No comments about Goodbye, Darkness.

2 comments about The Lost Civil War Diaries, The Diaries of Corporal Timothy J. Regan.

1. From: "Dennis J Francis"
   Date: Sat, 2 Jul 2005 00:19:34 -0400
   
   The Lost Civil War Diaries: The Diaries of Corporal Timothy J. Regan, edited by David C. Newton & Kenneth J. Pluskat, Trafford Pub., Victoria BC, 2003, 341pp.
   
   I recently stumbled on this book quite by accident. Was doing some research on the 9th MA during the early 1900s, and came across mention of it while doing a Google search. It's a volume that was well worth getting.
   
   Irish-born Timothy Regan was about 28 when he began his diary on 15 April, 1861, just after hostilities opened and just before enlisting in Co. E, 13th MA Infantry, which was soon redesignated as the 9th MA. He served with the 9th throughout its time of service, mustering out with the regiment in June
   1864. Along the way, in 1862 he spent some time as a POW before being exchanged, in late 1863 he goes to sick call and winds up a virtual prisoner of hospital bureaucracy , and even got involved in a war time romance. Things were much different then -it took over two years before he's allowed to call his girlfriend by her first name, a privilege he makes a big deal of in his diary (he underlined the entry).
   
   Regan was very faithful about keeping his wartime diary up. Even while he was a POW he managed to keep a record for later inclusion. Interspersed throughout the diary are poems, songs, proverbs, stories and news items (including the usual "rumors and propaganda" common to military life).
   
   After he musters out and the war ends, there's progressively less mention of personal experiences; eventually the diaries are entirely a report of the day's news from the local scene to the international. Some entries are merely headlines, while at other times he goes into some detail. Quite a number of entries concern Fenian activities, but I didn't see any mention that he was ever personally involved with them. He called it quits with the diary at the close of 1874, but he later made an additional entry on 10 Mar, 1876.
   
   After he died in 1897, the diaries lay unknown in a trunk until the 1950s. Even after they were discovered, Regan wasn't ID'd as the author until 1998 and not much use was made of them in the meantime. Kudos to the editors for making them available.
   
   Unfortunately, very little biographical info is given beyond a few basic stats. Don't know for sure but maybe there's just not much of a paper trail to reconstruct his life - he evidently left no survivors, I didn't see him in the pension index at Ancestry, and I'm not sure if any census entries are him.
   
   The editors have a website which includes some excerpts along with the artwork contained in the original diaries but not reproduced for the publication. Hey, check it out.
   
   Dennis



2. I am forwarding my comments on the above title Lost Civil War Diaries.What a Find!I agree wholeheartely that they are Civil War artifacts since they go into such depth of feelings,facts during the Civil War and for a period thereafter.

   I must admit I am not one that cares for poetry as it slows one down,but,once I realized how it too portrayed what was going on during that period,I began to appreciate it.

   Corporal Timothy J. Regan seemed like a man of great moral character.He is someone you would want on your side in a battle or as a friend.Through the poetry I see a strong trend of references to death,love and sadness.His love of this Country and the Union cause is apparent.

   I believe Menta loved him,regardless of the differences.It is sad how he lost her in the end.It is very apparent as one reads the diaries that he had a strong sense of right is right and that is it.

   I found the account of John Wilkes Booth very interesting Considering what has occurred in other assassinations in our Country this revelation is quite possible

   IT IS A RARE FIND AND A TRUE TREASURE!! I enjoyed reading the diaeies immensely

   Sincerely yours
   Wallace Daggett

No comments about The Colored Cadet at West Point: Autobiography of Lieutenant Henry Ossian Flipper, U. S. A., First Graduate of Color from the U. S. Military Academy (Blacks in the American West).

2 comments about A Question of Honour: The Life Of Lieutenant General Valentine Baker Pasha.

1. This fascinating little book tells the life of Valentine Baker, once British General but exiled into the service of the Turkish and Egyptian governments. The story of Baker's family (his brother Samual was a famous African explorer) and his own personal travails is told against a backdrop of life in the British Army from the Crimea to Khartoum. Readers of other works on the individual battles will the find the whole story told here with a unique sense of continuity. The various adventures of British forces in the Crimea, Turkey and Egypt were not unrelated events but part of a foreign policy as complex and tortured as our own today.
   Baker's own personal story is also fascinating, and his interaction with other famous figures of the time (the Prince of Wales, General Wolseley, Gordon, Gladstone, etc.) shows them in a very revealing light. Their relationship with Baker reveals their personal side, something lacking in most history books.
   The only unfortunate thing about the book is that the author does not identify her relationship with the Baker family. One assumes she is somehow related to the subject of the book, based on it's dedication to her husband "Valentine Edward Baker". It would help to put the tale in perspective if we knew a bit more about her point of view.



