5 comments about When in the Course of Human Events: Arguing the Case for Southern Secession.

1. I just finished this book yesterday. I have found that there is already 50+ 5 star reviews of this book, but I could not refrain from writing one myself.
   
   This book was simply amazing. I could hardly put it down. It is definetly NOT a history of the Civil War, from a military standpoint. It IS a history of the War from a political standpoint. The major arguement is whether secession is legal or not under Constitutional law. That is a question best left to the book. Though the author does make a pretty strong arguement in favor of secession being legal. Using historical precedents that predate the war, as well as the thoughts on the subject concerning the Founders.
   
   I will that I was impressed by all the new information about Lincoln that I had not known. The more I read about Lincoln, the REAL Lincoln, the less I like about him. This book also deals with the subject of Reconstruction. It is informative, and has sparked my interest in learning more about the period immediately following the war.
   
   I give this book a well-earned 5 stars!



2. This is book seems to me like a manifesto on why the KKK was justified in terrorizing black people. Everyone who knows anything about Lincoln knows that he wasn't a racist but, he also was willing to do whatever had to be done to perserve the union. No President before or since has had to deal with such an issue. The man live through and extremely tough time period, politically and personally. I found this book offensive and demeaning to a historically great president. Our some of Charles Adams arguments true? Yes. But, to make such claims as the freed blacks brought on their harsh treatment after the Civil War is absurd. Racist and people who still believe the South will rise again, for whatever reason, will like this book.



3. As a historian, I have learned that the heart of any great work in history lies in the ample and accurate use of primary sources, and primary sources are the great strength of this work. While countless tomes have debated the perceived moral sides of the Civil War and the motivations of the various actors, this work goes back and investigates the motives of the primary players in this time from their own words and writings. This gives the work an excellent realism and accuracy.
   
   The author, Charles Adams, has earned a reputation as one of the leading economic historians in the field, particularly in the area of taxes. He utilizes this background to investigate the American Civil War, and comes to some very striking conclusions, many that defy the politically-correct history of today. His thesis postulates that the Civil War had its primary cause not in slavery or state's rights, but rather in cold, hard economic concerns.
   
   He shows that the North used its supremacy in Congress in push through massive tariffs to fund the government, and that these tariffs fell much harder on the export-dependent South than upon the insular north. In fact, the total revenue from the "Compromise" Tariffs on the 1830s and 40s amounted to $107.5 million, of which $90 million came from the South. Despite by this, the majority of the revenue was spent on projects far from the South.
   
   According to Adams, this disparity finally pushed the South to seek its own independence. Supporting this conclusion is the fact that the South enacted extremely low tariffs throughout the war, whereas the north enacted the Morrill Tariff of 1861, which enacted tariffs of as much as 50 percent on some goods.
   
   Adams also chronicles the oft-overlooked excesses of the Lincoln Administration, and compares them to the actions of Julius Caesar. While this initially made me quite skeptical, his plentiful, primary source-based examples overcame my qualms. Using the letters and reports of the times, he tells how Lincoln suspended habeus corpus, trod roughshod over the Constitution, jailed thousands of U.S. citizens who dared disagree with him and even wrote a warrant for the arrest of the Chief Justice of the United States.
   
   Adams also ably uses the viewpoints of British and other Europeans to describe different contemporary views on the struggle. These provide excellent outside insight.
   
   On the whole, readers will find the book a superb and scholarly analysis, providing fresh insights into the motivations and causes of the defining war in American history.



4. This book was superb. I would write a short description and/or critique; however, much of what I have to say has been covered in earlier reviews. Every student in the south should be required to read this book. Our ancestors were not traitors. We held the true government of the founding fathers on our backs in every battle.



5. Southrons, hear your country call you!
   Up, lest worse than death befall you!
   To arms ! To arms! To arms, in Dixie!
   Lo! All the beacon-fires are lighted,
   Let all hearts be now united!
   To arms ! To arms! To arms, in Dixie!
   
   Advance the flag of Dixie
   Hurrah! Hurrah!
   For Dixie's land we take our stand,
   And live or die for Dixie!
   To Arms! To Arms!
   And conquer peace for Dixie
   To Arms! To Arms
   And conquer peace for Dixie
   
   Hear the Northern thunders mutter!
   Northern flags in South winds flutter!
   To arms ! To arms! To arms, in Dixie!
   Send them back your fierce defiance!
   Stamp upon the accursed alliance!
   To arms ! To arms! To arms, in Dixie!
   
   Advance the flag of Dixie
   Hurrah! Hurrah!
   For Dixie's land we take our stand,
   And live or die for Dixie!
   To Arms! To Arms!
   And conquer peace for Dixie
   To Arms! To Arms
   And conquer peace for Dixie
   
   Fear no danger! Shun no labor!
   Lift up rifle, pike and saber!
   To arms ! To arms! To arms, in Dixie!
   Shoulder pressing close to shoulder,
   Let the odds make each heart bolder!
   To arms ! To arms! To arms, in Dixie!
   
   Advance the flag of Dixie
   Hurrah! Hurrah!
   For Dixie's land we take our stand,
   And live or die for Dixie!
   To Arms! To Arms!
   And conquer peace for Dixie
   To Arms! To Arms
   And conquer peace for Dixie
   
   Swear upon our country's altar
   Never to submit or to falter,
   To arms ! To arms! To arms, in Dixie!
   Till the spoilers are defeated,
   Till the Lord's work is completed!
   To arms ! To arms! To arms, in Dixie!
   
   Advance the flag of Dixie
   Hurrah! Hurrah!
   For Dixie's land we take our stand,
   And live or die for Dixie!
   To Arms! To Arms!
   And conquer peace for Dixie
   To Arms! To Arms
   And conquer peace for Dixie

5 comments about Desperate Lands: The War on Terror Through the Eyes of a Special Forces Soldier.

