Loose Ends Kill, by Bob Doerr

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MWSA Review

Loose Ends Kill by Bob Doerr is an intriguing murder mystery that is a great read. This book is part of a series featuring detective Jim West. Jim is a retired Air Force special agent with the Office of Special Investigations. He lives largely on his pension, is divorced and lives with his dog Chubs. Loose Ends Kill begins with the coldblooded murder of a beautiful woman by an unknown assassin. As it turns out, she was the wife of Randy LaMoe, a friend whom Jim had served with in the military.

As the book opens Randy is in jail for the murder of his wife, and the circumstantial evidence against him is so strong the police have almost put the case to bed.  Randy asks his lawyers to contact Jim West to help him prove his innocence. Jim is soon on his way to San Antonio to help his friend.  On his arrival he learns that if he is to save his friend he will have to develop suspects on his own, since the police response is indifference to outright hostility to his efforts.

Soon he realizes that nothing is as it appears. He must uncover the relationships that are the dark secrets in Randy’s wife’s past. And as he does so he realizes there are people who are willing to go as far as more murders to stop him. As the list of suspects grows the menace to Jim and his investigation grows apace.

This is a satisfying read on many levels. The protagonist is sympathetic and likeable, the setting of the book works, there are enough suspects to keep the reader guessing as to “who done it.” Bob Doerr writes well, and as a retired Air Force specialist in criminal investigations he knows his subject well. He also has the skill as an author to write a modern tale without resorting to the foul language and gratuitous sex and violence that is a plague of modern fiction. This is a series the reader could follow with enjoyment. Highly recommended.

Reviewed by: Weymouth Symmes (2011)

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Author's Synopsis

In this new Jim West novel, West comes to the rescue of an old friend suspected of killing his own wife. West rolls up his sleeves and begins to dig deep—perhaps too deeply—as someone begins to follow and target him. 

It’s not long before West discovers that he didn’t know his friend’s wife as well as he thought.  Everyone but West and his friend knew that she had had many affairs. Any of her lovers could have had a motive to kill her.

As he investigates one lover after the other, West ignites an outbreak of more deaths and mayhem.  The killer wants him dead. His friend’s lawyer wants him to go back home, and the police threaten to arrest him. 

Feeling the pressure to solve the murder quickly, West sets a trap for the killer—using himself as bait.  However, he soon learns he may have only outsmarted himself.

The Coast Guard, by Tom Beard

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MWSA Review

This magnificently produced coffee table edition combines brilliant artwork, writing and editing. Its fourteen inches from the top to bottom, with nine inch wide pages and a cover embossed by the Coast Guard seal, constitute a fitting and imposing tribute to the Coast Guard’s 220 – year history. The Coast Guard’s varied and integrated services over more than two centuries have had such an impact in so many diverse areas – national defense, rescue, humanitarian services during disasters, securing commerce and counter-terrorism – that it has in a real sense become a victim of its own versatility. Those who have sought in the past to tell the Coast Guard’s story have often failed to articulate a common theme by which to define its mission and unique character.

The editors of this book, working under the auspices of The Foundation for Coast Guard History, have sought to surmount the obstacle that a multi-mission organization poses to the telling of a cohesive story. They have more than met the challenge.

By organizing the book into four major sections entitled, “Duty,” “History,” “Life,” and “Devotion,” the reader has an instant frame of reference and organizing principle for understanding the overarching mission of the Coast Guard, which your reviewer would describe as protecting and serving humanity in times of war and peace. The book correlates the many ways the Coast Guard performs this mission.

A “Foreword” from Walton Cronkite, a self-professed “Coast Guard junkie,” sets the tone. The distinguished journalist, in his own first-hand contacts with the Coast Guard dating back to World War ll, relates how they were among the first to go into combat after Pearl Harbor; how they set troops ashore during the Allied Landing in North Africa, landed troops on the shores of Normandy on D-Day, and performed similar missions in both Korea and Vietnam. The Coast Guard served with distinction on vessels off the coast of Vietnam in the South China Sea, where its crews conducted countless heroic rescues.

The Coast Guard chronicles the many deeds of daring of the Service in peace and war. The book is visually beautiful, with superb photographic displays and drawings interspersed with a well-written narrative. The historical profiles of the Coast Guard at Guadalcanal and Normandy should not be missed by World War ll buffs.

The stirring depictions of Coast Guard life-saving, humanitarian and evacuation mission in New Orleans, during Katrina, and Haiti, during its recent earthquake, are worth the price of the book alone. I highly recommend this book to all caring and patriotic Americans.

Reviewed by: Don Farinacci (2011)

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Author's Synopsis

The definitive, official illustrated book on the U.S. Coast Guard, published in a fully updated and revised edition. Since September 11, the Coast Guard’s motto—Semper Paratus, "Always Ready"—has taken on new meaning. From protecting our coastlines to drug interdiction, combat missions, and guarding against terrorism as part of the Department of Homeland Security, the United States Coast Guard maintains a constant vigil in the safeguarding of Americans. Written by an outstanding team of historians and distinguished officers, including the current Commandant USCG Admiral Thad Allen, The Coast Guard has more than 350 pages that tell the story from its origins as both the Revenue Cutter Service and U.S. Lifesaving Service to lighthouses, ice breakers, and the heroes of Hurricane Katrina. Essays on history, search and rescue, and aviation all have one common focus: the incredibly trained and highly motivated people that make up the Coast Guard.

