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Almost unknown outside of Norway, a handful of Norwegian resistance fighters probably saved the the world from Nazi domination. The Nazi atomic weapons program needed heavy water from a mountain-protected Norwegian heavy water plant. Bombing the plant would have been difficult especially considering the vicinity of the town in the same mountain crevice. But the Nazis had to be stopped. British commandoes were promised to help the Norwegians but the commandoe raid failed in their attempt to reach the Norwegian guerrillas. If the world was to be saved, it was in the hands of 9 men.

The guerrilla plan and execution was brilliant and successful. But there was a complication and they would need a second raid to stop the Nazis. Again they produced results and this time even more incredible.

It is an incredible story of our incredible debt to these brave Norwegians who hardly understood the importance of their mission until long after it was over.

This is one of the most interesting stories in World War 2 history. The attempt by British Special Forces to destroy the Nazi nuclear reactor was a tremendous effort. Using Norwegian skiers who blended into the local background and destroyed the nuclear hard water reactor the mission was a success. This story also includes their dramatic escape and the second attempt at destroying a boat of hard water. This story is one that needs to be told and I highly recommend to everyone. Very well written and reads like a novel.

While teaching chemistry this year, I came across the word deuterium, which stands for what is called 'heavy water.' I was browsing around looking for more information on the difference between regular hydrogen, deuterium, and tritium, for my class...as I have found that the more history given in chemistry classes, the more the students are likely to remember technical information if they understand what it was used for.

During WWII there was a perceived race between the Allies and Germany to be the first to come up with an atomic bomb. The Allies were right to be worried because most of the work on nuclear energy had been done in Germany prior to the war, by people like Einstein and Fermi. These men were quickly moved out of Germany, and into Britain and the U.S., as their minds were worth their weight in gold.

One of the ways to cause a nuclear reaction is to use heavy water. Hydrogen under normal conditions has a proton and an electron, but no neutron within its nucleus. In order to start a nuclear reaction, a nucleus has to bombard uranium or plutonium, and regular water cannot supply that neutron. Deuterium is an isotope of hydrogen that has a neutron in its nucleus, and so can start a reaction.

The Germans did not have access to heavy water, and this was part of the reason that they invaded Norway early, as Norway had an outstanding heavy water facility. Those involved in the production of the atomic bomb in this country were very concerned that the Nazis were about 2 years ahead of us in creating a bomb. This threat was enough to be of importance to Franklin Deleanor Roosevelt and winston Churchill, and to General Groves who was the military arm of the Los Alamos group creating the bomb in the U.S. Groves made it clear that the Norsk Hydra plant needed to be taken out of commission immediately.

Both British and Norwegian loyalists were involved in this joint effort. Luckily the men who created the Norsk plant were in England and could give detailed instruction to the men who were to sabotage the plant. the first attempt at gliding British into Norway ended in disaster, when the gliders crashed, and those who survived the crash were murdered by the
Germans. The second attempt, made up of all Norwegians, was more successful, and they not only blew up important parts of the plant, but made it home to Britain in safety.

Unfortunately, the Germans were able to get the plant up and running sooner than expected, and were sending heavy water to Germany for safekeeping. This meant that another sabotage needed to be planned, one that would sink the barrels of heavy water in the deep part of a fjord. and this time the lives of innocent Norwegians were lost as they could not take the chance of alerting civilians and having the Germans suspect something.

I wish the book had explained more about the chemistry of the heavy water, but the book was an enjoyable historical read, as so much of the information came first hand from those Norwegians involved. I found enough information on the Internet to explain the process using heavy water, and it is still used today in Canada.

The Norwegians should be proud of the part they played in defeating the Germans...as someone of Norwegian ancestry, I am proud of what they sacrificed.

Karen Sadler,
Science Education

I found this "jewel" of a book in the library, and have read it at least 5 times. Assault in Norway is superb: no regrets, just buy it. This is a true story about a small commando group of Norwegians assaulting the Vemork hydroelectric plant in Norway where the Nazi's were manufacturing "heavy water" for the potential use of uranium enrichment (a step towards the atomic bomb).

The British were unsuccessful with this strategically important mission at first. When British commandos landed by glider, they crashed and some survivors were executed by the Gestapo. So a small group of ex patriot Norwegians were sent from England to take on the task. I don't want to spoil the book, but they face survival in the cold, hunger, and the daunting challenge of assaulting the Vemork Plant, surrounded by steep cliffs.

Gallagher's writing is top-notch; it's a simple and direct style, with an effective use of detail. The result is an engaging story, not only factually but on a character and human level. You feel like you are there with these Norwegians, Ronneberg, Poulsson, Haukelid, and the others, and skiing on the Norwegian plateau, and facing their challenges, fears, and seeing their courage. The ski chase alone is fantastic.

The only complaint is since there is some contextual background in the beginning, it takes a chapter before the story takes off, but once it does, it locks on and doesn't let go.

Overall, Assault in Norway is a gripping feel good true story that will transport the reader to the Norwegian geography, a time of high stakes, and to this daring operation. This is one mission you don't want to miss. Highly recommended.

