1 comments about The Diaries of John Gregory Bourke: June 1, 1878-June 22, 1880 (Diaries of John Gregory Bourke).

1. Historians of the Apache and Sioux wars have long used the diaries of Lieutenant (later Captain) John Gregory Bourke but until Charles Robinson came along they have been available only at the West Point library, or in microfilm copies at a few university libraries. Bourke maintained a through and careful journal and frequently included the text of offical cables and reports. This is not a great diary from a literary point of view, but Bourke's gradually developing understanding of the Indians he was putting on reservations reflects what was going on in the collective mind of America itself. Before Bourke died he had become one of the proto-anthropologists who recorded the beliefs and customs of Indians who were fast forgetting their own culture. The present volume -- third in the series -- is notable for an extended account of the killing of Crazy Horse in 1877, an unnecessary blunder for which General George Crook, Bourke's hero in both sense of the word, was largely responsible. Bourke does what he can to defend his commander, including many distortions and a few outright lies. This account must be read with care and frequent reference to other accounts by Oglalas interviewed by Eleanor Hinman and Mari Sandoz, and by Billy Garnett, the ubiquitous interpreter, then only 22--years-old; Jesse Lee and Henry Lemly. But Bourke's sensitivity on the point only highlights the importance of his diary; he was in the thick of events, had the character to shed prejudices along the way, and did serious work in preserving knowledge of Indians as they were in the last third of the 19th century. Robinson is the author of many books of frontier military history, including a biography of Crook. His annotations of the Bourke diaries are thorough and reliable. No interested person or serious library should be without these books. Reviewed by Thomas Powers.

2 comments about So Proudly He Served: The Sam Bird Story.

1. Sam Bird is the subject of this fine book. Sam Bird was an oustanding soldier and his wife an exceptional person. The book is as much a tribute to her as to Sam.
   Sam Bird was my company commander in Vietnam in 1966, so this book is very personal. No one who ever met Sam was not impressed. You get a clear idea why.



2. This is the story of the All American Boy. Born and raised in middle America, Kansas, Sam takes up marching in the school band. He meets a young girl named Annette, who will later play a intregal role in his life. His love of the discipline and regimentation, leads him to Missouri Military Academy, where he excells in all his classes, and knows that he wants to be a career soldier. By the time he graduates he is accepted in one of the nations most prestigous private military colleges, The Citadel. He advanced throught the ranks to become one of the highest ranking cadets. He joins the Army in 1961 and serves in Korea, as an aide to the commanding general, and is appointed to go to the Presidential Honor Guard The 3d United States Infantry, The Old Guard, at Ft. Myer, VA, where unbeknownst to him, he will become one of the most recognised soldiers in modern American history. On November 22, 1963, President John F. Kennedy is assasinated, and it is LT. Sam Bird and members of the military honor guard who will accompany and escort the body of the fallen president from Air Force One continuosly until he is laid to rest in Arlington National Cemetery. A few years later, while serving in Viet Nam, CPT Bird will be greivously wounded in an enemy ambush, where many of his men are killed and he will loose half of this skull and brains to enemy machinegun fire. Miracuosly Sam survives and while living at home recoupperating from the massive injury, Sam meets his old friend Annette, who falls for her former schoolmate,even though his is only part of the vibrant young man she once knew. They spend the next 15 years together enjoying life to the fullest extent that life can offer Sam, even though he is almost completely confined to a wheelchair. Sam's last visit to his old duty station at Ft. Myer, is met with honor and dignity as he is the guest of honor. This is a story of inspiration, devotion, dedication and courage, of a Real American Patriot and Hero.

No comments about The Life and Times of Pilot Officer Prune: The Official Story of Tee Emm.

5 comments about A Mississippi Rebel in the Army of Northern Virginia: The Civil War Memoirs of Private David Holt, With a New Appendix of Excerpts from His 1865 Diary.

1. It was difficult for me to put this book down and I finally stayed up all night and finished it. Holt's description of the hardships endured by Southern soldiers are so realistic and makes us appreciate their dedication. I was able to understand what my ancestor endured by reading this account. I recommend this book for Union and Confederates alike. It brings out the very best and the very worst in all of us. I have read many soldiers accounts of the war but this is the best and also the most entertaining. After reading this book I have revived my interest in the WBTS.



