Book Description
A riveting memoir from the Navy doctor praised as "Hero, M.D." on the cover of Newsweek.
Cdr. Richard Jadick's story is one of the most extraordinary to come out of the war in Iraq. At thirty-eight, the last place the Navy doctor was expected to be was on the front lines. He was too old to be called up, but not too old to volunteer. In November 2004, with the military reeling from an acute doctor shortage, Jadick chose to accompany the First Battalion, Eighth Marine Regiment (the "1/8") to Iraq. During the Battle of Fallujah, Jadick and his team worked tirelessly and courageously around the clock to save their troops in the worst street fighting Americans had faced since Vietnam. It is estimated that without Jadick at the front, the Marines would have lost an additional thirty men. Of the hundreds of men he treated, only one died after reaching a hospital. This is the inspiring story of his decision to enter into the fray, a fascinating glimpse into wartime triage, and a compelling account of courage under fire.
Customer Reviews:
But Enough About Me..........2007-09-20
Having read the compelling Newsweek article that became the catalyst for the book, I was expecting much more than what was finally produced. As another reviewer mentioned, too much of the book was spent on CDR Jadick's personal history and trite stories about everyday life downrange. (Though the latrine story was pretty doggone funny...)
Perhaps it's difficult to produce a tome about one aspect of one battle - but others have managed. Those who have, however, are usually historians and not docs.
A bad book review should be understood for what it is. A book review. This is not a criticism of the author's valor or medical skill, which is worthy of every accolade that's been bestowed.
Mediocre at best.......2007-08-16
Does not deserve to share a shelf with medical accomplishments such as Atul Gawande's Better or Complications. The book is filled with trite sentences and tainted with the robotic marine mentality. Slow and reads like you yourself are in hell.
You are there in the Minds and Hearts........2007-07-16
Feel the heat, taste the dust, squint in the sun while horror is delivered to you on the hour.
A Jewel of a Novel.......2007-07-01
having been in the Navy I found this book a fine read. His explanation of the Marine/Navy world was perfect. Corpmen are always highly respected by all. Beyond that it shows the great men and women and their beliefs toward our wonderful country. Soemtimes when we see the faults by politicians and others and we wonder how we will make it as a country all we have to do is look toward the fine men and women that serve us and our country. Let our hearts go out and let us in the future be ready to help them in all they will need.
On Call In Hell by Cdr. Richard Jadick.......2007-06-25
The book was riveting...hard to put down. I read it in two days, mainly because I wanted to experience what Marines and Navy Corpsmen experience in combat, and I certainly did and then some. My son's heroic rescue on Thanksgiving Day, 2004 was clearly documented, as was his death in combat the next day. Kudos to the corpsmen who literally go through the gates of hell to rescue a wounded Marine!
Book Description
A new supplement that further explores fiends of the D&D world.
Fiendish Codex II: Tyrants of the Nine Hells is a supplement designed to be the definitive resource for information about devils and the Nine Hells of the D&D world. Like its predecessor Fiendish Codex I: Hordes of the Abyss, this game material is completely compatible with the D&D core rulebooks and is intended for both D&D players and Dungeon Masters.
AUTHOR INFORMATION
Robin Laws is a freelance writer who has designed dozens of roleplaying game products, including most recently Dungeon Master’s Guide II.
Robert J. Schwalb is a freelance developer and editor who primarily works on game products for Green Ronin Publishing.
Customer Reviews:
An Excelent Source for Devilish Exploits.......2007-07-12
This book is all about Devils and the Plane where they reside. I mean all about them. In my mind there are three really fantastic masterminds in Dungeons and Dragons: Dragons, Mindflayers and Devils.
If you're looking for content you can use all the time, then this isn't the best book for you. Go look at the compendiums or the Complete books. If you want villains and powers to tie together an entire campaign from level 1 into epic, than this is for you.
Included inside is a very nice tale of the creation of hell and the devils that can be easily adapted for your home brew world. Then theres feats, spells, prestige classes, descriptions of the layers and lots of new devils.
Again I must stress that the prestige classes, feats and spells are really geared towards either serving devils or fighting them. This book is a commitment to a devil themed campaign. It does so beautifully.
With the help of this book, my main villain just became a pawn in planar politics. My PCs have lots of options, on how to progress forward. I've got lots of ideas and environments for epic feeling quests before we get to the main devils. I highly reccomend it.
Hell awaits only the most brave or foolish.......2007-05-30
Well, I have to congratulate Wizards for adding another great book to the list of accessories. Our group runs several high level to epic level campaigns and this is a must for anyone who wants to involve the Blood War and the politics and intrigue of hell to your campaign. The new stats for the all the major players are here along with prominent followers and factions for each lord. There are many new feats and skills specific to just these planes as well as a few new presige classes that you can use for PC's and NPC's. The other great things is the plethora of roleplaying ideas for each of the nine hells, including cities, landmarks and many maps to really help you flush out your campaign. Things like this and other information make it a must for your collection so that when your party meets Mephistopheles, its an experience that they will never forget!
