Book Description
Now, more than 50 years after its founding, the United States Air Force celebrates its spirit and essence in this deluxe-format book. Essays on Air Force history and today's aviators focus not only on the planes, helicopters, rockets, and technology but also on the special people that make it all work. Hundreds of full-color and vintage photography, portraits, recruiting posters, and historically inspired paintings complement the informative text. Written by a team of qualified historians, specialized authors, and associated experts, The Air Force links pilots past and present to America's first brave flyers, the Wright brothers.
Customer Reviews:
Nice book - for what it is supposed to be........2004-05-10
This book (which you are much better off purchasing here on Amazon than at a retail bookstore) achieves exactly what it was designed to be - a coffee table book. Granted, it is a large, impressive, authoritative, glossy coffee table book, and it is NOT - as lamented by some reviewers - designed to be an exhaustive tome covering every historical nuance down to the color of Hap Arnold's socks on a Saturday morning in 1942. Even the Air Force Historical Foundation describes the book as a "coffee table" book. It has more than enough beautiful full-color photos and depictions to keep a recipient happy, but hardcore history buffs, especially those looking for more informal, off-the-record accounts of Air Force development and evolution, will want to look elsewhere. For the rest of us, this book will provide hours of entertainment, for its sheer mass alone.
Great Book for Air Force Buffs.......2003-04-05
This is a great book for Air Force Buffs. It may not be an exhaustive history but is still a great book. The lavish pictures are great to explore. If you have an interest in "the wild blue yonder" that is based on fact and not fiction, this may be a great choice for you. The book is awesome in appearance also.
Air Force History? Don't think so.......2002-12-11
I saw this book & quite frankly I agree with one of the major editorial groups that evaluated this publication. I am disappointed by this book's authors who fail to mention a background on all who affected the Air Force then & now. No background was ever given to the career histories of the chiefs of staff & civilian secretaries especially Hap Arnold. To some, these histories are boring, but to others they provide a thorough background for how the Air Force organizes, fights, & wins any type of war that may surface. Lousy book & definitely too bulky with no pertinent information.
The Air Force.......2002-12-07
This is an outstanding book. The photos are captivating and the text informative. I went to the company website,... , and read the reviews before I bought this for my brother at the Air Force Academy. I have to agree with Chuck Yeager's analysis of the book when he said, "That is one hell of a book! After sixty years in cockpits, flying every plane in the Air Force, I have seen everything. All of it is captured beautifully in the photos, paintings, and stories of this terrific book."
Book Description
On April 14, 1994, two U.S. Air Force F-15 fighters accidentally shot down two U.S. Army Black Hawk Helicopters over Northern Iraq, killing all twenty-six peacekeepers onboard. In response to this disaster the complete array of military and civilian investigative and judicial procedures ran their course. After almost two years of investigation with virtually unlimited resources, no culprit emerged, no bad guy showed himself, no smoking gun was found. This book attempts to make sense of this tragedy--a tragedy that on its surface makes no sense at all.
With almost twenty years in uniform and a Ph.D. in organizational behavior, Lieutenant Colonel Snook writes from a unique perspective. A victim of friendly fire himself, he develops individual, group, organizational, and cross-level accounts of the accident and applies a rigorous analysis based on behavioral science theory to account for critical links in the causal chain of events. By explaining separate pieces of the puzzle, and analyzing each at a different level, the author removes much of the mystery surrounding the shootdown. Based on a grounded theory analysis, Snook offers a dynamic, cross-level mechanism he calls "practical drift"--the slow, steady uncoupling of practice from written procedure--to complete his explanation.
His conclusion is disturbing. This accident happened because, or perhaps in spite of everyone behaving just the way we would expect them to behave, just the way theory would predict. The shootdown was a normal accident in a highly reliable organization.
Customer Reviews:
Utterly fascinating.......2002-11-29
I went into this book thinking "how in the world could this happen" and finished it asking "how is it that this didn't occur before."
A fascinating book that has significance for all types of emergency responders, who need to understand how such "mistakes" might occur and thus how to potentially prevent such mistakes from occuring in the future.
An Organizational Analysis.......2000-12-14
Friendly Fire is a insightful, intriguing analysis of the 1994 incident that resulted in the needless deaths of 26 peacekeepers in the Iraqi Norther No Fly Zone. Snook presents a compelling tale of a complex system gone awry, an organization operating on the edge of chaos, and the ultimate result of a deterministic system spinning out of control. Drawing on his extensive knowledge of systems theory and organizational behavior, LTC Snook presents his thesis with exceptional clarity and depth of understanding; his conclusions are as disturbing as they are fascinating: a series of rational decisions made by equally rational human beings still failed to prevent the very incident the organization was designed to forestall. A concise, well-written account of and incident with lessons that we should all take to heart.
