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A distinguished Civil War historian unravels the complex character of the Confederacy's greatest general. Drawing on previously untapped manuscript sources, the author refutes such long-standing myths as Stonewall Jackson's obsessive eating of lemons and gives a three-dimensional account of the profound religious faith frequently caricatured as grim Calvinism. Though the author capably covers the battles that made Jackson a legend--Sharpsburg, Fredericksburg, etc.--he emphasizes "the life story of an extraordinary man." The result is a biography that will fascinate even those allergic to military history. ... Read more

Reviews (68)

Detailed and moving portrait of a Confederate general.
This is perhaps the finest work I have ever read on a single individual. The book itself is remarkable both for the amount of detail and for the care with which it is documented. Robertson debunks many previous Jackson myths, and seems to be able to explore the mind of the man with comfortable ease. You get the sense that he actually was aquainted with the great man. The story of Jackson is quite thorough, presenting not only Jackson the Confederate general, but also Jackson the schoolboy, the teacher, and the devout Presbyterian. Even without the Civil War sections, this book would still be fascinating reading, especially the years in which he taught at VMI. The Civil War years are chronicled well, but be warned, this is a book about Jackson, and covers only those engagements in which he had direct influence. This is not as distracting as it sounds, and in fact is somewhat practical, as it presents the battle from Jackson's front. The book is rather lengthy, but not monotonous, and it reads very well. The end is especially heartbreaking and emotional, and summarizes well the life of a remarkable man and his tragic death

Jackson, an American hero
This is a wonderfully researched, highly readable, and I believe, definitive biography of a great American military hero. This superb book provides detail and academic rigor, combined with a skillful interweaving of Jackson's personal life and military exigencies. A must-read by anyone's definition, and a great model for other would-be Civil War biographers.

A MUST READ!!!
One of the few accurate reads about this great American hero. "Old Jack," an orphan, grew up in Jackson Mills, the home and business of his uncle. What many would have used as an excuse for failure (orphaned, poor, very little standardized education, no gov't breast to succour, etc.), motivated "Old Jack" to make something of himself. Jackson worked hard to get an appointment to West Point, one of the greatest Engineering schools of its time. While at West Point, Jackson had to work twice as hard as his classmates often staying up into the early morning hours memorizing his previous day's lesson. Though he often struggled, his hard work and determination paid off. Jackson had great discipline. Recognized in the Mexican War for always following orders and never losing his cool. Although, he is often criticized for his ability to teach at VMI, a few things have to be mentioned. I have never known anyone personally nor heard of anyone who ever said they had it easy learning Physics. I am sure most student generated complaints concerning Jackson's teaching methods, etc. were mostly because: one, it was a hard class, and two, it required one's undivided attention. Secondly, if the faculty had concerns, they (their concerns) never amounted to much. The Civil War is often said where Jackson blossomed. I disagree. Jackson's greatness originated from inside. Nearly always, men are great because they are great men no matter what the outside circumstances and I believe this is the case with "Old Jack." The Civil War simply provided the theatre for Jackson to display his greatness. Jackson is one of the World's greatest military strategists. He is still studied across the world today. His movements were done with speed and stealth often moving nearly half of Lee's Army of Northern Virginia. Thomas J. Jackson is great example for all. Although, it has many pages it flows very well.

Best Biography I Have Ever Read
I have not read other biographies of Stonewall Jackson as others here have, so I cannot say if there are others out there that are better. However, of the biographies I have read (Theodore Rex, John Adams, etc.) this biography is by far the best I have ever read.
I currenly live in Centreville, VA and Manassas Battlefield and the surrounding areas are basically part of my everyday commute. So you can imagine that it was quite interesting to me to read about those battles in particular. I also attended James Madison University in Harrisonburg, VA. A lot of my life as been in the same georgraphy that Stonewall and his "foot cavalry" marched over (and over, and over) during his Valley Campaigns in particular.
Roberston goes to great lengths to describe Jackson the man during all stages of his life. I especially enjoyed learning about his service in the Mexican War and as a teacher at VMI. The book is so detailed that by the time the Civil War starts, your are almost half way through the biography! The one complaint I have is that the details of the Civil War campaigns are so meticulous that I actually got tired of reading about another 50+ mile march, often back to a town retaken by the Federals (Harrisonburg, Winchester, etc). However, Roberston's style pays off in spades in his accounts of each battle, how they were fought (including troop placements and supply trains), what the outcome meant to each side, and what it meant to Jackson is particular.
At the end of the book it is very hard to feel nothing in Jackson's death.

Disappointing
For all the hype over thsi book, I had expected a truly original work of scholarship.

Instead, the reader is treated to little more than several hundred pages of uncritical hero worship, dubious scholarship, and unengaging prose.

Many fans of Stonewall Jackson seem to equate support for their idol with support for this book. They do General Jackson, and the caase of history, a great disservice.

A number of the negative reviewers of this book (below) appear to have a better appreciation of the existing literature than do Robertson's champions. If you are genuinely looking for a balanced, accurate, and well written account of Jackson as solider, read Henderson's 2 vol classic. For Jackson the man, read Chambers's.

At all costs, avoid Robertson's. ... Read more

Reviews (23)

Duty, Honor, and Devotion
Although Professor James McPherson wrote this study of the motivation of the Civil War soldier, it is not a great exaggeration to say that in this book the soldiers speak for themselves. Professor McPherson has read and analyzed a prodigious amount of source material written by Civil War combatants, Union and Confederacy, officer and enlisted soldier. For this book, he has taken a sample of the letters home and the diaries of 1076 soldiers, 647 Union and 429 Confederate to analyze their candid, uncensored reflections of why they fought. Professor McPherson also draws on many modern studies of combat psychology and utilzes their findings in discussing the Civil War soldiers.

Professor McPherson's sample is not statistically random and it may be skewed in some ways. For example, the sample does not include (obviously) illiterate soldiers or black soldiers. It tends to be tilted in the direction of those individuals who did most of the fighting and who were committed to their respective causes. Professor McPherson recognizes that many of the combatants were unwilling participants, particularly as the draft was instituted in both armies and that both armies included many shirkers. These individuals are not represented in his sample of letters. But still, these letters, written in the activity of soldiering and not intended for publication, are revealing of their authors' thoughts and feelings in a way impossible to replicate in other writings.

The letters reveal much about the motivation of the combatants and about life in Civil War America. Professor McPherson finds that many of the soldiers in the Civil War had a firm idea of why they were fighting. On both sides soldiers fought for the preservation of liberty and the duty they perceived they owed to their country. Patriotism, in a word. Southern soldiers fought to achieve their independence and to avoid what they viewed as "subjugation" and "slavery". Northern soldiers fought to preserve the Union and, increasingly as the War progressed, to end slavery. Soldiers in both the Union and the Confederacy drew sustenance from religious convictions. They were motivated deeply by the camaraderie that developed with their fellows, particularly in their own units. In the Civil War in particular, soldiers fought side-by-side with others from their own state and community. They developed a strong bond with each other, based on the terrors of war and the privations of the camps, and fought in solidarity with each other.

The letters in the book speak well for themselves with Professor McPherson's organization and commentary. It is moving to read about how many Americans were driven by high ideals in enlisting and fighting in this, the most deadly and formative of the wars of the United States.