This is the first time I've felt compelled to write an Amazon review. I'm a high school teacher and I happened to pull "Assault in Norway" off of a shelf in the school library while my class was being lectured by the librarians. Who knew an act of casual boredom would lead to such an enthralling literary experience? Tom Gallagher's writing is excellent, and it takes effort to remind yourself that you aren't reading a spy novel but about a true-life event. Also importantly, this book brings to life, more than any movie or video game or text book ever has, the urgency and importance in fighting World War II and fighting against the Nazis. If you've ever taken for granted the idea of ordinary men doing extraordinary things, you never will again after reading about the extraordinary things the men who attempted to sabotage the Vemork plant and the Nazi atomic effort had to do. I have now realized for the first time that in the case of this war, the rhetoric and hyperbole is true. This was a war fought against evil men trying to take over the world, and it called for all good men to do what was right, and to do what in ordinary times they would never imagine doing, and to do so with the quiet desperation of men willing to sacrifice everything short of their humanity to achieve their goal... I salute these men and what they did, and all those who laid down their lives and identities in order to keep the world a place safe for freedom and individuality. You know these men... they are your fathers and your brothers and uncles and friends and neighbors, and they are willing to do what is asked of them for honor and country. I ask myself, could I do what they have done? Given a real threat against a real enemy, I hope I would have been able to, and I thank those whose lives are chronicled in this book for doing their part to ensure that, at least against this particular enemy, I won't have to.
I may have gotten a little carried away here, but you must read this book. The dangers and threats of World War II are ones that we must never forget, and the actions of men like these are the ones that we must always honor.

I did like the narrative and it gave me a glimpse into what went on inside the Bismarck and her crew. Many of the photograhs were a first for me. I especially liked Appendix D, "The Rudder Damage: Were all Possibilities of Repair Exhausted?". Apparently the Bismarck was doomed from the start, but this may have been hindsight on the part of the author.

As for Appendix F "A Break in the Code", the tome was written before information was released indicating that the British were indeed monitoring most, if not all, communications of the Kriegsmarine. I refer to the two volumes of "Hitler's U-Boat War" by Clay Blair. The Americans were also monitoring the movements of the Bismarck, possibly in violation of international law.

The only reason I gave the book 4 stars is because the author related his opinions on the politics and his superiors possibly after the war. I wonder how he thought during the war. Too many apologies for the Nazi regime for my taste. I agree that the regime was inefficient. This may have been common among many authors who were involved on the German side looking back.

I would recommend this book in addition to the several books that have been written on the Bismarck in the last few decades.

V. Mullenheim-Rechberg executes brilliantly where others have failed. This is one memoir where the author maintains a confident balance between his own personal history and the larger event in which he took part.

Make no mistake--this is his story, yet one where the ship and its crew reamin the focus. An understanding that he was but one, small aspect of each seems to guide his writing throughout. Moreover, he is careful to call out what he can only qualify as recollection and what he has culled from the established historical record. The result is a practically seamless recounting that should satisfy readers who seek personal insights into the short operational history of the Bismarck and those who crave details on the ship's construction, crew composition, and blow-by-blow accounts of Dennmark Strait and the final attack that lead to its ultimate fate.

His chapter describing the last minutes as the crew abandoned ship take on a downright cinematic feel. The clarity there is of moments he could not shake and of people he would not forget. It's deeply personal, yet he provides both himself and the reader emotional breathing space by weaving in views of the operational action around the ship itself. This intensifies every personally-infused vignette that he presents and ensures that none are lost in the wash of mass human loss.

The author makes particularly handy work of his footnotes, sometimes using them to personally answer some of what he believes are significant misnomers about the ship's history--and his own. The footnotes are clearly -his- space, and he does not hesitate to answer some of what he feels are personal attacks that various other authors have made on his character and conduct. Still, he shies away from pettiness and cheap indignancy here. His tone is measured throughout, and he exactingly cites the sources that fuel his commentary--leaving the reader a chance to further explore the issues. After all, he was a lawyer and diplomat after the war. It shows.

Recommended highly for those who enjoy their history presented in a narrative fashion.

The author, and one time adjutant to Captain Lindermann, the commanding officer of the Bismarck, reveals the real mission of the battleship which is a new concept to most. It was very exciting to read the details from the beginning of the battleship including the sailors and officers, the training, and sailing to the Atlantic. Although it would have been nice if even more details could have been included, but perhaps space and memory prevented it. The author did mention that most of his experiences and service had to be written from memory since he was prevented from recording classified and secret information. Particularly interesting is his description and feelings of being a POW inside the POW camps; his repatriation, a person returning to his defeated homeland, once a proud nation, and how a former POW can fit into the new and recovering society. Lacking many technical details that we would liked to have read about, this is still an excellent book. To be able to read about the battleship from the German side of the ship and war, is invaluable. Excellent book and highly recommended.

FIRST THOUGHTS: EMOTIONAL WAR DRAMA OF LEGENDARY STATUS

The Bismarck, like the Titanic before her, went down on her maiden voyage in the North Atlantic with a great loss of life. Though both ships went on to become legends, the Bismarck was one that went down via the concerted effort of a large portion of the British fleet. Due to its being the flagship of the third reich and symbol of its 'superior' achievement the mission to destroy the Bismarck was a vital necessity to the British and a desperate race for survival for its German crew. In the end, there is little to feel good about the sinking of a vessel with over two thousand men aboard, only 115 whom were saved. Worse still, this tragedy followed the sinking of the Hood by the Bismarck just several days earlier with just a handful of survivors from the Hood. All in all a very nasty business, but an epic piece of real human history.