Awesome Book.......2007-05-16
This book gave great inside views into hell. It gave the facts on how hell lives, sleeps and breaths, along with the ArchDevils to go with it. If your planning on running a adventure in hell for a duration of time i suggest this book.
Useful Add-on.......2007-05-13
This book is a very good addition to any D&D campaign that plans on traveling to the Outer Planes, or fights extraplanar threats on a regular basis. The maps of the nine layers, and the detailed write-ups of the unique leaders of each of the layers add to it's usefulness. The extra devils are also useful to allow for rotating of devilish threats.
Deviliscious.......2007-05-07
If you are a cruel DM (at times) then this is the book for you. Nothing like a trap door to Hell to get your adventuring party set-up for a TPK. In all seriousness, this is a great source for Devils in any DM's line-up, I am glad I picked it up.
Book Description
Virtually unknown in the English-speaking world, the Battle of Cherkassy (also known as the Korsun Pocket) still stirs controversy in both the former Soviet Union and in Germany. It was at Cherkassy where the last German offensive strength in the Ukraine was drained away. Hell's Gate is a riveting hour by hour and day by day account of this desperate struggle analyzed on a tactical level through maps and military transcripts, as well as on a personal level, through the words of the enlisted men and officers were there.
Customer Reviews:
Hell's Gate.......2007-02-12
Expert writing on a relatively little-known albeit vital battle on the Eastern Front in 1944. Military History does not get any better than Mr. Nash's account of the battle of the Cherkassy pocket!
Outstanding History.......2007-01-30
Excellent book, with loads of anecdotes and personal accounts, at least for the German side. The book would have been even better if the author could have managed to obtain more Soviet first hand accounts as well, but even without them he does a good job of describing and assessing the Soviet side of the battle as well.
The Telling of a Desperate Struggle .......2007-01-27
"Hell's Gate" is a meticulously researched volume of a little known brutal winter battle on the Eastern Front during World War II. The writing is clear and unambiguous; the text is supplemented with many photographs, including previously unpublished photos made available to the author by participants of this battle.
There are some irritating production shortcomings, such as the occasional line dropping off at the bottom of a page and the seemingly inevitable misspellings throughout.
In all, I readily recommend this book.
Fascinating Account Of A Little Known Battle.......2007-01-27
If you want to know what war on the Eastern Front was like, there is not a better book available. The Battle of the Cherkassy Pocket takes place in early 1944 as the tide of war is turning against the German Army.
The author vividly details the progress of the battle. We get insight into the personalities of the military leaders on both sides. Liberal use of first hand experiences literally put the reader on the battlefield itself. The book also includes many striking photos taken during the battle.
The key story line is that of a surrounded German Army force. Having learned the hard lessons of Stalingrad, the Luftwaffe puts forth an incredible effort to try to keep the entrapped force resupplied until a breakout can be attempted. During the course of the battle, the author details the typical mistakes and miscommunications that so often take place during war. The Germans are suprised by the entrapment of their forces in the Cherkassy area having underestimated Soviet forces opposite them. Likewise, the Soviets find that even at this late point in the war, the German Army can still strike back effectively.
This book is highly recommended for anyone who wants to get a feel for the intensity of the war on the Eastern Front.
Great history .......2006-12-06
The book is well researched backed by the author's visit to the battlefield site. He interviews numeorus survivors(mostly German) of the battle. It is a pity that the Russians are not more forthcoming in allowing researchers access to their archives.
The only negative and I may be the only that thinks in this respect, is that I hate coffee table sized books.
Average customer rating:
- The end of a great series!
- 'The Corps' Series
- HUSBAND'S RESPONSE
- I Surrendered!
- hell in a handbasket
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Retreat, Hell! (Corps)
W. E. B. Griffin
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ASIN: 0515138614 |
Book Description
It is the fall of 1950. The Marines have made a pivotal breakthrough at Inchon, but a roller coaster awaits them. While Douglas MacArthur chomps at the bit, intent on surging across the 38th parallel, Brigadier General Fleming Pickering works desperately to mediate the escalating battle between MacArthur and President Harry Truman. And somewhere out there, his own daredevil pilot son, Pick, is lost behind enemy lines--and may be lost forever.
