Book Description
White Feather is the only authorized biography of Gunnery Sergeant Carlos Hathcock II, who was recognized as the most successful sniper in the Vietnam War with more than 93 confirmed kills. The book White Feather is written by brothers Roy and Norm Chandler, who publish military shooting publications through Iron Brigade Publishing, a Jacksonville, North Carolina based corporation. As Marine Sniper, a best seller for nine years relayed his heroism in Vietnam, White Feather covers Carlos' entire career and the other details not found in any other title. Written in true "Chandler" format, this volume covers, from beginning to end, the story and tales of a true Marine Corps legend and last American Hero. As far as biographies go, this book will forever immortalize Hathcock, who passed away Feb. 1999.
Customer Reviews:
white feather/carlos hathcock.......2007-09-24
a very good personnel bio of carlos.he was a ver brave man doing the things we did so well.
Hathcock ultimate Book.......2007-08-29
This is the ulitimate Book on Gunny Carlos Hathcock,and as some of the the funds go to his family,I am honored to buy it.Jarheads buy this book,inside you'll find,This Man Was A Marine,and no, I will not berate this book by comparing it to others wrote before it.the fact that it has the blessing of the Hathcock family is enough
Fantastic book.......2007-08-10
This book cover Gunny Hathcocks' life like no other. Full of facts that you could find no where else.
Sniper Heaven.......2007-04-02
I've been wanting to get this for my husband for awhile. He is a big Carlos Hathcock fan. He wish he could have met him. His dream was and is to be a sniper. Anyone that loves real stories about people in the military would love this book.
CARLOS HATHCOCK "WHITEFEATHER".......2007-03-26
IT WAS THE BEST BOOK THAT I HAVE EVER READ ON THE SUBJECT. BUT YOU MUST READ "MARINE SNIPER" AND "SILENT WARRIOR" FIRST. THIS BOOK CONCLUDES THE TRILOGY.
Book Description
With more than sixty confirmed kills, Jack Coughlin is the Marine Corps' top-ranked sniper. Shooteris his harrowing first-person account of a sniper's life on and off the modern battlefield G unnery Sgt. Jack Coughlin is a divorced father of two with an Ivy League background who grew up in the wealthy Boston suburb of Waltham. He had thirty-six kills in Iraq- thirteen in a twenty-four hour period during Operation Iraqi Freedom-and has one of the most successful records of any sniper on active duty.Now, after twenty years behind the scope of a long-range precision rifle, Coughlin has written a highly personal story about his deadly craft, taking readers deep inside an invisible society that is off-limits to outsiders. This is not a heroic battlefield memoir, but the careful study of an exceptional man who must keep his sanity while carrying forward one of the deadliest legacies in the U.S. military today.
Customer Reviews:
.....wow...........2007-08-10
Shortly into the story it becomes pretty evident that this wasn't the "confession" of an honored and admirable soldier. This is not a warrior who wanted to share his story with the world to ease the burden of killing men who were fighting for their beliefs, even if those beliefs where not the same as his.
Jack was a soldier and sniper who saw "the dumbest man in all of Iraq" in the first day of battle. The Iraqi fighter was not dumb to Jack because he watched him do something truly stupid, like load bullets into his AK47 backwards. This fighter was "the dumbest man in Iraq" because he was 1/2 mile away and felt secure and concealed enough behind a thick bush to attack from that position (remember that these soldiers are fighting based on experience and not from years of hardcore training like our Marines). Jack took this son/grandson/cousin/fathers/brother/friends/Iraqi soldier's life from his family. I honestly believe that the Iraqi fighter should have been killed because he was attacking our countrymen. However, I would respect Jack a little more if he treated a man that was so destitute in his beliefs he was brave enough to attack an entire force of American soldier, with a little more grace and respect. Instead, Jack takes credit for his cold bore 1000 meter (hahaha...oh but his rifle was already zeroed into the EXACT, no kidding he says it in the book, distance of the target haha) shot that saved an ENTIRE BATTALIONS MAIN COMMUNICATIONS HUBS from the ONE GUY ONLY PACKING AN AK47.
Sorry for the brief ramble, but this book is filled with complete ego. I am ex-military and have been hunting and shooting for 17 of my 25 years on this earth and I have more respect for the deer/elk/beer/mtn. lions that I harvest than Jack has for the soldiers he has killed in battle. Through the book I was trying to tell myself that a sniper has to have an inflated confidence in themselves, but this was ridiculous!
By the time I finished I thought of Jack as a supply and backline soldier who wanted to try to convince SOMEONE that he was good at his job as a sniper because he couldn't convince the Marines. It seemed that he killed not only because it was his job, but because he enjoyed it as well.
~Cam
Top Ranked Marine Sniper.......2007-08-05
Very realistic and updated perspective of what a modern day sniper might face in battle !!!!I have previously read the encounters of snipers in Vietnam.....and that was most interesting also ,but this book is the most recently published technology and tactics !!!
Coughlin.......2007-07-06
I didn't read this book yet but I knew Jack back in the day when I referred to him as a Sh** Bird. He actually was a good Marine as were most of us. If this book is anything like the Coughlin I knew back in the 80s, then I am sure it will be quite a read. Semper Fi.
RICK SHAQ GOLDSTEIN SAYS: "SUPERSTAR OF SNIPERS!".......2007-07-04
I would first, like to make a point about the title, that I picked for my review. Some people, might possibly find it offensive. But if you were watching a motion picture, or a TV program, that had Jack as one of the main characters, and his comrades referred to him in that exalted way, you would take it in stride. Imagine Jack, as the young sniper in "Saving Private Ryan". With that being said, let's continue with the review. I felt this was an excellent book, and one of the things that appealed to me, as a U.S. Veteran, is that Jack and his co-writers, wrote in the "language", that is truly spoken between men, not only in war, but in training for war. Another thing that I really liked, was the fact, that as bad as Jack wanted to be a sniper, he then had even higher goals. He had the desire, to not just be the best sniper, but he had the drive and vision, to try to improve the entire operating procedure of snipers. The battlefield, was not the same as in World War II. A couple of earlier Marine marksmen, Hathcock and Mawhinney, showed in Viet Nam, "that snipers could be much more aggressive and effective by getting out of their holes and going on the hunt." I know what Jack meant, when he describes the anguish, of not only keeping classified missions to yourself, but also, dealing with the uncontrollable memories of death you've created, that reverberate in your dreams, that you can't discuss with anyone, including your wife. Jack says: "If I awoke suddenly in the middle of the night, with a start so violent, that it shook the bed, Kim knew not to question why or what was going on in my head. She was careful not to startle me with a sudden touch." This passage, sent chills up and down my spine, since in my own life, twenty years after I was out of the service, I was a single father, who always wanted my young son to wake me, before he left for school, and give me a kiss. He got scared, at the way I would wake up, swinging and yelling, about things I never told anyone. We then used a procedure, where he would come into my bedroom, tap my shoulder, and then run to the doorway, and after I got back to normal, I would give him a hug and kiss goodbye. I would like to give one last comparison of Jack's stature, especially, for the benefit of people that weren't in the military. I was awarded the "Small Arms Expert Marksmanship Ribbon, (SAEMR) with an M-16. Comparing that, to what Jack did, is like you comparing your two-year-old son's, hitting a wiffle ball, off a plastic tee, to the accomplishments of Babe Ruth. There are three things I'm happy for, after reading this book: 1) That Jack was on our side. 2) That Jack got home alive. 3) That Jack and his cohorts wrote this book. God Bless America!
