The Final Salute by Kathleen M. Rodgers

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MWSA Review

Author Kathleen Rodgers has created a novel that could be a slice from real life. Her well-written debut book about career Air Force pilots "THE FINAL SALUTE" is a story that real pilots and military families will fully understand and perhaps, even identify with. But it is the human emotions that this story brings out that will win over all readers, including those who have never worn any uniform, or flown an airplane. 

War, they say, is truly hell--and Rodgers captures that element as she unfolds her tale. It becomes both entertaining and at times, thought provoking. Her characters are sharp and multi-dimensional; which is the true strength of this novel. She artfully uses these people to unfold her dramatic storyline. 

This book deals with the dangers of warfare; but it is the inner and outward emotional battles of her lead characters that keep the reader turning pages. The book takes on huge chunks of real-life stuff: problems with teenage children, husband-wife issues, bad relations with people, friendship, flying war planes and death, to name just a few. 

The reader will find plenty of action and excitement to satisfy that need from an action novel; but it is the thought-provoking plot and comradeship of the fighter pilots that makes this a perfect military novel. It reminded me emotionally of books like "From Here To Eternity". This book is destined to generate lots of buzz among readers of military themed genre. It is truly a future war classic. 

Reviewed by: Bill McDonald (2009)

Author's Synopsis

At a small air base in Louisiana, family man and seasoned fighter pilot, Tuck Westerfield's life could literally crash down around him.  In this business of flying fighter jets, the odds of staying alive are stacked against him.

Haunted by the memories of dead friends killed in air mishaps, this Vietnam vet and father of three must deal with a devious commander, an animal-crazed neighbor, whose husband hates pilots, a beautiful, but suspicious wife and a rebellious teenage daughter.  The last thing he needs is another war.

But when Iraq invades Kuwait in the middle of a muggy Louisiana summer, duty calls.  Tuck and the other pilots in his squadron head to the Middle East.

Back in Louisiana, Gina Westerfield and other military wives learn that war is hell on the home front, too.

Later, when tragedy strikes, everyone at Beauregard Air Force Base must pull together and live on or forever be consumed with grief.

Hollywood Buzz by Margit Liesche

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MWSA Review

WOW!  What a memorable character and fascinating storyline.  Margit Liesche's Hollywood Buzz is sure to create a buzz in the literary world.  
 
Within the first few pages, Liesche's lead character, Pucci Lewis, leaps from the pages and into the reader's mind as we accompany her on a brand new (slightly unorthodox) military assignment -- in Hollywood.  What a unique concept!  A brave, intelligent WASP (Women Airforce Service Pilot) assigned to duty in Tinseltown.  It seems that Pucci's expertise as a WASP is needed to complete a documentary film attempting to showcase this elite group of women and their efforts in the war.  The film is a combined effort of the government and Hollywood to create a movie aimed at inciting patriotism and support for the troops.
 
When ensues is a beautifully written tale of intrigue, sabotage, conspiracy, blackmail, and the search for truth.  Set against the backdrop of a major Hollywood production (complete with an introduction to some of the most influential motion picture stars of the day), it appears that someone will stop at nothing, including murder, to halt the production of the film.  But who and why?  Was Pucci's now comatose predecessor (Frankie) a victim of foul play?  Was her plane crash a result of pilot error, faulty equipment, or was she targeted for elimination?
 
The reader will find themselves enthralled as these questions (and more) are systematically answered by Ms. Liesche's engaging writing style.  This read is truly an adrenaline rush -- an entrancing story which will appeal to history buffs, WWII enthusiasts, military lovers, and those still captivated by the golden age of Hollywood.
 
I found the reading experience much like watching a classic movie.  Ms. Liesche's attention to detail was very much appreciated, as was her obvious extensive research into all aspects of her storyline, character, and setting.
 
I was particularly impressed with the author's masterful use of the first person point of view.  I found it refreshing, unique, and flawlessly executed.  
 
The cover is magnificently depictive of the storyline, and is reminiscent of a 1940's Hollywood movie poster.  Hollywood Buzz a classy tale about a classic era.