IN A NUTSHELL:

Battleship Bismarck: A Survivor's Story (Bluejacket Books)
by Burkard Baron Von Mullenheim-Rechberg, is another fine 'Naval Institute Press Publication' and a terrific account of the Bismarck's short life. The author, Burkard Baron Von Mullenheim-Rechberg was first, Captain Lindemann's adjutant and later the gunnery officer in charge of the aft range-finder. His rank was 'Oberleutnant zur See', or the equivalent of Lieutenant, in the US Navy. Von Mullenheim-Rechberg was on board before the beginning and was there after the end to become a prisoner-of-war. Both before and after are included in his expanded accounts in this "THE NEW AND EXPANDED EDITION - 1990".

WHAT IT'S ALL ABOUT:

Von Mullenheim-Rechberg takes us on-board the Bismarck as he is introduced to his new commanding officer, Captain Lindemann. It is 1940 and he is the Captain's adjutant as fitting out and trials get under way for the newly launched super-dreadnought. These prelimary maneuvers are included in detail. Von Mullenheim-Rechberg does give us insights into his Captain, Lindemann, Admiral Lutjens [fleet commander] and something about Adolf Hitler who did visit the ship. All three men will play an important role in the story that unfolds.

BUT THE STORY DOESN'T END THERE -

A lot happened to the Bismarck its crew, the Hood, and the world in less than a week, and much of it is covered within this volume, first hand.

The author, and one time adjutant to Captain Lindermann, the commanding officer of the Bismarck, reveals the real mission of the battleship which is a new concept to most. It was very exciting to read the details from the beginning of the battleship including the sailors and officers, the training, and sailing to the Atlantic. Although it would have been nice if even more details could have been included, but perhaps space and memory prevented it. The author did mention that most of his experiences and service had to be written from memory since he was prevented from recording classified and secret information. Particularly interesting is his description and feelings of being a POW inside the POW camps; his repatriation, a person returning to his defeated homeland, once a proud nation, and how a former POW can fit into the new and recovering society. Lacking many technical details that we would liked to have read about, this is still an excellent book. To be able to read about the battleship from the German side of the ship and war, is invaluable. Excellent book and highly recommended.

This is a great resource for individuals looking for some leadership pointers.

Since I became a civilian a few years ago, I've struggled somewhat with explaining to my team how to adapt what I "know" about Army leadership into terms they can understand.

This book does a great job of putting the fundamentals of Army leadership into terms civilians can understand, and better yet, implement or integrate into their leadership experience.

The fundamentals apply to every organization, and I highly recommend it to any student of leadership!

I recently re-read this book, curious to know to what extent its content remains relevant. My conclusion? It is even more relevant today than it was when first published in 2004. In Richard E. Cavanagh's Foreword, he recalls a discussion during dinner with Peter Drucker and Jack Welch who shared the same opinion that the United States military services do the best job developing leaders. What we have in this volume is an adaptation by Frances Hesselbein and General Eric K. Shinseki (USA Ret.) of Field Manual 22-100, Army Leadership, with assistance from Alan Shrader. Hesselbein and Shinseki also wrote the Introduction. The material is carefully organized within seven chapters, followed by a Conclusion that reviews the most important points, correctly noting the unique and compelling role that the U.S. Army has played since June 14, 1775, when the Continental Congress authorized enlistment of riflemen to serve the United Colonies for one year.

With regard to the book's title, "Army leadership begins with what the leader must Be, the values and attributes that shape a leader's character...People want leaders who are honest, competent, forward-looking, and inspiring...People willingly follow only those who know what they are doing. One of the quickest ways for a leader to lose trust and commitment of followers is to demonstrate incompetence...Character and competence, the Be and the Know, underlie everything a leader does. But character and knowledge - while absolutely necessary - are not enough. Leaders act; they Do...They solve problems, overcome obstacles, strengthen teamwork, and achieve objectives. They use leadership to produce results."

I realize that these concepts seem simple. In one sense they are. However, in this context, I am reminded of what Oliver Wendell Holmes once said: "I would not give a fig for the simplicity this side of complexity, but I would give my life for the simplicity on the other side of complexity." The challenge to any organization when developing leaders is to guide those involved to the other side of complexity." The composite of excerpts from Be-Know-Do identifies core concepts, to be sure, but it also describes the character, competence, knowledge, and results-driven initiative that the U.S. Army seeks to develop within every one of its soldiers, regardless of rank. "No one is only a leader; each person in an organization is also a follower and part of a team. In fact, the old distinction between leaders and followers has blurred; complex twenty-first-century organizations require individuals to move seamlessly from one role to another in an organization, from leadership to `followership,' and back again."

Hesselbein and Shinseki are to be commended for their skillful adaptation of Field Manual 22-100, Army Leadership, but also for the inclusion within the narrative of relevant material from sources outside the U.S. Army organization. For example, they quote prominent business thinkers throughout the narrative: James Kouzes and Barry Posner on leadership by example (page 24), John Gardner on the importance of a shared vision (page 30), Patrick Lencioni on teamwork (page 86), and John Kotter on a leader's "quest for learning" (page 132). Readers will also appreciate the provision of various "Exhibits" such as 5.1 that provides a brilliant illustration of Team-Building Stages.

