Troops Books

in this turn pager muki betser reveals the secretive world of isrel's elite special operation units. told with great credability and a cocky attitude muki guides the reader through israel's wars , terrorist attacks and fight for survival. revealing not only succeses but also failures and tragedy.

As good as Marciko's Rough Warrior. True account no holds barred combat stories. Get it!

Muki Betser tells an intense account of his experiences as one of Israel's greatest commandos. Awesome book highly recommended. I read it in one day - couldn't put it down. Covers his experience in Shaked, Tsanchanim, and Sayeret Matkal - bascially starting from 1967. Despite the fact that his political views are outdated, (i wonder if he still thinks the same) this is a man who gave his entire life for the state of Israel.

I read this one a while ago, but recent events brought it back into the forefront of the mind. I remember that this was a really good book and gave me a perspective of the Israeli military that I never saw before. I knew they were very good, but I had no idea.
I just hope that we don't have to resort to the level of security that they have in Israel or Northern Ireland. Also, this book makes me want to read other books about the Israeli military.

I have never read a book that was more addicting than the SECRET SOLDIER. I have read it 4 times and I am still amazed at what the IDF can do. The missions that are described within this book will blow your mind from Entebbe to Prime Minister Ehud Barak running through the streets if Beirut in a dress and firing an Uzi. THIS BOOK IS FAR AND WAY THE BEST BOOK I HAVE EVER READ!

Please send my purchase or credit my account. Thank you.

David G. Bauer

The creator of this tome puts you squarely behind the devastating 90mm flat-trajectory weapon on his Patton Series M-46A1 tank; plus, many more direct fire adventures and the inevitable side trips to tedium and despair that is synonomous with the eternal, war-weary combat Marine tankers. This was all accomplished through his letters sent home and preserved by his loving and sagacious mother. In his depiction of the War in Korea, punctuated by death and misery all around is clearly expressed. Conversely, it also demonstrates the exlixir of daily triumphs against a resolute and formidable enemy locked in mortal combat. This is not only a superior read, but also a treat to the eye with a myriad of on the scene photos and the author's brillant penchant at illustrations and sketches well done. It also explores the brutal and intensive training of all Marines who volunteered for a combat tour to Korea. Only the finest specimen of a Marine entered Korea for service in the Fleet Marine Force. This literary work personalized and covered a polygot of details of what Marine tankers were all about: their virulent mindset and their military accomplishments in the field, which unfolded day-in and night-out. ..THE ENEMY ALWAYS FOUGHT AT NITE!! [close combat]...Roger Baker's natural style unmasks the unvarnished truth of how Marines survived under severe combat conditions and the trials and tribulations of misconduct in the Reserve Area. He even puts a stamp on his own veracity for expressing his love/lust for life. His writings of such, symbolizes the courageous youth of America; regardless, to his own country's pathetic apathy on what is taking place in Korea [1950-1953]. By your leave, take for instance his 'Bon Voyage' out of Korea in the final chapter. With all the death and destruction during his combat tour of duty, a rip-roaring climax takes place on the loading docks at Inchon...it mirrors, there was never a safe haven in Korea. It was a full blown WAR despite President Harry Truman's smoke/screen, "It's only a 'Police Action' and nothing to fear"...yeah, sure Mr. President...It was WAR in Korea...who am I??...just another Marine tank gunner, who also squeezed the 90mm trigger just like our humble and eloquent author...this is one hellava read...Semper Fidelis....SSGT CHRIS SARNO-USMC FMF

I found myself many times feeling as though I was there with Roger. There were times I laughed and had tears. I especially like the idea of his personal account of what it was like being a young man so far from home, building new relationships and dealing with losing those close to him. I'm thankful Roger wrote home consistenly and his family saved all his letters and drawings, more than that I am thankful Roger has shared his experience with us, taking many of us to a place we have never been, but walked away feeling what it was like to have been there.

Roger Baker shares with all readers his personal account of his year in Korea. His letters home were extraordinary in their level of feelings and honesty and yet allowing his parents to be part of this very difficult time in his life. I found the book warm, funny, sad and yet very tender. Tankers are a special group of men for sure, and living in these machines in the heat of summer and cold of winter must have been unbearable. Roger lets us experience his trip to adulthood in a very personal way. He is a true American Hero.

This book took me to a place I knew nothing about, and did it with language vivid as the photos that stud the text. Perfect? No. Moving? Yes. This is war. Read and learn.

Author Lucas is like many military historians. Canadian, Australian, New Zealand, and South African exploits are usually lumped in with "British" when relating events from WWI and WW II.