There is a sense of poignancy throughout the book. For the Civil War generation, concepts of duty, honor, family, manhood, and patriotism were not viewed with the skepticism that became common following WW I and that remains prevalent with many people today. It was a romantic generation, in part, but one with commitments and ideals. I think there is much contemporary Americans may learn by the devotion shown by the American Civil War soldiers and by the ideals of liberty, duty, and courage for which they fought.

What motivated the Civil War soldier?
This book is a very refreshing twist on Civil War history. In this work, as well as in his book What They Fought For, noted Civil War historian James McPherson explores what exactly motivated men to fight in the war. Having done exhaustive research to the tune of diaries and letters from nearly 1,000 soldiers, most of them obscure and average men, McPherson is aptly qualified to perform this work. He looks at several factors, from group unity to sense of honor to desire for vengeance, in an attempt to understand the average Civil War soldier, and ultimately makes a strong case for the idea that Civil War soldiers were idealistic men who were not ignorant of the issues at stake and who were motivated by an extraordinary desire to fight for their beliefs. This, McPherson argues, sets them apart from soldiers in other wars.

As is always the case with McPherson, this book is very well written and enjoyable to read. Most of this book is composed of quotes from various soldiers with McPherson's interpretation and narrative interjected only often enough to keep the discussion flowing. He does a wonderful job of integrating the quotes and making them fit perfectly into what he's trying to say. McPherson's use of quotations from the men who were actually there is infinitely more effective in proving his point than anything he could say himself, and this is what makes this book so great. There are hundreds of books out there that will tell you WHAT happened, but this book is one of only a few that will try and explain WHY and HOW things happened.

What men fought and died for, and what they were thinking
This is a wonderful book. Prof. McPherson read over 30,000 letters and diaries for this, and thus I think he has provided one of the most thorough and thought provoking treatments of the psychology of Civil War soldiers and studies on why exactly they fought.

For this work, Prof. McPherson also incorporates theories, reports, and research of the combat motivation, effects of combat, and psychology of men and soldiers in others war such as WWI, WWII, and the Vietnam War, not to mention general medical studies from British, American, and German armies. In some instances, he uses modern knowledge to analyze the thoughts and feelings of the soldiers of the Civil War. As interesting as this is to show how soldiers in the Civil War had the same problems and feelings as most men of war, his academic findings illustrate how Civil War soldiers were also very different from soldiers in other wars.

The difference lay in their devout belief in their causes, and their sustained belief in those causes, and the close relationship with the men they fought with (which is a common thread for men of all wars), throughout the war. McPherson rarely goes on for more than a paragraph or two of his own narrating. He lets the voices of the men who fought take up 90% of the book, giving you a real sense of who these people were, and allowing the reader to derive an opinion for themselves, but always with McPherson's voice in the background guiding the reader, teaching you.

The causes brought up by the letters and McPherson are wide and varied, and McPherson makes sure to research each and explain as elaborately as possible, but quite noticable are the few main causes that men on both sides procliamed in verbose rhetoric. These consisted of Duty, Honor, Liberty, Independence, and the sustainment (US) or creation of (CS) a "free and independent country". For the CS the issue of slavery is brought up, but even though McPherson mentions it quite often and does what he can to explain, I did find some holes, most especially what yeoman farmers in general felt about the slavery and the strife, or what their exact definition of "states rights" (in relation to slavery) was. But that subject in of itself deserves it's own book, and I do not find that as derogative to the book at all, in fact it provoked my thoughts.

This may be strange to say, but while reading it, you feel safe. In other words, the research is so sound, so well documented, so well explained, that you feel like there is no way you are falling into a trap of propagandist, shallowly researched, or off the cuff revisionist history simply masked by some good prose. McPherson is a talented writer, making the read an easy and anticipated one for the reader (I read in 3 days, and I am NOT a fast reader), but he's also an astute historian who settles for nothing less than good hard research and logical and sound analyzation of his findings (thus a lengthy bibliography), without any sway of personal opinion; the book is entirely objective, and the bibliography in of itself is a great read (I've already read some of the books listed and recommended).

Read this book if you want a solid, incredibly well researched, and inspired understanding of the men who fought the Civil War. Hopefully you'll come away with new ideas for yourself and a new knowledge of the men who fought. McPherson muses that these men deserve a respect for fighting for goals and causes that were sustained only by their own willpower, conviction, and mainly their courage, amidst the blood and chaos of the War; and judging by what Prof. McPherson has found, that is something I can concur with.

They speak for themselves
With this work McPherson has proved himself to be an outstanding research historian. Many such historians cannot find the right balance between evidence and interpretation. McPherson has done just that. He provides for us a powerful forum for the soldiers to tell us themselves why they fought; but he also weaves their comments into a compelling story, providing keen insight, analysis and juxtaposition for Union and Confederate soldiers. This is truly a great example of the Civil War as social history.

Not too bad for a Yankee author
McPherson hits all the right notes in this "song" about the motives of soldiers, North and South. As an unreconstructed Southerner I found it belied a slightly Northern bias but not so much as to diminish the overall work. If anything, McPherson gives a redeeming account of why I believe many of my own ancestors fought for a free and independent South. I found myself alternately flying through the pages then slowing to pause, reflect and absorb. Despite the flaw of Union bias McPherson has still turned out a work for all to enjoy. ... Read more

Book Description

Few figures hold as mythic a place in America's historical consciousness as John Brown. A fervent abolitionist, his New England reserve tempered by a childhood on the Ohio frontier, Brown advocated arming fugitive slaves to fight for their freedom, an idea that impressed Frederick Douglass, Ralph Waldo Emerson, and Henry David Thoreau. In 1855, answering the call of his five sons to join them in the desperate struggle for freedom in the new territories, John Brown became a hero of "Bleeding Kansas." When he returned east, the fiery leader launched his ambitious campaign to rouse the slaves to freedom with a raid on the federal arsenal at Harpers Ferry in 1859.

Labeled a madman for his failed military adventure, and repudiated even by prominent antislavery leaders, Brown was tried in a Virginia court and sentenced to hang for treason and sundry other crimes. In The John Brown Legend Revisited, the eminent historian Merrill D. Peterson brings the same blend of sharp-eyed analysis and narrative elegance to bear on Brown's legacy that he has used to unravel the images of Thomas Jefferson and Abraham Lincoln.

Brown's reputation has undergone a series of tectonic shifts since he met his death on the gallows just before the Civil War. Southerners viewed his exploits with apprehension, seeing Harpers Ferry as a harbinger of servile insurrection, while Brown's eloquence before the court won him sympathy in the North and confirmed his place there as a hero and martyr. Thoreau, the author of passive resistance, wrote of Brown as a man of conscience. Perhaps most important historically, Brown's exploits convinced Southerners that Lincoln's election meant secession and a call to arms.

Peterson gives us Brown in his own day, but he also shows how the flaming abolitionist warrior's image, celebrated in art, literature, and journalism, has shed some of the infamy conferred by "Bleeding Kansas" to become a symbol of American idealism and fervor to activists along the political spectrum. And so in the civil rights battles of the twentieth century, Brown became a hero to African Americans. ... Read more

Book Description

This is one of the most vivid accounts of destruction and hopelessness we have ever seen. It is a 17-year-old German conscript's experiences in the defense of Berlin during the spring of 1945 - the last desperate days of Berlin - annotated and illustrated to show his part in the overall picture.

