5 comments about War's End: An Eyewitness Account of America's Last Atomic Mission.

1. Sweeney writes a compelling story about his role in the use of the atomic bomb. From an initial interest in flying, thru his early years as a pilot, to the secret preparations to train pilots and mission support to deliver an atomic bomb, and finally the actual missions over Hiroshima and Nagasaki.
   
   This book is a must read for anyone interested in understanding how and why we "dropped the bomb".



2. My my my. The hot and cold reviews that this book attracts are a reflection of why Sweeney claims to have written the book, I think. For those who "support" the manner by which the U.S. ended the war that Japan started, Sweeney wanted to provide the record from one of the key players as the pilot of "Bock's Car," the plane that dropped the bomb on Nagasaki. For those who oppose this bombing, he wanted to provide his perspective and argument. My review of the book is from the perspective of someone who wanted to just understand the facts of the bombing missions, and who is interested in reading the firsthand account of such a moment in modern history. I doubt that anyone's position on the bombings will be changed one bit by this book; it does, however, provide that eyewitness perspective of the missions, and it gives the reader some understanding of what it took for these controversial measures to have even been executed. I found the book fascinating from that angle. If you are interested in the big pro or con moral questions, I am not sure that this book is going to feed your desires.



3. Paul Tibbet should have been tried as a war criminal. I don't see anything to celebrate about on this 60th anniversary of the destruction of Hiroshima and Nagasaki.
   Perhaps the Japanese are rethinking about these events today and can write their own versions of what they think of these two genicides.
   Whether it saved lives or not is speculation, just that speculation. We all know how speculation is viewed in a court of law.



4. A sad reminder that history is written by the victors. I wonder how Americans would feel if Al Qaeda would write a similar book glorifying the 9-11 attacks. Disgusting.



5. Most people are well aware of the atomic bombing of Hiroshima on August 6, 1945, but some forget that three days later, a second bomb destroyed the city of Nagasaki. This book is the story of Major Charles Sweeney, the pilot who commanded the Nagasaki mission.

   Major Sweeney had risen through the ranks of the Army Air Corps, becoming proficient in many different aircraft. As fortune would have it, Sweeney met Colonel Paul Tibbets, who was in charge of a top secret operation. Immediately intrigued, Sweeney spoke with Tibbets and asked if he could be assigned to Tibbets' unit. Tibbets agreed, and eventually Sweeney would become Tibbets' right hand man. Stationed at Wendover, Utah, Tibbets put his men through a rigorous training course. His men became experts in the flight and operations of the B-29, as well as techniques designed by Tibbets.

   Finally, the group left Wendover for Tinian island. This would be their new base of operations. Training continued, and on August 6, 1945, three B-29s lifted off the runway bound for Hiroshima. Tibbets piloted the bombing plane, the Enola Gay, while Sweeney flew one of the reconnisance aircraft. (Sweeney was the only person to be invloved in both atomic missions). At 8:15 on August 6, 1945, a single bomb fell from the Enola Gay and vaporized the city of Hiroshima. However, the Japanese did not surrender. Three days later, a second mission, commanded by Sweeney, again headed for Japan.

   The target city was Kokura. The weather aircraft flying ahead of Sweeney's plane reported clear weather over Kokura, the primary target, and Nagasaki, the secondary target. However, fires from a nearby city which was bombed the night before began to obscure Kokura. By the time Sweeney and his crew arrived, the city was covered by smoke and clouds that had rolled in. Sweeney had strict orders to only bomb visually; no radar drops. Sweeney made three passes over the target; an almost unheard of tactic. Still, the smoke and clouds did not dissipate. Low on fuel because a mechanical malfunction had resulted in 600 gallons of fuel being trapped in the bomb bay, Sweeney headed for the secondary target of Nagasaki. Sweeney was informed that he would only have enough fuel for one pass over Nagasaki. Upon arrival, Nagasaki was also cloud covered. Sweeney had made up his mind to drop by radar, but the clouds parted sufficiently for the bomb to be sight-dropped, although they were not over the primary aiming point. The drop was successful, but now the crew had to worry about their fuel situation. Thanks to some skillful flying by Sweeney, the crew managed to land their plane safely on Okinawa with only seven gallons of fuel to spare.

   I enjoyed this book, but the beginning is kind of slow, and I think Sweeney held Tibbets in almost God-like reverance. However, the description of the bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki is very good. For more information on Paul Tibbets, I recommend the book "Duty" by Bob Greene.

1 comments about Miracle Man of the Western Front Dr. Varaztad H. Kazanjian: Pioneer Plastic Surgeon.