In this book, for example, not only does he pass off in a few words the monumental battle at Ortona, he refers - for the most part - to the attacking troops as "British."

Ortona was, is, and always will be an icon of the gallantry of the men of the 1st Canadian Division. Even the New York Times acknowledged the magnitude of this epic Canadian fight against the German paras, calling it "Little Stalingrad" in reports from the front.

If you want to read about the heroism on BOTH sides in that historic confrontation, seek out Mark Zuehlke's Ortona.

Highly recommended for anyone interested in German paratroopers or special forces in general. Great narrative, very easy to read. Every battle is viewed through the eyes of the German paratroopers. Thus the usual monster battles, Stalingrad etc. gets very little focus or are hardly even mentioned. Whereas entire chapters are devoted to the operations in Benelux and Tunisia. This doesn't feel odd at all, but actually very refreshing since you are reading THEIR, sometimes untold, story.

The book is written in a style that blends detailed eye-witness accounts with broader strokes of operational history. This is of course the most common way to write military history books, but James Lucas does so better than most authors. He does not bog down in unnecessary details, yet manages to keep the reader aware of which unit was where and why.

Mr. Lucas holds the German paratroppers very dear, yet he comes of as well balanced and unbiased is his interpretation of the events.

The one negative thing I have to say about the book is the lack of maps (an all to common problem in this genre). To fully enjoy it you need to have a healthy dose of WW2 geography in your backpack. Still it doesn't cause enough fuss to give the book anything other than the highest grade.

Having a dozen & more WWII books on the shelf by James Lucas, you could say that I do enjoy his books. I trust his research and scholarship whenever he writes about the WWII era.

This present volume, originally published in 1988 by Arms and Armour Press, is now available in a lower priced Cassell paperback war classic.

These tough, well trained men who wore the Parachutist's jump badge of the silver wreath with the golden eagle descending, were some of Germany's finest special forces groups. From 1935 through 1945, these men were generally in the thick of combat wherever the Reich needed them most. And from the 1940 assault on Eben Emael and the invasion of Crete in 1941 onward they took on the patina and glimmer of a hard, tough fighting group. In the final days of 1945 when the British were assaulting the Westwall and Reichswald, the "bloody para boys" were the ones they least wanted to face. These hardened troops also saw action in the key theatres of North West Europe, North Africa, and on the Eastern Front.

James Lucas covers all aspects of this specialized group of men from 1940 through 1945, and does it pretty much in historical order. Hardly a page in this book exists without photographs (hardcover edition) and the maps are excellent, too.

Should you have interest in any of the special forces of the Reich, especially these fallshirmjagers, then this book is one you must see.

Storming Eagles: German Airborne Forces in World War II by James Lucas is a fascinating book, written not as a piece of Fallschirmjaeger ideology, nor as pointed anti-German prose from a former British soldier who faced these warriors (as Lucas was), but rather as a clear-headed and balanced account of the actions of these German troops throughout the Second World War. Lucas has crafted his prose in such a way that readers from an Allied lineage will away not feeling as though they have been reading about the 'enemy' as much as having read about groups of elite well-trained, valorous and tenacious soldiers who fought bravely for their country in the great conflict that was WWII. This is not an easy task for an author as so much emotion is still (60 odd year out) connected with this conflict and nationalism of readers is not absent. Yet, on reading Lucas' book this reviewer often felt he was reading not about German paratroopers but units from the 101st or 82nd US Airborne, or British 1st Airborne - one need only substitute names and direction of solider views to accomplish this in a general sense. Lucas achieves this feat by telling personal tales, or at least focusing attention on small units within the larger unit and theatre contexts.

Storming Eagles contains lucid descriptions of the Fallschirmjaeger actions that most will be familiar with (e.g., the drop on Crete in '41), as well as lesser know para-ops (e.g., ****). Yet, the largest portion of the book is devoted to ground actions (no drop or glider troop delivery) of the Jaeger forces, since Hitler concluded early in the War that airborne ops was not efficient use of manpower (much like much of the Allied high command throughout the war) and thus used his elite troops as 'fire-brigades' wherever needed to plug holes or stem Allied pushes. Again it is not hard when reading such accounts to imagine one is reading about Allied airborne forces as those forces were also used as 'fire-brigades' (re: Bastogne during the Ardennes counteroffensive), although certainly not as frequently. As the War proceeded more and more infantry were needed as replacements for dwindling manpower in both Allied and Axis camps, so it should not be that surprising that both commands looked to there elite paratroopers as a source of battle-worthy infantry grunts; better trooper were fighting in ground actions then sitting idle in embarkation camps awaiting airborne ops that never materialized. Lucas gives a good accounting of Jaeger actions throughout the war, a task not made easy by the fact that Hitler chose to utilize these troops piecemeal rather than as whole Divisional units. Hence, the story Lucas presents is one that required rather painstaking research to track down para groups when they were integrated into a variety of Wehrmacht and SS formations scattered in operations from the Middle East, to the Western and Eastern fronts, and actions near the Artic Circle. Lucas' efforts should be lauded, certainly the reader gains from his hard work!

