarcerate someone without due process. People of the Third World would think those issues are absurd, they have no such issues, might is right. I hope we continue to struggle and I hope we ultimately get the right answer because I shudder to think what kind of a nation we would become if we allow ourselves to lapse into the Third World's law of the bush.

Third worlders aren't all bad. Dieter himself was surprised at the impact the occasional act of kindness had on him as he moved through his gaunlet of horror. And these acts were by no means casual. If the perpetrators had been caught, they would have been severely punished, possibly executed.

Bottom line: if you have a copy, keep it safe. This book is not likely to be reprinted anytime soon.

-- Ejner Fulsang, author of "A Knavish Piece of Work," Aarhus Publishing

Special Forces Captian Roger Donlon was the first Medal of Honor winner in the Vietnam War. I read his book, 'Outpost for Freedom,' quit College, and signed up for Airborne. This seems to be a little known book and was obviously not on any Best Seller list during the Sixties. Col Scott must have read it because he uses it as the backdrop for the first part of 'The Expendables.' He Changed the names slightly but the everything else is pretty close to Donlon's book. The rest of the book is about the Ia Drang Valley. It follows 'We were Soldiers Once' pretty close.
I have read all of Col Scott's books and most of them twice. The only complaint is that I wish he would write some more. He has a very readable style and he does his research very well. I'd put him up with 'The Biggies',

When I got done with this I was inspired. I wanted to make a group of my friends and call ourselves The Expendables. This book is so well written there isn't a single dull moment. When I graduate high school(I'm a freshman) I want to go Airborne!

Scott is the Master. I've owned several copies of all of Scotts books, from wearing them out to lending them out and this is one of the best. I served with every one of these guys (it seems), Scott's uncanny ability to create the character as someone you know is incredible. Even the places his characters come from are described perfectly, having lived or served in a lot of the places (stateside) that Scott writes of I can attest. For example anyone who lives in or around South Philly would feel right at home with Vinny his girl and the Hoagie stand. Georgia and it's simplicity out in the boonies is captured perfectly by Lee Calhoun and his family. Eugene Day will give the folks a taste of what it was like for a young black to live and serve after the race riots. Young men with any kind of stature who had to live up to their familiys' impossible standards will relate easily to Blake. Old vets will appreciate the professionalism of Quail and Flynn. Anyone whose ever donned a uniform will love how they all come together to become the Expendables. You will laugh out loud (if you served) going through basic training with these guys, You will remember the professionalism of the fearsome "Blackhats" and get chills at how well Scott captures the feeling of elation after that first jump, You will realize you're holding the book a little tighter in anger at self important ticket punchers who leave there men out to dry for no good reason and finally you will cry at the Memorial Day Ceremony, a promise made by each brother to another. This is the absolute best novel on the Vietnam war.

I have read them all from Clancy to Brown and LtCol.(Ret) Scott is by far one of the best military writers to date. My father served in Vietnam and after he came back my mom said he was never the same and I always wondered what it was like, why men like my father and Col Scott, why they went when they were called knowing they might not return and those that did would be forever altered. I joined the infantry at 17 to see for myself and after serving in Panama and Somalia I understand. Col. Scott says it best in the books with way he connects you to the characters you come to realize they did it for the men to their left and their right, not so much for America, but the men who represent America. Sad to know that he won't be writing anymore books but the four vietnam books he wrote are some of the greatest military fiction ever written and in my opinion should be required reading for all young soldiers and leaders.

As a Marine infantryman, the characters in this book were as real as the grunts as I served with. No other author has ever connected with the real comraderie of men under arms as well as Scott has. I can not read this book with a dry eye and I challenge any man who has ever served to do so, especially the last five pages. This book is written with the first hand knowledge of a man who has faced the elephant and understands the warrior ethos. It ranks with "The Forgotten Soldier" as a gripping narrative of men in combat. Although these men are fictitious, they are as real as any name on the Wall because they could have been any one of them. For anyone who wants to understand the truth of what our fighting men did in Vietnam, indeed did in any war, they must read this book.

In the words of 'Moose' Hornkohl,..."the submarine's graceful lines and lethality an alluring combination."

Mikes writing of WWII events and memoirs of former crew recounting the consumption of torpedo juice and the terror of depth charging by the Japanese leads the reader sadly to the tragic mysterious loss of USS Gudgeon and her officers and crew.

Peter Mutton,Brisbane,Australia

Historically, it seems to be an accurate accounting. A mysterious loss? Hardly...it was a wartime loss pure and simple, as were many. The writing is VERY dry, read more like an encyclopedia. I you are a war nut, it's OK, but not revealing in the least, and tends to wander.

Incredible. I expected yet another historical account of military action and was completely consumed by the personal stories of the Gudgeon's crew. The research and interviews that rounded out this book gave me a better understanding of the times they lived in and, more importantly, a deeper appreciation for their sacrifices. I would recommend this book to anyone. I stand in awe of these men and I applaud the author for telling their story in such a conversational way.

