Book Description

The inspiring, true story of a top soldier who survived Jim Crow only to land in astruggle for survival beside his racist white captain after they were downed inVietnam

Raised in the segregated South, Ezell Ware was determined to excel beyond the linesdrawn by white power brokers. He became the top recruit in his Marine training class;having grown up without running water, electricity, or sufficient food, he wasn’t dauntedby military life. He eventually earned a chance to join the Army’s helicopter pilotprogram, realizing his dream of flying. It was a role that would change his life, and thelife of an unlikely partner in valor at the height of the Vietnam War.

Downed by enemy fire while on a mission over thick jungles, Ware and his badly injuredcaptain endured a three-week descent into hell, with one canteen and little defense againstcountless deadly forces. But when his captain revealed his membership in the Ku KluxKlan, their situation took a turn that surprised them both—and put Ezell on the road tobecoming a general.

A unique memoir of heroism and humanity, By Duty Bound captures a crucialchapter in American history through the eyes of one of its most remarkable witnesses. ... Read more

Book Description

Now in paperback, the memoir of the 29 year-old that became South Korea's first four-star general.The candid and revealing wartime memoir fo the foremost South Korean general of the Korean War.With photographs and a foreward by the commanders of U.S. forces in the war, Gen. Matthew B. Ridgeway and Gen. James A. Van Fleet, From Pusan to Panmunjon brings and unprecedented perspective to a cataclysmic war. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

A different perspective on the war in Korea
General Paik's work stands out among the many works on the Korean War because of his focus on the operations of the Republic of Korea (ROK) forces. Highly recommended to readers looking for information that goes beyond the American contributions to the struggle. The operational details and accounts of the interaction of American and ROK commanders are fascinating. The book suffers slightly from a lack of detailed maps that assist readers in following the movements of the oppossing forces. ... Read more

Book Description

Taking a highly original, thematic approach to the study of Horatio Lord Nelson, this book analyzes the admiral's unique war-fighting style. Doctrine, tactics, and operational art are part of the analysis, as are Nelson's command and leadership abilities and his attitudes and beliefs. But the book's focus is on how all these elements combined to form the man whose infectious ethos spread through his entire force. It shows that Nelson's creative genius, excitable and intense personality, dramatic visage, and fervor for all things martial not only inspired courage and loyalty but so dazzled and enflamed the hearts and minds of his men that he reached near cult status in his lifetime.

As a professional military analyst who has devoted his career to researching, writing, and teaching about the tactics and operational art of warfare, the author draws on his own training and experience to view the admiral's war fighting from a vantage point not accessible to many of Nelson's leading biographers. Joel Hayward breaks free from the constraints of chronology to thematically explore in greater-than-usual depth and coherence the key aspects of Nelson's fighting style and to answer questions not previously raised about that style and its supporting ideas, including to what degree Nelson's style can be adopted by modern warriors. Nelson scholars and enthusiasts will consider the book to be a fine companion to the more traditional studies of the great admiral. The book will also appeal to students of warfare in general, especially those who focus on the Napoleonic period. 256 pages. 9 photographs. 7 maps. Notes. Bibliography. Index. Hardcover. 6 x 9 inches. ... Read more

Reviews (21)

Book arrived in a week!!! It reveals a Christian warrior!!!
I'm like the book reviewer below; delighted that we have a John Keegan-quality scholar of warfare living in New Zealand (Hayward has just co-written a great book on New Zealand military commanders to add to his many titles). This book, FOR GOD AND GLORY, is about the admiral after whom my own city, Nelson, was named. I've read several books on him, notably Colin White's, Dudley Pope's and Tom Pocock's. But only now, after reading Hayward's finely put-together and superbly written book, do I feel especially proud of my city's namesake. That's because Hayward describes Nelson's Christian faith and shows its huge impact on his life - and naval career - in more detail than I've read anywhere else. Actually, a recent issue of the NELSON DISPATCH (July 2001, pages 446 to 450) even claimed that while Nelson believed in the God of the Old Testament, he didn't show any interest in the Christian gospel and its central tenets of sacrifice (Christ's death for our sins), repentence and forgiveness. Hayward gently but strongly disproves these wishy-washy ideas, and demonstrates that while Nelson may not have often discussed Christ and the crucifixion, they were the dominating factor in his ambitions, hopes and behaviour (even as a heroic and fierce warrior).
I think the rest of the book is also full of rich insights and new ideas, all of which scholars will doubtless debate among themselves in their ever-competitive way. But for them and especially non-professional enthusiasts I think Hayward more than makes his case on most points. They seem water-tight to me.
Hayward shows deep respect for Nelson and does not seek to make a name by harping on about his failures, weaknesses and poor decisions. Terry Coleman did that, and while his sharp criticisms probably helped his book to sell, it made Coleman appear attention-seeking, partisan and unfair. Hayward is more like White and Pocock. His portrayal is even-handed and his explanations of Nelson's bad moments are balanced and non-judgemental. Hayward is most critical when it comes to Nelson's unwillingness to work harmoniously with the British Army on Corsica, but even then Hayward reveals the complex context and the pervasive anti-army influence of Admiral Lord Hood. He also explains the vastly different tactics used on land and at sea, tactical differences which would have made Nelson, who had limited knowledge of the precepts and practices of land warfare, convinced that the army was acting half-heartedly (which it wasn't!). No wonder Nelson became impatient and a little hostile towards his own army.
This is a captivating, courageous and readable book. It will please!

A thriller on Nelson's way of war
This book is a well-written account of Nelson's wars and his principles which he handled his military assignments by. Hayward's analysis of wars imparts readers both thrills and a fair evaluation of the great admiral's merits and demerits. In addition to describing Nelson's war strategies,the book also gives concise explanations of historical events like the French revolution, America's independence and of how these events shaped Nelson's fate. The book underlines Nelson's strong belief in God that sympathized him with other religious nations like the Ottomans although they were muslims, not christians like himself. In his book, Hayward builds well on this critical trait of Nelson to explain his relentless fights with the French at that time. Even if the book contains some repititions, I feel that it is a good one to read on Nelson's leadership and sea-war strategies as well as on history.

A MUST READ FOR ANY LEADER
For many people, the words 'Nelson' and 'victory' have become synonymous. Nelson's victory at Trafalgar in 1805 allowed the Royal Navy to control the sea for the next century. London's most famous square -- Trafalgar Square with Nelson's Column -- was laid out in 1829 to 1841 to commemorate Nelson's victory at the Battle of Trafalgar in 1805. Dominating the square, atop a column that is 185 feet high is a 17 foot high statue of Nelson.

Countless books approach Nelson with religious fervor. This book allows us to consider Nelson in a far more useful and practical framework. In reality, this great, yet diminutive naval warrior stood less than 5 feet 6 inches tall. Joel Hayward gives us deep insights and lessons about any great leader's many strengths, weaknesses, defeats, stalemates, flaws, and victories. Hayward concludes that Nelson also had an abundance of two qualities worth emulation by every serving member of today's armed forces: initiative and moral courage. 'Moral courage -- the willingness to stand up for what you know to be right despite hierarchical or peer conformist pressures -- is also a most desirable trait.... The very traits that make initiative and moral courage possible and instinctive are seldom tolerated and often crushed in today's defense forces. More so now than even, for example, during World War II, when a few talented but unconventional officers still held command, defense forces have imposed a behavioral and character uniformity upon commanders that leaves little room for unusual or larger-than-life personalities....Our armed forces might do well to tolerate and even cultivate a little diversity and difference, throughout all levels, and to reduce their emphasis on regularity and conformity. Creative, profoundly religious, or eccentric personalities - even highly strung, passionate one's like Nelson's, Rommel's, and Patton's - have given frequent headaches to their superiors but also stunning victories and uplifting joy to their nations....Nelson matched his commitment to his nation with equal dedication to his navy; and that primarily meant his crews. He respected and obeyed his superiors (usually), but he loved his subordinates. He cared about them deeply and was unusually modern (in today's terms) in the attention he paid to their physical, emotional, and spiritual needs. He instinctively understood the highest principle of leadership: accomplish the mission and take care of your people.'