In the end, Storming Eagles is a very solid read worthy of picking up even if one is not especially interested in German paratroops during WWII. This book is valuable for a multitude of reasons and is pure military history fun. 4.5 stars.

Lucas provides a comprehensive review of the action of the german fallschirmaeger in WW-II, probably one of the better currently available in English. Good section on Crete in particular. Does have sympathy with his subject, but this doesn't make it pro-Nazi (unless you are of the view that all German soldiers were Nazi's), just pro-german (or pro Fallschirmaeger). Doesn't deal with the establishment or organisation of troops but gets quickly into the action. Well worth the read.

I encountered CORAL AND BRASS before "HOWLIN' MAD" VS. THE ARMY, and gave both a thorough reading. Despite his advanced age, Holland Smith did not bring wide command experience to the Pacific. Stronger in theory than in practice, his approach to actual combat suffered, accordingly. He showed poor judgment at Saipan, and at Iwo. I agree completely that Ralph Smith was treated shabbily. He was the better field commander. Gailey's work, here, is superb.

Jim O'Dell
Military Historian
Camarillo, CA

Charles ziembo misses the point of why Professor Gailley wrote this book. Prior to "Howlin' Mad Versus the Army", people who wrote about Saipan accepted HM Smith's version of Saipan as the one true version of Saipan. No one ever cited any Army source, such as Edmund Love's history of the 27th Infantry Division or tried to talk to any Army officer involved in the incident.

As Professor Gailey points out, HM Smith had never commanded troops in battle prior to Saipan, made a number of errors on Saipan, and blamed the Army Division and its Commander for everything that went wrong on Saipan.

I read this book right after I had read "A Fighting General" by Norman Cooper, a bio of General Holland Smith. Mr. Gailey's book is a fine description of both Generals Smith and the problems and bad feelings between the army, navy and marines in the pacific during the war. However, I found Mr. Gailey tended to favor army general Ralph Smith's side over that of general Holland Smith. Perhaps this was due to the author's having had the chance to personally interview Ralph Smith but not Holland Smith. Gailey's admiration for Ralph Smith is apparent throughout the book. If you wish to get both sides of this story and learn the real reason Holland Smith relieved the army general I recommend Dr. Cooper's bio of Holland Smith. He devotes many pages to the controversy and presents both sides of the argument. Both books are well-worth the read. And, if you're really into this, by all means read Holland Smith's "Coral and Brass."

I first learned of this book as a History Book Club selection almost 20 years ago, although I didn't purchase it at the time. Oddly enough, the subject of the dispute over the relief of Army General Smith on Saipan by Marine General Smith is discussed of all places in David Hackett Fischer's excellent book on American cultural patterns, Albion's Seed, which I recently read. My interest was heightened when I checked the short treatment of the episode in Forrest Pogue's authoritative biography of General Marshall. As a result, I obtained Gailey's book in used form and I wasn't disappointed.

More than the extensive treatment of the tactical issues involved in the relief, I was fascinated by the author's fine discussion of the interservice differences and problems of command and coordination. In the Smith-Smith conflict, these were much exacerbated by the choleric temperment of Marine Gen. Smith as contrasted with the more phlegmatic disposition of his Army subordinate. Gailey is quite clearly a partisan of Army General Ralph Smith, but always states his case fairly and with abundant evidence and documentation. Importantly, Gailey never allows his arguments to degenerate into an attack on the Marine Corps, although he decidedly sees Gen. Holland Smith's overidentification with his own branch of service as a marked handicap in his ability to credibly handle large units from both services optimally.

