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Tears for Mother Earth by Jim Greenwald

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Click on cover image to purchase a copy

MWSA Review

Mr. Greenwald's abiding appreciation of life and the environment is obvious as he gives voice to what's on his heart and mind in his most recent work, Tears for Mother Earth.   
 
Tears for Mother Earth is a collection of deeply insightful and thought provoking writings on behalf of an endangered planet -- our planet.   Although broaching a sobering subject, the poet skillfully imparts passages of breathless beauty among the poignant depictions of a dying planet.  The poet certainly gives the reader pause for profound reflection and self examination.  One has no choice but to conclude that saving Mother Earth is not the job of one individual.  It is the job of each individual.  After reading Mr. Greenwald's effective compilation, this reader stands ready to do her part.
 
I highly recommend Tears for Mother Earth to both lovers of thoughtful writings, and advocates for saving our planet.  It is sure to please both palates as the poet has a remarkable gift of phrasing, and an innate love of the environment. 

Reviewed by: Claudia Pemberton (2009)


Author's Synopsis

This book is about a concern we should all share, keeping this planet, our home, alive for future generations to enjoy. It is about saving our planet, raising awareness, creating a concern within each person to do something rather than sitting back and wishing. I hope that something I wrote spurs you to action, to become involved in the saving of this planet. It would be hard to imagine a person not concerned enough to act to save what they have for their children, who deserve no less. That oft used phrase of “what can I do, I am only one person” rings hollow, for there is much an individual can do.

Sugar, Zeroes, and Lemon by Jim Greenwald

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Click on cover image to purchase a copy

MWSA Review

Poet Jim Greenwald has created a truly wonderful poetic journey for the heart and spirit. His poems capture moments from the heart and mind that readers will all be able to relate to. His poetry dances across relationships and examines the spaces between love and hurting. 

His poetry book "Sugar, Zeroes, and Lemon Drops" is one of those simple little books that you will find yourself reading many times. Perhaps, you will not read every poem again, but certainly some of those individual poems will resonate strongly within you. My favorite poem from his book is called "misplaced". I think the ending of it asks one of those personal and emotional questions that we have all asked of ourselves at one time: 

"looking...as I do each day, 
Hoping to find the place where I should be, 
I have a key... where is the door?" 

Reviewed by: Bill McDonald (2009)


Author's Synopsis

If you have never cried over someone who walked away, you have never loved. Poetry and love possess a symbiotic relationship. Poetry, like love, is best experienced. The deeper the experience, the better they are woven, the better the weave and the deeper the emotion. I hope my words reach into your soul. For when they do, I have succeeded and we have shared both smiles and teardrops on this, the stage we call life. May your life be filled with sugar and zeroes.

The Book of War by Dwight Zimmerman

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Click on cover image to purchase a copy

MWSA Review

Author Dwight Jon Zimmerman's book is a fat, colorful look at the history of civilization seen through the prism of war.  It consists of a series of 1-3 page vignettes describing the why and how of particular battles, the people involved -- and the impact of evolving technology.  Squeezed down into smaller bites and far more focused, The Book of War is reminiscent of an amusing 70s British Television series called CONNECTIONS.
 
Clever in concept, The Book of War is part coffee-table chic/part academic history.  It's the kind of work that informs while entertaining.  It can be devoured like lunch or nibbled like a late night snack.  Because the language is simple and the content broad, there's literally something for everyone. Students might mark the slick pages with paperclips and sticky notes in preparation for exams and term papers.  Researchers might peruse the Table of Contents for tidbits on the history of weapons or for that little-known detail about the Suez Crisis.  Novelists might pick it up to search for small anecdotes about Hannibal and his elephants or Patton and his tanks.  And then there are those of us who sit cross-legged on our sofas with specs on our noses licking our thumbs and turning pages with the fascination of true bibliophiles reading for joy of it.
 
The Book of War is a gorgeous example of how design and color can enhance good solid writing.  Although chunky, the book fits the hand easily and the print, while small, is easy on the eye.  The handsome red and gold cover implies quality and the three small images of Napoleon, Robert E. Lee, and Dwight D. Eisenhower imply range.  You always know where you are in the long continuum of time by the watermarked year in the left margin as each new chapter begins. The illustrations include photos of ancient statuary, battlefield paintings, and photography.  It must have been an expensive book to produce and even though it is a perfect bound trade publication, it is sturdy enough to grace the shelves of personal, public and university libraries.
 