P.S. The 2007 movie with the same name, has absolutely nothing to do with this book.
I would have given zero stars if that was an option.......2007-05-19
Reading all the praise below, I had to double check to make sure I was reviewing the correct book. As an avid reader of military non-fiction, I found this to be among the worst I have read. Coughlin takes great pains to declare that he took no joy in his job, yet the book is peppered with with cliche'd macho phrases and terms, like "smoke-check" (used over and OVER again) and "invincible gunslinger persona". I actually laughed out loud a few times at the ridiculous ways that Coughlin refers to himself. The relentless back-talking to superior officers is also a pretty hackneyed feature of this work. And then there is the story, which is really just a loosely assembled account of some events that happened during the initial push to Baghdad. The author's poor command of prose couldn't even make that interesting in and of itself. By the end of the book I suspected that the author was really trying to convince himself, not the reader, that he wasn't getting off on every kill he logged. If you like reading arrogant, self-praising accounts that make use of every military cliche' ever penned, look no further. If you appreciate writing quality, humility, interesting content, and a believable author, seek elsewhere.
Average customer rating:
- My first Corps novel, (and hopefully not my last)
- WARNING this is a 2-part set
- Greeeeaaaaaat !
- Not Great Literature but a Great Read
- A solid read for Griffin fans
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Under Fire
W. E. B. Griffin
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ASIN: 0399147888
Release Date: 2002-01-14 |
Amazon.com
Having wrapped up World War II with 1999's In Danger's Path, bestselling military author W.E.B. Griffin now deploys his Marines in Korea with Under Fire, the ninth volume in his Corps series. Back are familiar characters from Griffin's previous Corps books--daredevil pilot Pick Pickering, his Scotch-sipping father, Brigadier General Fleming Pickering, Capt. Ken "Killer" McCoy, and Master Gunner Ernie Zimmerman--with historical figures including President Harry Truman and General Douglas MacArthur making appearances as well. It's now 1950, and with Communist forces making their presence felt below the 38th Parallel, Griffin's plot centers on Gen. Pickering, now high up in the newly created CIA, and Ken McCoy as they work behind MacArthur's back to covertly pave the way for an invasion of North Korea.
Readers who crave nonstop battle action and excitement may find it hard to stick with Under Fire, as Griffin takes the time to detail the background leading up to one of America's least-remembered modern wars. Griffin writes for the true armed forces aficionado, filling his prose with realistic descriptions of procedure, gear, and materials, an alphabet's worth of acronyms, and an ex- soldier's ear for military dialogue. Look for more sharp, authentic writing in this series' next installment. --Benjamin Reese
Book Description
Griffin leaves WWII behind and thrusts his readers deep into the heart of the Korean War.
Customer Reviews:
My first Corps novel, (and hopefully not my last).......2007-03-17
This is the first time I've been exposed to Griffin's Corps novels. I listened to this one on tape, and I found it totally gripping! The characters are warm and very believable. Some are larger than life (ie: Major McCoy), but that's required in a novel of this type. One strong character is needed to carry the story along. I loved the inside look at one of the major battles of the Korean War (the attack on Inchon), and I liked the glimpse that we got of some real people, like General Douglas MacCarthur and President Harry Truman. I think Griffin has a really good understanding of the American Armed forces and the way that things are done there, and he tells a whopping good tale! I actually had shivers when I heard James Laughton describe the battle to take the two Korean islands that were required before the landing at Inchon could occur. And that's another thing - James Laughton does a wonderful job of reading this very exciting book. I truly enjoyed it, and am going to read or listen to other books in this series.
WARNING this is a 2-part set.......2006-08-21
WARNING! The Books-On-Tape unabridged version is a 2 part set, consisting of 18 (eighteen) cassettes in 2 (two) plastic cases. If a vendor does not specify all 18 cassettes, inquire before purchasing. Also, this is not "book 2" of anything, rather it is Book 9 of the Corps Series.
According to Amazon, reader reviews should not be used for such information, but Amazon ignores all corrections sent the way they specify for corrections.
Oh yes, this is a terrific book, and the audio version is superb.
Greeeeaaaaaat !.......2006-06-04
Don't miss reading it and "Retreat Hell". You can't miss the continuation of the story along with the excitement.
Not Great Literature but a Great Read.......2006-03-18
W.E.B. Griffin is not everyone's cup of tea, I enjoy him. This book like all of Griffin's books is a light fast good read. You know the characters and enjoy their further adventures.
If you read this book you should pick up "The Secrets of Inchon" mentioned in the author's notes. It is a truly amazing piece of first person writing.
A solid read for Griffin fans.......2005-11-12
W.E.B Griffin has carved out a niche in millitary fiction, as his large amount of book sales shows. He has perfected the blending of fictional and non-fictional characters in his various series of books. Under Fire continues his Corps series of books. Some of his major characters are back again, larger than life. These include Flem Pickering, called back into the colours, his Marine Aviator son,Pick Pickering and the former Marine raiders Ernest Zimmerman and most importantly, Major McCoy, now an intelligence specialist. Unfortunately some favourite characters are missing(Where is Jack Stecker?).
The novel starts shortly before the beginning of the Korean War with Flem Pickering , no longer a Marine General but a (very rich) businessman, who discovers on a visit to Japan that McCoy is about to be kicked out of the corps because he has written a report about North Korean millitary intentions that no one wants to see.
From this beginning the novel unfolds. We see what a shambles the beginning of the Korean War was with the U.S Army being given one of the greatest shocks in it's proud history, being pushed almost out of Korea together. The reader also sees the brilliance and madness of General MacArthur through Flem Pickerings eyes, who is fascianted and repelled by him in equal measure.
