No comments about The Deniable Agent: Undercover in Afghanistan.

2 comments about Pete Ellis: An Amphibious Warfare Prophet, 1880-1923.

1. Although ostensibly a biography of Ellis, the book tends to focus on other high-profile Marines of the era and the internacine service rivalries that Ellis lived through. Although discussing in the beginning of the book certain peculiarities surrounding Ellis' death (specifically the behavior of Chief Pharmacist Zembsch after recovery of Ellis' remains), the authories summarily dismiss any mystery at the end of the book by stating that Ellis died of alcholism. All in all an interesting read, but certainly not the in-depth biography of Pete Ellis that one might infer from the title.



2. It must have been very difficult finding information on Ellis, but the authors focused more on his drunken exploits rather than his impact on the Marine Corps. I would recommend this book to any Marine or interested civilian who wants to learn more about the legendary Marine Officer. This book may dispel some of the myths about Ellis and his suspicious disappearance.

2 comments about Papa Topside: The Sealab Chronicles of Capt. George F. Bond, Usn.

1. I really enjoyed this book on two levels. First is is interesting in that it covers the scientific proving of saturation decompression. Second, it is a good read. So many diving books require discipline to finish. Not this one. Highly recommended for decompression divers.



2. Papa Topside not only captures the heydays of saturation diving leading up to and including the U.S. Navy's SeaLab I,II and III programs - that it does admirably, but it also provides the reader with a unique insight into a warm, humorous and kind hearted man, George Foote Bond, CAPT, MC USN. Any diver who has ever pondered the decompression question will find this a highly informative book - factual, but not overly technical. But it's much more than a book about diving physiology. For this reader the book's main attraction was vicariously meeting a most interesting man and, through him, getting to know many of the people whose lives he touched. Beginning with his days as Dr. George - a country doctor in rural North Carolina, it follows his work in creating the first hospital in the remote area of his practice and then follows his entry into the U.S. Navy where his lifelong passion for diving and dive medicine began. Dr. Bond is the indisputable father of saturation diving and developed the respect and love of those who dove while "Papa" or "Pappy" as he was known, maintained the "topside" watch over all the intricate variables that go into the saturation equation. His frustrations, challenges, victories and defeats - including the tragic loss of a Sealab III aquanaut - are all chronicled in the form of a daily log which Dr. Bond meticulously maintained. But to suggest that reading this book, edited admirably by Helen Siiteri, is merely a dry re-reading of someone else's notes would be grossly inaccurate - if not downright misleading. The author was an undergraduate English major which becomes evident within the first few pages. Reading the book, I felt as though I was sitting in a cozy, book-lined den somewhere while Dr. Bond, puffing his ever present pipe, talked to me about his life, diving and the U.S. Navy. His candor, humility and wonderful sense of humor are a breath of fresh air in today's politically correct world. For example, having learned that a colleague gave up pipe smoking, Dr. Bond provides the most eloquent defense of this pastime I've ever read. Reading this fine book, one gets the increasing sense that we all lost a friend when Dr. Bond passed away in 1983. True to his roots, he is buried back in rural North Carolina near his devoted patients. As a former U.S. naval officer and active diver myself, I suppose the highest praise I could give "Papa Topside" would be to say that it made me feel sorry that I will never get the opportunity to meet Pappy in person and dive under his careful eye. I was truly sorry to reach the book's last page.

No comments about A Month at the Front: The Diary of an Unknown Soldier.

5 comments about North of the River.

1. As a reader, this is a fabulous read. As someone who was there, it is even better. If you served in the armed forces during the 60's and 70's, then this book is a 'must read'. It brought back so many memories.
   
   A donut dolly known as 'Spud' in the 67-68 Korea.



2. It has been 37 years since I was a donut dollie at 2nd Division and reading Mark's book brought back all the hopes, adventures and everyday details of serving in South Korea.
   I learned of the book through another donut dollie named in the dedication and once again, I thanked the universe for guiding me to South Korea at the ripe old age of 21 to serve 18 months with a group of wonderful men and women.
   Mark's depiction of the Red Cross women was very accurate although the Beth character was far more liberal than most of us. On some level we all looked for that special man and in the process learned to value men as friends much more so than as lovers (some of us took that morals clause in our contracts far too literally!).
   If you served in South Korea, I highly recommend the book.
   Mark thank you for the very well written trip down memory lane!