2. I've read about a dozen or so soldier memoirs/diary accounts, and this one ranks as one of the poorest. I find most of these have a generic nature to them - seems like if you've read one, you've read them all! Mr. Holt wrote this in his latter years, so Goodness knows how the years have treated his memory of things, although a fine editing job by Cockrell and Ballard keep things on the straight and narrow. Much of the memoirs involve Holt's escapades that have little to do with the war effort. Lot of it reads like a Mark Twain tale, with Holt often relating some of the hijinks and sit-com like situations he experienced as a soldier.



3. Holt really conveys the attitudes, feelings, deep convictions, and courage displayed by those who fought in the war. (Not only on the Rebel side, but also on the Yankee side.) He also goes into some of the other reasons besides slavery, that caused the South to secede. Very well written and extremely interesting. It makes you feel as if you're right beside Holt following him as they go down in history. Also shows how life for the Confederate soldier was awfully harsh in the latter part of the war. Holt doesn't have shoes and is walking through snow along with men who are dying of starvation. Holt entertains readers by detailing what he and his group would do for fun, ie., sneaking away from camp to meet girls, etc.

   I knew Holt was in the 16th Miss. Co. K. I was hoping it would mention Co. H where my relative fought, but it didn't.

   Holt leaves for the war as a boy, but returns a man.

   Great book. I highly recommend it.




4. Holt's memoirs are entertaining as well as informative. This book becomes hard to put down as you read. Very good details of life in the Army of Northern Virginia. He gives the "personal" side of the war so often left out by other memoirs. Reading this book was like having Holt tell you the story himself. Excellent.



5. Few memoirs are both as entertaining and informative as this one. It is similar in many ways to "Co. Aytch" by Sam Watkins, the memoir quoted so heavily in the Ken Burns PBS series. One especially valuable aspect of Holt's reminiscences is that they begin well before the Civil War and afford a glimpse a pre-war life among the middle class in Mississippi. The editors have done a fine job of annotating the memoir, identifying individuals and events as well as pointing out Holt's occasional errors. As with most works of its type, the book deals more vividly with the happenings in camp and on the march between battles than with the battles themselves. Its chief weakness is that Holt wrote his memoirs many years after the war, so his recollections are inevitably tainted by things he learned afterward. It is recommended for any reader interested in the Civil War.

1 comments about ONE BOY'S WAR.

1. This book is not the drab ponderings of a Montgomery. Rather it is a light and humorous account of the experiences of Richard Hough, a well known researcher and writer on naval topics, during WWII. While best known for his naval interests, which started in childhood, Hough actually ended up having a most remarkable career in the RAF during WWII. The book is a good read, as it recounts his experiences, from living at the London Zoo, to the glamour of Hollywood, and back. It is the history of a great event from a very personal perspective.

No comments about In a Bosnian Trench: A Wartime Memoir of a Muslim Bosnian Soldier.

3 comments about OLIVER CROMWELL: SOLDIER: The Military Life of a Revolutionary at War.

1. This is an excellent analysis of Cromwell's life and development as a soldier. And, only one of a few ever done (Frank Kitson's being one of the others -- it too is excellent).
   
   The title says it all though, it is the Military Life of a Revolutionary at War, not a general biography.
   
   Highly recommended.



2. If you're looking for a good biography of Oliver Cromwell, this isn't the book for you. Marshall's description of 17th century battle techniques and his empirical analysis of Cromwell's battles are excellent. But for those (like me) who purchased the book to learn more about the man and his subsequent impact on England and English history, look elsewhere. Mr. Marshall's effort here is quite focused, and a bit more than dry in its literary flair.



3. Cromwell has been mostly remembered for his politics. Politics that made him Lord-Protector of England. But before he was Lord-Protector, he was a soldier and general. This book details Cromwell's life as a self taught soldier and describes his campaigns in some detail.
   This book is for any serious students of Cromwell or of Early Modern warfare.

5 comments about Tamerlane: The Ultimate Warrior.

1. I have read this book before several years ago. It is the type of book that needs rereading every so often. The author Roy Stier is my second cousin and he is an excellent writer.