Reviewed by: Claudia Pemberton (2009)

Author's Synopsis

Pucci Lewis was used to ferrying fighter planes and undercover work. But it's the dark hours of WWII, and Hollywood's biggest stars, studio moguls, and Washington bureaucrats are working hand-in-glove to merge entertainment and propaganda. Pucci has been dispatched to the First Motion Picture Unit, where a make-or-break documentary on the Women Airforce Service Pilots (WASPs) is underway.

Pucci is stepping in for a sister-WASP, now hospitalized in critical condition after an all-too-deliberate plane crash. But who's the saboteur? Why the cover-up? Pucci is drawn into a high-profile homicide. A big-name director has been murdered, possibly by Nazi operatives. Military intelligence wants Pucci to learn what she can from her inside position.

Bela Lugosi is a frequent visitor to the Beverly Hills mansion where Pucci is temporarily billeted. His "niece," a rising starlet and also the housekeeper, has a history with the Hungarian resistance. But Pucci doesn't trust the girl.

Can Pucci steadfastly maneuver through movie land and its narcissistic denizens, finally unraveling the uncertainties to prove she has the right stuff? 

Delta 7 by John Cathcart

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MWSA Review

MWSA 2009 President's Award

Move over M. Night Shamalan, John Cathcart has arrived! Airline Captain and new widower John Carter casually mentions the name of an acquaintance at a bar in Grenada. This simple act throws him into the middle of an international plot filled with mad business men, beautiful and intelligent Latinas, governmental alphabet soup groups and bad guys of all persuasions. Like Cary Grant's character in Hitchcock's North by Northwest, everyone but John seems to know what's happening - but in the end, he must take the situation in hand and solve the puzzle that his life has become. 

DELTA 7 is a flashy new entrant into the crowded world of literary mystery and intrigue. Author John Cathcart's first chapter describing the attack on Libya by the USAF in 1986 is a breathtaking hook. The chapter ends with, "Captain John Carter was now a combat veteran." The parenthetical second chapter follows a young Columbian boy from the moment that he is kidnapped by revolutionaries through his introduction to battle and ending with, "Carlos Hernandez was now a combat veteran." With these first fourteen pages, the author establishes himself as a clever and intuitive novelist. 

Then he takes you on a wild ride through the complex and violent under-society of Columbia. The chapters are basic one or two scene presentations - a series of flipping perspectives, action sequences, and romantic interludes. This stylistic device gives the book a sense of movement and direction - like a spinning aircraft that generates excitement even though it's really controlled by the pilot. It also is an excellent technique for dropping clues that the reader picks up intuitively. When at last the tale unfolds and the good and bad are identified, the real surprise at the end is satisfying because the reader knew it all along but just didn't know she knew it. 

This book will appeal to those who enjoy Hitchcock movies, Ken Follett stories, cold beer, spicy food and hot women.

Reviewed by: Joyce Faulkner (2009)

Author's Synopsis

For 20 years, John Carter served as a USAF fighter pilot and attaché. Everything appeared to be on track for a comfortable retirement. Without warning, however, his world is turned upside-down after a casual conversation during a layover in the Caribbean island of Grenada sets into motion a series of events that threaten to inalterably change-or perhaps even end-his life. Out of the blue, an old friend turns up to impart a bizarre and almost unbelievable story... and a warning. Within a matter of hours, Carter discovers that his military friends and comrades are disappearing. With the help of a beautiful and enigmatic woman from his past, Carter returns to Colombia in a frantic attempt to unravel the truth in a world ruled by violence, illicit drugs and money. Unbeknownst to Carter, shadowy players are already caught up in this high-stakes and deadly poker game. Relying on his super-secret attaché training, Carter tries to stay alive in a frantic hunt for allies... and answers.

Virginia's War by Jack London

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MWSA Review

Set in the spring of 1944, "Virginia's War" chronicles six months in the life of a small Texas town as its inhabitants struggle with everyday existence in the backdrop of WWII. 
 