Customer Reviews:
The end of a great series!.......2007-07-22
The Corps series is the first series that I have read of W.E.B. Griffin, but it certainly won't be the last. Griffin is a marvellous writer who mixes actual people in with his fictional people. His stories are epics and the plots are larger than life as war so often is. This book is set around the beginning of the Korean War in the latter part of 1950. Most of the action takes place behind the lines in North Korea. Major Ken (Killer) McCoy takes a lead role in this one as he mounts a series of behind-the-lines surveillance teams. Their main job is to monitor the Chinese border to determine whether of not the Red Chinese are going to enter the war. We have a lot of the original characters from World War II such as General Fleming Pickering, Colonel Ed Banning, Major Malcom Pickering and Master Gunnery Sergeant Zimmerman, as well as some new names and people. The book is so realistic that it took my breath away. I am very sorry to reach the end of this stupendous series. I will next tackle The Badge of Honor series. If I get half as much enjoyment out of that as I did with this one, I will be happy.
'The Corps' Series.......2007-07-19
While I am enjoying Griffin's new 'Presidential' series, I just re-read his 'The Corps' series from beginning to end, and I really think that there is room for a couple of more books there. _Retreat, Hell!_ ended with the birth of the McCoy's son and the Chinese have just entered the Korean War. What happened to his characters next? What about Vietnam and the CIA in the 1950s? The 1960s?
HUSBAND'S RESPONSE.......2007-01-11
iT WAS AN ORDER FOR MY HUSBAND AND THE LAST BOOK IN THE SERIES THAT HE HAD NOT READ AND COULDN'T
FIND SO IT WAS GREAT.
I Surrendered!.......2007-01-04
Having struggled through about half of Retreat, Hell, I surrendered to the boring plot, weak character development and lack of action and gave up reading it. The jacket cover made me feel that I was going to be in for a real treat. However, I was misled and can sum my feelings up about this book in one acronym...NATO... no action, talk only. Rather than providing a good mix of action and military history, Retreat, Hell is so filled with minutiae that it overwhelms any of the very few and far between parts that are (at best) moderately exciting. Do yourself a favor and sjip this book.
hell in a handbasket.......2006-08-16
W.E.B. Griffin's novelistic account of the Korean Conflict in 1950 teaches even as it entertains. Douglas Macarthur - who is still revered as the hero his president wouldn't listen to by many South Koreans - is primed for glory, but has to deny the massive Chinese presence that awaits his troops if he's going to get there.
Enter Ken McCoy, your basic straight-talking grunt who sees clearly, shoots when he has to, and wins the day. Sort of.
Not a brilliant literary piece, if that's what you need. But a colorful introduction to the no-win drama of the Korean Conflict and some of its key players, not to mention an interesting insight into the psychology of the Corps when its civilian and military masters wander off the beaten track.
Book Description
With the defenses of the Southern Appalachians sundered, the only thing standing between the ravening Posleen hordes and the soft interior of the Cumberland Plateau are the veterans of 555th Mobile Infantry. Dropped into Rabun Pass, with a couple of million Posleen behind them and fourteen million to the front, the only question is which will run out first: power, bullets or bodies. But they have a hole card: far to the north the shattered SheVa Nine is undergoing a facelift. Rising from its smoking ashes is a new weapon of war, armed with the most advanced weaponry Terra has ever produced, capable of facing both the Posleen hordes and their redoubtable space-cruisers. Capable of dealing out hell as only SheVa Nine can. If Mike O'Neal and the other members of the 555th are going to survive, it will come down to how much Posleen butt Bun-bun can kick. Prepare to eat antimatter, Posleen-boy.
Customer Reviews:
Deux ex machina indeed.......2007-09-17
"The biggest complaint I have is the deus ex machina saviors . . . "
Sums it up for me. I have refused to buy or read anything else in the series because of that ending.
Sorry, John, but there has to be some penalty. Readers had a lot invested in the series by that point. It was great until then but that just makes what felt like a betrayal even worse, whatever the reason.
I can't think of many books in the enormous numbers I have read that left me feeling this, well, cheated.
I originally read the ending with growing disbelief. It felt just as if, a few chapters from the end of a very long book in a long series, that the publisher had called and told the author that the fifth book was a no-go and this one had to end the whole story (and was still due in his hands in a couple of days).
A fine addition to the series.......2007-02-15
I know exactly what I liked about this book over the earlier ones...the focus wasn't on superhero Mike Oneal. No, the focus was on Bun-Bun, the superhero mechanized cannon\assault vehicle! And while superheroics were still present, there were real people involved as well. I guess that's just my preference.
Overall, this is a great wrap-up to the posleen invasion phase of the series. As usual, the combat sequences are vividly portrayed and just a ton of fun.