The Seventh Angel, by Jeff Edwards

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MWSA Review

This is a rollicking good read. It is fast paced, packed with cool technical information, and is politically relevant. Another good movie candidate, as the author takes his place next to Clancy when it comes to novels about submarine warfare. He pulls no punches as he grimly describes the realities of nuclear war, and all of the political maneuvering that goes on behind the scene at the highest levels of government when countries are faced with horrific scenarios that deal with national survival. Particularly interesting is the science evoked to describe the complicated chain of events that not only take place in a nuclear detonation, but the challenge of delivering a weapon of this sort thousands of miles away, accurately. Mind boggling technology, all intertwined in a story that reveals the humanity, and staggering challenges faced by our military every day.

Fiction is always at its' best when supported by true to life experiences, and facts. That is certainly the case with The Seventh Angel.

Reviewed by: Bob Flournoy (2011)

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Author's Synopsis

A military revolt in southeastern Russia puts a former hard-line Soviet leader in command of a ballistic missile submarine and its arsenal of nuclear weapons. His goal: re-ignite the communist revolution, and recapture the might and glory of the fallen Soviet Union. Without warning, Russia, Japan, and the United States become hostages in a scheme of international nuclear blackmail. When the warheads start falling and people begin dying, no one can pretend that it’s a bluff.

As the earth rushes toward extinction, a lone U.S. Navy warship must penetrate the Siberian ice pack to destroy the submarine before it can destroy the world.

Obediently Yours, Orson Welles; by Ulman Bray

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MWSA Review

This is a fine story of a young man’s struggle with of the Great Depression in the thirties and then the consequences of his enlistment in the Marines in time for the early fighting on several South Pacific Islands. The author, Ulmon Bray, describes his brother, Buel, and his adventures with a mix of fact from Marine records, and his letters to Bobbie, that described his inner most feelings about war, love, and despair.
 
The author, Ulmon, received almost all of the fifty-seven letters Buel wrote to Bobbie and was able to resurrect his brother’s experiences during the war. Reading this book takes the reader through the same battles Buel fought and his ability to follow censorship rules that made it all but impossible to tell Bobbie what he was experiencing. Friends and family members gave their accounts to this wonderful story of love and the ugly costs of war.

Reviewed by: Bob Ruerhdanz (2011)

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Author's Synopsis

This is the story of a young Marine's struggle through unwanted separation from friends and family caused by the consequences of the Great Depression and by the demands of World War II. During the twenty-two months he served in the Corps, the Marine wrote more than sixty letters to a young woman who save fifty-seven of them. The substance of those letters and the recollections that emerged from a number of conversations the author had with the young girl more than sixty years later formed a theme upon which to build an account of the young man's military and non-military experiences, both factual, as well as fictional.  The letters revealed not only his military encounters and life behind the lines but also focused on homefront fears and concerns. His military records established a schedule of movement and location of training and combat during his tour of duty.

Alan's Letters, by Nancy E. Rial

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MWSA Review

Alan’s Letters is both history and life, a rare combination that allows one to literally walk in the shoes of a soldier who served during World War ll in the 5th. Infantry Division. The story combines letters written home by Alan Lowell with the researched history of the events that both surrounded and consumed a young man.

We tend to think much has been written about that war, yet, there are hundreds of battles, some with no names we would recognize that occurred and resulted in thousands of casualties. These men and women were our heroes, no less important than the names we recognize from history books and movies.

By combining historical records with actual letters written home as Alan went from raw recruit to seasoned veteran one feels and sees the subtle changes that occur in a young man exposed to the horror that is war. War leaves scars on and in the survivors to bear, and tear filled memories for family members to endure. 

Alan was killed in action in November of 1944. His dreams and aspirations left unfinished, his story uncovered by his niece in the letters he wrote home. 

This book is worth reading as it allows a personal look inside the life of a soldier rarely seen in the books we read or the history we are taught and opens a window for authors to pursue in their writing of this and other wars that will add a personal touch we all will find easy to identify with. The author expressed that she sees it more of a social studies interest, I agree, but it is clearly more intimate as well. You will not be able to read it without finding yourself identifying with Alan and the authors loss

Reviewed by: jim greenwald (2011)

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Author's Synopsis

This is a personal chronicle of a teen soldier in WWII from basic training to his adventures across northern France on the front lines as a member of the Fifth Division, part of Patton's Third Army. Using all primary sources from the historical period, the book is attractively designed in beautiful color. The letters from Alan to his family represent all the young soldiers' voices when he expresses a yearning for a normal life again and appreciation of all that he has had as a youth growing up in America. For young adults and up. 

Two Gold Coins and a Prayer, by James H. Keeffe lll

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MWSA Review

James H. Keeffe III's Two Gold Coins and a Prayer is a well-written memoir about a young bomber pilot and POW from World War II. It details the training and bombing missions of Lt Col James H. Keefe Jr., the author's father, and especially his fateful fourth mission. Flying as a co-pilot in a B-24 Liberator, then 2nd Lt Keefe finds himself in occupied Holland, in perfect health but completely alone. Through quick thinking, luck, and the courage of the Dutch Underground, Keefe escapes capture for over five months. However, just as he is about to be delivered back into Allied hands, he is betrayed, and ends up being a POW for over ten months.