Those who share my high regard for this volume are urged to check out Frances Hesselbein's other works that include The Leader of the Future 2: Visions, Strategies, and Practices for the New Era co-authored with Marshall Goldsmith, On Leading Change: A Leader to Leader Guide co-authored with Rob Johnston, and Leading for Innovation: and Organizing for Results co-edited with Goldsmith and Iain Somerville. Also, I highly recommend the wealth of resources available at the Leader to Leader Institute (http://www.leadertoleader.org/), a non-profit and tax exempt organization that includes a subscription to its magazine among several membership benefits.

Although this book is required reading, not only for ARMY OCS, but also for other applications, it is quite possibly the most BORING read ever.

While the information is quite valid *and* genius, basically the ARMY's system on leadership, it is just plain boring... Sorry, it's the truth.

For the price, the information is golden. In fact, even if the price were higher it would still be worth what you pay. But even still, this was a painful 171 pages to read!!

BUY IT. READ IT. GET IT OVER WITH...! :)

The world's benchmark with respect to leadership is the market driven capitalist company, however it seems they have lost their way when compared to the US Army. After you read this book you will be shocked to find out how far ahead of private business the US Army is in the area of Leadership.

Ultimately the US Army has determined that in some fashion everyone that reports to you is also a leader and needs to be trained and respected as such. The US Army's leaders are actively developed at all levels so that they can lead and develop others - no lip service here.

I saw a reference to this book on a "things that could wrong and end civilization as we know it" website. To be very brief, I bought it, read it, and gave it away. Could the crazies in the Middle East hatch a plot like this? Yeah, sure. Are they so crazy they would sacrifice millions of people--I hope not, but only time will tell. What annoyed me most was the projected American response. Once again, technology will save us. Oh, there aren't enough "boots on the ground"? Never mind, technology and mass destruction will save us. Although there are a few characters that come alive a little, most of the characters are, in my opinion, stereotypes with whom I had a great deal of difficulty identifying. The author could also be accused of a very selective study of Islam, but that's not my area of expertise, so I'll let that pass.

If you are looking for something to reinforce your paranoia, read this book. If you are looking a piece of literature, look someplace else.

I disagree with description of people's reactions to certain events that take place in this book. It seems odd that our leader would be authorizing apocalyptic events with a smile on his face. It also seems odd when members of the media cheer in joy observing in real time what's happening in the last chapter of the book. This is something middle eastern crowds would, not us. We are fundamentally better in our humanistic values and I seriously doubt it any person born and bred into Western civilization culture with an IQ of at least 75 would be happy about what we have to do to survive the psychotic fanatics attacking us. I would agree that some folks would be in awe or maybe feel anger about what had been done to our cities, but once it gets to the point of making an executive decision of the unprecedented magnitude and then witnessing the onslaught, there will be anything BUT joy. Sadness, more like it, will be the underlying emotion. Sadness because it had to come to this.
This is my only gripe with this book that detracts form the plausibility a bit

There is a similar book written more recently by Joel Rosenberg (I spent some time wondering if the Boyland book had been read by Rosenberg given some of the similarities) - Dead Heat - which has an underlying Christian ethos - but is more tightly written and I found hard to put down.

The information he provides is good and some is new to me, but the book so far is slow and somewhat awkwardly written and has a number of typos.

If you are interested in a non-fiction take on Islam and terrorism, including nuclear terrorism, I would recommend Rosenberg's Epicenter.

The writing is clunky, but the argument is fantastic. This should be done before we lose our cities. I do expect this scenario if Obamessiah is elected. I don't live near a big city.

The authors have created a complex novel of epic proportions. They skillfully develop subplots, and weave them together like a master weaver, creating a captivating, frightening, and spellbinding tapestry--a story of an all too possible future. A story comparable to Tom Clancy's best works.

The nerve racking sequel to The Rings of Allah begins minutes before the attack occurs. Master al-Qaeda terrorists Mohammed, now know as the Keeper of the Rings, and his American born companion, Ralph Eid, hid five gun-type nuclear devices in five American cities. The timers are running and zero hour approaches. Mohammed gives America a two-hour warning in a video broadcast by Al-Jazeera at 2 p.m. EDT.

The story opens with a bang, a very big bang. Zero hour is viewed from several locations in the opening scenes. Muhammad, sitting with the Shura in Qom, Iran eagerly watches the president of the United States leaving the Capitol building. Secretary of Homeland Security MG (retired) George Alexander, his wife Jane, and several Air Force officers watch from a conference room in Kirkland AFB. Great Brittan's prime minister watches in London. Alexander, alerted by Mohammed's video, tried to warn the president of the impending nuclear attack, but she would not listen.

Alexander, an intelligent, tough, pragmatic man who is also a weapons expert, will do whatever is necessary to save the nation. After the attack, Alexander, the sole survivor inline to succeed the president, assumes the office, issues orders to protect the nation. Alexander, Air Force officers, and civilians view Mohammed's second video, provided by Al-Jazeera. Scheduled for broadcast early the next morning, the video calls for a worldwide jihad. Alexander begins to organize a government, deals with domestic terrorist attacks and jihads, and establishes contact with Russia and China. He seeks qualified men and women to fill the vacant Cabinet positions, and develops a team that will lead America back from the brink.

