Military Books

Sawyer knows his subject. He is a master of Chinese warfare and culture. He even teaches you how to pronounce some common Chinese words that we in the west always mispronounce.

The book is great. It covers a lot --- not just The Art of War, though that's included. It is a complete study of the Chinese strategies of war and I recommend it to those interested in this topic.

Ralph D. Sawyer's translations is a must have for anyone studying military thought and theory or martial arts. This translation brings to the Western reader the ideas set down by these wise men of the past. My friends who do read Chinese say this translations is one of the best English versions. Many business professionals like to say how "Business is war" and use these warriors' thought, but here the Saywers show that the ideas set down in these classics are for the warrior and especially for peace. A lost business deal pales in comparison to what a warrior faces when he/she looses in combat. These seven classics are a wonderful guide to one who wishes to live a martial and peaceful life.

The works in this book are:

1) T'ai Kung's Six Secret Teachings
2) The Methods of Ssu-ma
3) Sun-tzu's Art of War
4) Wu-tzu
5) Wei Liao-tzu
6) Three Strategies of Huang Shih-kung
7) Questions and Replies between T'ang T'ai-tsung and Li Wei-kung

Hope that helps.

My one complaint about this book is that it uses the Wade-Giles transliteration rather than Pinyin, which is what everyone, including China, is using. Wade-Giles is now over 35 years outmoded, and can be very confusing for the uninitiated. Compare Ssu-ma I (Wade-Giles) with Sima Yi (Pinyin). Would you know that they're the same bloke? (If you do, bravo.) I assume this speaks to the age of the translation rather than an editorial choice, but it's pretty annoying that they didn't update it.

If you think you might like this book, but want more of a story than essays/discourses, I recommend 'Romance of the Three Kingdoms.' It's very long, but well-loved in most regions of Asia, and with good reason. Also, search for Zhuge Liang's commentary on 'The Art of War.' It's all on Amazon.

I first saw this book at my public library, and loved it. (Evidentally someone else loved it too, 'cause it wandered off and left a few years later.) It holds a great list of books.

Sun Tzu's "Art of War" is in there, but I especially like Tao Tai Kung (or "The secret teachings of the Tai Kung") The most entertaining thing about this work is that it is a beautiful example of a different world view. It was an excellent introduction to an entire philosophy.
(look for surprising parallels twixt this and Adam Smith's "...Wealth of Nations", with an eastern perspective.)

In considering Ralph Sawyer's translation of "The Seven Military Classics of Ancient China" one must look at the work from two angles. First, one must consider the quality of the translation, and how well the author has set the historical stage for the piece. Second, one must consider the pieces themselves, and their pertinence to modern strategic thinking.

Regarding the first issue, Sawyer has done a superb job in both his translation, and in his historical research. The prose is easy to read and understand, but the essential, almost poetic, essence of the original language has not been sacrificed. Furthermore, each piece is prefaced by a brief, but detailed, overview of the work including a biography of the author, or possible authors, and a synopsis of the historical context in which the work was created. In addition, the book is heavily footnoted, which allows the reader to fully comprehend each piece, without the primary texts being chopped up.

Regarding the second angle, I was genuinely astonished by how pertinent theses works are to modern military thinking. For such primitive (chronologically, not intellectually) works, they do a superb job of capturing the key elements of strategic thinking: maneuver, logistics, terrain, combined arms and command hierarchy. Moreover, they are extremely sophisticated in their consideration of Grand Strategy and the mobilization of the population. While these works are by no means a blue print for a modern army (the codes of conduct are draconian, to say the least), they undoubtedly provide a framework for the analysis/planning of modern operations.

This is truly a superb work that captures both the philosophical and the practical aspects of some of the most ancient books on the planet. Furthermore, it is a fascinating look at ancient Chinese history. It is truly a must read for anyone interested in military theory or international relations, particularly with China once again ascendant on the world stage.

What struck me most profoundly while reading Shadows of Eagles was the authenticity in the writer's voice. One couldn't get past the first page without realizing that Mr. Lodge knows his bi-planes. Not just the planes, but the engines that powered them. My first guess was that the author flew one such plane during WWI. But just a cursory glance at his photo on the back cover shows this guess to be wrong.

So, he had to do a whole lot of careful research. But it's more than that. It goes deeper than that. A high school kid, in a decent library, can be paid minimum wage to look up WWI bi-planes. But it requires an artist to take the component parts and bring them alive to a character who obviously loves these planes, who respects their brute power and reveres the beauty of their operation. When handled well, as Stephen Lodge handles his subject, the bi-plane becomes a separate and distinct character. Written by a lesser scribe, the bi-plane would be hit by enemy fire. With Lodge we hear the tearing of canvass and shattering of struts. The enemy doesn't use guns: He uses a Spandau machine gun. The protagonist, Josh McComb and his plane interact, to the benefit of the reader. It is passive interaction at first with Josh pulling his prize from the barn in which it had been housed. The reader senses the love of a man for his machine.