1. A great book to read if you have ever wondered what is really happening over there with the war on terror. Zapata gives us all insight as to what these soldiers go through day by day. Brings heightened respect to those who are there. Detailed information on what these soldiers face and the little time that they have to react to any situation. I picked up this book and couldnt put it down, how refreshing to have the truth.



2. I loved this book! It was a real story, written by a real special forces soldier. It was compelling, and had me hooked. I highly recommend this to anyone interested in what the war is like from a soldiers perspective.



3. This is a compelling first-hand account of what our soldiers are facing in the War on Terror. It is both entertaining and emotional. The book is written from the heart and is a must-read for anyone hoping to gain a better of what it is like for our troops.



4. If you are looking for action packed memories of events experienced in the Afghanstan war this book is not for you.
   Zapata's service to his country is commandable, but his stories and writing style in this book are dull and uneventful.
   This book may well be cherished reading for his grandchildren when they get older, but anyone expecting it to be full of adventure and intrique will be disappointed.
   Definitely not worth the price Amazon is asking.Desperate Lands: The War on Terror Through the Eyes of a Special Forces Soldier



5. I bought this book because of the ratings it got on amazon but like another reader above i am wondering if they were describing the same book as i just read. While there is no doubting the bravery of the man in question i quite frankly found this book very hard to read. I actually found the writing to be nothing short of 'strange' - at times it feels like the text was written by a robot or someone who does not have a good command of the english language - with lots of repetition and this is suddenly dispersed with the odd curse which seems like it was just put in there to liven things up - in short it feels uncomfortable to read and i think that the author wrote this book and then someone came along and 'dubbed it' ! Apart from all of that the book is extremely boring - dealing with the day to day medial tasks these guys took on and very little action which i think is what most readers/buyers of these types of books expect. Overall one of the worst special forces books i ever read because quite simply i had to 'fight' myself to keep reading it to the finish.

5 comments about That Others May Live: The True Story of a PJ, a Member of America's Most Daring Rescue Force.

1. I respect what the PJs do.
   
   My father is a retired USAF SMSgt himself. During his service, he spent a couple of years with the 1722 Combat Control Squadron in McChord AFB, Washington. Coincidentally, I myself graduated from Niceville High School that was mentioned briefly near the end of the book.
   
   I just did not get what I was looking for out of this book. There was too much family talk and not enough talk about the action. I got the impression that Jack Brehm served during a time and in an area where not that much happened, considering the length of his service. It made for rather boring read, but since I just borrowed the book from the library, I'm not out any money, only time.
   
   Two other things bothered me about this book. I do not think one has to be a hard drinker to be a hard fighter and the gripes about military personnel not being paid enough are tiresome.



2. This book was far more of a story in my mind than a matter-of-fact documentary. If you are looking to really read about PJ's and what they do I would consider looking elsewhere. The author takes numerous artistic licenses' in writing this book leaving me feeling like I've just read a story but by no means an accurate account.
   Additionally, the editing of this book was quite poor. Numerous gramatically errors, which I am not accustomed to finding in a book, left me feeling like the factual content of the book must also be questioned.



3. This book tells the story of Jack Brehm, a career pararescue jumper or PJ. After graduating from high school in the mid-1970s, Brehm answered an ad in the paper for men interested in learning how to jump from airplanes. The ad had been placed by the local PJ recruiter on Long Island. After talking with the recruiter, and learning the kinds of tasks PJs undertake, Brehm decided he was interested in signing up. He proceeded to basic training and then to the pipeline, a series of training schools starting with "Superman School", designed not only to build skills and physical abilities, but also to weed out anyone not possessed of superhuman strength, endurance, and motivation to put their lives on the line for others. Brehm made it through the pipeline and became a full-fledged PJ in the early 1980s. At the same time that he started flying missions, he also became a father to twins, and this story is as much his family's story as it is his.
   
   Brehm describes for us the risks that PJs take on stormy seas or windy mountain tops. Over the course of his 20-year career, Brehm saved many lives but lost many of his friends in job-related accidents. He was also injured himself on several occasions. The one tour of duty that he wanted most of all to complete his career was a military rescue. The stories can be quite interesting; however, their melodrama is played out to the fullest extent. At times details are blown completely out of proportion, such as when Brehm is faced with the decision between following his PJ mentor to Alaska or applying to be the NCO in charge of his unit when his mentor leaves. This episode is presented as being extremely momentous. Certainly, it was an important time in Brehm's life, but not that remarkable compared with similar decisions that people with more sedentary jobs must make routinely. Other details are similarly exaggerated, and the level of melodrama makes the book read at times as if it were straight out of Reader's Digest. Nevertheless, Brehm's story is very engaging and informative about a branch of the services that many people have never heard of.



4. This is a good book, especially if you are a family member and want to know the PJ's perspective. As a mom of a pararescueman in training, I was enlightened by this point of view and the support system the families developed to sustain each other during emergencies. I enjoyed this book, read it from cover to cover as soon as it arrived. I have loaned it to several other family members who are also interested in knowing what our son may be called upon to do.