The research represented by this book is stunning.  Author Zimmerman does not limit himself to one country, one era, or one culture.  His topics include battles like Kadesh, Nagashino, Yorktown, Gettysburg, Gallipoli, Inchon, and 73 Easting.  He covers sieges like Carthage, Masada, Fort Sumter, and Khartoom.  He describes warriors like Julius Caesar, Joan of Arc, Horatio Nelson, Hap Arnold, and Moshe Dayan.  He discusses tools like chariots, swords, bows, and torpedoes.    He comments on the roles of maps, radios, and global positioning systems.  The sheer volume of information is overwhelming.
 
The Book of War is a great tool for authors, journalists, teachers, and armchair military historians.  It's well-indexed and foot-noted making it easy to use.  As the author states in his introduction, -- each stage in a civilization's cycle -- birth, growth, decline, and replacement by another society "includes war," and as such, this book is also useful for philosophers, politicians, and generals. 

Reviewed by: Joyce Faulkner (2009)


Author's Synopsis

Black Dog & Leventhal Publishers: Throughout human history, violent conflict has been a fact of life. To know the history of war is to know human history. The Book of War recounts landmark battles that shaped civilizations from 1274 B.C. up to the present day. Organized chronologically, this fascinating survey details pivotal military events from early empires through to modern warfare. It also reveals their immediate impact and importance to history. Each entry spans two pages, with concise text and stunning images for each battle. Interspersed throughout the book are essays on innovations, strategies, or leaders that have changed the way war has been waged.

America's Film Vault by Phillip W. Stewart

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Click on cover image to purchase a copy

MWSA Review

An indispensible reference tool for the serious film researcher! Try doing a search for a specific film housed in the US National Archives using the Archive's online database: the ARC -- Archival Research Catalog (found on archives.gov).  You might find what you're looking for; but you won't find things so thoughtfully organized and cross-referenced as you will in Philip Stewart's new book, America's Film Vault.  

In the book's introduction, the novice film researcher, producer, or student will benefit from Stewart's overview of the Archives' holdings, the different sources of those holdings, how they're organized, and a short-but-fascinating look into the history of each basic category of film: civilian, military, and donated.

However, this book is not just for the beginner.  Expanding on the 1972 reference work of two Archives employees (which has not been updated since that time), America's Film Vault also belongs on the bookshelf of the seasoned veteran.  The book's handy and useful layout, which includes a thorough subject and title index, will facilitate the search/research/exploration of the experienced Archive sleuth as well.  

Perhaps best of all, Stewart's organization by resource group (RG) holdings, might just facilitate that unexpected discovery that takes one in a whole new direction!

Thumb through this book or spend a few minutes on Phil Stewart's website.  The reader can't help but notice that this third installment in his "Historic Footage Project" is--as the author admits--a labor of love. It's also a tremendously helpful and easy-to-use guide map to the film treasures waiting to be found and enjoyed in our nation's National Archives.

Reviewed by: John Cathcart (2009)


Author's Synopsis

AMERICA'S FILM VAULT: A Reference Guide to the Motion Pictures Held by the U.S. National Archives is the comprehensive new book by award-winning author and film-sleuth Phillip W. Stewart. Some of the best kept history secrets are buried deep within America's film vault. This essential reference guide unshrouds, for the first time in book form, the whereabouts of historic motion picture films preserved in the National Archives. 

This treasure trove includes over 360,000 film reels that document a century of American and world history. Unfortunately, relatively few people know that these historically significant films exist, and even fewer know how to find them. 

AMERICA'S FILM VAULT is an indispensable reference guide that discloses how these vintage films are organized and where to find them; exposes over 330 Government and Donated records that have motion pictures buried within them; uncovers and specifically identifies over 1,460 film titles and provides topical references to thousands more; and reveals-all with a comprehensive 2,130-plus subject index that sheds light on a vast variety of rare films. 

According to William T. Murphy, former Chief of the Motion Picture, Sound, and Video Branch of the National Archives, America's Film Vault is, "...a convenient overview of National Archives and Records Administration's motion picture holdings, one difficult to obtain from any other source." 