The author does an excellent job of relaying the account in first person, as it was dictated to him and his brother by his father. One can hear Col Keefe talking about his medical screening as he joined the Army, about the less than optimal conditions he lived in during training, and the terror of being on a bomb run. The reader will find himself praying with the Colonel before he leaves his stricken bomber, and hiding with the Colonel behind a rabbit hutch as the Nazis are looking for him. The reader will feel that cold shock when Lt Col Keeffe realizes he has been betrayed, and is now in German hands. Finally, the reader will share in both the misery of being a POW and the joy of being liberated.

What struck me in particular about this book was the easy, back-country way in which it was told. There was no particular hatred of the Germans, nor was there any insincere patriotism or self-pity. There was simply a young man, serving with other young men that he cared about and respected, trying to make the best of a bad situation and just survive. I was also particularly impressed by the narrator's loyalty and love for those in the Dutch underground. He was usually more concerned for their safety than his own, which added a compassionate flavor to the book as well as heightened the emotion.

This book is an excellent addition to any library, but will be especially enjoyed by military aviation buffs and World War II veterans.

Reviewed by: Rob Ballister (2011)

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Author's Synopsis

James H. Keeffe Jr., a World War II and Korean War veteran, went on his first airplane ride at the age of 10 and thus was born his life-long love for flying. This book tells the riveting story of a young airman s journey from enlistment, through training, into battle, and beyond. His story is told with fascinating detail that allows the reader to experience all that he encounters as he bails out of his stricken bomber, is hidden in plain sight of the enemy, eventually betrayed, taken prisoner, and sent into the German POW system. In August, 1942, in the midst of World War II, Jim Keeffe joined the U.S. Army Air Forces and arrived at Aviation Cadet Training. On Thanksgiving Day, 1943, after months of rigorous training, he arrived in England with his crew to begin flying B-24 bombing missions. Then, on the 8th of March 1944, Keeffe s airplane is shot down over Holland, catapulting him into a world squeezed colorless by the ever-tightening Nazi fist of occupation. Moving from safe house to safe house in the Dutch Underground, Lt. Keeffe is able to evade the enemy for five months. Then one day, he is betrayed and sent to Stalag Luft III, a German POW camp near Sagan, Germany. There he spends months in captivity and endures the rigors of a forced march to another prison camp. Keeffe takes us into the difficult life in the POW camps which we see in unfaltering detail. When he and his fellow POWs are finally liberated in late April of 1945, we experience their joy firsthand.

Klinger, by Betsy Beard

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MWSA Review

Klinger:  A Story of Honor and Hope is an enchanting children’s book that is fashioned more from fact than fiction. The fact that Klinger is based on a real life Caisson Horse makes this tale even more magical.  
 
From the time of his birth, Klinger believes that he is special.  He dreams of becoming the speediest racehorse anyone has ever seen.  But, even though he is tall and strong, Klinger isn’t very fast. His trainer and owner decide that since he isn’t as quick as the other horses, Klinger must be sent away. It breaks his little heart to be separated from his mother and father. Frightened and alone, he arrives at his new home at Fort Myer in Arlington, Virginia. The soldiers and the other horses are kind to Klinger as they patiently train him for his brand new and important duty as part of the elite Caisson escort team. Klinger feels honored to pull the wagon that carries fallen American soldiers. His sweet and gentle nature makes him perfect for the job of comforting the lost soldiers’ families.     
 
Ultimately, Klinger discovers that it’s not speed that makes him special—it’s his spirit.  
 
Beard’s storytelling ability is mesmerizing for young and old alike. The illustrations will captivate the reader as the vibrant images bring the story to life. The artistry and depth of color in the artwork are incredible.     
 
Much of Beard’s narrative is based in reality, so her tale is as educational as it is entertaining. Many parallels and life lessons abound in this little book. Since all creatures great and small have an inherent desire to feel special, Klinger’s journey to discover his specialness is both endearing and familiar. Hopefully, Klinger’s quest will encourage the child listener to aspire—and the adult reader to inspire.
 
Klinger will steal your heart with its undeniable charm. I give it my highest recommendation. This quality hardback storybook (complete with dust jacket) makes it perfect for gift giving, and is guaranteed to delight Americans of all ages. 

Reviewed by: Claudia Pemberton (2011)

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Author's Synopsis

Klinger, A Story of Honor and Hope is the endearing story of a young horse dreaming of fame as a racehorse. But his life is disrupted and he must leave his parents to start a new life. Faced with difficulty and disappointment, Klinger’s dream of significance seems unattainable. He then discovers that fame is not necessary, as he finds fulfillment in honoring fallen heroes and bringing comfort to their families.

Kings of the Green Jelly Moon by King, Greenwald, Jellerson, Mullins

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MWSA Review

Kings of the Green Jelly Moon is an amazing recitation of poetry composed by four uniquely different voices. Wrought with rawness and realism, this diverse collection is sure to give the reader pause for reflection and understanding.

None but those who were actually entrenched in the jungles of Southeast Asia are qualified to educate others as to the lasting effects of the tragedy and turmoil that was Vietnam. Not only are these four author/patriots qualified, they are also masterful poets as well, each bringing their own flavor to the same subject, surviving Nam.

Lloyd King's “First Kill” is a chilling testament to the inherent value that a Soldier places on every human life even that of his enemy.