5. Apparently this book is a retitled version of _That Others May Live: The True Story of the PJs, Real Life Heroes of the Perfect Storm_. If so, the current title is more accurate: the book focuses on "a PJ," coincidentally the author, not PJ's in general. And it's NOT about the Perfect Storm, except in passing, though that incident was particularly relevant to the author. As to the PJ's (Air Force Pararescue Jumpers) being "real life heroes of the Perfect Storm," there's no indication they rescued anyone during that storm. In fact, the Coast Guard ship had to come out and rescue THEM. Yes, you can be a hero for an attempt, but let's not go overboard in naming our book after one failed rescue attempt.
   The book is interesting. Jack, of course, makes almost no mistakes, and his wife is a perfect angel. She understands when he says, "yes, I went to the strip bar, but that's where the debriefing session was held."
   The unexamined assumption that OF COURSE men who work hard have to relax by drinking all night, having bar fights, and visiting strip joints is overdone.
   The book does provide information about a little-understood group of airmen who put their lives on the line to rescue others in what can be very difficult situations, much like the Coast Guard rescue jumpers. Their main purpose is to rescue downed pilots and personnel in need of medical help, on land or sea, but they're also available to help civilians when civilian rescue agencies don't have the resources available.
   There is some understanding of the mentality of repeatedly putting your life on the line -- you might as well die doing something you love, while helping others.
   The book could have argued for better equipment for the PJ's -- although the author repeatedly recounts stories of how difficult it is for helicopters to refuel from tankers during rough weather, the author doesn't argue for a better, heavier, longer, wider (or whatever) fueling drogue design.
   The Perfect Storm part of the book takes 30 pages, IF you include the soap opera parts about the PJ wives calling each other for news. A pararescue helicopter and tanker were dispatched during the Perfect Storm to rescue a civilian sailor alone on his boat. The rescue was aborted due to heavy seas, and the rescue helicopter itself ditched on the way back to base, with the loss of one airman, because the helicopter was unable to refuel with the existing drogue design. The author, in charge at the base, grounded rescue attempts of this airman due to his orders and impossible conditions. Yet his men took their anger out at him, sometimes in petty ways. They stole his jacket, and snuck a bottle of booze into his luggage as he was about to fly into a Muslim country, which if discovered would have caused Jack serious consequences. There's so much talk of the "teamwork" ethos in the book -- where did it go when his men were angry at Jack, and caused him to have to leave command of the unit?

5 comments about Caesar's Commentaries: On The Gallic War and On The Civil War.

1. Mostly written by Caesar, this book provides an insightful view of ancient warfare from a general's perspective, including such topics as the siege, infantry/calvary interaction, the value of enemy awareness, military engineering, intelligence, moral building, calculated risk, and so on. It also describes such topics as the ancient use of the defeated providing hostages, the temperament of the Celtic tribes, the competition for the areas west of the Rhine (Gaul), the lifestyles and state of civilization of the Germanic tribes (this may be the first recorded account of the Germans), and political strategies.
   
   Note that Caesar writes in the third person, which almost makes it seem like it was written by an impartial historian (which is obviously not the case... Hence, its accuracy must be questioned to some degree).
   
   The only downside of this book is its translation, which I compare to reading an old version of the bible. Sentences run very long, paragraphs cover entire pages, verbs are placed in odd parts of sentences,.. etc. It takes a while to get through it. It is, however, worth the effort, and is a interesting window into the past.



2. Caesar might have been a good general but he's a uniquely boring writer with leaden descriptions of intensely exciting campaigns. The other problem is that it's best to read Roman writers in the original Latin as that way the "otherness" of ancient Romans comes across better. Ergo taedet me istius libris. Dabit deus his quoque finem.



3. It is a very interesting read, but can be hard to follow if you are not a history buff or a fan of Roman History + Ceasar. For the time, the thought process and lucid writing techniques are above average. If you want to get a real sense of history with first hand knowledge, then this is a great read for history buffs, and non-history buffs as well.



4. I would strongly recommend getting a higher quality, clearer translation. This version of the classic is near incomprehensible compared to the Penguin or Oxford versions.



5. This classic is well worth the time of any buff on Roman History. If you are a true buff you already own it! There are eight "books" comprising about 15-25 pages apiece. Each book a reflection on the previous year's effort in Gaul. The style is plain and to the point. Written in order to curry favor in Rome and document his campaigns, Caeser is guilty of inflating enemy numbers according to some historians. Never the less he painstakingly records the relations between the tribes of the time, the Gauls,Celts, and Germanic peoples are all referenced. The final three books regarding the Civil War are longer. Ramon L. Jimenez's "Caesar against the Celts" is a great companion for this one. He has a good bibliography as well since this translation of the "Commentaries" is lacking of one. For fans of HBO's Rome television show, check out Book V chapter XLIV.

5 comments about Wahoo: The Patrols of America's Most Famous World War II Submarine.

1. Very intertaining for the WW II history buff. I read this one in about 5 days.



2. I found this book very informative with a lot of factual history of the Wahoo and it's famous crew. I read "The wake of the Wahoo" first then this book followed by "Clear The Bridge" written by Richard O'Kane. Anyone that has ever served on diesel submarines knows about famous Skippers such as Morton and O'Kane. I found this book very hard to put down and would recommend it to everyone interested in submarines.



3. There are a lot of details presented on each target but I found that very boring after a while. The same thing over and over. The submarine Wahoo was a valuable item in the Navy's arsenal but I found so much detail to be a drag. I read about the first three patrols and then laid the book down for a long time before making the effort to finish the work.
   
   I was disappointed because I was expecting another exciting recollection of the submarine warfare in WWII because I had recently read Thunder Below by Eugene B. Fluckey. That account of the USS Barb captured my attention. I read the whole book in three days. I just couldn't wait to pick it up and find out what was in store for the submarine whose logs were filled with creative and effective ways to attack the enemy and became a training tool for the submarine service. The Barb had many of the same torpedo failures as the Wahoo but ingenuity ruled and the most Navy's most decorated individual was a very effective submarine commander. Thunder Below is a wonderful reading experience for those interested in WWII exploits, especially of the submarine service.



4. I got started reading WWII submarine books by reading the fictional, but based on actual experience "Run Silent, Run Deep." Since then, I've read just about every WWII U.S. fleet submarine book in print. This has always been one of my favorites.
   
   O'kane has a very illustrative writing style. You'll feel like you're there when you are reading. Besides the fascinating "running and gunning" accounts, you'll also read anecdotal stories about crew life.
   
   This is really a must read. If you liked "Run Silent, Run Deep," you'll like this true, non fictional account even better. Get the hardcover version, they did a nice job on it.



5. O'Kane fills this fantastic book with a great account of courage, leadership and seamanship. It is easy to get wrapped up in this as a "war book" since it goes to the top of the class. However, rather than repeat what other fine reviews have noted I would also expand the book to a classic on leadership.
   
