5 comments about Baby of Bataan: Memoir of a 14 Year Old Soldier in World War II.

1. This is a well written memoir. The author's description of army life in pre war Manila is outstanding.



2. Once in a while, a book like this comes along. Do not miss this one. I tried to remember back when I was fourteen and what I was doing. wow! This is a story of a fourteen year old that put himself into the adult world of the military. It tells of his problems as a new recruit, his first taste of war, a chilling account of him as a POW, and even a story of the love of a young girl. This book has everything. I just wish I had the opportunity to shake Joseph Quitman Johnson's hand. Any teenager facing obstacles in his life should be given this book as a gift. I truly believe it could change their lives. Actually, it might have changed mine. My grandchildren will have a copy when they are old enough to understand.



3. I've read probably 15-20 books on the subject of POWs held by the Japanese - many of them written by the men themselves - this is one of the best - it's well written, considering it's done by a "non-professional" (some are barely readable) - "Baby of Bataan" is hard to put down as you travel with young Joe Johnson as he acts just the way a 15 year old would - thinks he knows it all and doesn't want to follow directions - thinks he all grown up when he runs away and lies to join the army - it doesn't take long for him to regret his decision but he stands up and acts like a man, does his job with the army as the U.S. tries to defend the Philippines then sees his best friends die and learns to survive as a POW - this is a book that every 16 year old in America should read - to learn why they have the privilege of living in this country as a free citizen -



4. Baby Of Bataan: Memoir Of A 14 Year Old Soldier In World War II the true story of a young man who, having grown up in the Depression with a broken family, lied to an Army recruiter to enlist at age 14. At age 16 he became a prisoner of war of the Japanese, forced to endure horrific conditions and nearly killed by his captors. Baby Of Bataan is a tale of survival, of being witness to death by overwork, slow starvation, maltreatment and worse, but also of the strong side of the spirit capable of weathering years of adversity while remaining fully human. Very highly recommended reading.



5. I have read the book "Baby of Bataan" and would recommend it highly. Being a Viet Nam veteran I have a natural interest in this type of genre. The "Baby of Bataan" is an exceptional work. Mr Johnson first lets you get to know him, and his life, as a youngster before taking you on the "journey of a life time". He spares you graphic details of the horror of war and yet you get a full understanding of what he endured.

   The veterans of WWII saved to world. This work is a demonstration of the unselfish bravery these individuals had to be a part of world history. Buy this book to honor Mr. Johnson's sacrifice, read this book to understand the dynamics of war, pass this book on to younger family members to read, so we as a nation, we don't forget our true heros, and take a WWII veteran to lunch to say thank you!

5 comments about Five Years, Four Fronts: A German Officer's World War II Combat Memoir.

1. This was indeed a brief view of the war by a German officer's point of view. Grossjohann served in the Polish, French, and Russian invasions and fought American troops on the Western front. He states that the German Army had very capable officers with dedicated soldiers. However the quantity of enemy never disappeared, and as casualties mounted, fewer and fewer officers were available to command the lesser number of soldiers. It was surprising that Grossjohann was in an officer's training course at the end of the war, when these soldiers were so desparately needed at the front.
   
   The stories in this book never caught my imagination. They relate the story of an officer in an infantry division fighting both a terrible enemy and bureaucracy. In fact, much of the book relates a few experiences plus his disgust at his fellow officers. This is probably the experience of most German officers in the war. However, this was not page flipping material. An OK read.



2. There are any number of German memoirs from World War II. Most of them involve a German soldier who served with some storied unit (Grossdeutschland Panzer Division, SS, etc.) and fought in numerous campaigns, and somehow survived. This book is different: the author served five years with several different infantry divisions, and had a pretty mundane career, starting out a senior NCO and being promoted ultimately as far as Major. His superiors apparently thought well of him, because he was taking a class in how to command a regiment when the war ended, but his rise wasn't that meteoric, either. The title of the book is a bit deceptive: the author served only briefly in Poland and France, did two tours in Russia (separated when he got wounded, to end the first tour) and then fought out most of the rest of the war in Southern France and Germany.
   