Altner's account covers in detail recruit training on the front line after only ten days in barracks, the execution of deserters and action against the Red Army and turncoat German 'Seydlitz' Troops.

He tells of the retreat back to Berlin with full kit, escaping capture time after time and the annihilation of nearly all his company in just one action.

He gives detailed descriptions of house to house fighting in the Spandau sector of Berlin, the battle for the Olympic Stadium, the sacrifice of Hitler Youths, fighting in the city's subway tunnels and the disastrous attempt at a breakout to the west, culminating in his final capture.

This is an account of war at its most basic and brutal level, of the collapse of everything familiar and the hopelessness of imminent defeat. ... Read more

Reviews (5)

A 17 year old induction in the German Army.
Altner was a seventeen year old German when he was inducted into the German Army and fought for five weeks in the defense of Berlin. This book is the story of those five weeks. As a previous reviewer has noted, Altner is not very careful in his descriptions of arms, tanks, aircraft, etc. Footnotes are provided that fill in much of this information. What is a seventeen year old interested in....food and sex, and so some of the story focuses on these two items at the expense of others. Altner also focuses on the traumatization of war, seeing a friend without his nose and eyes, walking past a wounded soldier without stopping, watching wounded soldiers be run over by tanks.
One gets a pretty vivid portrait from this seventeen year old kid of what war is like.
Although an interesting read, there are better stories out there such as Sajer's The Forgotten Soldier. Altner's experience was only five weeks, so perhaps it was not a complete picture of the war on the Eastern Front.

Unbelievable first-person account!
These are the experiences of a 17 year-old conscripted in the last couple months of the war where training was "on the job". Unbelievable accounts of fighting in Berlin where chaos reigns. Very detailed, very graphic. Every male from 14 to 60 gets pressed into service, or shot by the SS. Many don't have useable weapons, very little food and no rest from the hell of war. Civilians carry their few remaining possessions as they flee before the Russians. The flight of the remaining military and civilians as they try to break out of the Russian encirclement of the city and reach the western front is described graphically. The author is one of only a few survivors of a company of 150 17 year-olds. Probably the most enthralling first-person account of the many I've read, if only because it was written by a youth and covers only the last few months of the war when there was no longer any glory left to fight for--only survival.

Berlin Dance of Death
Very detailed and factual. Slow moving. If you like daily military unit reports you will find this interesting. Floyd McRae

disappointing and chaotic
Imagine if you were a 17 year old male and knew nothing about armies, weapons, or how to be a soldier, and yet were told to put on a uniform, not given any weapons initially, (the author had to scrounge for a gun from the battlefield) and then told to go out with a group of other teenage boys to fight the advancing Russian army.

The result is pretty much total chaos - our author gets randomly shifted around from one assignment to another, basically as cannon fodder to stand and hold his ground against the Russians. He only occasionally manages to fire his gun, rarely to any effect. His location at any one moment in the book is just as baffling to him as it is to the reader. He has no idea of what or who is advancing on him or why he is even in any particular location. Tanks and heavy weapons he encounters are just tanks and heavy weapons. Several times, I wanted to scream out, what kind of tanks are those that you saw out there? Tigers? Panthers? T-34's? You know, basic stuff that even the novice WWII history buff would know. Not a clue.

There are lots of descriptions of soldiers and civilians getting killed, of mangled bodies, of the cruelty of SS and SA "chain dogs" (assigned to hunt down and execute deserters and otherwise terrorize other Germans, military and civilian alike) in the final days of the Third Reich. A surprising amount of the really detailed verbiage in this book is spent describing what the author eats, practically every single day. It's just amazing to me that the guy could remember exactly what was in that tin of meat he just opened up, but can't tell the reader what kind of tank that was that just almost killed him.

About the only interesting vignettes from this book, the only topic that I have not seen set down in other "soldier's tale" books of this type, are the descriptions of the author's brief tryst with a German teen age girl right before his group of teenagers gets slaughtered in battle, and of the existence of "SS girl volunteers" whose main function seems to have been to bed down the German soldiers that they encountered. These scenes really do remind you that even in the midst of war, these were just high school teenagers, complete with raging hormones.

But don't buy the book for that reason either. These parts are very much PG-13 rated.

Not much value as military history overall.

I quite enjoyed it
I look for books on this subject, and have to say I enjoyed this one. Ther style is a bit different from what I expected, and the story is certainly not what I expected - which ads a new dimention to the Berlin fight. It wasn't always constant bitter fighting with tanks everywhere. There was a lot of confusion, and a lot of time when not mnuch was going on.

The one weak point is in the maps, which could be improved, but they do help tie the story into the historical tale- and the fellow that helped edit in in English is known as a long time student of the Berlin fight, so if he says its real, I belive him.

So all in all I recomend it for those looking for a groiund eye view of the fight for Berlin. ... Read more

Book Description

Written in his own hand and finished only weeks before his death, Gen. Douglas MacArthur's memoir spans more than half a century of modern history. His vantage point at center stage during major controversies of the twentieth century enabled him to present unique views of the conflicts in which he played a vital role. No soldier in modern time has been more admired--or reviled. Liberator of the Philippines, shogun of Occupied Japan, victor of the Battle of Inchon, the general was a national hero when suddenly relieved of his command by President Truman. His supporters believe his genius for command and ability to implement that command by strategy stand as landmarks in military history. His critics are not so kind, calling him a gigantic ego paying homage to himself in this book. Decade by decade, battlefield by battlefield, this self portrait is a moving final testament to a life of service that began at West Point and continued in Vera Cruz during the Mexican uprisings and throughout the world wars. Appointed Supreme Commander of Allied Forces in the Pacific, MacArthur was the architect of the campaign to drive the Japanese from their strongholds at Bataan, Corregidor, and New Guinea. His recounting of World War II is dramatically punctuated with intimate portraits of key personalities and insights into his stand on controversial issues. Although the autobiography was written more than thirty years ago, it continues to be a valuable document of the period. ... Read more

Reviews (7)

A fantastic memoir!
My past understanding of General of the Army Douglas MacArthur was vague and perhaps understated. This book by far has peaked my interest not only in the General himself, but also in the history of World War II as well as the history of others involved in that conflict.

General MacArthur does an excellent job covering his life from the time of his birth, to his assignment in Mexico to his command of the Rainbow Division in World War I to his leadership in World War II which lead to his appointment as Supreme Commander in the Pacific. MacArthur spends a great amount of time detailing each of his military adventures, along with noting his achievements along the way, finally ariving at the rank of 5-star General of the Army in 1944.

I was very surprised to find MacArthur to be very, what I would call, deferential in the receipt of each honor. He has been accused by some of being pompus and an egoist, but he came across as a man who, while very deserving, felt he had earned his awards through not only his own efforts, but also through the efforts of those around him.

General MacArthur also shares his experience with President Harry Truman at the Wake Island conference. Prior to reading MacArthur's memoirs, I was lead to believe that the conference was a tense undertaking with President Truman having to reign in one his "errant" Generals. MacArthur's take on the conference was completely different that what I have previously read - indicating that Mr. Truman was very complimentary toward the General and with the General returning the favor. I was surprised to read in Merle Miller's "Plain Speaking" to see that Harry Truman thought General MacArthur was a "dumb son-of-a-b****". When I contrasted the two (MacArthur and Truman), I found MacArthur to be articulate, to the point, and respectful. Truman, I have found was crude and ruthless.