   O'Kane is onboard with legendary Skipper Mush Morton.
   
   I run into a lot of people in business who complain about the challenge of motivating both their company personnel and their suppliers/customers. What greater motivational challenge than to take a group of young sailors on a 12,000 mile cruise, packed like sardines in a tube and surrounded by people attempting (far too often with success) kill you.
   
   His and his fellow officer's leadership kept the boat on the offense, with the crew believing in the mission and their fellow sailors.
   
   There's enough detail to get out a plotting board ( or at least arrange the cocktail almonds) to duplicate the seamanship involved in putting the submarine in the middle of enemy convoys on a dark night at the right place to fire at several targets.
   
   I have a strong feeling that in today's society we tend to confuse heroism with victims. True heroes are those who understand the risks they are taking and yet continue their mission despite the risks. For O'Kane and the crew it is a story of functioning as true heroes for months on end.
   
   UPDATE : This fall (2006) the Navy confirmed that the sunken submarine located recently in the Sea of Japan was in fact the Wahoo. After 50 years the final resting place of Morton and the crew has been located.

5 comments about George Washington and Benedict Arnold: A Tale of Two Patriots.

1. Excellent piece of history -- incredible detail -- easy reading. Dave Palmer is a retired general and past supervisor at West Point. He is also a terrific speaker and a very ethical person. (Obviously, I have heard him speak, after which I bought the book).



2. Reading Palmer's great book made me think about today's events in Iraq. Those who don't read history believe that most events that occur are happening for the first time. They believe things have never been worse. As Palmer so eloquently writes, Washington had major problems in his execution of the war and had not only enemies on both sides, but cabals of fellow military men working for his defeat and wanting his job. Some of these narratives were revelations about our first president. He lost more battles than he won, the war was going terribly and the morale of his troops was so low they were loathe to re-up when the terms of their duty had expired. More than once he had to intervene to keep from losing troops to desertion. He acted firmly in handling all these obstacles and persevered to win the war and save the fledgling nation. There may not have been a CNN, MSNBC or NY Times working to bring him down. But, as Palmer tells us, there were many who published the most vicious things about Washington, and sometimes, directly to him, and wished him ill throughout the war. So, some things never change. Things go wrong in wars. People, including the Congress, carp and think they can do better. Washington had the character to see the plan through to its satisfactory ending. This in spite of having a "friend" like Benedict Arnold working eventually to defeat him and the rest of the new nation. Palmer's book serves as a defining account of the Revolutionary War and why George Washington deserves a day in his honor. It should never have been diluted into a "President's Day." Read the book and learn more than you've ever known about Washington, Arnold and the Revolutionary War.



3. I enjoyed this book for the good narrative that it is. Most of my pleasure came from learning the rough details of Benedict Arnold's treason. I had only known him as a traitor prior to reading this book, but had no idea that he was "America's Hannibal" prior to becoming a turncoat, nor was I aware of the reasons for his treason or the way in which he tried to execute it.
   
   The book is a quick, enjoyable, and easy read, which I am also grateful for, because if it weren't, I probably would have put it down and tried to find something more comprehensive on the subject of Arnold to read instead. I have never read a book on a subject such as this that contains no bibliography. Palmer includes a few suggested readings at the end of the book, but it is only about 10 books altogether, and two of them are prior works of his own.
   
   Even within the text, Palmer several times says something like "as a prominent modern historian says 'George Washington was...'"
   
   Well, who is the historian?!
   
   This unwillingness to cite anyone else within the text or in a bibliography really bothered me the whole time I was reading the book. The whole thing reads like something a high school student would turn in to his history teacher. The only difference between this book and the student's essay is that the book is nearly 400 pages long.
   
   There may be some very good reason for not including a bibliography or giving a prominent modern historian credit for his words in the text. I am not accusing Palmer of anything, only saying that these things bothered me quite a bit.
   
   Now, I will find some more books on Benedict Arnold to get the full story.



4. Gen. Palmer came and spoke to the Betty Martin Chapter of the National Society of the Daughters of the American Revolution to review his book. We found out that every penny of profit that would be his is sent to fund Mt. Vernon, Washington's home. The book is an interesting contrast of two men with eerily similar backgrounds. Gen. Palmer contends that the difference in the outcome of the two lives is CHARACTER. Gen. Palmer is an excellent speaker. In his book, he presents a clear picture of the lives of these two very different men - each of whom played a major role in the foundation of our country. The character of the man determined the content of that role. I gave copies of the book as gifts at Christmas.



5. This is a great book! It is extremely well researched and powerfully written.
   
   Composed by career soldier and historian David Palmer, "George Washington and Benedict Arnold" tells the story of two Revolutionary War patriots who left such diametrically opposed legacies, despite life trajectories that were at one time so parallel.
   
   George Washington and Benedict Arnold were both more than just patriots and American soldiers, they were the heart of the American military movement against the British.
   
   Washington was the brains, soul and conscience of the Continental Army, while Benedict Arnold was the sword of the Revolution. A soldier of tremendous courage, talent and energy, he managed, time after time, to turn defeat into victory on almost every major battlefield and changed the course of the war.
   
   Indeed, Arnold's victories eventually convinced the French to enter the war on the side of the Americans. Shortly afterward, Spain and the Netherlands followed, turning a rebellion into a world war and all but ensuring a British defeat.
   
   But as the war progressed and Arnold failed to recieve the recognition and rewards he desperately craved, the thoughts of America's premier soldier turned to treason. Had he succeeded in his betrayal, Washington would surely have lost the war and America her independence.
   
   How is it that two men with lives that paralleled and intertwined so closely have legacies so vastly different?
   
   George Washington is remembered as America's greatest soldier and the father of his country, while Benedict Arnold is still considered the greatest traitor in the history of the United States.
   