Jim Greenwald's “Just Stopped By” is a sobering reminder of those who paid the ultimate price for our freedom lest we forget.

James Jellerson's “Seven Stars” offers a glimpse into the depths of selfless camaraderie that only brothers in arms can share.

Mike Mullin's “Silence” gives the reader an intimate insight into the challenges of living with the memories of being a warrior.

Kings of the Green Jelly Moon is not merely a collection of poems about Vietnam, but rather songs about the human condition in all its forms. Absorbing and contemplating these poetic offerings will break the readers heart and mend it all at the same timeThis is a very impressive body of work. The level of talent and presentation is outstanding. Each poet bares his soul to the reader, giving us a privileged glimpse into their souls showing us the Vietnam they experienced and its lingering aftermath.

Reviewed by: Claudia Pemberton (2011)

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Author's Synopsis

KINGS of the GREEN JELLY MOON presents a searing collection of poetry written by a group of Vietnam veterans-each successful in their craft, all award-winning poets in their own right. The title Kings of the Green Jelly Moon recalls the innocence of childhood, a time when children believed the moon was made of green cheese. Then Vietnam changed an innocent generation as truth of war became their reality. From the impact of war on young men and how they are forever changed to the stark reality that fighting in a foreign country, the poems in the collection offer, in verse, a Vietnam veterans' reunion. These soldiers were forever changed by the experience that war forces upon those who fight and return from battle. Those who were lost can never be forgotten.

A Prayer Journey Through Deployment' by Donna Mull

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MWSA Review

Donna Mull is a brilliant writer; but, that alone would not have made Prayer Journey Through Deployment, the gem that it is.

What makes this collection of prayers, commentaries and trenchant insights so special is that it flows from a powerful force of inspiration, faith, passion and pain that cause it to soar. Written primarily for the soldier deployed during war and his or her loved ones, it achieves, perhaps even unwittingly by Ms. Mull, a universality that makes it a valued guide to life for young and old, soldier and civilian, believer and non-believer, alike. This intricate interweave of biblical passages with thematic prayer, poetry and prose is a work of art.

Reviewed by: Don Farinacci (2011)

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Author's Synopsis

When a soldier serves, so does the family. Donna Mull saw that statement on the shirts some military wives were wearing at a Fourth of July parade as they marched with their husbands. Suddenly, that statement had become personal. She had heard stories about mothers whose faithful prayers had changed lives. When her son received his orders for deployment to Iraq, she wanted to be one of those mothers. Equally motivated by love and pain, Ms. Mull embarked on a year-long journey of prayer, writing weekly devotionals that focused on the specific needs of soldiers and their families. She then forwarded them to friends and family, who used them as springboards for their own prayer times. If you have a loved one in the military, chances are you are engaged in a battle of your own. Will your loved one survive? Will you? How will you cope while your soldier is away? When your soldier returns, will he or she be changed?

Incoming, Jack Manick

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MWSA Review

Jack “Doc” Manick's excellent memoir, Incoming, is a coming of age story for veterans of allwars and their families. Incoming is at times gripping, funny, sad, and full of the humanity, inhumanity, heroism, fear and pathos of war. As a combat veteran of the Vietnam War myself I lived every moment with Doc Manick and his unit as I read his book and could relate them to my own experiences. This is not a dry history by someone unconnected to the events, Doc Manick lived them.

The heart of Incoming is Jack Manick's time as an Army field combat medic in the Central Highland of Vietnam with the 70th Combat Engineer Battalion and the 131'st Engineer Company. Manick has obviously spent a great deal of thought and time in producing his book, but not so long that his memories of those dramatic days have dimmed. Incoming has the immediacy of today's newspaper headline, written from a 40 year perspective.

Since it is a memoir of Manick's war experience, it's often brutal, profane, and heartrending. But the book is leavened with humor and stories of the absurdities and inspirations of war. Incoming takes us from enlistment by the draft-eligible young Jack Manick; to Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri; Fort Sam Houston; to Germany, where he received his orders to Vietnam after volunteering for that duty. After training he went on to Cam Ranh Bay, then to the ,boonies. Most of the remainder of the book concerns the life of a combat medic treatments given, patrols and firefights, life and death in a combat zone. 

In the book the reader learns why one should never get on the wrong side of your medic; why shooting at rats is so dangerous; why orders are often stupid but must be obeyed; why those who experience combat never come back as the same person who existed before. Read this memoir and you will have one more excellent snapshot of the Vietnam War, which was more than any other a story of individual experiences rather than set piece battles. Highly recommended.

Reviewed by: Weymouth Symmes (2011)

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Author's Synopsis

1969 was a momentous year for the world and especially America. It was a year when man first set foot on the moon and in an equally amazing feat, the New York Mets won baseballs coveted World Series.While earth shaking events were happening two hundred thousand miles from home or deep within the confines of Shea Stadium, men of every race, education and age group were fighting and dying 12,000 miles from home in Americas most unpopular war, Vietnam. Today, 40 years later, writer, husband and Veteran Jack Manick reaches into his soul and resurrects the fear, tension, foreboding, laughter and terror that he and his fellow "Band of Brothers" felt as they walked the jungles and forests of the Central Highlands of Vietnam in 1969.While in the "Bush", he carried a pack, a medical aid bag, two knives, three grenades, a rifle, pistol and an unbreakable commitment to save the lives of his fellow soldiers, even at the cost of his own. The story of Jack "Doc" Manick and his fellow soldiers is one of survival...survival in a country laden with malaria, crawling with venomous snakes, scorpions, rats, giant centipedes and tigers and dominated by an enemy determined "Not to lose the War!" The language is as tough as the enemy who fought against him, as unrelenting as the blistering heat of the Dry Season and as depressing as the endless mud and mold of the Monsoon Season. Incoming invites you to lace up your jungle boots and take a walk with Jack through the jungles and the fields of dry grass in the Central Highlands of Vietnam in 1969.