Starts Strong, but Lingers Too Long - and Took One Book Too Many! .......2007-02-02
"A Hymn Before Battle" and "Gust Front" introduced John Ringo and his War Against the Posleen universe with a rousing start. Unfortunately, the next two books (this review is for "When the Devil Dances" and "Hell's Faire" because, even as Ringo admits, they are really one book) do not live up to the beginning. "When the Devil Dances" starts strong, picking up a while after the battle of "Gust Front"; humanity is struggling in pockets of civilization as they continue to battle against the initial invasion of the Posleen. But, they also know that the next, bigger wave is approaching, and that stopping the final taking of Earth by the Posleen seems impossible without re-enforcements from the units fighting off world - re-enforcements that they are told are not coming.
These two books are darker as well; Ringo admits to this in his afterwards of "Hell's Faire" where he talks about the effects of 9-11 on his writing of the book(s) and where he also admits to the faults of the third and fourth books of the series.
Though the book(s) has(ve) some great moments and some great battles, there are some serious flaws riddling the story. The biggest problem with the third book (or third and fourth books), is that it is too long...way too long - really needed some editing. Again, Ringo admits to this; which is unfortunate because that means it could have been fixed before publication. I think most of the blame falls on Baen Books, not Ringo; Baen has become a bit of a factory and its good authors suffer for it.
Another big problem with "When the Devil Dances" and "Hell's Faire" is the direction Ringo takes to story and the characters. The darkness that Ringo brought to these books, does not fit the first two books or the universe he created. And, he leaves us completely unfulfilled in regards to the background intrigue that has been building throughout the series. And, when he talks in the afterwards of walking away from the universe for a period of time because he is burned out on it, I found that very unfair as there was too much left undone.
And a warning: my biggest problem with these two books is the way he ends it! I won't tell you the ending, but it is so quick and so pat, I was left so dissatisfied, that it spoiled the universe for me. Then it got worse when the next books in the universe were cash-cow pot boilers written by other authors! What a disappointment.
The Continuing Human-Posleen War series.......2007-01-10
I like Ringo's Posleen books quite a bit, but Hell's Faire and When the Devil Dances would have been better as a single (somewhat slimmer) book. Note - To his credit, the author does discuss why the books came out the way they did instead of as one work.
The final battle.......2006-12-20
The Human-Posleen War has reached a crecendo now, with this apocolyptic final battle that lasts for 29 hours and over three states in South East America. Mike O'Neal is still fighting with the 555th, a military unit with specially designed suites to fight the physicaly stronger aliens. Elsewhere SheVa (a supertank made to be able to shoot down huge landing space crafts) is also engadged and up to it's neck in alien opposition. The major turning point in the novel is the use of nuclear weapons as stratagic weapons, as it is the only really effective away of dealing with the threat on such a massive scale.
This is the last book of the series, well, for me anyway. I know there is more books in the series, but they address other aspects of the war that do not interest me. "Hell's Faire" is not exactly a sequal to "When the Devil Dances"; they were intened to be one long novel. I think it was a good idea to seperate them; the combined book would have been nearly 1000 pages.
The book brings back all the old characters you have grown to love, Mike, Papa O'Neal, Cally, Gunny Pappas, Duncen, and all the others. And once again they're the problem, they don't seem real but all more or less John Wayne cloned. They have grwon hard and cold by the non-stop war. None more than Major 'Mighty' Mike O'Neal, who orders a nuke strike, knowing his daughter will most surely be killed by it. Cally seems a little too wise for her years
The only other real problem I had, and this is with all the books, is with the cloak and dagger espeionage that pop up from time to time, like the idea that the Durhel are not the benevloent benifacotrs that they claim to be. Good idea, but I don't think it was ever really explained (or maybe I just missed it). I didn't think the unresolved mystery fit well with a streight forward war book.
Still a wonderful finale to a good science-fiction war series.
Customer Reviews:
Mass Media Editors need Education........2004-09-30
So, this book is about the American Civil War??? Then why is there an English Enfield with bayonet on the cover?!?!? The particular model on the cover was adopted in December of 1888, and later improved in 1901. This is a sad error indeed!!! :^P
North and South The Triology.......2003-01-08
If you enjoy books that cover the Civil War era, don't miss this exciting Triology. It follows the lives of two families from two different parts of the country. Follow the hardships, heartbreaks, love, and joy of the Mains from South Carolina and the Hazzards from Pennsylvania.
It is a tail of true friends and what tries to tear them apart. It will make you laugh and cry. It gives a clear view of what some of our ancestors probably faced during the war that devided our great nation.
Good ending.......2002-09-27
While the novel makes a point to keep up with most of the characters we've come to know, Stanley, Virgilla, George & Constance, Cooper and Judith, and Ashton, the novel focuses mainly on Charles and his new life out West.
The post-war transition of Charles's character by Jakes was done masterfully. The transition of Cooper Main was a little unbelievable given his past.
The long conclusion nicely wrapped up the entire series. Definitely not the best book of the series, but a great story of life after the Civil War.
