Need Another Book

[John 3rd]

ORIGINAL: Canoerebel

John, I think I've mentioned these before, but it's worth mentioning again.  In addition to Peter Cozzens' excellent Civil War trilogy, three of the most enjoyabe works of history:

1.  Killer Angels (Gettysburg), Michael Shaara
2.  Do or Die Men (1st Marine Raiders at Tulagi and Guadalcanal), can't recall the author
3.  We were Soldiers Once and Young (Ia Drang Valley), Hal Moore

In fact, We were Soldiers is the finest and most enjoyable piece of non-fiction that I've ever read (and that's saying something because I don't really enjoy the Vietnam era).

Yes you have and I'll comment for others:

1. MAGNIFICENT! Must read...
2. I'll check into that one. Can you find the author?
3. The movie was SOOOOOOOO good and stunning I had to buy this book. Was happily surprised when I found the book better then the film. When he calls 'Broken Arrow' I wanted to grab my helmut and dig a DEEP trench!

[John 3rd]

ORIGINAL: bushpsu

For Civil War try Coddinton's Gettysburg Campaign, or for something more controversial, Bonekemper's How Robert E. Lee Lost the Civil War.

The Lundstom book mentioned above is very good, IMO. Makes Fletcher look quite a bit different.

Bonekemper's work sound mighty interesting. I once presented a paper at a history conference on what Lee SHOULD have done on Day Two of Gettysburg. You might have thought I was messing the Bible by some of the attendee's reactions! Holy cow.

Spence and Nik I'll think on those you list. Have to admit that I did not like Bergurud very much. His style seemed to repeat stuff over and over. Have got both of his books. Glad to have them but don't plan to read them again.

[John 3rd]

ORIGINAL: bushpsu

An interesting PacWar title is Hell to Pay by Giangreco about the invasion of Japan.

American Caesar is a heck of a book. I got a signed copy from a used book store about a year ago. Concur that he was fascinating and controversial man.

bushpsu I'll take a look there as well.

[Tiornu]

Instead of reading a book, why not read some old Warship Internationals? I'm selling a whole bunch cheap, cheap, cheap. It's an unbroken run from 1980 to 1997. I'll sell them by year (four issues each). If you want one year or all eighteen, let me know. Send an e-mail to my screen name @hotmail.com.

[m10bob]

Lee's Lieutenants......Must read for ACW..

[bush]

One more plug, this one for Reynold's The Struggle for Naval Air Supremacy. This is a bio of john Towers. After reading Potter's Nimitz I thought Towers was just some flaming a**hole. I softened a little bit with some of my reading but this book paints a very different picture. Reading this and the Fletcher bio can really be eye-opening.

[lolz]

"japanese destroyer captain" by captain tameichi hara
one of the best books ive ever read,detailed battles from his own eyes in the south pacific.

[topeverest]

Coddington's look at Gettysburg still is the Standard of standards for a major American battle analysis. Coddington was a hero among mortals.

I am on a first person account kick right now. The best one I have ever come across is Guy Sayer's "The Forgotten Solder." He was a Alscaise Lorrain Frenchman who served in the German Army in Russia in WWII. The book will grab and thrash you from start to finish.

If there are any other first person accounts (in english) in the Pacific War, I am interested in any reccomendations.

[John 3rd]

ORIGINAL: topeverest

Coddington's look at Gettysburg still is the Standard of standards for a major American battle analysis. Coddington was a hero among mortals.

I am on a first person account kick right now. The best one I have ever come across is Guy Sayer's "The Forgotten Solder." He was a Alscaise Lorrain Frenchman who served in the German Army in Russia in WWII. The book will grab and thrash you from start to finish.

If there are any other first person accounts (in english) in the Pacific War, I am interested in any reccomendations.

With the Old Breed at Peleliu and Okinawa by E B Sledge. Magnificent work. I require it in my military history courses. Sledge's work is part of the foundation for the new HBO Pacific War Series.

I read a book about Leon DeGrelle and the Belgians that fought for Germany in Russia: gruesome and fascinating.

Cannot believe I haven't seen Coddington! This will be rectified ASAP.

[topeverest]

Thanks, I will get both.