1. The Miracle Man is an inspiring piece of work about a truly unique individual, who lived the American dream against all odds and managed to revolutionize the field of plastic and reconstructive surgery. Amid the turmoil of World War I and a campaign of genocide by the Turkish government against the Armenian people, Kazanjian, a dentist with broken English, managed to bring some peace to the ravaged allied soldiers. Revered on the battlefield, Kazanjian found himself relegated once again upon his return home to the US. However, this is the story of a resilient man and impressively, one who maintained his humble and humane attitude in life. This is an important piece of history for all to read.

No comments about Custer and the Little Bighorn.

No comments about Un largo camino/ A Long Way Gone: Memorias De Un Nino Soldado/ Memoirs of a Boy Soldier.

2 comments about Hitler: The Man and the Military Leader.

1. Wow, I never knew the human side of Hitler. He was a wiz with names and always took the time to pick out special presents for people's birthday. I think he is probably one of the most evil men who ever walked the planet. But he had some great leadership qualites, how else could this man rise from nothing to a man who lead a nation to unspeakable evil. Worth the read.



2. Adolf Hilter, a fascinating yet despised man of his times would be a hero to many, but a murderer to some. He has had the courage to lead thousands upon thousands of women, men, and children. He has changed my way of thinking and probably others who thing of Hitler as their hero.

3 comments about In My Brother's Shadow: A Life and Death in the SS.

1. This book is by far not about, as the title suggests life in his brothers shadow,as much as it is about life in his fathers shadow, or the shadow of a defeated Germany!
   Herr Timm seems to be searching for his personal share of Germanys collective guilt. The writings of his brother might at most contribute 1 full page to this book! Herr Timm seems to be full of self-pity calling himself over and over again "the afterthought" where I would think his father instead planned him to be his brothers replacement. My father grew up in this same Germany and I have good insight into his thinking. I would suggest because of Herr Timms fathers position he knew a war would happen, and most likely consume his oldest son, that is what brought Uwe into being, not some accident or afterthought.Also his insistance that the 3rd. SS was an elite unit that the camp guards were drawn from is also a factual error. The 3rd SS began as the "Totenkopfverbande" they were the camp guards before the war! After the Polish and French campaigns they were re-organised into the Totenkopf division. The original members and leaders of the organisation Todt were all involved in the German camp system, not as Herr Timm suggests "elite soldiers from which guards were drawn" but rather camp guards that were formed into a front-line fighting unit!Herr Timm also wants to take small obscure entries in his brothers diaries and contort them into some evil or sinister act! A louse hunt is a louse hunt plain and simple, fodder for my MG is just an expression of the daily exposure to the horrors of front-line service. Herr Timm is searching so hard, it seems also hoping to find some act of brutality or inhumanity that he might link to his brother as to justify the feeling he has inside of himself! This book is a waste of time if you are seeking 1st hand accounts of the war, but if you want to read of the guilt placed on the German people and the effects of defeat on a family and country, it might be of some helpful insight.



2. This is less an account of Uwe Timm's brother's life and death in the SS -- though it is that -- than it is a reflection on memory and history, specifically on what they mean in postwar Germany. Timm's brother's diary, kept against regulations ("it ought not to exist," Timm writes), is brief and ambiguous. And in those ambiguities lie the greatest turmoil and conflict, with no real answers. What did the brother mean when he referred to a "big louse hunt"? Clearly, he was involved in criminal activities ("plenty of loot!"), and clearly, he was coarsened by the war ("fodder for my MG"). But was he involved in atrocities? Did he murder civilians? Those are the questions that Timm can't answer with any certainty. They point to the doubt and guilt of an entire people, a people who still struggle to come to terms with the war. Sixty years: still no answers, still no resolution.



3. I was born and raised in Germany. Even though my parents were born after the war and both my grandfathers were dead by the time I started asking questions I can still relate very well to the unease when it comes to talking about WWII.
   
   Where I grew up we had a neighbour whom I only knew as a mild mannered older guy, who loved us kids, would give us sweets and let us play in the big old trees in his garden. At one point I discovered that he was a member of the SS in WWII and had fought somewhere in Russia. He had no family. When he was in his eighties, he started opening up to a few people in the neighbourhood, among them my family. He would talk about the war, his comrades and generally the hard life they lived. He would always start crying. He would never mention fighting, killing civilians and all the other things he most likely saw and did. We all knew about those things, but we also felt sorry for the old guy and nobody pressed questions. He was a neighbour, not close family after all.
   
   Timm's book perfectly captures the conflict of the - very normal - desire to love and admire a brother (father, uncle, grandfather, neighbour) while at the same time knowing that that person must have consciously participated in something unspeakably atrocious.
   