The End of a Story.......2001-05-01
Heaven and Hell, the last book in the North and South trilogy was absolutely wonderful. This book is mainly about Charles and his life in the West. And also his trying to find a place in the world after the war. Madeline is also a major character in this book with her journal entries to Orry. And the evil Bent has to make his appearance throughout. (I could have done without Bent!!) The lives of Stanley, Virgilia, Billie, Brett, and the love-to-hate-her Aston aren't covered as much in this book. I would have loved to learn more about Billie and Brett. Also would have liked to read more about Marie-Louise and her Yankee husband Theo. I found the parts of the book about them to be very touching.
If you've already read the other two books you must read this one to find out what happens. You will be in for quite a few surprises. This book is definitely worth reading. A classic!!!
Heaven and Hell.......2000-06-28
This book is a very exciting novel of all times... This book allows young adults and adults to learn about the history of their country, while enjoying a great story plot! After watching a section of North vs. South, I was determined to get the entire series (trilogy) and be able to enjoy the series as a whole. The basis of the story is a very sensitive subject....slavery. The main concern are two young men who meet while attending Westpoint, little did they know, they would go through many trials and tribulations throughout the war as well as the rest of their life. After they marry, have kids, start families of their own, and fight for thir strong beleifs, they think that they will live happily ever after, but once again they are wrong. The strong bond between these two men drifts slowly apart, as slavery is a major topic in this young country's future. Despite their differences they remain friends, but many friends and family members interfere with their friendship.... they find their fr5eindship is not worth wasting and should be preserved. The only logical solution to their problem was not to discuss certain things with each other- including slavery. This book is very educational,and even allows a not interested person actually want to know more about the history of their country. This book has a great plot yet still allows you tho see the true facts and history at the same time. This is a great book for anyone that is willing to take the time and just get into the main story plot and the same time learn more abvout American History.
Book Description
The Screaming Eagles of the 101st Airborne Division (fictional Private Ryan's unit) were ready for some well earned rest and recuperation. Following their combat in the Normandy Invasion, the division had been mauled during Field Marshal Montgomery's ill-fated Operation Market Garden, the campaign for the bridge too far immoratalized by Cornelius Ryan.
Customer Reviews:
Great book, buy the series of 4.......2007-08-10
Donald Burgett gives a great view of WWII through the eyes of a 101st airborne paratrooper.
Should get six stars.......2007-06-15
It has taken me far too long to review this book. But what I should say is, this book was single handedly responsible for sponsoring my adoration of military history books and the history of the Second World War.
It is very well written, easy to read, accurate to the finest detail without ever losing the story. It stands alone as one of the finest examples of a first person account of the war by an American paratrooper of the 506th PIR of the 101st Airborne. It would have been a classic by itself, but it the companion piece to a priceless series of four part series by Burgett.
I really enjoyed the descriptions of battles so clearly written I'm sure you could find the streets today. The story of destroying German tanks in the dead of a fog is gripping as anything that happened during the epic Battle of the Bulge.
The impact of this book was one that made me want to be a paratrooper, helped spawned a life-long (over twelve years at this point) love affair with history, one trip to Europe and lead to my BA in History. My copy has been dog eared, read three times and kept in a place of honor among my over 250 World War Two history books.
My only regret is I haven't met the author.
Winner take all.......2006-11-04
The real story of how a few ill equipped, but determined Allies held the line and were victorious over one of the greatest war machines ever assembled. This truly was the "Greatest Generation"!
The Siege of Bastogne.......2006-06-29
"Seven Roads to Hell" is paratrooper Donald Burgett's memoire of the defense of Bastogne by elements of the 101st Airborne and 9th Armor Divisions during the Battle of the Bulge in December 1944. Burgett, a member of A Company, 506th Parachute Infantry Regiment, has captured the foxhole-level details of the heroic defense of that key Belgian crossroads.
Burgett picks up the story as his unit goes into a rest area after the fierce fighting of Operation Market-Garden in Holland. His unit has been decimated by weeks of combat, and desperately needs rest and refit; instead, the tired and poorly equiped paratroopers are rushed to the front in the Ardennes to help stem a sudden German offensive. The paratroopers lack winter clothing, food, water, and ammunition, but with the elan of the airborne, undertake the defense of Bastogne against German tank and infantry units.
Burgett has provided some commentary on the larger picture, but sticks largely to telling the story as it was visible to him. Burgett is nothing if not honest in his telling and graphic in his details. He and his fellow paratroopers freeze, starve, fight, and strive to make sense of the chaos that is ground-level combat. Burgett's prose is straightforward and he has a terrific eye for details. There is no sense here of the false heroic; Burgett and his mates are fighting for each other.