Disability Compensation by Thomas VanHees

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MWSA Review

VanHees has lengthened the road map or in today’s world a gps for navigating through the hurdles that every veteran faces in “Disability Compensation The Veteran’s Guide Volume ll.” this his follow up to volume one. As with almost everything changes have occurred and VanHees includes these and more, as well as dealing with ptsd more deeply than in his previous book.

The basic message is still valid, do not give up, file and file and file until you are successful seems like a simple plan, yet thousands of veterans give up in the face of so many hurdles. The journey to winning may not be easy but he explains it well and all one needs to do is follow the plan learned over the four years of his battle. 

The Veterans Administration (VA) is a love hate relationship to almost all veterans. Nightmare stories exist, many are simply not true, and others are. He provides information resources that will positively help all veterans in the process.

If you have given up, buy this book and try again. From updating discharge records and medical records to attitude he provides useful information for all.

If you purchased his first book the second is a must have. If you are working on your own out of frustration buy his second book and follow his lead, your journey through the VA process will be much easier and far less frustrating.

Reviewed by: jim greenwald (2012)

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Author's Synopsis

My book is a self-help/ how-to publication. It explains how to negotiate the VA's claim filing process when seeking disability compensation for a service connected injury or condition. This book is a continuation of volume one with new information that was added to the benefits that a veteran qualifies for. It also delves more deeply into Post Traumatic Stress Disorder which was lightly touched on in volume one. It also includes many subjects and information that will help the Afghanistan and Iraqi veteran. Basically this book covers all new information that was not available when volume one went to press.

Women in the U.S. Armed Forces by Darlene M. Iskra

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MWSA Review

Darlene M. Iskra's book is a tribute to women warriors past and present who served faithfully in the United States armed forces. Retired Commander Iskra was one of the first women Navy divers and the first woman to command a ship in the US Navy (USS Opportune.) 
 
The author takes the reader on a one hundred year military journey back in time and chronologically moves the reader forward to our present day all volunteer military. Chapters such as "Rescinding the Combat Exclusion Laws", "Gender, Sexuality and Harassment" as well as "Balancing Life in the Military" provide the reader with a powerful overview as to the sacrifices made and abuses suffered by women who serve our country to protect and preserve our freedoms. 
 
The hardships women face in our male dominated armed forces, which inequalities still exist today, is explored in detail. Commander Iskra emphasizes that the transition of our military from a culture of masculinity to an integrated multi-gendered organization has been a long time in the works, however has yet to come to full fruition.   
 
Women's rights and equality as partners in our armed forces is the basic theme of the text. The author provides a century of factual documentation highlighting that women have served with distinction as well as valor and deserve no less opportunities than our male warriors. The author reminds us that within the last sixty years women serving in our armed forces has increased from 2% to 15%.  See latest data on women in the military at http://www.womensmemorial.org/PDFs/StatsonWIM.pdf
 
The book is a call for action. The text's epilogue explores four areas which need immediate attention by our congress and military leaders. Sexual harassment should not be tolerated and the sexual assault of woman must stop. Women in combat roles should be afforded the same opportunities, training and tools as our men. Women should be allowed to serve on submarines as equals to their male counter parts and finally women in our military should have the ability to lead normal social lives as caring and supportive wives and mothers. Our country does this for men and there is no reason not to accommodate women.
 
In summation this is an excellent work of literary merit which every American should read, in particular our law makers and military leaders. Packed with historical fact the text reminds us of the tremendous contributions and sacrifices women have made to our military history. Regardless of the machismo in our military and its tail-hook party mentality, women have earned the right to serve our country beside men as equals with respect and dignity. To do less sullies our constitution.   

Reviewed by: Paul Decker (2011)

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Author's Synopsis

Women in the United States Armed Forces: A Guide to the Issues covers over a century of accomplishments of military women, from the Civil War to the current wars in the Middle East. Readers will learn, for example, that during World War II, 565 women in the Women’s Army Corps stationed in the Pacific theater received combat decorations, proving that women had the courage, strength, and stamina to perform in a combat environment. They will also learn that, perhaps surprisingly, it wasn’t until the mid- to late 1970s that women had their first opportunities to serve at sea and as aviators (crew as well as pilots), albeit on noncombatant ships and aircraft. The book’s final four chapters discuss the issues that continue to plague women in the military, including sexual harassment, noting that women’s performance in America’s two-front wars in Iraq and Afghanistan have made a positive difference in attitudes. The handbook closes with an epilogue that is at once a summary of the issues and a call for action.

Aerial Aces of the Universal Newsreel by Philip W. Stewart

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MWSA Review

Author Phillip Stewart gifts aviation buffs with a book that could cut through years of research for those seeking out rare motion picture footage of aircraft from 1929-1931. His book Aerial Aces of the Universal Newsreel: A Researcher's Guide to the Aviation Related Stories Released Nationally by Universal Pictures 1929-1931 catalogs for us more than just history through newsreels - he manages to capture the essence of that time and its people. 