'For God and Glory' is organized into six major themes/chapters:

CHAPTER 1. NELSON'S CONCEPTION OF HIS ENEMIES. Nelson's hatred of England's enemies inflamed his patriotism and when coupled with many of his positive traits - intuition, love, passion, tenacity, courage, and audacity - made him no better friend, no worse foe.

CHAPTER 2. THE ADMIRAL'S SPIRITUAL BELIEFS. For his three great loves, God, his country, and the navy, Nelson 'sacrificed blood, an eye, an arm, and finally his life.'

CHAPTER 3. COMMAND, LEADERSHIP, AND MANAGEMENT. "Command in war is a remarkably complex, almost indescribable, deeply human relationship between those who lead and those who follow in circumstances usually dangerous, chaotic, and frightening. Command in war requires a leader to do certain things never required of the most ambitious and competitive businessman or -woman: to be courageous and decisive in the face of mortal peril; to inspire subordinates to act with courage and aggression; to carry out the violence necessary to ensure victory; to provide restraints on that violence in order to meet decent standards of morality, justice, and legality; to assume direct responsibility for the lives and health of all involved."

CHAPTER 4. NELSON'S WARFIGHTING STYLE AND MANEUVER WARFARE.
Perhaps the book's most significant chapter as Hayward convincingly demonstrates how and why Nelson's style of "maneuver warfare" and leadership from the front is as effective in the 20th and 21st centuries as it was in the 18th and 19th centuries.

CHAPTER 5. NELSON AND WAR ON LAND. A genius at sea, Nelson repeatedly blundered in his efforts ashore. He never fully appreciated how battles on land are fought according to different principles and tactics on land. 'Nature's endowments to Nelson were strikingly similar to those given to the maneuverists Erwin Rommel and George S. Patton. It is no wonder, then, that as a sea officer Nelson stands with them among history's greatest warriors.'

CHAPTER 6. COALITION WARFARE. Successful 'globalization' depends on the quality of relationships and communications between leaders from different cultures and countries. Nelson's records and letters are rich with insights on successful and unsuccessful approaches to coalition operations.

Undoubtedly the best recent assessment of Nelson.
Who can complain when reading a book that breaks free of staid biographical traditions and explores its subject via an original method and with completely new topics of emphasis? True: this is not a conventional biography but, as the author says, a series of thematic essayS that cover poorly understood or hitherto ignored aspects of Nelson's career. That is precisely this book's strength. To have an experienced and obviously expert modern military analyst explain Nelson's character and career (little space and no importance is given to the love affair stuff) is refreshing and, for anyone involved in the Profession of Arms, most important. This is a great study of character, leadership, naval theory, strategy and tactics. I cannot recommend it highly enough.

Deserves 6 stars!
This is an outstanding book. Some Nelson bios are too wordy and repetitive. Hayward's style and point of view make for an easy read and an informative one as well. I do suggest reading either Christopher Hibbert's or Edgar Vincent' Nelson biographies before reading "God and Glory" ... Read more

Book Description

The classic true adventure story of a man who, by the pen, sword, and diplomatic pouch, influenced some of the most significant events of our era. Fitzroy Maclean recounts his extraordinary adventures in Soviet Central Asia; in the Western Desert, where he specialized in hair-raising commando raids behind enemy lines; and with Tito's partisans during the last months of the German occupation of Yugoslavia. An enthralling narrative brilliantly told. ... Read more

Reviews (20)

Extremely Entertaining Book
...much better than any movie, although it would make a great one. A real life adventure covering the exploits of a British Adventurer, Diplomat, Soldier and Spy, before and during the Second World War.
Sir Fitzroy MacLean is today a little known personality that enabled the Allies, with the help of Tito's Partisans, to hold quite a few German Divisions tide-up in the Balkan Theater.
The book however is so much more than a depiction of guerilla fighting in the Balkans during WWII, it provides a rare glimpse into the pre-war Soviet Union, the travel restrictions binding a foreign 'traveler', the beauties of Russia, Kazakhstan, Afghanistan among many other places (e.g. France, Iraq, Egypt, North Africa, Italy, etc.). The very culmination of this great life story ends in the volatile Balkans.
This book would truly make a great movie.

Best book I ever read!
Fitzroy MacLean writes a true and entertaining story of his life as a British diplomat escapading around Russia, starting the British version of the Special Forces in the deserts of North Africa during WWII, and, of great interest to current politics, his time with Tito in the former Yugoslavia. He is funny and entertaining presenting a lesson of history. Very honest and easy to read. A must read for anyone into WWII history or anyone in the military today.

Interesting, Interesting
Eastern Approaches documents the extraordinary travels and life of Fitzroy MacLean. Maclean was a British diplomat who while in Russia became one of the first westerners to explore Central Asia during the Soviet rule. He worked with the British special forces in the North African desert and worked on behalf of the allies with the partisans in Yugoslavia during the Second world war.

Well written, this book is a worthwhile read for anybody seeking a bit of adventure in their life. These miraculous tales (true none the least) will keep you entertained throughout.

Spectacular entertainment
In the mid-thirties Fitzroy Maclean was a junior diplomat at the British embassy in Paris. Bored with the pleasant but undemanding routine, he requested a posting to Moscow, and "Eastern Approaches" opens with Maclean on a train, pulling out of Paris. Most of this first section of the book covers his repeated attempts to explore Soviet central Asia. He reached Bokhara, Samarkand, Tashkent and many other places, and though there are sadly few pictures it is a riveting story -- fighting Soviet bureaucracy; being trailed by the NKVD; negotiating with locals for food and a place to sleep. At one point he manages with difficulty to persuade the Soviets to let him cross into Afghanistan: communicating primarily in sign language he manages to obtain an escort to Mazar-i-Sharif, through a lawless area with a cholera outbreak.

Maclean was in Moscow until late 1939, and so was present during the great Stalinist purges. One long chapter is devoted to one of the largest of these, in which Bukharin, Yagoda and other stalwarts of the Stalinist regime were accused (and of course convicted) of heinous crimes. The details of the trial, and the responses of the accused, are utterly fascinating; Maclean's analysis equally so.

When war broke out, Maclean was prevented from enlisting at first because of his position as a diplomat. He eventually managed to sign up by a subterfuge, and in North Africa Maclean distinguished himself in the early actions of the newly formed SAS. He rose from private to officer rank, and Churchill personally chose him to lead a liaison mission to central Yugoslavia, where Tito and his partisans were emerging as a major irritant to the German control of the Balkans. The last third of the book recounts how over eighteen months Maclean built Allied/Partisan cooperation from nothing to a key element in the last phases of the war. By the end, Maclean was a Major-General, and a friend of Tito's.

Maclean is a fine writer, with the British gift for understatement and wry humour. His exploits are said to have formed the basis for the character of James Bond, though Maclean would never confirm or deny this. The sequence when he personally kidnaps a Persian general who is collaborating with the Germans is certainly straight out of a Bond film. The book is spectacularly entertaining: if you have any taste for history, adventure, travel writing or war-time memoirs, this is as good as it gets.

Magnanimous parachutist, Fitzroy be...
Nu omicron tau omicron sigma....

Notice... north wind..

True, MacLean came from Britain to parachute into Yugoslavia.