This book, like Burgett's earlier book on D-Day, is highly recommended to the reader with an interest in the Second World War and especially in infantry combat. Those present and former members of the 506th Infantry may find it an especially inspiring piece of regimental history.
'Going amongst them' with Able Company.......2005-09-06
This is the finest account of paratroopers in the Bulge that I have ever read, barring none, including Ambrose. That is not to say that Burgett is a better writer - Burgett does a fine job for a former free-lance roofer - but Don's story in Seven Roads to Hell is so utterly captivating, so riveting that I found myself unable to stop reading and read the entire book in a single night.
Burgett will help you feel the overwhelming futility of brave men, who after the Battle of Noville, after their unspeakable losses, being told just two days later that they must go into action again. Burgett will stab you with the lonely bitternes of exhausted men, scrambling for a hot meal over a small cooking fire, being ordered out to clear the Bois Jaques Woods of a battalion of Germans and then returning the same day, with more losses of heroic men - the dead men's un-claimed mess kits by the cold fire.
Surely these are some of the most touching images ever laid to paper.
I should add, that if you have never read an account of the battle of Noville and Bois Jaques Woods, you must buy this book. Buy it for this reason alone, and love it for so many others.
The personal heroism of the American paratrooper looms into full focus in these pages, framing the phrase, "The greatest generation" like nothing else can.
The sacrifice of these great Americans is more carefully and painfully detailed here than in any other book I have read.
We all indebted to Don Burgett. And not just for his fine book.
Book Description
In November 1943, the men of the 2nd Marine Division watched as bombardments destroyed the Japanese defenses on an islet in the Tarawa atoll. But when the Marines landed, the Japanese poured out of their protective bunkers and began one of the most brutal encounters of the war.
During the ensuing three days of non-stop fighting, the entire island was transformed into an all-encompassing kill zone in which combatants found themselves mixed together in a chaotic hell of crossfires, where there was no possibility of retreat-because there was nowhere to retreat to.
Drawn from sources such as participants' letters, diaries, and interviews with survivors, this is the riveting true account of a battle between two determined foes, neither of whom would ever look at each other the same way again.
Customer Reviews:
When nothing is certain, anything is possible.......2007-09-18
When these young marines landed on Tarawa they would have most certainly been conscious of the obvious...that victory was not certain but anything was possible. And they made victory on this island possible by sheer courage. Few books have been written about the battles that took place in the Pacific region during WW2, but none has been better written than this one. It is one of the utmost and sometimes unbelievable courage of the young marines as they fought their way from the landing craft, across coral reef, to the beach and finally onto the flat lands of this thin strip of an island. The telling of the battle as it unfolded and the personal stories of some of the characters brings the whole scenario alive with graphic, bloody fighting, inch by inch, against a fierce and heavily dug-in enemy. The bravery of these young men will never be forgotten. The written images portrayed so clearly in this book will live in my mind as a reminded of how the war in the Pacific was fought and won. The title 'One Square Mile of Hell' is apt but is also an understatement.
Battle for Tarawa.......2007-09-03
This book puts you in the thinking process of what these great men accomplished and gives you a back ground as to who these men were before they found themselves in this horror place called Tarawa. The writting is some of the best for taking what people, who took part in this battle, into words that convey their emotions and true feelings.
The Battle for Betio Island: A three-day struggle to survive.......2007-03-10
This is a perfect book for the casual military history reader. For the serious enthusiast, I direct you towards "Utmost Savagery".
"One Square Mile of Hell" approaches the engagement on a personal level. Following young marines, "One Square Mile" gives us an up close and personal view of their triumphs and tragedies, both militarily and personally. The importance of the landing on Betio island cannot be underestimated. Not only did the landing prove that amphibious operations and the idea of 'island hopping' could win the war, but the Battle of Tarawa proved and solidified the now legendary reputation and fighting spirit of the USMC. After reading this book, your respect for the Marines will skyrocket. Despite copious mistakes by the commanders, these men fought on staring death in the face in order to accomplish the mission.
This may not be the best researched or most informative book on the Battle of Tarawa, but it is exceptionally entertaining and strikes the reader on a personal level.
What about the Brave CB's?????.......2007-02-20
My father fought on Tarawa. I believe that the author captured the violence of the battle extremely well. I certainly do not want to minimize the bravery, savagetry, or horrors of the marines. However, due to the fighting being hard & matters not secure in the American favor CB's were landed to fight.
My dad would only talk about how bad it was on rare occasions. He has many photographs taken by him & friends. Also, some that he took from a dead Japanese soldier. When I read the book I was hoping to get some insight on the CB part of the battle, but alais the book was silent on this subject.
However, the book does an excellent job of putting the battle into ways that make you feel a part of the conflict.