Although war is raging a world away for Captain Will Hastings, life back home in Tierra, Texas goes on pretty much as usual with the exception of food rationings and other hardships brought on by the war.  Unbeknownst to Captain Hastings, the entire community is under the impression that he and hometown beauty, Miss Virginia Sullivan, have recently tied the knot--a deception perpetrated by the father of the shockingly unwed and pregnant, Virginia.
 
"Virginia's War is beautifully written and centers around the scandals, cover-ups, and politics of life in a small town where everybody knows everybody--or so they think.    
 
The front cover of "Virginia's War" has a lovely, nostalgic feel to it complete with an image of a winsome Virginia clasping handwritten letters from her soldier.  I enjoyed having the visual of the heroine in my mind as I read her story.  
 
The author offers a unique perspective of Virginia's "adult" dilemma as viewed through the eyes of an endearing adolescent boy named Sandy Clayton.  Mr. London captures the boy's infectious personality and unique viewpoint perfectly, giving the reader multiple chances to chuckle and reminisce about the innocence of childhood.
 
Author Jack London sets a marvelous stage with which to draw the reader into his story, beginning with a taste of scandal in the prologue that divulges just enough conflict to whet the reader's appetite for more.  He closes with an ending that leaves the reader satisfied but curious as to how the saga will unfold in the subsequent two volumes.  
 
"Virginia's War" is extremely well written, authentic to the time period, and very entertaining.

Reviewed by: Claudia Pemberton (2009)

Author's Synopsis

French Letters: Virginia's War is a poignant novel that earned uncommon critical acclaim, being named a finalist for "Best Novel of the South," an award given by the Anderson Foundation in honor of Willie Morris and a finalist for the Military Writers Society of America award for Best Historical Novel of the Year.

This first book of the French Letters trilogy is the tale of one woman's home front experience, set against the back drop of the story of a small town that has plenty going on behind the scenes. It was there one morning that an unexpectedly pregnant Virginia Sullivan read in her father's newspaper that she had supposedly eloped with a soldier. This is news to Virginia, not to mention her "husband" Will Hastings, who was already off at war and knows nothing of it.
Sullivan is the daughter of a small town's leading figure, a newspaper owner who, because of his knowledge of everyone's personal business, runs the local black market in ration coupons and hard-to-get tires and gasoline, and sister of Bart, a draft dodger who runs the post office while keeping her mail from going or coming and preventing Will Hastings, the lead figure in French Letters: Engaged in War, from knowing that Virginia is pregnant or that her father has published a phony story.

There may be a World War going on thousands of miles away, but there's plenty going on behind the scenes in Tierra, TX to keep Virginia preoccupied.

Cat Lo, A Memoir of Invincible Youth by Virgil Erwin

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MWSA Review

We have heard so much related to the swift boat war in Vietnam from political groups which only served to alienate at least half of America. But for me, it turned out to be a much different experience when I picked up a copy of "Cat Lo: A Memoir of Invincible Youth". It was an honest pleasure to read from those who really were in that phase of the war. While I was busy flying overhead in my Huey, these brave young warriors navigated some of the most dangerous brown waters of the world! Author and shift boat veteran, Virg Erwin, captures the spirit and the flavor of those experiences as it has never before been done. 

It is an exciting and emotional ride along the rivers and delta in search of the enemy who quite possibly lurked behind every bush or tree unseen. Having taken a small boat in 2002 up those same rivers when I went back to Vietnam, I could only image what went through their minds. Those narrow water passages were ever so close to shore - where an enemy could toss a grenade, or open fire with his automatic weapon seconds before you could react to it. Very scary stuff indeed! I got a real sense of what they went through there. What is interesting is how the author captures those feelings and emotions in his story telling. You really get to know the men and how they felt. It is a very well written accounting and feels as close to the real experience you can get without going off in those boats to some war. 

The book is gripping and entertaining and has some insightful passages and thoughts throughout the story telling. Written by an old sailor looking back and capturing his youthful experiences in war. Erwin is a talented writer and story teller. He is a man who has been there and done that and has lived to tell about it! I totally recommend his book.