If you're ready to play detective, take a crack at the combination, and investigate the bowels of the vault, you need a guide map...and this is it! Discover "reel" treasures with AMERICA'S FILM VAULT. Check out the author's website (pwstewart.com) for more information about this and his other books in The Historic Footage Project.

God in the Foxhole by Charles W. Sasser

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Click on cover image to purchase a copy

MWSA Review

Prolific author Charles W. Sasser has given readers something very special in the way of military genre books with his newest (and best) book of his career. "God In The Foxhole: Inspiring True Stories Of Miracles On The Battlefield" is a very moving, entertaining, mysterious, spiritual and action filled volume of personal accounts of combat. It is unlike any other book already out there. This is book doesn't judge the supernatural happenings that surround the warriors who have waged our nation's battles and wars - it just presents them for the reader to digest and savor. 

There are dozens of tales of supernatural events that have happened to combat veterans from all of our wars. Sasser has captured stories from most of our nation's wars, some from people he personally knows such as myself. He gives each experience a respectful place in this anthology of war stories. What happens is so varied and no two stories are alike. We are shown the power of faith, prayer and love. We are also shown true miracles where there are no possible logical explanations. 

This book written in a style that reads like a great novel. The author's obvious skills as a story teller are much in evident. He takes the reader on a "spiritual journey" across battlefields and up into the flak filled skies of times past - to deliver an explosive page turning book. One cannot help but be moved by the many accounts of encounters with events and things that leave us in wonder and awe. This book will make you feel good; it may also make you question reality and what you might believe. 

I believe in the power of this book. So much so, that when I was contacted by the author to use my own stories in his book, I not only gave him those but I also introduced him to another dozen or so veterans who had "spiritual experiences". Then, I volunteered to write the Foreword for this volume. When this book finally came out it was even better than I had envisioned. 

This book needed to be written; these stories needed to be told! Charles Sasser has gifted the world with something very special. This book is more than just individual stories. When presented together, as in this book - it becomes a divine messenger! However, there are no deliberate attempts to send any particular slanted or religious message - readers will come away with their own insights and beliefs. The stories speak for themselves - there is no need to sell or exploit religion or any spiritual ideology. 

I strongly urge all those who have a friend or relative in the military, to buy them a copy of this book. Your gift of this book will lift their hearts and spirits. However, this book is not intended just for combat veterans but for all family members. It will strengthen your faith, or in some cases, give you faith where there wasn't any before. This book will inspire readers. 

This book has been nominated for book awards from both "The Military Writer's Society of America" and "The American Authors Association". This is a FIVE STAR BOOK! I give this book my personal recommendation. Buy it, read it, and be inspired! This book will change you in ways you cannot image.

Reviewed by: Bill McDonald (2009)


Author's Synopsis

God in the FoxholeA stunning collection of true personal accounts from generations of American soldiers whose faith, in the words of renowned combat journalist and former Green Beret Charles W. Sasser, “has been born, reborn, tested, sustained, verified, or transformed under fire.”From the battlefields of the American Revolution through World Wars I and II, from Korea and Vietnam to the front lines in Iraq and Afghanistan, here is an immensely moving gathering of war stories like no other—dramatic tales of spirituality, conversion, and miracles:The angelic vision that brought inner peace to an exhausted helicopter door gunner in Vietnam . . . the makeshift full-immersion baptisms of eleven soldiers on Palm Sunday in Iraq, 2004 . . . two enemies—a Nazi priest and an American G.I.—who served Communion Mass in a Belgian sanctuary in 1944 . . . the prescient letter from a Civil War army major to his beloved wife, one week before his death at Bull Run . . . the 21st-century toddler with a jaw-dropping spiritual connection to a war hero of Iwo Jima . . . and more.Fans of military history will be captivated by these transcendent portraits of survival and belief, presented by the acclaimed coauthor of One Shot—One Kill.

Battlefields & Blessings: Stories of Faith and Courage from World War II by Larkin Spivey

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Click on cover image to purchase a copy

MWSA Review

Larkin Spivey's book is an inspirational, uplifting, spiritual work written against the backdrop of World War II.  Spivey, himself a combat veteran, tells 365 true stories of faith and hope, set up in a one-per-day devotional format.  Most stories contain quotes from the soldiers who lived them during the second world war, and each concludes with a scripture passage related to the story.