Two individuals who receive notable secondary praise are General Marshall and Admiral Nimitz, each of whom approached the dispute reasonably and temperately in an effort to contain its explosive adverse potential and prevent future recurrences to the detriment of the war effort. This is contrasted with the author's view of Admirals King, Spruance and Kelly Turner (and perhaps General Richardson), each of whom is portrayed as engaging in partisan turf protection, although in Richardson's case, justifiably so. Reading Howlin' Mad vs. the Army led me to appreciate how much better interservice relations have been managed since 1944 by MacArthur (in both the latter part of the Pacific War and Korea) and Gen. Schwartzkopf in the First Gulf War. There is a fundamental difference of philosophy and many attitudes among the Army and Marine Corps, but cooperation is as possible as it is necessary. Harry Gailey's book demonstrates what can happen when that necessity falls victim to other considerations, particularly service chauvinism.

Harry Gailey has authored an articulate expose, really, which peels away the years of distrotion and myth that have grown out of this unfortunate incident (the Smith vs Smith controversy, in which Marine Lt General Holland Smith relieved his subordinate, Major General Ralph Smith, USA, of command at Saipan). Orignially Gailey had heard from Edmund Love, the 27th Infantry Division historian, that it was common knowledge amongst those of the 27th that MG Ralph Smith was unjustly relieved (the 27th ID was Ralph Smith's division). Without going into detail about the how's and why's of the book, suffice it to say that this book gives a revealing critique of the marine General, the events leading up to Saipan which shaped his opinions, and a systematic demolition of the rumor that the 27th troops were cowardly and inept. It also provides the day-to-day history of the fighting, the heaviest of which fell on the 27th. This is a true story of interservice hatreds and should be back in print.

If you like intrigue, surprises, and being transported into another time and place - and to learn more about isn't taught in history books, this is a good book for you. If you love Italy, the history of the Catholic church, and have a mind for details, this is REALLY a book for you!

I am bewildered at what it must have taken to research and COMPILE the details in this book. Payments for ransom, ledgers of the city of Siena, how many horsemen went into a particular battle. Although Hawkwood is the central character in this book, it was an era - and his life was intertwined into so many people and places important to the era - that the book provides a fascinating travelogue to the mid- to late 1300s. Who knew that one Pope (John XXI) died when a ceiling fell on him? There were more homicides in spring, when competition for paltry food supplies from last year's harvest gave motive - the book is chockablock full of details like this that bring the era alive, even if you don't keep a scorecard to remember who was ruling where, against whom, or married to whom. I even found many of the asides interesting [travel is derived from "travail", meaning "work." Indeed, travel continues to be work today.....]. If you ARE a details junkie, this book is really for you. If you aren't, no worries, it's still a great read.

While obscure to many historians and laymen alike, John Hawkwood was a pivotal fulcrum in Italian politics during the 14th century. As a soldier in the Hundred Years War between France and England, he was unremarkable. After joining a siege of the Papal city of Avignon, and subsequently being hired to wage war in the Italian Peninsula, Hawkwood rose rapidly through the ranks of condottiere ("contractors") by virtue of a singular talent for avaricious power politics and devious strategy.

Saunders uses the engagements Hawkwood was involved to great effect in illustrating the less romantic realities of the Italian Renaissance. She does an excellent job as well in illuminating Hawkwood's likely role as a source of English intelligence on Papal and Italian politics. Stoner has thought-provoking asides on his likely meetings with Geoffrey Chaucer, the revenues and spending patterns of his military company, his relationships with other condottieri, and his love/hate yet strategic relationship with the Florentine commune, which ended by honoring "L'Acuto" with a portrait in its Cathedral.

The prose is easily absorbed, yet detailed and informative. Many interesting tangents are resolved without losing the primary thrust of the narrative, and Stoner's mastery of sources as well as objective assessment of their credibility is obvious.

Stoner's book is a worthy addition to the literature about early Renaissance Italy. (My review should have been four stars, but for some reason, I cannot edit this feature.)

A good introduction to the warring mess of the Italian Warring States era of the 14th Century, Saunders is very much in the tradition of Tuchmann in sweep and historical detail. If you enjoyed "A Distant Mirror" then you shall surely enjoy this read as well. No one can duplicate Tuchmann, but the technique of using a rather obscure historical personage as a counter point to explore the history, social habits, military strategy and artistic acheivments of a particular era, when done well, yeilds a good narrative treasure for the reader. Saunders delivers!

John Hawkwood, an English Freebooter who participated in the great cheveauches which wasted great parts of France migrates to Lombardy and realises the potential of selling his mercenary services to the courts of Milan, Florence, and the Papal League. Even when reading it is virtually impossible to keep track of the alliances, counter alliances, intrigues within enigmas that underly this era, but the end result -- a frothy, earthy bloodfest, is a delight for the reader. This is really a case studies for Machiavelli type of book (Althought the events in the book actually predate Machiavelli by about 50 yrs).