This is authenticity of voice. Examples are strung throughout this fine novel. They are too numerous to mention. Expect the vehicles that are driven to be described with such striking detail that we can feel it rattle and rumble beneath us. Early on, the horse that Josh is sitting on blows snot from its nose! Suffice it to say that no character simply lights up a cigarette. It is a Lucky Strike or a Camel and it is lit with a Zippo or a Blue Diamond Match.

Of course, authenticity by itself will not take the novel to a successful conclusion. Still, I would be surprised if one so adept at the finer details of his craft would not also be the inventor of a gripping and thrilling plot, action that pops and crackles, and characters who are complicated and grow to be something in the end that they were not in the beginning. No, I was not surprised. I expected nothing but the best for my reading investment. And, I was not disappointed. Stephen Lodge is a master of his craft, as you will agree when you finish Shadows of Eagles.

If you are partial to fast action, bad guys, guns, horses, vintage planes, and good old-fashioned bravery, Shadows of Eagles is your wisest choice. Author Stephen Lodge takes the reader on an intimate journey through southwest Texas as men and women band together to track down a group of escaped Nazi prisoners. Rich characters make the story come to life and one is tempted to let the answering machine take messages to avoid putting the book down. A wonderul book, a terrific plot, a rich experience. Thank you, Steve, for writing this book.

Lynn Price

"Shadows of Eagles" places first time novelist -- but no stranger to writing credits -- Stephen Lodge in nobody's shadow as a writer. The realistic dialogue with a cast of colorfully, diverse characters in "Shadows of Eagles" is in my mind the author's best talent as a writer. An exceptionally well written book and fascinating historical perspective are two other gifts the author brings to his readers. No doubt, this author/screenwriter may have recently published his first novel, but it most definitely will not be his last. Keep them coming. Outstanding!

The underlying theme of honor and respect permeates this fast paced story of a most unusual happening. Stephen Lodge has captured the essence of Texican pride and stubborn persistence as Cowboys chase Nazis across the hard desert mountains of southwest Texas. Using vintage WW1 planes, old trucks and cowboys on horseback, the action never slows. The author's intimate knowledge of the Big Bend country, along with his realistic dialogue takes the reader on a most intriguing journey.
Based on a real story during WW2, the touching camaraderie between sworn enemies makes this an outstanding adventure.
Shadows of Eagles is destined to become one of the great stories of our time.

The underlying theme of honor and respect permeates this fast paced story of a most unusual happening. Stephen Lodge has captured the essence of Texican pride and stubborn persistence as Cowboys chase Nazis across the hard desert mountains of southwest Texas. Using vintage WW1 planes, old trucks and cowboys on horseback, the action never slows. The author's intimate knowledge of the Big Bend country, along with his realistic dialogue takes the reader on a most intriguing journey.
Based on a real story during WW2, the touching camaraderie between sworn enemies makes this an outstanding adventure.
Shadows of Eagles is destined to become one of the great stories of our time.

This book is a classic on people who were interned in China during WWII. I have used it in connection with the book I wrote, "Called to China: Attie Bostick's Life & Missionary Letters from China: 1900-1943," since Attie was interned in this camp near Weishien. This book provides a vivid description of the conditions there.

-Rebekah (Becky) E. AdamsCalled to China:Attie Bostick's Life & Missionary Letters From China: 1900-1943

"For even saintly folk will act like sinners, Unless they have their customary dinners."

That's the theme of "Shantung Compound." It's the best sociology laboratory one can imagine. Take a diverse group of 1,500 Brits and Americans, shut them up in close quarters for two and one-half years in an internment camp, feed them barely enough to survive, let them rule themselves, and see what happens. That's what happened to the foreigners in the Japanese-controlled parts of China in World War II.

The situation at the internment camp in Shantung starts hopefully as the foreign internees elect a government, set up hospitals and kitchens, allocate space (9 feet by 4 and one-half feet per person), and establish a thriving black market. After that things go downhill. Some people won't work; others steal; and the community can't find any way to impose its will on the offenders. Missionaries comprise a large number of the internees but they are as lazy, morally obtuse, and uncooperative as many of the less savory members of the group. The most interesting and divisive moral issue comes up when the Americans internees receive food packages from the Red Cross. Should they share with the British or not? Another good story concerns the sex lives of the teenagers in the camp which became, to put it mildly, scandalous.