I thought this was a fantastic book and would encourage its reading by anyone interested in the history of this great U.S. General.

History That Favors Me!
Informative and the most self serving narration ever made by and about a single American. Live a lifetime with the general and know what it is to never have made a mistake, never willingly to have submitted to legitimate authority, and never, and I mean NEVER, to have credited anyone else for the success of what ,in most military operations are shared endeavors.

The best available history by a military figure
Better than even Eisenhower and certainly better than Patton, MacArthur tells us a little about himself, his family and his father's legacy before seeing his first (and later decorated) action in WWI. Taking over at West Point in 1919, his book begins to expose particular weaknesses in American idealogy when it comes to the "expense of defense." As MacArthur continued his tale, I could scarcely trust my eyes. In WWII, the Pacific theater had no unified command like Europe and other theaters. MacArthur controlled only part of his forces; those not under his command were oftentimes pulled away on other missions, sometimes at the last moment. For a time he enjoyed command over his own air power, but later he lost this luxury as other missions took precedence. MacArthur's tactics and strategy are always clearly defined and easily acceptable as intelligent courses. His hope and duty to protect his men appears on every page. His objections to frontal assaults on what he termed "militarily insignificant" objectives (both to the Allies and to Japan) on Okinawa and Iwo Jima made me groan anew for the men we lost there. "Only poor commanders turn in large casualties" he wrote. His masterly reconstruction of Japan (1945-50) shows his open and fair concepts of what we now call "nation building." He knew that the reconstruction and reforms would not succeed unless authorized by the people of Japan. Shouts of rage greeted him in 1945 when he entered Tokyo; tears of sorrow witnessed his departure. In Korea, my stomach turned on almost every page, as Mac describes the indecision or timidity that put men in harm's way without a clear objective, without support, and without even the formal declaration of war. The "police action" as Truman insisted it was seemed to Mac (and to any reader or soldier) as actual war, yet the more acceptable phrase continues to be repeated today. Persons who think so today should read this book and reconsider. For instance, the mass murder in Bosnia in the 1990s was diabolically reduced to "ethnic cleansing." In the 1940s we called this "extermination." When the concentration camps ran full speed in Poland in 1945, the German clerks merely wrote "released" whenever they bothered to record names. This book gives a heroic picture of American military might and the idealogy of freedom, but also a horrid picture of inaction and misinformed policy, and a glimpse behind a curtain of US Government-propagated disinformation.

MacArthur Pleads His Case
"Reminiscences" is General Douglas MacArthur's brief in support of his life and career as they stand in judgment before the Bar of History. His statement of facts is magnificent. Beginning with his immigrant grandfather, Judge Arthur MacArthur, and continuing through the career of his father, Gen. Arthur MacArthur, (see my Amazon review of "The General's General"), Douglas sets the stage for his entry into the great play of life. Growing up in the frontier army, Douglas was admitted to West Point in 1899.

Not a typical cadet or young officer, Douglas made his first appearance before a Congressional committee investigating hazing at the Academy in 1900. Graduating in 1903, his first assignment was to the Philippines, the land in which his father had won fame and where he would spend so much of his military career. In 1906 he was appointed aide-de-camp to President Theodore Roosevelt.

With U. S. entry into World War I, MacArthur bucked the prevailing wisdom that National Guard units could not function effectively in combat. It was he who conceived, promoted and implemented the concept of the Rainbow Division, consisting of National Guard units from 26 states. During his command of the Rainbow he established the legend of his fearlessness in combat.

Returning to the peace time army, MacArthur rose to Chief of Staff, a position from which, he believed, his father had been barred by political enemies. During his tenure, Douglas presided over the dispersal of the Bonus Marchers, an action which he staunchly defends in this book, and the defense the Army from the Depression-era budget cutting knife. During one meeting with FDR, MacArthur erupted with an immediately regretted remark that has become part of the MacArthur legend, "to the general effect that when we lost the next war, and an American boy, lying in the mud with an enemy bayonet through his belly and an enemy foot on his dying throat, spat out his last curse, I wanted the name not to be MacArthur, but Roosevelt." Although he claims to have immediately regretted the remark, he did find it worth reporting.

His career in the U.S. Army seemingly concluded, MacArthur retired in 1935 to become a field marshal in the Philippine Army. In this position he built the Philippine Defenses in the years leading up to World War II. In his soon to be familiar role of advocate for Pacific defense against a Eurocentered defense establishment, he struggled to obtain funding necessary to prepare the Philippines for the anticipated Japanese onslaught. When the pre-war build up began it was too little, too late.

With the Japanese invasion of the Philippines, MacArthur relates the plans for defense which culminated in the heroic stands on Bataan and Corregidor. From this narrative we realize how serious was the defenders' expectation of a relief expedition before their surrender.

The brilliant campaigns in New Guinea and the Philippines are explained. Through this campaign, MacArthur shrewdly advanced his forces as rapidly as his advancing air cover would permit, isolating Japanese troops which would be starved of supplies rather than overrun by assault. By use of this technique, MacArthur conquered immense territory and neutralized massive concentrations of enemy troops while taking relatively few casualties. On the pages of this book, MacArthur takes us into the conferences in which the plans for the war in the Pacific were charted.

With Victory over Japan, MacArthur assumed the role of ruler of Japan. During the section of the book dealing with this portion of his life, we see the challenges which he confronted and the steps which reformed Japan into the nation which it is today.

The chapter "Frustration in Korea" signals a decided shift in the mood of the book. Here we read of the desperate state of defense during the early stages of the North Korean invasion, followed by the complete U.N. victory over North Korea after the landings at Inchon. With the Red Chinese invasion of Korea, the second retreat began. Again MacArthur masterminded the U.N. defense. Here criticism of the Truman Administration accelerates in the accounts leading up to and following MacArthur's dismissal from command.

In the final section, MacArthur shares with us his views of developments in America and the world. We hear of his shock at the substitution of prolonged indecision for victory as a national war goal. More than once we are reminded that "There is no substitute for victory." In digressions, we also learn his views on the employment of Nationalist Chinese Forces during the Korean War, as well as his views on relationships with Communism, the importance of freedom, the role of the income tax and other issues. His arguments leave us with the lingering thought that perhaps Red China would have been vulnerable to a determined defense in Korea, bombings and blockade of the mainland and an unleashing of the Nationalist Forces. It is one of the great "What ifs" of history. Near the end of the book we are treated to the transcripts of his address to congress and the final roll call at West Point.

Throughout this book we are reminded of the many honors and tributes received by the author. This book would be much shorter if the awards, congratulatory telegrams, decorations and testimonials were omitted. The author was certainly impressed with the esteem in which he was held by his fellow man.

While not as good of a biography of Douglas MacArthur as "American Caesar" (see my Amazon review), "Reminiscences" is a valuable window into MacArthur's world. Self adulation notwithstanding, this book gives us an insight into how Douglas MacArthur saw his role in the world. We see many of the powerfully charged issues of the World War II and Korean War eras forcefully promoted by one of their foremost partisans. I am glad that I read it. I will never look at General of the Army Douglas MacArthur and his era in the same way again.