The mission of this man was to meet the resistance leader,
Tito, head of the anti-Axis forces in the Balkans, Yosef Broz Tito... Tito... Tito.. read the book, and you'll understand
how this man, Tito, was addressed by crowds before speaking.

later this man, Tito, succumbed to the loss of a limb, if i
remember, correctly, this was after the war, and related to

prion Kreb's deficiency, a medical malady incurred of Tito of
his own temple, his own body, by living.

It was white camouflaged Yugoslavians who were laying outside
Auschwitz the day it was liberated. This I read in a little
yellow paperback about Auschwitz at the Norwood, Ohio
Media Play store.

My name is Douglas... you may call me mr. nemo.

Call me Ishmael.

This is the voyage of a vintage WW I Torpedo Patrol Channel
boat, parked under wharfs oeuvre between sorties in the English
channel.

spotter on board

mgm.comp.mgm

reg. penna dept. agric. ... Read more

Book Description

Whenever the fighter pilots of the Black Sheep Squadron headed out on a mission in their F4-U Corsairs, they always flew in pairs. The guy in the other plane was known as your "wingman." Incredibly, when Bob McClurg joined the Black Sheep Marine Fighter Squadron in the South Pacific theatre during WWII, he barely had any flying hours under his belt.The colorful squadron leader, Greg "Pappy" Boyington, literally took McClurg under his wing and made an Ace fighter pilot out of him. McClurg flew many missions as Boyington's wingman in the distinctive "bent-winged" aircraft. The Corsairs could really take a beating, but they often lacked critical equipment such as working compasses or radios. Outmaneuvered by the swift Japanese zeroes, they often limped back to the base. But the zeroes were fragile, and, as McClurg says, after a morning combat mission there were usually a lot fewer lunches served at the Japanese base than there had been breakfasts.Boyington's combat tactics, which are reprinted in this book, were largely responsible for the high success rate of the Black Sheep. Several books have been written about the Black Sheep, but this is the only one besides Boyington's autobiography, "Baa, Baa, Black Sheep," and Frank Walton's "Once They Were Eagles." that has been written by one of the original squadron members. Thanks to a 1970s television series, the Black Sheep became a cultural icon, but the series did not give a completely accurate portrayal of the squadron, and McClurg sets the record straight. He emphasizes that these fighter pilots and their leader were not "misfits," as is commonly believed. Here is McClurg's story in his own words, with excerpts from his wartime journals accompanied by transcriptions of the actual combat reports from the National Archives, as well as several never before published photographs. A WWII aviation classic! 2003, 5½ x 8½, cloth, 256 pp. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

what a story!!!!!!
The other day I saw a copy of robert mcclurgs book at my grandmothers and was excited to see it. As a former army man stationed in germany i love the history of our armed forces. Also ,I remebered the show in the 70's with robert conrad and loved it. I think this is great timing for this book because of whats goin on in the the world today. Plus its good to know the truth about black sheep squadron as the tv show portrayed a different light on it. A must read for all military buffs!!!

I have an autographed book!!
My father was chief test pilot for the Navy and excepted the first F4U from Igor himself. Someday, I will write a book. Bob's account adds a new perspective for me, combat, one I never got from my father or experienced personally. Great job Bob. Thanks again for the book. CW2 Mark Michael USAR (Ret.)Syracuse, NY ... Read more

Book Description

One of the most amazing stories of World War II is also likely to be among the last.

As the twentieth century closed, the veterans of its defining war passed away at a rate of a thousand per day. Fortunately, D Day paratrooper Joseph Beyrle met author Thomas H. Taylor in time to record The Simple Sounds of Freedom, the true story of the first American paratrooper to land in Normandy and the only soldier to fight for both the United States and the Soviet Union against Nazi Germany.

It is a story of battle, followed by a succession of captures, escapes, recaptures, and re-escapes, then battle once more, in the final months of fighting on the Eastern Front. For these unique experiences, both President Bill Clinton and President Boris Yeltsin honored Joe Beyrle on the fiftieth anniversary of V-E Day.

Beyrle did not strive to be a part of history, but history kept visiting him. Twice before the invasion he parachuted into Normandy, bearing gold for the French resistance. D Day resulted in his capture, and he was mistaken for a German line-crosser—a soldier who had, in fact, died in the attempt. Eventually Joe was held under guard at the American embassy in Moscow, suspected of being a Nazi assassin.

Fingerprints saved him, confirming that he’d been wounded five times, and that he bore a safe-conduct pass written by Marshal Zhukov after the Wehrmacht wrested Joe, at gunpoint, from execution by the Gestapo. In the ruins of Warsaw his life was saved again, this time by Polish nuns. Some of Joe’s story is in his own words—a voice that will be among the last and best we hear firsthand from World War II. ... Read more

Reviews (6)

amerikanski tovarisch!
Several years ago I read parts of Joe Beyrle's memoir, translated into Russian for the gazette Sovietskaya Zhizn'. "The Simple Sounds of Freedom" contains Joe's entire memoir and his exciting biography by Thomas Taylor. Mr. Taylor, a veteran and historian of the 101st Airborne "Screaming Eagles", is the perfect choice to tell Joe's story. Joe Beyrle was a small-town boy in 1942, gung-ho to prove the patriotism of his German-American family. He joined the Screaming Eagle "Currahees", and made a couple of harrowing jumps into occupied France to aid the Resistance. That was in preparation for the big day, D Day. Alas, Joe was captured almost as he touched ground in Normandy and missed his chance to fight. He survived beatings upon arrival at a POW camp, only to experience a most painful sight: the bullet-riddled body of his beloved CO, Robert Wolverton, hanging from a tree. Laughing guards were using the slain Currahee for bayonet practice. Later escaping, Joe was caught, tortured, and interred in a notorious concentration camp, Stalag 111-C. There he saw miserable Soviet prisoners, segregated, starved, freezing, worked to death. There was little the American krieges could do for them, except throw some bread over their fence on occasion. Again, Joe plotted escape, and finally succeeded, although two of his buddies perished in the attempt. In his emaciated condition, trapped behind enemy lines, Joe hoped to be rescued by the advancing Red Army. Meanwhile, at home in Muskegon, his family had received word of their son's "death in action" and were grieving his supposed loss. These events are interwoven in the book with the overall campaign of the 101st Airborne. Several chapters do not deal with Joe's story at all, but with his Currahee comrades' accomplishments during this crucial period of the War. I found this did not distract in the least from the biography; in fact, made it all the more interesting. And Thomas' macho style of prose quite enhances his patriotic pride in his Division! It is not until the last third of the book that Joe meets the Soviet column. Commanding the Sherman tank battalion was a Russian woman whose "five-syllable name was unpronouncable." Joe called her by her rank, "Major", and joined the infantry attached to her own tank. His new comrades called him "Yo", and came to appreciate his skill in demolitions. Major led from the front, which meant Joe got plenty of combat action. He accompanied her all the way to the banks of the Oder, prepared to go through the meatgrinder at her side, into Berlin. But then he was wounded, and had to be evacuated to Moscow. Fifty years later, he would be decorated by Presidents Clinton and Yeltsin as the only American soldier to fight for both the USA and the USSR. And he would think about Major and wonder how many of her battalion survived. "Proshchai tovarisch!" he writes. "If she is still alive, I'd go to Russia just to see her -- my major, my CO, my second Wolverton -- who was a woman." I enjoy books about World War ll, but this one touched me in a special way. Today Joe is retired, a veteran of the fast-dwindling Greatest Generation, my parents' generation, who fought Hitler. Ironically, the new generation of 101st Airborne Screaming Eagles fight on against another foe which faced the Soviet army... in Afghanistan.

Excellent Writing
"The Simple Sounds Of Freedom" by Thomas H. Taylor, Random House, New York 2002. The title of the book is derived from President Clinton's speech in France on the fiftieth anniversary of D Day.

