5 comments about Conduct Under Fire: Four American Doctors and Their Fight for Life as Prisoners of the Japanese, 1941-1945.

1. Talk about one's world being turned upside down. One moment four young military doctors are enjoying good marriages and pleasant military postings in exotic locations, and in the next they are thrust in the midst of horrific battle and subsequently imprisoned under grotesquely inhumane conditions. That these men were able to endure such horrid conditions and go on to live important, useful, satisfying lives is awe inspiring.
   
   In light of Japanese Premier Abe's recent denials of Japanese Imperial Army atrocities concerning so-called "Comfort Women," this reading takes on special significance. This story is further evidence of the shameful brutality foisted by Japan during its brutal and unprovoked aggressions during the 1932-1945 wars it foisted upon its much weaker Asian neighbors and, ultimately and self-defeatingly, with the U.S. and its allies.
   
   If you can find the CD version of this book on tape, it is well worth purchasing. The narration is superb.
   
   --Bill Todd-Mancillas
   Communication Studies
   Ca. St. Univ. at Chico



2. I had seen this story on cable and bought the book afterwards. It is a very moving story and written so well. I have to say I am ashamed of the way the US treated these people during their horrible ordeal.



3. The title and synopsis of "Conduct Under Fire: Four American Doctors and Their Fight for Life as Prisoners of the Japanese, 1941-1945" led me to beleive that I would read about the in-depth personal experience of four US doctors as P.O.W.s. However, the book does not read like a memior or biography, but rather like any third-person account written by a historian from a distant vantage point.
   
   That is not to say that "Conduct Under Fire" is a bad book, but the fact that the title men are hardly mentioned throughout the greater part of the book is a serious flaw. John Glusman does provide the reader with background information of the four doctors, one of which is father, Murray Glusman. Unfortunately, the details of the doctor's personal experiences were infrequent once the book covered the time frame of World War II. In fact, I could not help but wonder if the author's research into his father's time as P.O.W. was limited to rummaging through sparse stash of old letters and a fireside chat with his old man. Glusman (the author) does record the harsh condition of Japanese P.O.W. camps for American troops based on the writings of others, but the reader is left to assume that the doctors' tenure as P.O.W.s was identical to that experienced by thousands of other American P.O.W.s. While it the suffering they endured at the hands of Japanese was certainly horrific and they deserve our respect, "Conduct Under Fire" lacks a unique element that could have distinguished it from numerous of other P.O.W. books.
   
   If you are simply looking for an account of Japanese prisoner camps or even of the struggle against Imperial Japan, then "Conduct Under Fire" is worth the time. Glusman does give remarkable detail to the pre-war climate in the Phillipines and Shanghai, the seige of Bataan and Corrigedor, the American submarine campaign that strangled Japanese shipping, and the B-29 raids that led to massive firebombings and yes, the atomic bombs.
   
   Although "Conduct Under Fire" promised to deliver an account of the war through the eyes of the author's father and three other doctors, the reader is left with text that could have been placed by a historian far removed from the horror.



4. This book is terrific. It is a well researched piece of scholarship and heartfelt. The author is not judgmental towards the Japanese despite their treatment of his father. As a result, the author's descriptions of the Americans "conduct under fire" shows how brave they really were.
   I could not help but get angry when I read that these men have had no proper compensation for their loss or even an apology from the Japanese government.



5. A half-century after the end of World War II we now see an extraordinary tide of books revealing the under-side of the conflict. The passing of time, the opening of previously restricted documentation, and a less romantic view of events have conspired to produce this literature. Among them are Ghost Wars, Fatal Voyage, Burma Road. These well researched volumes open to the reader the true character of war unembellished by governments eager to maintain the spin of patriotism for the sake of public morale. The latest and most formidable book in this genre is Conduct Under Fire: Four American Doctors and Their Fight for Life as Prisoners of the Japanese (N.Y.: Penguin Group, 2005). John A. Glusman, editor in chief of Farrar, Straus and Giroux, is the author and son of one of the four doctors. He sets the story in the larger context of the war in the Pacific so it is not simply the chronicle of medical doctors working in prisoner of war camps in the Philippines and Japan. A narrow focus would have been sufficient to describe the bravery and skill of the doctors in their years of suffering as and with POWs. But Glusman opens for the reader the larger picture of the military and political events that inevitably had a profound impact on the POWs. It was a fate of the POWs not only to deal with often sadistic Japanese captors, but they also were faced early on with the results of the U.S. failure energetically to prosecute the Pacific war in favor of the European theater, the frightful toll of more than 10,000 prisoners who died when US submarines sank Japanese ships ferrying prisoners to Japan, and the terrifying effects of fire-bombing of Japanese cities where additional POWs lost their lives. In the midst of this harrowing period, the US doctors heroically saved lives, improvised medical procedures without even minimal supplies, and managed to maintain the highest vision of their vocation. Glusman has honored his father and the thousands of POWs by telling this honest story. He also boldly reminds us all of the frightful cost of war on the human spirit in a time when inevitably warfare's result is annihilation of everything human.