Having made 6 war patrols aboard the Gudgeon, and 3 war patrols on other boats, I am well aware of what constitutes excellence in a fighting submarine than one without the aggressiveness and resolve found in Gudgeon and her crew.We were a team, and in my estimation no one, without exception, was more important than another. This was made clear to the author who followed our description of events to the "T". This is the true
story,without embellishments, or aggrandizements, of one of the fightingest submarines that ever existed.I am proud to have been part of this history, and even more proud of it's excellent narration by the author, Mike Ostlund

I have read almost every sub book written. This book has the right personal touch. The emotion and the action bring the reader back to a time when we fought wars the right way. Integrity and courage are abound. Join one mans quest to find his uncles past, and uncover the story behind one of the best world war II submarines to sail the south pacific. From enlisted to Officer this book covers it all. In this book the GREAT GENERATION LIVES ON !!! THANKS MIKE

Capt. Brian Koschak
Rowlett Fire Rescue

The writing style leaves something to be desired, and I wish they would have designed a different dust jacket for the book. However, author, Trent Angers gives the reader a powerfully moving story in "The Forgotten Hero of My Lai";(The Hugh Thompson Story).

Angers uses a great deal of literay freedom in weaving some of the story line of Mr. Thompson's personal life including conversations between Thompson and his wife some 35-40 years ago. None the less, the author also gives the reader a REAL AMERICAN HERO!

I could not in all honesty read this book without having to put it down at times so that I could break away from the emotions that it invoked within me. Reading about this massacre, and indiscriminate butchery was ...too horrible to comprehend. I can not see how anyone who was even vaguely involved in this could ever be normal again.

This event was perhaps, our greatest sin in the Viet Nam war. It was a throw-back to the deeds of Attila the Hun, and the exploits of Genghis Khan's Mongol hordes. More specifically, it was a "despicable microcosm" of the Japanese atrocities conducted in Nanking. The only difference: these were not Huns, Mongol hordes, or Imperial Japanese troops... these perpetrators were .... American soldiers!

As a VietNam veteran, I found this act, a "very...very, bitter pill to swallow!"

A letter by a Mr. Ron Ridenhour submitted to President Nixon and others at the time is quoted on page 154 of this book. In that letter, Mr. Ridenhour tells how he feels about the incident and ... quotes Winston Churchill:
" A country without a conscience is a country without a soul, and a country without a soul is a country that cannot survive."

Apparently, Hugh Thompson knew this as well when he intervened to save what innocent civilians he could. I know not how long our country will survive, but as long as there are still soldiers like Hugh Thompson, I know...it will survive a little longer.

From what I have seen written on the pages exhibited, I am asking our librarian here in Sandwich, NH to purchase this book. Hugh Thompson has always been a hero to me, and represents the helicopter pilots who were in Vietnam quite well. We were all brash, and ballsey, and would stand up to a lot of things we didn't think too swift. His deed outshines us all. I flew UH-1D's in the Delta, and have written about my experiences there in OUTLAWS IN VIETNAM.
Being a helicopter pilot in this war was the best job one could wish for--it was the best year of all of our lives! Hopefully, more of these excellent aviators will be profiled in the future.
My librarian finally purchased the book after these initial notes, and I have been reading it nonstop. This should really shed some light on the horror of the Americal Division higher-ups who authorized this bloodletting by Lt. Calley and others of Charlie Company that day. They had been ordered to commit the atrocities we all know about today, and as I continue the book, it is interesting to me to experience the angst that Hugh Thompson and his crew felt that terrible day at My Lai. He is most human, and painfully so. The author discloses all this helicopter crew went through then and since; well done!!

There is absolutely no doubt that Hugh Thompson, Glenn Andreotta, and Larry Colburn did an unbelieveably heroic thing on March 16, 1968. Let there also be no doubt that Trent Angers should be commended for his research and efforts to bring yet another angle to this horror known as the My Lai Massacre. I have just one criticism, and unfortunately it is decisive: It is a poorly written book.

I am not suggesting that one not read the book, because it does perform as a vehicle to bring to light the events surrounding the massacre, its aftermath and Colburn's and Thompson's return to My Lai 28 years later. However, it takes form more as a children's book than it does as an examination of an important historical event, or even as a third-person narrative intended for adult reading.

Don't expect an abundance of three or more syllable words, inspired imagery, or thought-provoking passages. For instance, page 77, "He seemed to take a particular liking to the older woman." Seemed to who? Could you tell the reader how this was apparent? No indication whatsoever is offered in the text. Or, page 102, describing an American casualty as being "blown to bits." Is that what was written on the After Action Report? If so, there's another book in there somewhere. Or, page 103, "The cows were mooing to be milked." For a minute there I thought I had opened "The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn" by accident.