Coddington is so thorough, you will want to read his end notes on specifics / why he proposes the battle occured the way he says it did.

If you like Coddington's work, there is another Gettysburg author who stands out on this grossly over-written battle - Harry W Pfanz, former historian at Gettysburg Military Park. He has written books about each day's battle. The books make very good sense, but I reccommend coddinton first. You can get the 'high line' and come back for Pfanz if you find yourself wanting to know even more.

Understanding will be increased into either author's work if you have walked the field at least once.

Anyway, thanks.

[spence]

Eric Hammel wrote a trilogy about the Guadalcanal Campaign which is very good. All have something of a naval focus.
"Decision at Sea: The Naval Battle of Guadalcanal" is really good.
"Starvation Island" is not quite so engrossing (IMO) but still pretty good.
I'm still fishing around for "The Carrier Battles" which focuses on the Battles of Eastern Solomons and Santa Cruz.

[aprezto]

I really quite enjoyed the alternative history of the US civil war co-authoured by Newt Gingrich and William R. Forstchen.
 
I am not a big US civil war buff, so I don't know how realistic the premiss was that they put forward. But it read very well and I thorougly enjoyed each book.

[AW1Steve]

ORIGINAL: John 3rd

ORIGINAL: AW1Steve

Since you've read "Barrier and Javelin", why not "Empires in the Balance"? Then you will have read 2/3 of the trilogy. The last book hasn't been written yet. [:)]

Very good reading too. Does anyone KNOW if the 3rd book will be written?

The author won't say . He's got a bunch of irons in the fire ,I guess. Same thing with "An Army at Dawn" and "Day of Battle". We've been waiting for the third one for at least four years. [:(]

[bush]

One of the next Civil War books I will be picking up is Taaffe's Commanding Lincoln's Navy. This looks very good, and covers an area usually left out or, at best, glossed over.

[Wolfpack_MatrixForum]

I have China Marine: An Infantryman's Life after World War II by E. B. Sledge on its way to my home as it is also part of HBO's The Pacific.

I loved With the Old Breed so this one should be good too.

[LST Express]

A couple good reads from the more recent past are "Bravo Two Zero" and "Blackhawk Down".  Two real ball busters! [:)]

[John 3rd]

ORIGINAL: aprezto

I really quite enjoyed the alternative history of the US civil war co-authoured by Newt Gingrich and William R. Forstchen.

I am not a big US civil war buff, so I don't know how realistic the premiss was that they put forward. But it read very well and I thorougly enjoyed each book.

TOTAL DETOUR from this Thread but I must comment here. Forstchen's work One Second After is a must-read book. He wrote the book from a conversation with Speaker Gingrich regarding his greatist fear from a terrorist attack. The Speaker simply said 'an EMP attack.' The book was written from there.

Forstchen set it in his home town of Black Mountain, NC and it is absolutely gripping, terrifying, and REAL. Set my mind going in directions I had never imagined...

[John 3rd]

ORIGINAL: topeverest

Thanks, I will get both.

Coddington is so thorough, you will want to read his end notes on specifics / why he proposes the battle occured the way he says it did.

If you like Coddington's work, there is another Gettysburg author who stands out on this grossly over-written battle - Harry W Pfanz, former historian at Gettysburg Military Park. He has written books about each day's battle. The books make very good sense, but I reccommend coddinton first. You can get the 'high line' and come back for Pfanz if you find yourself wanting to know even more.

Understanding will be increased into either author's work if you have walked the field at least once.

Anyway, thanks.

I have Franz's works. LOVED THEM! Feels like you are walking wsith the men in every phase of the battle. Researched to the Nth degree. Anyone who spends 900 pages on Day ONE of Gettysburg is my kind of writer. Great stuff...

[John 3rd]

Think I am putting my list together:
 
1.  Coddington---Gettysburg
2.  Latimer---Burma:  The Forgotten War
3.  Winton---The Forgotten Fleet:  Brit Pac Fleet 1944-45
 
I've also been looking for a good resource book on WWII Carriers and Destroyers.  I've got the excellent Battleships and Cruisers of WWII by Whitley.  Any suggestions here?
 

[John 3rd]

Is the Coddington book Gettysburg:  A Study in Command?  Am at Barnes and Noble RIGHT NOW!