4 comments about The Life of Francis Marion.

1. Sean Busick has done us all a wonderful service by bringing back to print William Gilmore Simms's Life of Marion. It's a classic work of historical narrative suitable for most readers. Not only does Simms provide a interesting account of the life of one of early America's most courageous figures, he captures the complicated and often turbulent world of Revolutionary South Carolina.



2. Few "giants" of the American Revolution have deserved more attention and praise than Francis Marion. Unfortunately, Marion, the brilliant general and statesman, has not received the attention he rightfully deserves. Simms classic biography is a remedy to this predicament, and Dr. Busick's erudite introduction to this new edition allows for an even fuller understanding of a true American hero and his contribution to American social and political life. Reading Simms on Marion, guided by Busick's careful and terse introduction, we can recover the military genius and personal affability of the man Tarleton called the "old fox."
   
   H. Lee Cheek, Jr., Ph.D.
   Chair, Social Sciences; and Professor of Political Science, Brewton-Parker College, Mt. Vernon, Georgia
   www.drleecheek.com
   Author of _Calhoun and Popular Rule_ (University of Missouri Press, 2001 and 2004).



3. I wanted to read a contemporary book about General Marion. This is an interesting book but was written in 1844. It is undoubtedly accurate but I found it difficult to read for a nonhistorian.



4. This is well written Narrative of the life of a real hero and his participation in the revolutionary war

2 comments about Born to Fly...the Hump: A WWII Memoir.

1. Born to Fly the Hump is an account of one pilot's experiences during the Allies attempt to supply the Chinese in their fight against the Japanese in World War 11. Severe thunder, lightning, hail and ice storms added to the day to day drama played out

   during the author's 96 missions over the "hump" [Himalaya Mountains]. Recommended reading to gain a more accurate insight into what many of our young men went througfh to preserve our freedom.




2. Born To Fly The Hump is an account of one pilot's experiences in the Allies attempt to supply the Chinese during World War11. The reader lives the day to day drama of taking off, flying, and landing through the author's 96 missions over the Hump {the Himalaya mountains}. Thunder,lightning, hail,ice,and other forces of nature adding to the tense drama facing these pilots on a daily basis. Recommended reading for a better appreciation of what many young men lived through so that our freedom could be preserved.

5 comments about WOODEN HORSE (Military Classics).

1. This amazing escape episode involved three men, and was not part of the much-publicized Great Escape, but took place from the same camp (Stalag Luft III). This review is an expansion of an earlier one that I had written.
   
   The original Trojan Horse contained soldiers in the process of sneaking into a city. This real-life WWII thriller describes a Trojan Horse used by Allied POWs to tunnel their way out of a German POW camp. While the horse was ostensibly being used for vaulting exercise, a small group of men hidden within the horse dug a tunnel underneath. Eventually it led them to freedom. Years later, "Eric Williams" was surprised that a mere plywood box could have fooled the Germans for so long. Indeed, the Germans apparently never became suspicious of the fact that the horse was always placed at the identical location, and not far from the wire.
   
   The idea was conceived out of the frustration of digging tunnels long distances from the huts to past the camp wire, and the Germans expecting the traps to originate from the huts and finding them. What if there was some way to get much closer to the wire, to dig a tunnel from there, and to conceal the trap from that unexpected location?
   
   The Trojan Horse episode came to mind. It would be a long and laborious tunneling process, as only a few tunnelers and relatively small amounts of sand could be concealed within the horse per exercise session. Otherwise, the horse would be too heavy to be carried.
   
   The vaulting horse was at first used without any tunnelers concealed in it. In fact, the vaulters purposely knocked it over a number of times so that the Germans would see nothing on the inside of it. The Germans were told that the vaulting stemmed from the English craze for exercise.
   