There is never a mention of exactly what kind of helicopter Hugh was flying...a Kiowa? Cayuse? Defender? Souix? Loach? The first indication of this simplistic approach to the subject matter is right on the dust jacket, as it is a simplistic, amateurish illustration of Thompson in an exaggerated heroic pose (arms outstretched, shirt unbuttoned, no flight helmet, no flak jacket, dog tags swinging in the wind, in front of a small huddled mass of Vietnamese). It looks much like the artwork that adorned the Harcourt Brace Jovanovich children's books published in the late '70s.

One more note: if you're going to write a book wherein the principle character is a helicopter pilot, at least have the courtesy to refrain from calling helicopters "choppers," as most pilots despise the term. Unless, of course, you're writing for children, who find it analogous - for obvious reasons.

Anyway, you get the picture. Still, I say God bless Hugh, Larry, Glenn and Trent.

But Trent, at the very least, get a new copy editor.

If all of us followed the example of Hugh Thompson at My Lai in Vietnam this would truly be the land of the free and the home of the brave.

"The Forgotten Hero of My Lai" tells an inspiring story of a piece of our history. While many people still remember the horror of the massacre at My Lai, few know about the true heros who risked everything to end it. Though their stand came too late to help most of the villagers of My Lai, it eventually ended the policy that targeted the civillian populations of other villages. We'll never know how many lives they saved.

Although I found it awkwardly written, the power of the story far outweighs any considerations about style. I highly recommend this shining example of what one person can do to protect the values that make life meaningful.

I am so glad for this book. It's undoubtedly a story about a true hero who inspires me as I'm sure it does others. I was saddened to hear he passed. On Friday Jan 6 he moved on. Many of us, can't, and will never forget what your memory means to us. God Speed Hugh, you have many friends here still on the earth very proud of you.

Col. Tom Kolditz, head of the U.S. Military Academy's behavioral sciences, said, in honor of Hugh, "There are so many people today walking around alive because of him, not only in Vietnam, but people who kept their units under control under other circumstances because they had heard his story. We may never know just how many lives he saved."

Read the book, it's inspirational, and we need not ever forget. Our values we hold dear as human beings are all we have, and when we leave, it's all we leave behind. Never compromise them. Never.

Honor, Respect, Dignity.

I can only hope this story is told even more widely so we have less chance this memory of such a great man ever fades.

GOD Speed Hugh, light a candle up there, we'll be there soon!

Once I started reading the book, I could not put it down. I kept coming across places and people I knew and it brought back a lot of memories. I eventually supported several of his units with intelligence and map overlays for "sensitive" operations, and was in-country myself for six years. I had several run-ins with jerk officers but thankfully they were rare. But I did pull my .45 on three Pentagon O-6s at a SOG briefing when they refused to assist us. Luckily, an SF 1SG Deluca grabbed me and said they were not worth killing as they ran from the room. A couple of weeks later I was jerked out of VN and sent to Germany. I recommend this book to everyone who wants to know how close many of us got to the Vietnamese and the war, and I would very much like to be in contact with the author.

A well-written document by one of the troops on the ground. Crazy moments of a GI under stress, a good feel for the local hill people, and remembrances of buddies in the field. Some of the actions and soldiers described by Cornett have been written about by others and it is always good to see another version of events, not for differences but for shades and nuances to flavor the stories.

A personal growth story: A boy does good, does bad, then good again and manages to live through the process in a war that featured so many wrong decisions from higher and so many incompetent lower and mid-level officers more concerned with careers than with their men.

This was a good book to read. It gave a new perspective from "pre-military to post. I considered giving it 4 stars, but for an overall score, I thought 3 stars was more justified.

I can recommend Gone Native to anyone who is thinking about purchasing this book, but it is not a page burner and it seemed to ramble a little towards the end. But in no way would I want a perspective purchaser of this book to think it's not a good one. It is. He is frank and honest and what landed him in the stockade was quite refreshing. (You always hear about the other guy. Well, Cornett was the other guy. Thank you for your honesty.)

This was one of those books I didn't want to put down until I was done.

I have read hundreds of Vietnam nonfiction books and this is in the top 15 for sure. Great book and flows great, did not want it to end...

I purchased this book to give to my brother-in-law who fought in the battle on Iwo Jima. He is suffering with Parkinsons and over the past couple of years has discussed his experiences on Iwo Jima more than ever. This book is filled with photographs taken mostly by the Marine Corps and has brought many memories to him, both good and bad. I sat with him for two hours and he explained so many things to me. This book is wonderful for Iwo Jima vets and/or their families. I can't wait to go back for another visit and be able to share more of his experiences.