Reviewed by: Bill McDonald (2009)

Author's Synopsis

Cat Lo is a story of young men who volunteer for Swift Boats in Vietnam and about war's indelible lesson for those who survive: life is too precious to waste.
Thirty-six years after Vietnam, Virg Erwin sits with a disfigured marine convalescing from Iraq and asks, "Do you want to talk about it?" It is a question no one has ever asked Erwin. "It was hard to know who were civilians--who were bad guys," the marine says as he describes being caught in a violent ambush.
For Erwin, the marine's story resurrects memories of sailors patrolling narrow rivers and canals, their naive sense of invincibility shattered by Viet Cong patiently waiting in bunkers with rockets. Cat Lo is about conflict of compassion for the South Vietnamese who are caught in the middle of war without option of neutrality, and confusion by the question: Who is the enemy and who is not?

The Lady Gangster, a Sailor's Memoir by Del Staecker

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MWSA Review

The Lady Gangster is a quick and fascinating read.  Del Staecker does an excellent job framing the story of his father's service aboard an armed transport ship during the Second World War.  Officially named the USS Fuller, the ship is better known by her apt nickname, Lady Gangster, a name christened by her crew, made up almost entirely of fellow Chicagoans.
 
In addition to being an accounting of his father's service, Lady Gangster is also a heartwarming story of a rapprochement between father and son.  A long road trip and a broken radio result in hours of conversation and an outpouring of memories.  For the first time, the young son listens to his father's vivid and detailed recounting of his harrowing experiences serving with the Navy in the Pacific Theater.  Through his writing, Staecker transports the reader from inside that car where he listens intently to his father's story, to the various locations were his father served.  Staecker intersperses his father's reminiscences with just the right amount of family background, comments, clarifications and explanations of wartime history to keep the reader up-to-speed with the historical setting and maritime terminology.
 
The book is well written and includes useful maps, which help orient the reader to the action and keep up with the unbelievably savage fighting and island-hopping through places with names like Guadalcanal, Tinian, "the Slot," Saipan, and Okinawa.  The book also includes several photographs that help personalize the story and make the action that much more realistic.
 
With dignity and grace, Staecker pays homage to both his father's unheralded service during the war and the equally unheralded service of a proud and effective ship, along with her officers and crew.  Well done!

Reviewed by: John Cathcart (2009)

Author's Synopsis

The true story of WWII's most amazing ship and her unique crew of 327 reservists from Chicago.

In a seamless blend of oral history, narrative, biography, autobiography, journal entries, ships logs, action reports, newspaper articles, illustrations, photos, and even two poems - the Lady Gangster's tale explains how the "Chicago Boys" transformed from raw naval recruits into veteran "Salts."
From the North Atlantic through nine invasions in the Pacific the crew of the USS Fuller heroically earned for their Lady the title of "Queen of Attack Transports." 

Sacred Ground by Tom Ruck

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MWSA Review

This beautifully presented coffee-table photo album of America's military cemeteries is dedicated to "every man and woman who has, who is currently, and who will proudly wear the uniform of our great country. Without them, so many freedoms we take for granted would not be possible."

Roaming across our beloved land in every season: The South, The Northeast, the Midwest and The West, SACRED GROUND respectfully escorts you into the serenity of the last resting places of our fellow citizens who gave their all in the duty of creating and defending our Union, within and beyond our borders. Accompanying these exquisite photographs are profound and simple essays by patriots and excerpts from presidential addresses.

This is a tome to be treasured for as you turn the pages of brilliant scene after brilliant scene of calm and color, you will read the thoughts and thanks of such citizens as Thomas Paine, Andrew Jackson, Mickey Rooney, Oliver Wendell Holmes, Jr., Abraham Lincoln, Oliver North, Dwight D. Eisenhower, Ann Margret, Ronald Reagan, Bob Hope and Sean Hannity on sacrifice, honor and courage. Along the way you will also learn the history of that most poignant of bugle calls, Taps, the words to the familiar prayers of each branch of Service and to the Battle Hymn of the Republic.