The author is a theologian and looks at both the moral and material issues. The book is not all bleak. The moral lapses and disputes of the internees do not destroy the community -- although one suspects than another year of internment would have seen that happen. One of the positive notes of the book is the character of Eric Liddell, the Olympic champion runner portrayed in "Chariot of the Gods" -- who is one of the few human beings in the book to come through as wholesomely good. (The author changes the names of all the internees mentions in the book but Liddell is easy to identify.) "Shantung Compound" is a classic of its kind and is perhaps the best book I have read on the behavior of human beings under stress.

Smallchief

Gilkey's academic liberalism is tested by the reality of the stress he observes as a mid-20's, very involved leader under prison conditions. His insights in the complex areas of law, food distribution, justice, work (his insight into lazy workers is very good), equality, theology, among other topics makes this book required reading for all managers, supervisors, teachers, religious leaders and lawyers. His associations with gifted intellects as well as self serving persons during his incarceration allowed him to validate his presuppositions. This is one of the most insightful books I've read in a long time. I now know why he is such an highly respected, revered teacher, mentor and theologian. His insight into the original sin of mankind is worth the price of the book! This book is truly a blessing.

This book should be required reading for every college student to better understand human nature and how people function when building a functional micro society from scratch.

This book left me speechless and introspectively questioning the Christian faith I espouse. In Shantung Compound Gilkey, through his experience in the internment camp, stops the "program" of our spiritual doings and forces us to examine the conscience of our spirituality. His book has molded together spirituality, philosophy, psychology, and sociology--all of this together into a powerful delivery that demands a reconstitution of true religion in the hearts of seekers and believers alike. Even now I grapple for words to describe the book because it's just that powerful. Every Christian thinker must have this book as well as those who question Christianity. If anything it should restore faith in faith.

This book is for anyone interested in the Vietnam War and particularly the US Army Rangers. The story concerns two New Englanders who wind up in the same company but become involved in their own private feud while battling the NVA enemy. The battle scenes are realistic and very graphic and it gives the reader an insight into how this brutal war was fought from the perspective of the average infantryman. The second part of the book is about what happened to the two main characters as they live and relive these experiences many years later. I recommend this book for anyone who seeks to find out the motivation of our soldiers when in battle and how they are able to cope with all of it in later life. This book was certainly an eye-opener for me and I'm sure for others who have read it.

I've just reread this book for the second time. It's a favorite on my shelf. Each time I have found in it a new insight on the humanity that struggles within all of us, buried under our hopes, insecurities and fears. Reilly has truly written of the incredible experiences of two men intertwined by one of the greatest tragedies of human life of our times -- a cathartic literary experience one hopes for him and a delightful, riveting read for us. There were times when I laughed out loud and others when I felt moved with a great compassion. I can't wait to see what he has in store for us next. Bring it on Reilly!

Charles Reilly's characters,Gavinand O'Connor,are so real it seems like someone you grew up with.

a fascinating, visceral novella on the treachery of Vietnam and the mental torment that returned stateside in the minds of fragile young g.i. warriors. this compelling journey is a somber wake up call, coupling the haunts of war with present day realities. it's a wonder these men could continue to care enough to move on back in the ole USA. no one captures the horror completely, that would be an insult to those who witnessed undescrible wartime acts, but Charles Reilly brings brave insight to momumental events. a gutsy read, Reilly deserves the Medal of Honor for his heroic,literary, revelations

Reilly weaves a tale about soldiers in Vietnam and their inner motivations about willingly risking their lives and sanity in an experience outside the norm. He confronts the many motivations of the soldier, some serve God and country and others want the adventure and stress that is part of war. This is not a typical war novel. Vietnam is part of the story but not the whole story. Reilly shows us the many personalities of the soldiers and then for many their turbulent lives after the war. This thought provoking book ponders the questions of god, karma and what does it all mean. He exposes the many sides of his characters so that the reader sees them as noble, cruel, confused, loving, vain and caring. His characters slowly transform so that no character is one sided. All have a human face, most are proud former soldiers, many seek redemption and acceptance from their friends, their career, their music and their god. Old scores do not always need to be settled. This book made me laugh and brough tears to my eyes. I gasped at the actions of many of his characters. He tells this tale with the skill of an old Irish storyteller, who makes the people and places come alive. I finished the book, thought back on the story and wanted more. Well done Reilly.

William Maher has given us a well-written biography of Fr. Emil Kapaun. Chaplain Kapaun was born in Kansas, grew up on a farm, and became a diocesan priest. He served as a chaplain in WWII and in Korea. In Korea he was taken as a prisoner of war and died from lack of medical treatment. Parts of this book are difficult to read because of the inhumane way the communist treated POW's, but for all the good men who endured this treatment, we need to read the story.