The book is particularly good at describing the schisms in the Church at the time and one is tempted to ask the question how the church held together so well in the face of this schism and needed another 100 yrs plus, before it eventually fractionated into Protestantism.

Yes, The Devil's Broker is a thorough history of fourteenth-century's preeminent leader of brigands, outlaws and freebooters, John Hawkwood. It must encompass, therefore, The Hundred Years War, the Treaty of Bretigny, no peace in a devastated France, decades of British Free Companies raiding and ransoming French and Italian municipalities, the Pope and Curia moving back to Rome from Avignon two or three times, and the ruinous papal schism.
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Here is also a marvelous source on reliquaries, sleeping attire, size of beds, weaponry, battle tactics, camp life, diet, armor, Chaucer, worth of money, indulgences, forced loans, and interdicts, to name a few subjects.
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The author left this reader confident that she had included all relevant content surrounding the period and Hawkwood. The research is exceptional. If documents do not support connecting events together, the author states as much. Read the notes along with the manuscript to gain more insight. She wrote the entire book with skill so to be readable information, with a small caveat.
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My minor criticism is that sentences in the early chapters seemed overlong, and both fractured and run-on. I didn't seem to notice the problem later in the book. Perhaps due to outstanding content or I learned how to read at the author's level of writing.

Fourteenth century Italy was a maelstrom of political intrigue,military turmoil, and populated with deceiving and fascinating characters. Frances Stonor Saunders' new book uses Sir John Hawkwood, an English mercenary, as its center to create a world both thrilling and repugnant. To state that this is a book one "cannot put down" is risky, but it is nonetheless true. It is a captivating and well written account! The book moves rapidly through the era yet it does not sacrifice detail and description, but contains enough of both to hold the reader in its grasp. The character of Hawkwood is deftly interwoven into the fabric of medieval Italy. Although he was English he was a survivor. That was no mean feat as Sauders so impressively relates. It is superbly written and recommended most highly.

I thoroughly have enjoyed this book and have read it several times. I have used it several times as guided discussions in a classroom setting. I felt it an important part of our front line stories that I got copies for the chaplains on base. I have actually gone back and gotten some of Andrews earlier books and have come to realize that warfare itself has changed, the verbage we use has changed but the feelings and emotions are still the same.

Grace Under Fire is BRILLIANT...simply BRILLIANT!

It is overwhelmingly touching, powerful and inspiring and any one of these letters will pierce your heart. I was profoundly moved by the e-mail written by the late David Bloom.

Through these letters of faith in GRACE UNDER FIRE, Andrew Carroll gives us a glimpse of our service men and women and their families; we read about what they had...what they never lost...and what it means to "have faith", feel its power, how it has changed them or how they have reconnected with their faith.

GRACE UNDER FIRE is no ordinary book--this is another literary treasure from Andrew Carroll; this is the book you hand deliver and say "You must read this."

The threads of faith are smoothly woven by soldiers from the Revolutionary war through our current conflicts. Their personal letters written to loved ones are sensitive and plain spoken in the face of the terror of their war. Bravo to Andy Carroll for sharing these personal reflections. I found this book very inspiring!

This is an outstanding book that I've read many times and shared with numerous friends of faith. The book, the works behind it, and the multiple intents for it are worthy of as much praise as can be heaped upon it. It's written for everyone: the common person who's never been to war, those have been or are in the thick of things overseas and especially the families of those who serve. It's a way to understand others thoughts and feelings as well as your own if you're in those circumstances.

Andrew Carroll has faith and a heart that is bigger than Texas in his desire to help others in their times of need to understand things bigger than themselves. This is one of his works in that human endeavor to make life better for others. A humanitarian award should be given to him for his desire to make life a little easier or better for others and to help others share their feelings over such harsh and emotional issues in life.

This is a must read for anyone concerned about war and the feelings that it invokes in service members, their families and even their friends. Read it for yourself and then share with others whom you know.

I loved this book. We have been sending copies to our Troops as a community project in care packages and their feedback is terrific, they love it! As w/all of Mr. Carroll's work it brings the true and authentic stories home with what our men, women, and families experience while at war. One of the nicest things about this book is the elegance and quality, it simply feels good in your hands. I have given this book out already to civilians numerous times as gifts. I appreciated reading about the spiritual aspect and how faith does bring hope and encouragement during times of struggle, loneliness, and pain.

Nice book.REMINDS me of the under ground rail road.

