1 comments about EASTBOUND: Our Flight - Our Mission.

1. Have you ever dreamed of flying yourself around the world in a small Cessna aircraft ?
   No need for courage, you can experience this incredible voyage traveling vicariously through
   the pages of Eastbound, Our Flight/Our Mission authored by Renny Shapiro. All
   aboard with the crew, Renny and Bernie Shapiro and Evy and Martin Lutin!
   
   After much preparations and anticipation, the two couples, who were in their
   sixties, began their journey eastbound from Van Nuys, California. They
   eventually returned to their home base in 65 hours and five minutes of flying
   time, sixty-three days, and 18, 814.2 nautical miles later.
   
   Dividing their adventures into four parts, Shapiro describes their extensive
   preparations, their journey from Van Nuys, California to Istanbul and then onto
   Russia and ultimately returning to California. The final chapter, Afterward,
   presents Shapiro's afterthoughts.
   
   With trepidation, we share the author's humor and excitement such as their
   episode in Scotland where "every place is pronounced "Hle Gurgle Gurgle in
   Kitchee by Taunt."
   
   Peppered throughout the book are historical facts, sometimes entertaining while
   other times quite tragic, such as their visits to the concentration camps where
   their guide presented them with a copy of Elie Wiesel's poem:
   
   "Never shall I forget that night The first night in camp, Which has turned my
   life into one long night... Never shall I forget these things, Even if I am
   condemned to live As long as God himself, Never."
   
   The chapter decscribing Bodrum, a seaside resort, lifts the mood somewhat as
   Shapiro narrates their delightful experiences cruising the Cleopatra Coast and
   where they enjoyed the succulent meals prepared by their chef Sada. They even
   had the opportunity to be treated to an Anniversary party complete with a belly
   dancer!
   
   It is in Istanbul they meet up with Ali Gutelkin and his driver
   Hamish and they visit the luxurious Blue Mosque and the Aya Sophia. They also
   had the opportunity to admire the 80 karat diamond and the Topkapi dagger, and
   visited a real Harem.
   
   As for the history of the Jews in Turkey, Shapiro reminds us that in 1492 with
   the expulsion of the Jews from Spain, Turkish Sultan Bayazid II welcomed them
   saying: "Ferdinand has made his country poor and enriched ours!"
   
   Unfortunately, today, The Synagogue of Neva Shalom is heavily guarded as the
   result of a bombing committed by Arab terrorists in 1986, that resulted in the
   death of the local rabbi, the cantor and twenty-two Jewish worshipers.
   
   When asked what is the present relationship between Turkey and Israel, the reply
   was that they both had differences but that as we are both democracies, we
   maintain a relationship.
   
   Next on the agenda was their trip to Russia. Despite the fact that the
   Shapiro/Lutin crew previously traveled here at the beginning of 1993, the year of Jewish revival
   in the Soviet Union, their spirits this time were somewhat shattered when they
   visited Babi Yar, the site of the slaughter of thirty thousand of Jews.
   
   Alex Bernstein, the couples' guide and who was the Director of JAFI, at the
   time, narrates how his aunt, who was a survivor of Babi Yar, "was but a
   schoolgirl when she was separated from her family during the roundup of Jews by
   Ukranian police and Nazi sympathizers, and like the rest she was marched to the
   ravine, stripped naked and shot. Then, while badly wounded, she managed to
   survive by hiding amongst the bodies of the dead until she was able to crawl out
   and find refuge with non-Jewish friends who helped her flee the country." And as
   he points out to them, this is why he came to help the Jews of Russia.
   
   During the course of their voyage, the couples never missed an opportunity to
   reconnect with fellow Jews residing in several countries, particularly Ukraine
   and Siberia. As they note, it was quite an experience! Although they discovered
   that anti-Semitism is still prevalent in some regions, Jews are not as terrified
   as in the past. At least they now have a choice of doing "Aliyah" (immigrating
   to Israel) or to practice their religion in peace, if they chose to stay in
   Russia.
   
   The crew's experience in Russia is riveting and full of exciting happenings. The
   presence of Israelis guiding Russian Jews to do Aliyah or helping the elderly
   with food and medication was incredibly courageous. Especially commendable was
   British-Born Israeli Stuart Saffer, Director of the Joint Distribution Committee
   in Odessa which serves 250,000 Jews living in 'South Ukraine, Belarus and
   Moldova. As the author states: "Without any question, what we've found most
   memorable are the miracles being wrought by the JDC and JAFI. Evy and I have
   spent years educating ourselves and others about these agencies and helping to
   raise funds for their work. But nothing prepared us for seeing with our own eyes
   how this work is being carried out here or for witnessing first-hand the immense
   and dramatic impact it is having on the lives of their recipients."
   