His heroic service to all the men he served with, not just catholics, will never be forgotten. He did everything he could to help his men spiritually, physically and mentally. The title of this book appropriately calls him a shepherd. Just as we think of Jesus as the Good Shepherd, so Fr. Kapaun was a good shepherd to his men. He was a true hero although he never would have considered himself a hero.

The vatican has named him "Servant of God", and I hope to see him canonized in my lifetime. Pray for us Fr. Kapaun.

My Dad went to the High School that was named after this Priest. He loves it so far.

As a new fire chaplain, I have been reading as wide as I can about what a chaplain does. Chaplain Kapaun is a real model for all of us who follow Christ and serve others as a chaplain.

This is an excellent story and so breathtaking, I had to stop reading in several parts, just to get through the chapter! What an amazing man Father Kapaun was and he showed how great the power of the human spirit is that once you start reading, you can't put it down. Then, when you're finished reading it, you want everyone to know about this wonderful human being! I, for one, will never feel needy for anything else in my life. Mr. Maher did an excellent job of interviewing friends and family of the Chaplain to make you feel that you knew him as well. Such a sad, sad story but one that makes you proud to be a Christian and proud to be an American. This has to be made in to a movie!

This book is a story of a man who becomes a priest and dies serving his fellow man. He is praised by the men of diffrent faiths (Christian, Jew and Muslim)who were POWs with him in North Korea.

This is an excellent book to read especially during this era where the Me Generation is thriving. This book shows one the importance of sacrifice for our fellow man.

Simply put this book should be mandatory reading for anyone that feels the American military should always have a "world presence" in the various political quagmires. Both young & old & in-between will benefit from a book that can make you laugh & cry often within the same paragraph.

Very Dry humour... I LOVE IT

This has to be one of the funniest, well-written, smartest books I've ever read. You can find the time to cry and laugh at the same time - it is an example of others in a horrible situation that can find some security in laughing and making their experiences funny to a certain point. I love this book and I intend on having my friends read it.

I was given this book by a friend who raved about it. I expected yet another terrible "Vietnam was hell-don't you feel sorry for me" books. Instead I got to read a book that transcends that conflict and all others. The story and mood could easily be transplanted to any other conflict in history and thats what makes this book so compelling. As a former enlisted infantryman, I rarely read any accounts that accurately portray the bizzare and often irrational logic that one has to adopt to deal with the situations faced by a soldier. Most stories and recollections make soldiers clear-thinking and rational and are usually from the perspective of an officer or high ranking NCO who seem almost to enjoy the experience. Any bad decisions are made "out-of scene" by politcally motivated officers or out-of-touch politicians. They imply that things would be fine without these busybodies. McAfee throws away these stereotypical conventions and gives us the hazy and almost absurdist reasoning that governs a man in times of unrelenting stress and deprevation. Each character in this story clings to each other, and in one case a mortar, to try and ground themselves in an environment of chaos and incoherence. This book should be a classic and the fact that it is out-of-print is a disgrace considering how much junk out there should never have been printed in the first place. However you can swing it, get this book. You will not be disapointed.

Dear Mr. McAfee,

I read your book. I have sent copies to friends. I never understood why it did not become an American classic. Finally, I saw your on-line comments and I understood.

You have done a marvellous thing for veterans and civilians alike. You have captured the essence of the Vietnam conflict. You "Get" it. You also made me weep for the first time in thirty years.

Thank you

I Just got through reading the book for the second time,and it
was just as good to me the second time as the first.
I will never understand the disparagey in the verdicts.To me the one that was most guilty got off scott free, while the least
guilyy got the worst punishment.That militarry justicefor you though.

The reviews of Gary Solis's SON THANG are entirely accurate: the book is a masterpiece of historical research and sharp, incisive, nuanced writing. A gripping and depressing read, the book examines not only the singular horror of the Son Thang massacre (and in that it is a refreshing alternative to the incident as presented in Oliver North's white-washed memoirs, and Randy Herrod's self-serving BLUE'S BASTARDS), but also the decline in morale and professional standards during the waning days of the Vietnam War. That this decay almost overwhelmed the draftee-filled U.S. Army is an accepted fact. That an institution as proud as the Marine Corps (an institution which had upheld its highest traditions at places like Con Thien, Hue, Khe Sanh, and Dai Do from 1965-68) was also dry-rotting during the 1969-70 period is not as well known. Though a proud Marine veteran himself, the author is willing to look such ugly truths square in the eye, and SONG THANG is all the better for it. The Foreword by BrigGen E.H. Simmons, USMC (Ret), is also fascinating.