Very good autobiography!
Autobiographies do not get better than this. Its packed with information about many of America's wars through the eyes of the greatest general in United States history. Like the previous reviewer stated, the last chapter itself its unbelievable. It contains content and predictions that could be lifted and applied to the modern present world. I could not believe that this book was written 40 years ago. MacArthur was truly ahead of his time in thinking. His recollection opf events is superb and very detailed for a man who has probably more memories that ordinary men have for a lifetime. I'd recommend this book to anyone, the last chapter is alone worth the price! ... Read more

From the Publisher

Winston Churchill is one of the most extraordinary leaders the tumultuous twentieth century produced. Why did he see so clearly when those around him acted so blindly?What enabled him to stand steadfastly when those around him vacillated? How was he able to inspire whole nations to endure the unendurable and to achieve the unachievable when those around him surrendered all hope? In this remarkable new study of Churchill's legacy, Stephen Mansfield addresses these questions and shows us what lay at the core of Churchill's extraordinary character. The result is an inspiring portrait of a truly great leader. ... Read more

Reviews (14)

An example of how character is built in great leaders.
This book was at the same time inspiring and challenging. To learn how Churchill was able to not only rise above his circumstances, but to lead others to do the same, was very encouraging to me.Here was a man who possesed the character that enabled him to come from the type of childhood that could paralyze a person, to a position of leadership which enabled him to call an entire nation to do extraordinary feats. I think that in these times we live in, this book serves as a catalyst to challenge the status quo of mediocre leadership, and perhaps kindle the same passion and vision for great leadership that was embodied in Churchill. Mansfield's style of writing was to me clear, articulate, and was well thought out, which gave it a clear direction. He did not mince words. The format was such that a chapter at a time could be read in one sitting. An excellent read!

For Leaders, not avid Historians
In reading the reviews under this section, I find that a reader either loves this book or hates it - there is very little middle ground.

I believe those who discount this book are looking for an objective work on the history of Churchill. While this is a very fascinating subject, the market is saturated with such works, so if that is what you are looking for, go elsewhere...

Those who love the book don't seem to place such emphasis on its historical precision; rather on the value of the information as it pertains to their own lives and leadership styles.

I found this book to contain many great nuggets of wisdom and my highlighter saw much action as I poured through the pages.

I recommend this book to anyone who wants to improve their leadership qualities. If you are looking for a historical masterpiece, this isn't it nor did the author intend it to be...

Outstanding Book
I found this book to be a superb look at the man and what made him succeed against all odds. This is an inspirational book and I enjoyed it so much that I have re-read it a second time.
Not only is the book full of insightful and moving comments about Churchill but, it gives a deeper perspective on what made him the undaunting leader that he was. The book is short but wonderful. It does have a Christian perspective and I assume that this is why some readers are putting it down. Nevertheless, Churchill's faith was an important part of his life and ultimately why he sensed his destiny. I love this book.

Could the last review possibly be the author?
The last review is title "the best book I've read" - could this possibly be the author himself or at least a relative? Evidence

1) From Nashville TN, which as another read points out is where the author is from.
2) "Best book I've read" is a little too strong even if you did like it. I mean its not exactly Catch 22 or Hamlet.
3) The author advises people to read "other books by Mansfield".
4) Knows a few too many facts about prizes "Amway book of the month" - wow what a recommendation. Amway, not exactly Nobel Prize in Literature (which actually Churchill won, so I think there are is a least one book on Churchill that is better written i.e. anything by the man himself).

Anyway, onto the review itself. I am an avid Churchill fan and have read almost everything on the man - I was therefore initially pleased to see an potentially interesting book on his leadership style. Unfortunately this is the first book in my entire life I have actually thrown in the garbage. It was that bad. Forget about the authors "intrusive voice" as one other reviewer puts it (quite rightly) - it is just poorly written and poorly researched. I urge you to read almost any other book on the great man apart from this.

Best Book I've Read
I'm shocked at some of the critical reviews listed here. This is a beautifully written book that tells not only the powerful story of Churchill's life but attempts to understand the spiritual engine behind his greatness. The book was a Gold Medallion Finalist and has been an Amway Selection of the Month. There is far more here than Churchill as spiritual giant. There is the pain and the failure that fashioned the greatness. There are the flaws and the mistakes that make the glory clear. My suggestion: don't miss this book or any of Stephen Mansfield's works. ... Read more

Book Description

ò True account of life, love, war, and finally, peace ò Includes details and accounts of D-Day ò Author sings tenor for the world-famous Oak Ridge Boys ò Poignant slice of Americana ... Read more

Reviews (4)

Love, War, Family, and Faith
I have never been a reader of war stories, nor did I know a lot about WWII. However, this book manages to overview the Second Great War and its effect on the U.S., while weaving in a story of love and faith.

Bonsall knows his characters well, because it's his parents' story. His writing is simple yet passionate. A quick read - that you will never forget. The book offers inspiration for the times we live in today.

American Love Story
I was simply blown away by this book. A street wise Kid from Philly making it on his own and then winds up in one of the nation's tragic wars only to meet up with a country girl from North Carolina and they both somehow seem to make it all work out and raise a family and grow old together and remained in love for many many years. This book truly runs the gammets of emotions from Pride to anger to sadness. You can really see what an American Love Story this is. Whether it be children's book or A simple love story if it has a story to be written Joesph S Bonsall can surely write about it.

Enduring faith like none other
There's a song called "Whatever Happened To Old-Fashioned Love," that simply asks where the life-long commitment of a marriage has gone. All-too-easily, people who have one little problem simply give up. This story is for them.

This story is about two post-WW2 veterans who attempt to return to normal life after the war. Permanent scars, both physically and emotionally, never truely allow that to happen, but one thing gets them through these hard times. Love. A love like none other. Through trials that seem almost unbearable and too hard to overcome, G.I. Joe and Lillie persevered. They are true examples of the old saying, "all you need is love."

Joseph Bonsall's writing is superb, and this true story, while brand new, is old as time itself. No matter what came their way, they always had each other. That's all they needed.

This book is like a warm quilt!
When it is dark and stormy, nothing is more comforting than to be cocooned in a homemade quilt. A tapestry rich in tradition and assembled with love, a kaleidoscope of patterns and colors, it is an American art form. Wrapped in its warm embrace, its fabric surrounds us and soothes our spirits. By extension, the spirit of America is a tapestry woven by the stories of its people. Each person; each man, woman and child, has a chance to mold this nation. Some become distinguished men and women and make monumental contributions to government, the arts, and business. Others become scourges of society. Most will fall somewhere in between, neither famous nor infamous. But they build lives and legacies for themselves and for the generations that follow them. They are ordinary people who sometimes do extraordinary things. They face adversity and challenges and find a way to overcome them. Their faith in God is the cornerstone of their existence. They raise their children to be honest and to reach for the stars. They are far from perfect, but they do the best they can with what they have been given. And they love each other, no matter what. They are the threads that form the fabrics that produce the patterns of our national tapestry. GI Joe and Lillie are two of those threads. They represent, even in their imperfections, all that is good and right about our country; faith, honor, strength, values, and dreams. Their story, so eloquently chronicled, mirrors many of our own narratives. The details may be different, the patterns and colors may not be the same, but the fabric of their lives, the values that brought them through the rough times, are universal to most of us. And in today's times, when it is dark and stormy, and we need to feel protected, or even just encouraged, we need only wrap ourselves tightly in the legacy they helped create. Their "quilt" warms the heart, and yes, soothes the spirit, for it is rich in tradition and assembled with love. You will laugh and you will cry, but mostly you will be inspired and grateful for this story. ... Read more

Book Description

Stephen E. Ambrose draws upon extensive sources, an unprecedented degree of scholarship, and numerous interviews with Eisenhower himself to offer the fullest, richest, most objective rendering yet of the soldier who became president. He gives us a masterly account of the European war theater and Eisenhower's magnificent leadership as Allied Supreme Commander. Ambrose's recounting of Eisenhower's presidency, the first of the Cold War, brings to life a man and a country struggling with issues as diverse as civil rights, atomic weapons, communism, and a new global role.