   Obviously there is no easy solution and that conflict is one that generations of Germans had to deal with after the war. It is impossible to excuse what happened, but it is equally impossible to condemn all these people around you who all might have participated to various degrees, and be it just by keeping silent.

No comments about Godfather of the Revolution: The Life of Philippe Egalite, Duc d'Orleans.

5 comments about Great Captains Unveiled.

1. An excellent and critically reflective discussion of several 'Great Captains' frequently ignored. Hart's depth of knowledge is combined with an appreciation of core issues. The material is clearly presented, easy to read and highly relevant.



2. Wafare philosophy enthusiasts will love Liddell Hart's works. This classic work containing the seeds of blitzkrieg and maneuver warfare theory will resonate especially with those who admire those schools of thought. The first chapter on Jenghiz Khan and Sabutai is alone worth the price of the book. A brilliant piece of military history and theory that still resonates with thinkers today.



3. Hart's "Great Captains Unveiled" is a great read: it is relatively short, not overly long on detail and interesting. The book does not fall into the trap of appeasing armchair generals, meaning that it skips fame in favor of true strategy and leadership. One might expect such a book to focus on Caesar, Alexander the Great, Napoleon, Marlborough, Washington or Patton. However, Hart instead examines less appreciated leaders, including Genghis Kahn, Marshal de Saxe, Gustavus Adolphus, Wallenstein, and Wolfe. I personally most enjoyed the chapter on Genghis Khan. Hart ignores the crude characterizations of and misinformation on Khan. For example, there was no "Mongol horde" that simply outnumbered its enemies, nor did the Christian west valiantly repel Khan's armies. Rather, Khan was typically outnumbered and he won due to innovative tactics and excellent operational control. Moreover, his armies retreated from Europe due to internal political issues. Khan was an innovator and a winner, something Hart focuses on. The other biographies are also compelling. Overall, this is a quick enjoyable read for those truly interested in great military leaders.



4. Liddell Hart ranks as a minor military prophet in his own right. Although he was considered one of Britain's leading tank experts during and after the Great War, the British military rejected his thought on the importance of mobility, but the German General Staff followed his work closely. The result was the Blitzkrieg, which destroyed the armies of Poland, Denmark, Belgium, the Netherlands, France, and Britain in less than a year.

   Here, however, in a collection of biographical essays written for popular journal readers, Liddell Hart shows himself as not being above gushing hack writing more typical of a teenager's fan magazine than a military history. As another reviewer has pointed out, "Great Captains Unveiled" jumps about in its biographies. It offers facts which might be interesting in the context of a major biographical work, but which are all but pointless in the brief biographies presented -- acceptable perhaps for a general readership, but unacceptable for those expecting information which explains WHY these particular individuals were chosen to be considered "Great Captains."

   The worst biography is probably that of Wolfe, victor at Quebec. What difference does it make if he was delayed on this date or that date because he or someone else was sick? The Battle of Quebec and his tactics were completely unaffected by his health (unlike, for example, General Rommel's psychosomatic illnesses, which seriously affected the course of the North African campaign and led to his disillusionment with Hitler and his own forced suicide, a series of events which unfolded after the publishing of this book, which Rommel might well have read, although he himself throve too late to be included). The gushing tone is most obvious in the actual description of the "Battle" of Quebec, which seems to have boiled down to a sneak attack, one effective volley at close range which caused the French to panic, and a foolish French salley which cost both Wolfe and defender Montcalme their lives. A perceptive reader might well get the impression that death was Wolfe's greatest ally: had he lived he might well have shown himself to be as mediocre as most of his contemporaries -- one lucky volley does not a "Great Captain" make.

   The acccount of the Mongol conquest of the Khwarezm Shah's empire, however, is very good indeed. Although the casus belli is often repeated in histories of the Mongol conquests, few histories relate the unfolding of the events which led to the Mongol victory, nor so succinctly explain EXACTLY why this victory was more significant than any other Mongol victory in Central Asia. The other Mongol victories get short shrift, but this book's account of the Central Asian campaign is outstanding.

   The life of Wallenstein is covered in far greater detail in Friedrich Shiller's history of the Thirty Years War (available free online through Project Gutenberg and other web sites) than it is in "Great Captains Unveiled," while the life of De Saxe is over-rated and inflated to highlight the importance of his "Reveries." I can't even remember who else was covered in this book, so trivialized are the biographies.

   This is one book by Liddell Hart which bears missing. The interested reader should merely note the names of those whose biographies he includes and look up their lives elsewhere, although, as stated, the account of the defeat of the Khwarezm Shah is outstanding.