A very interesting book.The author was not afraid to put the blame where it belonged. I wonder how many more such incidents happened in the time we were in Nam.As a Nam vet I know to well what it was like to be in a situation where you are damned if you do and damned if you don't. Hind sight is always 20 - 20,but sometimes our boys were put in a situation like that and were killed if they didn't take the nescesary steps. I am not condoning any senseless killing, but when it is kill or be killed you do what you have to do.

Professor Gary Solis' "Son Thang: An American War Crime" is an excellent account of the courts-martial of four Marines for the murder of 16 Vietnamese civilians during the Vietnam War. Drawing from the transcripts from the courts-martial, the appellate record, the historical record, and interviews with many of the participants, Solis - a Vietnam veteran who served as both a military prosecutor and military judge in the Marines and who now teaches military law at West Point - gives a complete picture of the story as only a true insider can.

Although this book is history, it reads like a novel. Solis brings the tension of the battlefield and the drama of the courtroom alive in this book. And he also brings alive the legal maneuvering before each court-martial as the prosecutors, defense counsel, and - in some cases - civilian defense counsel, all "prepared the battlefield" before each court-martial.

As a former practitioner of military justice, Solis understands the nuances and intricacies of military justice, staff work on a division staff, and the actual role of commanders in the process. He methodically explains how military justice works in a deployed environment (the rules are the same, but there are many "real-world" problems such as witness production and transportation that can threaten an otherwise sound case).

Finally, Solis also gives glimpses of the bigger picture of the Vietnam War in 1970: the USMC manpower problems with Project 100,000, law of war training issues, the moral problems dealt with by Marines facing women and children fighters, etc. And, after telling the full post-trial stories of the convicted Marines (that went on for over 10 years), Solis wraps up with some conclusions about what went wrong, what went right, and suggestions for improving the military justice system (which are especially relevant now that we are again trying important courts-martial in deployed environments).

"Son Thang" is an outstanding book and a very easy read. Anyone interested in the Vietnam War, military justice, or in trial work in general should read it.

"Son Thang" is both an important work of legal scholarship and a compelling, well-written story. Col. Solis documents, step by step, exactly how the Marine Corps treated its own suspected of war crimes in Vietnam-they were quickly tried, and if convicted, imprisoned. There were no coverups and no excuses. Marines accused of killing non-combatants were swiftly brought to book and the chips allowed to fall where they may. Here, it appears that several of the Marine Corps prosecutors were out-lawyered by civilian attorneys. That doesn't matter; a trial is, after all, a contest. What matters is that the Marine Corps had-and has always had and will always have-the will to try those accused of atrocities.

Every Vietnam Veteran, who believes he has figured out the answers to all his problems, needs to read and re-read this book. For the most part, "We didn't know We didn't know" It took years of healing as well as many delayed casualties before most of us began learning about PTSD. So........where are the Veterans Center Personnel when you need them? Obviously not reading very much!
This book should be mandatory reading for every Veteran who enters a program for PTSD. This incredible book is an"Interstate road map" to recovery. Especially for those who heed it's advice, explore it's pain, and recognize the emotional flash backs experienced in the war's aftermath.
Many Vietnam war veteran's had extreme difficulty overcoming the rejection and discrimination they met upon returning from the war. For many,their life spiraled out of control as they sank deeper into an emotional abyss. This is a book written by a man who experienced it all. He overcame poverty, a disfunctional family,a terrible childhood, and the insanity of war, while setting a benchmark for integrity, family values, and making a difference. This is a book for those who think that they can't make it any further.
W.H. McDonald is still making, a huge difference for those who will read his words. It is certainly worth the price of this book.

I found Bill's book a life changing experience. His triumphs over his horrible childhood experiences made me re-think my own and I was able to forgive many people out of the past, and thus change my present. I found this book exciting, memorable, and
once I started reading, I was unable to put it down. I purchased several more copies for people I thought would also have a life changing experience with it, and loaned out my personal, autographed copy to others. The feed-back has been tremendous. CONGRATULATIONS BILL!! Another job well done.

Mr. McDonald's book is both entertaining and inspirational. His stories are honest and compelling from start to finish. His first-hand account of the ravages of war are vivid and thought-provoking. This is one of those books that will haunt you pleasantly long after you turned the last page. I highly recommend adding it to your collection. It's one that you'll refer back to often.

Ostensibly a memoir written around the author's tour in Vietnam during 1966-1967, this book is far deeper and more thought-provoking than the usual Vietnam-era `We wuz in Vietnam and you done us wrong" books that fill the marketplace today.

As crew chief / door gunner on a UH-1D Huey helicopter, author William H. McDonald saw and experienced sufficient combat for him to win a Distinguished Flying Cross, the Bronze Star, a Purple Heart, as well as 14 Air Medals; his combat exploits alone would make for an enthralling story.