I particularly liked the simple way Larkin told each soldier's (or sailor's, or airman's, or Marine's) story.  Usually in one page, he set the stage, introduced the character, told the story, and explained the particular spiritual relevance.  From privates to generals, allies to axis, warfighter and civilian, Larkin drew the most powerful stories together to produce a spiritual shield any prayerful soldier will count as a "must have" in his or her combat gear.  

It is a well laid out, simple read, with a gripping cover and appropriate pictures throughout.  I also liked the way the page edges are ruffled, like an old bible, adding a subtle reminder of the inspirational nature of the book. 

Highly recommended for any Christian military person or veteran who considers prayer, spirituality, and God an important part of his or her life.  Also for their loved ones, or simply Christians in general.

Reviewed by: Rob Ballister (2009)


Author's Synopsis

The purpose of Stories of Faith and Courage from World War II is to strengthen the faith of its readers by showing the power of faith of those under the most extreme circumstances imaginable. This is accomplished through 365 one-page stories from America's greatest conflict presented in a daily devotional format with relevant scripture readings for each day of the year. Additionally, the book presents a unique and concise history of World War II with summaries, maps, and photographs of the major campaigns of the war. On this level, the individual stories provide insights into the war and combat not found in typical historical accounts.

Bible Promises for Soldiers by J. M. Barnes

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Click on cover image to purchase a copy

MWSA Review

That old adage "you can't judge a book by its cover" certainly applies to "Bible Promises for Solders".  And by cover -- I mean size.  This book may be small, but it packs one heck of a hefty wallop!  It is not only a wonderful teaching tool, but is a great source of comfort and inspiration as well.
 
Author J.M. Barnes knows of what she speaks.  Twenty plus years as the wife of a U.S. Soldier affords her first hand knowledge of what military life is all about -- the good and the bad.  
 
Even readers with a sound background of Bible doctrines and truths, will be enlightened by Barnes' quotes and interpretations.  Patriotic readers will find this book reaffirming and consoling.   Non-patriots will be challenged, and hopefully persuaded to wave a flag and thank a soldier.
 
The cover is moving and ingenious -- a copy of the Bible clutched in the arm of a soldier.  I found it appropriate and very effective.
 
It was a privilege to be invited into the heart and mind of a soldier's wife.  I came away with an even deeper understanding and abiding love and appreciation for America's mighty military.  

Reviewed by: Claudia Pemberton (2009)


Author's Synopsis

This book is a must read for soldiers and those in other branches of the military who are facing or who will face a deployment. It examines the role of the soldier from a biblical perspective. It examines the lives of some of the greatest warriors in the bible and the strategies they used to defeat their enemies. This book contains over 100 promises from the bible specifically for soldiers. They are promises of protection, deliverance, strength and encouragement for those facing the challenges of deployment and war. This book is powerful, uplifting, and encouraging. Do not go to war without reading this book.

I will never give up on God again by Derek W. Clark

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Click on cover image to purchase a copy

MWSA Review

Moving and Inspirational! Author and motivational speaker Derek W. Clark delivers a positive message for the suffering world. In his newest book " I Will Never Give Up On God Again" he takes the readers on an emotional journey of self-discovery and how he finds his faith in God. You do not have to be a religious person to get something out of this book. The book may best be aimed at people like himself - as he used to be. His message is one directly from his heart and soul. 

The book will inspire and perhaps even change a few people's lives - what more can one ask for from any book. The book is at times sad and may even bring the reader a few tears, but the message is well worth the journey. I strongly endorse this book and recommend it for your personal book shelf. 

Reviewed by: Bill McDonald (2009)