   The interesting part, at least as far as I was concerned, involved how mundane and average his experience was. He fought with some skill, apparently, but wasn't a great hero or anything, and didn't win any major battles. The largest weakness of the book is the author's apparent lack of any notes or references from his service in the war. This means that on a couple of occasions (especially in Russian) he dismisses weeks of combat with a vague reference to "heavy fighting" instead of giving you any details.
   
   For what it's worth, this is a good book. If you're looking for something about the rest of the German army, other than the glamor units, this is probably something you should look into.



3. The author made a complete hash of his story. His combat narratives are along the line of the Russian shelled the town all night and leveled everything but we held on. Or the Russians shelled the bridgehead all night and we weren't able to hold on. Riveting stuff. The author also takes time out to make sure you know he is quite the ladies may but with simple minded language more fitting for a [...]girl's diary. The little secret of the book is the author didn't see that much action. He basically missed Poland, served a short uneventful tour in Russia then a long tour with a training unit in occupied France, then back for a tour in Russia then back to Southern France before the invasion. The US pushed his unit out of France in short order and the war ended. Oh yes we did that because we had so much equipment and that made up for the fact our troops weren't very good. The excuses of a real loser. Give this a pass, it has no value either as history or autobiography.



4. An incredible book that reveals the humanity of the 'enemy'.It makes the Germans humans, who also had feelings and fears just the same as their Allied counterparts.Traditionally, growing up in an Allied country one is tought that the Germans were all evil personified. This book gives insight to the fact that the German soldier was just an ordinary human being, being sent into battle to fight a politicians war.



5. An interesting and easy to read first person perspective from a former German officer. Grossjohann enlisted in the late 1920s and finished the war in 1945 as a major. It provides insight into what it was like to fight at the tactical level in Poland, the Russian Front, and the west. He fought against the Poles (limited action), the Russians (quite a bit), the Americans, and the French. Provides insight into the steadily decreasing capabilities of German units as the war progressed.
   
   Unfortunately the book is a bit disjointed as it jumps from experience to experience, with the odd sidebar thrown in. Fortunately there is an attempt to put Grossjohann's battles into the larger picture so the reader has some context.

5 comments about Grant and Lee: A Study in Personality and Generalship.

1. There are so many books on this subject that it's easy to start a fight from any point of view. Fuller is writing from across the Atlantic, and I believe that has given him a perspective that makes for a clear study of the two men. Fuller makes good use of Freemantle's observations from the latter's time in the Confederacy, extending observations into well reasoned analysis. This one is worth reading.



2. Grant and Lee, A Study in Personality and Generalship, published in 1932, compares quite favorably in its detailed research and readability with works by modern writers and historians like Shelby Foote, James M. McPherson, Gary W. Gallagher, and Stephen W. Sears. This work by Major General J. F. C. Fuller is notable for directly challenging the conventional wisdom that Grant was little more than a "butcher" and that his eventual success was almost entirely due to the North's larger population and more abundant resources. In Fuller's view Grant was not only the greatest general of the Civil War, but ranks among the greatest strategists of any age. Fuller generated even more controversy with his contention that Robert E. Lee in several respects had major failings as a military leader.
   
   Controversial or not, Major General J. F. C. Fuller was no ordinary soldier writing about the Civil War. Fuller was a highly respected British military strategist and noted author. In the 1920s he collaborated with B. H. Liddell Hart in developing new ideas for the mechanization of armies. Ironically, their recommendations were more readily adopted in Germany than in Britain, France, or the U.S.
   
   Grant and Lee, A Study in Personality and Generalship, is a relatively short book, around 300 pages. Fuller writes with clarity and precision. He makes careful use of firsthand accounts; he paid particular attention to opinions of staff officers, as men in these roles were likely to have gained greater insight into the personalities of Grant and Lee. He also utilized the opinions of foreign witnesses of the war, like Colonel Fremantle, as a check on insiders' observations. His sources were identified through extensive end notes as he realized that his findings would be controversial. He includes statistics on battle losses to illustrate that the persistent belief that Grant's losses were abnormally high is simply a myth, and that Lee's percentage losses were actually higher.
   
   There are many exceptionally good books on the Civil War, but there are few that are as readable as Fuller's Grant and Lee, and offer such a fresh viewpoint (albeit, now nearly 75 years old, but one that remains stimulating and thought provoking). Grant and Lee, A Study in Personality and Generalship, is available in a reprint edition (1982) by Indiana University Press. Five stars.