   To quote the author:
   
   "Your thoughts become your words.
   Your words become your actions.
   Your actions become your habits.
   Your habits become your character.
   Your character becomes your destiny."
   
   "George Washington and Benedict Arnold" is a tremendously good read, recommended for those interested in America's war for independence and the impact of character on destiny.

5 comments about Sergeant Nibley, Ph.D.: Memories of an Unlikely Screaming Eagle.

1. Hugh Nibley is a famous LDS scholar known for his great erudition and his defense of the Mormon Church. He was fluent in at least 10 languages including many ancient languages, and used these skills to develop much of the foundation for modern LDS apologetics. He was a very colorful, interesting person and was also known for his criticisms of LDS culture. This book covers a period of his life of which little is known. He didn't publicly discuss his war years much, but in the last few years of his life, his son was able to glean some information from him and published this book.
   
   The book starts when Nibley was an LDS missionary in Germany in 1927, and describes an incident when he crossed paths with Hitler. It then goes into Nibley's college years where he earned a PhD from UC Berkeley, and then a job teaching. When the war started, he enlisted as a private in the army at the age of 32. He went through various assignments and ended up in intelligence due to his language skills and became a sergeant. What follows is a fascinating story of his experiences in the army that included a landing at Utah Beach on D-Day, participation in the Battle of the Bulge, and the final occupation of Germany. He was involved with many of the key events and characters of the war.
   
   The format of the book was interesting. It consisted of summaries by the author, quotes by Nibley, copies of letters from family and friends, many sidebars explaining certain events, and helpful footnotes. It's unique for a history of this type, but seemed to work well. I highly recommend this book for people wanting to learn more about Hugh Nibley; but the stories are great for anyone interested in WWII, especially the 101st airborne division to which he was attached.



2. Hugh Nibley was gifted and had a great curiosity. His WWII experiences would enlighten him as to the 'conspiring men' who seek riches from the troubles of others. He describes the sillyness of the War that was fought in places where the Romans fought and Napoleon fought. He describes terrible waste and destruction that war brings. A great adventure in which he was preserved, while others around him were lost. He describes the choices made my those in command to further their own carreeers while engaged in war. And the efforts to keep the war going.



3. This book was given to a friend as a gift. His wife is reading it to him since he is in poor health. They both are enthusiastic about its contents and style. Thank you.



4. This book contains the wartime memoirs of Hugh Nibley, former professor
   of ancient scripture at Brigham Young University, as he participated in
   combat operations throughout Europe during WWII. Professor Nibley
   passed away in February 2005. The book was compiled by his son Alex
   Nibley from interviews and letters collected over the years. What
   makes this book so interesting is that although Hugh Nibley already had
   his Ph.D before the war started, and had been a member of ROTC, he
   elected to enlist in the Army as a buck private, rather than become an
   officer. The juxtaposition of his highly educated and intellectual
   perspective against the drudgery and horror of a common foot soldier
   makes for a fascinating read.
   
   Brother Nibley wasn't in the Army very long before his education and
   extensive language proficiencies were discovered. The Army promptly
   pulled him out of his job as a weather forecaster and sent
   him up to work in military intelligence. Once given access to
   classified intelligence data, the full power of his intellect became
   unleashed, to the potential benefit of the Allies. Unfortunately,
   things didn't always work out that way. Although he accurately
   predicted when and where many German surprise attacks would occur, and
   even the date when the war would end, he couldn't get many of the top
   military brass to believe him simply because he was just a lowly
   enlisted man. The book documents Brother Nibley's frustrations as he
   watched helplessly as numerous Allied troops were killed needlessly
   from attacks that could have been avoided.
   
   The book includes a number of spiritual elements as well. It documents
   how LDS Church Apostle Melvin J. Ballard set Brother Nibley apart for a
   proselyting mission to Germany in the late 1920s, and commanded him to
   tell the people to repent or they would be destroyed by fire from
   heaven. It was to Brother Nibley's great sorrow that he observed many
   of the German cities to which he had earlier cried repentance destroyed
   by Allied fire-bombing during WWII.
   
   If you like books on WWII, and anything Nibley, I highly recommend
   this one for your collection.



5. This book is written from a very interesting perspective. Hugh Nibley was 32 years old and had a Ph.D. when he enlisted in the army. He went into intelligence, and presumed that he would get assigned some nice safe assignment writing reports or something like that.
   
   But those of who have been in the Army know that the Army Gods don't work that way. He was assigned to work with the 101st Airborne, and was scheduled to go into Normandy on D-Day by glider. (Unlike the paratroopers, the glider infantry was not composed of volunteers and did not receive the extra pay.) At the last minute a General bumped him off the glider so that he went in with the 4th division over Utah Beach. (The General, sitting in Nibley's assigned seat was killed, and all the men in the glider were captured.)
   
   Being both older and better educated Sgt. Nibley was able to see and understand a lot more about what was happening than reports from the commanders or the normal soldiers. For instance, the stories about the 101st are legend (Saving Private Ryan, Band of Brothers, etc.) but Sgt. Nibley points out that many of the volunteers were some fairly tough soldiers that had been given the choice of volunteering or going to prison.
   
   There's a lot of comments of a similar nature throughout the book. Sgt. Nibley was a keen observer. This book belongs on any World War II library.

5 comments about I Am a Soldier, Too: The Jessica Lynch Story.