Author's Synopsis

Have you ever given up on God? Or been close to giving up on Him? I have. This is the story of a spiritual journey: from feeling abandoned by God to feeling embraced by God. For years I'd felt an oppressive weight bearing down on me: the burden of anger against God. Why did it feel like He never stuck up for me? Why didn't He rescue me from the abuse, loneliness, and pain of a troubled childhood? Why didn't He stop my parents from abandoning me to the foster care system? With every disappointment, I became more and more convinced He wasn't there, wasn't guiding me through my struggles. He either could not or would not comfort me during the hard times; the times I needed Him most. I didn't fear God, and secretly despised Him. It was the drowning death and resuscitation of a young girl that forced me to rethink my contentious and unhealthy relationship with God. Knocked hard out of my irreligious complacency, I came to see tragedy, hope, suffering, and overcoming with new clarity and understanding. Adversity, I realized, can be one of God's greatest blessings. This spiritual epiphany has filled me with immeasurable gratitude: for the breath of life, the goodness around me, and even for the sad, troubled past I had to overcome. This is a story about rediscovering God, and gaining awareness of His presence. A former High-Risk Foster Child with thirteen years in the foster care system, Derek W. Clark is an Inspiring Motivational Speaker and Author. As a helpless child, Derek was nearly institutionalized due to erratic behavioral problems and violent tendencies. He is a survivor of child abuse, and was diagnosed early on as mentally retarded. As he developed, it became clear to his foster parents that this diagnosis was without merit. Even against unbelievable odds, Derek never gave up, using music, laughter, will power, and positive decision-making to triumph over adversity. He is the author of the autobiographical I Will Never Give Up, which received the highest rating of 5 Stars from the American Authors Association and I Will Never Give Up On God Again. He is also a recording artist, singer/songwriter and successful business owner. Derek currently resides in Northern California, with his wife of 15 years and their 4 amazing children.

Immeasurable Spirit: Lessons of a Wounded Warrior by Latoya Lucas

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Click on cover image to purchase a copy

MWSA Review

This book is the story of a young woman, an Army soldier, wounded in a fierce battle in the Iraqi war. It is a remarkable story of how her undying faith carried her through suffering that few could comprehend.

  She explains in understandable words her thirst for helping others in their own times of terrible trials. She writes, ?I prayed to God to use me in a bountiful way?. She added many of her favorite scriptures throughout her story. She used those scriptures that she held onto at those particular times in her life.

 The attractive cover showing railroad tracks seeming to have no end depicts the immeasurable spirit that has no end.

 This book is a great testimony of how Faith in God can give so much strength to a terribly broken body. Her love for her Nation, her family, her fellow soldiers and the doctors that saved her life is evident in every page. I found it most amazing how she uses her time and energy motivating others. I got the idea that she draws a lot of strength for herself by doing so much for others. I found her positive outlook contagious.

I wish she had written more because I was sorry when I had finished the last page. The 138 pages were just not enough. Her lack of self pity, her strong patriotism and almost indescribable perseverance drew me into her story. I don?t think I can recommend this book to only one certain group of readers. Christians and non believers alike will gain from her writings here. Wounded soldiers alone are not the only ones that would become stronger by reading this. As an infantry soldier fromVietnam, I have gained greatly from her experiences. This work belongs on every book shelf.

Reviewed by: Don Arndt (2009)


Author's Synopsis

The Immeasurable Spirit: Lessons of a Wounded Warrior about Faith and Perseverance, was written with the personal insight and experience of a person who has faced and overcome tremendous adversity. Latoya Lucas brings us face to face with our innerselves while simultaneously sharing her experiences of perseverance and faith even after suffering severe wounds from her service with the U.S. Army in Iraq. Why is it that some people are able to overcome their fears and persevere through life s adversities? By reading Latoya s story, you will come to understand how a person with faith and determination could rely on that faith when tested during an unbelievable hardship. In The Immeasurable Spirit, Latoya explains that we all have the capability to be resilient, especially when we reach out to God for his wisdom and strength. Latoya encourages readers to seek out the often difficult task of rehabilitating and strengthening the mind and spirit. Command Sergeant Major Terrance McWilliams, US Army Retired and Former 1st Army Division West and Fort Carson Command Sergeant Major says about The Immeasurable Spirit, "There have been many stories written about female experiences in combat, this is the first that focuses on how faith and family values persevere."

Strike from the Sea by Tommy H. Thomason Air Force

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Click on cover image to purchase a copy

MWSA Review

Author Tommy H. Thomason lays out an incredible US Navy aircraft history, with fascinating detail of powerful jets and related hardware.  This educational read is nothing short of phenomenal for those interested in the relentless effort given to create and sustain the most powerful sea strike force ever built.  Thomason delivers a treasure trove of information about the capabilities of America's Navy birds.  He also expands upon drones, armament, aircraft carrier design, and other productions like cockpit configurations already operational or planned for the future.  Trials and tribulations experienced to sustained protection are clearly presented.  The book's hardback layout is easy to read, even though the content almost reaches an anatomical level of delivery.  Jam packed with color photographs, author diagrams, and artistic concepts, the reader gets a well researched technical manual that finally helped me understand why it all costs so much.  The complex procurement process considers contrasting needs of the Navy and Air Force, and weighs in on competition between the big contractors in search of funding and survival.  Air superiority must be maintained, and future concepts are introduced.  An example is a pilotless stealthy flying wing, similar to the B2 that is projected to be operational by 2025; the craft will launch from and return to an aircraft carrier to rearm and strike again.   I give this book my highest recommendation, and suggest it for military history buffs or anyone inspired by airplane development or the US Navy.  Strike From The Sea would be a fine text for the dedicated classroom.       