2. As the first book I read on Timur, this one did the trick in that it familiarized me with the subject and carried me through the entire story.

   It's a bit disjointed and following the man around Central Asia could have been served better with more and better maps. Finally, I would have liked some more historical context and maybe even a little character development.

   Nonetheless, you can carry the paperback around with you and read it in your odd moments; and you will be happy to have done so if you are just starting out to learn about the origins of Samarkand.




3. The story of Tamerlane (Timur - Leng) available to the English speaking world has dealt mostly with his exploits. Translations of reports of his military prowness were made from those affected by the results of his conquests. Contemoraneous reports were tainted by terror or exultation, depending upon how the writer fared in the battles.

   It was left to Marlowe to reveal the character of the man, from a distance of time and culture, in his plays called "Tamburlaine." Unfortunately, although the psychological insight was telling, many of the facts were wrong. Even Gibbon gave his character less attention than this world conqueror or "Scourge of God" deserved.

   We are fortunate to have on hand the dedicated work of Roy Stier, whose meticulous research of valuble original texts, permits the reader to form his own conclusions.




4. This novelized biography goes a long way to recover the mysterious--and maligned--figure of this Mongol warrior. Drawing upon sources not readily available (and not translated from the Russian)as well as the considerable holdings of the British Library, Stier offers a historical reconstruction of this mighty figure in much the same way that the bust of Tamerlane that appears as the frontispiece has been forensically reconstructed. A pleasure for the afficionado.



5. Written much like a historical novel, the book tells a gripping story of this warrior's life and personality. The included map is helpful, but I enjoyed matching up modern large scale maps of the area by identifying the modern names for the historical places. More names on the map might be helpful, though it might make the map harder to read.

3 comments about Colt Terry, Green Beret (Texas a & M University Military History Series).

1. As someone who has never served in the armed services, this well-researched biography of Colt Terry, a person I had never heard of before, certainly paints a vivid picture of the chaos that accompanies war. The Special Forces, have gotten much greater attention in modern times in Afganistan and Iraq, yet this book doesn't concentrate on the formation of the Green Berets, rather its focus is on a single individual and his life as it relates to the institution. Unusual in the sense that it is easy-to-read, as much as the subject matter is heavy and sometimes disturbing. Well worth it for the lay reader as well as the military historian.



2. As an avid reader of history, I found this to be a very good start for Mr. Patton. He brings to life a real american hero focusing on both the positive and the negatives of his life. Colt Terry was definitely a hero, serving his country in multiple wars and spending five years under fire. His story needed telling and if you enjoy and learn from history, you will enjoy learning about him.
   
   Mr. Patton does a great job helping the reader understand life in the Korean conflict as well as Vietnam. My only critique is that i would have enjoyed more detail and this book should probably have been a bit longer as a result.
   
   In conclusion, if you have enjoyed Ambrose then this book should also be sitting on your shelves.



3. Colt Terry is my uncle, and I grew up hearing most of the stories in this book. If you want to know almost first hand what our soldiers were doing in most of the overses conflicts, police actions and wars; then this is the book for you. Colt recalls with great detail people, places, and times where he was in great danger and political turmoil.
   He truely is a real modern day hero and I hope that many of our service men and women read this book. I think that it teaches us that people in our military do sacrifice a lot of their lives for our freedom and this book shows what it was like to fight for that freedom.
   
   You can read this book story by story or through its entirety and never get tired of it!
   
   Also, Colt Terry died in September of 2005. His obiturary is in the Orlando Sentinal if you would like to read more of what his life was like.

5 comments about The Last Great Ace : The Life of Major Thomas B. McGuire, Jr..

