Book Description
My new friends have begun to suspect I haven’t told them the full story of my life.
“Why did you leave Sierra Leone?”
“Because there is a war.”
“You mean, you saw people running around with guns and shooting each other?”
“Yes, all the time.”
“Cool.”
I smile a little.
“You should tell us about it sometime.”
“Yes, sometime.”
This is how wars are fought now: by children, hopped-up on drugs and wielding AK-47s. Children have become soldiers of choice. In the more than fifty conflicts going on worldwide, it is estimated that there are some 300,000 child soldiers. Ishmael Beah used to be one of them.
What is war like through the eyes of a child soldier? How does one become a killer? How does one stop? Child soldiers have been profiled by journalists, and novelists have struggled to imagine their lives. But until now, there has not been a first-person account from someone who came through this hell and survived.
In A Long Way Gone, Beah, now twenty-five years old, tells a riveting story: how at the age of twelve, he fled attacking rebels and wandered a land rendered unrecognizable by violence. By thirteen, he’d been picked up by the government army, and Beah, at heart a gentle boy, found that he was capable of truly terrible acts.
This is a rare and mesmerizing account, told with real literary force and heartbreaking honesty.
Customer Reviews:
A powerful and eloquent voice..........2007-10-22
A Long Way Gone: Memoirs of a Boy Soldier by Ishmael Beah is a moving, tortured yet uplifting story of Beah's involvement in war.
Living in Sierra Leone, Beah was a typical 12-year old, playing soccer, dancing, singing rap music, reciting Shakespeare and hanging out with his friends. Beah and a bunch of his buddies ventured to another town when civil war came to their village. Not being able to make it back home, they were forced to flee--trying to find somewhere safe as well as a source of food. Their goal was to avoid being captured or killed by the rebels. Instead, they were discovered by the government army and turned into soldiers. Some of these boys were so slight that they couldn't even hold the AK-47s they were given as weapons. They were also given prodigious amounts of illegal drugs. For three years, Beah served with the army until UNICEF removed him from military service. During those three years, he was shot a number of times and escaped death repeatedly.
While Beah's physical injuries healed, the psychological scars from the war tortured him for years. He especially suffered from nightmares and migraines. With the help of the staff of UNICEF and NGO, he not only healed enough to be "repatriated," but he was also chosen as a representative to the United Nations First International Children's Parliament. It was here that he met the woman who would become his surrogate mother, and arrange for his eventual escape from Sierra Leone.
Ishmael Beah is a powerful, eloquent voice for the many children who were forced to become soldiers. These children were robbed of their families, their limbs, their childhoods, and often, their lives. After a nightmare, "I would try desperately to think about my childhood, but I couldn't. The war memories had formed a barrier that I had to break in order to think about any moment in my life before the war."
I wish that Beah had gone into more detail about his journey to the United States. Perhaps he's saving it for another book. But even without this information, A Long Way Gone is an excellent book by a very young author.
a long way gone.......2007-10-20
This is an incredible account of Ishmael Beah's life thus far. How a boy could endure such hell on earth is beyond comprehension, however this young author awakens his readers, and with his words shows us the wide spectrum of love and hate that we humans are capable of inflicting upon each other. A truly enlightening memoir.
Everyone needs to read this book.......2007-10-19
Amazing, horrifying, well-written, and a book that every American should read in order to better understand the conflicts of Africa. What strikes me most about this boy's story is the fact that he was in the governmental army, not the rebel army. But many times there was no difference between the two. Such facts certainly make me doubt that any African or UN "peacekeeping" force will be able to change anything in that region.
Excellent.......2007-10-18
What an interesting story. Having lived all over the world, it is very interesting how stories of civil strife always seem to include child soldiers whether Palestinian, Lebanese, Iranian, Liberian or Somalian.
I recommend this book for those interested in the world around them.
Heartbreaking!.......2007-10-18
This was one of my Book Club's selections for this fall. I thought it was easy to read and I am glad I saw the movie "Blood Diamond" before reading this. It's a difficult subject matter but worth reading.
Average customer rating:
- Calculations are only as good as your numbers
- Pants on fire?
- Accepted History & Chronology Must Be Changed.
- Very Interesting
- History as Science Fiction
|
History: Fiction or Science? (Chronology, No. 1)
Anatoly Fomenko
Manufacturer: Mithec
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ASIN: 2913621058 |
Book Description
Recorded history is a finely-woven magic fabric of intricate lies about events predating the sixteenth century. There is not a single piece of evidence that can be reliably and independently traced back earlier than the eleventh century. This book details events that are substantiated by hard facts and logic, and validated by new astronomical research and statistical analysis of ancient sources.
Customer Reviews:
Calculations are only as good as your numbers.......2007-08-03
Yes, we can all agree that mainstream history is nearly 100% BS due to politics, economics, ego, problems with dating techniques, and various conspiracies. Agreed. But, I've been researching the distinct possibility that human history (in terms of civilizations) are much more ancient than we've been told, so coming across this book was very interesting to me. I wondered how Fomenko could be wrong (if at all) because he is very persuasive in his presentations. Then it dawned on me. If at previous times in prehistory, due to the various catastrophies that are well documented (comets, asteroids, planetary disruptions, plasma discharge, pole reversals, etc) the Earth was in a different position in relation to the sun, different tilt on its axis, different orbit, different rotation (in terms of velocity and DIRECTION), and the continents were in different positions, then would this not cause the ancients to see the sky (constellations) differently? In other words, is Fomenko making erronious assumptions about the physics of the Earth in pre-history, which then corrupt his data with regards to dating the relevant astrology? The last event to seriously disrupt our planet occured roughly 3500 years ago, according to other good researchers, so is it possible Fomenko has been confused by this? The vastly different physics of our planet in the not so distant past may explain this confusion, which is not to say the "mainstream" version of history is correct; on the contrary. I am not an expert in these fields, but wanted to see if this idea could spark discussion.