3. Whatever your view of Robert E. Lee and U.S. Grant, Fuller's book will challenge you to think long and hard about your beliefs concerning both generals.
   
   As a Southerner, I have to admit that Fuller makes a compelling case for Grant being the better general between the two. One instance is where he confronts the idea that Grant was a butcher because of the heavy casualties during the Wilderness-Spotsylvania Campaign. While Grant indeed suffered the heavier losses, the percentage of losses was acutally lower than Lee. In fact, this was a common occurence in many battles in which Grant commanded.
   
   The book's contents are as follows:
   
   1. The Two Causes - the two nations, presidents, armies and other North/South factors both generals had to operate within.
   2. The Personality of Grant - modesty, common sense, courage.
   3. The Personality of Lee - humility, tact, audacity.
   4. The Generalship of Grant and Lee, 1861-1862 - description of the battles fought by both generals during both years (Shiloh, Fort Donelson, Antietam, Fredericksburg, etc).
   5. The Generalship of Grant and Lee, 1863 - Vicksburg, Gettsyburg, Chattanooga, Chancellorsville.
   6. The Generalship of Grant and Lee, 1864-1864 - Spotsylvania, Wilderness, Cold Harbor, Petersburg, Appamattox.
   7. The Two Generals - comparison and contrast between their two styles and personalities.
   
   One other interesting point mentioned by Fuller was perhaps making the Confederate capital in Atlanta instead of Richmond. I have often thought how such a move would have affected the fighting in Virginia, Georgia, and my home state of North Carolina. Something interesting to ponder!
   
   I highly recommend the book. Read and enjoy.



4. If you read the introduction to this book, you will understand that Fuller has set out to write a brief but direct book on the Generalship capabilities of Grant and Lee. In the introduction, Fuller notes that Henderson's classic book on Jackson is more a romantic study than one that is an objective view. He goes further to say that a full study of Jackson gives a different appreciation. A respect for his maneuvering and desire to fight but also his idiosyncrasies and secrecy that Fuller indicates would cause one to question Jackson's sanity. With that introduction, you are prepared for the author's blunt assessment of both Generals. The book is brief concentrating more on strategy than just battlefield tactics. He concentrates on the critical battles of the war and the general effect the war has as a whole not just the eastern theater. In Lee, he notes that he was not a grand strategist but one that fought with intuition. As a General, he excelled on fighting on the defensive as showed in the final campaign. However, Lee preferred fighting aggressively and his errors show at Gettysburg and Malvern Hill. In the case of Chancellorsville, Fuller notes that Lee should have used the wilderness more often as a greater asset for defensive maneuvers instead of coming out in the open into battle. That like a spider, he should have waited for opportunities to attack and withdrawal with the protection of cover. He further indicates that Lee had a poor operating staff and his administration impaired supply and clarity of orders as all were given verbally and minimally. Grant on the other hand was a former quartermaster, was well organized and had a global plan of the war hence his simultaneous operations with the western theater and his multiple prong attacks in the east. Fuller notes that at first his objective was to follow Lee and not concentrate on the Richmond. But later he changed to maneuver so that Lee had to react to him as opposed to the reverse. Grant was often accused of having little imagination but as Fuller notes, he did not have the imagination to inflate numbers that were against him (McClellan) but he was rational in knowing that the Confederates had limited manpower. Through his intuition, Lee had success against the earlier Union generals but as Fuller points out, he could not fathom Grant.
   
   The book is critical of both; however, as an overall commander, Grant comes across as much more able and Lee a totally different commander highly capable on the defensive but not as much a hands on commander as most would previously think. Both men are stripped bare; the author offers a unique unbiased view of the war without the human frailty of sentiment.



5. This is a small book, but don't judge it by its size. It is a great little book. Grant & Lee, with such different backgrounds, lead two great armies in the strangest of times. In the end, with no grudge, the two men get to know and respect each other. But the story of how these men fought & how they thought so similarly in the battlefield and how they were both so noble and courageous help show that two men that could not have been more dissimilar, ended up being so alike serving their causes. I highly recommend this book. Very entertaining, and very educational.

No comments about Log Book: A Pilot's Life.

5 comments about Twice Armed: An American Soldier's Battle for Hearts and Minds in Iraq.