This is a biography of Joe Beyrle but the book is also a record of praise for the 101st Airborne. Joe Beyrle, from Michigan, was part of the 101st Airborne when that division dropped into Normandy on D-Day, 1944. He was captured, escaped, capture again and shipped off to a German POW camp. After one escape, he is captured in Berlin, the capital city of the Third Reich; he is tortured by Gestapo. Joe is rescued from the Gestapo by the German Army, the Wehrmacht, of all people, who claim him as their prisoner. They were following bureaucratic procedures, a common trait in Nazi Germany. After regaining his strength, Joe Beyrle again escapes, and this time, he is close enough to reach the relative safety of Soviet lines. After identifying himself as an American, Joe decides to stay with the Soviet armored column in order to kill Germans. Thus, he fights on both the Western and Eastern fronts in Europe in 1944-1945, fulfilling the sub-title of the book, "...Only Soldier to Fight For Both America and the Soviet Union in World War II".

As a 101st Airborne combat veteran himself, the author was capable of an excellent job of bonding with Joe Beyrle, so as to produce an almost personal memoir direct from the Joe's memories. At times, it was difficult to distinguish between Beyrle and Taylor. At other times, particularly in Chapter Sixteen, entitled, "Bastogne", it was evident that it was all Thomas Taylor writing in praise of the division he loves, the 101st. From the viewpoint of a biography of Joe Beyrle, such chapters were unnecessary, but their presence rounds out the story and makes a better history of the time. By the way, the photo collection in the book shows Joe Beyrle aging in a remarkably similar fashion to the character of Private Ryan in the movie, "Saving Private Ryan".

A Most Interesting Story
I found the story of Joe Beyrle to be almost unbelieveable. How could one person go through so much. I was very anxious to read the book, because I once knew who he was from work. I worked at Brunswick Corporation in Muskegon, as did he. I knew that he was a prisoner of war, and that he had been reported killed in action. However, I didn't know that whole story until now. Many of the comments about Muskegon as familiar to me. Also, I once met his parents, as I am friends with his niece.

Thomas Taylor is an excellent writer. He knows how to make the story interesting, and provides much detail. Even though many of the incidents in the story are not pleasant, they are a part of history. He depicts World War II as brutal and horrible. Let us hope that it never happens again.

Wonderful Story
An amazing story! Joe Beyrle completely inspires me, never have i heard such an amazing tail based on such an extraordinary person. We should all be thankful that Joe is on our side.

This is a must read as it's the most satisfying book i've read in years. How Tom Taylor put this mans story in to words is beyond me.....very well done!

Curahee all over again!
This is the fascinating story of Joe Beyrle of the 101st Airborne Division Screaming Eagles in WWII, written by Thomas Taylor, a Vietnam era Screaming Eagle and the son of the commanding general of the 101st in WWII. Beyrle jumped into Normandy on D-Day and was captured by the Germans. He escapes and is re-captured several times before he joins a Soviet armored unit and fights the Nazis until the end of the war. This is the story of his suffering and triumph over adversity in many situations and circumstances.
It is an inspiring tale of survival and the human quest for freedom. This book is a page turner and I highly recommend it to all. ... Read more

Book Description

The only insider's account ever written on America's most powerful weapon in the war against terrorism

Reviews (37)

a man with a plan
Charlie Beckwith had a vision and he made it happen. That vision was to give the US military an entity that could do the kind of things the SAS does for the British. The result: the Delta Force. Most of the book talks about Beckwith's formative experiences in Vietnam and training with the SAS before his bureaucratic wrangling and efforts to bring Delta into existence. There is also an important section on the failed Iranian hostage rescue mission in 1980. Beckwith's writing is very conversational; it reads like you're sitting with him at the O club. If you're interested in special operations and/or the tragic story of the rescue mission, you'll definitely want to read this book.

Delta Force - An interesting read by its creator
This book covers the creation of Delta Force from the perspective of Col. Charlie Beckwith, who recognized the United States' need for an elite antiterrorist unit based on his experiences working with the British SAS and in Vietnam.

Both military and political aspects of the Delta Force's creation are addressed and covered with a focus on the Iran Hostage Crisis. I found the book an easy and enjoyable read. Those mainly seeking fast-paced action may find it dry, but it tells a very interesting story. As nonfiction/military history, I gave it 5 stars. It was published in 1983, and I was left wishing it covered through the early 1990s.

A book written by a man who was before his time
To understand Charlie Beckwith and Delta Force, probably the best way to do that is to first understand the British SAS. Beckwith was a huge fan of the SAS, he got most of his ideas from the SAS and all in all had it not been for the SAS, there would have been no Delta.

This book is a story that describes how Beckwith went thru a life changing experience when he underwent a Green Beret exchange tour with the British 22nd SAS Regiment in the early sixties. And then he came back to the USA and spent the rest of his Army career lobbying the Army bureaucracy to build a unit based on the SAS model. This lobbying effort was intensely personal and emotional for Beckwith and frequently involved frustration and disappointment.

Beckwith describes his battles with the Army's conventional bureaucracy, which was powerful and all encompassing. But he also describes his frustrations with the Army's already established special forces of that era...the Green Berets and Ranger Battalions of the sixties and seventies. Beckwith describes how he got little to no support from the regular Army in establishing an SAS type unit, but also how the Green Berets and Ranger Battalions tried to block and stymie his efforts.

Eventually, in the mid to late seventies Beckwith got his wish with the help of a handful of sympathetic, high ranking General officers. To build a truly unique special operations unit based exclusively on the British SAS model. It was neither Green Beret based nor Ranger Battalion based, although most of the early Delta operators were veterans of one of the two mentioned units. It was an American unit, but based on a foreign unit known as the SAS. This all occurred in the extremely anti-special forces political climate of the seventies...right after Vietnam.

Beckwith's career ultimately culminated in the failed 1980 Iranian rescue mission. Which was a huge political disaster for the Carter administration. After which he retired from the Army and sort of faded away. He died in 1994. Its sad that Beckwith never got to see his life's hard work become fully appreciated after the 911 debacle. Beckwith was truly a futuristic thinker, an innovator and creative person.

I would recommend this book for anyone interested in the British SAS, Delta or for anyone who has an intense dislike for bureaucracy and the status quo.

Fascinating reading!!!!
Col. Charlie Beckwith is the founder and first commanding officer of Special Forces Operational Detatchment-Delta, aka Delta Force. Col. Beckwith's book begins with his exchange service as a Special Forces Captain with the British Special Air Service. The SAS made such an impression on Col. Beckwith that he designed Delta's organization, selection and training on the British SAS model.
The book covers Col. Beckwith's service in Vietnam, with the precursor of Delta, whose mission was to go behind enemy lines and locate NVA and VC units. He continues with his battles with U.S. Army brass to get Delta established as a counter-terrorism unit and finishes the book with the aborted rescue attempt of the American hostages in Iran.
The book gives an insight of Delta Force as it was first conceived and organized by it's creator but does not cover any recent Delta operations.

Very good read
This was a really good read, and who better to write about Delta Force than the creator and first commander? All and all it is a slow paced book, but it is straight forward and the time span is relatively small. You have to remember Col Beckwith founded Delta Force but as tradition goes he was only the commander for a few years. I would recommend Inside Delta Force by Eric Haney if you are going to get this book. When you put them together you get a really good unclassified account of what Delta Force is about. ... Read more

Book Description

With the immediacy and force of a sniper's strike, Cold Zero is a blistering first-person account of life inside the FBI and its elite Hostage Rescue Team.

