A Quiet Reality by Emilio Marrero

Click on cover image to purchase a copy

MWSA Review

A Quiet Reality opens the door to the often un-thought, unspoken part of war, that of God at work.  Emilio intertwines combat and prayer in a manner that makes the story worth reading to Christians and non-Christians alike. This is a powerful and insightful journey into the war in Iraq. This is a different kind of war, calling on talents civilians do not generally think of the military possessing and Chaplain Marrero tells their story as he shared it, a very emotional journey that provides a window of discovery to the reader and will tug at your heart as you share the emotions, message of redemption, death, salvation and tears of loss.  The perspective presented is different from that of a book of "war." A story you will not see on your local news, eye opening and refreshingly honest.

Reviewed by: jim greenwald (2010)

---

Author's Synopsis

A Quiet Reality is a heartwarming and hopeful story that invites you to join Chaplain Marrero in this exciting journey through Iraq as he ministered to U.S. Marines. Join him through an exhilarating tactical convoy during his first night in Iraq, through the painful ministry to the wounded and dead. Reflect with him as he ponders on this quest as a man in uniform and a pastor. Walk with him through the ancient ruins of Nebuchadnezzar's Palace in Babil and join him on an exciting quest to open biblical history to his Marines while he seeks to care for the Iraqis around him. A Quiet Reality is a hopeful commentary on a selfless quest to be true to ones faith and one's calling in the most trying of times. A wonderful Christian inspirational story that provides deep insight into how Americans and Iraqis touched one another.

Faith Deployed by Jocelyn Green

Click on cover image to purchase a copy

MWSA Review

I think the title of the newest book by Jocelyn Green "Faith Deployed: Daily Encouragement for Military Wives" really sums up the content and the purpose of her book. However, I think it is not just for wives and could just as well be for husbands with spouses overseas, or mothers and fathers and even children. There are some fundamental truths and thoughts through the book that lends it to a great audience of readers. And that is my only negative comment about a delightful and much need book. 

This book would make a great gift to give to those who have relatives overseas in the war areas or not. The book is heavy with biblical quotes and lots of real life advice from wives representing all the military branches of service. Green does a good job of weaving in her writing with those of the contributing writers to form a emotional and spiritual foundation from which the reader will find some inner strength and peace from. 

I highly recommend this book and suggest that all those who have any military connections buy a copy and keep it in your personal library. It is good insurance against all those worries that may grip you when you are waiting for your loved ones to return home. 

Reviewed by: Bill McDonald (2010)

---

Author's Synopsis

As a military wife, if you have ever felt overlooked and undernourished as you strive daily to meet the needs of everyone around you-in a culture that largely does not understand your stressful lifestyle-this book is for you.
 
Faith Deployed: Daily Encouragement for Military Wives is not a guide to long-distance relationships or a how-to on navigating through the military culture. It does not offer "ten easy steps" for an easier, painless life. Instead, through squarely addressing the challenges you face, Faith Deployed will equip you to respond biblically to the daily struggles that threaten to wear you down.
 
The book is written by 15 Christian military wives from all branches of service.

Tear in the Desert by Father Ron Camarda

Click on cover image to purchase a copy

MWSA Review

Navy Chaplain Father Ron Moses Camarda reflects upon his active duty in Fallujah, at the heart of the battle for the city in 2004. As a Catholic Priest in Florida at age forty-four, the author is almost retired as a reserve chaplain with twenty years of non-war assignments, when a stunning order changes everything. Called to active duty and assigned to Bravo Surgical Company at Camp Fallujah with our Marines, Camarda recounts the horrific carnage faced and his own frailties, while ministering to casualties. He comforts in the most hideous settings; 81 die before him as another 1500 are physically wounded. While standing in blood and with guts exposed, Camarda serves the spirit of the dying and critically wounded, using impromptu prayer and ceremony. The author shares his accounts of providing last rites in the "potato factory" morgue and holding Mass inside the heart of the demolished city. Tattoo's and pocketed paper notes shed light on the spiritual desires of the fallen and connections are made with families of the deceased.  These details provide the reader an even deeper insight into the challenges faced by those who serve and pay the ultimate price.  Much of the book is set around the November 2004 offensive by the First Marine Expeditionary Force in their effort to regain the city from insurgents in the largest urban assault since the Korean War. I admire how Chaplain Camarda exposes his own emotions and salute his courage. He uses scripture, journal entries, and prayers to bring into focus how men pass into eternity after war. I recommend the book for anyone who has interest in a real-world battle of unreal proportions.