An Exceptional Account and Evaluation.......2000-09-30
Friendly Fire is a marvelous analysis of one of the most horrific accidents in recent military history. Snook is unfaltering in his tenacity to get to the root causes of this tragedy. The reader is given a broad perspective of how events, even those occuring years previous, led to the fateful day when 26 peacekeepers lost their lives. His ability to put the reader into the mind of each participant is riveting. More than just a recitation of facts or an outpouring of emotion, this book blends all the elements into a comprehensive understanding of a most complicated event. Friendly Fire should be required reading for all military personnel and anyone whose actions hold the lives of others in their hands.
When bad things happen to good organizations.......2000-04-13
In this book, Scott A. Snook, Ph.D. provides a thoughtful and readable account of how things can go tragically wrong in normal, healthy organizations. The author creatively applies several key theories in organizational structure and change to develop an understanding of (1) the tragic shootdown of two Army helicopters by U.S. Air Force jet fighters, which occurred in northern Iraq in 1994, and (2) "friendly-fire" events in general and broadly-defined --- or how it is that bad things can happen to good organizations, and there really is no one to blame. The book begins with an impressive, detailed examination of the data surrounding the 1994 Blackhawk shootdown. This includes thousands of hours of transcribed testimony gathered in hearings and court martial proceedings. In addition to official reports, Snook personally interviewed many of the key players in the Blackhawk friendly-fire incident. Using a "grounded-theory" approach, the author allows the data to shape and guide his reconstruction of the event itself, and his subsequent theoretical formulations to explain what happened. His resultant theory of "practical drift" spans multiple levels-of-analysis, from the individual to the cultural, providing dramatic insight into how such seemingly impossible events can be expected to occur in complex organizations. This book sheds the kind of light which both clarifies and disturbs. It should prove of real value not only to military leaders interested in reducing friendly-fire incidents, but also to leaders in non-military organizations who wish to understand, and perhaps avoid, normal disasters.
Average customer rating:
- The one stop source for Air Force History.
|
U.S. Air Force (Hugh Lauter Levin's Military History)
Dik Daso
Manufacturer: Universe
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
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ASIN: 0883631148
Release Date: 2006-09-19 |
Book Description
The indomitable spirit and courage of America’s flyers goes back to the Wright Brothers’ first flights in 1903. Since then, Billy Mitchell, Jimmy Doolittle, Chuck Yeager, and countless other men and women have answered America’s call to defend the nation and its allies from the sky. Now, more than 50 years after its founding, the United States Air Force is celebrated in a stunning, lavishly illustrated volume published in conjunction with the Air Force Historical Foundation. Building on official Air Force chronologies, and containing more than 500 color and 1,000 black-and-white photographs, the book presents an encyclopedic, year-by-year summary of Air Force activities, from the early years of flight to Operation Iraqi Freedom. Key historical entries, as well as significant operations, technological advances, and the people instrumental in shaping the Air Force, are featured in expanded sidebar articles written by experts in each subject.
Customer Reviews:
The one stop source for Air Force History........2006-11-14
This is quite possibly the ultimate U.S. Air Force History book. It is written under the general guidence of Lt. Col Dik Alan Daso, USAF (Ret), Curator of Modern Military Aircraft National Air and Space Museum. The individual contributors, some 35 in number vary from retired military, professional historians, librarians, and more. All in all, individual experts to write on particular subjects of interest.
This is a large format book, and it contains a lot of pages. It begins with the first flights taken by the military in balloons and concludes with operations in Iraq. The book is arranged like a diary, with significant events in chronological order. A particular point of interest is the little pictures of the medals of honor won on those dates, along with a description of the actions of the winner.
In addition there are periodic two page spreads that describe significant activities, technical advantages, or historical points of interst regarding the Air Force.
It's a beautiful book, one that belongs in every military library.