Of the hundreds of thousands of U.S. law enforcement officers, only 200 have ever been in Christopher Whitcomb's highly trained and specialized branch of the FBI. Equivalent to the Navy's SEALs and the Army's Delta Force, the Hostage Rescue Team is charged with terrorist capture, hostage release, and other emergencies in the United States and around the world. Whitcomb is the first HRT member ever to write about his experience.With breathtaking clarity, Whitcomb describes his journey from civilian to FBI agent and from field agent into the highly competitive HRT--the brutal training, the weapons and tactics, and the unbreakable camaraderie of the HRT. In short order, after joining the HRT in 1991, Whitcomb was sent on missions to:

Ruby Ridge. Trained as a sniper, Whitcomb was in position in the first team to surround the cabin and gives an unsparing account of the communications and leadership issues there.

Waco. For several excruciating months, Whitcomb took up his position in the Branch Davidian standoff. Day after day he held David Koresh and other gunmen in his crosshairs--only to watch, stunned, the fiery debacle that broke the stalemate.

Kosovo. As part of the evidence-gathering FBI mission, Whitcomb saw the aftermath of genocide and the urgency of bearing witness.

Whitcomb's frank assessment of these and many other missions is must reading for anyone interested in modern law enforcement and covert operations.

Cold Zero is not just a story of missions, weapons, and tactics, though. It is the story of the human being behind the sniper's scope, the people who put on badges and strap on guns to represent the law of the United States. It is a book of rare action and emotion, and one that introduces a remarkable new writer to the world. ... Read more

Reviews (63)

Sensitive and Fascinating
Christopher Whitcomb writes a nuanced real life thriller about his experiences at 'ground zero'in the FBI Hostage Rescue Team. His HRT is not a collection of automated uber-policemen, but men who are well trained, who are asked to do extraordinary things for this country, and who struggle with the impact of their actions on themselves and their families. Yes, we all remember the newspaper and CNN accounts of Ruby Ridge and Waco, Texas; Whitcomb, though, conveys a reality that is certainly not as obvious as either side would like us to believe. This may be the central point of Cold Zero: with the resources and skills of the FBI and the HRT, we must be very careful in deploying this capability where both the root causes and eventual fallout are unclear. Throughout the book it becomes clear that the scope of the HRT's responsibilities have changed greatly. Mr Whitcomb describes his role in LA during the riots, the HRT's drug interdiction missions, and most heartbreakingly, its work in Bosnia investigating war crimes while essentially re-burying its dead. His confusion and horror is viscerally obvious.
Cold Zero is such a relief from other similar books written by "warriors". He portrays himself as neither an FBI synchophant nor as a rogue agent. Here is a man with self doubt, tremendous physical confidence, and a love for his family and upbringing. If this is an example of the typical FBI man, we have great reason to feel confident of our future post 9/11/01.

Good, but not as exciting as I'd hoped
Special Agent Christopher Whitcomb is one of only about 200 people who have ever been part of the FBI's elite Hostage Rescue Team (HRT). HRT is one of America's counterterroism units along with the Army's Delta Force and Navy SEAL Team Six.

In this book, Special Agent Whitcomb provides a very informative and engaging look at his life in the FBI. The reader follows him on some of his more interesting assignments doing casework out of a satellite office in Missouri and when Whitcomb feels the need to do more in his life, he takes the reader through his selection process into the HRT. From his description, I imagine the HRT selection process to be somewhat similar to the Navy BUD/S (SEAL) selection process. Anyone familiar with BUD/S (or if you've seen some of Hollywood's bastardized film versions like G.I. Jane), knows that the process is amazingly taxing--both physically and psychologically--and there is a very high drop out rate.

Obviously, Whitcomb managed to get through selection and becomes a sniper on the HRT. He was present and accounted for the standoff on Ruby Ridge and in Waco, Texas during the Branch Davidians crisis. Though both situations were tense and Whitcomb manages to portray that mood in his writing, there isn't much excitement involved (for the reader).

I imagine most of Whitcomb's missions are still classified and that's unfortunate. Though Whitcomb provides his experience during some of the most famous current events of the past 15 years or so (like Ruby Ridge and Waco), there isn't much to get excited about. With a book about an elite unit like the Hostage Rescue Team, one would expect (and presumably want) a lot of action. Sadly, there wasn't much to speak of. Also, I would recommend skipping the last three chapters because they don't really seem relevant to the primary function of HRT.

Although the book doesn't provide as much action and excitement as I would have liked, Whitcomb is a good writer and the book is a very good read. Perhaps some of Whitcomb's more exciting missions will be declassified in the future and he can write a follow-up with some more meat to it, especially since this book was written and published prior to the tragic events of September 11, 2001. I'd be extremely interested in reading what role HRT played immediately following 9/11 and what they are doing now.

Still, I would recommend this book to people interested in the FBI and especially to potential candidates to HRT.

Lastly, Special Agent Whitcomb if you get a chance to read this: Thank you for your service to this great country.

Book Lover
"The world looks different through a rifle scope." With this opening line Special Agent Whitcomb grabs the reader and doesn't let go. From his first day on the job (in Kansas City) then on to HRT training and finally to places like Ruby Ridge, Waco and Kosovo we get to know the man who believes in this country. A man who wanted to make a difference and did. As the mother of two sons there are times when Christopher's story causes my heart to skip, but as an American I am so grateful for these men (and women) who risk so very much to protect us. The writing is fast-paced, compelling, and on target. This former speech writer has a story to tell and he tells it well.

Gripping and Informative
Whitcomb has two birds nailed with this book: he chronicled an amazing career in the FBI, and secondly, he did it well. His writing style was masterful. Having read several of these types of stories, that start with a quick scene in the middle of the action, and then go back to biography the means and methods one uses to get there, I find Cold Zero to be a top notch book. I'd love to read more writing by Whitcomb, but I imagine he's still busy saving the world from bad guys.

Inside Scoop
I first heard Christopher Whitcomb on a local NPR program and was fascinated by his stories. Interested enough to buy his book.
The book is hard to put down. It gives us a first hand look at the physicality and courage it takes to go through this rigorous training: first to become an FBI agent and then to go on to the Hostage Rescue Team. I fear Mr Whitcomb is a might too coy to allow us to see the real fear and pain it takes to make this team. It is a very elite team that is in danger most of the time-he was on-call 24/7, and required constant vigilance and training to stay within the group. His version of the sorties that he took part in are insightful. I felt like I was part of the group. Mr. Whitcomb did not share much of his family life and it would have been a better book if he had- how does the family endure the amount of time they were apart? His decision to leave the FBI and take part in civilian life tells some of the story. Hope there are more books to come.. ... Read more

Book Description

In 1971 former Cold War hard-liner Daniel Ellsberg made history by releasing the Pentagon Papers-a 7,000-page top-secret study of U.S. decision-making in Vietnam-to the New York Times and Washington Post. The document set in motion a chain of events that ended not only the Nixon presidency but the Vietnam War. In this remarkable memoir, Ellsberg describes in dramatic detail the two years he spent in Vietnam as a U.S. State Department observer, and how he came to risk his career and freedom to expose the deceptions and delusions that shaped three decades of American foreign policy. The story of one man's exploration of conscience, Secrets is also a portrait of America at a perilous crossroad. ... Read more

Reviews (33)

Painfully Relevant
"Secrets" is Daniel Ellsberg's superb memoir detailing the period of his life from childhood to his acquittal of criminal charges for releasing the now famous Pentagon Papers. This book is a superb read on several levels. It is fascinating and important historical source, since Ellsberg participated in defense planning as a Rand researcher and as a Pentagon deputy during the critical period when the United States decided to occupy Vietnam. Equally as important is the ethical dilemma Ellsberg chronicles of having to choose between the safety and comfort of maintaining his bureaucratic sense of loyalty or making dangerous personal sacrifices for the greater good of his country and his conscience. And contrary to most political memoirs that are often tediously written and sprinkled with excessive namedropping, this book reads like a novel.