Pants on fire?.......2007-07-19
Will people ever read before spamming? Yes, Jesuits could not rewrite world history alone, they had help. Anyway, Dr Prof Acad A.Fomenko does not point to jesuits as the driving force of world wide history manipulation in published volumes 1,2,3;, actually he barely mentions the poor devils. Check it with 'Search inside' feature, please. China is rarely mentioned either, in fact, Dr Fomenko is completely eurocentric. Right, his theory contradicts all mainstream schools of history, because in their actual state they are all built on blatantly erroneus chronology. You don't need a mysterious cabal (conspiracy) to falsify history, the falsification is its modus operandi. It is inherent to history(ians) to falsify (distort) events, as it is inherent to humans to boast as it is inherent to power (authority) to legimize itself by referrring to glorious past made to its own order. Dr Prof Fomenko and team have identified scores of instances of such manipulation in Russian, European, etc.. history, and delivered valid statistical proof thereof. His own 'reconstruction' is completely another story. Forget c14 as a valid method of dating. W.Libby has initially discovered a brilliant method of INDEPENDENT dating. Too bad, c14 method has become a joke after a forced marrige with dendrochronology with consensual chronological scale inbuilt. Radiocarbon method can't stand blind tests, but is so very productive as a rubberstamp.
Accepted History & Chronology Must Be Changed. .......2007-04-09
There is no doubt that history as most know it is a sham, & institution's version of History both University & Church is fradulent & inaccurate. Everything was established with an agenda, The real "Dark Ages" are now when we have access to incredible amounts of information past authorities & more important 'common folk' didn't have but our institutions & educators are slow to evolve because of what has ignorantly & arrogantly been taught for too long. This is on many subjects not just Chronology.
For anyone to question "Why would a Mathematician have anything credible to say of History?" The answer is from Dr. Fomenko's preface in the book: "It would be worthwhile to remind the reader that in the XVI-XVII century Chronology was considered to be a subdivision of Mathematics." These volumes could possibly be some of the most important works to date & should be read by everyone with an interest in History, especially professors & educators who have a duty to the public. I have read both books & must say that 'Chronology 1' has some very eye opening & revolutionary information. Even if these volumes are part true the implications are profound & opens the doors to further investigations & questions which must be done. I speak several different lanquages & must say the logic Dr. Fomenko uses with "inflection" of words & words being read from left to right in one region & right to left in another then written backwards, the removal of vowels & get down to basics of words, or different cities & locations having the same name etc. is correct. Vowel usage has always been optional & varied, actually complicating linquistics & study. The first thing one has to understand is that words never had a fixed spelling in history like we do now, the spelling of words was mutable & regional, as well as names & titles of people were vast, varied & changed, NOTHING WAS FIXED or understood linear. Matters of Life & Death as well as financial profiteering yesterday & today were & are made with ignorant, illogical & conspiratorial views of history & reality, it's time people get closer to the Truth & society collectively grow up.
Very Interesting.......2007-03-07
It is a good proposal and I believe it will mature into something even better in the future. I think it deserves to be read.
History as Science Fiction.......2007-01-10
Anatoly Fomenko has written a very intriguing book, full of pictures, charts, and computer 'proof' of his thesis: backwards of AD900 we don't really know what happened or when. Between AD900 and AD1600 there is more certainty, but there is still a lot of fuzzy ground, and things don't get reliable until we get past the 1600's where the printing press made it very difficult for the perpetrators of this timeline manipulation to change anything that had been committed to print. The Dark Ages did not happen. Books were burned for a reason. One organization has doubled the actual length of its existence by expanding the real chronology. Read why.
I had always wondered why Christ died about AD33 and yet men waited until the 11th century to form the Knights Templar, the Cathars, etc and go after the Holy Land by force. Why the 1000 year gap? Turns out there wasn't more than a 10-12 year gap and he proves it using astronomy. This also implies that the planet is not as old as we have been told, and current Christian and other creationist scientists are already championing that idea without being aware of Fomenko's book. The two groups, creationist scientists and the Russian mathematical analysts corroborate each other. Fascinating.
Of course, all this flies in the face of what we have been told traditionally is the 'proper' chronology of western civilization, and most readers will experience 'cognitive dissonance' in reading this book. It means that our history going backwards from AD1600 becomes progressively more incorrect and unreliable until it cannot be trusted at all... in the space of 700-800 years.
Naturally, the curious, open-minded reader will want to know WHO did this, WHY, and did any of the events we think of as really ancient ever happen?
Dr. Fomenko is a respected scientist/mathematician at Moscow State University who has already answered these questions to the satisfaction of his initially skeptical colleagues. Most of them are now believers, a few still refuse to believe (the usual diehards), and of course the western press has ignored Fomenko's work -- for obvious reasons when you read the book. The ones who perpetrated this chronology ruse have a lot to answer for. They are still with us. That's why this book is a well-kept secret.
I gave the book a 4-star rating because I was unable to check out some of his claims; those I checked were as he said. But if even 1/3 of his claims are true, this punches a big hole in what we think is our history, the meaning of western civilization, our educational process (for repeating the ruse as gospel), and the trustworthiness of the organization that perpetrated this ruse, well-intentioned or not.
This book relates to current research into a Young Earth paradigm, to John Keel's discoveries about our planet, and Fr Malachi Martin's insights (in his now out-of-print books). We are indeed sheep who are manipulated and kept ignorant -- for a reason. While knowing what these men have to say may be the "booby prize" (as in: 'what can you do with this knowledge?'), it will provide interesting reading. Didn't someone say: "...and the Truth will set you free."?? For you to judge if this book contains the truth.