Although the book will appeal to only a very small segment of potential readers, it will prove to be indispensable for historians and writers and those who are looking for film footage of aviation's golden years. The book also reproduces many great old photos of which few or any have been seen publicly in the last 8 decades. 

Maybe it is because I am an aviation buff or am someone who actually loves old newsreels - but this book was actually more fun to read then I had expected. It takes you on an emotional journey as your imagination kicks in with mental images that the words present. 

This book is a wonderful tool for researchers now and in the future. It needed to be written - it is an important asset. I am grateful that people like Phillip Stewart have given this so much of their own time to do this kind of work. There is certainly little to no money for these kinds of books - they have to be written as an act of love for history.

Reviewed by: Bill McDonald (2011)

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Author's Synopsis

Aerial Aces of the Universal Newsreel is summed up best by its sub-title, "A Reference Guide to the Aviation Related Stories Released Nationally by Universal Pictures, 1929-1931." It’s a useful and practical resource guide to the aviation people, places and events of August 1929 through December 1931, as seen through the camera lens of the Universal Newspaper Newsreel, as the reel was known back then. 
 
Aerial Aces contains descriptions of 219 aviation-related stories released by Universal during that time period. Stories are listed in release order and each is identified with the title, reel number, event date, location, and length. Each story has a storyline based on the newsreel synopsis sheets, a description the moving images, a word-for-word copy of the original narration script, and production and historical information, as appropriate. 
 
The stories contained within Aerial Aces of the Universal Newsreel, provide a timeless reference to moving images of the aviation related activities covered during the first three years of the Universal Newspaper Newsreel. To see history as it actually happened is enlightening, instructive, and often rather dramatic. Too read about it is pretty cool too.

DAI Uy Hoch by David R. Hoch

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MWSA Review

This book was actually in the making for over forty years. Lt. Cmdr. Hoch died in 2004, thereby leaving his manuscript unpublished.
            
Thankfully, his legacy has been preserved in this wonderful book that was brought to life by Hoch’s brother Dave, and his wife Isabel.  Dave felt strongly that the book should be published, and we are richer for it.
 
Wes Hoch served in Vietnam as the Senior U.S. Navy Advisor to the Fourth Coastal Junk Force in Phu Quoc, for eighteen months. Hoch was a “strange mixture of soldier, sailor, dentist, mechanic, linguist (he spoke fractured Vietnamese) doctor and teacher.”
 
Senator Margaret Chase Smith read a letter into the Congressional Record which spoke of Hoch’s accomplishments. In part it says “Wes Hoch is presently in charge of a fleet of junks manned by natives who adore their husky leader. He shares their somewhat primitive existence and all the experiences of a jungle land warfare which is both physically uncomfortable and perilous.”
 
Lt. Cmdr. Hoch was instrumental in constructing a small hospital on the Island of Ph Quoc. The military personnel there, the villagers themselves and the men in Hoch’s armed junk force, volunteered to work with a few sacks of cement and a donation from the local church. The result was a four-bed hospital to serve the eleven-hundred villagers. About four-hundred natives were treated on the first day the hospital was open. 
 
Cmdr. G. Ashcroft, senior junk force advisor, issued a statement on the installation saying “The concern and drive of Lt. Hoch was like a dream come true to the natives of An Thoi.”
 
A Christian-raised man, Hoch attempted to fully understand and help the natives in their impoverishment. He wrote letters home to ask for medical supplies, used blankets and clothes for his Vietnamese Junk Navy and villagers on Phu Quoc.
 
 He noted “A blanket sounds like a stupid thing to need in a country where the average temperature is eighty degrees … but a blanket is the most useful thing a junkman has. He uses it to sleep on, to keep warm on cold, damp nights, as a shelter against the sun and a thousand uses. To give a blanket to a junkman is the same as giving him a house.”
 
Lt. Cmdr. Hoch endeared himself to the Vietnamese people that he lived with. He won numerous awards, including A Medal of Honor First Class; bestowed by the Vietnamese Government, as well as a Bronze Star bestowed by the United States Navy, plus many more honors.
 
This is a fascinating story about an outstanding individual who truly lived his Christian religion, made tremendous personal sacrifices, and had a lasting, positive influence on numerous lives. There are many different ways to win hearts, minds and wars.
 
This book provides great insight into an aspect of the Vietnam War that might have gone unappreciated and unnoticed. A very worthy and inspiring read.

Reviewed by: Charlene Rubush (2011)

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Author's Synopsis

"With a strong faith, you can fight a war in more ways than one," the authors brother, David R. Hoch, says. " I hope that this book will point out the tremendous effort and dedication that all Vietnamese veterans displayed when they showed how your faith can give you tremendous strength.

Keeping the Promise, by Donna Elliott

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MWSA Review

On January 21, 1968, the 282nd AHC was on a mission to support U.S. troops under siege in Khe Sanh village when the lead helicopter was shot down by the North Vietnamese. In the midst of the enemy, Jerry Elliott jumped from his gunner's seat to rescue fellow Black Cat soldiers, and simply vanished. The military listed him as Missing In Action...  MIA - a hellish classification that provides neither comfort nor closure to those back home.       