5. This book is amazing. I really like this book. Because it explains not only strategical and tactical thoughts but also gives lessons about them. For example, Sabutay always leaded his armies in a security circle. He always believed the importance of the security. If you really investigate the maps in the books and listens to Sir Hart, you can understand that easily. Above all, you can apply these thoughts to your military, business or personal life. Without a doubt, Hart doesn't generalise that. Because he was a fascinating military theorist not a self-help or a business-self book writer. However, If you deeply thinks the book(when you are reading that), you can gain many skills and get in to the minds of genius'.

5 comments about Wade Hampton: Confederate Warrior, Conservative Statesman.

1. There are redeeming qualities in this biography of Hampton. There is much more material included about Hampton's postwar life than is found in Longacre's treatment. But Cisco has totally bought into the highly favorable southern examinations of Hampton that predate the Civil Rights era. There were certainly redeeming qualities in Hampton who seems genuinely concerned about black's welfare especially when compared to racists like Ben Tillman (a Hampton opponent), N B Forest and John Brown Gordon (a Hampton ally), but Hampton was a virulent opponent of any black who did not see things his way and presided over the end of large-scale participation of blacks in South Carolina governance. It is notatable that Cisco includes nothing about Hampton as a slave-owner (he owned over 900 human beings) other than a few "oh he was a fine massa" quotes from ex slaves who were in no position to state otherwise.
   
   There is still room for a scholarly study of Hampton particularly his role in slavery and his post war career. This one is for the Civil War buffs only.
   
   The new biography of Hampton by Rod Andrew is indeed a vastly superior work compared to Cisco's effort, but I doubt it will receive as much readership.



2. I had trouble putting this book down and finished it in 2-3 days. I consider it one of the best books on my shelf, not only for its style, but because it is extremely well researched. Part of the fun after reading the book was going through the bibliography and the footnotes to see where Mr. Cisco came up with all the information he presented. "The Truth is (still) Out There", for anyone who cares or takes the time to look. Buy it, read it, and see what your school teachers left out when they taught you about "Reconstruction"!
   
   Much of the information contained herein will disturb those who are public school educated AND have never learned to think for themselves, or who see the past in terms of their own world. If this is you, then don't buy this book. Instead, do an amazon search for "video games" and stay in your contented fugue state because you will certainly be disturbed by what's in this book!



3. With respect to the other reviewers in this forum, I must disagree with their positive impressions of this book. Cisco's book is strictly for the neo-Confederate reader. True, Hampton is in real need of a biography--there are basically three: Manly Wade Wellman, Giant in Gray, 1949; Ed Longacre's, Gentleman and Soldier, 2003; and Cisco's version. The best of the lot, Longacre's, is war heavy, and the other two are biased to a Confederate view. Indeed, Cisco's book can not be taken seriously by academics or even serious students of history with such outlandish comments that, "During the war many Southern blacks stood by their country--the Confederate States" (p. 170) Or, that Hampton "treated slaves as individuals and fellow human beings." (p. 41).
   
   This book is poorly written and ignores Hampton's role as a Redeemer and slaveowner. Hampton, and the reading public, deserves better.



4. Wade Hampton is local hero here in Columbia, SC. His statue is prominent on the State House grounds and his home is a local historical society attraction. Outside of SC he may not be a household name, but within SC he is an icon, a figure respected and admired. This biography of Wade Hampton will give the reader an orderly summary of the key events of his life. When significant events occure the author goes into more detail, rightly so. Readers interested in Civil War military or political history, the history of Reconstruction, or American politics in general will benefit from this book.



5. Wade Hampton III has been in need of a comprehensive biography for a long time now. Reserved and deliberate in life, both as a cavalry commander and as a political leader, he tried to restrain his annoyance when temporarily outshone by more flamboyant peers; with the benefit of hindsight, however, we ought to pay more attention to WHIII and his substantial achievements.
   
   The "untrained" officer whose pragmatic cavalry tactics proved more of an asset to Lee than the celebrated Stuart ever was; the reluctant secessionist who sacrificed family and fortune to the Confederate cause (or more accurately, to the cause of South Carolina); the conservative Democrat who reined in the bitter ferocity of his own party's extreme elements to become among the first Democrats in the nation to benefit from black voters - Hampton is a fascinating character and Cisco provides a worthy introduction to him.
   