A Hell of a Way to Grow Up.......2007-02-06
I read this book to gain insight into what my father went through as he fought at Tarawa with the 1st Battalion, 8th Marines, Second Division. Sadly he died in 2000. Having come of age during the Viet Nam War I had a strong aversion to Wars (including the current one) and the Military. Two Books by Frank Schaeffer helped soften me up for this one. My one regret is that I did not speak to my father more than I did about what he went through during his service in the Pacific Theatre. This book helped give me a better understanding.
Unlike most reviewers I have not read much military history. I would recommend this book for those like myself who are interersted in the human side of this bloody battle. To put this in perspective I quote from the book "The 2d Divison's 3,300 killed and wounded earned it the dubious distinction of the highest casualty rate for a Division in the war."
One of this book's greatest accomplishments is in weaving together the stories of Chaplains, foot soldiers and others rather than just the perspective of the commanding officers. An excellent read.
Book Description
In 1939, tiny Finland waged war-the kind of war that spawns legends-against the mighty Soviet Union, and yet their epic struggle has been largely ignored. Guerrillas on skis, heroic single-handed attacks on tanks, unfathomable endurance, and the charismatic leadership of one of this century's true military geniuses-these are the elements of both the Finnish victory and a gripping tale of war.
Customer Reviews:
Waiting for a New Account of the War.......2007-08-12
A good read but badly needs a post-Cold War update. This book is about a conflict between Russia and Finland, but the only Russian source listed in the "Notes on the Sources" (there is no bibliography) is the English translation of the memoirs of Khruschev, who didn't even participate in the Winter War. Other than a few short, atmospheric accounts by Russian soldiers taken from earlier English or Finnish books, no other Russian source is cited, leaving us almost wholly dependent on Finnish historians and the memoirs of Finnish commanders. This is not a scholarly approach.
Maybe there just weren't any other Russian sources available; or maybe they were only available in Russian (which the author does not know, although he is rightly proud of having mastered Finnish). All that may have been a tolerable excuse in 1991 (when this book came out), but the Russian state archives are now open to all, and certainly much more material has been translated into English in the past 16 years. At the very least, Trotter could speak to some Russians. He found Finnish veterans to interview, and I bet some of their Russian counterparts can also still be found among the WWII veterans who totter around public parks in Russia every May 9.
But to find, you have to look, and what's disappointing is that I have no sense the author feels any need to seek out more significant sources from the other side.
Solid Overview of a Special War between Very Special People.......2007-05-15
Although I was raised in the 70s by uncles full of admiration of what the Finns did to the Russians for three months it is still a profound dissapointment that few people know, and even fewer people care about this profound struggle of 3 Million Finns -- a free people -- against the tyranny of Stalinst Russia.
For a nation this small to have the stomach to thumb their noses at the Russians and then to systematically cut their attacks to ribbons -- inflicting colonial war casualties on the Russians -- it truly one of the David against Goliath matches in history.
But there is more to the traditional interpretation notion of the "plucky Finns" and the "incompetent Russians:" Finns eventually did succumb to the inevitable onslaught of the Russians. There were cases of the Finns actually breaking from the front, and Russians actually adapting tactics to overcome the Finnish ability to use their understanding of their own geography to dominate the Russians. That is perhaps not so hard to believe. What is harder to believe is miracles such as the battle of Soussalmi -- where Finnish ski troops cut to pieces 30,000 Russians for the total of 1,700 Finnish dead.
The book is an overview only and does cover the various stages of the war -- the initial and failed Russian Offensive of December, the holding pattern of January and the final onslaugth that brought the end for Finland. But the book does not pretend to be a total overview of the fighting on the front -- on that point there still needs to be a definitive English edition of this war such as what Norman Davis' "Rising 44" did for the Warsaw Insurrection.
There is also not enough background on the political developments surrounding the war and the geopolitical drivers of policy (the actions of the Western allies are a bit bewildering to those uninitiated in a good understanding of the history of these times).
There is also a good chapter on Mannerheim. This man, so long assciated with both the fighting spirit of Finland is often equated totally as the heart of Finn resistance. His personality was in fact authoritarian, problematic and a direct result of the Tsarist officer corps he was raised within and whose spirit he imbided.
A good read and well worth your time.
great reading.......2007-05-14
awesome reading of a awesome moment in our recent history. How finland could survive this war?? David vs Goliath. but not all was romantic, finland has to make a lot of concesions, and they "lost" too the war in a certain way. its the best example of how always both sides lost in a war
this war has been forgotten over the years, and with this book is posible to remember or know for first time one of the most heroic moment in our history. a fight for freedom and for independence.
I loved the book
Finland's Valiant Stand .......2006-10-31
This history is a testament to the value of a highly trained military force. The Finns accomplished very much with very little, in the face of a massive Soviet invasion at the outset of World War II. Despite Finland's small population, and poorly supplied armed forces, they held their ground against an incredible onslaught of modern weaponry.