1. Counter Terrorist
   I Am a Soldier, Too The Jessica Lynch Story
   The Jessica Lynch book, I am a Soldier Too, is about her time in Middle East, and her coming home. This woman was caught in route that every soldier has to go on. She was conveying in thirty-three vehicles operation. Lynch, was driving a truck, for the duration of five hours, and she was only going about nine miles. While driving the
   trucks, her transfer case broke. This rode, was very tricky for all; the commander was only given a cd-rom, and a global position device. The commander only hoped he could skip Nasiriyah, which was the danger zone.
   This battle in which many of the 507 Maintenance Company was attacked and killed was early in the war. This was a company of cooks, clerks and mechanics. The unit did not have any anti-tank weapons or grenades.
   Their where a lot of thing that soldier needed such as more land navigation training, and armored Humvee, and bullet proof vests, in the start of "Operation Iraq Freedom".
   Lynch wanted to serve her country, coming from a patriotic place, like Palestine, West Virginia. She entered basic July 20, 2001.She was only 18.She went to Ft Jackson were their motto read" Victory Starts Here". Her recruiter Sergeant Grady never lied, she joined to leave, Palestine, West Virginia for a little while and to see the world. Her birth control glasses, a army term referring to government issue glasses was what she got when she arrived, and a uniform that was to big but I guess the Army hoped she gain weight and get more muscle and fit into them. The drill sergeant saw her as weak, she learned Army values.
   The continue decline of needs of factories, and factory workers, leads to little chances for young people trying to come up. This predicament only gives the young people of many rural areas, the military. They can only survive, and still be able to leave their matriarch or patriarch rule.
   A soldier is not taught much in basic, often as a soldier you are told, you will get more when you get to your unit, or next time the unit decides to train on common task.
   Jessica as a young private first class was really not given enough training, and being supply, often times is to busy to train. This really hurt this girl, in my opinion. She had a great fear of being left behind, and this fear is very normal.
   The Iraq enemy was known for raping their captive women. This is always told by friendly, while discussing their enemy, throughout history. Although, during the time when Lynch was found, and brought to the hospital, in which she was treated, there was three hours lost, and some evidence of anal assault. Lynch is not sure what happened.
   Lori Piestewa had slightly more ready to go being a Specialist, but had a shoulder injury. Piestewa had not pick up Lynch she would not be home today. The sergeant that went with lynch was put in anther truck.
   One must think their where severely failure to this mission. Since this occurred basic training is longer, and most soldiers receive more land navigations training. The 507 Maintenance Company almost got wiped out; because of lack of basic convey proceeding.
   The weapons soldiers used, has long history of failing soldiers in combat. The M-16 needs to go. No soldier could keep this weapon clean in any terrain, this jammed weapons makes people die
   Basic convey proceedings include, having a working radio in every vehicle. Having flags on each vehicle, so they can be easily seen from a distance. Everyone traveling at a convey speed, establishing a catch up speed. Their must be a rally point for soldier, if some trucks get lost. Everyone who is part of convey, must know were they are going. It is also nice that everyone gets a, strip map. The soldiers must have grasp on mounted and dismounted land navigation. More Preventive Maintenance Inspection (PMI), these things did not happen in the beginning of the war.
   Jessica Lynch was taken to a friendly hospital. The hospital she was in made her a POW. While there she thought she was being tortured. She had a lot of leg trouble and Iraq doctor almost, decided to take her leg. The doctor had put a rod in her leg that was the wrong size. Jessica had a nurse that would sing to her. Iraq tried to move her Iraq ambulance could not get threw American check point. Changed to Saddam Hussein hospital, nurse would sing to her. Losing classes made it hard for her to see, she was not sure why she was saved. Cut her leg off to transport her to make her dog and pony show she worried about Lori
   While in hospital Lynch often times had thought of her friend Lori, Lori had a daughter named Carla and a son named Brandon and a son .Jessica Lynch did not know she died. The care Lynch got in hospital was the best the Iraq people had.
   Jessica was missing in action. Her boyfriend, Reuben thought she was all right. The Lynch family watched the news, for clues, to what had happened to their daughter. But, the Lynch family really knew that the military gave bad news in person. The family really felt like she was alive because she had a ability to hide even just within herself helped her in Iraq, where Jessica was from, the mountains. The family would say she was "Country Tough".
   Many things had to be done to the Lynch home for Jessica return. The whole neighborhood chipped in to make the home safer for Jessica. The town people were not sure how this girl would come back. A girl that got good grades in school, was a good kid and played basketball and softballs, Worried about her nails and hair, they were not sure how she would come home. The townspeople wanted to help the Lynch family, the father drove a truck, the townspeople wanted any way they can, since they can't go over their and do anything. The mom cut out horoscopes
   Jessica injuries were right arm shattered, made it useless.3 places in spine. During the rescue a Special Forces soldier put a patch in his
   
   hand to keep her calm her. She said to the soldier am an American soldier too.
   The army event of the 507 Maintenance Company there is phrase that was used to take the blame off other, and that is it was not a wrong turn but a missed one. The unit was hit by a rocket propelled grenades on a rode they should never have been near.
   Two years, has gone by since March 23, 2003, when Lynch ordeal began. In March 2005, there was a two year gathering, in which Lori Piestewa was honored. Lynch was given an award, by the Native American Veteran Council. This was multi Native American Nation event.
   The Siox and the Havasupai-Grand Canyon Tribe's tradition were represented, in the medal presentation.
   A Foundation was made to help Carla and Brandon Piestewa.This is called the Jessica Lynch Foundation. Later the foundation also helps other military veterans children and other veterans with injuries, am sure we will hear more from Jessica Lynch in the future.
   
   
   
   
   1)I Am a Soldier, Too, The Jessica Lynch Story, Rick Bragg, Alfred A .Knopf, Publisher, New York, 11/2003.
   
   2) I Am a Soldier, Too, The Jessica Lynch Story, Rick Bragg (Audio book, author reads book), Random House Audio.2003 Jessica Lynch, 2003 Random House, Inc



2. I just saw on the news that she said this was fabricated. While I think what she went through was horrible, and she did survive it. There are a few issues. First of all she was out of it most of the time according to her. She did not fire a single shot. There were several real herose in the book who endured torture and stuff like that. It was dumb luck and she made money because of it.