Reviewed by: Hodge Wood (2010)

---

Author's Synopsis

Tear in the Desert is a journey into the Heart of the Iraq War with Navy Chaplain Father Ron Moses Camarda, a Roman Catholic Priest. Father Ron was recalled in July of 2004 to serve with the Marines in Bravo Surgical of 1st FSSG. He reluctantly went and received over 1500 casualties and 81 deaths in which at least 12 died as he prayed with them. Col Mike Shupp, Commanding Officer of Regimental Combat Team-1, Fallujah 2004-2005 writes an afterward, "Father Ron Camarda is one of those quiet heroes, who made a difference in so many ways. Through his enthusiasm and compassion, he strengthened and developed our moral courage to face the horrors of war. When injured physically or emotionally, his strength and commitment held us up to face each day with dignity and courage. I will never forget him or his service to the Regiment. God is Good, All the Time!  Semper Fi!"  
The book also begins to follow how Chaplain Camarda met with the widows, parents and friends of our fallen heroes. He concludes with the story of how he met with the widow of a Marine who died at the exact hour that she gave birth.

Battlefields and Blessings Iraq/Afghanistan by Jocelyn Green

Click on cover image to purchase a copy

MWSA Review

This newest installment in the wonderful series of books on faith on the battlefields, deals with the ongoing wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. Three very gifted authors worked together to deliver a powerful series of stories that show courage and faith. It also demonstrates and shows the spiritual connections between these warriors and God through their individual experiences. 

The full title of this inspiring book is Battlefields & Blessings: Stories Of Faith And Courage from The War In Iraq & Afghanistan.Truly a lot of loving work went into putting these personal stories together. It is not just about what takes place on battlefields but it is also about people: veterans, mother's and fathers and chaplains and even non-veterans such congressman, contractors, and missionaries. 

This book is definitely good for the soul of the reader. It is an easy to read accounting of those who lives have been touched by this current war on terrorism. It is heart warming, as well at times, a little heart wrenching. 

This is one book that I proudly display on my won personal bookshelf. I strongly recommend this book to anyone who has military people in their lives. I even recommend it to those who are just patriotic or love a book of great faith. 

Reviewed by: Bill McDonald (2010)

---

Author's Synopsis

Stories of Faith and Courage from the War in Iraq & Afghanistan, part of the Battlefields & Blessings series, is a 365-day collection of inspiring stories of courage perseverance and faith-based on firsthand accounts of more than seventy who have been connected to or involved in the war in Iraq and Afghanistan. Through never-before-told stories, readers will uncover the personal challenges of the battlefield. You'll hear about the experiences and perspectives of deployed soldiers; chaplains; military wives, widows, parents and siblings; organizers of humanitarian efforts; veterans suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder; missionaries to the Middle East and more. Each story is accompanied by a Scripture verse and a brief prayer.

If You Fly Don’t Crash by Charles Bailey

Click on cover image to purchase a copy

MWSA Review

In a story that begins in 1969, Air Force Pilot Charles E. Bailey discusses his experiences flying aircraft for the United States Air Force. Bailey gives readers an insightful, humorous, and complete account of life inside and outside the cockpits of many aircraft operated by the Air Force. These stories shed light on the important responsibilities military pilots undertake each time they fly and how their knowledge and expertise are often overlooked and underestimated. 

This book meets all of the qualifications of non-fiction. Throughout the story, the author discusses personal stories and experiences (complete with personal anecdotes) that provide the reader a perspective on the responsibilities an Air Force Pilot has along with the variety of skills and training required of the position of pilot.