3. While the Vietnam War riveted America's attention in the late 1960s, a lesser known conflict simmered in Korea. Known now as the Second Korean War, the increased tension and occasional firefights along the Korean DMZ during the 60s caused dozens of American casualties and perhaps hundreds of Korean. For those unacquainted with this conflict, this book serves as a primer on the Korean conflict at that time and the service of the men assigned to the Second Infantry Division in "the zone" north of the Imjin River. It also reminds the reader of the service rendered by the women of the American Red Cross, known as Donut Dollies, who brought cheer and a touch of home (along with donuts) to soldiers in Vietnam and Korea. However, for those of us who served in Korea during the late 1960s, this book vividly revives the sights, sounds, smells and emotions of our Army service as young men in a hostile fire zone. As a lieutenant in the 2nd Inf Div, serving on the DMZ for most of a 13 month tour, I experienced almost all of the of incidents, challenges, adventures and romance described so well by Mark Higginson. Every page brought back memories, and the author's recall of detail (drawn from his own Army service) and his description of the intense emotions of those times makes this an essential read for any veteran.



4. I bought this book because I too served with the 2nd Infantry Division on the DMZ. As I read the book it became very clear to me that Mr. Higgenson is very good at what he does. It brought back memories to me and as the story goes on I say "hey thats right" or "that really happens".
   
   
   The book is very good and covers a subject not often talked about. Korea is still a divided country and U.S. Soldiers still serve there. If it were up to me it would be required reading for those being stationed there. It is very real time, and still an exciting story.
   
   Thank you Mr. Higgenson for a great book.



5. The author is talking about the Imjin River, which most Americans had to cross to reach the Demilitarized Zone(DMZ) that separates North from South Korea. American soldiers from the 2nd and 7th Infantry Divisions guarded that DMZ.
   
   During the height of Vietnam these soldiers served in Guard Posts in the middle of the DMZ, participated in combat patrols in the DMZ and gaurded the Southern end of the DMZ. They did this with scant attention paid to them by the army or the people back home.
   
   Hundreds of men became casualities, known only to their comrads, friends and families. I know, I was there and was wounded on a night ambush in the DMZ by friendly fire, 9 July 1969.
   
   This book gives an accurate account of what a young American officer did during his 13 month tour in Korea. It will differ with what many other soldiers did on and in the DMZ. Two other fiction books have been written by soldiers who served on the DMZ.
   
   They are Muffled Shots, A Year on the DMZ by William Rosky and The Fence-Walker by William Holinger.
   
   For a non-fiction account get Leavenworth Papers, number 19, entitled: Scenes from an Unfinished War-Low-Intensity Conflict in Korea, 1966 to 1969.
   
   South Korea is free today partially because of what we did there, the casualties we suffered and those who died or were killed in action.

No comments about The Strategy Of Robert E. Lee.

2 comments about Burnham: King of Scouts.

1. 
   Fred Burnham wrote "Taking Chances" and "Scouting on Two Continents" - biographies written from his point of view.
   
   This book/novel fills in some of the holes in the facts of what the modest Fred Burnham didn't include.
   The author draws upon information not available until 2000 - a collection of private letters between Burnham and Baden-Powell stored under seal in the Yale Library.
   
   I have read many books about Fred Burnham and that mention Fred Burnham.
   (Biographies of Winston Churchill mention Fred Burnham cause Burnham saved Churchill's life during the Boer War in South Africa.)
   This book one is a welcome addition to my collection of African Tales.
   