Along the way, Ambrose follows the 34th President's relations with the people closest to him, most of all Mamie, his son John, and Kay Summersby, as well as Franklin D. Roosevelt, Winston Churchill, Charles de Gaulle, Harry Truman, Nixon, Dulles, Khrushchev, Joe McCarthy, and indeed, all the American and world leaders of his time. This superb interpretation of Eisenhower's life confirms Stephen Ambrose's position as one of our finest historians. ... Read more

Reviews (21)

A True Leader at America's Calling
Stephen Ambrose's portrayal of Eisenhower as both soldier and president is a grand tribute to one of America's greatest war and peacetime leaders.

Though Ambrose views Ike in a very positive light he is willing to be critical of his choices not to engage the Civil Rights debates of the 1950s and not take a firm stand in regards to retaining or dumping Nixon as VP in 1956.

Eisenhower aimed to please and find compromise. It is striking how his style remained the same throughout the war and into his presidency. Though Ike was often viewed as a compromiser, Ambrose illustrates that Ike kept his options open at all times and thought out each major decision.

There has been no recent president more willing to think outside the box then Ike when it came to foreign policy affairs and the drive to limit the nuclear stockpiles of both the US and USSR as the Cold War began.

Ambrose again adds to the rich American tradition of the time with this book. It is an easy read and logically put together. I highly recommend this book on Ike, I have a great respect for a leader I knew little about prior to reading this novel. An A+.

The best book on Ike
This is a wonderful book, easy to read and very inspiring. Ike was a qunitesential american from the midwest who rose to the pinnacle of american power. Among the excellent insights in this book you will find:
1) Details of Ike's creation of the Highway system, he had learned first hand that americas roads were unexceptable in the 20s.
2) Ikes decision at Nromandy, where he penned a note in case of disaster.
3) Ike's simple manners and soldierly conduct. The quiet demeanor that held the alliance together.
4) Ike's term as president where he ended the Korean war, and created a policy of intervening to stop communism(Eisenhower doctrin).

The BEST book on Ike, a wonderful account. Clearly the best book on Ike ever written. Ambrose brings his superior prose to this volume.

The definitive work on Eisenhower
If you are only going to read one biography about Eisenhower, this one-volume version by Stephen Ambrose is the one to choose. Ambrose exhibits his deep and comprehensive knowledge of his subject and in the process provides the reader with with a real sense of Eisenhower.

While Ambrose does highlight Ike's shortcomings where appropriate, there is no doubt that he had a deep admiration for his subject. This admiration leads him to write the book from a certain perspective - not necessarily biased, but certainly favorably disposed. If you are looking for a different take on Ike (albeit narrowly focused on his relationship with Truman) read David McCullough's Truman.

Overall, this a solid book from a great author.

good favorable bio of ike
I very much enjoyed this book. Ambrose went over Ike's life in good detail. I learned alot about the man and also about his military career and his political background.
I was most interested about his presidency and I feel like Ambrose did give me a very good idea of how Ike came to his decisions and also how Ike formed his beliefs.
I do think that this was a very favorable bio of Ike.
Ambrose seemed to not want to really find fault with Ike on any of the issues except for his stance on civil rights.
I also do not agree that Ike is one of the greatest presidents of the 20th century along with Wilson and the two Roosevelts as Ambose said.
I would say that the best presidents of the 20th century were the two Roosevelts, Truman,and Reagan.
I would rank Ike as a good president but not a great president.
Thus I feel this biography of Ike is the best out there and will teach you alot about the man and his policies but that I would not agree with the positive assessment of Ambrose of Ike in many areas.

A better general than president.
But he was ok as president realizing than in his own sphere of influence you have more power as general than president. Steve Ambrose has done a skillful job condensing two volumes into one. I'm not sure what he left out. Having read "At Ease" written by Ike just before the presidency & "At War" written by his grandson this book dwelt on his presidency. Although it is a whole life biography there is not a lot of attention spent on his greatest accomplishment in life: Supreme Commander of Allied Forces in Europe.
The image of Ike as a do nothing golfer is changing. While there was relative calm at home he was in his element dealing with international affairs. This required a disipline & organized mind, so in that sense his military background served him well. His political instincts were good & he did not rush to judgement. Stevenson looked foolish running against him but how could have anyone have beaten him? He virtually ignored McCarthy & he eventually self destructed.
In race relations he was lost & did a poor job. He could have done more to advance civil rights but he merely enforced the law. Ambrose goes into some detail on how he basically managed the "cold war". That it did not become hot is an accomplishment. You don"t get credit for bad things that never happen. The most unfortunate event of his administration was the U-2 that was shot down over the Soviet Union. Ike was striving for a nuclear test ban treaty that was to be the capstone of his career. Ambrose was a well known cheer-leader for Eisenhower but takes the reader through the painful cover-up that ensued. A sorry chapter in the saddest year of his presidency & the last. Ike wasn't comfortable with Nixon as the Republican canidate for president in 1960 but except for Rockefeller there wasn"t anyone else. He disliked JFK but his less than whole hearted support for Nixon may have cost him the election. This was a surprise admission of the author near the end of the book.
That he ranks in the top third of all out presidents is probably a fair accessment. ... Read more

Book Description

Frank Schaeffer draws on his relationships with America's military families to gather a timely and powerful collection of writing from the soldiers in Iraq and Afghanistan. Like Keeping Faith and Faith of Our Sons, Voices from the Front bridges the divide between those who are in, or who have family members in the military, and the rest of us who can take that service for granted. It is a book about the intimately emotional and human side of military service. While Faith of Our Sons reflected this war through the homefront struggles of a quietly courageous community of families, Voices From the Front takes us directly to the often invisible front lines in Iraq and Afghanistan: from first deployment to patrols to combat to field hospitals and, in some cases, homecoming. As Schaeffer has written of a group he has come to think of-politics apart-as the next greatest generation, "We need to know the men and women in combat better and to understand what they are going through." Powerful, moving and undeniable, Voices from the Front tells the story of this war in the voices of the Americans who are living-and dying-in it every day. ... Read more

Book Description

Legendary spymaster Markus Wolf has emerged from the shadows to reveal his remarkable life of secrets, lies, and betrayals as head of the world's most formidable and effective foreign intelligence service ever.