Special Agent Teresa Lopez catches a group of jihadists planning to detonate a dirty bomb. Her actions catch the president's eye and she is given an important assignment--find out how the terrorists did it. Her adventures take her to Russia, then Argentina. USAF Captain Taylor and Russian FSB Major Vanin add spice to her adventure.

Muhammad, Grand Ayatollah Khomeini's puppet, is named Caliph of the new Islamic Empire. Moderate Arab governments are overthrown and Israel is attacked. Alexander, and his SecWar, retired General Harry Simpson intervene in the attack on Israel. Syria uses chemical weapons and Israel replies with nuclear weapons. Oil is cutoff and the U.S. economy spirals toward collapse. A recovery plan is hatched: all assets of hostile Islamic governments will be seized and used to rebuild the U.S. The Swiss object, an a Marine general explains it so they can understand.

Alexander worries that the U.S. will be seen as weak, inviting attacks. He conveys his message to China, and requests China keep Kim Jung-il in line. A Chinese admiral plans to take advantage of America's weakness to seize Twain. He encourages Kim to invade South Korea. Chavez also smells blood and sets about to cause trouble.

Jihads spread across Europe. Civil war is close in Indonesia, Pakistan, and Turkey. A coup is planned in Pakistan. If successful, Pakistan, with its nuclear weapons, will join the Islamic Empire. Will India allow this to happen?

A couple of comical characters break the tension. Congresswoman Betty Chatsworth, M.D. provides the liberal voice in Alexander's acting Cabinet.

Alexander and his Cabinet must decide if the U.S. is fighting radical Islam or Islam. A religious advisory committed is formed to provide guidance and an understanding of Islam and its goals. The committee's report occupies most of one chapter, and is a penetrating analysis of Islam.

Operation Flare is planned and implement. The U.S. and its allies invade North Africa to get oil. Kim launches two nuclear missiles at the U.S. as a prelude to his invasion. America's ABM system gets its first operational test. The Islamic Empire plans to attack the U.S. fleet with nuclear armed Soviet cruise missiles. Sophisticated battles and deceptions ensue. Advanced weapons and technology are employed by the U.S.

The story's already fast tempo increases as the final battle with the Islamic Empire draws near. Alexander and Simpson plan Operation Brimstone--the destruction of the Islamic Empire. The ending is definitely not for the faint of heart, and it is a warning to Islam of what could occur if its radical succeed in making a nuclear 9/11.

The author, a weapons expert, breathes life into his battle scenes and his accurate descriptions of lasers, nuclear and thermonuclear bombs, chemical and conventional munitions, and aircraft and missiles. He paints a vivid picture of America's power and a possible future--a future he says must not be allowed to occur.

Blackjack-33 is one of the best written first hand account of men in combat. Very well written and hard to put down. I highly recommend this book to anyone looking for a great true account of the Mobile Guerilla Forces in action in Vietnam. I can't wait to receive and read the author's other books.

The Vietnam war is still an enigma for many of us who were not there. It is fascinating and a bit frightening. Many people only understand it based on movies like Platoon or Full Metal Jacket. This book does a fabulous job of illustrating an unknown aspect of the war, yet makes you understand how the pieces fit together. Very descriptive and action packed, you feel as if you are close to the action and get a better feel for the life of a soldier in the bush.

Overall, this was a very enjoyable book and increased my education and awareness of the war.

Mr. Donahue brings out a little known aspect of the Vietnam War--the use of Special Forces and Cambodian soldiers to fight the VC on their own ground. You can get more of a description of the book by reading the adjacent reviews. I spent almost two years working with the Vietnamese day by day, and consider this book to be a must read for anyone interested in the genre. It is very well written and makes the scene jump out at you. For me, it was almost like revisiting my experiences back then.

A fabulous book for anyone looking for firsthand accounts of the great work our fighting men & women did in Vietnam, and an excellent antidote for the overplayed drivel Hollywood & the "mainstream" media try to spoon-feed us.

The author provides a minimal amount of background info on himself and the Mobile Guerilla Force, and then jumps right into the action. He gets your heart pumping and your senses instantly alerted through first-person writing, and once you start this book it is very difficult to put down. Mr Donahue does not hold back anything from the reader either; he skillfully relates the sights, sounds, smells, and even tastes of combat in Vietnam.

If you are looking for a well-written first-hand account about the experiences of combat in Vietnam, then I highly recommend this book. If you are a little squeamish, or prefer to research the unit histories and command structures of combat units in Vietnam, well, I STILL recommend this book (and all of Mr Donahue's books).

These men brought the fight to the communists. They fought smart and hard and outguerrlla the guerrilla. There is action from the beginning of the book to the very end. Doc Donahue writes a descriptive and detailed account of his experience in the jungles of Vietnam fighting with a Special Forces led indigenous Cambodian fighting force. It is amazing the hurt they put on the Viet Cong and sad when many of these brave fighters gave their lives often fighting a superior force. I also enjoyed the story of Donahue's adventure of getting supplies in Saigon. An unconventional fighter making an unconventional acquistion of supplies through unconventional means. I plan on reading all the other Donahue books.