I thought to tell of my favorite photos such as the Vietnam Veteran kneeling in the grass in Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery, St. Louis, Missouri; or the Christmas wreathes and red bows set in snow-covered Togus National Cemetery, Maine; or the fawn nestled beside a tombstone in the Bath National Cemetery, New York; or the leis and flags in the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific, Honolulu, Hawaii, or... until it dawned on me that every page becomes a favorite.

Sacred Ground is worthy of a special place in your library, to be lingered over when we remember those who fought and died so we might continue to live in freedom: our Fallen Heroes and our Veterans. Consider it also as a gift for the grieving families you know, for in its broad scope of our history and these sacred places in our Nation, it will surely bring some measure of dignity, peace and comfort.

All royalties from the sale of this book are donated to the Freedom Alliance Scholarship Fund, for the children of fallen soldiers.

Reviewed by: Dave Brown (2009)

Author's Synopsis

Sacred Ground" is a sweeping tour of some of America's most beautiful and moving cemeteries, Sacred Ground features richly evocative photographs from military cemeteries across the country, enhanced by poignant quotes, powerful essays, and speeches from famous Americans throughout history. 

The Ether Zone, US Army Special Forces Detachment B-52 by Raymond Morris

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MWSA Review

Be prepared for a wild ride as you descend into "the hole" with an elite Special Forces Long Range Reconnaissance Patrol deep behind enemy lines, in Raymond Morris' The Ether Zone. Raymond Morris' "The Ether Zone: US Army Special Forces Detachment B-52, Project Delta" brings to light the extraordinary story of this elite and highly-classified Special Forces unit operating from 1964 to 1970 during the Vietnam War.  The unit, a precursor to today's famed Delta Force, remained classified and little-known until its existence was declassified in 1996.  Even then, the former members of this unit did not fully support allowing their highly-decorated unit (the second most decorated of its size during the entire Vietnam conflict) to come out into the open.  These men had nothing to hide--quite the contrary--they had much of which they were justifiably proud.  Instead, these "Quiet Professionals" preferred to keep their small unit's exploits out of the public eye... to remain "below the radar" where they were most comfortable operating.
 
Overcoming this initial reluctance of Delta members to tell their story, Morris does a masterful job of combining his research of the organizational history and structure of Delta with the vivid reminiscences of its soldiers.  Drawing primarily from interviews, Morris weaves together a compelling story.  Broken down into short and highly-readable chapters, he provides a gripping series of stories from a close-knit group of warriors not inclined to highlight their personal exploits.  Instead, they relate the details of others' bravery and skill.  It is their fellow soldiers who are the heroes, not those being interviewed.  Morris deftly aggregates various harrowing stores of combat involving small recon teams dropped off deep in enemy territory and far removed from friendly support.  The reader will feel like he or she has been transported along with these brave men, trying to stay one step ahead of crack North Vietnamese and Vietcong units in hot pursuit.  The result: unlike some books that hit you, Morris' crashes into you.  
 
This book exudes authenticity.  Not only are combat scenes described in heart-pounding detail, the reader will also appreciate the special sense of humor of Delta's soldiers.  In addition to coping with extraordinarily demanding combat operations; they must also handle inclement weather, leeches and venomous snakes.  To deal with the incredible stress, Delta members rely on practical jokes, pranks and "serious partying" at the Delta Club during their short breaks between their assignments "in the hole."
 
Ether Zone will also appeal to the serious student of the military and particularly of the SpecOps community.  Morris provides detailed lists of personnel, units and important dates in the Delta Detachment's history.  Hence, Ether Zone is a veritable unit history and a valuable resource.
 
Morris, mirroring the veterans of Delta, also reserves special respect for the various units (US and Vietnamese) who were a part of, or who regularly participated in, Delta's combat operations.  The Nungs, Montagnards, and especially the 81st Vietnam Ranger Battalion are given a prominent place in the narrative.  Morris also points out the exceedingly close relationship between Delta Detachment's members and the aviation units upon whom they had to rely (even in the hottest of LZs) for insertion and extraction.
 
The Ether Zone is well-written and thoroughly enjoyable. 