Wolf was undoubtedly the greatest spymaster of our century. He was a figure of mystery, a shadowy Cold War legend who kept his own past locked up as tightly as the state secrets with which he was entrusted. In 1997 he finally broke his silence and told his story. Man Without a Face is the result. It details all of Wolf's major operations, successes, and failures, and illuminates the reality of espionage operations as few nonfiction works before it. Wolf tells the real story of Gunter Guillaume, the East German spy who brought down Willy Brandt. He reveals the truth behind East German's involvement with terrorist groups. He takes us inside the bowels of the Stasi headquarters and inside the minds of Eastern Bloc leaders. ... Read more

Reviews (14)

James Bond Bureaucrat
Markus Wolf has an amazing talent for telling stories, listing dates and names, while avoiding the more substantive issues of personal thoughts and feelings, motivations, and heart issues. He tells the stories of major events in his career as head of East German Intelligence, however he doesn't tell, on the whole, how these events made him feel, what the mood and tenor of discussions were as he and his colleagues planned drops/rescues/spy-baiting/blackmail, etc. Most of the information in the book is interesting, but not personal. It's a provocative read, and you won't be sorry you bought the book, but it just seems to lack that ineffable something that really makes the book a five-star read--a truly autobiographical perspective. It's a bit antiseptic. What you will read is a book that contains a perspective you will not read anywhere else. Wolf was shrewd and cunning and tireless and he writes what he knows. He did little first-hand field-work, but he did know how to manage an agency. If you want to see what administrating a Cold War spy agency was like from behind the curtain, then this is one of the few authentic books that will give you the perspective you desire. I would not want to be a NATO spy-master up against Wolf.

Awful - avoid this nonesense
I suspect that the last several positive reviews may have been written either by Wolf himself or by someone associated with him or the publication of this book. No objective, moderately intelligent person could possibly come to those conclusions after finishing this book.

What's wrong with it?

1) It's boring and uninformative. It reveals no secrets and almost no interesting information about the Stasi.

2) It's highly biased and disingenuous. Wolf sounds like the usual convict whining from his jail cell to anyone on the outside who will listen about his "innocence." According to Wolf, nothing he has ever done as head of the foreign section of the DDR's version of the KGB/Gestapo was ever wrong or immoral. Furthermore, he blatantly lies about his "devotion to democracy." He was convicted and imprisoned not because of resentment by the former West Germans (and certainly not because of his claimed democratic beliefs) but because he engaged in conduct that is criminal in civilized, democratic countries.

Buy and read this book only if

a. You're a huge fan of the DDR and wish you could go back in time to a period in which the Stasi coerced approximately half of the adult population of East Germany into being informers;

b. You're masochistic, like being lied to and enjoy being the recipient of witless condescension; or

c. You're Wolf's niece/nephew and you're tired of him trying to hit you up for money or for a place to stay, so you're just buying his d*mn book to get him off your back.

Great Book.
This is an entertaining, enlightening, and lively written book. Wolf's Teutonic humor makes it a joy to read. I unreservedly recommend it.

(I had written a more comprehensive review, but my browser failed, so I've summarized why I enjoyed the book above)

Good book
As a foreigner, who lived in the GDR and survided the turbulent time in the late 80s and early 90s, I can confirm the true circumstances described by Markus Wolf. Whatever the Stasi did to the GDR-citizen, Markus Wolf earns the respect as a man who keeps his word and for his honesty. He is a noble man who protects his former agents and does not sell them for D-Mark or US-Dollars. I'm sure that such a spy master can not be found in other spy agencies such as the former KGB or CIA. For those reviewers critizing Wolf's crime, come on, look at what CIA did and does everywhere in the world! People, who play the same game, should respect eachother, even one is the "loser" of the cold war.
I'm waiting for the English traslation of his recent book "Freunde sterben nicht". There is a lot of things to learn from his idealism.

A true 'operator'
Mr. Wolf, whatever your view of, and whichever side you are on in the 'great game', has provided an interesting insight into how he created an apparatus that provided quite a bit of fun and games for everyone to figure out. His version of events are quite sanitized, which is to be expected. He is an advocate of the system he grew up under and prospered from, so his personal viewpoints have to viewed in that light. However, what is of interest to current practioners of the arts is that he was very successful with recruiting efforts in target environments, and avoided detection by cognizant entities for quite a period of time. As some come to relearn old lessons, his observations will be deemed valuable in the course of events. Worth the read.....Hopefully, Mr. Wolf, you'll publish more in the days ahead. ... Read more

Amazon.com

The success of Tom Brokaw's Greatest Generation has sparked a renewed interest in books about World War II and the people who fought in it.Patrick K. O'Donnell maintains, however, that behind those official historiesand carefully crafted memoirs lies a "hidden war"--"a bottled up, buried version shielded even from family members because many of the memories are too painful to discuss." In Beyond Valor, O'Donnell brings this hidden war to the surface, allowing men from the elite forces to tell their own stories, thus creating a fascinating combat history of WWII.

O'Donnell introduces readers to some of the greatest of the greatest generation--men such as Robert Kinney of the 504th Parachute Infantry Regiment, wounded by a mortar at Anzio ("it tore my fanny open, took a big chunk of meat out of there--I could afford that"). While in the hospital, wounded members of the regiment were asked by one of their officers to return to the front:

We all went down, about forty of us in casts, bandages, arms in slings and everything. He said, "Your buddies up there are catching hell and we've got to go back if we can. You don't have to, we're not going to order you, but we're looking for volunteers." We said, "Hell, we'll go." We had just the best-spirited bunch of scrappers you ever saw.

Though it will certainly appeal to them, O'Donnell insists that Beyond Valor is not aimed at war buffs--it's for the soldiers themselves. "My work has been one of preservation, done in gratitude for a generation that sacrificed so much." By sharing these stories, O'Donnell has helped to preserve and honor their memory. --Sunny Delaney ... Read more

Reviews (55)

A Must-Read Book
Beyond Valor is a watershed in the reporting of World War II oral histories -- i.e., the actual participants of history describe the events they participated in in their own words, free from editorial embellishment and hindsight analysis. Mr. O'Donnell diligently interviewed hundreds of American paratrooper and Ranger veterans from the European Theater of Operations in World War II. What he has assembled in Beyond Valor is a collection of personal vignettes from young Americans that describe what hell was like during the bloodiest war ever. These men take us through training, North Africa, Sicily and Italy, Normandy and Southern France, Holland and Belgium, Germany, and going back home. Unlike other war books that use only selected quotes from veterans, embellish their words and otherwise bog you down with information and details that reveal nothing new, Mr. O'Donnell lets each veteran tell his full story. In some cases, veterans for the first time ever release emotions and bitter memories that have been bottled up inside their hearts and minds for 60 years. Many of the stories are powerful and moving, even emotionally overwhelming -- like the Rangers that describe the helpless feeling of seeing their buddies get cut down by machine gun fire right next to them as they rush up to attack a German bunker. In the vein of Stephen Ambrose, Patrick O'Donnell has put together an easy-to-read book with helpful maps that goes deep into the heart of combat as seen from America's living heroes. This book -- a tribute to the greatest generation -- is a definite keeper.

honest slice of combat experience
I have read O'Donnell's Into the Rising Sun which I thought was a superb book that gives you the honest slice of combat experience as told by the veterans. This book was written before that one so I expected the same and was not disappointed. Many of these stories get told 45-50 years after the fact, memories may fade but experiences and understanding of combat does not. Once more, this book collects a short set of stories as told by the veterans of their combat experiences. The stories were short but honest and with far more insight then most World War II movies put together. Some of them come with a late hour confessions of killing of enemy POWs or wounded enemy, some time in the heat of battle, some time out of need for survival. One man even kept photos of the three dead Germans from their paybooks. Maybe some of the more negative reviews didn't like that, after all it was more comfortable to know that ONLY Germans and Japanese troop were the ones that murdered POWs and shoot defenseless wounded soldiers. Shocking that we Americans did something like that in war. (It also allowed me to have a new perception whenever I read about enemy soldiers shooting American POWs or woundeds in battle...maybe they felt anger and hatred toward the Americans who were killing their buddies, comrades and mentors. Who say war was fair, eh?)