2. the authour appears to be a distant relative of the subject of this book. I gave the book four stars, not because of any real "depth" to the biography, but solely because of the relative dearth of biographies of this ill-served man, Valentine Baker. for a general outline of valentine baker's life, this is a good read. however, one hopes that someone will do some serious research into the man's life and write the definitive biography of a sad, unsung hero of the late 1800s.

No comments about War Memoirs 1917 -- 1919.

1 comments about Pacified Zone.

1. This book is easy reading.
   
   Suffern does a good job describing the military experience from boot camp, through Officer Candidate School, through first Vietnam experiences. He had me laughing and saying, "yep, I remember that." Because he was an officer, he's able to give the reader a glimpse into Vietnam from a "manager's" view point. He was too kind in describing his fustration with "leadership."
   
   Gary Suffern was my platoon leader for about 7 months during my first tour in Vietnam. He speaks the truth about events of Bravo Company of the 19th Combat Engineer Battalion. Yet, he tells only part of the story.
   
   This is a good read for any student of Vietnam.

5 comments about A Hero Among Heroes: Jimmie Dyess and the 4th Marine Division.

1. You've got to be kidding! I have not read the book, only the reviews; but I saved a dog once and no one is writing a book about me.
   Alyce Holden



2. Hero is a term used all too casually in our contemporary American society. Sports figures, entertainers, and political leaders are often referred to as 'heroes,' in the popular media. However, the title of 'hero' is earned only by an exceptional display of courage and often is accompanied by great personal sacrifice. Perry Smith delivers a powerful story of why Jimmie Dyess should be remembered as "A Hero Among Heroes." As Samuel Johnson wrote, "It matters not how a man dies, but how he lives." "A Hero Among Heroes," is the story of how Jimmie Dyess lived and what led this man to accomplish such extraordinary feats of heroism.

   Perry Smith dissects the life of his father-in-law to deliver an insightful chronical of the life of an exceptional man. What compelled Jimmie Dyess to risk his life, again and again, first as a college student and then later as a U.S. Marine?

   No one could definitively answer that question, but Perry Smith allows us to look deeply into the life of Dyess and provides us with ample clues as to why he behaved so heroically. The qualities he developed in the crucible of the Great Depression growing up in Augusta, Georgia, and the leadership skills he was to hone in military service almost seem to have compelled Dyess to exhibit exceptional gallantry.

   Perry Smith vividly tells the story of why Jimmie Dyess was a true hero; a man whose deeds are worthy of being honored and more importantly, being remembered.




3. A warm family story of a real hero with a rich context that lets the reader look at America before and during WW II. Both action and insight. Also a nice exploration of the essence of courage. Too bad there aren't more of such writings to remind us of past extraordinary sacrifice and its relevance to 1999 America. A great book for 4th of July reading!



4. A Hero Among Heroes is a "must read". The story of Jimmie Dyess is truly facinating. General Smith's latest book is sure to appeal to a very wide range of readers' interests. Background information on the Carnegie Medal and the Medal of Honor is well presented and most informative. Those interested in the history of Augusta, Georgia will find Smith's view of Augusta, during the two decades leading up to World War II, well worth reading.



5. Sadly, America today seems completely bereft of heroes. Perry Smith has undertaken a labor of love to bring to the public eye the story of his father-in-law, Jimmie Dyess, a man he never met. Written primarily for his mother-in-law and his wife, Smith tells the story of a true hero, the only person ever to win both the Carnegie Medal and the Congressional Medal of Honor. Clearly, Jimmie Dyess was a man of honor, courage, and conviction.

   In telling the Dyess story, Smith also provides background and history of Andrew Carnegie and the Carnegia Medal. This medal is only awarded to "one, who at the risk of his own life, saves or attempts to save the life of a fellow man. There must be conclusive evidence that the person perfoming the act voluntarily risked his own life to an extraordinary degree in saving or attempting to save the life of another person, or voluntarily scarificed himself in a heroic manner for the benefit of others. The act of rescue must be one in which no direct family relationship or other full measure of responsibility exists between the rescuer and the recued. The act must have been performed in the United States, Canada or the waters thereof and must be brought to the attention of the Commission within two years of the date of the rescue."

   Dyess received the Carnegie Medal in 1929 for saving two women on July 13, 1928, who would have surely drowned in the Atlantic ocean. Sixteen years after saving those two women, Dyess's widow, Connor Cleckley Dyess, received the Medal of Honor posthumously for the heroic actions of her husband for his actions in leading fellow Marines in combat in February 1944 during the Roi Namur campaign against well-trained, entrenched Japanese forces.