Dan Ellsberg began his career as a self-described cold warrior. Prior to obtaining a Ph.D. in economics from Harvard, Ellsberg served in the Marines as a peacetime company commander. After completing his graduate education he worked as a researcher in the Rand Institute where one of his projects involved estimating the total number of global casualties resulting from a nuclear exchange between the United States and Russia (hundreds of millions of people within the first twenty-four hours). Ellsberg undertook this work because since childhood he found the practice of civilian terror bombing, as he understood it, to be morally repellant. Thus it should come as no surprise that when called to work in the Pentagon as the assistant to Assistant Secretary of Defense John T. McNaughton, Ellsberg already brought a strong sense of moral purpose to the job, a situation that ultimately resulted in profound consequences both for him and for the government he served.

While serving in the Pentagon, Ellsberg witnessed the immediate confusion of the Gulf of Tonkin incident and the Johnson Administration's subsequent decision to falsify the particulars of that incident as a pretext for invading Vietnam. Readers will probably be struck with the same sense of amazement that Ellsberg was about how America's military bureaucracy actually functions. From one perspective, Ellsberg was stunned by the sheer volume of crises that top officials including his boss and the president's cabinet, had to deal with in rapid succession. While Ellsberg admired his colleagues and superiors he often wondered if it was really possible to run a government by crisis hopping in this manner.

From another perspective, Ellsberg was deeply disturbed by the standard policy of lying within the military bureaucracy. It may surprise readers to know that the military never had any illusions about the possibility of winning the Vietnam War. In 1964, according to Ellsberg, top military officials briefed the president and his cabinet with astonishing accuracy on the precise number soldiers required (1.5 million), for a specific duration of time (8 years), and a large number of resulting casualties (50,000) and no guarantee of victory. Despite such dire warnings, a sanguine and poorly defined policy was implemented, and when it quickly began to yield disastrous results the president and his top officials lied to each other and to the American people about what was really happening. While Ellsberg correctly concedes that there are many instances when it is practical for the highest levels of government to conceal information from the American people, he also observes a kind of bureaucratic pathology at work. Top officials including McNamara often provided favorable reports to the president, which they personally did not believe in and which they knew would result in disaster but which their positions and careers compelled them to do. As a result Ellsberg notes, the highest levels of government were not able learn from their mistakes in Vietnam and to adjust accordingly. Instead top officials developed what Ellsberg terms a process of systematic "anti-learning" which in layman's terms means that they saw what they wanted to see instead of what was actually happening.

Ellsberg's observation of the Pentagon and Executive Branch's process of systematic anti-learning was powerfully reinforced by his subsequent personal experience when he served as a State Department official in Vietnam. Ellsberg was brave enough and fortunate enough to traverse unsecured roads in hostile territory with the legendary civilian general, John Paul Vann. He witnessed both the plight of bogged down American soldiers and the resourcefulness of the determined Vietnamese guerillas and concluded that even if nuclear weapons were introduced, the war was ultimately unwinable. Ellsberg quickly concluded that America was faced with a war that its leaders had always known they could not win, that it was currently in the process of losing, and which the highest levels of the military and government refused to view in realistic terms.

Ellsberg's opposition to the war took place gradually and culminated in the realization that America was in the process of destroying a generation of young men by sending them to war or imprisoning them for opposing the war. Shortly afterward, Ellsberg decided to risk a life sentence in prison by releasing the Pentagon papers to congress. The Pentagon papers are an astounding collection of documents both in their volume (several thousand papers) and in the frankness with which they make record the official process of lying to the American public. Many well-meaning congressional officials at first offered to produce the Pentagon papers to their colleagues on Ellsberg's behalf but ultimately declined for career reasons. Consequently Ellsberg released them to the media who subsequently disseminated them to the public.

I highly recommend this book to anyone who wants a first hand view of how the highest levels of American government work. Be warned, however, that while Ellsberg's story is ultimately worth knowing, his revelations about the government are frightening and depressing. It is interesting to note that in several public speeches ...Dan Ellsberg has frequently drawn parallels to his own experiences chronicled in this book, and to America's current foreign policy with respect to Iraq. Obviously this is an issue that readers must decide on their own, but if anything else, it makes "Secrets" a highly relevant book to read.

A History Primer with an Everyman's Voice
Daniel Ellsberg¡¯s Secrets: A Memoir of Vietnam and the Pentagon Papers has many facets, which taken together make for a very stimulating and liberating narrative. However, like the Nixon administration and many former colleagues in the Department of Defense, I had some reservations about Mr. Ellsberg¡¯s decision to violate his agreements not to reveal top secret documents to the public. In the process of reading Mr. Ellsberg¡¯s account, however, I freed myself from that burden. Secrets is nearly 500 pages of history, honest narrative, an epic journey of the soul, and a practical primer on constitutional affairs.

Ellsberg, the ¡°thief¡± as President Nixon called him, began his career as a Marine officer, earned a doctorate in Economics from Harvard, worked fro the Rand Corporation, and then worked for Robert McNamara in the Defense Department, beginning on August 4, 1964. He not only read mountains of top secret memos and field reports from Vietnam, but wrote more than a few himself. Even before he discovered a study Secretary McNamara commissioned, Ellsberg had heard significantly dissenting opinions from high ranking officials and Rand employees concerning President Johnson¡¯s handling of the Vietnam War. After long stays in Vietnam, Ellsberg finally began to notice the discrepancies between official reports and actual events. But not until the summer of 1969 did Ellsberg contemplate publishing the Pentagon Papers, after he met several people associated with the resistance against the war and reading about civil disobedience.

It¡¯s that decision to publish a top secret document, which raises the central issue of the entire book: the proper moral and legal way to dissent. As Ellsberg argues, the agreements government employees and contractors sign not to divulge classified information are only part of executive branch administrative regulations. This code of secrecy helped to create the aura of the imperial presidency, whose enduring legacy was the history of the facts documented in the Pentagon Papers, which successive administrations hid from the public. Ellsberg rationalized his decision, by arguing, that the Nixon administration, just like all the other administrations since Truman, was subverting the Constitution. By making the information public, Ellsberg intended to redress this offense, and to allow the public, through the legislature and judiciary, to challenge President Nixon¡¯s prosecution of the war.

I worked in similar environments as the ones Ellsberg describes, so his account of his indoctrination into the world of classified information is both familiar and eerie. I still believe espionage and leaking information is harmful to national security, but Ellsberg, in his defense, recounts instances of other officials leaking information for political gain. Furthermore, the Nixon administration¡¯s rationale for muzzling Ellsberg initially did involve protection of the sources, but it¡¯s own record. Ellsberg himself sanitized the information, and, until he succeeded in handing the documents to the New York Times, chose few people, mostly congressional leaders and family, to read the accounts.

Along with the central narrative concerning Vietnam, Secrets also reveals much about Ellsberg¡¯s family, personal motivations, the resistance movement, and government officials, such as Kissinger. If the information in the Pentagon Papers were not disconcerting enough, the information discovered from declassified Nixon White House tapes is positively sickening. Finally, the connection revealed on those tapes between Nixon¡¯s campaign against Ellsberg and the Watergate scandal are just depressing. Through out the narrative, though, is the resolutely calm, everyman¡¯s voice Ellsberg manages to convey. Ellsberg also tries to present conflicting accounts of conversations and other published information to support his case.

Although the Pentagon Papers are immense, and Ellsberg does quote from many sections, I would like to read more. Even after 500 pages, there are many questions left unanswered. Many of the people Ellsberg mentions also published their own accounts and perspectives on Vietnam, including Vann and Sheehan. Secrets in no way distracts one from discovering more, and it¡¯s an excellent place to start, because Ellsberg himself shows how to make the journey. Ellsberg¡¯s opinion about the war is clear enough, but the reader can reach his/her own. Fortunately, though, no one has to go through the ordeal he did.