The book is written in a very readable form, its well organized and quality of the stories varies in details. But you will get a good slice of understanding of what it may be like, to be a soldier in war. Reading a book like this may also give an understanding that soldiers of other nations, even our enemies may have gone through the same experience.

Beyond Valor Equals Great WWII Book!
I thought this book was a great book! It seriously brought out some great stories of the Rangers! There are so many details that are brought out in the book that are great. With maps showing how invasions were planned was great. It also had some great pictures that the war veterans had taken. I rate this book FIVE STARS! Awesome,it's a must read book if your a WWII fan or just want to learn some things.

Beyond Valor
Beyond Valor is a book that gives you a look at war through the eye of not one man but gives you a look at war through the eyes of 50 men. World War 2 vets reveal the heart of combat from the landing on Italy to the sweet boat ride home. I would suggest this book to anyone who wants to read a book that will have you thinking what it was like to be fighting in a war. And shows you a real look at war and not that Hollywood bull look that movies give you. So if you what a book that is suspenseful and interesting look at war. Buy Beyond Valor by Patrick K. O'Donnell and see the realty of war. If you like this book check out Into The Rising Sun.

I Hate to Do It
I really do hate to pan this book, but I have to. The author has done a great job collecting first hand accounts from veteran airborne, rangers and special forces soldiers from World War II. He has transcribed them, ordered them by campaign/battle and provided some context so that the reader can place them within the broader scope of the war.

The problem I have is that that is all he has done, and while this preserves these first hand accounts and provides a valuable resource, it does not make for a readable treatment of the subject. There is a reason most of these men have not written books telling their story and a reason why you cannot just dictate a book. It makes for difficult and sometimes even painful reading. I don't want to be mean or vicious, and the author has done a great service by collecting all of these first hand accounts, but it almost seems as if he lost his motivation when it came to putting it all together and telling the story. O'Connell, has basically served as little more than an editor piecing together collected episodes, making little effort to put it all together into a comprehensive story, leaving the reader with a disjointed rambling.

As a readable history, I have to pan this book. The saving grace is that authors and researchers will have the collected material to use in future works. P-) ... Read more

Amazon.com

Michael Donnelly's diary entries offer a matter-of-fact account of his 44 combat missions during the Gulf War, but his descriptions of dealing with doctors after coming home are more frightening. Diagnosed with ALS, also known as Lou Gehrig's disease, Donnelly is convinced what he has is "Gulf War syndrome"--brought on by exposure to low levels of nerve and poison gases during the war. "I don't know what to believe, where to turn for help," he writes. "All the while my body continues to deteriorate, heedless of the possible causes of its slow degeneration." Although he had served in the military for 15 years, Donnelly had to hire a lawyer and appeal to the Air Force Medical Evaluation Board to force the air force to pay him full disability benefits. And though the government denied any responsibility for his illness, we learn that U.S. officials both in Washington and at the front were aware of Iraq's chemical-weapons capability--and continued with their plans regardless: "Troops came upon camels lying dead and decaying in the desert ... dogs and rodents and other small animals died, suddenly, inexplicably, shortly after those tens of thousands of 'false' chemical weapons alarms rang out. The alarms were so common, some commanders even ordered their troops to disable or disregard them." Falcon's Cry is a story of courage and betrayal, a war story in which the casualty doesn't occur until after the fighting stops. --Linda Killian ... Read more

Reviews (9)

Enlightening
I obtained a tape of this book from the library of the blind , on tape.
I was fascinated with the whole process of his student days as well as the way they worked in the present time illness.
My heart goes out to him and his family and ALL other Soldiers who became ill with no apparent cause after the war.
I would like to know what his present status is, and would like to help in any way that is possible.
In thinking that our present war situation probably is as tentative, to hold this VITAL information back from those who serve makes a mockery of the Ideals our Country was founded on.
I used to participate in Living History, and the good thing about that is that we seem to LEARN from the past.
War does NOT change minds or hearts.
I would hope and pray that this present generation does not have to pay the price of this brave Soldier, Officer, and Gentleman.

Please read Falcon's Cry and remember that he was not alone.
I first came across the book in the fall of '99. It was at a critical time in my air force career. Soon, the mandate to submit to the anthrax vaccine would require a decision that would obviously affect the rest of my life. Take a vaccine that has been proven to cause terrible reactions and has been whispered to be a root cause of Gulf War Illness or refuse and be subject to military justice and the end of my career.

In my squadron, the most asked question to management was "If we become ill following the vaccine, will the Air Force take care of us?" As I saw in this book, the answer to the question is NO.

As pilots, our most treasured asset is our health. Without it, we can no longer perform the mission that we love. The manner in which Michael and Denise describe the physical and mental anguish he endured was truly overwhelming. I could imagine myself in his position and the way I would react; how I would feel.

In my months of research, this book proved to be one of the many determining factors in my decsion. When I talked to former commanders who reminded me of their experiences with Agent Orange or when I spoke with members at my own base that had testified to Congress about their illnesses following the anthrax vaccine, in the back of my mind was Michael Donnelly.

I ultimately made my decision to resign in lieu of taking the vaccine which has led to the end of my aviation career. The only salvation I have is the knowledge that I will never need to worry about unexplained illness in the future.

My most heartfelt sympathy and gratitude go out to Michael and Denise's families. Michael's story is one that I will never forget. Thank you for helping me make my decision.

A message for millions of Americans
In this story there is a message for millions of Americans. In this story the reader will learn about the "wheels of justice."

When is the movie coming out???
Not too many books grab my heart as this one did. I felt like I was participating in the book myself! Both Denise and Michael did an excellent job bringing his story to life. I read the book when it first came out and I still continue to think about it often (two years later). Personally, I could see it made into a movie. At any rate, this is one book that is a must read in my opinion and well worth my money spent!

Extremely real and well done. Could not put the book down.
If you want to know what life is really like for an American who serves his country, then read this book. Unfortunately too many men and women who serve our country as heroes every day and put their lives on the line get tossed aside by the bureaucracy after they are needed. The pain and suffering that our own government puts these families through is unexcusable at best and evil otherwise. Michael and Denise should be commended for their courage in telling this all too real story. It made me laugh and cry throughout, much like life does. All of us can feel this story, it could be any of us. A must read. ... Read more

Reviews (4)

Powerful & sagacious review of the first Commander in Chief
Washington Irving's biography on Washington is by far the most detailed review on our first President from youth through his post Presidential years. Given that Mr. Irving personally met George Washington at the young age of 7, Irving's book has all the more relavence than today's revisionist historians can ever provide. However, the "old english" that Washington used in his correspondence makes for difficult comprehension. It is interesting to note that by 1850 the change to a more modern writing style by Irving presents a clearer picture of Washington's time, but it still requires an occasional re-read to fully understand Irving's point. A person with a limited interest in the Revolutionary War may be better suited to purchasing a more contemporary biography for ease of reading.

However, this book does provide su