Simply put---one of the best battle depictions I have read anywhere.Stunning pictures.Day-by-day breakdown of gains and losses make you feel like you are right there.This book made an impression on me that has not abated.Definitely at the very top of the military battles that I have read.

This book is very worth for the price, hundreds of photographs taken during the battle. For WW2 books collector, this book is a must!

This book is a treasure, especially for family members and children of the courageous men who fought and gave their lives during this battle. Through extensive use of text and photographs, Mr. Hammel thoroughly describes the conflict in a way that assists the reader in understanding the extreme sacrifice that those young men made for their country.

Hammel's text is spare but precise, and tightly interwoven with the photographs. It is difficult to exaggerate the quality of the photographs in this volume, which is beautifully produced and bound. The large format and glossy paper do justice to the photos. The extreme resolution and fine detail of the black & white photographs are breathtaking and haunting; use of a magnifying glass reveals the faces and expressions of men wholly consumed in, and being consumed by, their fearsome tasks. This is a work of beauty and awesome respect.

I was in The Herd from July 67 to Feb 69,,,roughly the same time CSM Arthurs was there. You hear stories and rumors but the only things you know for sure are the things in your location. The Herd was so spread out that I am still learning new things.
This is a great ''First Person'' account of the 173d written from the perspective of a Field Grade NCO. It would make a good companion to Dak To by Murphy.
It is a very Readable and interesting book and will keep the reader going to the end.

Watch Video Here: http://www.amazon.com/review/R2GRHVVL4CN8JD In this video review I tell you who will like "Land With No Sun" and I give you some background on the author. Please join me!

This book is full of facts and shows the selflessness of the Sky Soldiers of the 173d Airborne Brigade. The Author does well in presenting all the service of the 4/503rd INfantry at that time. A good read!

I served with CSM Ted Arthurs and he was the best Command Sergant Major one could possibly have served with.He along with the 4th Battalion Commanding Officers Retired Major General then Lt.Col.James H.Johnson and Retired Col.then Major Richard M.Scott and the excellent Company Commanders in the 4th Battalion of the 503rd Parachute Infantry 173rd Airborne Brigade (Separate) ie.Captain Ronald R.Leonard and Captain William J.Connolly,well you get the picture the 4th Battalion was expertly led by a group of men who respected one another. the harmony in the command group led to the overwhelming victory at Dak To.The NVA admitted to over 6 thousand dead.U.S.(Snoopy)Intelligence reports place the NVA losses at 10 to 14 thousand causing the 68 Tet Offensive to fail in the Central Highlands.CSM Arthurs played a pivotal role in the outcome of this important battle.

The wolf has known me since I was born at Ft Campbell Ky,I am honored to call him a friend. He and my father were in the Army together,his book is an eye opener for those of us who had fathers fighting in the war.I would highly reccomend this book to anyone who would like an accurate assesment of the Vietnam war.

A great long range bomber that served in SAC to perform as a bridge between the "prop" planes and the pure jet. This book is throughly
researched and easy to read. Many photos.

The photos in the book are worth the price of admission, so it shouldn't be a surprise that the accompanying text is so flat. The book focuses almost entirely on the technical side of the aircraft and completely ignores the political, military, and economic forces that shaped the B-36. There are no crew accounts of 30 hour missions. There are few indications of how the B-36 was used (or more importantly, why it wasn't used). In fact, one gets the impression that upon leaving the factory each plane was just rotated back to the factory for an endless series of upgrades.

Still, the detail here is marvelous. Photos and diagrams are provided for nearly every important part. Changes are often detailed down to individual planes. While the book does have a tendency to get bogged down in model numbers and lingo, it still manages to impart a sense of the majesty of this huge and innovative airplane.

Very good reference on the B-36 Peacemaker. Well illustrated with black and white as well as color photographs. Many cut away drawings and diagrams. Considerable technical information A good source book for the serious researcher or individual interested in this Cold War era bomber.

From page 1 this work contains details of the design and prduction of the B-36 that will satisfy the aircraft purist. Practically every page has drawings, diagrams, or photos that illustrate the print text. I highly recommend this book to anyone who actually saw and heard these great airplanes in the air, and to anyone interested in aviation history and SAC. Incidentally, if you never saw or heard one of these in the air, there is a great Jimmie Stewart movie, The Strategic Air Command, that is built around the B-36 unit that was stationed at Carswell Air Force Base in Ft Worth, Tx during the '50's.

"Magnesium Overcast" is just what an "airplane book" should be: large, attractive, detailed, with a wealth of superior illustrations, many in color. I'd hazard a guess that there are more than 300 high-quality photos and drawings, including a rare chart of the Convair production line.

In any case, it's all here: something for "rivet counters" and "number crunchers" alike. The authors deserve full credit for the thoroughness of their work and the obvious care they lavished on this project. Kudos also go to Specialty Press for producing this significant volume in such lavish style at a reasonable price.