But while fighting in Vietnam was a major part of McDonald's life, it by no means consumed him, as his book illustrates. "A Spiritual Warrior's Journey" is a collection of absorbing and charming vignettes and slices of McDonald, from early childhood through his marriage, to his active `retirement' and subsequent return to Vietnam.

McDonald's story has an appeal to those who believe in a higher power, and to be more definitive, a compassionate higher power that assists and looks out for those human beings receptive to God's love and directions. His book is replete with stories of his life in which a higher power interceded to keep him alive, keep him fed, and keep him on what he believes is the right path in his life. And fortunately so, because his recounting of how poorly his mother treated him in his early years, and continued to treat him badly as he matured, is truly saddening. It would have been easy for the author to sink into the morass of drugs and alcohol as did many veterans of his era, yet it is clearly his belief in this higher power that kept his attitude and life far happier and more satisfied than most.

"A Spiritual Warrior's Journey" is a unique book, and one well worth reading. Written in a casual, conversational, and very personal style, it is surprisingly understated yet very positive : Yes, the author has had a difficult childhood, yes, combat in Vietnam was cruel, bloody, and merciless, but for those who can keep their eye on the bigger cosmic picture, you are not only not alone, but there is a higher power who always has your back.

Life's journey for all of us is as distinctive as our fingerprints. Bill McDonald's remarkable journey --- from tragedies to triumphs --- is a beautifully detailed trip through his childhood to the Vietnam War and into an adulthood of wisdom. His insights teach us about ourselves.

But a warning, leave your preconceptions behind. When you open the pages of A SPIRITUAL WARRIOR'S JOURNEY: The Inspiring Life Story of a Mystical Warrior, you are entering a world where the commonplace becomes magical, and coincidence suddenly makes sense.

McDonald is a warrior, a veteran of Vietnam, during which he won the Silver Star. An athlete and prize-winning student, his childhood home was dominated by a violent stepfather and a negligent mother. At the age of nine, he spent a year isolated in a hospital room with a near-fatal disease.

In Vietnam, he saved the lives of many soldiers because he sensed danger that could be avoided. In one case, he refused to allow a helicopter to take off, risking his reputation and a threat of court martial. He had several near-misses in combat when by all rights he should have been killed but bravely saved not only himself but others.

His are not the meanderings of a self-important scribe, but are backed up by U.S. government documents and eye-witnesses.

Throughout the rest of his life, McDonald used his "sense" to raise a family and help others through difficult times. He was also instrumental in the making of the award-winning Vietnam War documentary "Shadow of the Blade," released in theaters in 2003.

I unequivocally recommend this book. Read it. It will change your life for the better. It certainly has mine.

I found this book interesting for about the first half. It is interesting to hear how Leroy Grover got into the RAF will no military training. The book is disappointing though in the lack of in depth combat action. I was reading the book waiting for Leroy's first combat and he doesn't even include his first kill in his diary. The author has to tell us about it after the diary entry for the day of Leroy's first kill. I expected something much more descriptive about Leroy's first combat. I just didn't get the feeling that Leroy was an agressive fighter pilot. He encounters a HE III on a training flight. He is flying a fully armed Spitfire and meets a single unescorted German bomber. Leroy says he didn't feel experienced enough yet to tackle the German bomber yet he had 800 flying hours, although none of that was combat time. Leroy was also in England and flying either for the RAF or the U.S. for two years, yet his score was only 4 victories. It just didn't seem like Leroy had the fighter pilot persona to meet the enemy and shoot him down, at least not the way this book is written. Most of the book covers going into London or some town or village and socializing. Leroy Grover was alive when this book was written. I can't understand why this book wasn't written as a first person account since the author could talk to Mr. Grover and verify and update any events that had taken place. I think there is more to the story of Leroy Grover's involement in WWII but this book doesn't reveal that very well. I would recommend, Fly for Your Life, Reach for the Sky, The First and the Last, Thunderbolt, and Gunther Rall's book, I can't remember the title. I found these books much more interesting.

A friend who was reading this book told me about it and rather than wait for him to finish, I was fortunate enough to find a hard cover edition available on Amazon a week or so ago. Being fascinated with stories such as this and flying in general I decided I wanted a copy for my own. I'm glad I did.

LeRoy Gover is an authentic American hero who, in his early twenties decided he wanted to become a military fighter pilot. It is May of 1941. Gover has been a pilot of his own and other aircraft for nearly seven years and has accumulated 800 hours of flying time. He lacked any college education however, which was a requirement to join the Army or Navy pilot training. The RAF had no such requirement. If you had two hundred hours as pilot in command and could pass a physical, the RAF was interested in training American and Canadian pilots to bolster the RAF which was involved with the Battle of Britain at the time.