Book Description
This is the remarkable story of a German soldier who fought throughout World War II, rising from conscript private to captain of a heavy weapons company on the Eastern Front. William Lubbeck, age 19, was drafted into the Wehrmacht in August 1939. As a member of the 58th Infantry Division, he received his baptism of fire during the 1940 invasion of France. The following spring his division served on the left flank of Army Group North in Operation Barbarossa. After grueling marches admidst countless Russian bodies, burnt-out vehicles, and a great number of cheering Baltic civilians, Lubbeck's unit entered the outskirts of Leningrad, making the deepest penetration of any German formation. The Germans suffered brutal hardships the following winter as they fought both Russian counterattacks and the brutal cold. The 58th Division was thrown back and forth across the front of Army Group North, from Novgorod to Demyansk, at one point fighting back Russian attacks on the ice of Lake Ilmen. Returning to the outskirts of Leningrad, the 58th was placed in support of the Spanish "Blue" Division. Relations between the allied formations soured at one point when the Spaniards used a Russian bath house for target practice, not realizing that Germans were relaxing inside. A soldier who preferred to be close to the action, Lubbeck served as forward observer for his company, dueling with Russian snipers, partisans and full-scale assaults alike. His worries were not confined to his own safety, however, as news arrived of disasters in Germany, including the destruction of Hamburg where his girlfriend served as an Army nurse. In September 1943, Lubbeck earned the Iron Cross First Class and was assigned to officers' training school in Dresden. By the time he returned to Russia, Army Group North was in full-scale retreat. Now commanding his former heavy weapons company, Lubbeck alternated sharp counterattacks with inexorable withdrawal, from Riga to Memel on the Baltic. In April 1945 Lubbeck's company became stalled in a traffic jam and was nearly obliterated by a Russian barrage followed by air attacks. In the last chaotic scramble from East Prussia, Lubbeck was able to evacuate on a newly minted German destroyer. He recounts how the ship arrived in the British zone off Denmark with all guns blazing against pursuing Russians. The following morning, May 8, 1945, he learned that the war was over. After his release from British captivity, Lubbeck married his sweetheart, Anneliese, and in 1949 immigrated to the United States where he raised a successful family. With the assistance of David B. Hurt, he has drawn on his wartime notes and letters, Soldatbuch, regimental history and personal memories to recount his four years of frontline experience. Containing rare firsthand accounts of both triumph and disaster, At Leningrad's Gates provides a fascinating glimpse into the reality of combat on the Eastern Front. REVIEWS "... first person account is by William Lubbeck who was drafted in August 1939 and then served through the end of the war in 1945 in the regular German Army. .... detail abounds the book....The combat descriptions give you a taste of Eastern Front warfare.Lubbeck of the 154th Infantry Regiment / 58th Division gives you a shell-hole eye view of events as he works his way up the ranks and goes from victory to victory and then from defeat to defeat....I give Lubbeck credit for touching on the subject of atrocities from the viewpoint of the front line soldier.." Russ Lockwood MagWeb.com (Magazine Web)
Customer Reviews:
A very personal story.......2007-07-04
Lubbeck tells his personal story of war and survival throughout his stint in Army Group North. Many personal anecdotes are set forth in this story, together with more general recollections of combat and military operations. His story of post-war survival and eventual emigration to the US is moderately interesting and fits into the overall theme of this book. The reader comes to know Lubbeck and his family and friends in a way that is somewhat unique in books of this genre. An easy and good read.
About much more then the war........2007-07-01
This book is not just about William Lubbecks experiences in the German army but about his family life before and after the war. He goes in depth about the hardships his family endured before during and after the Nazi's took power. After the read you really do feel like you know the man and his family. His experiences in the German army take you from the invasion of France on into the out skirts of Leningrad. His battle field descriptions are well written but do not expect them to be action packed like a lot of other books. I really enjoyed how he made it more then just a book about the war but about hardships before and after the it. He speaks a lot about Germany after the war and the horrible life many of the people were forced into behind iron curtain. A great book written by a great man.
Mother of all reviews........2007-06-26
The prevailing sentimentality here may be expected from the "specialty" reader. You won't drive 50 miles to meet a Treblinka survivor or a Russian who was almost starved to death in Leningrad. They are not cool. Congratulations on finding your hero.
Excellent read on the Eastern Front Experience.......2007-06-22
I'm only a little over half way through this book but have found it to be one of the best I have read so far on the subject matter. The very frank and personal viewpoint is a nice departure from other books that focus primarily on unit movements, high level strategies, and the viscera of combat.
Occasionally i do wish for more details. the book feels like it could have been longer without suffering loss of readability, but that is no real distraction. The text is very well written and flows easily, you really get the sense you're getting to know the author.
I too was very surprised to find out i live in the same area as Mr Lubbeck. Actually had the chance to speak with him the other day. He was very cordial and forgiving of my somewhat broken attempts at German.
This book is a good reminder that there are two sides to every conflict, and to fully understand historical events, we need to examine and consider both of them.
The Best Eastern Front Memoir Thus Far..........2007-03-28
Of the many accounts of German soldiers' experiences of combat on the Eastern Front published in recent years, "At Leningrad's Gates" is by far the best to date. Not only is this an extremely interesting and well written memoir of combat experience with Army Group North in the campaigns around Leningrad and the retreat back into Germany, "At Leningrad's Gates" also details the difficulties Lubbecke's family faced living in Nazi Germany and after the war under Soviet domination in East Germany. Wilhelm Lubbecke emigrated with his wife and young son first to Canada and then to the United States after the war. Because of this his memoir is unique in that it not only views World War II from the perspective of a German citizen and soldier, but also from the point of view of an American who spent half of his life living, working and raising his children here in America.
Book Description
A memoir of astonishing power, savagery, and ashen lyricism, Storm of Steel illuminates not only the horrors but also the fascination of total war, seen through the eyes of an ordinary German soldier. Young, tough, patriotic, but also disturbingly self-aware, Jünger exulted in the Great War, which he saw not just as a great national conflict but—more importantly—as a unique personal struggle. Leading raiding parties, defending trenches against murderous British incursions, simply enduring as shells tore his comrades apart, Jünger kept testing himself, braced for the death that will mark his failure.
Published shortly after the war's end, Storm of Steel was a worldwide bestseller and can now be rediscovered through Michael Hofmann's brilliant new translation.
Customer Reviews:
Surpisingly incredible book.......2007-10-20
I just read this book, and I must say I'm amazed at it.
I'll critique the book mainly by comparison. The most familiar WW1 work is of course "All Quiet on the Western Front" by Erich Remarque. There are others that are similar such as "Under Fire", a noted work by Henri Barbusse from the French side, "Goodbye to All That" by Robert Graves (Englishman), and "Company K" by William March (US Marine Corps). I believe these books represent the dominant WW1 genre. With the exception of "Storm of Steel", they all tend to more-or-less follow a genre started first perhaps by Stephen Crane's novel "The Red Badge of Courage" about the American Civil War. Interestingly, Crane was never in war - a fact often unknown to readers. Many veterans reading Crane's novel were incredibly moved by its 'accuracy' and depth of feeling, which I'll come back to.
The immediately obvious difference about "Storm of Steel" is two things:
1) It was written from Junger's diary, and 2) he started the book very soon after the war's end. In other words, it is not watered down by time.
All the other novels were written some 10 yrs after the war, in melancholy-ish, "what happened to us?" sort of vein - i.e. the Lost Generation. This is significant both to the level of detail (accuracy and remembrance) and to the mood of the writing.