Flem Pickering also experiences some personal setbacks during the novel that make his plans to aid MacArthur in his role as CIA chief in Japan all the more difficult.
Along with some other readers I also feel slightly frustrated that the corps series has evolved into looking more at intelligence operations rather that the major campaigns of the Marine Corps. In doing so however Griffin has been able to shed light on events that are not so well known. He also probably surmised that many of these campaigns and the marines front line experences in World War Two and Korea have been already written about extensively in both fiction and non-fiction.
McCoy is still the central character of this series. In this novel he remains the pure Marine, absolutely committed to his task while still holding true to the virtues that the Marine Corps has taught him.
All in all it is a solid read for Griffin fans without quite rising to the heights of the earlier corps books or Griffins supreme achievement, The Brotherhood of War series.
Book Description
If the Marines are "the few, the proud," Recon Marines are the fewest and the proudest. Nathaniel Fick's career begins with a hellish summer at Quantico, after his junior year at Dartmouth. He leads a platoon in Afghanistan just after 9/11 and advances to the pinnacle—Recon—two years later, on the eve of war with Iraq. His vast skill set puts him in front of the front lines, leading twenty-two Marines into the deadliest conflict since Vietnam. He vows to bring all his men home safely, and to do so he'll need more than his top-flight education. Fick unveils the process that makes Marine officers such legendary leaders and shares his hard-won insights into the differences between military ideals and military practice, which can mock those ideals. In this deeply thoughtful account of what it's like to fight on today's front lines, Fick reveals the crushing pressure on young leaders in combat. Split-second decisions might have national consequences or horrible immediate repercussions, but hesitation isn't an option. One Bullet Away never shrinks from blunt truths, but ultimately it is an inspiring account of mastering the art of war.
Customer Reviews:
Real simple.......2007-09-08
Want to know the what it's like to be an junior Officer? The loneliness, the NCO's you rely on, the men, the idiots above you? Read this. A simultaneous must read is Evan Wright's Generation Kill. Identical time amd place seen from two very different perspectives.
Very Well Written.......2007-09-03
In addition to excellent content, this is a very readable book and Nate Fick compactly explains things about military life and the warrior ethos that aren't well understood outside the military. A couple page glossary of military abbreviations would be a welcome addition though.
Excellent and thought provoking.......2007-08-18
Most of my Amazon reviews deal with grilling, but I felt compelled to give my opinion. Nathaniel Fick is welcome to dine on steak or some pulled pork at my home any time he visits Bloomington, Indiana. The book is wonderfully written. He skillfully balanced descriptions of the people, events and emotions he encountered during his tour with the USMC. He did not rely on the tool of describing the technology of modern warfare to impress his reader. He is no Tom Clancy and I found this to be refreshing.
I went to his website and read an number of articles and reviews he has published since completing this book. He makes a number of astute observations on politics, the war, and the state of our nation. I hope to see more from him soon.
Nate: 2020?.......2007-08-15
Enough praise has already been heaped and another 5-star review won't change a 5-star average. A few hopefully new comments:
- Frick allows critical details of his personal life to trickle out in undeclared intimations; e.g., he's probably Catholic and probably had a girlfriend. The story would have meant more to me if I'd known exactly who was speaking. The narrative does a decently indirect job of this, but I wonder how many scenes were left out that could have showed us more of who he is?
- Why does that matter? Well, not to be a jaded 40-something who grew up in a very political environment, but I cannot imagine a clearer statement of intent to run for office. Let's see... Military hero? Check. Exposure of sensitive side? Check. Willingness to put in the hours? Check. Ability to lead others? Check. Ability to turn a phrase? Check. Empathy with the common man? Check.
I have nothing against the idea and I'd probably even vote for him. I'm just surprised nobody else has noticed this... And perhaps the explanation to my first comment is cleared up by the observation of the second.
A rare view of the USMC.......2007-08-11
Nathaniel Fick tells an interesting story from an unusual perspective. How many books can you find written about the experiences of a Marine Corps officer in war? A fair handful. How many such books can you find written by an articulate liberal arts major? Maybe just this one.
The author's educated perspective on the Marine Corps perfectly underlines the amazing strengths and the maddening weakness of the Marine Corps, depicting that certain je ne sais quois those in or around the Marines understand and critics never see.
He manages to illustrate his respect for the Marines and his mission while still exposing the stupidity of military bureaucracy, showing clearly that the good or evil possible with our military forces can really boil down to a good person or a fundamentally bad person in charge of a lowly combat platoon.
If you want a thoughtful perspective on the USMC or the opening days of the war in Iraq, this book is up your alley.
Amazon.com
Marines are different: distinct not only from ordinary U.S. citizens but from the ranks of the army, navy, and air force as well. The difference begins with boot camp at Parris Island, South Carolina, where the history and future of the United States Marine Corps intersect in the training of every new recruit. In Making the Corps, Ricks follows a platoon of young men through 11 grueling weeks of boot camp as their drill instructors indoctrinate them into the culture of the Few and the Proud. Many arrive at Parris Island undisciplined and apathetic; they leave as marines.
With the end of the cold war, the role of the American military has shifted in emphasis from making war to keeping peace. "The best way to see where the U.S. military is going is to look at the marines today," says Ricks, as the other armed forces have begun to emulate the marine model. To understand Parris Island--a central experience in the life of every marine--is to understand the ethos of the Marine Corps. Ricks examines the recent changes in the Standard Operating Procedures for Recruit Training (the bible of Parris Island), which indicate how the corps is dealing with critical social and political issues like race relations, gender equality, and sexual orientation. Making the Corps pierces the USMC's "sis-boom-bah" mythology to help outsiders understand this most esoteric and eccentric of U.S. armed forces. --Tim Hogan
Book Description
Making the Corps visits the front lines of boot camp, Parris Island, South Carolina. Here, old values are stripped away and new, Marine Corps values are forged. Acclaimed military journalist Thomas E. Ricks follows these men from their hometowns, through boot camp, and into their first year as Marines. As three fierce drill instructors fight a battle for the hearts and minds of this unforgettable group of young men, a larger picture emerges, brilliantly painted, of the growing gulf that divides the military from the rest of America.
Customer Reviews:
An accurate description of USMC boot camp.......2007-10-07
This is a book about the third recruit training battalion of the United States Marine Corps boot camp at Parris Island, SC. As a former USMC recruit in that very same battalion, reading this book brought back a lot of memories. Some of which I had worked hard to forget, apparently: I laughed out loud several times and got dewy-eyed once reading this book.