   After innumerable episodes of vaulting and tunneling, the tunnel was past the wire. Three escapees went from inside the horse down the tunnel, and, after many hours, dug there way to freedom. All three made it safely to the Allied lines.



2. There are two editions of this book. In the original edition and in subsequent reprints there is a last desperate moment where all the remains between Williams and freedom is a German guard on a bridge. He kills him and escapes...
   
   Only as Williams admitted years later in an anniversary update - that part never happened and was put in to satisfy the publishers who wanted a more "exciting" ending.
   
   ...and he is right to come clean on the point - the story was exciting enough without needing tweaking - ingenuity under strain of captivity is well portrayed in the book and after the frightening journey across Germany - his debriefing by an Intelligence Officer counterpoints what went before in a very British and understated way.



3. Eric Williams' The Wooden Horse is another military classic which shouldn't be missed, even though it first appeared over fifty years ago. Here's the story of a daring escape during World War II in an expanded, revised edition that tells of a break from one of Germany's most escape-proof camps. The account doesn't just tell how they did it - it covers the aftermath of the break-out, which involved getting out of Germany entirely. It may read like fiction with high drama, but The Wooden Horse is pure fact and an important chronicle in the history of the war.



4. A Gripping True WWII POW Escape Story!!

   This book took me over until the very last page.

   I usually don't care for reading as a past time and especially novels that take too long to get through.

   I read this book over 20 years ago (and only did so by chance after finding it in the school library), because I had to submit a book report during my junior high school years.

   I enjoyed the book so much I eagery and ultimately compiled a great book report and was awarded 9/10 as a grade.

   Funny enough, I did so well with it that I took the liberty to re-submitted the same book report the following year and again was awarded another high mark (of course it was a different teacher and I had to re-write and date it).

   In fact here I am over 20 years later I plan to get my very own copy. That's how much I enjoyed it!

   "The Wooden Horse" by Eric Williams is a fabulous book and would make a perfect gift to that person who you think should read more...but doesn't.

   They'll thank you for it!




5. Don't be put off by the recent "out of print" status, this book is a great true story of a prison breakout in WW2. You can also easily pick it up through Amazons second hand bookstores for a relatively cheap price.

   Written by the escapee himself, it retains all its charm and spirit since it first received rave reviews in the late 1940s to early 1950s.

   The breakout came from a novel, yet brilliant idea inspired by the Legend of the Trojan Horse- ie to use a gym vaulting horse as cover to hide an inmate who dug a tunnel to the nearest concentration camp fence. It succeeded, but I won't ruin the story with all the details, you will have to read it yourself! Rest assured the book is well written, and as it is told by one of the escapees himself it has a certain charm, readability and authenticity about it.

   Getting out was just the first part, the escapees still had to travel across most of Germany to reach home, right amidst the heartlessness and desparation of WW2. I found the description of the lives of everyday German people within a major war as soulful, revealing and harrowing as the concentration camp itself.

   A remarkable story, a great and uplifting novel, sure to inspire for many years to come. No mundane "political correctness" here, truthfully told and recorded with all the desperation, fear, and courageous spirit of many involved in the war-on both sides.

   There was a film also made in the 1960s I think, which was almost as good as the book, but not quite. Of similar genre to The Wooden Horse is "the Great Escape", also made into a film, but the Wooden Horse is more realisitic and better done overall in my opinion.

   Uplifts the spirit.

2 comments about From the Cockpit: Coming of Age in the Korean War.

1. I highly recommend this book to anyone who really wants to know what it was like for someone in the Korean War. It is easy to read and you feel like you are right there with him. Excellent!



2. A damn fine read! It's just like he's sitting by the grill smelling steaks and sipping martini's as he spins his tales of yesteryears!

5 comments about Just Another Soldier: A Year on the Ground in Iraq.

1. As a mother of a soldier in Iraq, I wanted to know all I could about what might be happening to my son, as he never told me Anything, as they are supposed to do. I read this book, & loved it. Also read Colby Buzzell's book, My War, Killing Time in Iraq, too. Also John Crawford's The Last True Story I'll Ever Tell: An Accidental Soldier's Account of the War in Iraq. All of these books were wonderful, & really helped me a lot. The other reviews talking about how good these books are tell that part of it for me, & the reviewers that loved these books were right-on, in my opinion.