Gover and a few friends are accepted, receive basic training in Canada and eventually ship to England in a convoy which may have been as harrowing as many of the experiences he would eventually have as an RAF and US fighter pilot.

His story is told from letters and dairies as well as some interviews as Grover was alive at the time the book was published and from them we get a glimpse of three fascinating years in the history of WW2 and the air war in Europe.

These young men lived constantly with the pressure of combat flying and the dangers of being in wartime England, yet Gover's telling of the experience makes it sound like the old joke about what it is like to be an airline pilot...hours and hours of sheer boredom interrupted by moments of sheer terror. He describes more than the flying. There is also the comradship, being assimilated into the life and culture of wartime England and the carefree way they sought release with parties, alcohol, movies and some very friendly English women.

Almost casually as one reads of the experiences it starts to dawn on the reader than young Grover is an exceptional pilot and exceptionally fortunate, as well. Thirteen men graduated with him in his training class. He and another are the only survivors. After one hundred and fifty three missions, he had acquired the Silver Star, three DFC's and eight air medals. He shot down four Germans for sure, had three probables and damaged seven others.

After finally returning to the US after three years in combat he remained in the Air Force until 1961, retiring with the rank of Colonel. He continued to fly following retirement and it is reported that as of the writing of the book he had twenty eight thousand hours of flying time and probably more time in fighter aircraft than any person alive.

But this books charm is not in the accomplishments of this remarkable individual. It is in the landscape of the time painted by Gover's words.
They span the years and one can hear the sound of the Merlin engines and feel the concussions of the German bombs falling on the English countryside. If this appeals to you...you need to find a copy.

This book gives you a good balance of what life was like. The fighting and living before and after America arrived on mass. It also compares the strength's and weakness of both planes and how they completed similar jobs but were built on completly different theories. Good book reccommend to people who enjoyed first light or spitfire offensive.

It's not often you get to read the very inner thoughts of a fighter pilot but this book allows the reader just that. Leroy Gover, whose combat career of 159 missions is the subject of this book, habitually kept a diary and this, coupled with excerpts from his letters home and candid interviews with the author, really makes this memoir feel as though you're relaxing in the mess while Gover talks to you.

A California kid, Gover learnt to fly before he could drive and was an experienced flyer at the time he decided to volunteer for service in the RAF. This was before the US entered the war and is an early indication of the type of person Gover is. After training, where his enthusiasm for flying new aircraft is evident, he and his classmates embarked on a long, sometimes hazardous journey to Canada and then by convoy (the hazardous bit!) to England. Within days, perhaps hours, of landing in England, Gover is amazed and humbled by the spirit and resilience of the English civilians and this is a theme that continues throughout the book. We follow him through OTU (Operational Training Unit) where he finally gets to fly his dream aircraft - the Spitfire. He is then posted to 66 Sqn and comences flying fighter sweeps, convoy escort etc.

Gover, although aware of his abilities as a flyer, knows he has to be good at what he does to have a greater chance of survival. Through his writings and the author's clarifications and additional information, Gover comes across as a humble, yet ambitious fighter pilot. He knows he isn't invincible and more than once he doubts if he'll ever return home. He never ceases to be amazed at the situations he gets into and his love affair with the Spitfire, and the city of London and girls when on leave, is very evident.

America's entry into the war eventually sees Gover joining the US Army Air Force and eventually converting to P-47s with the newly formed 4th Fighter Group which was destined to become one of the most famous of all American fighter groups. Here, I believe, is where his personality and combat experience come to the fore. He quickly becomes an excellent leader who keeps an eye on the men who fly behind him on formation. He feels their loss greatly, as he does throughout his time in England when friends are killed.

Reading this book is like talking to an old friend who has been away for a few years. It is a candid, sometimes amusing, always eye-opening look at how these men made it through day-by-day. Once a day was over, they were always ready to put it all on the line the next.

Although history and aviation buffs will definitely enjoy this book, there was so much more to it. This book really makes you think about the value of life. Many, many people died in this book, from training accidents, falling off boats in the ocean, getting hit by "friendly fire", as well as getting hit in combat. Yet nobody complained. Lives were expendable for the cause. And for some pilots, just the act of flying was worth dieing for. The act of living seemed to become more important, and people seemed to live life to the fullest in spite of the troubling times.

Don't get me wrong, this wasn't some deep, intense book. It was also very entertaining. I learned a lot about early aviation, and the early part of the war between England and Germany. But at the end of it I got a much better inside view about what it was like to live during World War II, and to enjoy the life we're given.