1. You don't hear about what Alan King does in the media. It's not sexy and doesn't involve divisions of our boys getting blown up. But this text is a phenomenal example of the complexity and difficulty of the ground level diplomacy that is required to build a nation as fractious as Iraq.
   
   Despite the numerous difficulties, King managed to establish important relationships with religious and sectarian leaders at all levels. His repoir with the local leaders was so great that many of the "Most Wanted" list walked into his office and surrendered. The effort in Iraq was deeply affected by his presence. - Semper Fi



2. Lt. Col King is clearly a dedicated and studious person. Would there were more like him in the US miliary.
   He has a good story to tell and he tells it clearly and simply. I wish him well in his future endeavours.



3. There have been many books written about the war and the present situation in Iraq by soldiers, reporters and politicians but author R. Alan King gives us an insider view that is seldom, if ever, reported. His memoir "Twice Armed: An American Soldier's Battle for Hearts and Minds in Iraq" takes the reader on a personal journey that opens up questions about what happened in Iraq and what is going on now. He looks at what went wrong, what worked and also points out what we should do in order to win the hearts and minds of those in Iraq.
   
   Seldom has there been such a riveting and insightful memoir that captures history right off the front pages of recent history. This book gives us a different view then what we have been getting from the TV or the newspapers or even from the White House. His dealings with local people show a sensitive social and religious tolerance that makes for good diplomacy and good soldiering. Men like King are certainly not common in the ranks. They should be treated as rare and valuable government assets but too often they are ignored. It amazes me that our leadership chooses to ignore such men and continues to pursue policies and actions based on their limited blinded understandings of the real world.
   
   It gives me some hope that perhaps there are other military minds out there who are making a difference. My fear is that we have lost the righteous momentum for solving the huge problems in Iraq and now are scrambling for any escape from this dangerous arena.
   
   I enjoyed reading Lieutenant Colonel King's accounting of his experiences in Iraq and his views on the situation there. I highly recommend his book for all American's to read. They might come away with a much broader and knowledgeable view of what is going on in Iraq and perhaps why things are as they are. This book deserves the MWSA"s top book rating of FIVE STARS! A MUST READ BOOK!



4. Lt Col King is not your typical soldier. He and the unit he led, the 422nd Civil Affairs Battalion, occupy an odd place in the military. Part of the special forces but focused more on dealing with a civilian population than combatants, civil affairs units don't always get the respect they deserve in the Army. More often than not, they come from the reserves. Yet, in today's war on terror, the civil affairs units are more critical to victory than firepower-laden infantry or armored battalions. King clearly respected the Iraqi people, their culture, their history, and their challenges as a society. It made him more effective as a leader of his unit and as an advocate for those Iraqis who saw the invasion as an opportunity to build a better future for their country. Twice Armed is thoughftul, fast-paced, and provides the kind of perspective that has been missing in much of the debate over Operation Iraqi Freedom.
   
   Lt Col King isn't Ernie Pyle, but he does have his moments. His description of an ambush and feelings about losing an Iraqi bodyguard, Fallah, is heartfelt and moving. It hits you where you live, which is more than can be said about a lot of memoirs coming out of Iraq. Nevertheless, the book is choppy and he often doesn't provide the context that would help the reader understand what he's doing and why. Twice Armed also needed a better editor and proofreader. Typos are understandable from a small publisher, but they're frequent enough to become distracting.
   
   That said, Lt Col King is one of those honest-to-goodness soldiers who makes you proud of your military, proud of your country, and angry that more people don't share his understanding of the challenges before us or his commitment to overcoming them. Twice Armed won't win him any writing awards; he'll have to settle for being a great American in the truest sense of the word. Either way, we owe him a debt of gratitude for writing the book, relating his experiences, and sharing his thoughts. Read it. You'll be pleasantly surprised.
   
   Also worth reading: Waging Peace by Rob Schultheis, a writer who embedded with a Civil Affairs Team from the 425th Civil affairs Battalion.