2. Jason Christopher Hartley was raised in my own hometown of Murray, Utah. His story could have been mine, had I chosen to join the Army. What Hartley has is a sharp wit that transforms his work into something more than just a blog in book form. It is episodic, a mere compilation of his blog entries, but this helps recreate what it might feel like for a soldier. Battle is probably quite episodic itself.
   
   Hartley's blog posts are quite eloquently written, laced with a dark sense of humor that can only come from being raised as he was (similar to my upbringing--maybe I found his sense of humor so authentic because it falls in line with my own). His frank honesty, even that which may paint him in a negative light, is refreshing, a nice change of pace from the typical "see what a good person I am?" self-promoting attitudes that come from many autobiographies.
   
   I will say that this is the best of the books I've read from soldiers of the Iraq War. It has the most to say by saying very little at all. It's the simple day-to-day tasks that drive much of Hartley's writing. It amounts to anyone else's blog about their workplace, except Hartley is facing life-or-death on a nearly constant basis. I highly recommend this book if you want an honest portrayal of one infantryman's experiences. Be warned though: Hartley's attitude reflects much of the video-game-generation's detachment. He can view even the most serious of tragedies in a comedic light. For example, he affixed a "I Heart Dead Civilians" sticker to his laptop. He enjoys the thrill of the fight, maybe if just for a thrill. It's a common personality trait of his generation (and mine).
   
   Not to be missed if you can handle it. This is a must read for anyone wanting a peek at how soldiers are living out their tours in Iraq.



3. Mr. Hartley has given us a book of our times. He is literally on the ground of the World Trade Center after the planes hit and goes into Iraq with the invasion. There is a certain lack of pretension in his style and I feel that the writing and the photos he gives us are as close to the reality of being there without being there.
   
   He is not afraid to present himself as a humanist who is in love with the Army, which I am afraid will be far too complex for many who cannot reconcile that idea. His foibles, screw-ups, less than flattering lights are all in there.
   
   He says he has not read books of other wars and I believe him. If he did, the style and degree of openess would be very different. Without trying to be poetic or profound, he testifies to the day-to-day grind of trying to make a difference in the occupation of a hostile land.
   
   This is as real as it gets.



4. For reasons to numerous to mention, many are detached from the war in Iraq. Where journalists may have failed, articulate veterans like Jason Christopher Hartley are documenting their experiences in books that should be required reading for every American.
   
   Hartley is a superb writer and balances his prose between the often-absurd events of the war and his finely tuned personal observations. From the pathos of describing the plight of an Iraqi chicken farmer, to the deep humor of his description of leave in the artificial paradise of Qatar, Hartley's wit and command of language results in a compelling narrative.
   
   I first read Hartley's blog (the precursor to the book) on the IAVA (Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of American) website and couldn't wait to read the final product. I highly recommend this book and look forward to the future writing of this talented writer.



5. This book gives you great insight into the happenings and everday life of a soldier fighting in Iraq. This book does just not tell of combat and fighting, but also the everyday occurences and thoughts of what it is like to be over there. It is filled with humor, sadness, anger and reflection of a year spent over in Iraq. If you want a book filled with combat and fighting, this is not for you. But if you want the thoughts and happenings first-hand witnessed from a soldiers point of you, than this book is for you.

4 comments about The Life of Mahatma Gandhi (Harper colophon books).

1. This biography of the immortal Indian spiritual leader by the far-left American journalist Louis Fischer was first published roughly 18 months after Gandhi's assassination in January 1948. It thus benefits and suffers from the closeness of the personal relationship between the subject and author, and its extremely limited temporal perspective.
   
   The author had two extended interviews with Gandhi at his ashram in May 1942 and June 1946. Not surprisingly, Fischer's physical descriptions are vivid and authentic. The reader can almost feel the enervating heat of India, taste the bland vegetarian cuisine, and above all see Gandhi's peculiar mannerisms and hear his sing-song vocal inflections. But Fischer is also much too close to the events that he writes about, and too emotionally involved with his subject. The twentieth century was blood-soaked and sparsely populated with significant political figures who sincerely preached peace and reconciliation. Nevertheless, the Gandhi that emerges from the pages of this biography is more painted icon than flesh-and-blood, although Fischer does describe him as a rather cold and inconsiderate husband to Kasturbai, his faithful, semi-literate wife of sixty-two years, while his falling out with his alcoholic and Muslim-convert eldest son, Harilal, is heart-breaking to read. Moreover, from the perspective of the early twenty-first century reader, two of the more interesting aspects of Gandhi's life and legacy are his impact on the civil rights movement in the United States, South Africa, and elsewhere, and the rise of modern India as a major global power. Obviously, given the publication date, none of this is considered in Fischer's work.
   