Charles Bailey's If You Fly... Don't Crash! was one of those books that I could not put down, and I thought about for a long time after I finished it. There is humor mixed in with the story of one man's determination to succeed in achieving his goals and become an Air Force Pilot. I would recommend this book to people who are looking for an inspiring story. The story takes readers through many real landscapes: the training and experience required to become a pilot and how those experiences translate into success high above the skies in the cockpit. The book breezily moves through the author's life and situates pictures and photographs of various aircraft seamlessly into the body of the narrative. Sometimes, non-fiction stories can be overwrought with jargon that distract a reader from the overall message. However, Charles does a fantastic job of explaining complex aviation terms in a clear, concise manner. This was an excellent book and would recommend it anyone looking for a poignant true story about some of America's true heroes. 

Reviewed by: Elliot Parker (2010)

---

Author's Synopsis

The author piloted Air Force heavy jets for over two decades, in peacetime and wartime. If You Fly...Don't Crash! (Confessions of a White-knuckle Pilot) highlights some of the good, the bad, and the simply silly aspects of aviation experienced during his thousands of hours airborne.

Of War and Weddings by Jerry Yellin

Click on cover image to purchase a copy

MWSA Review

"And so the enemy became my friend, I felt his warmth across the ocean and he felt mine."  

A quote taken from the book, which sums up Mr. Yellin's story for me. I enjoyed the story with its vivid descriptions of Mr. Yellin's experiences in the war, the wedding of his son, the beauty of Japan and its people, a beauty that the writer discovered many years later. The reader will appreciate the journey Mr.Yellin takes in his life, to finally allow himself to heal from the war and release from his heart the hatred he felt for the Japanese people, he was then able to let go of his hatred and live a life of forgiveness and peace. It took many years of travel to Japan and the joining of two families from very different cultures to appreciate the people and true beauty of Japan. I personally appreciate a book where I can picture myself in the story; this book achieved that for me and will for other readers. If you have an interest in Japan, WW II fighter pilots, you will enjoy this book. I found it to be an easy flowing story that will leave you appreciating life, another culture and realize that true love can exist despite obstacles. It made me quite interested in seeing for myself the beauty of Japan someday.  

Reviewed by: Mary Sullivan (2010)

---

Author's Synopsis

A memoir. World War 2 service as a fighter pilot over Japan, raised during the depression, The wedding of his youngest son to a Japanese woman in Japan, the daughter of an Imperial Japanese air force veteran. The reconciliation between the two fathers.

So That Others May Live by Martha LaGuardia- Kotite

Click on cover image to purchase a copy

MWSA Review

So Others May Live is the story of the U.S. Coast Guard's quiet but resolute rescue swimmers.  The heroic stories, told through the eyes of the heroes, reveal an understanding of how and why the rescuer risks his or her life to save a stranger. 
 
Author Martha J. LaGuardia-Kotite is a graduate of the US Coast Guard Academy. Her affection for the service is evident in the massive amount of research that went into creating this book.  On top of providing students and researchers with Coast Guard history, Ms. Kotite presents a series of action-packed stories that move and intrigue the reader. Packaged so that they can be appreciated in approximately hour long sessions, she shares the adventures, mishaps, mistakes, and successes of the various rescues the Coast Guard has attempted -- from the victim trapped in an Oregon cave as the water rises to the drama of people struggling to survive in an oil slick. The latter part of the book is about the thousands of rescues in Katrina. The author discusses the emotional trauma suffered by the rescuers when rescue wasn't possible. 
 
She also explores the evolution of rescue techniques over time. The Coast Guard trained with the Navy at first, then built their own school for the specialized jobs they needed. For example, at first they used the standard air-sea helicopter technique of dropping lines or baskets to men flailing about in water. Then they realized that many are too weak or scared to be plucked from their tenuous situations by those methods. They developed an approach that involved dropping a swimmer to tether the victims to the hoisting devices. They also tried dragging the harnessed rescuer through the waves from person to person.  All these techniques have problems associated with them, but all have been used when situations allow.
 