The subtitle, "Story of the 1890s Fort Missoula Buffalo Soldiers Bicycle Corps" is a good general description of the book's contents. I had never heard of Ft. Missoula, much less known that they had a bicycle corps, before stumbling across this book in the Jefferson National Expansion Memorial's bookstore. It's not a long book, but it covers its topic well. Of course I was interested in the horrendous ride from Missoula, Montana to St. Louis, but the account of the Ninth and Tenth Cavalry saving the Rough Riders at San Juan Hill was enlightening. Also (all too) informative was the account of the "discharge without honor" by order of President Theodore Roosevelt of 167 soldiers, many of them formerly of the bicycle corps. The book also includes numerous photos, a number of which are wonderful shots (and very well-printed) of the soldiers in Yellowstone National Park. I highly recommend this book as an entertaining account of a dedicated group of American soldiers who happened to have been of African descent. (Incidently, having read this book I was able to feel incredibly smug with recognition when the Bicycle Corps turned up as an integral part of Peter Heck's "Tom's Lawyer", the most recent installment of his Mark Twain mystery series.)

This is a very interesting and neglected subject for a book. I'm interested in anything about bicycling and a bit about the turn of the century, so this was a must-read. Because this is the only book of it's kind I've found, I would recommend reading it.

However, be aware of a few annoyances. The book is poorly edited and proof-read. There are many hyphens separating words that are not at the ends of lines, and a few paragraphs end mid-sentence. There are quite a few repeated passages and it tends to wander a bit from the main subject. One gets the feeling it would not have filled a book of more normal format and was padded a bit. It would be nice to see this one re-published and improved.

Again, I don't mean to disparage it too much - just pointing out some personal annoyances.

Hope it helps...

What a great book! It really has something for everybody; military bike history, Black history, the American frontier at the turn of the century and more. Great pictures and illustrations also. Military cycling books are rare and this one fills a much needed niche. You will not be disappointed.

In 1897 a contingent of twenty black soldiers, a white West Point officer, a military surgeon and a young newspaper reporter rode bicycles from Fort Missoula, Montana to St. Louis, Missouri, following the Burlington Northern railroad. The groups' leader, Lt. Moss, was trying to prove to the army that bicycles could be a valuable asset. I first became acquainted with this little known gem of history through the children's magazine Highlights in the early 90s. I have been fascinated with it ever since. George Niels Sorenson's Iron Riders presents this story and the broader context of those "Buffalo Soldiers-on-wheels". He tells us of the practice trip the bicycle corp made to Yellowstone Park before their epic St. Louis run and the lives of the riders after their trip. This 8 x 10 book has many primary source pictures, documents and maps which illuminate the text. It's the only informational book I know of devoted to a story which deserves a wider audience. If you are a middle school history teacher, like me, do yourself a favor and pick up this book. It would make a fantastic unit. But I agree with the other reviewer: anybody who likes black history, social history, military history, bicycle touring, the west and/or unsung heroes will find a lot to enjoy in this book. And, if you like this book you'll want to check out the PBS video The Bicycle Corps: America's Black Army on Wheels and the children's book Black Wheels.

On the "Lee" side of the book, it buys into way too much mythology of "The Lost Cause" as part of its assessment of Lee as leader.

I served with Major Bowery in iraq, so maybe i'm prejudice, but this was a great read, and showed how leadership dictates battle.

This is one of two excellent recently published books about Grant, the other being Charles Bracelen Flood's Grant and Sherman: The Friendship That Won the Civil War. In this volume, Bowery focuses almost entirely on the Overland Campaign which began with "The Battle of the Wilderness" (May 4-6, 1864), continued during "The Battle of Spotsylvania" (May 9-12, 1864), and concluded with "The Battle of Cold Harbor" (May 31-June 7, 1864).

As Bowery observes, "In a war filled with grist for leadership studies, the Overland Campaign offers a unique opportunity. It allows the study of two of history's greatest generals, playing for a straightforward but momentous prize: the survival or destruction of the United States of America. On the surface, Lee and Grant led in very different ways, but once this veneer is stripped away, a core of similarity remains. Both men were supremely self-confident, highly skilled, and unfailingly devoted to the cause for which they fought. Their achievements and mistakes make the 1864 Overland Campaign a perfect leadership study and a great source of education and inspiration for leaders in any arena."

In addition to what Bowery reveals about this campaign, he also suggests a number of lessons which are relevant to the contemporary business world. These are summarized in a reader-friendly manner at the conclusion of most chapters and then reiterated in Chapter Nine and in the Afterword. For example, after examining "Organizational Leadership Skills for Crisis Situations" in Chapter Seven:

1. "Don't let optimism or a `can do' spirit blind you to second- and third-order effects."