Reviewed by: Hodge Wood (2009)


Author's Synopsis

Strike from the Sea: U.S. Navy Attack Aircraft from Skyraider to Super Hornet 1948-Present celebrates carrier-based air-to-ground attack aircraft which first came into operation during the Korean War, reached maturity during Vietnam, and are deployed today throughout the world. Well-known author and naval aviation authority Tommy Thomason not only explores such legendary Navy aircraft as the A4D Skyhawk, A3J Vigilante, and A-6 Intruder, but also the critical role of the aircraft carrier itself, for without these massive nuclear-powered floating airfields, U.S. Navy attack aircraft would have no sea-borne bases from which to operate. 
Armament from gravity bombs to today's GPS-guided smart weapons are covered in great detail, and this book also explains that while many different types of airplanes were required for flying attack missions in the past, only one aircraft - the advanced F/A-18E/F Super Hornet - is needed to carry out these same missions in an even more complex and hostile combat environment today.

USAF Prototype Jet Fighters by Dennis R. Jenkins and Tony R. Landis

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Click on cover image to purchase a copy

MWSA Review

Aerospace historian Tony Landis and Cape Canaveral consulting engineer Dennis Jenkins's jet photo scrapbook provides the reader a most attractive, sixty- year chronology of USAF jet trainers developed since the end of WWII.  Dozens of pictures from America's jet history are professionally organized.   Short on time, I originally needed to take a quick look at this work, but turned out getting absorbed in every jet prototype.   Pictures shared with my thirteen- year old son included shots of the developed jets from the Vietnam-era that I knew as F105's, F4's, and F-111's.  Our interaction added to the enjoyment of this book, as I've never said much to him about those days (when I got a front row view of jet firepower).  The book's beautiful front cover shows the sixth, and last, General Dynamics YF-16A, in spectacular red, white, and blue, while in test flight over Edwards, California.  Interesting book captions are added; examples include an XF-92A sitting for unknown reasons in a county airport for years, and artwork of variants of the F-111 - proposed as part of Secretary of Defense McNamara's "commonality" concept.  Less peculiar stories show the heroic dedication taken and success achieved to advance jet propulsion and protect our nation.     
 
Landis and Jenkins compiled a superb history of powerful birds that I fully enjoyed.  The book gets my highest recommendation, and I suggest it for any jet enthusiast, historian, or educator.

Reviewed by: Hodge Wood (2009)


Author's Synopsis
The U.S. Air Force began developing jet fighters as World War II came to a close. The Cold War that soon developed saw a significant increase in fighter production programs as America tried to counter the perceived Soviet threat. World War II's best piston-powered fighters could barely top speeds in excess of 450 mph. But the post-war jets developed by the U.S. Air Force were soon breaking the sound barrier, flying to Mach 3, and Mach-4 capable aircraft were on the drawing board. U.S. Air Force Prototype Jet Fighters details the evolution of these aircraft, using dozens of never-before-published photographs from government archives.

EMBEDDED: A Marine Corps Adviser Inside the Iraqi Army, by Wesley Gray

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Click on cover image to purchase a copy

MWSA Review

Embedded is like many other non-fiction books about war.  A young man joins the military and learns the skills that he will need in the months ahead.  He receives orders that will take him into the heart of a historical event.  He arrives at his assignment -- green and eager to learn.  Things are not what he has expected so he adapts. He becomes attached to the people around him. Events overcome him and he performs his job to the best of his ability.  Too soon it's over and he returns home to write about his adventures-- changed forever.   I've read it a hundred times -- yet, this story stands out like a glowing bald head in a room full of wigs.  