The sad reality is, of course, that while everyone wants to save those in danger, there is a cost to such endeavors. The goal for those who deal in the tragedies of others is to not make things worse. It does no good to jump into boiling seas when the chances of recovery are low and the risk of losing the rescuer is high. Bodies, equipment, helicopters have limited capacities. The author introduces the real people behind these dilemmas -- they have lives and significant others and kids. This fact is sobering and makes the work of these everyday folks all the more impressive.
 
The publication is slick and professional. The cover shows a helicopter lowering a figure into heavy seas at night. Moody in hues of gray and blue, it attracts the reader and the book delivers its promise. This book is appropriate for military historians and those who are interested in the Coast Guard and the Navy.

Reviewed by: Buddy Cox (2010)

---

Author's Synopsis

So Others May Live is the untold story of the U.S. Coast Guard's quiet but resolute rescue swimmers, pilots and flight mechanics.  From deep ocean caves on the Oregon coast to the panicked and chaotic streets of post-Katrina New Orleans, here are their stunningly heroic stories, some the greatest maritime rescues attempted since the program began in 1985.  These feats, told through the eyes of the heroes, reveal an understanding of how and why the rescuer, with flight crew assistance, risks his or her own life to reach out to save a stranger.

They Were Ready: The 164th Infantry by Terry Shoptaugh

Click on cover image to purchase a copy

MWSA Review

Terry L. Shoptaugh's narrative of the 164th Infantry history designed for veterans and history scholars. The author used unit records, diaries, and interviews involving more than seventy veterans, in addition to including 50 photographs and 10 maps brings this book to life for the readers. The author also specified 14pt type for the text so that those he interviewed, could read the stories more easily.  This is the story of the 164th Infantry, a North Dakota National Guard regiment, in the words of over seventy of the unit's veterans who were sent to Guadalcanal in 1942, during the darkest days of America's Pacific War. 
 
The 164th fought in five campaigns across the Pacific. Its members were preparing to invade Japan when the enemy capitulated in 1945. The 164th spent more than 800 days in combat and received more decorations than any other Army unit.
 
Terry L. Shoptaugh met his goal of writing the 164th history. He describes the heroics and sheer determination of the members of the 64th to defeat the enemy. With over 60 pages of endnotes, the author detailed his interviews, located documents, and improved his contacts and then wrote the story. 
 
Terry L. Shoptaugh is a professor of History, and University Archivist at Minnesota State University Moorhead.

Reviewed by: Bob Ruerhdanz (2010)

---

Author's Synopsis

A narrative history of the 164th Infantry Regiment's experiences in the Pacific War, from its activation and training to its service at Guadalcanal, Bougainville and the Philippines. The 164th (North Dakota National Guard) reinforced the 1st Marine Division on Guadalcanal in October 1942 and subsequently served in some 600 days in combat in the Pacific. The book is based on unit records, correspondence and diaries, and interviews with over fifty of the veterans.  

A Hill Called White Horse by Anthony Sobieski

Click on cover image to purchase a copy

MWSA Review

Using interviews and documented history, the author successfully places the reader right in the middle of two specific days of this ten day battle. Written in present tense, this is such a fast paced story that the reader will catch himself reading faster and faster in an attempt to get a glimpse of what can possibly happen next. The true real life heroes that you feel you are right beside in the FO (Forward Observation) position are desperately hanging on to life as they perform their duties expertly in the most trying of times.
 
I appreciated the nearly absent use of offensive language throughout the book, but that didn't take anything away from the very clear image of the carnage and devastation all around them. By the time the enemy is walking on top of the FO (forward observation) bunker after they had overran the unit, the reader will wish he had a weapon at the ready.
 
 This well written account deals with a part of the Korean War I knew nothing about. This is a good history lesson of ROK (Republic Of Korea) infantry being supported by US Artillery.  
 
I believe any reader would enjoy this book; however those readers without some understanding of military terminology will find some difficulty keeping up. The reader will want to be armed with some Military phonetic knowledge before starting the book and then hang on to a hair raising, gripping and factual ride. 