Have some kleenex handy. A very well written book. My husband loved it, too.

As an amputee for the past 4 years or so, I know a few things about the story told by this book. But I was unprepared to be as moved as I was. Michael not only tells the story of how, but he digs deeper into the demons that made him and Pete so much more real.

I don't have war experience, I just had a simple accident. The demons these men fight to get to a place where they can accept the things that happened make this a very powerful story. I highly recommend it to anyone. And I've recommended it to several close friends in hopes they might better understand what it's like to loose part of yourself.

Mr. Weisskopf writes a truely remarkable account of what it is like to go from the battle field through the medical, recovery process. As a surgical technician & Vietnam vet I found his story to be inspiring and very moving. The medical aspects were right on the money!!
Thank you, Mr. Weisskopf, for a wonderfully touching story. I hope you have been able to put to rest the "Why & What If" questions. As far as I'm concerned the motivation doesn't matter. You're a HERO!!!

Michael Weisskopf is a well known journalist for TIME magazine. During a trip to Iraq as an embedded journalist with an Army unit, the HMMWV he was riding in had a grenade thrown into it. Weisskopf apparently went to pick the grenade up before it detonated, but was too late, losing his right hand in the explosion.

Weisskopf uses this tragedy to document his and a several soldiers with amputations in their roads to recovery at Walter Reed Army Medical Center's Ward 57, the amputee ward. Weisskopf does a good job of capturing the many aspects of recovery that he and the soldiers go through.

This short book captures very well the processes of recovering from combat wounds, dealing with the traumas both to yourself and those around you, including fellow soldiers who did not survive their accidents.

I highly recommend this book.

What Michael Weisskopf has done with this story is truly amazing. It was a very emotional book for me, but it is a book that every American should read.I plan on passing this book around. It is a book that you cannot put down.You just want to cheer these guys on, cry with them, and you feel their frustrations. I would love to meet Michael and the men that he writes about to thank them personally for their sacrifices.
I am a Troop Greeter from Maine where most of the flights that are going over and comming home stop for re-fueling.We are soon to have welcomed 500,000 troops. I often wonder how many that I have met that will not be returning home or have been injured. I say a prayer for them after every flight and pray that they will be comming back through our halls.
I can't thank Michael Weisskopf enough for writing this book. It is truly an excellent book.
cakelady2@adelphia.net

Christie has succeeded in writing the rarest of military stories--one that is populated with real human characters. I think it was his combination of unflinching details and real-world motivations that brought this wide cast of soldiers to life. Christie is unafraid to show how today's Marines are not all shining beacons of virtue, but instead are much more flesh-and-blood. They goof around, they screw up, they bitch and moan, but yet they form a lethally efficient fighting force. Christie's strength in this book, as well as in his others, is showing the Marine Corps as it IS, not as we imagine it should be.

Anyone who wants a break from the Clancy-esque fantastic plots that are so common now will love Christie's latest offering. Its taut plot, sharp characters, and insider's eye for detail will satisfy any mature reader. I loved it, and I would recommend it to anyone.

Christie combines his unique wit and talent for poignant, page-turning action in a book that everyone who was ever a Marine or wants to be a Marine should read. Building upon his own experiences as a platoon commander, Christie takes the reader though a series of events that could be titled, "Everyday experiences of a Marine Second Lieutenant." Gear gets lost or stolen, fights break out, orders get misconstrued. Plans are made, changed, scrapped, and started again. And through all these often hilarious sequences, the batallion moves inexorably closer to deployment -- and the potential for combat. It's the combat sequences that leave the reader gasping for air and yearning for more. Unlike most authors in this genre, Christie allows his characters to make mistakes and to deal with the consequences. And as you'll see, the consequences can be dire.

I love the way this guy writes. His lieutenant is a World-Class wiseacre, giving his prospective as a platoon-level officer on the workings of the Marine Corps. But behind the sarcastic viewpoint, he's a good officer who works hard to turn his troops into an effective fighting force.

The first half of this book is a "Men-in-Training" look at the Marine Corps' training program, and the second half is a mission in Yemen. No dames.

Mr. Christie writes with the passion and truth that comes from experience! His ability to put you into the life of a young Marine Corps platoon commander is outstanding. The humor, tension and insanity that comes with the Marine Corps way of life and close combat are gripping.

This was an excellent page turner from start to finish.

I predict that Mr. Christie will find himself mentioned in the same breath as Webb and Coonts in the not to distant future.

Semper Fi

ibooks has gone bankrupt and this paperback is NOT available for purchase. I'm currently trying to place the rights with another publisher. I love Amazon dearly, but they're having trouble getting this message and really should take this page down. So if you don't get your book, please don't blame me. If you need more information, I can be contacted at christieauthor@yahoo.com.

The most amazing thing that about this book is that Arrian somehow managed to rescue the man from the legend, the god from the myth and the story from the soothsayers. He intended to write a factual history of the great leader but by necessity was forced to rely on word of mouth, old stories, past recollections and hardly any authoritative manuscripts.