   Burnham's exploits never fail to amaze me.
   His attention to detail is complete.
   His ability to see detail, while prevailing in the most trying of conditions, are so advanced that mere mortals can only dream of having that level of perception of their environment.
   He doesn't seem to have realized the extent of his mental and physical gifts.
   Its seems like the complicated information that Burnham collected,processed,interpreted and communicated while scouting came to him as easily as if normal people were checking to see if it was raining.
   But it wasn't that simple - he dedicated himself to the study of the details that would keep him alive in lands filled with tribal strife - the American West and South Africa.
   In this modern world of instant gratification its hard for today's men & women, outside the elite military units like SEALS, SAS, Delta Force, to understand the importance of the art & craft of true scouting behind enemy lines.
   
   I truly believe that Homer would have included Fred Burnham in the Iliad as a major figure if Burnham had lived in that time... That's how singular and brilliant he was.
   



2. It's good, but it was published on-demand by the author and could have used a professional editor to clean it up a bit.
   
   Also, although it's a novel it would have been nice to have an introduction, bibliography, and notes, and generally some more explanation.

No comments about The Struggle for Liberty: Testimony of a Fighter.

5 comments about Iron Men, Iron Will: The Nineteenth Indiana Regiment of the Iron Brigade.

1. It is difficult finding books that cover single regiments with solid information that only pertains to the unit itself sometimes. Author Craig Dunn has put together a very comprehensive book that covers the birth of the 19th Indiana to final muster in 1865. I liked the fact that Dunn didn't dwell on only officers but brought the private soldier to life as short biographies and the details of their involvement were written about. Dunn covers early exhaustive marches, campaigns, camp life, politics and explains the many personalities within the 19th. Dunn backs his material up well with references and also many statistics are added that enhance this book tremendously. This book serves as a great resource tool in learning about the hard fighting 19th and I recommend it to many interested in learning about the tough regiment of the famous Iron Brigade.



2. What a great book on the Nineteenth Indiana Volunteers of the Iron Brigade. The book was maticulously researched and documented. The best part about the book was that the documentation did not detract from the enjoyable reading. The pictures and roster were very helpful. I have personally read over 200 Civil War regimental histories and this one was my favorite. I have read two other books on the Nineteenth Indiana and found them to be lacking in documentation and in ease of reading. This book is the best.



3. I've had this book for about 5 yrs. and just got around to reading it. Dunn's book is very readable and informative, he blends fact with a strong human element. I look forward to more of his work



4. This book was simply a pleasure to read. While it was well documented, the documentation did not grind the book to a halt. I would consider this more as an anecdotal history rather than a military history. The author puts a human face on a serious topic. I have now read all of the books in print on the Iron Brigade and the Nineteenth Indiana Volunteers and this one is the best.



5. As an ardent student of history I found this book to be wonderfully documented and accurate. I have read all of the books about the 19th Indiana and the Iron Brigade and found this one to be the best by far. I was so intrigued with the book that I visited the critical archives and libraries cited in Mr. Dunn's book to verify their accuracy. Each entry which I checked was quoted exactly as I found them. I have heard through some Civil War circles that there has been an attempt to impugn this book in an attempt to increase sales of the other 19th Indiana books. If so, this is sad. I have recommended this book to all of my friends.

1 comments about Vieques Island: A Few Good Men on Radio Hill.

1. Notice: This book is not for kids. Now that the US Navy has pulled out of Vieques Island, one of the highest peaks on the Island will never be the same. Reports are that Vieques has never developed as it was anticipated. A comparison to Vieques Island might be Dominica, however Vieques certainly had more night life in the dark than Dominica has today under the lights. Just reading the chapter titled "The Woman in the Red Dress," will set the average female reader aflame with passion. This is the perfect book for your Pastor's wife to keep at her bedside, because the cover does not give away the passionate life of the young, hot-blooded Marines of the Cold War, serving in the years 1952 and 1953. Vieques is just a short hop from San Juan or St. Thomas, and any time a small Navy boat headed for these weekend liberty ports, a few of the Marines from Radio Hill could be seen boarding, dressed in their class A khaki uniforms, ready for a hot time in Hispanic Caribbean towns. The things these young men did would have them court-maritaled for years if they were serving in Iraq. Read about old John, the native of Vieques, who brought them bananas, soda pop, Don Q Rum, and other contraband, as well as hot Hispanic Senoritas from Isabel Segunda. You'll want to catch the next flight to San Juan!