Average customer rating:
|
Battling for Bombers: The U.S. Air Force Fights for its Modern Strategic Aircraft Programs (Contributions in Military Studies)
Frank P. Donnini
Manufacturer: Greenwood Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
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ASIN: 0313312214 |
Book Description
Although the United States Air Force was founded upon strategic bombardment theory and advocacy, the service has traditionally had tremendous difficulty in obtaining the adequate funding for bombers that it requires to fulfill its mandate. For more than 45 years, senior Air Force leaders, both military and civilian, have struggled to convince decision-makers in the White House and in Congress that modern manned bomber forces were needed, acceptable, and affordable. In this study, Donnini produces one of the most exhaustive analyses ever undertaken of Congressional subcommittee decision-making in the funding of defense procurement initiatives. He concludes that no program achieved measurable success of deployment with the original force structure requested; and only two, the B-1B and B-2A, received approval to acquire lesser numbers of aircraft for operational use. Donnini found that an important part of each new bomber program appeared to be funding support through federal appropriations. If the right amounts were appropriated, the programs survived; if lesser amounts were given, chances for program failure were good; however, was funding support the deciding factor? This book used multiple case studies and the unorthodox methodology of applied content analysis of Congressional budget hearings to examine Air Force efforts to fund the most recent main bombers it sought (the B-70, B-1A, B-1B, and B-2A) and to determine measurements of success. The author's findings have implications concerning the way the United States handles procurement initiatives for major new weapon systems considered fundamental necessities for national defense.
Average customer rating:
- Fascinating and Inspiring Story
- Great read and inspiring story. Go Reichen!
- Entertaining... educational... insightful... and slightly graphic reading fun
- Where is the Honor Code in all of this?
- friends don't let friends read horrible memoirs
|
Here's What We'll Say: Growing Up, Coming Out, and the U.S. Air Force Academy
Reichen Lehmkuhl
Manufacturer: Carroll & Graf
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
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ASIN: 0786717823 |
Book Description
Reichen Lehmkuhl was playing the role of his life while in the Air Force. Not wanting to face a court martial for being gay, he had to live in a world where he had to watch everything he did and said for fear of being outed; and in another world where he was free to be himself. “One of the hardest things for me to reconcile was the fact that I was completely open with my family and friends but faced the very real possibility of being court martialed and going to jail if I was open with my 'work' colleagues.” As Reichen explains, “The don’t ask don’t tell policy is so contradictory to what the Air Force and all the armed forces stand for ... but they force you to lie in order to serve your country.” It was the contradictions which led Reichen to leave the Air Force once he completed his commitment.
Happenstance brought Reichen to meet a friend at a Los Angeles restaurant where he was approached by the casting director for “The Amazing Race.” Reichen believes his military training was extremely helpful in his winning the show’s million dollar prize.
Customer Reviews:
Fascinating and Inspiring Story.......2007-09-16
This story is very fascinating and inspiring story. I am sure I will read this book many more times.
Great read and inspiring story. Go Reichen!.......2007-09-03
I definitely recommend this book to anyone who is coming out, who has a friend who is coming out, or thinks that Don't Ask, Don't Tell isn't hurting anyone. This is a very inspiring story about a guy who starts off like you and me and who ends up just trying to protect his friends. Read about the hypocrisy of the USAF and the military in general. I'm sure they won't admit it, but this is just one more story that confirms that Don't Ask Don't Tell is not a working program. I was impressed with the story and the quality of character described within.
Entertaining... educational... insightful... and slightly graphic reading fun.......2007-08-17
Oddly enough, before I read this book, I thought that Reichen Lehmkuhl was full of himself and drawing way to much attention away from the causes. But, as I read I discovered that he acts the way he does now because he ahs earned that right. He is outspoken, he is domineering... but most importantly, he is to some degree and to some people (like myself) heroic.
The book starts off with a childhood troubled by what other people think. He felt he was ugly and was made fun of for it. He lived in a trailer and was also teased about that. This is so relatable by pretty much anyone because who hasn't been teased or insulted?
Upon acceptance to the Air Force academy, things take on a darker turn as he battles trying to keep up with everyone else and sudden flourishes of same-sex attraction. The fact that he partook in and possibly founded the Underground gay group is a noble thing indeed... but sadly something that should not have existed at all. The story spans from childhood to his graduation from tha academy, and there are some devastating moments laced in between.
Yet, the moment that really got to me was the climax when things started to unravel and it got dangerous. I could feel the anxiety as I read about it... knowing all to well what that anxiety felt like.
This is not a great book by any stretch but it is a good one and it takes on homophobia in a homophobic military, exposing just how ugly this "religion" fueled hatred is. I found it personally refreshing that I share many of the views he does and am glad that I took the time to read this book.
It isn't for everyone though. Be advised that there is a sexual assault segment that is fairly graphic and some of the same sex scenario's are fleshed out to rather deep detail... not quite soft core porn but just a tad bit dirty. I wasn't uncomfortable with any of the book, but I'm pretty sure that there amy be some readers who will be.
So, all in all... a good book. It was entertaining and educational... and offered insight into a man that I am happy is so vocal about fighting for our rights.