5. TWICE ARMED: AN AMERICAN SOLDIER'S BATTLE FOR HEARTS AND MINDS IN IRAQ is for any American reader who would understand, from an insider's perspective, the magnitude of the military and social fighting taking place in modern Iraq. Author King is a war fighter and soldier who negotiated with numerous sheiks and clerics, earning their trust. He captured or accepted the surrender of nearly a dozen of the most-wanted Iraqi personalities from Saddam's regime, and yet was willing to practice the customs of the region so he could gain the people's trust. A riveting story evolves of his years of duty.
   
   Diane C. Donovan
   California Bookwatch

1 comments about Grant's Lieutenants: From Chattanooga to Appomattox (Modern War Studies).

1. Good collection of essays on Grant's subordinates. Interesting interpretation of O.C. Ord's career, of which I knew nothing. Nature of the writing precluded much in depth analysis or tactical detail of the various officers' battles/operations. Combined with Grant's Lieutenants, Vol 1, the book provides a good introduction to the war under Grant.

5 comments about A Shepherd in Combat Boots: Chaplain Emil Kapaun of the 1st Cavalry Division.

1. William Maher has given us a well-written biography of Fr. Emil Kapaun. Chaplain Kapaun was born in Kansas, grew up on a farm, and became a diocesan priest. He served as a chaplain in WWII and in Korea. In Korea he was taken as a prisoner of war and died from lack of medical treatment. Parts of this book are difficult to read because of the inhumane way the communist treated POW's, but for all the good men who endured this treatment, we need to read the story.
   
   His heroic service to all the men he served with, not just catholics, will never be forgotten. He did everything he could to help his men spiritually, physically and mentally. The title of this book appropriately calls him a shepherd. Just as we think of Jesus as the Good Shepherd, so Fr. Kapaun was a good shepherd to his men. He was a true hero although he never would have considered himself a hero.
   
   The vatican has named him "Servant of God", and I hope to see him canonized in my lifetime. Pray for us Fr. Kapaun.



2. My Dad went to the High School that was named after this Priest. He loves it so far.



3. As a new fire chaplain, I have been reading as wide as I can about what a chaplain does. Chaplain Kapaun is a real model for all of us who follow Christ and serve others as a chaplain.



4. This is an excellent story and so breathtaking, I had to stop reading in several parts, just to get through the chapter! What an amazing man Father Kapaun was and he showed how great the power of the human spirit is that once you start reading, you can't put it down. Then, when you're finished reading it, you want everyone to know about this wonderful human being! I, for one, will never feel needy for anything else in my life. Mr. Maher did an excellent job of interviewing friends and family of the Chaplain to make you feel that you knew him as well. Such a sad, sad story but one that makes you proud to be a Christian and proud to be an American. This has to be made in to a movie!



5. This book is a story of a man who becomes a priest and dies serving his fellow man. He is praised by the men of diffrent faiths (Christian, Jew and Muslim)who were POWs with him in North Korea.
   
   This is an excellent book to read especially during this era where the Me Generation is thriving. This book shows one the importance of sacrifice for our fellow man.

1 comments about FLYING THE HUMP TO CHINA.

1. The author trained as a pilot in the US Airforce in WW2, qualified to fly transports and was assigned to fly "The Hump," the airlift route from India to China that kept Chiang Kai-Shek's Kuomintang forces together with US aircraft based in China supplied and equipped. It's a fascinating and very personal account, written in 2004 when the author was in his eighties. The book includes over 150 b&w photo's, most of them taken by the author during the war. They make a fascinating inclusion in the book and again, give a very personal view of the war. They're generally not the sort of photo's that make it into your standard history books and for that alone, the price of the book is almost justified.
   
   The author gives a very personal account, the first half of the book focuses on the author's story and pays no real attention to the course of the war, the fronts, strategy etc, except in so far as it has an impact on the author. A good chunk of the second half provides an overview and a little bit of a history of the airlift, enough to give you a broad outline, but it's not a detailed study. The final couple of chapters is the authors autobiograhy up to the date of writing the book (2004 or thereabouts).
   
   Overall, I found it very interesting as a personal account. There were many such books written immediately after WW2, most of them long out of print now. It's good to see an account such as this published and available, it provides an interesting personal view of what it all looked like to the guys doing the grunt work during the war. Kudo's to the author for taking the time to write this account and have it published, giving all of us a little more insight into what the WW2 veterans went through.
   