   When the crew happily returned home, they had their work cut out for them.
   For one, they kept in touch with most of the people they met during their
   ventures. And in 1994 Renny and Evy Lutin together with friends
   and family returned to Kiev to attend the International Conference of Jewish
   Women. It was an event whose objective was to bring together for the first time
   ever 350 Jewish women from Ukraine, Russia, Siberia and the West in order to foster the
   spirit of sisterhood, to promote connection, and to open an avenue of learning
   that will flow both ways.
   
   The Jews in Russia still survive in the face of anti-Semitism and are rebuilding
   their lives in spite of overwhelming odds. Why they don't get out of Russia?Some are held back by family ties, some are just afraid of the unknown, some of them are courageous enough to make "Aliyah".
   
   
   Eastbound, Our Flight-Our Mission by Renny Shapiro is a must read by those who
   dream of flying and those who dream of peace.
   
   Lily Azerad-Goldman, Reviewer for Bookpleasures

5 comments about A Hundred Miles of Bad Road.

1. I looked forward to a description of this little talked about segment of the Vietnam war. I was disappointed that there was little of the daily life of a tanker and the flow of the book made it a hard read. I would not recommend it although there is little else out there on the subject.



2. Dwight and his comrades fought the NVA on the west side of Tan Son Nhut Air Base and stopped them in their tracks. If they had not stopped them, the NVA would have overrun the base. I was just outside the west side of the base next to the Vietnamese Joint General Staff compound. We had VC taking down the wall around the compound with RPGs. We had no weapons and the Vietnamese guards had only personal arms. If the NVA had gotten past Dwight, we would have been goners. Luckily, a company of Vietnamese Marines arrived and quickly put the VC unit out of action. Afterwards, we found the remains of many brave 716th MPs and other individual American military attacking the VC from the other side. I wrote a letter to Dwight and thanked him for his bravery and determination not to give up to overwhelming odds. I hope he got my letter. Howard A. Daniel III, Master Sergeant, US Army Retired



3. This Is a story of truth from the men who were In vietnam.Nolan served in the vietnam war.And from reading this book he takes you there.And tells us the american people what we never knew that happened during this war.An amazing truthful book to read.I would give it ten stars."Truth In justice for all of our vets" They are the back bone of this country.The goverment should know. When our vets came home sick and dying from agent orange.Our goverment denied everything.Even the one who gave the orders to drop It. Killed his own son.When his son died he knew it was from agent orange. He later killed himself because of his guilt.Since he was a high ranking officer he was sworn to silence.Like all the other military officers. Our goverment does not care about the men who not only died for this country.Also the ones they killed and never admitted to.The cost to the goverment would be to great.So deny ,deny, at all cost. As the govement has always lied about our vets.When they came home sick from Vietnam also Saudi Arabia.The goverment denied all of this again.Deformed babies,cancer,of all kinds.The goverment again denied our men came in contact with any chemicals to make them sick.When it has been proven that the air they breathed and the contact with tanks were contaminated from Iraq weapons used on our military soldiers.WHY''



4. I had no contact with Dwight Birdwell or the 3/4 Cav for 33 years, but the book took me back to Highway 1 last week. Accurate and truthful are the events and people (not the case in too many war memoirs). The photos are real troopers who got bloody. Even the dates were interesting for sorting memories.

   One of my most vivid memories of the war had been Birdwell on a burning tank firing a .50 caliber machine gun until it glowed in the night, and his silhouette carrying out the badly wounded. That memory is in the book (Chapter 19) and accurate to the number of RPG's fired.

   The lifers, loafers, heros, and base camp warriors are there also, warts and all. Read Tennyson for the glory of the cavalry, read Birdwell for the real thing.




5. I've been a big fan of Keith William Nolan for quite some time. I read The Battle For Saigon with interest because I was a member of the 377th Security Police Squadron USAF that was given the task of defending Tan Son Nhut Airbase. I took part in the defense of the airbase during Tet 68. I read One Hundred Miles of Bad Road, after reading The Battle For Saigon, and finally realized just what Troop B, 3/4 CAV endured out on Highway One outside the west perimeter. The tenacity of the 25th INF and the leadership Lt. Col. Otis and Captain Virant was instrumental in thwarting the sustained ground attack by seven NVA/VC Regiments. This is an accurate account of the battle in and around Tan Son Nhut Airbase. I highly recommend this book.