3. At first I didn't want to read this story. This woman was subjected to some great cruelity, and there is not much pleasure in reading about that. Lynch was a young West Virginian teenager when she enrolled in the U.S. Army. Her recruiter told her she could see a little of the world and earn some college money. Fast forward two years, and Jessica is in the battle of her life. Her humvee in racing away after an ambush and then an RPG slams into it causing her best friend to die and her to be critically injured. She is then subjected to three hours of cruelity by Saddam's Fedyeen. The Iraqi doctors at the hospital try to save her and then she is "rescued" by U.S. Special Forces. The rest of the story is about her homecoming.
   
   Jessie's story shows the cruel nature of war. Some of her fellow soldiers were executed in front of her eyes. She was abused for three hours by the Fedyeen. Jessie wishes this war was never fought because she lost her best friend. It also shows the friendship and sympathy she gained nationwide and especially in West Virginia. A nice story about the difficulties of the Iraq War.



4. This book is just what it claims to be, The Jessica Lynch Story. And she IS a soldier. All the reviewers who have chosen this format to start spouting political agendas based on their own theories are in the wrong place. People read reviews to decide if they want to buy a book, if they want to hear a bunch of media spin and MIS-information, then they can watch TV or read the New York Times.
   If Jessica had been a man and been rescued, that soldier would still have been given media attention, and probably a book deal. The battle that was fought during the time of her capture was one of the bloodiest and most deadly for our troops. Whether or not she actually fired her gun does not matter to me.
   Any solder serving in our military is already a hero. Anyone brave enough to sign up and go to war for our freedom, including the rights to speak about whatever we want, are my heroes.
   The people who sit home in front of their computers and televisions, spouting off arm-chair politics without knowing the truth are not educated enough in the facts to declare who is a soldier and who is a hero.
   So while I got off track in trying to compensate for the political reviews, suffice it to say that this book is an easy read. Well told from a young girls' perspective and something I would have never wanted to endure as a 20 year old girl; Rick Bragg has the perfect style to compliment the story.
   
   Soldier: 1.a person who serves in an army; a person engaged in military service.2.an enlisted man or woman
   Hero: a person who, in the opinion of others, has heroic qualities or has performed a heroic act and is regarded as a model or ideal.



5. When I first heard about the Jessica Lynch incident, i thought like most other soldiers at the time we thought she was a hero. THat was untill the facts came out. I served with the rangers when the jessica lynch incident happened, and most of us had already heard about the mishap. When the facts finally came out most of us were angry. Ive read the ghost written book, and seen the ghost written movie. For those of you who dont know what ghost writter mean its a book about a person or biography that written bye another person without much or any input from the actual person. However the actual interviews and personal statments of lynch are mostly diffrent. After the stories of the other people involved in the incident came out i knew she was no hero and that the real heroes would never heard from.
   
   The resons for Lynches hero status are for 3 reasons in this order.
   Pretty face
   A Women
   Politics
   
   For those of you who still believe shes worthy of a bronz star i will explain why she not. Most of these facts came from her interview with times and other television media (though i hate times i will use them anyway.) All these facts here down are by Lynches own admission.
   
   1. Didnt fire her weapon. Most will say her m16 malfunctioned and it did, though the trouble it had was the most common malfunction and easily fixed, a bullet got stuck in the chamber. This problem is easily fixed and usually caused by dirt (aka) sand or not enough lube. (why they didnt maintian their weapons is another good question) Every person in the armed forces from navy army air force to marines is taught sports (slap pull observe release tap squeeze) in basic no matter what their mos. Its one of the most important facet of military basic training. If she wanted to fix it all she had to do was pull the chargiing handle back, but nope she paniced.
   
   2. She tried to get another soldier in the humvee to fix it in panic but when they didnt (because they were to busy shooting) she threw down her weapon.
   
   3. She then curled up in a ball and started crying
   
   4. She had atleast 45 minutes to get over her sulking and atleast hand out ammo, reload weapons or even fix her own m16. (i might be wrong on time frame of ambush)
   
   5. she countinued to sulk as each of her fellow soldiers died around her.
   
   6. she surrenedered. Though i cant hold it against her for surrenedering.
   
   7. she came back home proclaims herself a hero with help of media and makes million dollar book and movie deals off of her dead friend, which wouldnt bother me so much if she actually did something heroic. And do give me the bull she want to be left alone, got to here website aka shrine to herself and look at the opening picture.
   
   Some of you might say well she never experinnced combat before and just broke down, while that may be true its not deserving of a heros status let alone a bronz star. She broke all of the core army values and then some.
   What makes me mad is that she was made out to be a hero, though there were several others people during that incident that did way more then she did and are deserving of silver and other medals.
   
   THe real heroes
   The soldiers in her humvee that protected her and shot at the bad guys while she sulked.
   Pfc Miller who was in a humvee few trucks behind her who deserves a silver star for taking out a mortar position with a "cough" malfunctioned rifle that he fixed.
   the other soldiers who died fighing.
   The rangers and seals who rescued her
   If you can trust the story, the doctors who protected her.
   
   The double standard
   
   Though i cant remeber her name off hand, the black female pow and 2 other soldier who were captured while fighing long before Lynches story. They didnt get bronz stars or a heroes welcome, why because their not a pretty face.
   
   And for those bush basher out there, no i dont think this was a propoganda thing to flm the rescue inbed reporters asked to come along with the rescue unit and they did. The hype over the incident was mostly the media doing, aka fox and cnn. The pentagon didnt put out the same number of release for the previous POWs.
   
   If you want the truth about the incident read her interviews right after the incident aka times and walter i think was the other one. The book itself is a sham.

5 comments about A Time to Lead: For Duty, Honor and Country.

1. A TIME TO LEAD: An attention consuming narration of deeply studied soldier's experiences. General Clark projects a timely view of global political geography and the thrills of war action as if on a giant IMAX screen. He does so with appreciation-filled details commemorating all -- the fortunate survivors, the fallen, the injured, and the suffering civilians.
   Surely, we, the citizens protected by millions of the military's tedious work hours dedicated beyond gun battles to stopping violence and building consensus, have a cornucopia of reasons for being proud and supportive of the United States military. Perhaps, we can support it best by taking fair and peaceful footsteps in our personal pathways.