Reviewed by: John Cathcart (2009)

Author's Synopsis

Project Delta and its clandestine special reconnaissance operations proved to be one of the most successful Special Operation units of the Vietnam War, yet few Americans have ever heard of them, or know that this unit's operational model was precursor for the renowned Delta Force. This small unit of less than 100 U.S. Army Special Forces amassed a record for bravery that rivals few. For the first time, the Project Delta "Quiet Professionals" finally share their amazing story.Highly trained as experts in special reconnaissance techniques and procedures, the covert Project Delta missions were accomplished through recon team insertions into enemy territory. As the primary sources of intelligence collection for Project Delta, these tough and tenacious recon men recount hair-raising adventures from personal recollections."The Ether Zone" is certain to appeal to those with an interest in Special Operations Group, the Vietnam War, special operations and military history in general.

Fire in the Night: Creative Essays from an Iraq War Vet by Lee Kelley

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MWSA Review

Fire in the Night is, like many other books, a soldier's record of the big adventure of his life -- his military service during war.  If viewed as such, author Lee Kelley's piece works.  However, Kelley's natural talent as a writer elevates his simple war stories to art.  The man's very soul infuses each essay with humanity that moves even the stay at home, uninitiated reader.  He reaches across generations, politics, and culture to create empathy in alien hearts.
 
Lesser writers might say, "While I was deployed, I was homesick."  Kelley's thoughts of home are more delicate and he presents them as water-colored prose poems.  "When my tour is over," he says, "just drop me off on any Arizona or Utah highway, where the Buttes and the Red Rock Canyons create optical illusions in the distance and across the horizon -- I'll walk home."   Later in the book, he writes a whimsical letter to a Cryogenic Firm about freezing his body and then awakening him in the midst of some extraordinary circumstance.  For  example, "Push a button. I'm standing on the highest point on the Planet, Mt. Everest, stretching my arms upwards to the sky, filled with wonder at the richness of life."  Such images, coming from a soldier serving in the harsh climes of war-torn Iraq, fills the reader with hope.
 
For all the loveliness of Kelley's writing, the cover is a simple collage. A medal fills the left top corner, draped dramatically over the silhouette of a soldier prepares the reader for something warlike and unusual -- but nothing really prepares the casual browser for the creativity inside.  
 
Fire in the Night is the kind of book that can be read in one sitting. Kelley's Iraqi interlude lasted 544 days.  During that time, he experienced the country viscerally.  It can't be described in a review, only the authors" own words will do.  "The dust there is instant chocolate pudding ' just add water.'  "These men see the night through thermal imaging scopes -- and night vision goggles.  Electric green and red are the colors they become familiar with.  They can see a mouse running in a field at 100 meters.  "The next morning, the sun looked just like a song."  
 
At the end of one of the last essays "Squint", the author issues a challenge to the reader, "My time in Iraq changed me in countless ways.  And perspective is such a fleeting and mutable thing.  For example, I've tried to give you some kind of glimpse here, but sight and thoughts can shift so quickly, like right now and you sit reading these words. Just squint. See it?"
 
A MUST READ!

Reviewed by: Joyce Faulkner (2009)

Author's Synopsis

Already a freelance writer, Lee started a blog when he was sent to Iraq in 2005. His family and friends expected to read of his experiences, and a blog was the perfect medium. A hometown reporter visited his unit in Iraq, and Lee ended up on the front page of the Salt Lake Tribune. That's how it all began. Since then, he's been in the top 10 military blogs on milblogging.com for years, featured in TIME magazine, read some of his essays on radio shows, and even been on the local news in Salt Lake City, Utah. Through it all, readers have been very supportive of Lee's writing and he has received thousands of queries about when he might publish a book. Here are 53 of the most popular essays. They have been adapted from the blog, and writing that he's done in other forums, such as The New York Times and Doonesbury.com. All of the work in this book was either written while he was still in Iraq or as a direct result of his experiences there.