Where is the Honor Code in all of this?.......2007-08-05
Being a gay man, I enjoyed reading this book, about the struggles of gay students in the Air Force Academy. Also, I come from the same geographical area of MA where Mr. Lehmkuhl grew up, and I am familar with some of the communities he refers to. However - I had problems with the book as it went along - if a cadet does not lie, cheat or steal, or tolerate others who do so, how did the author justify some of the stands he and his friends were prepared to take to explain their behavior to school authorities? Isn't lying by any other name still lying?
friends don't let friends read horrible memoirs.......2007-08-03
This book was atrocious. Whoever edited it should be fired. I keep seeing positive reviews for it, and I can only assume that the majority of people who choose to read this book have never been fortunate enough to read actual good memoirs and novels. Reichen is full of himself to an inexcusable degree. He goes out of his way to tell anecdotes that make him seem awesome and cool and popular, rather than focusing on anything that might actually be interesting to a person who isn't president of his fan club. This book should have been called "Growing Up, Growing Up, Being Completely Awesome, Enjoy This Repulsive Gratuitous Sex Scene...oh yeah, I came out eventually, too." There were many problems with the content, such as the way he would discuss events in non-chronological order, seemingly in the order that they occurred to him. The main problem with this book, however, is that Reichen is a terrible, terrible writer. This book should have been interesting! A really thoughtful and intelligent book about being gay in the Air Force would have been such a treat to read. Instead, we get a boring, tedious pile of pages that have moments of groan-inducing softcore porn and, more worrisome, touches of homophobic derision for gay men who don't meet Reichen's arbitrary standards for manliness.
When I say this book is awful, I mean it. Do not buy it. If you absolutely need to know what happens, get it from the library, but this man does not deserve any money from you after sleeping his way through this sorry excuse for a book. The only good thing I can say about it is that it has moments of unintentional hilarity, for whatever that's worth.
Download Description
Riding Rockets is a story of life in all its fateful uncertainty, of the impact of a family tragedy on a nine-year-old boy, of the revelatory effect of a machine called Sputnik, and of the life-steering powers of lust, love, and marriage. It is a story of the human experience that will resonate long after the call of "Wheel stop."
Customer Reviews:
Buy it.......2007-10-08
What an incredible book. A real page turner. An honest and personal account of the shuttle program.
Simply Outstanding - Wonderful Read!.......2007-10-06
This was an amazing book! Extremely entertaining from start to finish. An honest, in-depth account of the early space shuttle program is overdue and Mike created just that. With 3 flights under his belt, Mike is more than qualifed to tell this story. I highly recommend this book.
Riding Rockets Rocks.......2007-08-31
This not the normal book about space adventure; it tells the real story with true humor. Enjoy!
A true inside look at the STS program.......2007-08-11
WOW!!!!!!!!!! Want to know what it's really like to be inside the Shuttle astronaut program... this is your book!! Col. Mullane gives us a true inside feel for what it's like to be an STS astronaut. Hardly a page went by that I didn't laugh out loud!! Oh dear... I also found out that I too am from Plant AD!!
Riding Rockets takes you on an incredible journey!.......2007-06-29
Your blood pressure will boil as you read Mike's detailed descriptions on his three Space Shuttle assignments. There is so much more, however, and all of his stories from beginning to end are simply amazing, funny, witty, and tear-jerking. A boring page does not exist and you'll be sad when you realize you've read the last page.
Book Description
This up-to-date electronic book on CD-ROM presents the most comprehensive collection available anywhere on the United States Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, Colorado. Coverage includes: USAF Academy Cadet Life in Color and Military Education; Report of the Panel to Review Sexual Misconduct Allegations at the U.S. Air Force Academy; USAF Institute for National Security Studies (INSS) Publications; USAF Academy Parachute Team "The Wings of Blue".
It is illustrated with dramatic color photography of facilities, exhibits and cadet life includes: Core Values; Mission-Vision; Observatory; Visitor Center; Visitor's Guide; Admissions Directorate; Tenth Air Base Wing; Commandant; Dean of Faculty; Superintendent; Tenant Units; Cadet Chapel; Civilian Personnel & Employment; Academics; Dean of the Faculty; Military Education; Current Events; Information Resources; Inspector General; Newcomers Information; Academy Maps; Golf Course; Snow Control Center; Snow Removal Vehicles; 34th Operations Support Squadron; USAFA Flyover Briefing Guide, Guidance, and Event Schedule; Aero Club Aircraft; Development and Alumni Programs; AFROTC Northwest Region; USAFA Class Shields and Squadron Patches; Farish Recreation Area Mountain Resort; Department of Astronautics and Department of Aeronautics Laboratory Research and Facilities; Fire Department. Cadet Life coverage includes: 34th Education Group; Book Lists; Center for Character Development; Clubs; Class of 2004 through 2007 Photographs; Parent's Weekend and 2003 Photographs; Honor Guard History and Previous Details; Athletics; Sabre Drill Team; 94th Flying Training Squadron coverage including Soaring Programs, Current Aircraft, Historical Aircraft, Squadron History; 98th Flying Training Squadron.