First, the author has an engaging style that captures the reader from the first chapter.  Warm and charming, Gray's narrative reads like a blog -- easy going, sometimes funny, sometimes frustrated -- sometimes philosophical.   Worldly and practical, his approach to his job -- advisor embedded with the Iraqi Army near Haditha -- is sophisticated and well-considered.  For example, knowing that Iraqi culture values family, Lt. Gray compiled a scrapbook of pictures showing himself with his family. Whenever he found himself trying to establish a rapport with Iraqi soldiers, he'd pull out the scrapbook and share its contents with the men around him.

Second, Embedded takes the middle ground between "raqis love/hate Americans" espoused by the right and left media outlets.  This realistic assessment of Gray's tour in Iraq makes this book especially believable. His description of the enormous cultural divide between American and Iraqi definitions of progress explains why the Bush Administration's overly optimistic assertions of success began to ring hollow as time passed.

Third, Gray's description of Iraqi jundi is frank and entertaining.  One tale of an Iraqi soldier begging for his belongings -- from iPods to cameras to computers to the socks the author was wearing that day -- illustrates his frustration with people who ask for handouts one minute and throw them out the next. Then after a long series of such stories, he concludes with a bit of Iraqi insight. A friend explained to him that Americans aren't free all the way. Americans cannot kill anyone they want, they can't take anything they want or beat each other with abandon. Americans live within a set of clearly defined rules.  However, America has bestowed total freedom on Iraq -- anarchy.  

Embedded presents as a polished, professional piece of writing.  It's lively language and anecdotal approach makes it a quick read for the casual reader.  However, it's also filled with background information that students and journalists might find useful. 

Reviewed by: Joyce Faulkner (2009)


Author's Synopsis
 

In 2006, 1st Lt. Wesley Gray was deployed as a U.S. Marine Corps military adviser to an Iraqi Army battalion in the Haditha Triad. For 210 days, he lived and fought beside Iraqi soldiers in the most dangerous and austere province of western Iraq. Al-Anbar was filled with an insurgent population traumatized by a recent massacre of twenty-four men, women, and children shot at close range by U.S. Marines in retaliation for the death of one of their comrades in a roadside bombing. Despite the high tensions created by the shootings, Gray was able to form a bond with the Iraqis because he had an edge that very few U.S. service members possess -the ability to communicate in Iraqi Arabic. His language skills and his understanding of the culture led the Iraqi soldiers to call him a brother and fondly name him Jamal. By the end of his tour he was a legend within the Iraqi Army. Gray draws on the brutally honest and detailed record he kept during his tour, including extensive interviews with Iraqi soldiers and citizens. He offers a comprehensive portrait of the struggles of the Iraqi people to make their country a nation once again and includes a compelling report on the status and prospects of the U.S. government's strategy for success in Iraq.

Stand To... A Journey to Manhood by Franklin Evans

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Click on cover image to purchase a copy

MWSA Review

Vietnam veteran and author E. Franklin Evans has captured something very special in his personal war memoir, "Stand To...A Journey to Manhood". We get a good glimpse back into the life and times of a "young man" caught in the vortex of war. The reader is treated to a well written accounting of his experiences surviving both the traumas of battles and people. It is historic, personal and entertaining. 

This is one of this decade's "Top 10 Best Memoirs" on the Vietnam War experience. The story is emotionally presented through the eyes of a young Army officer - but it is clearly written with the introspection of a much older author. He looks back at that time and place in his life in an attempt to understand and come to grips with these events. It is truly a journey and one that most readers will find well worth taking with this author. 

The book gives us some insights on what it was like in one of the remote Special Forces Camps. The readers will find themselves fully engaged and on the edge of their seats as they read about the heavy fighting that took place in and around these camps. The book is about life and death and about those brave young men who lived and died a long time ago. But it is obvious that these events for men like Evans, will never seem that long ago. In their hearts and minds it is just like it happened yesterday. 

This book gets my fullest personal endorsement and recommendation. 

Review by Bill McDonald, MWSA Reviewer & former President (July 2009)

"Stand To--A Journey to Manhood" is not just another Vietnam War book filled with clichés about this most misunderstood war. I can almost recite some of the stereotypes about the war that I have read in other books/memoirs. This is fresh, this is new. A memoir of a young Lt. Frank Evans, infantry officer, who started as a grunt officer and ended his tour of duty with the Special Forces at the battle of Ben Het. This battle was the only battle between American forces where enemy tanks also took part.