Top notch
p83... I noted where the book went from where the editors had too much control (I assume they put in the attempts a short bios on key figures where are so disjointed from the rest of the book), to where the story takes on a life of its own. I expected a dry, academic read, but was pleasantly surprised that I had misjudged Ellsberg's capabilities as a writer and storyteller.

Ellsberg does a masterful job of presenting a lot of "inside" information, and making it accessible to the lay-person. The book is not overloaded with governmental alphabet soup as are too many military/political accounts. Better than presenting the information, Ellsberg takes us on a journey--his personal journey--tying together many threads of detail into a single story, and allows the reader to share the "aha!" (perhaps the "oh, no!") he must have felt as he unraveled the events forcing his hand to leak Top Secret information. Having read "In Retrospect" a few years ago, I'm left wanting to revisit that work as there are disparities between the two "I was there" accounts which, if my memory serves, may simply be a result of how McNamara was "spinning" the facts--but why are we still "spinning" now...

From this story, Ellsberg provocatively takes us beyond the Pentagon Papers to their impact on the world's most important personalities. I would very much like to see a sequel to this book which investigates the implications of the Pentagon Papers in more depth.

Whatever the first 80ish pages lacked is more than made up by the rest of the story.

personal account of a difficult decision. inspiring
The most moving part of this book is his description of when he realized what he needed to do. After living so closely with the Vietnam war for years, and contributing to its efforts, he became very emotional when he realized the truth, and knew he had to bring the documents to the public. These documents came to be known as the Pentagon Papers.

He put his own future at great risk by doing this. He faced many felony charges that could have put him in prison for years. But he did what he had to do. His efforts helped end the Vietnam war.

I admire his courage. I believe he set an example for those who are close to Bush and the Iraq war. They realized they shouldn't wait as long as Ellsberg did to reveal the truth to the public.

well-written and insightful
Ellsberg's memoir of his life in the 60s and early 70s is fascinating and difficult to put down. It chronicles his journey through the dangerous jungles of Vietnam and through the dangerous jungles of Washington, DC, and his conversion from hawk to dove. He effortlessly carries the reader through his tenure under Robert McNamera, walking point on the ground in Vietnam, his RAND consulting career, life on the lamb, and courtroom battles with the Nixon administration which bleed into the Watergate scene.

Through his discussion of the contents of the 4000 pages of the Pentagon Papers, he systematically refutes the Cold War "domino theory" that the last five presidents had succumbed to. He exposes the governments' entire Vietnam strategy as one of ideological rhetoric, misunderstanding, and miscalculation.

While an exciting page-turner, it is also a depressing/disturbing book based on what it reveals about the Executive branch. Regardless of one's politics, the reader forever will look differently at how his government handles and reacts to foreign wars and agression. ... Read more

Book Description

D-Day, the Battle of the Bulge, the liberation of Paris, the relentless drive through Germany toward Allied victory--Omar Bradley, the "GI General," was there for every major engagement in the European theater. A Soldier's Story is the behind-the-scenes eyewitness account of the war that shaped our century:the tremendous manpower at work, the unprecedented stakes, the snafus that almost led to defeat, the larger-than-life personalities and brilliant generals (Patton, Eisenhower, Montgomery) who masterminded it all. One of the two books on which the movie Patton was based, A Soldier's Story is a compelling and vivid memoir from the greatest military tactician of our time.

The books in the Modern Library War series have been chosen by series editor Caleb Carr according to the significance of their subject matter, their contribution to the field of military history, and their literary merit. ... Read more

Reviews (12)

Here the G. I. General talks.
"A Soldier's Story" is the perfect title for General of the Army Omar Nelson Bradley's account of WW2. In this book he talks of his career just previous to the outbreak of the war, of his experience as Eisenhower's "eyes and ears" in North Africa, of his command of the II Corps in Tunisia and Sicily, of his role as being either commander of the First Army and 1st (later 12th) Army Group for a time, of his impressions on Russian officers, and so.

What set this book aside from other personal accounts on WW2 is not only its wealth of facts and details, but on how it is told: as personal and passionate as a general can be. General Bradley does not only tell how things happened, but also how he felt about them. There we find his impressions on those great figures of Eisenhower, Patton, and (specially) Montgomery are remarkable, but also his appreciation for the common soldier, more specifically when disagreeing with Patton's opinion of battle fatigue being a lame excuse for cowardice. Bradley admitted that the living of a frontline soldier is harsh, where death can be found in the next step, and that the role of a commander is to balance casualties in order to keep them low in the long run, even at a cost of a higher rate from an immediate action. Interesting is how he reproduces the infantryman custom of mentioning where in the US a fellow soldier came from, like when he told about the "hedgerow cutter device" and telling that its inventor, Sgt. Curtis Cullin, came from New York. No surprise that he earned the nickname of "G.I. General".

With this respect, of telling things lively, he is unsurpassed by any American soldier or general: Eisenhower's "Crusade in Europe" seems a "bureaucratic" account when comparised with "A Soldier's Story" (sorry Ike fans). It measures up with the massive Winston Churchill's "The Second World War", which for its turn is written under a political perspective.

Anyway, I really liked a lot this book and strongly recommend it for anyone interested on WW2.

The Best of the WWII Memoirs
A Soldier's Story is easily the best of the memoirs of the major Allied leaders of WWII. From D-Day to the German surrender, Bradley was in the middle of the European action and "tells it like it was", far more so than Eisenhower did in "Crusade in Europe". While Ike glosses over controversial situations and personality clashes, Bradley honestly discusses the failure to close the Falais Gap, the failure of "Market- Garden" in Holland,and the failure to detect the Ardennes offensive. In addition, Bradley graphically describes his antagonistic relationship with Montgomery and his, at times, difficulty in dealing with his subordinate, George Patton. Bradley's writing is not that of a man whose real purpose is to make friends and run for office; he writes like a man who wants to tell people his version of the momentous events of 1944-5. His story flows seamlessly and never seems self-serving, a fault of nearly every military memoir I've ever read. If you could only read 2 books on WWII, I'd recommend Shirer's "Rise and Fall of the Third Reich" and this book, "A Soldier's Story".

A Lesson in History
Although I read this book a number of years ago, I still remember the value of reading his perspective on the war. Like most war veterans, my uncle (who was part of the D-Day invasion) and my father who fought in Guadacanal, refused to discuss the war with their children. Bradley's book gave me some of the information that I had been seeking. And, from the tone of the book, it gave me the feeling that Bradley, unlike Patton, was not only a soldier. He was a sensitive, caring individual who had simply chosen to be a career officer. Furthermore, like MacArthur, he didn't expect his men to make sacrifices that he was not prepared to make.

A Soldier's Story
This 1951 volume by the so-called "GI General" is quite an appropriate title to help launch Modern Library's new "War" line of paperback reprints. Bradley here offers a firsthand account of World War II. This is the only paperback available of this title.

Easy to Read Story of WWII From General Bradley's Perch
This book is the story of WWII as General Omar Bradley saw it.

His unassuming and straight forward style underscores how he is portrayed by contemporary accounts. The man known as the "G.I. General" comes across as an island of equanimity in a sea of incredible egos like Patton, Montgomery et al.

This book is Bradley's take on events. I am sure that some involved in controversies he covered (Patton's slapping incident, Montgomery at Caen, Falaise and Arnhem) would defend their actions (or inactions) vigorously. Yet this account has an aura of authenticity due to the author's lack of need to tout his own accomplishments (which were many). This inner peacefulness, along with command ability, probably explains Bradley's rise to the level of senior American ground commander in Europe.