Reviewed by: Don Arndt (2010)

---

Author's Synopsis

The battle of White Horse lasted ten days, with many lives lost. This story concentrates on the first two days of the battle, as recounted by Joe Adams, Jack Callaway, and the rest from the 213th Field Artillery Battalion who were there. These two days coincide with the letters and personal remembrances of these men and this story is based on their real life experiences. The events and people are real, coming from those personal interviews, declassified documents and historical reference. What they went through is real, documented history. Not one of them has ever bragged about what they did or thought of themselves as some great warrior soldier. Everyone simply did what they had to do, and that there was no glory in it. 
 
Not just another war story, this is an attempt to put the reader "there" in the thick it, to be a participant in battle and to feel what it was like to be in the Forgotten War. Exploding artillery shells, bullets striking targets, the eeriness of flares drifting down over a battlefield, breathing the dust of trenches on a hill in the middle of a far off place. Taking the reader out of their seat and putting a rifle in their hands, this story transports you a thousand miles away from your surroundings to an artillery battery receiving "incoming mail", trench lines where death is around every corner, and a bunker on a hill where some of the most violent combat takes place. This book lets you feel, taste and smell it like it was, brutal, unforgiving, and above all, a cold hard reality for those that were there.

Porcelain on Steel by Donna McAleer

Click on cover image to purchase a copy

MWSA Review

The United States Military Academy at West Point, New York, admitted, for the first time, in 1976, female cadets. Porcelain on Steel is their story, and the stories of the hundreds of women who have graduated from there since.  It is a story of obstacles overcome that is unique in American education.

In a straight forward manner, the author paints a stark picture of the prejudices encountered by the first women who attended, and how they coped. We are given a glimpse of their courage, and resoluteness. The reader gets to know West Point, what makes it unique, and how it changed, for the better, as a result of a gender integrated corps. We see women who became all that they could be, and much more than they originally aspired to be as a result of their army experiences, which began as plebes in that intimidating establishment that has no equal in the vast expanse of colleges across the land.

The book encapsulates stunning career success stories of many of these women graduates, both in and out of the military, and the reader's heart cannot help but be warmed by the unanimous, graceful, gratitude of these strong ladies for the chance that their West Point education and experience gave them. 

A professionally produced and published book, Porcelain on Steel is a captivating human interest read about a transition time in our military's history that changed the face of the army, forever. Mostly in their own words, the very real personalities of these remarkable ladies are revealed in the pages of this book, and they are quite compelling. It is believable, because it is true, and few women in the history of our country have stories as unique as theirs. Few women have contributed as much to the growth of our nation, none more. I wanted to stand up, and cheer when I finished reading.

Reviewed by: Bob Flournoy (2010)

---

Author's Synopsis

Porcelain on Steel is an insider's tour of one of America's most storied institutions and shares with the reader what it takes to succeed in the high-pressure, high-performance, high-testosterone lab that produces leaders for the Army and for our Nation.
 
In an era where the American public is saturated with women selling sexuality, this book highlights those who, blessed with strong character traits, use them to make a positive contribution to society. Leadership is a matter of character; leadership is matter of how to be, not how to do it. Leadership is something that is instilled in you--and great leaders in turn instill the ability in others. The women in Porcelain on Steel exemplify this--for all ages and wisdom for all time. Their qualities and strength of character would lead to success in any era but most importantly, their stories are especially relevant now, in today's times.
 
Porcelain on Steel is a book for your daughter, your sister, your best friend, and most of all, yourself.
 
The women in Porcelain on Steel are genuine role models. America's youth, whether male or female, as well as parents in search of stories of inspiration, courage, loyalty, public service and leadership that set a positive direction for our young people, should read this book.
 
Porcelain on Steel is a powerful and inspirational portrait of the women who serve--not just our country, but their families, their communities, and their own commitment to a purposeful and meaningful life. These women, like the author Donna McAleer herself, had the courage and strength to attend West Point--the toughest and most elite military school in the nation--and have the heart and soul to be role models for women everywhere. We can find courage in their courage, faith in their faith, and our own best selves in them. Porcelain on Steel is a book for your daughter, your sister, your best friend, and most of all, yourself.
 
West Point is an indispensible institution that has helped sustain our democracy for more than 200 years.