Considering what he had to work with, the outcome is simply amazing. Like Thucydides, Herodotus and Livy, his goal was to write a factual work that was to have been definitive...and it was. The campaigns are given much attention as well as the character of Alexander. For a more scholarly and literary work I recommend Robin Lane Fox and his biography of Alexander - just stupendous.

This book is a PRIMARY SOURCE that is great for any student. An ancient work that has great deatails. It is actually interesting to read, even if you just use it for school. If you want more information on this book, feel free to e-mail me at Silvermouse51@aol.com. I will try to respond to your e-mail as soon as possible. Again, buy this book if you're doing a project on Alexander the Great! It's the absolute best you can ever buy!

Of all the books that I read of Alexander the Great, this book is my favourite in explaining the famous battles.It also explaines how he conquered the tribes from Persia up to Sogdiana.The battles of the Granicus,Issus,Gaugamela,and above all Tyre are incredibly narrated.The names are all there, who did what,and who did not.In the battle of Tyre, how much he had destroyed and how much he had to rebuild,never giving up.It explains all the problems that Alexander encountered with the Tyrians.
The death of Hephastion that made him lose his sanity,make you really feel what friendship meant to him. What this young man accomplished,and what he wanted to do with the rest of his life. Conquer as long as there were places to conquer.
It also writes about the honest side of Alexander,and those who
were traitors how he treated them.All the spoils of war he gave away,only eternal fame was his.How he created cities,and how he was ahead of his time, in many ways.
Read it is a great book indeed.

The wierdest part of this history was the account in Indika of the island of cavemen that Nearchos ran into, and battled with his fleet...

"There was a lagoon at the mouths of the river, and the depressions near the bank were inhabited by natives in stifling cabins. These seeing the convoy sailing up were astounded, and lining along the shore stood ready to repel any who should attempt a landing. They carried thick spears, about six cubits long; these had no iron tip, but the same result was obtained by hardening the point with fire. They were in number about six hundred. Nearchus observed these evidently standing firm and drawn up in order, and ordered the ships to hold back within range, so that their missiles might reach the shore; for the natives' spears, which looked stalwart, were good for close fighting, but had no terrors against a volley. Then Nearchus took the lightest and lightest-armed troops, such as were also the best swimmers, and bade them swim off as soon as the word was given. Their orders were that, as soon as any swimmer found bottom, he should await his mate, and not attack the natives till they had their formation three deep; but then they were to raise their battle cry and charge at the double. On the word, those detailed for this service dived from the ships into the sea, and swam smartly, and took up their formation in orderly manner, and having made a phalanx, charged, raising, for their part, their battle cry to the God of War, and those on shipboard raised the cry along with them; and arrows and missiles from the engines were hurled against the natives. They, astounded at the flash of the armour, and the swiftness of the charge, and attacked by showers of arrows and missiles, half naked as they were, never stopped to resist but gave way. Some were killed in flight; others were captured; but some escaped into the hills. Those captured were hairy, not only their heads but the rest of their bodies; their nails were rather like beasts' claws; they used their nails (according to report) as if they were iron tools; with these they tore asunder their fishes, and even the less solid kinds of wood; everything else they cleft with sharp stones; for iron they did not possess. For clothing they wore skins of animals, some even the thick skins of the larger fishes."

Cavemen who dont at all use metal, but only stones and fingernails...they wear animal skins...but most importantly, bodies COVERED in hair? What?! I want to go search for this island.

I want to go look for this island, i know how wierd it is, but THIS paragraph caught my eye more than any other in this work.

PS:
Arrian's account of Alexander is the best ancient source, though he is a bit of an apologist for the actions of Alexander, so dont believe ALL that Arrian says. The guy though was an actual general, and he had fought and conquered, he was someone who had been through many of the same situations as Alexander as a governor and general, so he DOES know what he is talking about.
Great work...

Alexander the Great was already a historical figure and "larger than life" character by the time Arrian wrote his CAMPAIGNS OF ALEXANDER. More than 400 years had passed since Alexander's death and, while there was doubtless plenty of popular lore about him, there also was a considerable mass of written source material in existence. Much of this material came from contemporaries who had campaigned with Alexander, but these accounts apparently often conflicted. Forced to pick and choose from all this information, Arrian appears to have relied largely on Ptolemy and Aristobulus. Ptolemy was experienced in military matters and, as one of Alexander's generals, had participated in many of the operations he described. Arrian brings his own knowledge and experience of military and administrative matters to bear on this information with generally good results. The rap on Arrian is that he displays a sound grasp of Alexander's military exploits and of his character, but is too forgiving when it comes to Alexander's faults and glosses over other issues.

Arrian brought a wealth of experience to his task. His own personal accomplishments were considerable. A Greek by descent, he was born in the city of Nicomedia, capital of the Roman province of Bithynia, sometime prior to A.D. 90. His family was prosperous and had attained Roman citizenship, giving young Arrian the possibility of a career in the imperial service. Before he was done, he attained the Roman consulship and was subsequently entrusted by Emperor Hadrian with the governorship of Cappadocia, a border province on the eastern frontier that entailed the command of two Roman legions plus auxiliary troops. During this period he led a successful campaign to drive an invading tribe out of Armenia, sailed all the way around the Black Sea, and wrote accounts of these events as well as manuals on military tactics. After Hadrian's death, Arrian retired to Athens, where he rose to become chief magistrate and, later, a Member of the Council of the city. He also continued to write until his death sometime between A.D. 173 and A.D. 180.