Documents include: Agenda for Change-Policy Directives and Initiatives, March 26, 2003; Report of the Panel to Review Sexual Misconduct Allegations at the U.S. Air Force Academy; News Releases 2003; USAF Academy Strategic Plan
USAF Institute for National Security Studies (INSS) publications include: Annual Report; Milestones in Strategic Arms Control 1945-2000; Controlling Non-Strategic Nuclear Weapons; The Terrorism Threat and U.S. Government Response; Nuclear Deterrence and Defense; Searching for National Security in an NBC World; Airpower Journal articles; INSS Papers
This CD-ROM has over 17,000 pages reproduced using Adobe Acrobat PDF software - allowing direct viewing on Windows and Macintosh systems, and Reader software is included. The Acrobat cataloging technology adds enormous value and uncommon functionality to this impressive collection of government documents and material. There is no other reference that is as fast, convenient, comprehensive, and portable!
Our CD-ROMs are privately-compiled collections of official public domain U.S. government files and documents - they are not produced by the federal government. They are designed to provide a convenient user-friendly reference work, utilizing the benefits of the Acrobat format to uniformly present thousands of pages that can be rapidly reviewed, searched, or printed without untold hours of tedious searching and downloading. Vast archives of important public domain government information that might otherwise remain inaccessible are available for instant review no matter where you are. This book-on-a-disc makes a superb reference work for scientists, researchers, libraries, schools, students, and home reference!
Customer Reviews:
U.S. Airforce Academy.......2007-10-10
I bought this book for my Grandson who is interested in attending the Air Force Academy. It is a nice companion to the other book I bought "Life Inside the Air Force Academy." I am sure he will enjoy it.
Book Description
From award-winning journalist and combat veteran Michael Hirsh comes the thrilling inside story of the Air Force's pararescue operations in Afghanistan. The first journalist to be embedded with an Air Force combat unit in the War on Terrorism, Hirsh flew from Moody Air Force Base, Georgia, with the 71st Rescue Squadron to their expeditionary headquarters at a secret location in Central Asia. Unparalleled access to the PJs, as well as to the courageous men and women who fly them where they have to go, often under enemy fire, allowed Hirsh to uncover incredible stories of courage.
Customer Reviews:
The good news that most of the media deems not fit to print.......2007-02-05
Hirsh has written a lot of books about the military, some better than others, but this book has a lot of interesting personal stories about brave men on very dangerous missions in places where the fight against the Islamists have taken the best and the brightest that the USA has to offer.
Hirsh's writing is not necessarily the best, but at least he doesn't get in the way of the story, and accurately depicts the dedication of America's men of the pararescue jumpers "PJ's" units who serve "that others might live."
Unlike the character assassins now serving in the US Senate who tasted a couple skirmishes of combat and ran away as fast as they could fake enough Purple Hearts to leave after a couple of months, these men fight year after year, trying to take the war to the enemy that hates the West and all it stands for.
This isn't a great book, but the subject matter is something that seldom sees any ink or airtime, with the possible exception of Fox.
If you don't know anything about PJ's or their mission, you can do worse than reading this book.
Enthralling.......2006-01-26
An excellent book. Even as an English major, I very rarely have found myself so unwilling to put down a book. An unexpected surprise was that Hirsh encompassed the entire rescue team, writing not only of the PJs, but also of the pilots, crew, combat controllers, and commanders. If you have little interest or experience with the military, you may find the technical aspects a bit heavy at times, but I personally had no difficulty; truly, I appreciated the detail and immersion in the subject matter. Thrilling. Enthralling. Delightful.
Thank you Michael Hirsh.......2005-08-06
I found Michael Hirsh's writing style very entertaining. You, the reader, must realize the rare privilege it is to have before you an account so accurate in factual detail of what embodies a USAF pararescueman. Having the honor of being a PJ from Sep84-Dec92 I have witnessed alot so life doesn't suprise me much anymore. The effect this book had on me was suprising. Many times while reading this book I paused to shake off cold shivers or to loosen my white-knuckle grip for I felt I was right there among these supermen doing the almost impossible...living life as a PJ! One thing I did not like was the lack of respect Michael Hirsh showed toward the special operations people from the other military branches. I have had the privilege and honor to work with many fine spec op folks from the other branches of our military. Even though there is the traditional and expected "ribbing" that goes on between us highly-trained experts I have forged lasting friendships with many of these spec op guys. Michael Hirsh, you wrote a great book about pararescuemen. You even made us PJ's feel uneasy (which is hard to do) by giving us a pat on the back for doing our jobs albeit appreciated. In your writing please do not convey the false idea that PJ's are so much better than all other special operations people. Special operations/forces of the navy, army, marines and air force all have outstanding people expertly trained for a specific purpose. However, I will state that when your day has gone bad putting your money on a PJ is a better bet than on one of them SEALs.