There are other points - Junger served throughout the war. American author March only served a part of the American involvement, obviously (but he can be forgiven in that the last half of the war was surely its worst, with the industrialization and de-humanization of warfare at its peak). Along a similar line, Remarque ("All's Quiet") served only a very short time; a point not at all obvious from his book which is presumed to be autobiographical. There have been challenges to Remarque's war service (many of it unfounded) and some feel he was something of a fantasist about his service, which was only a few weeks at the front. He was indeed wounded - but it is almost impossible he experienced everything he wrote about in "All's Quiet". Junger, on the other hand, had ample experience in the war, was wounded multiple times, and was highly decorated (one of the youngest to recieve the 'Pour le Merite', the Blue Max).
Junger's reputation is tainted by some possible associations with German nationalism after the war. But assertions that he was pro-Nazi are completely untrue. In fact, he lost his son to the Nazi regime. He may have even been on the fringes of the July 20th plot to kill Hitler.
Sure, he supported his country, but that does not make him a Nazi. Unfortunately, his supposed politics affected the reception of his writing (and by default, "Storm of Steel") in the rest of the world in more recent times. In my opinion this is a loss to the literature from the WW1 period...
On to the book: The book is written in a very matter-of-fact way. This may surprise some readers, given that so many other books (as mentioned above) are of the "war is hell" theme. Junger pulls no punches - he was trying to do his part to win, and he states it this way. I honestly do not see anything in the book that leads me to think he is some sort of war monger or "pre-Nazi Nazi". Junger has a deep sense of adventure and the ability to keep a cool head. He strikes me as a man trying to do a job, and he writes thusly. He shows sympathy for his men and NCOs, and writes from a 'team perspective'. "All's Quiet" protagonist Paul Baumer on the other hand, goes into depth of feeling about the individual soldier (read: Privates) and his sense of futility, hopelessness, camraderie (only with certain others) and concern over survival versus victory (perhaps justified).
Once you read Junger, and contrast him to Remarque, you see the differences: Remarque was a kid, with little overall sense of what was going on beyond his day to day survival and a certain dreaminess. Junger, on the other hand, was clearly a Type-A personality who directly involved himself in the efforts to win.
I unfortunately found that a reading of Junger tends to denigrate (for lack of a better word) the efforts of a Remarque who writes about feelings and hope (or hopelessness, as it were). And vice-versa. You have to juxtapose the two to get a feel for the war in its entirety.
I'm uneasy with it, but I get the feeling Junger was a stronger person than the other WW1 writers - he had a healthy sense of life, and moved on after the war to live a full life. Maybe his selection to be an Officer after a year is part of that. He wa also an adventurer, who joined the French Foreign Legion before the war.
Regardless of all this, Junger's book should be better known than it is. It is great for its historical context if nothing else.
Good but not as good as all the hype.......2007-07-24
This book is well written, well translated and flows well on the memoirs of a german private at the start of WW1 and officer by the end, but for all the hype that I had heard about this book it is no where near as good as Rommel's ATTACK and his experience of WW1 that book was full on action.
Storm of Steel does give graphic details of life in and out of the front line including some major battles he took part in, still overrated
A Differnt Perspective of World War I.......2007-07-17
History is written by the victors. What makes Storm of Steel so unique is that this autobiographical account of the Great War was written by one of the losers. It is interesting to read about why this young German soldier fights but also of the respect he has for his opponents on the other side of No Man's Land. Ernst Junger does not shy away from the graphic truth about the horrors of war. Every recollection of battle is filled with descriptions of the grisly deaths of fellow soldiers and the horrid conditions of life in the trenches. This eye opening account of the horrors of war is a must read for any student of history.
"The Europe of today appeared here for the first time on the field of battle".......2007-05-14
Jünger's book Storm of Steel is an exceptionally well written and almost romantic (not in the sense of romance novel but rather a piece which illicits an emotive response much like painting of the 19th century) It is one individual's reaction to life in Europe before, during and after WWI. Many of the statements of the text had several implications. Such as his assertion that "the Europe of today appeared here for the first time on the field of battle?" When read in context with the previous paragraphs the statement seemed to be remarking on the damaging will imposed on the European landscape. He spoke of machinery and how before the use of contemporary weaponry the most harm inflicted was the burning of towns and villages. Now because of new `scientific war' or a war of machines not man, nature was impacted. To burn a village was to bruise culture, but not destroy it. Culture could be rebuilt. To create craters and desert out of a once pristine landscape was to demolish it. The author seems to suggest that the damage inflicted by machine was irreparable. Furthermore, describing the war as scientific or a war of machines removed all traces of humanity. The exile of humanness can also be seen in his remarks that chivalry and basic politeness ("all fine and personal feeling") succumb to machinery. Machinery becomes the all invading. In his text, man becomes machine when he "wore the steel helmet." Steel and flesh, man and machine melt into one. The Europe of today was one of cold technology devoid of humanity and nature. Jünger suggested that man had to adapt to machine not machine to man when he discussed the change of fighting strategy. He ended this excerpt with his assessment that everything that was great about the German race or even Europe as a whole drowned during WWI "in a sea of mud and blood."
Journey through the Valley..........2007-02-13
Storm of Steel is one of those rare birds of literature, the war diary that doesn`t condemn war. Ernst Junger`s diary of his officer years in the Imperial German army during that slaughter that ironically came to be known as the Great War, stands alone among `war books.` Unlike Remarque, Graves or even Hemingway, Junger refuses to beat his reader over the head with an overtly edifying message. Ironically, Junger exposes the repellent nature of war by seeming to embrace its proported `virtue-building` properties.
Those looking for a pacifist tract or probing expose into man as killer, would best look elsewhere. Storm of Steel is one man`s existential journey through the unimaginable maelstorm of 1914--1918. Junger begins his story at the very beginning of that awful conflict when his proud unit---67th Hanoverian Fusiliers---marches across the fields of Champagne to meet the French during the autumn of 1914. Here, Junger`s diary gives the impression of boys off to a rugby match. Junger`s high-spirited warrior-athletes soon learn otherwise. Junger deftly and piercingly chronicles the devolution of the assumed football match` into the Boschian reality that would last for the next four years: trench warfare.
In deceptively simple descriptive sentences, Junger manages to paint a vibrant canvas of the world about him. Each chapter jockeys back and forth between brazen dawn attacks across no-man`s land, midnight reconnaissance forays into enemy trenches and the daily and nightly lot of the soldier`s worst nightmare: the artillery barrage. Most of SOS`s richest passages center around such barrages. Rightly so, as Junger`s diary records what was heard, seen, and felt by the Great War grunt. And constant shelling was the mainstay of trench life.