   Gandhi has been described as a saint who tried to become a politician (Gandhi himself said that it was the reverse). The man that Fischer describes was, in my opinion, more cult figure than saint. Gandhi's religious views were incredibly pragmatic and highly unorthodox. For instance, Fischer argues that Gandhi interpreted the Bhagavad-Gita - the most holy of Hindu texts - as an allegory that preaches "desirelessness" and pacifism although the story is literally about God commanding Arunja, a member of the Kshatriya warrior caste, to fight and kill to fulfill his caste obligation. And it was Gandhi who attacked the Hindu practice of outcastes or untouchables and even coined a new term for them, Harijan or Children of God, and later named his weekly newspaper after them. He established ashrams first in South Africa and later in India that are reminiscent of modern day cult compounds with communal eating, sleeping and bathing, making their own clothes, and practicing a bizarre amalgamation of Christianity, Hinduism, Islam and mysticism, all centered on Gandhi as leader-guru. There are probably a few places just like it today in Mendocino County.
   
   And yet Gandhi was a leader of unusual appeal and effectiveness. His policy of Satyagraha (truth-force or love-force - or what we may call civil disobedience) triumphed against the British and Afrikaaners in South Africa and he had full confidence that it would ultimately succeed in his native India and around the world wherever injustice could be found. Whitehall had directly and closely ruled India for over half-a-century when Gandhi emerged as a powerful force for reform and home rule. Winston Churchill was dismayed in 1931 by "the nauseating and humiliating spectacle of this one-time Inner Temple lawyer, now seditious fakir, striding half-naked up the steps of the Viceroy's palace, there to negotiate and to parley on equal terms with the representative of the King-Emperor."
   
   The irony of this book is that Gandhi, undoubtedly one of the giants of the twentieth century whose reputation will likely only grow in the coming decades and centuries, in the end saw his own life as a tremendous failure. He dedicated himself to Indian self-purification, redemption, and honorable self-rule (which he called Swaraj). Fischer stresses that Gandhi had no desire to conquer or defeat the British, nor did he wish to see a small group of Indian elites take over the government. Gandhi's program was essentially a liberal religious movement; the fall of British rule would merely be a necessary by-product, not the end-state. The goal was a unified India of high-caste Hindus, Harijans (untouchables), Muslims, Sikhs and Christians living modestly and peacefully in simple villages wearing khadi (homespun fabric) loin clothes and shawls. Clearly, things did not turn out according to plan.
   
   Nothing pained Gandhi more deeply than the Hindu/Sikh versus Muslim violence that accompanied independence and ultimately partition in 1947. Gandhi fought tenaciously to keep India united. He fasted and essentially threatened his own death if the leader of the untouchables, Dr. B.R. Ambedkar, did not back down from a primary voting scheme for Harijan participation in the Hindu voting bloc. And Gandhi, a man of unnatural peace and forgiveness, reserved his most powerful words of insult and scorn for Mohamed Ali Jinnah, leader of the Muslim League and staunch supporter of a separate and independent Pakistan.
   
   Indeed, Fischer correctly concludes that "[i]ndependence brought sadness to the architect of independence. The Father of his Country was disappointed in his country...Millions adored the Mahatma, multitudes tried to kiss his feet or the dust of his footsteps. They paid him homage and rejected his teachings. They held his person holy and desecrated his personality. They glorified his shell and trampled his essence. They believed in him but not his principles."
   
   I learned a lot from this book and enjoyed it immensely.



2. This is simply put one of the best books I have ever read. Half of the reason is of course the topic - Mohandas Gandhi, who is one of the most important religious persons to have lived. The other half is that it is well-written, packed with information, and by an accomplished author. While Fischer's shorter book, "Gandhi: His life and message" is more concise and also a triumph, anyone who has read it or is a Gandhi enthusiast should acquire a copy of this book and read it.