If you've never had the pleasure of going through USMC boot camp, Making the Corps is an accurate description of what it's like. Ricks follows a platoon of fledgling USMC recruits from their disorienting night time arrival at Parris Island all the way through to their lock-step graduation. He also follows up with many of these same Marines during their subsequent service in the Corps, which makes for interesting reading. Ricks also compares USMC recruit training to that of the Army, Air Force, and Navy. Unsurprisingly there is no comparison.
While the Marine Corps has slightly reworded a few stock expressions since my three-month training at Parris Island long ago, nonetheless every single detail Ricks recounts rings true.
On the one hand, I was happy to hear the Marine Corps has in fact beefed up recruit training and still maintains its emphasis on high ethical standards. (No matter what happens, I've always felt the Corps has a good heart, which accounts for its success.) On the other, I was amazed at how "lenient" things have gotten since my stint there. It's clearly still horrifying and grueling and transcendent. For example, the daily torture on "the quarterdeck", frequent trips to "the pit" for marathon platoon PT sessions, and being mercilessly bitten by sand fleas while standing at stone-rigid attention. But the good old-fashioned potentially lethal abuse by the drill instructors appears to have been "somewhat" curbed - (either that, or they made sure to get Ricks out of the way before the fun started).
As the Corps stationed me in Japan for several years, I agree heartily with Ricks' observation, "The culture that the Marines most resemble, oddly enough, is that of Japan. The Marines are almost a Japanese version of America - frugal, relatively harmonious, extremely hierarchical, and almost always placing the group over the individual" [page 199]. "The Marines ... are American samurai, in the way that they think of themselves and in the way they relate to their nation" [page 201].
My only critique of Making the Corps is Ricks' belaboring how Marines tend to view civilians as ill-disciplined and selfish. By Marine standards, civilians are. But while Ricks' analysis is correct, elitism can be an occupational hazard of any serious profession (lawyers, doctors, musicians, writers).
A well-written, accurate recounting of "Where It All Begins".
Just Like the Book.......2007-06-03
Before our son left for boot camp in 2004, the whole family read this book. In his first letter home, he said, "Mom, the first 24 hours were exactly like the book said it would be." I would say that's a great endorsement. Just a little outdated because it was written before the Crucible was added, but the rest is a great primer for recruits and their families. Very highly recommended by our Marine (now a Sergeant) son.
True Dedication.......2007-05-06
This book was a no nonsense look at the Marine Corp Basic Training. It showed the mental and physical hardships of each recruit who underwent platoon 8086. It is a great book for anyone who wants to join the corp it gives a realistic view of the inside of the Marine Corp. I would recommend this book to every man, woman and child of the USA.
Good Intro to Marines .......2007-03-20
The book narrates the story of platoon 3086. At Parris Island, SC, this platoon of roughly 60 men, undergoes training for 7 weeks in order to obtain the much yearned for qualification of "Marines." Every year about 320 platoons go through Parris Island (though with future cuts in the military, the number may be reduced significantly in the next few years). The young men come from all kinds of social, ethnic and family backgrounds, though the "proletarian" type abounds. The task of the drill instructors is to strip these kids of their individuality, of the "me" mentality, and to shape them into a cohesive unit, capable of sustaining the rigors of combat. The Marines try to instil values such as sacrifice, obedience, courage. The book also talks about the drill instructors, the real backbone of the Corps. The story of the recruits is interwoven with policy considerations, comparisons with the Army, the influence of James Webb and of the new commander.
Semper Fidelis - the structure and societal views of the corps.......2007-03-11
As a former active duty Marine who is currently in the reserves, I was excited to read this book, but perhaps it was to see what was missed more than relive the same experiences. Ricks does a great job of following the platoon through MCRD training (boot camp) and also does a great overview of the corps in terms of its own rich, eccentric and often times misunderstood culture compared to today's society and the youth that come from it.
You could never take the entire 12-week process and show every detail, but this is the first book that I feel does a good job of trying. From crying in their bunks at night to realizing potential they never knew they had, we follow a group of kids that start out together as nothing more than misfits of various race, religion and background and turn into a specialized team where "I" is nothing more than a letter in the English Alphabet that you avoid at all costs.
I felt Ricks did a fine job in showing how valuable the Corps values are. The happenings within this book are over 10 years old now and the "Nintendo Generation" as given way to a new one that is now fighting in Iraq and Afghanistan.
I could definitely relate to the honor and prestige that being a Marine on the "street" gave many of the members. From having police treat you slightly differently if you were pulled over for a speeding ticket to seeing the "kid made of water" who cried all the time end up having a successful career in the corps.
At times again, it seems dated with some of the outlooks and things that were happening around the world in 1995, but overall this is the best book for any prospective recruit to get. It will show you that you will sweat and bleed for that uniform, but it will also present to you challenges and rewards that you will never, ever find in the civilian field. MCRD was tough, but if you ask anyone who went through it if they wished it were "easier", their reply will probably be no. Teamwork, Hard work and perseverance are wrought throughout Ricks journey with this platoon, and in the end you may have a much better understanding of what the corps is all about. As a quote said in a movie once, "Its not just all John Wayne".
Download Description
"A Band of Brothers for the Pacific, this is the gut-wrenching but ultimately triumphant story of the Marines' most ferocious -- yet largely forgotten -- battle of World War II. Between September 15 and October 15, 1944, the First Marine Division suffered more than 6,500 casualties fighting on a hellish little coral island in the Pacific. Peleliu was the scene of one of the most savage no-quarter struggles of modern times, one that has been all but forgotten -- until now. Drawing on extensive interviews with Marine veterans, Bill Sloan follows a small group of young Americans through this incredibly vicious campaign and rescues their heroism on Peleliu from obscurity. Misled by faulty intelligence, the 9,000 Marine infantrymen who landed on Peleliu's beaches under withering enemy fire found themselves facing 11,000 Japanese embedded in an intricate network of caves and underground fortifications unrivaled in the history of warfare. At the heart of the Japanese defensive system was a maze of sheer cliffs and deep ravines known collectively as the Umurbrogol plateau. Endless strings of ridges bristled with concealed artillery, mortars, machine guns, and riflemen, making every inch of contested ground a potential death trap for Marines. Making matters worse, Japanese soldiers had been told by their commanders that they were to hold Peleliu at any cost in a suicidal defense of the island. Sloan's gripping narrative seamlessly weaves together the experiences of the men who were there, producing a vivid and unflinching tableau of the twenty-four-hour-a-day nightmare of Peleliu -- a melee of nonstop infantry attacks, ferocious hand-to-hand fighting, night assaults, and exhausting forced marches in temperatures that topped 115 degrees. With casualties in some infantry units averaging more than sixty percent, Peleliu ranks with the bloodiest battles in the Corps' history. Exemplifying these staggering losses was K Company, Third Battalion, Fifth Marine Regiment (K/3/5), on whose gallant officers and enlisted men the narrative focuses from the initial assault on the beaches to the horrific struggle for the Umurbrogol's crags and crevices. Surprisingly, Peleliu received little public notice back in the States even as it was being fought and was virtually forgotten after the war, despite elements of controversy that are still debated by military strategists today. The invasion was ordered by Army General Douglas MacArthur to protect his flank as he launched his campaign to recapture the Philippines. But many experts believed then -- and still maintain today -- that the bloodshed at Peleliu was needless and that the island could have been safely bypassed. In Brotherhood of Heroes, readers witness the brutal spectacle of Peleliu close-up through the eyes of the Marines who fought there. Their story will stand with Ghost Soldiers and Flags of Our Fathers as a modern classic in military history and a riveting read. "
Customer Reviews:
Brotherhood of Heroes: The Marines at Peleliu, 1944--The Bloodiest Battle of the Pacific War.......2007-09-01
As a former Marine and Pacific theatre enthusiast, I highly recommend this book as an eye-opener to all. The details and background on the people involved as well as the events are presented in a way that tells a story for many to hear. It tugs at the heart and shows what a nasty business war is indeed. Motivated me as a Marine and made me feel for the men and the sacrifices they made. Proud to be among the ranks of the elite, hard charging, devil dogs! Semper Fi!