1. I was attracted to this book firstly because of the surname (you never know who might be a relative) and the subject as an ex-airforce pilot who flew P51 Mustangs. The author has a lot to say about the negative history of Tommy McGuire and attempts to distance himself from that and be objective. Unfortunately Charles Martin is never-the-less writing about a home town hero and it shows. The truth can hurt but not therefore to be suppressed; heroes mostly have feet of clay somewhere and here the first half is painfully boring! McGuire is a unpreposessing personality: liked by some but certainly not liked by others. His tight formation mania for example would horrify other tacticians going back to the Spanish Civil War (or is he badly reported?). However, you can assess him for yourself. The politics of "acedom" come through clearly (and not confined to the Pacific or USAF) but one wonders how many died in the pursuit of the cult of the individual. McGuire's last flight is well discussed but in the end the book makes clear he flew often well beyond structural and flight limitation of the aircraft - and it finally bit him. But then, how correct is the text when the author gives the most appallingly inaccurate discription of a spin in a training aircraft - pure fantasy (I speak as a flying instructor). I have read practically every western fighter pilot's autobiograph/biography written - this is the bottom of the pile. Interesting and that is about all. And appalling quality photos.



2. I have been a student of aviation history since my childhood. Major Tom McGuire was one of my boyhood heroes and one of the aces I enjoyed learning about. To my knowledge this is the first biography dedicated to McGuire. Let me say that Mr. Martin has done a terriffic job with his book. It is well documented and paints a wonderful picture of McGuire's rather complex personality.

   "Mac" doesn't live up to the cliched image of ace at all. He was no poor child growing up hunting in the hills or in the plains. Rather, he came from a well to do family and was something of a "geek" in school. He didn't play football, he played the clarinet.

   Mr. Martin does a good job of presenting his facts and his documentation and he draws conclusions where appropriate. He finally introduces the world to Marilynn, McGuire's wife and the inspiration for his airplanes to be named "PUDGY". For the record, she wasn't. The book goes into some detail explaining the so called "ace race" between McGuire and Bong (it was perhaps a bit overstated) as well as McGuire's last flight (there was a reason to hold onto those drop tanks).

   If you have ever had any interest in the life of Tom McGuire let me recommend The Last Great Ace to you. My impression about McGuire personally is that I am not sure I would have been friends with him, but I sure would've wanted him leading me into combat. Enjoy.




3. I am a flier and I find this to be one of the finest books about flying I have ever read. McGuire was a great flier and a daredevil, but also a leader of men. Big surprise: he was raised by his mother and grandmother--no father in the home. He learned much of his leadership skills from ROTC at Ga. Tech. These factors go against some of our commonly held ideas about where heroes come from. This story would make a great movie. I've corresponded with the author and have found that McGuire will soon be the subject of a Legends of Airpower program on PBS.



4. There is only one word to describe this book; TREMENDOUS! Author Charles A. Martin has written a masterpiece of aviation history. In this book, the reader is given insight into the life of Major Thomas B. McGuire, Jr. who would end up as America's number two all-time ace with thirty eight confirmed (and many more unconfirmed) victories. This book does a superior job of giving the reader insight into McGuire's life. The first half of the book deals with McGuire from a young age until he entered flight training. Some of the other reviewers of this book thought that the first half was a waste; I highly disagree. Mr. Martin gives us insight into Tommy's youth and his upbringing, which in the end ultimately resulted in the kind of pilot and leader of men he turned out to be. His upbringing had a major impact on the type of commander he was, and I applaud Mr. Martin for including the early years of McGuire's life. Too often, biographers just concentrate on a specific area of a person's life. I'm glad that I found out what type of person Tommy McGuire was when he was younger. It's easy to see from his childhood how he grew to become such an effective leader.

   The second half of the book deals with the actual combat life of Tommy. From August 1943 until his untimely death on January 7, 1945, Major McGuire compiled a record which most fighter pilots only dream about. He shot down thirty eight enemy aircraft; second only to his rival and friend Dick Bong's forty. He also grew to be a highly respected leader, tactician, teacher, and friend. Tommy was a fiery individual in combat, but he was a true friend to his comrades in every sense of the word and he always looked out for the well-being of everyone in his squadron.

   I've read dozens of books about the Pacific war, but this book rates as one of my all-time favorites. This is a true classic of aviation history. Read it and discover the life of a true American hero.




5. Charles Martin has written the definitive account of the life of Tommy McGuire, one of America's greatest fighter aces. It is fascinating, exciting and instructive. The background information that Martin gives us about McGuire makes us privy to the motivation and inspiration that produced America's finest. I have read most of the books on WWII fighter pilots and find "The Last Great Ace" to be one of the best if not the best.

   Max D. Isaacson