   By telling the Dyess story, Smith also weaves the history of the times. The Depression Years are described, as well as the history of the Marine Corps. Moreover, he also provides a perspective and comparison of the two awards for heroism. The historical value of the book alone is worth the cost of the book.

   Should all Americans, both young and old, read this book? Absolutely! It describes the deep-seated values of a man who epitomized courage in the face of danger, honesty, integrity, and natural leadership. Parents would do well to have their children emulate the personal and professional characteristics of Jimmie Dyess. He is a true American hero!

No comments about Shurik: A True Story of the Siege of Leningrad.

5 comments about Into the Green: A Reconnaissance by Fire.

1. This short read was truly worth the time. I finally found a book that didn't make me feel guilty about our involvement in Vietnam. The reality of war was quite evident in the author's retelling of his experiences in the Vietnam War. He did not hesitate to describe the tragedy and horror, but was equally proud and unapologetic for his role in a cause he thought worthwhile and winnable if not for certain dishonorable types such as reporters (and politicians).



2. War is war. The one difference between one war and the next are the people that are involved in them. The experiences during any one war are going to be largely the same, because they involve the same boundries, but that should in no way diminish the individual efforts and experiences of any one man who lives through a war. What Cherokee does in this book is remind us of the sobering realities of war (something the news media and Hollywood have done a good job of desensitizing us to), by digging deeply and passionately into his personal well of memories and experiences of his war. If you want to better understand the trials and tribulations that all men and women who engage in war endure, then I suggest reading this book, and coming to a better understanding of war.



3. I'm not sure what the reviewer 'sctty' read, but it wasn't this book. The back flap says McDonald spent time in Vietnam, but doesn't say how long, and in the last story no where does it say his buddy was killed in '69. Also, I think 'sctty' missed the inference. When McDonald made the comment in the end that he and his buddy were 19, I believe he meant that's how old they were when they joined up, which would make sense, being one year out of high school. But enough on that.
   Read this book. Taste it, feel it, hear it. It is not, as has been said, a typical chronological history of a soldiers time in combat. But it is a collection of the thoughts, images, feelings he was left with. As one other reviewer said, you don't turn through most of these stories. McDonald very effectively writes in such a way that you are left trying to catch your breath, either from sheer anger, sorrow, or laughter. It's a rollercoaster of emotions that is sure to please. I know I've enjoyed it quite a bit.
   A heartfelt thanks to McDonald and all the other military veterans past and present who have served this great country. We owe them more than we can ever possibly hope to repay.



4. It seems the book was written in haste?. Two instances of this that easily come to mind are these: On the back flap (as well as in the editorial reviews here) it states that the author spent three years as an FO in Vietnam. According to the author (in the book)he spent three years in the Army and 11 months as an FO in Vietnam.

   Secondly, In the last story he talks about his friend that was killed in 1969 and reflecting on their youth at the funeral that they were both only 19. But in the beginning of the book he says he joined the service one year out of high school in 1966 and did three years. The numbers don't match.

   Things like this along with every poular cliche associated with the Vietnam experience being included in the book lead me to believe that this book is perhaps a non-fiction intertwined with a creatively abstract writers flare.

   It leaves you quite unable to take it to heart.




5. Into the Green by Cherokee Paul McDonald is a great book. Into the Green is filled with action, suspense,and interesting clues as to what a soldiers life is like. This book is perfect for males like myself who require some action, and lude humor to keep them tied to a book. Not only does the book portray an accurate picture of what soldiers experienced during the Vietnam war,it also does so in a way that will make you feel as if you were there. McDonald's short, yet deep chapters are filled with emotions like fear, and anger, which are hard to find by simply reading a book, but he pulls it off. McDonald uses impressive imagery when describing the lush jungles of Vietnam. Cherokee Paul McDonald's struggle through the jungles of Vietnam is a rough awakening to the effect war has on a soldier. Overall this a very well written, interesting novel which will keep you hooked the whole way. I highly reccomend this book whether you are an avid war reader, or have never read a book about war.

1 comments about Most Decorated Soldier in World War II: Matt Urban.

1. Somewhere in the pages of this paperback book is a story, but Robert Boven is not the person to be telling it. This is suppose to be the story of the most decorated soldier in WWII, told by Mr. Robert W. Boven who was suppose to have served in Europe in this same War. When the author refers to "Patton Tanks" coming in at the end of the War to take on the better armored German Tanks, the German "Long Tom" artillery, and planes going down because of "motor failure" (how about the word "engine"), he lost too many points with this historian. In his credits he list his 10 years of interviews and travels with Matt Urban, yet there is fewer than 40 words in quotes throughout the book, and 35 of those are on page 89. Save your money folks, this poor quality item should serve as an example on how to not write a book. The author's credits show him as a writer of travelogues, that must be his forte because writing history certainly is not.