Marine Heroism World War Two.......2007-03-12
Truly an amazing book detailing this essentially useless battle that in the end accomplished nothing from the overall strategic background of the Pacific campaign during World War 2. For anyone interested in studying this campaign this is a esential book to add to your library. A definite keeper a 5 star rating, in fact I would suggest a 10 star. Anyone buying and reading this WILL not be disappointed.
Magnificent.......2007-02-07
This excellent book follows the 1st Marine Division through this unimaginably brutal battle, giving a superb overall picture while not loosing the men themselves. The author primarily tells the story through the eyes of a handful of individual Marines. These are representatives from each of the three infantry regiments that did the majority of the fighting.
I only have two complaints about the book. First, I felt that the author emphasized Company K, Third Battalion, 5th Marines (K/3/5) so much that the 1st and 7th Marines, the 7th in particular, were somewhat neglected. I would have preferred a longer book that would have treated at least one company each of the 1st and 7th as much as K/3/5 was covered.
The second issue is that the book only focuses on the Marine actions on Peleliu in any detail. To be fair, the title of the book clearly states that the Marines are the topic, but I feel the actions of the Army's 81st Infantry Division merit the same level of detail, especially given that they experienced about 3,800 casualties themselves during this battle.
Other than these two problems, this book is an magnificent account of the battle and will move the reader to tears to think of what our nation's brave Marines went through.
An island awash in blood........2007-01-03
An excellent view of the 30 continuous days of hell. I say 30 continuous days because for many there was almost no let up the entire time from the continual dangers of murderous crossfire, roving nighttime ambushes and concealed heavy artillery and an interlocked,network of snipers and machine gunners, who would make simply looking over a rock a death sentence, and often did. It would be for many their first experience with the cave like fortifications that would await Marines on Iwo and Okinawa. It was a 110 degree bloodbath that even had the added difficulty of no fresh water in the opening stages of the invasion as the potable water to the island was shipped there in improperly cleaned former gasoline drums. It also begins with the Marines miserable and crab infested existence and training on the island of Pavuvu, itself a roadless swamp. This experience helped forge them into cohesion that would see many not make it off their next stop. Casualties from many frontline regiments would see 150%.
The author draws on Eugene Sledge's excellent first hand account of this battle frequently, and uses interviews with Marines of K/3/5 mainly, Marines under the command of both Col. Chesty Puller and his stubborn, reckless, and unyieldingly inflexible commander General Rupertus, both of whom are described, especially Rupertus, of having a reckless disregard for the enormous casualties being suffered in this regiment and other frontline outfits. Rupertus was strongly suggested by fellow Marine commanders to take his Marines off the line with fresh Army Div's awaiting but he wouldnt budge. His superior, Gen. Geiger, waffled and was faced the task of relieving him or countermanding his decision to keep Army units offshore on ships, both which would have caused shock waves in Washington. Gen. Rupertus wanted this "quickie" (as he initially referred to it as a 3 or 4 day battle before it would be won) to be a completely Marine Corps affair. It would take the actions of the new overall commander of "Operation Stalemate" to relieve both Generals of the decision to remove the Marines from the line and make it himself, as Rear Admiral George H. Fort would do after a quick inspection of the 1st Div. CP. Geiger was quoted as saying "I'm glad that's over". Rupertus said very little, and was in ill health anyway, dying 6 months later from a heart attack.
What took 30 days for these Marines to kill 10,000 well concealed and armed Japanese it would take 6 weeks for relieving Army troops to mop up the remaining 1,000 Japanese. On an average it has been determined that it took 1,589 rounds of some type from U.S. guns to kill every Japanese who would die on the island.
Like many retelling's of stories such as this one, Sloan tells a riveting story of bravery, hardship, and death that forges the title of his work We learn about the many in these Marine Corps regiments, from simple enlisted to junior officers, and we see many of them die before the books conlusion, such was the nature of this bloody struggle. Many of these talented officers were deeply respected for their leadership and bravery by these enlisted men, and many would be killed. Spreading this info. of their loss had a noticable effect on the enlisted men, one of combined sadness and shock at such terrible news, men stretched to their breaking point already, and led many to fatalism they would survive it another day. (Some, like Sledge, were incredible rarities of this battle, he being one of a tiny few who escaped the continual combat with barely a combat wound to show for it)
With The Old Breed.......2006-11-04
Out of the many authors who write about WWII, Bill Sloan is one of my favorites. "Brotherhood of Heroes" is yet another book by Mr. Sloan that I just couldn't put down, thanks in part to another book I had read previously: "With the Old Breed at Peleliu and Okinawa" by Eugene Sledge. "With the Old Breed" is probably one of the best WWII memoirs ever written, from either theater, and it was that book that led me to seek out more material on the battle for Peleliu, a God-forsaken piece of rock in the middle of the Pacific ocean that was the site of what many of the Marines considered to be the worst battle of the entire war. Yet this battle has been largely ignored by history, in part because it was of dubious importance to the overall strategy in the Pacific (Gen. MacArthur insisted the attack on Peleliu was necessary to support his invasion of the Philippines, a claim that was proved to be untrue in hindsight). "Brotherhood of Heroes" brings this battle back to the forefront in the pantheon of battles from the Pacific theater of WWII. The sights, smells, sounds, and emotions experienced by the Marines on Peleliu are all brought vividly to life in this book; while people like myself who have never experienced warfare cannot pretend to truly understand what those brave men went through, this book does an excellent job of giving us an idea of what that hell on earth was like. This was the first time that the Marines experienced a "defense in depth" when fighting the Japanese; the Japanese made them fight for every inch of ground through overlapping defensive positions that would exact a ghastly toll on the men involved. If not for the lessons learned on Peleliu, the battles for Iwo Jima and Okinawa would have been much more costly to the Americans; while Peleliu took a terribly bloody toll on the Marines who fought there, it ultimately saved more lives down the road through the lessons learned. While we today look back and marvel at the sacrifices made by the young men of the Greatest Generation for their country, those Marines will tell you that they fought not only for their country, but, more importantly, they fought for their brothers in the Corps who were doing the same thing for them. Those men would rather have died than let their buddies down, men who they considered to be closer than blood relatives yet who were complete strangers just two or three years prior; these are the bonds forged by war, something that this book highlights in spectacular fashion.