The Soviets had Finland vastly outnumbered in troops, artillery, armored vehicles, aircraft, ships, and all manner of supplies. However, most of the Soviet troops were pathetically trained cannon-fodder, wasted in enormous human-wave assaults against fortified positions (very typical of all communist regimes). The Soviet officer corps had been recently liquidated in concentration camps at Stalin's oders!
The Finnish soldier was generally a well-trained reservist, adept at marksmanship, wilderness survival, camoflage, skiing, and all pertainent infantry skills. Finland greatly lacked most of the modern weaponry possessed by the Soviets, but frequent raids on the enemy bolstered their supplies. In general, all Finnish forces, air, land, and sea inflicted terrible damage on a much larger invading force.
Meanwhile, the international community cried out against the Soviet invasion...but did very little to actually assist Finland. Disgusted with their indecisive government, some 8000 Swedish military personnel "took leave" to help their neighbors, but it was too late. Finland's military commander, the famous Karl Gustaf Mannerheim, did manage to negotiate a peace which kept the U.S.S.R. from occupying most of Finland, but large regions of territory were lost.
This book describes all aspects of the Winter War in great detail, from individual accounts to major units. Here are some of the highlights:
-The aggressive and ingenious tactics of the Finns, such as 2 man night-raids on skis. One man carried a Soumi submachinegun (excellent weapon), the other a pistol and flashlight. Both had grenades. They would sneak up to the Russian trenches, flash-blind the enemy with the light, and strafe the trench, toss grenades, and be off before the panicing Soviet troops knew what hit them. Soviet soldiers learned to fear the Finns!
-Read how Finland's small airforce knocked disproportionate numbers of enemy aircraft out of the sky!
-Creative improvisation by Finnish troops on the battlefield, in attack and defense!
An excellent account.......2006-01-10
Trotter has a very easy-to-follow style of writing which he uses to great effect as he introduces the reader to the background to The Winter War. The background set, he also examines the mindset of the key people who were later to play a pivotal role in an epic David-and-Goliath struggle.
Trotter uses a witty, often dry, tone on occasion which, to my mind, adds a much more familiar tone to the book, ensuring that it does not end up as a plain, single-dimensional report. Rather it shows just how the people involved were real, imperfect and yet played their own part.
I've read my copy over a dozen times and it will always remain at the top of my favourites list.
Product Description
Lt. Avis Schorer served with an evacuation hospital in North Africa and Italy. Heartache, loneliness, and danger were constant companions while caring for the severely wounded. She and 25 others were the first to land on the Anzio beachhead. Constantly bombarded by German shells and bombs, the hospital on the beach was soon dubbed Hell s Half Acre.
Customer Reviews:
A Nurse's Perspective.......2003-12-15
The book, A Half Acre of Hell, expresses a view that isn't often seen. The view is that of a World War II combat nurse. It is written by Avis Schorer based on her first hand account of the war. This book gives in great detail where a nurse traveled during the war and what places she got to see. It is made interesting through the use of major historic events connected to where the author was at that time. Also, the book is interesting because the reader gets to see many of the daily aspects of war, not just an overview. This book would not be a good read for some one expecting a war book based around tactics or combat, although some are included. It is more a journal of events. The book is easy to follow and good for anyone interested in a nurse's account of the war.
Inspiring.......2003-08-29
This book was a definite eye-opener. I read it at age 17, and was aghast at the horrors of Anzio and inspired by the nurses who served there. This book gave me a glimpse of the true nature of nursing, and largely because of this book, I entered nursing school a year later. I'm now a Registered Nurse, and this book has an honored spot on my bookshelves. A definite must-read.
An unflinching narrative of courage.......2003-07-26
A Half Acre Of Hell: A Combat Nurse In WW II is the personal memoir and eye-witness testimony of Avid Schorer, a woman who served the U.S. Army Nurse Corps from March 1942 to January 1946. The military hospital where she served gained the ill nickname "Hell's Half Acre" due to its bombardment by Axis forces. An unflinching narrative of courage, strength, mercy, and service amidst the terrible toll of war itself, A Half Acre Of Hell is a strongly recommended addition to academic, and community library World War II Military History collections and personal reading lists.
Nurse and Vet agree:this is a victory.......2002-01-09
My wife is an Registered Nurse and I am a combat veteran. I bought this book for my wife to take on our trip to Hawaii. She could not put it down, and later, neither could I. From both our life experiences, this book rang true and was gripping. Having been written by a Minnesotan made it all the more enjoyable.
vivid and realistic description.......2000-11-17
The book presents a realistic description of the extreme hardships endured by Army Nurses in Italy during WWII.
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