Officially designated as "Case 1000" by the Department of Defense, Jerry's fate is still uncertain, despite a determined quest for the truth by his younger sister, Donna. Frustrated at nearly every turn by the POW/MIA bureaucracy, she stoically continues the search-one that has taken her from Washington, D.C. to Vietnam and back again.

Keeping the Promise is a bittersweet tale of a sister's unending dedication to do just that-keep the promise made to her brother, to the families of the POW/MIAs, and most importantly, to those left behind in Southeast Asia: We won't stop until every last man has the fullest possible accounting.

Reviewed by: Stephen Phillips (2011)

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Author's Synopsis

On January 21, 1968, the 282nd AHC was on a mission to support U.S. troops under siege in Khe Sanh village when the lead helicopter was shot down by the North Vietnamese. In the midst of the enemy, Jerry Elliott jumped from his gunner's seat to rescue fellow Black Cat soldiers, and simply vanished. The military listed him as Missing In Action...  MIA - a hellish classification that provides neither comfort nor closure to those back home.       

Officially designated as "Case 1000" by the Department of Defense, Jerry's fate is still uncertain, despite a determined quest for the truth by his younger sister, Donna. Frustrated at nearly every turn by the POW/MIA bureaucracy, she stoically continues the search-one that has taken her from Washington, D.C. to Vietnam and back again.

Keeping the Promise is a bittersweet tale of a sister's unending dedication to do just that-keep the promise made to her brother, to the families of the POW/MIAs, and most importantly, to those left behind in Southeast Asia: We won't stop until every last man has the fullest possible accounting.

The Mullahs Storm, by Thomas W. Young

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MWSA Review

After losing his crew near Bagram Air Base returning from an attempted mission to deliver a dangerous Taliban mullah, Major Michael Parson single handedly sets out to recover the escaped insurgent and captured master sergeant Gold. During this effort, his choice to rescue master sergeant Gold from Al Quaida terrorists in the midst of a bitter Afghan winter takes the reader on a non-stop, action packed adventure as only someone "who's been there" can tell it.  The Mullah's Storm is a beautifully told story of hard choices, dedication and loyalty. 

Without a doubt, Young's fast-paced, riveting story fits mystery/thriller criteria perfectly. Pitted against the forbidding terrain of the Hindu Kush, navigator Parson and master sergeant Gold, a female Army interpreter, struggle to survive not only the fierce Afghan weather, but to survive the even fiercer insurgents dedicated to the rescue of their mullah. Excellent story, well thought out and presented beautifully. 

Character development is superbly executed as are descriptions of engagements with the enemy. Perhaps most compelling is the humanity of each combatant while never deviating from the commitment to country and duty of both main characters, Parson and Gold. Something about women's strength and contributions.

I loved the fact that at no time does the reader know the outcome of this challenge to re-capture the mullah and deliver him into US military hands. This was a pleasure to read.  Highly recommend.

Reviewed by: Carmen Stenholm (2011)

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Author's Synopsis

A U.S. Air Force transport plane takes off from Bagram Air Base, Afghanistan, carrying a high-value Taliban detainee bound for prison and interrogation.  Insurgents shoot down the plane with a shoulder-launched missile, and it crash lands in the Hindu Kush mountains.  A strong winter storm makes a rescue impossible.  A surviving crew member, navigator Michael Parson, along with a female Army interpreter, must now evade capture in hostile territory with a prisoner who would like very much for them to get caught.  A battle for survival begins across some of the most forbidding terrain on earth. 

Laos File, by Dale A. Dye

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MWSA Review

The death of a salty old senior NCO who ran special operations in Vietnam, and the discovery of the detailed notebooks he kept on those classified missions, leads Marine Gunner Shake Davis on a shocking and potentially lethal quest to find out what happened to hundreds of American POWs who disappeared along the infamous Ho Chi Minh Trail.

Shake Davis attaches himself to an official post-war stabilization mission designed to establish normal relations between his nation and the DRV with a secret agenda to prove – or disapprove – what he suspects might be the final fate of many Americans still listed as Missing in Action from the Vietnam War.
 
Dale is a Marine officer who rose through the ranks to retire as a Captain after twenty-one years in war and peace. He is a distinguished graduate of Missouri Military Academy who enlisted in the United States Marine Corps shortly after graduation. Sent to war in Southeast Asia, he served in Vietnam in 1965 and again from 1967 through 1970 surviving 31 major combat operations. Appointed a Warrant Officer in 1976, he later converted his commission and was a Captain when he deployed to Beirut, Lebanon with the Multinational Force in 1982-83. 

Reviewed by: Bob Ruehrdanz (2011)

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Author's Synopsis

The death of a salty old senior NCO who ran special operations in Vietnam leads Marine Gunner Shake Davis on a shocking and potentially lethal quest to find out what happened to hundreds of American POWs. Written by the bestselling author of 'Platoon,' Dale A. Dye.

For Love of Country, by William C. Hammond

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MWSA Review

The early years of the new United States serves as the setting for William C. Hammond’s For Love of Country.  The second in a series, through its pages the reader continues a sea-going adventure with the Cutlers, a merchant family from Hingham, Massachusetts. Richard Cutler captains the family’s newest vessel, Falcon.  Like other shipping companies of the time, American vessels are contending with piracy in the Mediterranean.  On Falcon’s maiden voyage, Cutler is charged with meeting the Dey of Algiers to pay the tribute required to free one of the Cutler’s merchant crews to include his younger brother, Caleb Cutler.  When negotiations go awry, Falcon sails for France, and must fight pirates along the way.