Shrapnel shells burst overhead spitting out their steely balls of destruction, high-explosive shells churn up the Artois farmland into sometimes geysers, sometimes volcanos. The world around Junger is in a constant state of upheaveal and change. Mother Earth violated by the hour, contorts herself around the bloodied figures who dive from crater to crater in search of momentary respite from fate. Junger seems to view the shells and whizzing bullets as messages from another world. Everybody is sentenced to one, it`s all a matter of when it will hit and what it`ll contain, instant death or a few more minutes, hours, days of life.
SOS covers the range of major Western front offensives, the Somme, Cambrai, the final German offensive of 1918, and ends with the Allied breakthrough of the summer of 1918. And through it all, Lieutenant Junger comes across as a man of daring, courage and noblesse oblige, a leader beloved by his underlings and one alternately ruthless and merciful towards his French and British opponents. Junger rarely reflects for long on his actions. As the sole voice of the book, Junger carries you from page to page as a man of action. Here leading a grenade attack across and through an enemy trench, there regrouping his dazed and decimated platoon after an especially virile bombardment. Moments of emotional or even mental interaction with the chaos that surrounds is minimal. SOS captures the moments in which one either lives or dies, kills or is killed. And Junger is supremely faithful to that experience. Post-experience editorializing is all but absent from SOS.
Yet, it is the lack of such emotional contact with the action that separates SOS from that other grand tome of war, the Iliad. When Achilles weeps over Patroclus` mangled body, we also weep, when Achilles stops his rage-driven chariot with Hector`s body tied to it, we, like Achilles, reflect on the bestial power of our anger. Storms of Steel has few such moments. When a dear friend is gunned down moments after sharing words with each other, Junger`s response appears prosaic. `That news floored me. A friend of mine with noble qualities, with whom I had shared joy, sorrow and danger for years now, who only a few moments ago had called out some pleasantry to me, taken from life by a tiny piece of lead!` Yet, here like everywhere in SOS, Junger painstakingly documents. This isn`t war as Achilles and Hector knew it, face to face with one`s opponent. Here, death came from an invisible shell splinter or the yellow muzzle flash, a mile away. You rarely saw he you killed or who killed you. This conflict was altogether different. A war where the human took a back seat to steel. An eerie premonition hovers over SOS. Killing has now become more efficient and quicker, euphemisms soon to be used in the battlefields and death camps to come. Junger kills with similar detachment. Throwing a grenade into a British dugout, he describes the results as, `rough, but satisfactory.` Occasionally though, Junger also records the human element that can`t help but burst through the storm. His unit the recipient of a direct shell hit, Junger drops an innocuous sentence that rings with understatement. `One baby-faced fellow, who was mocked a few days ago by his comrades, and on exercises had wept under the weight of the big munitions boxes, was now loyally carrying them on our heavy way, having picked them up unasked in the crater. Seeing that did it for me. I threw myself to the ground, and sobbed hysterically...`
After killing a young British soldier, Junger makes an enlightening confession. `He lay there, looking quite relaxed...I often thought back on him; and more with the passing of the years. The state, which relieves us of the responsibility, cannot take away our remorse; and we must exercise it.` Profound words as timely today as then.
Junger sweeps his reader across experiences that most readers will never taste. And in a langauge stripped of all moral posturing, preaching or correcting, Storm at times glances the heavy topics with a beauty approaching the poetic. Junger`s matter of fact and stolid Lower Saxon can surprise us with its unexpected layers. Junger describes his final wounding with such words. `As I fell, I saw the smooth, white pebbles in the muddy road; their arrangement made sense, it was as necessary as that of the stars, and certainly great wisdom was hidden in it.` And then the telling next sentence. `That concerned me, and mattered more than the slaughter that was going on all round me.` Such philosophical detachment from the human and moral swamp that surrounds him, separates Junger from other writers of war.
Reaching the final page, I felt as if I had been privy to something quite special. A peep show into another`s man`s harrowing experience. An experience I hope never to have. While Junger`s cavalier and sportsmanlike attitude to war left a bitter taste in my mouth, his struggle to portray war, warts and all, only strengthened my resolve to avoid and condemn it. Therein lays the grand irony of Storm of Steel; the least overtly moralizing of war texts makes the strongest plea for peace, that imaginary place about which the horribly wounded Junger muses,`Where I was going, there was neither war nor enmity.`
Book Description
In the hell that was World War II, the Eastern Front was its heart of fire and ice. Gottlob Bidermann served in that lethal theater from 1941 to 1945, and his memoir of those years vividly recaptures his grueling experiences with an army marching on the road to ruin.
A riveting and reflective account by one of the millions of anonymous soldiers who fought and died in that cruel terrain, In Deadly Combat conveys the brutality and horrors of the Eastern Front in detail never before available in English.
Wounded five times and awarded numerous decorations for valor, Bidermann saw action in the Crimea and siege of Sebastopol, participated in the vicious battles in the forests south of Leningrad, and ended the war trapped in the Courland Pocket. He shares his impressions of countless Russian POWs seen at the outset of his service, of peasants struggling to survive the hostilities while caught between two ruthless antagonists, and of corpses littering the landscape. He recalls a Christmas gift of gingerbread from home that overcame the stench of battle, an Easter celebrated with a basket of Russian hand grenades for eggs, and his miraculous survival of machine gun fire at close range. In closing he relives the humiliation of surrender to an enemy whom the Germans had once derided and offers a sobering glimpse into life in the Soviet gulags.
Bidermann's account also debunks the myth of a highly mechanized German army that rolled over weaker opponents with impunity. Despite the vast expanses of territory captured by the Germans during the early months of Operation Barbarossa, the war with Russia remained tenuous and unforgiving.
Translator Derek Zumbro has rendered Bidermann's memoir into a compelling narrative that retains the author's powerful style. This English-language edition of Bidermann's dynamic story is based upon a privately published memoir entitled Krim-Kurland Mit Der 132 Infanterie Division. Zumbro has also added important events derived from numerous interviews with Bidermann to provide additional context for American readers.
Customer Reviews:
anti-tank gun.......2007-08-19
awsome read! this guy went through hell and lived . i found how he described abandoning his PAK ( life-saver many times ) very moving.he always gave a damn about his troops ( which doesn't happen nowadays ).i highly recommend this read to anyone who wants to know how the heer ( not the ss or nazis etc. ) made it through this war of extreme depravity. excellent in my books!
first hand account of Herr soldier on the eastern front.......2007-08-08
I found this first hand account of fighting on the eastern front behind a Pak (anti-tank gun) interesting. The narrative could get monotonous at times, which reflected down time at the front. I got a better idea of what fighting was like in the southern and Crimean fronts and what Germans' experienced in the Soviet POW camps after the war.