Besides THE CAMPAIGNS OF ALEXANDER, Arrian authored many other works. A few survive, but most are now lost, as are the many sources available to Arrian from Ptolemy, Aristobulus, Nearchus and others. All that remains from those who actually knew Alexander is in the form of quotes and citations in the works of later historians like Arrian. It's a sad fact that, while a few histories written by ancient scholars such as Livy, Plutarch, Arrian and others have survived, the great bulk of ancient literature and source material is gone. In an age when scribes had to copy books by hand, there could never be more than a few dozen copies of any book in existence. Under such conditions, it is hard to exaggerate the magnitude of historical disasters ranging from the destruction of the great library at Alexandria to the sack of Constantinople. A survivor like this is a rare opportunity to share the observations of an intelligent and accomplished person from a very different age.

THE CAMPAIGNS OF ALEXANDER is an important piece of the modern world's understanding of Alexander the Great. We're extremely fortunate it has survived. More than that, though, this is a lively and fascinating book that any reader can enjoy. If you have any interest in Alexander, or in ancient history in general, read this book.

Paul Mark Tag's novel "Category 5" is a thriller from beginning to end. The characters come to life with realistic dialogue, the action is fast-paced, and the locations, whether in Bermuda or Colorado, are accurately described. As in all good books, Tag pays great attention to details throughout "Category 5." When the hero Dr. Victor Silverstein in his Porsche is being chased down a dark country road by two hit men, this might have been just another ho-hum, uninteresting chase, but Tag makes it come alive with suspense by giving details of the operation of the Porsche's antilock braking system and the electronic stability control system.

Anyone wanting to know what it might be like flying through the eye of a hurricane will find it realistically described in "Category 5." I highly recommend this well written, action-packed thriller.

Duncan C. Blanchard

I met Paul Tag at a book signing in the San Jose, CA area and am thrilled to have an autographed copy of his first novel on my bookshelf! Congrats to this new author for creating a page turner with interesting and real-to-life characters. Throughout the book I was able to visualize the characters and thought what a great movie this would be. I have ordered the sequel and can't wait to start reading it.

Charlene Jeffrey
Lake Havasu City, Arizona

Category 5

I met Mr. Mark Tag in person during one of his book signings and was instantly compelled to read his first book. It's a great thriller. I truly enjoyed the characters as well as quick and successful transitions from one venue to another. Great story telling, great characters... I am looking forward to the next story that just came out!

I read this book in one sitting - in one day! It was fantastic. I found myself caught up in the lives and minds of the characters and just could not put the book down. Very well done and meeting the author gave me an even better perspective on the whole story line.

Thanks Paul!

Well written, well researched, fast paced action and original. Excellently developed characters, realistic settings and fascinating locations. I enjoyed the book. I found it entertaining and fun reading. I look forward to his next book!

This book was riveting. I found amazing revelations about my own childhood while reading this book, and I quickly discovered I have some background in common with the author. Never before has any psychology, non-fiction or self-awareness book kept me in such profound awe or has unlocked the key to understanding the emotional, mental and physical impact of my being one of a half million children of Holocaust survivors raised in America.

As the child of a survivor, this book talks about many of the things our family kept silent. Just reading that even one other person out there had similar feelings, experiences, and views was so very comforting. It is important that society acknowledges the 2nd Generation's special status. May the memory of all who perished, of all who survived, and all who have come after them be ever for a blessing.

I purchased this book for a friend who had been unable to get a copy here in Australia.

As an 'outsider' to the experiences described I find this book remarkable in its bredth and depth. Epstein manages to convey as much in between the lines as she does in her sensitive, unjudgmental tellings. She has allowed her subject to expand and flow without careful categorisation and containment so that I have the sense that most children of survivors would find something to recognise in this book.

What a humane and remarkable writer she must be I would like to read more of her work.

I read this book many years ago. I was greatly moved by it, and through it understood the special burden children of survivors have to live with. Helen Epstein was the first to really explore the feelings and situation of the children of survivors. The secretness she writes about it, the things which were in the air but never spoken about play a large part in this.
I do remember having one point in which I felt the author did not do enough. While she deals with the individual psychological of problems effectively she does not really consider the ' collective side' of the disaster.
The imperative to keep the Jewish people alive after such a great disaster is not a subject she dwells on intensely.

As a daughter of Holocaust Survivors, when I first read this book (over 15 years ago), I was astounded. This author was the first to raise the issue at all: how has the Holocaust affected those whose parents survived it? When I was growing up, not only was the Holocaust itself practically a taboo subject, but no one ever, ever discussed the children of Survivors. This author had the courage, the foresight, and tenacity to do just that - and to do it in the most sensitive and articulate way.

When I first read the first chapter, I was so astounded that I stood up, and read that chapter standing up! She describes exactly, to the letter, how I felt growing up: that the Holocaust was a locked black box in your household, and that its secrets were more secret than sex, or anything else you can possibly imagine. Finally, someone has put on paper what I always felt, but could never describe. Everyone I have ever given this book to, no matter what his or her background, said he couldn't put it down. To anyone interested in the Holocaust - you must read this book!