A Vietnam Trilogy by Raymond Scurfield

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MWSA Review

Dr. Raymond Monsour Scurfield is a professor in the School of Social Work at the University of Southern Mississippi Gulf Coast.  He is a Vietnam veteran and worked for the Department of Veterans Affairs for 25 years and has directed PTSD mental health programs in a number of locations.  He is recognized nationally and internationally for his expertise in PTSD in both combat veterans and disaster survivors.  This expertise comes from his many years of experience in working with others in the mental health profession and his own personal experience of being a veteran who experienced war as a psychiatric social work officer.  
 
By reading the synopsis of each book, one can discover how Dr. Raymond Monsour Scurfield takes readers on a journey from his first days in Vietnam until the very present, going back with him on several trips with other veterans, and then the questions need to be addressed in how the past has affected the way the veterans of today's wars are being treated.  Dr. Scurfield shares his personal journey as well as sharing quotes and experiences from many other veterans.  His personal sharing allows us to see deeply into his thoughts and how his strategies and innovative therapies for treating combat veterans can be used in the field of mental health.  These books can open doors for active duty military members and veterans, as well as offer guidance to their families and other community members.

Personally, I wondered what impact this series of books would have on me.  I am not a veteran, I have a son who served eight years in the Marines, but is a non-combat veteran.  So... should others like me take the time to read these books?  They are not what I would call an "easy read" whatsoever, but I would call them an "essential read," for all of us have been impacted by war and know people that are struggling with PTSD issues.  For me, having the input of "other voices" beyond Dr. Raymond Scurfiel'ds allowed me to hear the stories from more than one voice and helped me to "experience" through them, the impact that war had on each and every one of them.  Dr. Scurfield is an expert whose voice is being heard around the world. Anyone who is experiencing PTSD or knows someone struggling with PTSD would be wise in reading these books.  They would be a wonderful resource for mental health professionals. We may not have learned enough from Vietnam, but Dr. Scurfield brings us the hope that we need for moving into our future.

Reviewed by: Joyce Gilmour (2009)

Author's Synopsis

A Vietnam Trilogy is about a side of war that for decades pro-military and pro-defense advocates have systematically suppressed, minimized and denigrated as being falsely exaggerated the indelible human cost of war on its participants that can and does persist for decades. The 3.14 million Vietnam war-zone veterans and 800,000 Vietnam-theater veterans suffering full or partial post-traumatic stress syndrome, and their families will find it invaluable.
Volume 2, Healing Journeys, focuses on three Vietnam Vets making a return trip accompanying 16 students on a Study Abroad history course. Especially in the post 9/11, post-Iraq world, this trilogy is important reading for academics and mental health professionals including graduate and undergrad students in history, psychology, social work and religion, and professionals in psychiatry, clinical nursing, counseling, and religion, and academic specialists interested in study-abroad programs. 
Through the wrenching stories of veterans and the author s own understanding as a mental health professional, Scurfield describes his and his comrades experiences during the war; then he describes the healing process fostered by innovative return trips he has led to peace-time Vietnam in 1989 and, in conjunction with a university history program, in 2000, described in this volume. 
A Vietnam Trilogy offers veterans and their families a vicarious "healing journey" by relating the experiences of those who participated in these therapeutic efforts, and offers recommendations to veterans and those who wish to help them. 
The therapy breakthroughs for veterans with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder are now the model for innovative programs across America; and they will be the foundation for programs to help today s veterans of the Iraq War.
Volume 1, A Vietnam Trilogy. Veterans and Post-Traumatic Stress, 1968, 1989 and 2000 (Algora 2004), described the healing processes of hundreds of veterans from Vietnam and earlier wars up until 1990, when the author co-led a group of veterans on a therapeutic trip back to Vietnam to face their demons. 
The current volume continues from 1990 to 2000 (including a discussion of the impact of the first Gulf War on veterans of earlier wars) and a second return trip to Vietnam in 2000, as part of a university Study Abroad program, to help veterans in their healing process. Volume 3, From Vietnam to Iraq (Algora, fall 2006), will complete the Trilogy with a consideration of the experience of prior wars to help people who are now in the military or in the healing professions, and their families and communities, to deal with today s realities of combat and its aftermath

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."

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