That there was no index was a letdown since I like to look up many of the persons and events for future reference.
I sensed that Bidermann was a soldier doing his duty, not a Nazi. He was caught up in the turmoil of the times and was just trying to survive.
I was about to throw this book away................2007-05-19
I never bought this book but got it as a book club promotion. I had it at home and never bothered to read it. The cover is pretty dull which is a mistake by the publishers because it may cost them sales in my opinion. I was having a clear out one day and thought to myself that I must get rid of this amongst other unwanted books. I thought about putting it on e-bay but decided to throw it away instead. Something stopped me. I'm glad I kept it because it is a totally unputdownable memoir of a German soldier on the Eastern Front. I was totally engrossed in the book and really glad about the 'something' that kept me from chucking it out.
No-Nonsense Gritty account of day to day life in the Russian Front.......2007-03-18
Biddermann's memoir captures his gradual transformation into a battle hardened veteran as he and his comrades experience the changing fortunes of the German army in the Russian campaign. As the troops advance quickly through the Ukraine and the Crimea the Soviet resistance and intensity of the fighting increase and Bidderman relates in great detail both the mundane day to day details of the soldier's life with gripping descriptions of the actual combat. The feelings associated with being far from home, in a strange country and losing friends and comrades along the way are expressed in plain language.
AS you read this you cannot help but admire the troops from both the German and Russian side who endured this difficult phase of the War. This is a combat memoir that ranks among the finest and should not be missed by those with an interest in history and the second world war.
In Deadly Combat.......2007-01-02
This book is the "real thing" a startling account of a dedicated professional German soldier and his real life experiences on the Eastern Front. What makes this book interesting is, it's factual, historically accurate, and does not bog down into irrelevant viewpoints - there is no filler - it's all action. The book exclusively describes the day-to-day life and death events of the Wehrmacht on the Eastern Front. It also provides the reader with an unbelievable insight into what it was like to fight the Russians day-after-day, under horrible conditions, without adequate supplies and man power. The author provides a factual view into the daily life of the German solider on the battlefield. What I found interesting about this book is the author literally takes a back seat when he is telling his story. He praises his men and focuses very little on the fact he was a "hero" in his own right - the sign of a professional officer. Lastly, the author brings to light the brutal way the Russian's treated the unarmed German prisoners of war. The atrocities, forced labor, starvation, punishment, and beatings come to the surface in a brief description of life in the Russian POW camps.
Book Description
David Kenyon Webster’s memoir is a clear-eyed, emotionally charged chronicle of youth, camaraderie, and the chaos of war. Relying on his own letters home and recollections he penned just after his discharge, Webster gives a first hand account of life in E Company, 101st Airborne Division, crafting a memoir that resonates with the immediacy of a gripping novel.
From the beaches of Normandy to the blood-dimmed battlefields of Holland, here are acts of courage and cowardice, moments of irritating boredom punctuated by moments of sheer terror, and pitched urban warfare. Offering a remarkable snapshot of what it was like to enter Germany in the last days of World War II, Webster presents a vivid, varied cast of young paratroopers from all walks of life, and unforgettable glimpses of enemy soldiers and hapless civilians caught up in the melee. Parachute Infantry is at once harsh and moving, boisterous and tragic, and stands today as an unsurpassed chronicle of war--how men fight it, survive it, and remember it.
Customer Reviews:
Very Honest Depiction of an Infantry Soldier.......2007-08-07
I'm not going to repeat what has already been said. I read the book recently and I wasn't disappointed. I will say that it is very interesting to compare Maj. Winter's perspective as an officer (Beyond Band of Brothers) to David Webster's as an enlisted man. David Websters book is particularly good because, he was a talented writer, and captured his perspective in such a natural way. It's good and worth the $14 list price.
Parachute Infantry.......2007-03-21
Cold hard facts as seen by someone who was there,and came back. The names are all the same,the blood is all red,ordinary people who gave their all and won!
An up and down affair..........2007-02-21
First off, I approached this book with expectations that were too high and at times I found felt disappointed. As a big fan of the mini series, "Band of Brothers", in which his character is clearly portrayed, I expected his account of the war to be smartly written with better insight and descriptions, making it into a page-turner. At times this held true, with his accounts of the the first plane ride on D-Day, directly following the drop and later in the war. In between were a lot of moments that dragged.
It's important to know right away that his portrayal in " Band Of Brothers" was not very accurate, nor were some of the battle scenes, according to Mr. Webster, who I tend to believe. He was actually wounded twice and the first time happened shortly after D-Day. So early into the book, the momentum shifts when he takes us back to a memorial service for fallen servicemen that he attended, by order, while healing. It was described in detail, dragged and took me out of the momentum of the story that he built up through D-Day.
Once he returned to the front lines, the book gathered momentum and got into some type of rhythm. Many of the details regarding who he was friendly with, their personalties, chain of command issues and problems, and his feelings and approach to battles were interesting. I did find myself lost, however, regarding two main issues. One was the description of the directions they were traveling. I felt lost and had trouble getting a mental picture of the battle sites, which leads to the second issue. Assuming that the reader will understand many of the terms he used, either military or geographic. A brief one-time explanation of terms that he used over and over in the story would have helped me, but perhaps be as much of a problem for others. Particularly the geographic ones like the difference between a berm, ditch, trench, slit trench as well as others, and hedges, raised road, dikes and many others. Particularly the relationship to how the soldiers used them to their advantage or disadvantage. Again, I was confused directionally and geographically and therefore had trouble imagining the battle scenes.
Eventually, the book improved a great deal. Lots of great stuff about being in the forward position as scouts and the "real" story of what is called, "Operation Pegasus" in BOB. The actual operation was different in many ways from it's portrayal in the mini series. Definitely be prepared and look forward to what really happened, instead what looks good. The truth is much more interesting. In fact, try to forget all about what BOB portrays before reading this book, if in fact you are looking for a connection. Just them them happen naturally. I love his honesty regarding his personal approach to and feelings about this war and their operations. I suppose the dull moments of the book reflect the war in a more realistic fashion, it's just not what I expected.