But, what made me really like this book? The humor that the author was able to inject into the story. His knife fight with a Christmas turkey, fighting Viet Cong elephants, and an elusive VC chicken, all made this otherwise serious look at the daily grind and terror that the average infantryman went through  an enjoyable diversion. But, when the author needed to take you into the heat of the battle, especially Ben Het, he did so with great detail.

The book is 260 pages with 34 very much appreciated short chapters, and has many personal photos that the author was able to bring home. 

This is an outstanding book. Deserves the highest rating from MWSA.

Reviewed by: Jim Stewart (2008)


Author's Synopsis

E. Franklin Evans had watched every war movie John Wayne ever made, sometimes several times over. When the “Duke” led his men, war was exciting and heroes were made as they ruggedly fought and predictably won each battle. But when Evans’ high school friend and real-life hero Glenn was killed in Vietnam, war became real and personal for Evans, and he felt a tremendous obligation to the buddy who gave his life in that faraway jungle.

At the tender age of nineteen, Evans voluntarily enlisted in the U.S. Army and left for basic training in early December of 1966. Before long, he was deeply entrenched in a treacherous war, far removed from his innocent and carefree youth. He had to learn not only to survive but also to muster the bravery to lead others in combat as he was thrust from adolescence into adulthood.

It has taken Evans more than thirty-five years to begin to heal the physical and emotional wounds that kept him from sharing his intensely personal story. From his depiction of the picturesque aerial view of Cam Rahn Bay to that of the barbed wire, metal planking, and squat huts housing weapons of death and destruction, Evans’s Stand To …provides a vividly detailed glimpse into what it was like to become a man on the battlefields of Vietnam.

182 Days in Iraq 2nd edition; by Phil Kiver

Click on cover image to purchase a copy

Click on cover image to purchase a copy

MWSA Review

MWSA Reviewer: 
 


Author's Synopsis

Phil Kiver's real-life, moment-to-moment journal of his assignment as an Army journalist in Iraq is honest, irreverent gripping and emotional one moment a howl the next. Kiver's journals are raw reaction, impression, and introspection. This, folks, is what it feels like to be Phil Kiver in this war in Iraq missing home, lounging at one of Saddam s pools, angry with the brass, witnessing the deaths of children and comrades, nighttime explosions too close for comfort, pasta with the Italians, toasting the fallen with the Ukrainians. It s a delirium of experience with this journalist sorting through the rubble and smoke in search of the story that will one day be history

5 Brothers In Arms; by Raymond C. Heimbuch

Click on cover image to purchase a copy

Click on cover image to purchase a copy

MWSA Review

A chronicle of one family's service in WWII. Raymond Heimbuch's book is a powerful tribute to the service provided to this country by the five Heimbuch brothers. Each enlisted to help America defeat aggression in WWII, and each had stories to tell about that service. Ray and George were captured in the Philippines while serving in the Army Air Corps. They survived poor food, long marches, sadistic guards, and a ride on one of the infamous "Hell Ships," where they were crammed into the hold of a transport ship for three months en route to Japan. Scariest of all was their separation, not knowing how the other was holding up. Erv joined the Marines, and was one of only three men in his company (over 240 Marines) who survived unwounded through the invasion. Floyd and Mylo also served, and had stories of their own. 

Heimbuch puts a very human face on war, bringing to light the little stories and anecdotes that develop the special brand of camaraderie that only veterans truly understand. His first hand account of being captured near the beginning of the war is also very educational, especially when he relates some of the humor and humanity of his Japanese captors. While some were indeed sadistic, some were simply soldiers doing their part for their country just like the author, and the Heimbuch does a fine job of describing both types. 

Those who enjoy memoirs from combat soldiers in WWII may enjoy this book, and at less than 200 pages it is certainly a very readable work.

Review by Rob Ballister, MWSA Lead Reviewer (June 2009)

ags: Non-fiction, History, Memoir, World War II


Author's Synopsis
This book starts with our becoming POW's, with a brief flash back telling how we got there, then goes on to tell about my POW life, and as each of my brothers who is not already mentioned joins the service, he gets a separate chapter telling his war experience, and goes on to tell what happens to each of them up until the present time.  Essentially it tells what we did during the war and then what we did up until the present time.