Average customer rating:
- I'm totally hooked on these books!
- Gripping Reading
- One of the Authors Best Efforts
- The most entertaining novel I have ever read
- A Waste of Time
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Behind the Lines: Corps 07 (Corps)
W. E. B. Griffin
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Battleground: The Corps
ASIN: 0515119385 |
Book Description
Philippines, 1942. A renegade Army officer and a corps of Marines fight their way through the heart of enemy Japanese territory.
Customer Reviews:
I'm totally hooked on these books!.......2007-04-29
The Corp series is my first W.E.B. Griffin series, but it definitely won't be my last. This author is a storyteller extraordinaire, and this series is wonderful. Griffin's characterizations are incredibly good, and I will be sorry to reach the end of the series and see the end of General Pickering, Killer McCoy, Pick Pickering and all the other wonderful characters in these books. In this book, we have Ken (Killer) McCoy being sent behind enemy lines in the Phillipines to lend aid and supplies to a guerrilla army led by General Fertig. It is an incredibly dangerous mission, and we need to wait until the very end of the book to see whether or not Ken McCoy can get out. The time is sent around the end of the year in 1942, and the beginning of 1943. At that time the War in the Pacific was going full steam, and the Americans were running into some surprising difficulties with the Japanese. As far as I'm concerned, this series gets better and better, and I have two books left to read before I'm done.
Gripping Reading.......2006-03-13
BEHIND THE LINES is a fast read, gripping most of the time. I wish there were clarification on this story. It's listed as a novel, yet the author's ENDNOTE describes what happened to "General" Fertig after the war. I guess it's an historical novel.
One of the Authors Best Efforts.......2005-08-15
BE WARN !! These books are like peanuts, you pick one up and you just can't stop. I got hooked on these back in the 80's and I am hard core adict to them! These series are well written, researched and the characters will reach out and grab you. So if you don't want to get addicted then go no further.
The most entertaining novel I have ever read.......2003-02-12
This book got me back into reading books after a being severely burned out post college (it took four years to pick-up a book and actually read it and it would have been longer had I not listened to this book on tape.)
I can't say enough about "Behind the Lines." After listening to this book I read straight through the series and could not put one of them down while I was reading. In fact, like one of the other posters stated, finishing them nearly brought me to tears. I will morn when "The Corps" series ends.
If you are a military history buff and like action-adventure novels, then this would also be the most entertaining novel you have ever read. I promise.
Thank you for the experience W.E.B.
A Waste of Time.......2003-01-14
I picked up these books hoping to gain some insight into the actions of the Marine Corps in the Pacific during World War II. What I found instead was a sort of soap opera that rambles on for hundreds of pages without getting around to much actual fighting. For example, The Marines don't even get to Guadalcanal (their first major offensive) until the end of book III, some 1200 pages into the story. Those 1200 intervening pages are mostly conversations (ad nauseam) between stateside Marine Corps officers as they sit around headquarters, or go out on the town chasing skirts.
The small portion of the books that is devoted to actual battles is done in such a cursory fashion that you're left with the impression that the author either finds this aspect of the Marines' mission distasteful, or doesn't understand it well enough to write about it. Mr. Griffin could have deleted about 80% of his material, and would have ended up with better books, albeit still not good ones.
If you're the sort of person who likes to watch daytime soap operas, then you may enjoy these books. If, on the other hand, you're interested in military history, the banality of these books will leave you screaming in frustration.
Average customer rating:
- Griffin's continuation of Semper Fi
- Griffin is masterful!
- Another CORPS Novel from WEB Griffin
- Just fine as a semi-historical war novel
- detailed description of US Marines
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Call to Arms: Corps 02 (Corps)
W. E. B. Griffin
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ASIN: 0515093491 |
Book Description
W.E.B. Griffin's epic story of the Marine Corps continues with an elite fraternity known as the Raiders taking form after the attack on Pearl Harbor.
Customer Reviews:
Griffin's continuation of Semper Fi.......2007-08-18
In this second book of the Corps series, "Killer" McCoy is recruited by some Marine Corps brass to spy, not on the Japanese, but on Colonel Evans Carlson, an unconventional officer with connections to President Roosevelt who is forming an unconventional unit to conduct guerrilla attacks on isolated Japanese held islands. He joins the unit, reports on Carlson, plays his role in training, and participates in the first action - which is only cursorily described by Griffin, who does not seem much interested in action scenes.
There is also a continuation of the love story between McCoy and his rich girlfriend, and a new love story between Pick Pickering and the widow of a dead pilot.
There is plenty to like about Griffin's books: his attention to historical accuracy, his technical detail, his insightful characterization of the life and backgrounds of professional soldiers. Griffin is a very competent professional writer with a clear love of the people he portrays. However there are also many flaws.
The love stories, and the characters themselves, are pretty simple adolescent dreams of life. The two Marines (McCoy and Pick) live in lavish quarters. They have access to resources that few real Marines could ever have. McCoy is not just smart, brave, and a real killer Marine, he's also fluent in four languages that he picked up entirely on his own. Pick is not just a good pilot, he's a natural born aviator who can do things in his first flight in an airplane that most cannot do until the end of training. The prostitutes they visit are not just young and good looking, they're the best of the best. Their girlfriends are not just pretty, they're rich, well connected and willing to break all the social conventions to give their men what they need.
I guess this is the stuff that young soldiers dream about and never have. Griffin's books help them to dream on. One reviewer here called it soap opera, and it's hard to disagree.