3. This particular biography of the Mahatama is insightful and powerfully written. Fischer analyses Gandhi in a way that allows you to discover Gandhi for yourself and see connections between the world in which Gandhi lived and the man he became. It provides numerous insights that Gandhi's own humility may not have allowed him in his own autobiography. It does start out kind of slow, but Fischer's analysis of Gandhi picks up momentum after the first few chapters and becomes a page turner. Highly inspiring for those who want to further understand Gandhi's views and see them in relation to the world. Highly recommended!



4. Louis Fischer does his subject justice with a fine account of Gandhi's life. Despite the long duration of the Mahatma's struggle, the author keeps the book interesting pretty much throughout. Fischer's two first hand accounts of his meetings with Gandhi serve as a plesent break in the course of the book, giving it greater life, as well as providing a more personal insight into Gandhi. Thankfully the author remains well clear of blind adoration for the man, highlighting both his flaws and weaknesses. The only short coming is that the book was written before the rise of M.L. King and Nelson Mandela, thus fails to address the full influence Gandhi had and will have beyond India. Overall, I whole heartedly recommend this book of such an important subject, which was also the inspiration for the film.

5 comments about Nelson's Way: Leadership Lessons from the Great Commander.

1. In an age where true heroism seems dead, it's no surprise that modern leaders feel compelled to look to history for suitable role models. The British war hero Admiral Horatio Nelson is such a figure, although his brand of heroism wasn't as perfect as you might hope. Stephanie Jones and Jonathan Gosling, unabashed Nelson fans, analyze his life, finding both inspiration and ambiguity in his exploits. Nelson was a great leader, true, but also a reckless one who sought glory and flouted convention. This intriguing study of his life offers advice and examples that remain useful two centuries after his death. We recommend this swashbuckling biography and guide to leaders and would-be leaders who want a fresh look at management theory in practice.



2. As an American (my Brit friends would say "ignorant colonial"), I had little knowledge of Admiral Nelson, the hero of Trafalgar. And the hero of Alexandria. And of Copenhagen, and on and on. The revelation of this book is that he was far more than a military hero. Nelson was a leader and manager par excellence, and my business school students can take a great many valuable lessons from his life.
   
   The word "lessons" sounds burdensome, but Nelson's exciting life story makes each lesson easy to swallow and leaves the reader eager for the next one. Nelson was bold, decisive, visionary, energetic, a brilliant thinker, and kept his eye on the details as well as on the big picture. His naivete in personal affairs and his great successes in professional life contrasted in revealing ways.
   
   What makes the study of his life especially worthwhile (compared with, say, that of Alexander the Great or Franklin Roosevelt) is that Nelson lived on the cusp of modern times, neither too far away from us in years nor too close. We can find him romantic and yet relevant. My thanks to the authors for an eye-opener.



3. This book is brilliant - both as an exciting read about the life of a great war hero and as a valuable tool for anyone studying or teaching management.
   
   Nelson's Way is well written and easy to read. Even with no previous knowledge about Nelson, you are quickly drawn into the book by the authors' enthusiasm. I loved the gripping account of the battles and Nelson's public achievements as a war hero. Because the book includes insights into his personal life and the difficulties in reconciling his private and his public life, you also get a greater sense of who Nelson really was, which makes it easier to relate to the Leadership Lessons at the end of each chapter.
   
   I really enjoyed the discussion around the different Leadership traits and behaviours that Nelson displayed and how relevant these are in today's business world. The book identifies behaviours not commonly mentioned in management texts, such as Courage and Glory which really makes you think about your own management style and how effective it is.



4. Although I am more of a Napoleon fan, I read Nelson's Way on the recommendation of a colleague at the university, and I am glad I did.
   
   Reading the book not only gave me a good insight into the character and vision of this British Admiral, but most importantly I learnt a lot about his style of leadership, determination and management. If there is a trait that Nelson's can be identified with that would be "leading by example".
   
   Nelson's Way and the ideas it comes out with were much more zappy and contemporary than I expected. One the best sentences I can quote from the book and that in my opinion typifies Nelson's skills of a great leader and communicator would be:
   
   "Spread the word about your achievements with stories that will be repeated, to inspire others and remind them of the values they most admire. It is not enough simply to sing your own praises."
   
   This is not just a book about history and politics, or for Nelson's fans only; it is also directed to anybody out there who is keen on learning how and striving to lead, motivate, inspire and communicate in today's world. It is practical, contains real details and good ways for implementing changes within oneself and others around us. I do believe there are many lessons to be learned from Nelson, the question is: are we listening, are we willing?
   