I found myself even more engrossed as the war was winding down, from his perspective, which of course is very specific. I learned a lot about what really went on with soldiers as they moved across Germany and Austria kicking people out of their homes at each stop, which there is a term for that I cannot think of at the moment. He described many fascinating stories about the soldiers and how they dealt with the aftermath of the war when they were suddenly "regular" human beings again and not soldiers in the horrors of battle.
Mr. Webster had quite and experience and reading about it was at times dull but at many other times thrilling. Most of all it was the real thing and he wrote about it in a very human and honest fashion. I really recommend this book. I would suggest, however, to approach his accounts without any preconceived notions of what World War II was like, especially for the soldiers and most of all his view. In the end, it is the truths about the heroism and horrors of war from the soldiers perspective that is the most important. They are risking their lives for us and we should listen to what they have to say, above all others.
Great book.......2007-02-01
An American Paratrooper's Memoir of D-Day and the Fall of the Third Reich
by David Kenyon Webster
Is a great book, you relly feel the inside presence of the author it's if he's taken you back to WW 2 living the all experience from his personal view.
Wonderful account of American paratrooper's experiences.......2006-12-31
This book is one of the best memoirs from the Second World War. It comes from an American's (David Webster) point of view. He was a paratrooper in the famous 101st Airborne Division and fought through Normandy, Market Garden, Germany, and to Berchtesgaden (Hitler's Eagle's Nest). He was one of the original Toccoa men and his writing is that of a professional (writer). He was very educated, went to Harvard, and this book shows that. I would recommend this book to anyone interseted in the 101st, the E.T.O., or WWII. A highly fascinating account.
Average customer rating:
- Heart Warming
- A wonderful book!
- G.I. Joe & Lillie: Remembering a Life of Love and Loyalty
- The story of GI Joe and Lillie will melt your heart.
- G.I. JOE & LILLIE
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G.I. Joe& Lillie: Remembering a Life of Love Andloyalty
JosephS. Bonsall
Manufacturer: New Leaf Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
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ASIN: 0892215372 |
Book Description
ò True account of life, love, war, and finally, peace ò Includes details and accounts of D-Day ò Author sings tenor for the world-famous Oak Ridge Boys ò Poignant slice of Americana
Customer Reviews:
Heart Warming.......2006-11-10
This book really hit home. It shows you what sacrafices were made to give all of us the Freedoms that we enjoy today in addition to being a beautifull love story. It brought tears to my eyes. Great Job Mr. Bonsall.
A wonderful book!.......2006-10-02
I loved this book. My parents were also of this generation and dad in the Normandy Invasion, both from dysfunctional families. They built a long and happy marriage and gave us children a fine childhood. Today's generation can learn from this book. It's another great tribute to a the WWII generation.
G.I. Joe & Lillie: Remembering a Life of Love and Loyalty.......2006-06-28
What a beautiful story. Everyone should read it. It should be required reading in schools. It might give kids an appreciation for this wonderful nation and the freedoms we enjoy.
The story of GI Joe and Lillie will melt your heart........2006-02-13
Never before has a book touched me the way this one has. Before I was finished reading I felt like part of the family.
When reading their story you just fall in love with them, I laughed with them, and yes I cried like a baby too. The book also comes with a cd of the song GI Joe and Lillie and now that I have read the book the song seems more personal and even more beautiful than it was before. And to Joseph Bonsall, I thank you for sharing this wonderfull story of love and the struggles of an American soldier with the rest of us . JOE and LILLIE must be so very proud of you.
G.I. JOE & LILLIE.......2005-07-27
THIS BOOK IS A VERY GOOD READ. HAVE REALLY ENJOYED IT!!!
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
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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.
Book Description
Imagine you're a young boy—maybe as young as three or four—separated from your family by civil war, traversing deserts and mountains with little food or water, no medical care, and no protection from wild animals. Imagine watching hundreds of boys perish around you from hunger, disease, or attacks by enemy soldiers and wild animals. To most of us, it is unimaginable, but this was reality for "The Lost Boys of Sudan," thousands of young boys who were separated from their families and forced to walk approximately 1,000 miles to reach safe refuge from war and certain death.
For the first time, this award winning book offers readers a chronological timeline of the epic journey taken by these children, beginning in their rural villages of Southern Sudan and ending with their arrival as young men to the United States. Narrated through the voice of Joan Hecht, one of their American mentors, whom they lovingly call "mom" or "Mama Joan;" "The Journey of the Lost Boys" is a compelling story of courage, faith and the sheer determination to survive by a group of young orphaned boys. Because of Joan Hecht's personal relationship with them, she is able to portray their story in a way that most famous reporters and authors cannot. In addition to her extensive research of the political and historical events surrounding the long lasting civil war in Sudan, are the heart-rending personal stories and original drawings of the boys themselves. A must read for anyone interested in the the true story of the Lost Boys of Sudan!
Customer Reviews:
The tragedy of the children of Sudan.......2007-03-31
I can only summarize my comment about this book in a few words. The author Joan Hecht did a wonderful task in narrating the frightening and heartbreaking experience of the thousands of lost boys of the Sudan,Africa's largest country. Their dangerous journey involving thousands of miles in a very hostile landscape is incredible. The author's very kind heart,sincere consideration and admiration for these children is worth more than all the gold of the world. Very highly recommended for young and old.
Learning about Sudan? START HERE.......2006-10-15
This is the book you need to read if you are unfamiliar with the background of the issues in Sudan, the Lost Boys, and the issues faced by refugees who come to America. Ms. Hecht might not be an " academic", but she is the person with an enormous amount of first hand information on these subjects, and she breaks it down into managable pieces. Even if you are knowledgable on these subjects, this book is still useful as a clarifying tool. Ms. Hecht is also very committed, and that comes through on every page.
OUTSTANDING BOOK .......2006-08-11
Readers of this book will be touched by the stories of these incredible young men, who, at an early age, were separated from their parents and families. The atrocities witnessed by the boys are unspeakable. The author has provided the readers with stories that make those who have lived a life without fear take a new appreciation for the freedoms we enjoy in the United States.
A good term paper.......2006-07-26
The endless conflict in Sudan is another calamity that the press should have been bombarding us with daily for years. A tragedy of such dimensions should torment our collective conscience. This is exactly why it deserves a better telling than Ms. Hecht is able to offer us. The writing is amateurish and the text cries out for the editing it appears not to have been subjected to. Easy streamlining and the correction of some grammatical errors would make the book more readable and more powerful. Ms. Hecht's devotion to the cause of the Lost Boys is clearly sincere and praiseworthy, however, and she does deserve thanks for contributing to making us aware of the atrocities that go on in the world while we turn the other way.