2. "Pay constant attention to your interpersonal relationships."

3. "Think about a participating leadership style in true crisis situations."

4. "Build redundancy into your chain of command."

Granted (no pun intended), these are not head-snapping revelations. Their relevance and value are revealed within the context of specific situations in which both Grant and Lee faced and then responded effectively (or ineffectively) to specific crises. Bowery does a brilliant job of helping his reader to view their leadership in terms of both the Big Picture and the day-by-day (sometimes hour-by-hour) situations during the war's development.

For non-scholars such as I who nonetheless have a keen interest in military history, there is a great deal to be learned about arguably the most decisive campaign during the Civil War. Of equal interest to me is Bowery's rigorous analysis of two great generals, suggesting what decision-makers in our own time can learn from Grant's and Lee's character and personality as well as from their skills as military leaders.

This book should be of interest to anyone fascinated by either the Civil War or the art of leadership. First, Major Bowery gives a concise and readable explanation of the Overland Campaign, and the book can be read by the general reader for that alone. Second, and more importantly, he does an excellent job of analysing the strengths and weaknesses of Lee and Grant's leadership during that campaign. Though he does not disguise his underlying admiration for both of these generals, he is willing to voice criticism when it is fair to do so. Legendary though they may be, they were only human and both made mistakes despite their overall ability and character. Given the military background of the author, he did a surprisingly good job of showing how basic leadership principles are applicable in any context, including the civilian business world. His analysis was astute and above all, clearly written. I recommend this book highly to those interested in the art of leadership, and I hope that Major Bowery keeps writing on the subject.

In Lee & Grant, Major Charles Bowery does a great service to the study of leadership. After a brief introduction of leadership concepts to be explored, Lee & Grant opens, appropriately, with a fascinating biographical sketch of each of these towering figures of American history. To his credit, Bowery does not seek the obscure detail that might distinguish his work from the thousands of volumes already devoted to his subject's lives, nor is he intimidated by the legend that looms considerably larger than each of these iconic Americans. Throughout his treatment, Lee and Grant emerge as thoroughly human characters-differing markedly from those of popular convention-whose visions, decision-making skills, and interpersonal relationships are incredibly fertile source material for the serious student of leadership.

The question Bowery ultimately attempts to answer, however, is whether or not his subjects pass the most critical of leadership tests: For all the myth and rhetoric, did Lee and Grant effect a transformation in their respective organizations by their personal influence and commitment? Did they leave their organizations better than they had found them? The answer is a resounding yes, although for very different reasons. Regardless of whether one believes (as Bowery does) that Lee and Grant's similarities were truly more pervasive than their differences, one cannot escape the conclusion that Grant's impact on the Army of the Potomac secured final victory for the Union forces, a feat which had eluded virtually all Union generals prior to Grant. Lee's leadership, while also transformational, consisted more of re-analyzing, re-conceptualizing, and re-assessing what it would take to preserve his precious personnel and materiel against a numerically and logistically superior force. It is arguable that Lee comes out the more successful leader for his ability to transform his army not once, but several times over during the course of the campaign.

Lee & Grant is finally a rewarding and important book for anyone seeking a critical approach to leadership. Beyond his contextual analysis, Bowery offers what is perhaps the most valuable attribute of this book: Leadership Lessons as a summary and conclusion to each chapter. Succinct and concise, these organizational concepts resound as forcefully at the outset of the 21st century as they did in centuries past, and they continue to challenge leaders who seek enrichment through the study of masters of that very difficult craft.

If you want the latest pictures of FR guys doing their work-up, this book won't disappoint you. Not too long on the history or org chart. But no personal insights by actual FR member, past or present. Book mostly provides pictures of FR guys in training. I hope that author will consider doing another one as a follow-up in the future that will contain more shots from actual operation in Iraq and Afghan. Overall, not bad considering there is really no other literature of this kind other than memoirs from Vietnam.

a very informative book on force recon. it is a good reference for any person looking to be a member of this special unit. gives informative info for the requirements to become force recon

Here we have a concise guide to The Marine Corp's Force Reconaissance units. Although not as well-publicized as Navy S.E.A.L.s, Army Special Forces, and Rangers, these Marines are certainly up to the challenge. Like all Marines, they typically achieve much more with much less. The Marine Corps, primarily a raiding force on a grand scale, has a long history of small-unit special operations. Primarily utilized for scouting out hostile territory, Force Recon is also adept at commando raids on high priority targets.
Within, one will learn about the history of Marine Corps special operations, such as the Raiders of World War II, and their relation to modern Force Recon teams. Weapons, training, equipment, and details of operations are all thoroughly summarized.