2. With all of the failed leadership going on in America today I found Wesley's book refreshing. I'm encouraging my two sons to read this book because Mr. Clark is a Great leader to look up to and learn from. If we had more leaders like Wesley, America would still be a great country.



3. Given the book's fantastic title, I wanted to love--or at least like--it. But I couldn't. It reads like a "just-the-facts-black-and-white" chronology of Clark's life, which the authors tried to warm up and add emotion to using cut-and-paste poetic descriptions (out of character with the rest of the writing), too many empty words--like brave, courageous, warrior, hero--and awkwardly tacked-on "lessons" about leadership.
   
   It's clear Clark has more than enough credentials and experience to back up his admirable convictions; unfortunately, a memoir with an agenda is an ineffective format for expressing them. I suggest he'll make a stonger impact if he sticks to writing topical essays backed up by personal experience.



4. Rather than rehash other reviewers' comments, let me refer you to pages 182 and 183, where Wesley Clark reports a warning he received from Slobodan Milosevic of Serbia to not have NATO become an occupying power in the Balkans because occupying powers "do not do well here." Instead, the dictator urged the U.S. and its allies to "treat people with respect." After the conversation, Clark reflected on his military and negotiating experiences and decided the principles of power politics among nations "had to be exercised through personal relationships. Ultimately, diplomacy wasn't about trade-offs; it was about persuasion. To succeed, you had to link the calculus of cost and benefits to charm, new opportunities and the promise of a better tomorrow. Success was 90 percent persuasion, backed up by 10 percent coercion." He adds: "If force was to be used, it was to be used only as a last resort, and even then alongside allies, if possible." As I finished reading this book on Oct. 20, 2007, a day when the Bush Administration's drumbeats for war with Iran continued to accelerate, I couldn't help but wish Americans had elected Clark or someone like him in 2004. I had the same thought in nearly every chapter of the general's combination biography and expression of lessons he's learned from going to war, listening to others, weighing alternatives and then making or recommending decisions. Listening and weighing alternatives before deciding is a foreign concept for the man Garrison Keillor refers to as "Current Occupant." I fear it will plunge us even deeper into the Middle Eastern abyss. Wesley Clark is an American treasure, and the nation should tap his wisdom, judgment and talents as soon as possible. We need leaders like him.



5. General Clark has written a book about his own life, about America and about leadership. Presumably, the project had begun as a presidential campaign biography but then was redirected somewhat when the decision was taken not to run for president this year. Predictably, then, the book is a bit of a hodgepodge, but, in the end, it works.
   
   Especially interesting for me were the insights into General Clark's own sometimes conflicting thoughts about the military that is so central to his life. I was struck by similarities to people who despite their deep religious convictions nevertheless must sometimes struggle with their spirituality. While Clark's overriding faith in and support for the U.S. military are unwavering, he has faced times in his life when he has agonized over whether or not American military power and soldiers are being used and treated properly (and if not what, if anything, can be done about it). It would be difficult for a thinking and feeling soldier to have come through the Vietnam experience as he did without having to work through questions of that sort. In reading these and other reflections, the reader observes Clark's humanity, caring, multidimensionality and depth. Leadership, we learn, is a lot about caring, and it means taking responsibility (and sometimes truly huge responsibility) for other people. General Clark takes that caring and that responsibility very seriously. There is nothing cavalier in this soldier's personality.
   
   As an admirer of General Clark, I enjoyed learning more about the man through his book. As an entrepreneur striving through inexhaustible challenges to build a strong and cohesive team and direct it to a collective goal, I found both leadership lessons and inspiration. As an American who is deeply concerned about the tragic direction in which our country has been led thus far into the new millennium, General Clark's book gives me reason to believe that America can do better and be much better led. It also offers substantial elements of a strategy for making both America and the world at large a more prosperous, peaceful and safer place.

5 comments about Once A Fighter Pilot.

1. Awesome book. All I ever wanted to do was fly an F-4 and this book brought me as close as I'll ever get. Written in a down-to-earth manner that was easily understandable; thanks Jerry Cook!



2. This book is a must read for all military pilots and those seeking such status. Gen Cook tells it like it was and reminds me of a bunch of pilots sitting around the table discussing their careers. Most of us have always believed his basic tenet that could not believe that we were being paid to fly for the service. He also reminded me that your primary instructor had the biggest impact on your approach to training other pilots. Thank you !



3. Jerry Cook's "Once A Fighter Pilot" is one of the books that occupies a small section of my shelf reserved for truly extraordinary books written by pilots. Many fighter jocks are good at BFM, formation, gunnery, instrument flying, and other skills, but the ones who can evoke strong emotion through the written word are scarce. My military flying career is past, but this book takes me right back into the cockpit, in a way few books do.
   
   This book is the real deal, folks.



4. I first saw this book in a local bookstore and saw the cover. I didnt really now what it was about, but when I read it it was the best book yet. It is on my Absolute Favorite list.Since I bought the book I have read it over 5 times, and find something new each time. It has also made me want to be a fighter pilot in our Air Force. A must read for anyone.



5. I've read "Once a Fighter Pilot" more than once, and greatly enjoyed it each time. It's an intriguing mix of stories about flying in Vietnam, flying at MacDill AFB while the F-4 was just becoming available, and many flight instructor tales. (And sometimes the flight instructor stories are scarier than the ones about flying in Vietnam!) He's opinionated, open, honest, and to the point.
   
   I consider this to be in the top 5% of its genre because it covers such a broad area and does it well. There are perhaps better and/or more detailed autobiographies specifically about flying in Vietnam, but this one is one of the few which really covers Air Force life during the 60s. I also like the overall style, it's a series of short tales in chronological order rather than a more continuous work.
   
   It's a fun read--you won't regret it.