Not such a great book about great individuals.......2005-06-07
I found Hirsh's writing style choppy and at times the transitions between chapters and topics were confusing. Overall None Braver was a poor presentation of material that could have been informative and entertaining--which it was only slightly of both. I recommend you read something else on PJs. They deserve better.
Educational.......2004-08-10
My son was recently accepted into the Pararescue Program. I was immediately attracted to any information I could get my hands on so I could educate myself. This book was very informative, interesting, rivoting. I was compelled to read until I reached the back cover. I also enjoyed Pararescue by the same author. Another good book is "That Others May Live" by Jack Brehm. I pray daily for these heroes and their commanders.
Book Description
The first black to graduate from West Point in the twentieth century, Davis led the all-black Tuskeegee Airmen in World War II and retired a three-star general. His autobiography both chronicles the life of a great American and provides an incisive account of race relations in the segregated and desegrated military.
Customer Reviews:
The Battle for Acceptance.......2007-09-12
¡§Benjamin O. Davis Jr., American: An Autobiography¡¨ is the memoir of a distinguished Air Force officer who happened to be African-American. While the title implies race-blindness, that is just wishful thinking on behalf of General Davis. Race defined his life and career.
General Davis comes from a family well established in Washington, D.C. black society. His father Benjamin Davis Sr. enlisted in the U.S. Army, later earning a commission. This was in an America where strict segregation prevailed and black people were regarded in some circles as talking apes. The U.S. Army was no different. Black soldiers were in segregated units lead by white officers and a very few black officers.
Nonetheless, Benjamin Sr. persevered ultimately reaching the rank of Brigadier General after 42 years of service. In doing this he became the first African American to become a General officer in the history of the United States.
Benjamin Jr. followed in his father¡¦s footsteps. However he pursued his commission through the United States Military Academy located at West Point, New York. His appointment was from Congressman Oscar DePriest of Chicago.
West Point did not welcome Mr. Davis. While he was eventually a member of the Class of 1936, it is no credit to West Point. He was the first black graduate in forty years. Shortly after his arrival, he was ¡¥silenced¡¦.
The silent treatment is used by the Corps of Cadets to reject someone who they feel should not be at the Academy. Historically it is used for cadets with honor violations. In Mr. Davis¡¦s case, it was because of his race. When a cadet is silenced, no one speaks to you except in the line of duty. But the cadet is not ignored; he is still the object of cruel, petty practical jokes.
The process was so traumatizing, Mr. Davis could still remember exactly which of his classmates had spoken to him socially before they were ordered not to. He never returned to West Point for fifty years. He had nothing socially to do with his classmates until he had reached the rank of Colonel and the military services desegregated.
Interestingly enough, he began to receive apologies from his classmates shortly after his graduation.
Ultimately, he trained as an Army pilot. During WWII, he led the fabled Tuskegee airman. He and his men successfully navigated the obstacles placed in the path by elements of the US military that did not want black pilots. He credits this to a strict adherence to military regulations, tight discipline and focusing on the mission. He knew the military system was determined to find fault with them and the first tool they would use would be the ¡¥book¡¦ and their performance as a unit.
If you want to know about the remainder of his career, read the book. º
One thing I found annoying about his narrative especially later in his career is he talks a lot about his friends. The mundane social life of he and Agatha drags the narrative down. But even this point gives insight to his career. He was a black man operating in a white world that did not want him.
Visits from his future wife Agatha sustained him during his tenure at West Point. They were excluded from Army post social life. Even among his fellow black pilots, as the commanding officer, he could not socialize with his juniors.
Only after the war, could he and wife have friends and a real social life. Only when society began to accept him on his merits did he begin to feel accepted as a man and an American.
A Great American Hero!.......2005-06-28
I had the honor to meet Gen Davis at the very beginning of my Air Force career. Gen Davis was being honored by the mayor as the recipient of the key to Cleveland, Ohio. When Gen Davis saw me, at the time a 2nd Lieutenant, he called for me to come forward and stand next to him as he signed autographs and took pictures with the crowd. I was honored! As I read his story, I was determined to emulate the true sucess stories of Gen Davis and the Tuskegee Airmen he led. He was a man filled with the Duty, Honor and Country, West Point espoused. I recommend Gen Davis' book to any young man or women entering into our nation's military. The mentoring and coaching provided in his book should be relevant and pertinent to our modern day situation fighting worldwide terrorism. I try to actively promote his life's story and the lives of the various Tuskegee Airmen at http://www.BenjaminODavisJr.com.