   Very entertaining and nicely written book with a wealth of information well put across. An Inspirational book I would strongly recommend.



5. Nelson was tough and fearless, heroic and inspirational, and a lot of the leaders today seem quite soft and weak. We often think that many of these heroes from history have nothing to do with us today, but maybe we should think again. At least they can encourage us to have courage, and not give up, and look on the positive side. I liked Nelson's determination to fight, even against greater odds. This book is an easy and fast-paced read with interesting modern lessons for everyone. I didn't know much about Nelson and Trafalgar before, but it seems to have become a cult this year. Maybe this book helps explain why everyone is still reading about Nelson!!

2 comments about One Step Forward: The Life of Ken Dahlberg.

1. ONE STEP FORWARD is the life story of Kenneth Henry Dahlberg, one of whose claims to fame is being an 9th Air Force triple ace in World War II. Yet, as revealed in this 2008 volume from I WAS THERE PRESS, Dahlberg's fighter pilot exploits were just part of a well-lived, productive life.
   
   A transplanted Wisconsinite, Dahlberg was drafted in 1941 and eventually was assigned to the 354th FG, 9th AF in England. Flying P-47s and -51s, Dahlberg downed 15 Luftwaffe aircraft, earning a DSC among other awards. Shot down three times, he was a POW for the last three months of the war. He later served in the Minnesota Air National Guard and was quite successful in business, one of his company's products being the Miracle Ear hearing aid.
   
   Dahlberg accomplished a great deal in his life. It's unfortunate authors Al Zdon and Warren Mack didn't do a better job of relating that story. In particular the section on Dahlberg's military career, which should be the most exciting part of the book, is clumsily written and shows an unfamiliarity with military life. Describing Dahlberg's first combat mission, they state he flew "plane F in the third wing." Most likely, Dahlberg was in the third FLIGHT his squadron - the 353rd FS - put up. The squadron codes for the 353rd were "FT" so the correct designation for Dahlberg's P-51 on 12 June was FT*F. Later on, they state he flew a P-47 "with the letter O on its side. Again, the correct designation is FT*O. Several times the authors refer to machine guns and gun cameras being mounted "on" the airplane's wing rather than "in" the wings. Typo...perhaps? "Bomb racks" are termed "attachments for bombs" and so on.
   
   Depending on the reader's knowledge of military aviation, the above points may pass unnoticed. Yet I do feel that section of the book is disjointed and reads poorly.
   
   So, a mixed call on ONE STEP FORWARD. I was very impressed by the life Dahlberg has led; he's a wonderful representative of the Greatest generation. It's just unfortunate the authors didn't research their subject better.
   
   *****
   Note: This book is hardcover not paperback.



2. One Step Forward The life of Ken Dahlberg
   
   
   I was not to sure what to expect from a WW II veteran's life. The story kept me interested thru out. The book is about Ken Dahlberg life from childhood to the founder of company called Miracle Ear. Oh, by the way, he was a triple ace in WW II, shot down three times and held as a prisoner of war in Germany. Ken Dahlberg is now over ninety years old with no signs of slowing down!
   My favorite part of the book is his military career. He tells about how he almost did not graduate flight school. What he thought was his last day he snapped a barrel roll in his plane. The instructor asked and Dahlberg replied he thought he failed and wanted to try it in his last day of flying a military aircraft. The instructors made him a flight instructor and finally sent him to combat.
   The description of his becoming a triple ace is remarkable. I know there are only a few triple aces. Dahlberg is pretty humble in his skills as a pilot. When he was shot down, during the Battle of the Bulge he was rescued by a tank crew. Dahlberg and the book writers went to visit the soldier who saved him sixty years later in the hospital . The soldier told his story of the rescue and later passed away from cancer.
   Dahlberg went back to France and revisited the French family that hid him from the Germans after he was shot down. In the book, there are photos of the villa, and Dahlberg with the wooden stick hut slept in.
   Most of the book is about WW II combat experience and there are parts on how he got started in business after the war. I found it amazing that Dahlberg had started with nothing and worked hard and sacrificed to become a successful business person. He never forgets the sacrifices he and his fellow soldiers made to this country.
   Reading One Step Forward the life of Ken Dahlbeg will make you understand why World War II Veterans are called the greatest generation because they gave it all for this country. The book is very excellent reading and captivating.
   
   MAJ (ret) Eric Shuler NJARNG
   OIF 2004-2005
   
   
   

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