When Heinlein first penned this work in response to a call by some politicians to unilaterally disarm the United States, I doubt if he thought it would become one of his best known and most controversial works, a work which continues to have steady sales and whose influence on the science-fiction field has been enormous.

It's a simple story, one of the growth of Juan Rico from boy to man, as he enlists in the military of the future, and learns just what duty and responsibility mean, what his own capabilities are, and just what he wants out of life.

What is controversial about this book is the philosophy that suffuses it, is in fact the heart of this book, as Heinlein posits a future where, in order to vote or hold political office, you must prove your willingness to support and defend the society through either military service or service in one of the non-combatant auxiliary services. As part and parcel of this idea, no one can be refused entry into these services, even if blind or paralyzed, so political franchise is available to anyone who so desires (as opposed to some of the limitations that have been put on the voting franchise by various states at various times - and remember that this book was written in 1959, long before the Voting Rights Act of 1965). Heinlein further posits that such a society, even though the people who hold office were no better, smarter, or otherwise more qualified than our current leaders, would be a more stable society than our current one because their authority is balanced by their proven sense of responsibility and duty towards that society, a point that is certainly debatable, but in the absence of any real-world society so structured, must remain a conjecture.

Right alongside this idea are statements that rights must be earned (a critical failure of our current society is the inculcated belief that people have these rights just because they exist - that they are `owed' things without having to make any effort of their own), that correct moral attitudes are not inherent but must be taught (and a lack of corporal punishment in the early developing years does not help in this education), that war is a political statement whose level of violence must be geared towards what the political goal is, that the dictum that `violence never solves anything' is hogwash, that communism is based on faulty premises, and a whole host of other such ideas.

Now quite a few people have labeled this book as `fascist' because of this military service requirement, when it is no such thing (just look up the definition of fascist). Heinlein does glorify the military to some degree, but he also shows (often by counter-example) just how screwed up the military can be. And far from robotic adherence to commands, he clearly indicates that military people should question orders they think are suspect (at the right time and place - not while the bullets are whizzing over your head). There is a well-established court system, that like ours is pretty much insulated from political influence, and a political election process that is far away from any fascist government organization.

His depiction of boot camp and later military operations is excellent, comparable to similar descriptions in things like Leon Uris' Battle Cry. Rico is very well portrayed, a man that is very easy to empathize with and understand his thought processes. The plot seems to ramble a bit, as the story is not really about the Bug war, but about Rico's development. Once you understand this, it is very logical, coherent, and often exciting. The philosophy is presented with anecdotes, analogies, and concrete examples that make it easy to understand and far from being just `dry lecture', though perhaps that is the only real flaw with this book, as there is perhaps just too much of this `telling', rather than `showing'. But in general this is extremely readable, with Heinlein's typical unforced, near-folksy prose and clear thought processes.

This book has been, at various times, on the recommended reading list of all of our military service academies. I would go further, and recommend that this book be added to the list of `required reading' that our high school students are subject to. Whether you agree with ideas of this book or not, at the very least this book will make you think, and that's not a bad thing for students to learn how to do.

--Reviewed by Patrick Shepherd (hyperpat)

I became interested in the original novel after I watched the movie and found the story to be captivating. It is the tale of a soldier and his view of what it takes to be a Citizen and the entailing responsibilities. It is easy to read and the science-fiction premise makes the story attractive to a wider range of readers.

I first read Starship Troopers probably about 44 years ago. Since that time I have read probably thousands of Science Fiction Books, and while I have read some really good ones over the years, I keep coming back to Starship Troopers over and over again. There isn't a heck of a lot of Science, but there is Robert Heinlein's acidic sense of humor mixed in with a moral lesson and an incredibly captivating yarn. Regardless whether you are an adolescent or approaching the "golden years", this is a good read. Like most of Heinleins novels, you can live in this one for a day or so. Great escape, great entertainment, with none of the ever-present filth that pervades much entertainment media today. Read it, and enjoy it.

I first read this novel my junior year in High School, and it has remained one of my favorite novels ever since. Some have said that this book makes light of fascism, but this couldn't be further from the truth...

In the far future mankind is under the rule of the Federal Government, where before you can vote you must serve the government in some capacity. Usually this is done via a hitch in the military.

Rico enlists in the Mobile Infantry, fighting the enemies of mankind in a suit of super powered armor. After surviving his training he goes to war against a race of deadly insects bent on the extermination of mankind.

I'm new to Heinlein, but I had heard this book was completely different from the movie. It's a fantastic read and if you go in expecting a lot of combat and killing, be forewarned that is not the case. This is one of the best science fiction books I have ever read.