The Power series has been rather variable in quality, with some excellent books (like the Navy SEALs book) and some wretched ones (tha SAS book comes to mind). This one is first-rate. It takes the time to discuss the context of Force Recon, talking not just about them (although they make up the majority of the book) but what a MEU is, what the difference is between Force Recon and Battalion Recon, etc. Be aware that it is an overview book, so you're not getting 300 pages of info like, say, "Brave Men, Dark Waters" does for the SEALs. Hopefully, someday somebody will write such a book but until then, this is all that you've got and it's pretty darned good.

For someone who wants to know the basics of Force Recon or how Force Recon is different than the Navy SEALs, this is a great choice. There are other good books on Force Recon, such as the excellent "Inside Force Recon: Recon Marines in Vietnam"
by Michael Lanning, but they are more memoirs than overviews so often don't explain the basics that people might be interested in.

Matt

This book may be titled Marine Force Recon, but it spends very little time talking about what it's like to be a Force Recon Marine. The selection process and training only receive bare-bones detail; the majority of the book is spent discussing the Marine Expeditionary Unit and its variants, as well as the equipment used by the Marines. As such, it reads more like a Cliff's Notes version of Tom Clancy's Marine rather than an in-depth guide to Force Recon.

It would be nice if there was a book written about Force Recon selection and training that was on the same level as Dick Couch's "The Warrior Elite", which focuses on Navy SEALs. Given the fact that most people don't even know that Force Recon exists, however, makes such a book unlikely. Anyone who wants to learn more about this unit has really no other option other than to read Bruce Norton's "Force Recon Diary."

Well researched and well written, a very detailed account
of Marine tankers in WWII. Fascinating details, such as
tank crew members being shipped to the Pacific without
ever SEEING a tank!Photo reproductions, however, were
badly subpar, which lessens the enjoyment of this type of
book.

As a former U.S. Army Tanker in the late 1960s I could empathize with the tankers daily routine of movement and maintenance. The long underpaid overworked hours one puts in as a track-head. Being couped up, nearly blind in a turret wondering what was going on outside of one' pony. I was truly amazed at the bravery and dedication of the WWII Marine Corp. Tankers, the appalling carnage they witnessed and the pathos of combat. The author brought all this and more to life in his writing. At times I got sick from the bloody battles they and the infantry fought in the Pacific Theater. Having served in the far east I can imagine easily the mental and physical toll the heat, humidity and insects took on one's mind and body. I feel that the political leaders of this county should read this before committing us to war.

As a retired Marine officer, amateur historian and former newsman, I can say Gilbert is a knowledgeable and facile writer. I thoroughly enjoyed "Marine Tank Battles in Korea." Gilbert knows how to write popular history, and he gets it right. This volume reads beautifully, however the half-tones are the pits. The original version of this volume was published by Combined Publishing on quality paper with excellent photo reproduction. The volume I received from Amazon was not the Combined Publishing edition, but one by DaCapo Press. It looks like a photocopy of the original done overseas. Most of the pictures are muddy and indecipherable. Useless as a modeling reference, but great reading.
BF Halloran

This superb book gives exciting descriptions of tank battles fought by Marines during WW2. Since both the American and Japanese used tanks in an infantry support role, most battles were fought with small groups of tanks. The book describes the battles in which tanks were used in support of infantry. This includes use of Japanese tanks in support of their infantry against the US troops. The book also details the few, brief tank vs. tank battles between the US Marines and the Japanese. The author does an excellent job describing the overall battle of each island, the roll of the American and Japanese tanks in them., and first hand accounts of small actions. The book also includes about 100 photographs which provide a good idea what much of the terrain and combat were like. This is a must have for anyone interested in armored warfare or the WW2 war in the Pacific. I only wish I could find a comparable book on the US army tank battles in the Pacific.

The book's information is priceless, and I AM glad I bought it, BUT Amazon dropped the ball by not revealing the actual publisher. This is a reprint done by DaCapo Press, and they cut corners. The pictures are terrible and nearly indistinct. The slip-cover is fine, but you look at the spine, and there's one word printed : Gilbert. The quality of the binding is good, but these guys didn't give this wonderful book the treatment it deserved.

If this all that we have, and if you are a collector of US Marine histories, then you'd better grab up that last copy. Be forewarned, though, that this is a subpar reissue of the original Combined Press edition.