5 comments about Ernie Pyle's War: America's Eyewitness to World War II (Modern War Studies).

1. This is a fascinating book, and this from a reader more into fiction than historical biography - but the best fiction writer would be hard pressed to come up with a character like Ernie Pyle.
   
   A page turning look into World War II from someone who could have been your neighbor but was far more than what you would have expected.
   
   I have no idea why a modern rendition of this story has not hit the big screen - it seems a natural, captivating story that would educate as well as entertain.



2. this must be THE book to read on war - what it's really like in all of its aspects - his description of the beach, after D-Day was gripping and haunting and it has stayed with me many years later -
   
   and how he relates the everyday and ordinary in war -
   
   and how, in any group or organization, it's often a small percentage of the people who are carrying the load - that's just one example of the many insights and truths in this book that relate to all of life, not just life in a war zone -
   
   and it is a great book for anyone to read - a stunning life achievement for ernie pyle -



3. James Toban has written a stunning book in "Ernie Pyle's War: America's Eyewitness to World War II". Toban has succeeded in giving readers the rare opportunity to see the human frailties concealed within one of America's greatest and most valuable World War II correspondents.
   
   James Toban present a picture of the complex Ernie Pyle; a man that entered the World War II carrying only a broken Remington typewriter and a deep desire to describe the life and hardships of the horrific world of the infantrymen to the American public. The reader will learn of the contradictory Ernie Pyle. The Ernie Pyle who despised war, but who could not stay away from the physical and emotional anguish of battle. The Ernie Pyle who loved his wife, but who continually left her behind to travel to the front lines. Ernie Pyle, the seemingly frail and terrified journalist who demonstrated his bravery by traveling to the front lines to be with and write about "his boys". Ernie Pyle, a genius for writing about the common soldier, but who needed constant reminding that he was the best at what he did. His articles became legendary and the hope and news link for Americans with loved ones in the front lines.
   
   James Toban's "Ernie Pyle's War: America's Eyewitness to World War II " is a must read for World War II readers and all readers who wish to know about the human spirit and about a plain old fashion brave American.



4. "Ernie Pyle's War" by James Tobin was a thorough read. Tobin described Pyle down to the very last detail, uncovering almost every aspect of his life. After reading this book, the reader had a clear view into Pyle's mind and was able to recognize the feelings he possessed about his professional and private life. The way Tobin intertwined Pyle's messages home with biographical details along with interviews of acquaintances, made this story an easy read. "Ernie Pyle's War" earned five "stars."
   Tobin's style of writing was one reason this book was so effective. He used partial quotes from Pyle to title his chapters, which brought an immediate sense of intimacy to the story. Tobin began the book with a chronological introduction to Pyle. This style of writing, although typical for biographies, was well suited for this story and not at all cliché. Readers were able to become acquainted with Pyle as a young man and then mature along with him as he grew into an established adult. By describing Pyle as a young man, readers were able to understand more clearly why he was the way he was as an adult.
   Tobin used vivid descriptions to paint a picture of Pyle in the minds of the readers. This was an important aspect because Pyle's physical demeanor was one of the main problems and/or benefits in his life. As a child and young adult, his size hindered his relationships. But, as a war correspondent, the people saw Pyle as more of a hometown boy rather than a studious journalist. This added to his success as a war correspondent.
   After transitioning into Pyle's career as a war correspondent, the story line became more tedious. Pyle was in and out of combat and the surface facts of his life were boring. Tobin, understanding the paleness of biographical data, used Pyle's messages home to spice up the story. Like most people, Pyle's life was not what it seemed to be. Besides leading a "glorified" life as a war correspondent, he had major problems at home. Tobin showed the audience this by weaving together Pyle's biographical information with the messages he sent home. This gave the reader a sense of what Pyle was actually feeling. Using these messages instead of his columns allowed reader's to see the "real" Pyle.
   Tobin uncovered personal feelings about his professional and personal life, which gave the reader a feeling of empathy toward Pyle. Showing that he did not feel like an outstanding reporter, let readers see Pyle was human. Tobin successfully showed the man behind the pen by opening up Pyle's mind to the audience. He did this by using Pyle's own letters and messages home that contained intimate details of his life. Without the added touch of Pyle's actual writing, the story would have failed to be as successful.