Webmaster, Owner
Benjamin O. Davis Jr. American.......2003-03-27
Benjamin O. Davis Jr. had a distinguished military career. He graduated from West Point in 1936, joined the Army Air Corps, and led a squadron of fighters in World War II, earning the Distinguished Flying Cross. After the war he continued in service to his country. His service took him to Korea, Taiwan, Germany and the Philippines. Davis rose to the rank of Lieutenant General before his retirement in 1970. What makes Davisý journey so fascinating is that through out his military career he was opposed by those who felt that because of a particular physical characteristic, he was not capable of the job. Benjamin Davis was black. His autobiography, Benjamin O. Davis Jr., American, is a detailed account of his achievements and provides evidence of the success of his philosophy that, ýblacks could best overcome racist attitudes through their achievements.ý His story is an inspiring one, though the telling of it is sometimes hampered by the lack of personal detail.
When reading an autobiography the reader evaluates the author as a person, what they did, what obstacles he or she overcame, and what their beliefs and opinions are. Next the reader evaluates how the author tells their story. The title of Davisý book gives us a clue as to the author and his character. It is simply, Benjamin O. Davis Jr. American. It is not ýGeneral Davis,ý or ýBlack American,ý or ýFighter Pilot,ý or any of the other titles he earned. In the title we can discern what he counts as most important, being an American. Perhaps that encompasses the creed of the West Point Military Academy; Duty, Honor, Country. This is ironic in that this same academy treated him so poorly. His persona is of a man with dignity, reserve and dedication to duty. He rarely speaks negatively of anyone with whom he worked. Benjamin Davis Jr. is a great man and his military record is proof of that. He did not need to write a book proving this, it is well documented. However, he was very important to the integration of the military and thus the civil rights movement and so his book helps the reader understand things that are not part of his official record. The purpose of General Davisýs autobiography appears to be three fold. First, it is a telling of his extraordinary life. As the leader of a fighter squadron and his rise to Lieutenant General his story is of interest to anyone who is interested in military aviation and military history of these important times. Second, the book shows racism in society and the military and how it was practiced. And thirdly to show how he used achievement to overcome racist attitudes and thus was a factor in the integration of the military. Benjamin Davis focuses on the conviction that, ýblacks could best overcome racist attitudes through their achievements, even if those achievements had to take place within the hateful environment of segregation.ý His book is a detailed account of those achievements.
With any good story there are obstacles that the protagonist must over come. His determination is evident as he endures the silencing at West Point and at Ft. Benning. The missions and the deeds of the Tuskegee Airmen in North Africa and Europe are exciting and stimulating. These were dynamic times to be an aviator. Davisý writing style has some faults, though. Too often, especially in the later part of the book, it is dry with little personal detail. At times it seems he is copying from his appointment book: who he met, where he went, or what award he presented.
What makes the book good is tracing the obstacles Davis had to over come to graduate from West Point and to build the first black fighter group. His book is not perfect in that it is dry at times and it leaves the reader wanting to know more of the thoughts, feelings, and opinions of this great man. But to be just, Benjamin Davis set out to be a military man not to be an author. The fact that he writes as well as he does, only increases my admiration for him.
One of the best books I've ever read........2000-12-01
I read this book about 4 years ago. It is a compelling read; one of those kind of books one will want to re-read again and again. The accomplishments of Benjamin Davis, Jr., one of the famous Tuskeegee Airmen, are well documented but not quite as well known. I wish every black person could read this book because what stands out is the excellence of a human being who would not quit. Moreover Gen. Davis, while he stands against racism, does not come across like so many of the racial hacks today (Al Sharpton, Jesse Jackson, etc.). He comes across as a man who, though black, follows principle more than some political vision of black triumph, which we have degenerated to today. So even though I say I wish every black person would read it to see how blacks can regain the sort of pride we once had without dependence on government, white people (or any other people) can get a lift from this book because what you see is a human being, who just happens to be black, triumphing with pride and dignity. I was so impressed after I read the book that I looked up Gen. Davis' address and wrote to him, asking for a response so that my sons could read it and I could use it as an example to them of a black man who had accomplished something great. To my surprise he responded very kindly. His book sticks in my mind as a great human triumph akin to the spirit of Richard Wright.
Average customer rating:
- A Son's Tribute to His Bomber Pilot Father--Compelling Reading
- 'Tom's War' a Revealing Look at WWII
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Tom's War: Flying with the U.S. Eighth Army Air Force in Europe, 1944
James T Hammond
Manufacturer: iUniverse, Inc.