For those interested in grittier and perhaps more realistic, if less technical, views of military life, have a look at Irwin Shaw's _The Young Lions_, or Norman Mailer's _The Naked and the Dead_, or James Jones' _From Here to Eternity_.
I can't deny however that it wasn't a bad read.
Griffin is masterful!.......2007-05-07
This book is part of the Corps series and the entire series is superbly written. Griffin develops his characters so they are realistic and a twisting plot that leads the reader through the lives of the characters.
Another CORPS Novel from WEB Griffin.......2007-03-13
THE CORPS is the best novel series I have read. It is FICTION, PEOPLE. Some complain about the re telling of the previous characters in every book. This makes the series readable non-sequentially. I bought most of the series used, out of sequence, and could easily keep up with the story. Good historical fiction is an artform, Griffin has painted his Guernica in the form of this series. It has encouraged me to delve into 20th century USMC research further. I hope they make a movie out of it someday. I would see it 50 times and buy the DVD.
Just fine as a semi-historical war novel.......2007-01-14
If you buy a W E B Griffin novel looking for shootin' and lootin' combat action, you'll probably be a little disappointed. For new readers, I strongly recommend the first two volumes of The Corps series. As an ensemble, the characters are the most compelling of Griffin's works and the stories follow a mostly historical time line. Readers whose view of WWll comes from old B&W movies may find the carousing a little rugged although the "Platoon" and "Apocalypse Now" generation will find the sex and drinking pretty conventional.
Griffin provides his readers a slightly different angle or angles, offering multiple intertwined stories which are more or less connected within the context of the whole. Sometimes, this works well, sometimes less so, depending really upon how well he manages to tie the whole thing together in the last few pages.
If this appeals to you there are a couple of other things you may want to consider before beginning your journey into Griffin's micro version of history. The most obvious is that the books are written in series form, "The Corps", Brotherhood of War", "Honorbound", etc, and while you probably will want to read them in their proper order, (numbered for your convenience, Book l, Book ll, and so on), you may find reading them straight through a bit wearisome. This is due to the Author's practice of bringing new readers up to speed on the reoccurring characters, (reading the story on Ken McCoy's nickname for the third or fourth time, if done in too short a time frame, is off putting).
Another artistic conceit is Griffin's love of the "small world phenomena", (think Six Degrees of Kevin Bacon), all of his primary cast not only know each other through family, or business associations, or mutual friends or a shared experience, they somehow manage to be tied to famous persons of the time. To enjoy the Griffin books you'll just have to suspend reality a bit and just go with it. Get used to guest appearances by "Dugout Doug MacArthur and FDR.
You also may be a little impatient with some of the editing and although most folks who read these as military or history buffs won't mind the routine technical references to uniforms, weapons, rations, and other gear, the casual reader might. I found the earliest "Corps" and "Brotherhood" stories strongest and his later work, and the "Badge of Honor" series to be a little less focused.
detailed description of US Marines.......2006-11-26
This novel hasn't much deep in treating characters, as the protagonist, the hard Marine Ken Mc Coy and the other personages are described in a simple way of good/ bad people, the first, with Mc Coy at head, brave and fortunate soldiers, the late, coward or at less, stupid.
The strong point of this book is I think the description of US military and particularly Marine Corps in the decade of 1940's seems to me very exact and plenty of details the author had to know form first hand. A deception for me: the Thompson machine gun, I think the most beautiful light weapon is described as very difficult and worrying to use excepting for very few men with exceptional skills. Garand is described as an excellent rifle, and still better the Johnson rifle, although for some people this is debatable. Carbine M 1 is qualified as a mediocre weapon. Also there's a problem with the Kodacolor film, as Mc Coy says when he spies the Japanese, in the light of dawn this clas of film is ruined in spite of the Leica camera; I don't know the reason for that. Well, this book remembers to me a little, the excellent movie "From here to eternity".
Average customer rating:
- Continuing the story of the World War II Marine Corps.
- Close Combat
- A Waste of Time
- Great balance of fear, romance and historical fiction
- Do the guys always get the girl and the good scotch?
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CLOSE COMBAT [THE CORPS , BOOK VI (Corps)
W. E. B. Griffin
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Counterattack (The Corps Book 3)
ASIN: 0515112690 |
Book Description
An epic novel of World War II--and the brave men and women who lived through it.
Customer Reviews:
Continuing the story of the World War II Marine Corps........2007-01-09
I for one am truly enjoying these books set during the Second World War. Most of the battle action is set in the Pacific, and this book is set during the latter part of 1942 when the Americans were facing some real problems on Guadalcanal. Although there weren't as many battle scenes in this book as in others, it does advance us further into the war, and we really get to know the main characters. There are some surprises here. for example a very young corporal who acts very bravely on "Bloody Ridge". These books, I think, display a real pride in the United States Marine Corps. Griffin handles this tribute to a great Corps very well. And he writes wonderful stories!
Close Combat .......2006-02-21
Griffen is one of my favorite authors, and this novel didn't change my opinion. The book is well balanced, in that it concentrates more on the interaction of military people, their foibles as well as their strengths, and not just the violent battles. It, like all his others, is hard to put down. He makes his characters so real that a person with a military bent will certainly recognize many of his peers, and superiors. It is the kind of book that the Berkeley crowd would enjoy burning.
A Waste of Time.......2003-01-14
I picked up these books hoping to gain some insight into the actions of the Marine Corps in the Pacific during World War II. What I found instead was a sort of soap opera that rambles on for hundreds of pages without getting around to much actual fighting. For example, The Marines don't even get to Guadalcanal (their first major offensive) until the end of book III, some 1200 pages into the story. Those 1200 intervening pages are mostly conversations (ad nauseam) between stateside Marine Corps officers as they sit around headquarters, or go out on the town chasing skirts.
The small portion of the books that is devoted to actual battles is done in such a cursory fashion that you're left with the impression that the author either finds this aspect of the Marines' mission distasteful, or doesn't understand it well enough to write about it. Mr. Griffin could have deleted about 80% of his material, and would have ended up with better books, albeit still not good ones.
If you're the sort of person who likes to watch daytime soap operas, then you may enjoy these books. If, on the other hand, you're interested in military history, the banality of these books will leave you screaming in frustration.