5. "Ernie Pyle's War" by James Tobin was a thorough read. Tobin described Pyle down to the very last detail, uncovering almost every aspect of his life. After reading this book, the reader had a clear view into Pyle's mind and was able to recognize the feelings he possessed about his professional and private life. The way Tobin intertwined Pyle's messages home with biographical details along with interviews of acquaintances, made this story an easy read. "Ernie Pyle's War" earned five "stars."
   Tobin's style of writing was one reason this book was so effective. He used partial quotes from Pyle to title his chapters, which brought an immediate sense of intimacy to the story. Tobin began the book with a chronological introduction to Pyle. This style of writing, although typical for biographies, was well suited for this story and not at all cliché. Readers were able to become acquainted with Pyle as a young man and then mature along with him as he grew into an established adult. By describing Pyle as a young man, readers were able to understand more clearly why he was the way he was as an adult.
   Tobin used vivid descriptions to paint a picture of Pyle in the minds of the readers. This was an important aspect because Pyle's physical demeanor was one of the main problems and/or benefits in his life. As a child and young adult, his size hindered his relationships. But, as a war correspondent, the people saw Pyle as more of a hometown boy rather than a studious journalist. This added to his success as a war correspondent.
   After transitioning into Pyle's career as a war correspondent, the story line became more tedious. Pyle was in and out of combat and the surface facts of his life were boring. Tobin, understanding the paleness of biographical data, used Pyle's messages home to spice up the story. Like most people, Pyle's life was not what it seemed to be. Besides leading a "glorified" life as a war correspondent, he had major problems at home. Tobin showed the audience this by weaving together Pyle's biographical information with the messages he sent home. This gave the reader a sense of what Pyle was actually feeling. Using these messages instead of his columns allowed reader's to see the "real" Pyle.
   Tobin uncovered personal feelings about his professional and personal life, which gave the reader a feeling of empathy toward Pyle. Showing that he did not feel like an outstanding reporter, let readers see Pyle was human. Tobin successfully showed the man behind the pen by opening up Pyle's mind to the audience. He did this by using Pyle's own letters and messages home that contained intimate details of his life. Without the added touch of Pyle's actual writing, the story would have failed to be as successful.

3 comments about Colin Powell.

1. This is the first biography I've read of General Colin Powell and I'd like to read the more recent biography that was recently released. While this book gives a nice overview of General Powell's career, the author in several instances goes off on tangents which add little to the point of biography. For example, we are given several pages about the history of the Bronx which I kept expecting would somehow be tied into the formation of Powell's character, but it never does. The author simply seemed to find it interesting and wanted to include it. We also get several mini-biographies of General Schwarzkopf, Dick Cheney, and others who arecentral characters in Powell's career, but the reader would not be poorer had they not been included. The book also seems to be written in two parts. In the first part of the book, it seems to be fairly straight-forward facts. In the second part of the book, there is a heavy reliance on speculation - both from the author and from others, including (anonymous) "sources." While I walked away knowing more about General Powell's career, I didn't necessarily walk away feeling like I knew a great deal about Colin Powell the man. There just seemed to me to be a lack of depth. I look forward to reading the more recent biography as well as General Powell's own book.



2. heard the taped version of colin powell: soldier/statesman, statesman/soldier by howard means . . . very readable account of how he grew up in the poverty-riden south bronx to become the highest ranking military official in the nation . . . my only regret: it was written in 1992, and i now find myself wanting to know more about this outstanding individual . . . he would certainly have my vote in an election; in fact, as part of a bradley-powell ticket? (i dream, but do like the sound of that!)

   i also liked hearing again the quote from his famous 1991 press briefing, in which he described the alied strategy for the desert storm war: "Our strategy for going after this army is very, very simple. First we are going to cut it off, and then we are going to kill it."




3. Hello,

   This is really good. I loved it all. i wish I could meet Colin Powell. He is a good man. Keep up the good work!!

No comments about Widows by the Thousand: The Civil War Letters of Theophilus and Harriet Perry, 1862-1864 (The Civil War in the West).

5 comments about To Fly and Fight: Memoirs Of A Triple Ace (Warcraft).

1. When I first bought "To Fly and Fight", I expected a book mainly about World War II aviation. Instead, there was much more. Colonel Anderson has a great amount of experience in many aircraft since World War II, as well flying F-105s as the 355 TFW commander at Takhli RTAFB in Thailand in 1970. If you are a military aviation buff, this book is a must



2. This is a well-written memoir which covers a great deal of World War Two combat flying and ranks among the best books on that theatre of war that I've read -- and believe me, I've read an awful lot of them. The writing style is simple yet evocative and we quickly move from the author's training days to the moment when he first meets an enemy plane in combat. What I particularly appreciated about the book was the focus on Anderson's family and the stresses they suffered and the continual reference to the brutality of war and the number of the author's flying colleagues who died. The World War Two reminiscences end about two-thirds of the way through the book and then we have to wade through perhaps too much about his post-war experiences as a test pilot, a desk-bound bureaucrat and then a commander in the Vietnam war. But do buy the book for the World Wat Two material alone, which is excellent.