For an insider's account of the American effort and strategic management in the European Theater of Operations, this book is superb. It is well written, clear and largely devoid of the bombast that can weigh down some combat and command accounts. Although a big book, it reads quickly. ... Read more

Book Description

The story of Private Charles Whilden, a hapless South Carolinian whose bravery at the Battle of Spotsylvania in 1864 prolonged the Civil War for the Confederates

For forty years, Charles Whilden lived a life noteworthy for failure. Then, in a remarkable chain of events, this aging, epileptic desk clerk from Charleston found himself plunged into the brutal battlefields of the Wilderness (May 57, 1864) and Spotsylvania Court House (May 820, 1864). In an astonishing act of bravery, he wrapped the flag around his body and led a charge that won critical ground for the Confederates, changing the course of one of the war's most significant battles.

Gordon C. Rhea combines his deep knowledge of Civil War history with original sources, such as a treasure trove of letters written by Charles Whilden, to tell the story of this unusual life. Growing up in a prominent family that had fallen on hard times, Charles received a good education, and his letters reveal flashes of intelligence. But he failed at the practice of law in his home state and in his endeavors elsewhere, including copper speculation, real estate ventures, and farming. After the attack on Fort Sumter, Charles returned to Charleston to enlist in Confederate service, only to be turned down until the rebellion was on its last legs. Even then he saw only a few weeks of combat. But in that time, he discovered a bravery within himself that nothing in his former existence suggested he had. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

Enthusiastically recommended reading for Civil War buffs
Carrying The Flag by civil war historian and expert Gordon C. Rhea is the true story of Private Charles Whilden, an ordinary solider who served the Confederacy during the Civil War and whose courage was so great it would affect the tide of one of the war's greatest battles. An attention compelling, superbly detailed, informed and informative narrative that goes into especial detail concerning the bloody and deadly fights, as well as an intrinsically exciting read, Carrying The Flag is enthusiastically recommended reading for Civil War buffs and a welcome contribution to the growing library of American Civil War literature.

A truly excellent read!
Author Gordon Rhea produced a non fiction book that reads like a historical novel. The reader follows the life of an unlikely soldier that became a true hero for the Confederacy, while also being taken through the Civil War battles of the Wilderness and Spotsylvania Court House in 1864. Mr. Rhea accomplishes a personal interest story along with a definitive work of historical reference. I have traveled to the places described in the book on many occasions, but Mr. Rhea's descriptions of Civil War sites has me planning my next vacation for further Civil War tours. It takes quite a bit to mesh battle descriptions with the ability to generate page turning exitement, but Mr. Rhea accomplishes it in this work.

Best Rhea book yet
I have enjoyed Mr. Rhea's previous books, but this is by far his best work yet. This book follows the fortunes of a remarkable soldier from South Carolina who ends up as the unsung hero of the battles that Mr. Rhea knows so well. The book reads like a modern novel and pulls you into the action. I can't wait for the movie! ... Read more

Book Description

This four-volume work won the 1935 Pulitzer Prize in Biography. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

No Question About It...THE Biography of Lee For All Time...
The story is well told how Douglas Southall Freeman went on to write this four volume magnum opus. Born in 1886, the son of Confederate veteran Walker Burford Freeman, young Douglas grew up in the sunny remembrances of Lee and the Army of Northern Virginia. He received his Ph.D in history at the tender age of 22 and earned an early reputation as a Confederae scholar with Calendar of Confederate Papers. Then followed Lee's Dispatches, which he edited. He wrote an introduction to Lee's Dispatches that was so brilliant, Scribner's signed him on to write a biography of Lee. Freeman believed he could complete the job in two years.

20 years later, he was finished. In that time, America fought in a world war, women won the right to vote, and the original editor who signed Freeman on died and left the legendary Maxwell Perkins in charge.
All through it, Freeman labored on the biography like a demon. He discovered early on that most of the major sources were either never consulted or only skimmed over. He searched far and wide. He carried on a schedule that would have killed a lesser man. He awoke at 2:30 every morning, put a full day in at the Richmond Newspaper where he was an editor at, delivered two radio addresses each day, then back home to work on the biography.

After twenty years and four massive volumes, he was done. Unanimous praise was heaped on his book and rightly so. It was awarded the Pulitzer Prize in biography in 1935. It was and still remains the most thorough biography of Lee ever done and will probably never be surpassed.

Readers looking for a book that will take R. E. Lee to task will be disappointed. Freeman is an unabashed admirer of Lee. Longstreet admirers will find Freeman's highly critical remarks of him in volume 3 during the Gettysburg Campaign aggravating. Freeman's Lee is a great man. Plus, why spend 20 years of your life reading and writing about a man you loathe?

I never believed Lee was the saint certain Confederate veterans painted him to be. He was a human being and he had his share of flaws. But he was a good man who did what he thought was right and a great general. Freeman's research is awesome and his writing style (which Shelby Foote once described as a sort of "jog trot prose") while dated in some aspects (Freeman loves to use "whither" and "tither" whereas "where" and "there" would have been better), and the Freeman's overly critical treatment of Longstreet not withstanding, it is still an awesome book. Lee's campaigns are exhaustively detailed, and the maps are profuse and always keep the reader informed as to what the Army of Northern Virginia was doing at any given time.

I would strongly recommend readers use Ezra Warner's "Generals in Gray" in conjunction with this work. I did and when Freeman parades the various personalities of the Army of Northern Virgina in front of the reader, the names can be confusing. Warner's book will give you illustrations of the men of Lee's command, and you will glad you got it. The book will come alive which is the purpose of all biographies.

Lastly, Thomas Connelly's "The Marble Man" will give the reader a good counterbalance to Freeman. Still even Connelly admitted to someone once that "R. E. Lee" was still "the greatest biography ever written." I have to agree. At four volumes, I didn't want to stop. Give Freeman a chance, you'll be glad you did.

One last note. You might also wish to start with "Lee" a one volume abridgement. Freeman's understudy, Richard Harwell did a painstaking abridgement and it is a wonderful one volume work. Of course, the superb maps that went with the 4 volume set are gone and replaced by more general maps, still it's a good bet in case 4 volumes are too daunting. ... Read more

Reviews (12)

Hitler's Poodle
With all due respect, and Doenitz in his postwar years did command a great deal of respect in Germany, and still does today amongst German Naval Officers....As a soldier who had done his best under the circumstances.`

The original (German) edition of his book is well written and easily understood, and there is no question about the man's genius as a naval tactician. Doenitz had maximized the effectiveness of limited U-Boat resources by pack attacks on allied convoys. But he had sat on his laurels for too long.

The troubling part of his tactical strategy was that after the "happy times" in 1942 and to the end he continued to send his U-Boat men on virtual suicide missions into the North Atlantic. The man was too naive to accept the allies' upper hand in surface detection radar technology and in communications intercept and code breaking successes. After adding another rotor to the navy's enigma machines, he continued business as usual: Incessant radio communications with his commanders at sea. Instead of giving U-Boat commanders a free hand, (running silent) he attempted to micro manage every U-Boat's mission from shore. Recognizing and adopting to technological changes quickly obviously had strained his intellectual capacity. He could have saved thousands of young submariners by halting these reckless pursuits of heavily defended allied convoys, especially by mid 1944 when it became common knowledge that Germany had lost the war.

Although Doenitz had distanced himself from the Nazi political gangsters and Hitler's OKW toadies like Keitel and Jodl, he nevertheless remained a true believer and admirer of the Fuehrer. Going so far as to risk personal injury or death on a difficult journey to the Fuehrerbunker, a madhouse fifty feet below the rubble of Berlin, April 20th, 1945, not to miss Hitler's final birthday. And there and to the end it was: "Heil Hitler" as usual for the Admiral.

And so Doenitz had soldiered on, ignoring the ugly cancer that had grown on his country.

A Revealing Book Regarding the U-boat War
"Memoirs: Ten Years and 20 Days" i