   The book itself - well, the grammer is pretty person all (lol), seems there wasn;t a professional editor on this one - but it has a real authenticity and a raw edge to it that you don't get in the standard military histories. If you're a WW2 flying buff or interested in The Hump, this book is worth your while. If it's a chronicle of The Hump that you're looking for, don't bother. The author writes a bit about the history of the hump but it's not a historical study or anything close - there's other books that handle that aspect much better. A great read for all that and worth picking up if this is a subject that interests you - here's few enough of these personal accounts that this one is a valuable piece of history.

5 comments about Moondust: In Search of the Men Who Fell to Earth.

1. Ignore the one stars, this is a wonderfully weird and rambling book, part history part personal memoir and travelogue; part social commentary and part political commentary. The portraits of the astronauts are amazingly well painted and Smith allows them speak and explain themselves without too much editorial interference. If you're looking for backroom tales, technical details and the history's behind the multitude of unsung figures who worked within the American space programme then you'll find them here, to quote Mr Smith 'in spades.' If you are from a generation that feels an aching sorrow of being born at the end of what was quite obviously a mini renascence but were too young to appreciate it, then you'll find some comforting words in here. As I've said before, ignore the one stars, this is a unique and wonderfully weird monster of a book.



2. The NASA version of the Apollo moon landings is one thing (see the 5 DVD compilation: NASA The Story of America's Courageous Space Explorers!). 'Moondust: In Search of the Men Who Fell to Earth' is another. The cover says a lot. It shows Gene Cernan, Buzz Aldrin, John Young, Neil Armstrong, Charlie Duke, James Irwin, Alan Bean, and Jack Schmitt as heros worthy of being on collectible bubble gum cards. The author Andrew Smith was the perfect age when Neil Armstrong stepped foot on the moon. He was a kid. The moonwalkers are his heros. I was born later and equivalent heros for me are Luke Skywalker, Han Solo, and Yoda. The amazing thing about Andrew Smith's story is that he's able to actually meet those space-men and to come face to face with the realities of their lives after having walked on the moon. How much was an astronaught's salary? If I were standing on the face of the moon looking up at Earth, what effect would that have on my sense of God? What does a landscape devoid of atmosphere really look like? How does it feel to be alone inside the vehicle in orbit around the moon waiting for your colleagues to return from the moon surface? Especially when you're on the back side of the moon and you have no radio contact with Earth and you're more alone than any other human being in the history of our existence? What do you do with yourself after you return to Earth, after you retire from NASA, after your fame begins to fade away? Maybe you go into liquor sales, start your own religion or maybe you take up a career as a painter obsessively painting scenes from your lunar memories. Andrew Smith is a down to Earth writer who infuses wit, humor, and astute observation into this amazing book that I couldn't put down. Moondust ranks high among my favorite true account books which would also include Al Santoli's 'Everything We Had' and Joannis van Loon's 'The Life & Times of Rembrandt van Rijn'.



3. This book was very disappointing for all the reasons already stated, factually inaccurate, rambling, author being self absorbed, etc. The title is misleading and should have been "Andrew Smith: My thoughts on the Apollo Program (With an a few astronaut interviews thrown in)".
   
   I give it two stars because some of the interviews were interesting.
   
   Thankfully I borrowed this book from the library and didn't pay for it. I suggest if you're really interested in reading this book that you do the same...



4. This book turned out to be more about the author than about the astronauts. It was disappointing. The book was also hard to finish. It was uninteresting in most parts. Not recommended if you are looking for insight on the astronauts.



5. This particular book does a great job of getting into the insights of the astronauts when they were front page news. Apollo was truly the pinnacle of NASA and Andrew Smith does a great job of creating the aura that still surrounds the 9 men still living, that walked on another world.
   
   I could've done without some of his personal musings, as he paints a picture that you would rather he keep to himself. I have my own personal perspectives and if you didn't grow up in U.K. or CA, you'll probably agree that Andrew should've kept some of his memories out of the pages.
   
   Even with the author's anecdotes, the book is 5 stars and worthy reading for any space history buff.

1 comments about Sweepers Sweepers Man Your Brooms: An Enlisted Man's Story.

1. This is a fantastic read about the feelings and adventure of Navy life and is a MUST READ for all Old Salts. You will picture yourself in the characters and find humor in their relationships as they are so dramatically portrayed by the authors wit.