Cutler is well received in France and meets with both John Paul Jones and the soon to be Secretary of State, Thomas Jefferson. Both warn him of the trials and tribulations of the brewing French Revolution. Cutler fears for his former love, Anne-Marie Helvetian, but is able to sneak she and her daughters out of France to the United States.
For Love of Country is a delightful read for anyone who enjoys historical fiction or novels about the sea. The political scene in the United States and France is well researched.  Upon completing this book, any reader will anxiously await the next installment.

Reviewed by: Stephen Phillips (2011)

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Author's Synopsis

The novel opens with the capture of the Cutler merchant brig Eagle by Barbary pirates. Young Caleb Cutler and his shipmates are taken as prisoners to Algiers. Richard Cutler is sent to North Africa to pay the ransom demanded by the Dey of Algiers to free his brother and the others. After the dey rejects the ransom, Richard must defend his family's fortune from Algerian pirates who try to take it by force. Victorious in a fierce battle at sea, Richard travels to Paris to report to John Paul Jones, his former naval commander, who will serve as America's emissary to the Barbary States. In Paris, amid the tumult of the French Revolution, Richard engages in a desperate attempt to save his former lover, the beautiful Anne-Marie Helvetian, and her two young daughters from the guillotine.

Shall Never See So Much, by Gerald Gillis

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MWSA Review

If any year defined the Baby Boomer generation, it would be 1968. The anti-war protests at home played out against heavy fighting during the Tet Offensive in Vietnam. Idealistic and hopeful youth rallied around Dr. Martin Luther King and Sen. Robert F. Kennedy only to witness their assassinations two months apart. Music was great and women were empowered. It is against this backdrop that author Gerald Gillis sets his novel, Shall Never See So Much. 

Central characters Tom and Kate Flanagan, brother and sister, are typical of their generation in their passion for what they believe is best for our nation. But like the nation in 1968, they stand divided. Tom is a lieutenant in the Marine Corps leading men into some of the most vicious battles in Vietnam. Kate has just joined the staff of anti-war candidate Sen. Robert F. Kennedy as he campaigns for the presidency. Both Tom’s and Kate’s individual stories play off each other and bring the reader into that challenging year in our history.

Gillis is a former Marine and expressively captures the “everydayness” as well as the horrors of war.  Shall Never See So Much is an incredible story of family, war and the love of country that held our nation together.

Reviewed by: Gail Chatfield (2011)

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Author's Synopsis

Shall Never See So Much is the story of a brother and sister in the epochal year 1968. The story is told from the point of view of Chicago-natives Tom and Kate Flanagan. Calm, thoughtful Tom Flanagan is a young U.S. Marine lieutenant serving as a platoon leader in Vietnam at the time of the momentous Tet Offensive. Meanwhile, on the other side of the world, high-spirited, activist Kate Flanagan accepts a job on the staff of Sen. Robert F. Kennedy as RFK begins his ill-fated quest for the presidency. The previously close relationship between the brother and sister is severely strained over their respective positions on the war, and their discord only serves to heighten the anxieties felt by the entire Flanagan family. Tom’s own survival is threatened by the heavy fighting he experiences, especially during the Battle of Hue. Shall Never See So Much is a story of heroism and triumph.

Victory Road, by Mark Bowlin

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MWSA Review

The Texas Gun Club series is about the invasion and conquest of Italy in WWII, and the first novel of the series is titled The Texas Gun Club. When the 36th Infantry Division of the Texas National Guard (know as "The Texas Army," and sometimes as "The Texas Gun Club") was federalized, it became part of the 5th Army commanded by LG Mark Clark. 

The 36th was the first American unit to hit the beach at Salerno, Italy on 9 September 1943, and The Texas Gun Club is the story of the division's landing and the battle for Salerno as seen through the eyes two cousins, 1LT Sam Taft and Capt Perkins Berger. 

Victory Road picks up the story, and is built around the battle for San Pietro. A brutal battle fought against battle hardened German troop dung in on a series of defensive lines south of Rome. The descriptions of battle will make you think you are there. Attacks and counter attacks in freezing rain and sleet as the unit fights its way through a narrow gap and attempts to advance north on Route 6, named Victory Road by the troops. 

Intrigue, spies, tragedy, brotherhood, bravery, love, treachery, comradery, leadership and stupidity are characteristics displayed by various characters. Some of the unfinished story lines from the first book are completed, and at least one spills over into the next book. 

A realistic look at the Italian campaign and the face of war. A great read and highly recommended. 

Reviewed by: Lee Boyland (2011)

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Author's Synopsis

Victory Road is the second book in the award-winning Texas Gun Club series. It's the fall of 1943: The Allied Advance up the Italian Peninsula has ground to a halt, and the prospect of taking Rome before Christmas seems more distant than ever. In their first action since Salerno, First Lieutenant Sam Taft and the soldiers of Able Company are sent to wrest a lonely stretch of road from the German defenders--the Italians call it Highway 6, but the boys of the Texas Gun Club know it as Victory Road. As Sam slugs it out in the valley, somewhere beyond the highway high up in the mountains, his cousin, Captain Perkin Berger struggles against harsh elements and murderous German intelligence agents in his quest to be the first American into San Pietro.