An accurate, heartfelt and well-written account.......2006-06-28
Joan Hecht's "Journey" is in this reviewer's opinion the most interesting and accurate book available on the topic of the Lost Boys. As a former foster father to one of the lost boys and a fellow author and researcher, I recommend the book without hesitation. It presents an extraordinarily complicated situation in a manner that is comprehensible, fascinating and accurate. It gives the reader a true sense of the horror, courage and hope that has gripped a generation of young Sudanese men.
For its rare photos, clear and organized presentation and sincere prose, I highly recommend this informative and inspiring book and thank the author for her outstanding efforts.
Book Description
The Highway War is the compelling Iraq War memoir of then-Capt. Seth Folsom, commanding officer of Delta Company, First Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion, U.S. Marine Corps. Mounted in eight-wheeled LAVs (light armored vehicles), this unit of 130 Marines and sailors was one of the first into Iraq in March 2003. It fought on the front lines for the war’s entire offensive phase, from the Kuwaiti border through Baghdad to Tikrit.
Folsom’s thoughtful account focuses on his maturation as a combat leader—and as a human being enduring the austere conditions of combat and coming to terms with loss of life on both sides. Moreover, The Highway War is the story of a junior officer’s relationships with his company’s young Marines, for whose lives he was responsible, and with his superior officers. Folsom covers numerous unusual military actions and conveys truthfully the pace, stress, excitement, mistakes, and confusion of modern ground warfare. The Highway War is destined to be a Marine Corps classic.
Customer Reviews:
One of the better OIF books.......2007-10-02
Years ago Marine artist Col Charles Waterhouse drew a cartoon of a grizzled Marine Gunny, complete with cigar, pulling on a Santa outfit as he prepares to entertain young children, as compared to his normal demeanor of an intimidating Gunny. Maj Seth Folsom's book details a similar transformation, as he grows from a nervous young officer facing his first combat to that of a skilled and articulate officer and husband.
A Captain at the time, Folsom is a blunt and honest writer who discusses his fears and concerns of what he is about to encounter in Iraq. The likely-hood is that many Marines and soldiers, both officers and enlisted, can identify with his worry of how he will fare in his first combat: Can he hack it? How well will he perform? Will he make any mistakes that might cost the lives of his Marines? The difference between them and Folsom is his frankness in discussing these concerns.
Folsom uses the story of his role as company commander to tell the story of Delta Company, 1st Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion as they participated in the March 2003 invasion of Iraq. From breaching the berms into Iraq, to watching and waiting as his fellow Marines fought at An-Nasiriyah, to the fighting on the way to Baghdad and beyond, Folsom pulls no punches and spares no feelings in his descriptions of leading 130 Marines into combat. The invasion in March 2003 was the beginning of an unusual war against a non-traditional enemy, and Folsom has to find his balance as an officer when dealing with both his superiors and the Marines under him while learning how to lead Marines in combat. Sand, stink, rain, lack of sanitation, fatigue, grime, and nerves are just some of issues with which he dealt even before he and his men even encountered the enemy. Folsom covers the military actions from 21 March 2003 through the April 2003 capture of Baghdad, and he accurately recounts the stress, excitement, and confusion of those historic days.
With the book written from the notes and recollection of his wartime journal, this is a fascinating memoir revealing are his feelings as he dealt with his Marines, and how he matured as an officer and as a human being. Many readers, especially his fellow officers will find much to critique in his rough and abrasive leadership style, and his dislike of the media is at odds with Marine Corps policy. But it is Folsom's same bluntness that lets him write so revealingly - and perhaps these same readers can use his vignettes as an `after-action report' in order to guide themselves in similar circumstances.
In perhaps a reflection of the asymmetrical nature of this war, Folsom recounts participating in briefings with the generals and colonels leading the invasion, and later singing with his men as they blast rock & roll music at rock concert levels. Perhaps one unexpected bonus of war in the wired age is that we readers can share in our warrior's thoughts and experiences while they are still fresh, and as such, Maj Folsom's book is both an exciting read and highly recommended.
Eye opening reading.......2007-02-19
You may hate this war and our current President for getting us involved in it, but after reading this book you can only respect and honor those doing the fighting .Folsom's thoughtful leadership and concern for his men, his belief in the Marine Corps and The Mission turned my head around.
The more liberal you are , the more you need to read this book.
Story That Keeps You Reading.......2006-12-03
The Highway War gives you more than just a story about combat in Iraq. What you get is a complete account of a Marine Company Commander's battle not only against Iraqi combatants but also a battle within his own military unit as he searches for leadership and personal answers to difficult situations. A truly riveting book that keeps you interested in the outcomes. A must read for any military leader.
The Highway War: A Marine Company Commander in Iraq.......2006-11-23
Outstanding writing!! Major Folsom lays combat out for the novice and the professional alike. This book is realistic, informative and a must read to understand the frustrations, leadership challenges, inevitable screw-ups and overall outstanding ability of USMC officers and men in the Iraq Invasion. The narrative is honest and aimed directly at the reader--you feel like you are there with Delta Company!! I could feel the constant sand in everything and the grit, grime, loneliness, terror and lack of sleep that makes up combat. Seth describes his fears, concern for his troops and the confidence and analysis that takes place in the brain of the well trained and disciplined Marine Officer. It is very gratifying to read the personal and private observations of a first class Marine Office and to observe how he masters combat and presses forward in the very best interest of his Company, the Battalion, the Regiment and most significantly, his men. E. B. Darsey, Capt USN(R)
A Must Read.......2006-10-18
I had the honor and privilege of attending Captain Folsom's wedding and at this most wonderful event in his life none of us could have known how his life would change in a matter of hours. You see this was the weekend before September 11, 2001.
The Highway War traces the trials and tribulations of this young Marine as he leads his Company of Marines and their Light Armored Vehicles from Kuwait to the battlefields of Iraq. Captain Folsom takes the reader into a world that few can fully understand and fewer still who would willingly go.
In this book taken directly from the Captain's journal you begin to gain some idea what it is like to fight with and lead men into combat. You will read about his self-doubt, his concern for those under his command and his acts of bravery (that he will downplay).
This book is a must read for any military book fan or anyone interested in learning a little about those who defend this great country. I would highly recommend this book.
If Captain Folsom is an example of the fighting men and women in our current wars it will be through no fault of theirs if we fail in the endeavor.
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