   Walter Cisco does not repeat the bits of folklore that crept into the last Hampton biography, a 1940's hagiography; instead he quotes extensively from primary sources and lets his subject's character emerge naturally. Nor does he shy from uncomfortable aspects, such as the probable abuse of Hampton's sisters by another prominent South Carolinian, or Hampton's bitter exchanges with Sherman over POW executions in the Carolinas Campaign of 1865. However, by the time you finish this work, you'll understand Wade Hampton III as a major and underappreciated figure in both the military and civil history of the South and of our nation.

5 comments about Indestructible: The Unforgettable Story of a Marine Hero at the Battle of Iwo Jima.

1. This book should be mandatory reading for Marines in training. Actually, it should be mandatory reading in history as well as ethics courses. This Marine WAS a true American in the full sense of the word. He had his faults, but we all have faults. Now, what he did was not something we are all capable of doing.



2. This book is full of self praise and a large ego. Not a humble word in it. The author talks of his buddies, roommates, and other people with barely mentioning a name or how they influenced his life. He does mention his family and the influence of his mother and deceased father. What he did on Iwo Jima was heroic and highly commendable but, he just keeps on about himself and his Medal of Honor. His claims of coming from a valiant military heritage are unsubstantiated. He should have something to back that he is the descendent of veterans of the American Revolution (fighting the British), the Civil War, and two awardees of the British Victoria Cross. There are two Irishman named Lucas who were awarded it but, both lived from the 1850's to the early 1900's in Ireland.
   It does seem that he writes the book as if he is the only Marine on Iwo Jima. There is little mention of the names of the Marines that he served with and his interactions with them. Every Marine has a history. You will receive the impression that he wasn't very well liked by his peers and was insubordinate to superiors. I believe that commanding officer that let him stay on the ship after deserting his unit in Hawaii had no choice but to attach him to a battalion and send him into the fight. It would have been an even bigger hassle to send him back to Hawaii. That unit was going to war and they were not going to think twice about giving that kid a rifle and putting him on that beach.
   His time in the brig and driving a trash truck leaves the reader to question: "Was he up to high standards of being a Marine that he says he was?" The sentence he received from a court marshal (yes, I said court marshal) seemed too hefty for just roughing up a guy. The recount of his first sexual experience just after he tells the story of shoving a broom handle into the "offending orifice" of a mule, named after a girl he was afraid to talk to, should have been left out. This book should have been written by a non-bias author that is willing to do some research. His reason for joining the Army almost sounds like an excuse. He submits to the reader that it was his undying desire and primary mission in life to be a Marine and kill the Japanese.



3. Despite what some other reviewers had to say, it should be noted at the outset that Jack Lucas didn't finish high school, and obviously didn't go to Columbia for a writing degree. He simply lied his way into enlisting in the Marine Corps at the age of 14, and ultimately conned his way into frontline units until he finally reached combat at Iwo Jima. Having wanted to be a Marine and fighting since he was 11, his dedicated pursuit of his goal seems impossible to believe, but it did happen, and this is his story.
   
   Having met Jack, he is exactly like what the story sounds like. He is proud, patriotic, and unabashed in his belief that his actions that day were less significant than those who never returned. I found the story of his life after the war to be interesting, especially what his own wife would attempt later.
   
   This is not going to tell the story of the whole war, and isn't a literary work that rivals Shakespeare, but it is one man's story, and well worth the time to read it.



4. Mr. Lucas has just spent 212 pages doing nothing more than patting himself on the back and telling the public how big a hero he is. He also spends a great amount of time in stating how he relishes the limelight he is in and will go to any length to exploit the Medal of Honor to his own use. From some of key phrases in the book, the reader would think he was the only Marine on Iwo Jima. While I highly respect him for the action for which the medal was awarded, I do not respect the idea of using it to ones advantage. The author also seems to think that what he cannot accomplish with the Medal of Honor around his neck, his two fist will get for him.



5. There can be little doubt that this book wouldn't have been written if this aging hero had not been singled out by President Clinton during his presidency in a nationally televised State-of-the-Union address. Mr. Lucas was the President's special guest for the occasion, and one can understand why. While Lucas is an unquestioned military hero, he was less of a hero to his children and his first wife. (Those who were on the receiving end of his quick and violent temper may not view him in the hero light either.) A self-described womanizer, Lucas was the perfect foil for the Clinton plot to bolster the President's image by profiling a man who is living proof that no matter how badly you conduct your private life, it doesn't have to interfere with your service to country. This book will read like a poem to Clintonites, but may blanch a bit to the few of who still believe personal morality matters to whatever task you set yourself to.
   
   Lucas is a hero, and his professions of faith in the Lord who protected him not only on Iwo Jima but in several other major life crisis redeems this book and makes it worthwhile. But if your looking for the ALL American hero, better look elsewhere for reading material.