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
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ASIN: 0595415393 |
Book Description
Simultaneously exhilarating and terrifying, Tom's War: Flying with the U.S. Eighth Army Air Force in Europe, 1944 portrays the training and combat experiences of Thomas D. Hammond. Hammond, a child of the Great Depression, braved the flak-filled skies of Europe in 1944 as copilot of a B-17 Flying Fortress for the U.S. Army.
Hammond represents tens of thousands of young Americans who were proud to risk their lives in the skies over Germany. Although Hammond came home, many did not, including two of his close friends. Hammond's son, author James T. Hammond, brilliantly immortalizes his father's wartime memories in Tom's War.
"Tom's War . is an excellent read. It is [a] comprehensive, well researched, and insightful documentation of the lives of several 8th Air Force flight crews, bringing home the hopes and despair of the airmen as they strive to destroy enemy targets and survive to finish a tour of combat and be the lucky ones to return safely to family and friends."-Eugene Fletcher, a former 95th Bomb Group combat pilot and author of The Lucky Bastard Club
Customer Reviews:
A Son's Tribute to His Bomber Pilot Father--Compelling Reading.......2007-08-26
Veteran South Carolinian journalist James T. Hammond has written a great new book entitled 'Tom's War: Flying With the Eighth Air Force in Europe, 1944', published by iuniverse in 2007. James' father, Tom Hammond, was the son of a small-plot farmer in Greer, South Carolina. Young Tom was fascinated by airplanes and when war broke out, he went into the Army Air Corps and became a B-17 pilot in the 95th Bomb Group. This book follows Tom through 'Tom's War', from training to combat and the eventual joyful return.
Shortly before he leaves for duty, Tom meets a young neighbor named Callie and the two maintain a correspondance throughout the war. The letters begin as friendly pen-letters and turn into love letters over time. One of the things that makes the book so poignant is Hammond's reliance on these letters back and forth between Tom and Callie. In addition to chronicling Tom's war and Callie's difficult job at a shirt factory, where she buttons Army shirts all day long, the letters allow the reader to witness a young couple falling in love with each other.
When author Hammond delves into the personal lives and feelings of his characters, this book really soars. It bogs down a bit in the mission-by-mission details, especially if, like me, you have read hundreds of accounts of the air war. However, for a layman, who knows little of the planning and execution of missions over Europe, this would probably provide valuable insight.
Tom was a co-pilot who flew with the same crew for all thirty-five missions, give or take a couple of make-up missions. By this time in the war, crews were required to fly 35 rather than 25 missions, in part to speed the end of the war and in part because of the decreased risk of the depleted German Luftwaffe. By mid-1944, the main threat was the highly accurate German flak.
James Hammond tells the story of Tom's joyful return, his long recovery at a hospital in the Miami Beach area after nose surgery, and his reunion with the woman he loves.
Tom Hammond's next war will be waged against dementia, lung, and heart ailments that eventually claim him in his early eighties. Son James' story here is powerful and compelling in its universality. The titans who saved the world at age 20 are now leaving us as old age accomplishes what fighter and flak failed to do. By the time Tom Hammond passes away, one feels a bond with the scrappy farm kid who grew up in the South during the Depression, and one feels a real sense of sadness that is mitigated only by the selfless care given to him by the love of his life, his wife Callie.
Hammond ends the book by tracking down his father's crewmen. It's interesting to see how time has treated each man. Some have become successful, others have never really got the gears turning.
This is a fine tribute to a member of the Greatest Generation. I recommend it to anybody who has an interest in World War Two bomber stories.
Rob Morris, Author
Untold Valor: Forgotten Stories of American Bomber Crews Over Europe in World War Two (Potomac, 2006)
'Tom's War' a Revealing Look at WWII.......2007-08-11
Think you know all about World War II from the movies you've seen? Think again. Author James T. Hammond has done a masterful job in "Tom's War," a book about the harrowing days and nights of the B-17 bomber crews who flew against the Nazi regime. These brave men left their families and careers to fly bombing raids over Europe, and Hammond has captured the wonder of these ordinary guys who find heroism thrust upon them.
The project began as a tribute to Hammond's father, Tom, who left his farm in South Carolina as a young man to learn how to fly bombers after the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor. But the book soon became the compelling story of the men who flew with him.
Inspired by his father's stories and letters to his mother, Hammond, a journalist, researched his father's military past, turning up fascinating stories about Tom Hammond's compatriots throughout the war. Hammond interweaves the romance of a shy, young man wooing his sweetheart back home with the hard reality of life during the war.
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