Great balance of fear, romance and historical fiction.......2003-01-09
Griffin pulls off what so many writers get close to but never quite seem to manage -- an authentic, if slightly romantic, portrait of the US military during the 1930s, 40s and 50s. True, many of the protagonists are wealthy, but many are not. For example, Ken Mccoy is dirt poor until he marries up. There are a lot of promotions to keep things moving, but there's also a number of guys who stay enlisted. What is captured accurately is the look and feel of serving in the pre-Vietnam US military. The Brotherhood of War and The Corps both remind me of Bernard Cornwell's series about Richard Sharpe, tracing his advancement from a Redcoat private and then sergeant in 1799 India to his elevation to Lt. of the 95th Rifles at the Battle of Assaye, and then through the Napoleonic Wars in Portugal, Spain, Denmark and ultimately Waterloo. He retires a Lt. Col., which was almost unheard of for someone raised from the ranks of the British Army, but the chronology is plausible, particularly given the wartime death rate. all in all, I go through the Griffin novels like Doritos and beer -- you can't read just one of them. He is indeed the poet laureate of the American military. Read the Sharpe books too -- you will really enjoy his ability to put you in the action of a 19th century battlefield. They also were made into a first-class series of fourteen 2-hour movies by the BBC, starring Sean Bean as a very convincing Richard Sharpe.
Do the guys always get the girl and the good scotch?.......2002-08-01
I really like this series as well as "The Brotherhood of War" series. The stories are great, the characters are very likeable and the little bit of history you can get from the books are nice. I have read each of Griffin's series at least twice. I like them that much.
However, I AM REALLY GETTING TIRED OF THE SAME OL' THING. Follow me here. Have you noticed:
1- The guy always gets the girl
2- The girl is always "so ... beutiful"
3- It is nearly almost always love at first sight.
4- The main characters generally start out young and enlisted
within a few chapters they are being gererously promoted.
Most are promoted to officers, some right out of boot-
camp or basic training. It appears promotions are handed
out like meals.
5- The girls are all easy, but they are still "nice girls".
6- None of the main characters die or become handicaped.
7- They all drink scotch (famous grouse)
8- Most of the main characters are rich and of course from
Philly or near there.
9- They all make wonderful and reluctant heroes.
10- etc... etc...
All-in-all, I would recommend Griffins series to anyone who is male. I don't think women would much like them.
Book Description
A sometimes harrowing, often humorous, and occasionally tragic look at the Marine Corps from the inside out in its struggle with the insurgency in Iraq. Drawing from personal experience in the confusing, deadly conflict currently being fought in the streets and back alleys of Iraqi towns and villages, Danelo focuses on the young Marine leaders--corporals and sergeants--whose job it is to take even younger Marines into battle, close with and destroy an elusive enemy, and bring their boys back home again. Sadly, there are losses, but true to the Marine Corps spirit, they soldier on, earning their blood stripes the only way they know how--the hard way.
Customer Reviews:
Real People, Real War.......2007-10-13
BLOOD STRIPES, as you learn in the book, are the red stripes that an NCO in the Marine Corps is permitted to wear on the outside of their blue pants. You also learn how they came about - and I'm not going to give it away. What I will say is that this book teaches you things about the Marine Corps and the men who are the backbone of the Corps - the Grunts - that you could only learn by going through boot camp. You feel like you are living the war with them and you come to care deeply for and about them. These are REAL People, with all their bravado, fears, warts and deep humanity. You come to understand the "brotherhood" of the Corps. Most of all you understand the disconnect between those who politically support or oppose wars and those who fight them.
The best book I have read in a long, long time. Buy it - READ it!
Bobby Michaels
blood stripes.......2007-06-02
the best book on the realities of marines fighting in Iraq. A gripping account of NCO'S living and managing a war in a hostile environment
A Moving, Gritty, Inspiring Book.......2007-03-25
Read this book, and you will have a better understanding of why the warriors who make up the United States Marine Corps are the elite fighting force they are. After reading this, I came to realize that I could never fully understand what it takes to become the "true" warrior, but it also made me thank God that we have them, and that they are there ready at all times to fight for us. This book is hard to read, in that the true lives of Marines in battle, under fire in less than optimum conditions, with brothers wounded or dying with alarming frequency, are all right there for the reader to deal with. It can sometimes be informative, even funny, but mostly heart-wrenching as the battles, which are being fought for us, hit home. Read this book, but be prepared to deal with emotions you maybe didn't realize existed within yourself.
A fascinating read.......2007-03-02
This gripping book brings the reader straight onto the ground in Iraq. A timely and important story, and a great read
A worthwhile read........2006-09-25
I picked this book up because Steven Pressfield's name was on it (he wrote the foreword). It's no Pressfield novel and I can't say that it's a particularly well written book, but Danelo does offer an important perspective - that of combat marines during the first battle of Fallujah. He relates the lifestyle and experiences of marines on the ground in Iraq and touches briefly on the effect of media and politics on the early stages of the war. I had hoped that more stress would have been placed upon the latter, but Danelo's book is primarily a relation of various marine's accounts of life and battle in Iraq. Throughout, he paints an admirable and fairly candid picture of marine combat forces. All in all, it's a decent book, though a little heavy on comparisons to scenes from movies.
Books:
- Centered Riding (A Trafalgar Square Farm Book)
- Civil War II: The Coming Breakup of America
- Crusades: The Illustrated History
- Don Troiani's American Battles: The Art of the Nation at War, 1754-1865
- Exploring the Lusitania: Probing the Mysteries of the Sinking That Changed History
- Fearful Hard Times: The Siege and Relief of Eshowe 1879
- Flags of Our Fathers
- French Special Forces
- George Washington's War on Native America (Native America: Yesterday and Today)
- German Paratroops, Uniforms, Insignia & Equipment of the Fallschirmjager in Wwii: Uniforms, Insignia & Equipment of the Fallschirmjager in World War II (Schiffer Military History)
Books Index
Books Home
Recommended Books
- Totems to Turquoise: Native North American Jewelry Arts of the Northwest and Southwest
- Once a Princess
- Drawing and Painting with Colored Pencil: Basic Techniques for Mastering Traditional and Watersolubl
- General Chem in Lab4/E-Im: Illust.Guide 3/E
- History: Fiction or Science
- People Places: Design Guidlines for Urban Open Space, 2nd Edition
- Murder at Madingley Grange
- Concrete and Clay: Reworking Nature in New York City
- Damascus: Hidden Treasures of the Old City
- Texas Grasses : Classification and Description of Grasses Descriptive Systematic Agrostology
Marine Sniper: 93 Confirmed Kills
Silent Warrior: The Marine Sniper's Story Vietnam Continues
One Shot One Kill: One Shot One Kill
Crosshairs on the Kill Zone: American Combat Snipers, Vietnam through Operation Iraqi Freedom
Dead Center: A Marine Sniper's Two-Year Odyssey in the Vietnam War