3. Although this book has a different feel to it than the book to which it will invariably be compared, namely Chuck Yeager's "YEAGER" autobiography, I must say it stands on its own feet without any apologies. In this book, Anderson details a life full of accomplishments and adventure.

   The chapters that focus on his World War II exploits are clearly the most interesting, although his post-war adventures (including missions in Vietnam) were entertaining in their own right. My only complaint is that he did not write more about this period of his life. It seemed that Yeager's book was a bit more balanced in that he covered his career from beginning to end with an even hand. Anderson (or his publisher) chose not to do so, and that is unfortunate, for I am sure there is much to be learned from this period of his remarkable life.

   Despite these minor shortcomings, this one is definitely worth a look. The beginning may be slow to some, but keep going. It is well worth it.




4. I found "To Fly and Fight" to be an excellent biography of man who grew up with an intense love of flying, and who fulfilled his dreams. The book chronicles his growing up in the rural foothills of Northern California, and his growing love of flying. It gives a very personal accounts of his early days days with the Army Air Corps from training to activation in England. I enjoyed the accounts of his early friendships and escapades.

   The descriptions and events as a P-51 pilot flying in the ETO are first rate. The first chapter grabs hold of you and doesn't let go with his account of a high altitude duel with an ME-109. It is a classic. He describes many of his combat missions and describes his growing friendship with Chuck Yeager. The story of his final mission with Yeager is priceless.

   The book also includes some revealing sections about his tedious days as a recruiter and several stints with the Pentagon to heady days as a Test Pilot at Wright Field and later at Edwards. He also gives us some excellent insights into his days as a Squadron Leader flying F-86's in Korea and a Wing Commander flying F-105's from Okinawa and Thailand during the Vietnam Conflict.

   I had the opportunity recently to meet Col. Anderson and his lovely wife Ellie. We spent several hours together discussing his flying days. It was a real priviledge. He is truly a humble man but has that touch of steel of man who has lived through a lot. He is still a hearty and it's great to think of him still tearing up the skies at Air Shows flying the Old Crow along side Chuck Yeager.

   I highly recommend "To Fly and Fight" to all WWII aviation enthusiasts.

   ...




5. As an avid reader of World War Two History. And being a Viet Nam Veteran; I found this book to be a most fascinating history; Of "Not Only the Man"; But his recollections of his life growing up oin Rural California in the 1930's & 1940's. His enlistment in the Army Air Corp; And his experiences in England during the war. This is "No dry" mundane slow reading military text book. Colonol Anderson, tells of his love for flying and his vivid discriptions of Europe during World War Two; Help the reader to picture what it was like for an average guy; Who has a love for flying and trying his best to stay alive in a extremly hostile environment. He does not dwell on the sadder aspects of war. But trys to explain how he learned to cope with these stressors; And still fullfill his dream of flying. He also go's to great lengths to discuss the other aircraft he had flown. His adventures in P-39's and T-6 Texans. I found his book to be non-judgemental; But very fair to all the persons good and bad that he had come to know in his life. He only briefly discusses his flying career during the Viet Nam Conflict. But then this book was not written with Viet Nam in mind solely. This book is about the man; His love of flying.

   I found this book to enlightning; refreshing; funny; sad; extrordinary; And written with a smooth tempo and hums along like the engine of a P-51 Mustang. The Book and the Man are unseperable. He takes you up in his Mustang with him through his rememberences. And brings you home to the runway just as a good pilot would do today. I would recommend this book to anyone who has not only an intrest in World War Two. But an intrest in a "Great Man" who lived an extrordinary life. Fighting for all of us; Flying for all of us. This man is a "TRUE"; American Hero.

1 comments about The Diaries of John Gregory Bourke: July 29, 1876-April 7, 1878 (Diaries of John Gregory Bourke).

1. Edited and annotated by Charles M. Robinson (history instructor at South Texas Community College and a fellow of the Texas State Historical Association), The Diaries Of John Gregory Bourke: Volume Two: July 29, 1876-April 7, 1878 is the next published installment of the personal journals of John Gregory Bourke who served as cavalry lieutenant in Arizona from 1872 up to the evening before his death in 1896. A noted ethnologist who wrote extensive descriptions of Native American tribal life and customs that he observed first hand, he illustrated his diaries with both sketches and photographs. This second published volume opens as General Crook prepares for the expedition that would lead to his infamous and devastating Horse Meat March. The diary faithfully recounts the manifold hardships the troops and their officers endured. The diary then continues with the story of the Powder River Expedition and culminates in Bourke's eyewitness description of Colonel Ranald MacKenzie's destruction of the main Cheyenne camp in what become known as the Dull Knife Fight. With the main hostile chiefs either surrendering or forced into exile in Canada, field operations came to a close and Bourke finishes this second volume of his memoirs with a retrospective of his service in Tucson, Arizona. Enhanced for the modern reader with extensive annotations and a biographical appendix on Indians, civilians, and military personnel named in the diaries, this outstanding series continues to be a seminal and strongly recommended contribution to American Frontier History and Native American Studies reference collections and supplementary reading lists.

1 comments about Ace of Aces: The Life of Capt. Eddie Rickenbacker.

1. In his book "Ace of Aces: The Life of Capt. Eddie Rickenbacker", historical author H. Paul Jeffers has produced a very enjoyable, readable work on the life of this most interesting American hero. In the early chapters, we are, appropriately, presented with ample detail about Rickenbacker's upbringing by Swiss immigrant parents, the various jobs he had, and a certain amount of boyhood recklessness that leaves us wondering how he ever survived to age 14. We also discover that Rickenbacker learned valuable lessons about hard work and respect of work tools from his father. These served him well in his later exploits as a race car driver, World War I ace, president of Eastern Airlines, and survivor of a nearly month-long experience adrift on a raft in the Pacific during World War II. Jeffers supplies us with good details about the social and political climate of the times, digressing from time to time on these matters so that Rickenbacker's life in cast within this historical context. Not surprisingly, more than one third of the book focuses on Rickenbacker's WW I experiences. Especially interesting are descriptions of aeriel engagements in which Rickenbacker either emerges victorious or has another close scrape with death. Aviation buffs will no doubt enjoy this. Jeffers obviously admires Rickenbacker and, though acknowledging the man's sometimes dictatorial manner in treating underlings at Eastern Airlines board meetings and the like, does not dwell excessively on such details. Consequently, we are left with a very favorable overall impression of America's greatest WW I ace.

4 comments about The Sunset War: The 41st Infantry Division in the South Pacific.

1. I was particularly interested in reading this book in that my father served in the same Division as Mr. Wilson, the author. I was surprised to discover 1/2 way through that Mr. Wilson and my Dad were likely in the same section (messages), headquaters company, 3rd batallion of the 41st Division. While I have read several books and accounts of the 41st Division's WWII history, this is the first that gave me a sense of what day to day life was actually like for the soldiers that fought in jungles of New Guinea. Mr. Wilson - thank you for writing this account. I would love to get the chance to talk with you some day.



2. From an old Navy veteran: The book is rather short and in some cases repetitive, but from my studies of WWII in the Pacific this is an authentic, first-person account of this soldier's memory of the war against a sadistic, evil, brutal, suicidal enemy. I especially agree with his opinion that the U.S. Army was often overlooked when someone wrote about the war in the Pacific with so much press given to the bloody battles of the U.S. Marines. Don't misunderstand, the Marines were in some miserable, bloody, awful campaigns, but so were soldiers and sailors and they seldom get the recognition due them. This book gives some of that recognition to the soldiers.



3. This is a great story of the GIs who served in the 41st "Sunset" Divsion and fought their way from New Guinea to the Philippines. A great personal memoir of a young soldier who, due to his vast resourcefulness, made the most of his overseas experience. My Dad served in the 163rd "Montana" Regiment of the 41st Division, and though the author was in the 162nd Regiment, his telling of what it was like over there must have been similar to what Dad went through. Dad would only occasionally mention in a sentence or two something about the War and New Guinea. Thanks, Paul Wilson, for giving us a detailed account of the experience. This book should appeal greatly to anyone interested in Pacific War, it was a quick read and hard to put down!



4. Written from the authors experiences in the south pacific durring WW2. As the author tells his war adventure he throws in little painless history lessons. well written, quick easy read. I would love to see more war veterans document their experiences.

No comments about The Hussar: a German Cavalryman in British Service Throughout the Napoleonic Wars.