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If you like books on obscure portions of Civil War campaigns, I'd recommend "Retreat from Gettysburg: Lee, Logistics and the Pennsylvania Campaign" by Brown.  It was a well researched book on a portion of that campaign I knew about but had never seen such detail put into it.  Most books on Gettysburg stop at July 3 and just describe the retreat in a few paragraphs; Brown puts a book's worth of detail into it.
 
 

Richard Frank's "Downfall" is a good title. Essential if one wishes to better understand how the Japanese government worked, the key personell and what goals/viewpoints were being expressed. Frank also makes a very good case in justifying the use of Atomics vis-a-vis, the military 'and' polticial situation. The analysis of a potential conventional style landing on the Japanese mainland were sobering to say the least.

Hasting's "Retribution" also touches on this but Hasting's book focuses more on the last year and a half of the war from a military perspective while Frank's book focuses on the situation post Okinawa and pre-Hiroshima with emphasis on the political and economic situation.

Got Downfall.  Very interesting read and opened my eyes to the dysfunction within the Japanese Government even more...
 
Also have the Retreat From Gettysburg book.  REALLY enjoyed that!  Talk about a massively MISSED opportunity on the Union side of the war.
 
Cannot find Latimer or Winton's books at Barnes and Noble.  Now shifting to Amazon.
 

For the ACW "The Last Full Measure" by Jeff Shiara (Killer Angel Michael's son) is pretty good.

ORIGINAL: John 3rd

ORIGINAL: Squamry

The Forgotten Fleet: Story of the British Pacific Fleet, 1944-45 by John Winton

Same question: Readability? I like the topic since I know next to NOTHING about this!

Very readable IMO.

Got all the Shaara books.
 
Just established that COST may be a factor as I cannot find Latimer and Winton for less then about $90.00!  Are these books dipped in gold??!! 

Is there a decent book on the Japanese Navy? I know shattered sword I believe only deals with midway, but right now im finishing up my book "Fire in the skies"?

"Kaigun" is probably the best book on the development and nuts and bolts of the Japanese Navy. I'd also recommend "Sunburst" for a more focused analysis of the JNAF.

"A Battle History of the Japanese Navy" by Professor Dull is still a very good work from the sharp end. For example, Dull cited the overworking and shortage of Japanese DD's that was a topic of recent discussion on this forum.

ORIGINAL: Misconduct

Is there a decent book on the Japanese Navy? I know shattered sword I believe only deals with midway, but right now im finishing up my book "Fire in the skies"?

I'd recommend this , I'm sure many have read it.

http://www.amazon.com/Battle-History-Imperial-Japanese-1941-1945/dp/0870210971

I ordered Coddington and would love to pick up Latimer or Winton but cannot afford them at the moment.
 
Thanks for the help guys!
 
Still looking for new resource material for CVs and DDs...
 

Ive just started Pacific by Hugh Ambrose, billed as the companion book to the upcoming HBO series. Hugh is Stephen Ambrose's son and a historian in his own right. A few pages in and it is a good read and I expect it to get better. I just finished Kaigun, man what a book that is.

John, when will the HBO Pacific War Series be airing?

ORIGINAL: USS America

John, you don't mention what you've read on the American Civil War.  As you are a history teacher, I assume you have Shelby Foote's Civil War trilogy.  If not, you MUST get them.  [:)]

USS America -

I bought Shelby Foote's Trilogy in the 1980's; but must say (with considerable embarrassment) that I have yet to read them. I now have a renewed priority to do so.

Mac

Downfall by Richard Frank

Hell, this is an interesting thread for everyone. I picked up a few new reads from you guys. Here's a few I would suggest from my latest round of supporting America's publishing industry.

Six Frigates by Ion W. Toll - about the birth of the U.S. Navy
Dog Company Six by Edwin Simmons - a Marine rifle company during the Korean War and the fight at Chosin Resevoir
Chosin by Eric Hammel - another one about 1st MarDiv at Chosin
Brotherhood of Heros by Bill Sloan - 1st MarDiv at bloody Peleliu
Colder Than Hell by Joseph R. Owen - memoir about a 1st MarDiv marine during the Inchon landings and Chosin [great story]
The Darkest Summer by Bill Sloan - about the Puson Perimeter and the Marines at Pusan and Inchon
The Last Stand of Fox Company by Bon Drury and Tom Clavin - an account of Fox Company 2/7's stand at Chosin

Yeah, there's a common theme about Chosin and 1st MarDiv.

Only a few days left until "The Pacific". I can't wait to see how truthful they are to Sledgehammer's tale.

Well, I will guess I am going throw some money at Amazon.com today.

Everyone take care!

ORIGINAL: Canoerebel


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).

Great Book!

3 that I like....


With the Old Breed - already mentioned, but indispensable!
Alternate History - "Guns of the South" - very interesting read
War Plan Orange

I know it's heretical to say, but I prefer Pfanz's books on Gettysburg over Coddington's.  Pfanz wrote three books based on the three days of the battle, and each one is HUGE, covering the movements of each regiment on both sides, and when and where they fought. VERY detailed; I carried the first day's book with me when my wife and I hiked the battlefield, in fact.

Fighting for the Confederacy, by Porter Alexander (Lee's chief of artillery) is an excellent "behind the scenes" look at how the war was run from a Southern viewpoint.  He doesn't hold back his opinions on other generals either!

Rhea's three book series on the Overland Campaign in 1864 are also very informative and explore some ideas that have been widely accepted for years.  The books cover from the start of the Wilderness battle, to Spotsylvania, and then the meeting engagements that led to Cold Harbor.

Clash of the Carriers, by Tillman, covers the Marianas Turkey Shoot off of Saipan and is easy to read.

We Will Stand by You, by Mason, is a description of the work on board the USS Pawnee, a repair ship, in the efforts to save two cruisers torpedoed off of Taiwan.

The HBO Series Starts 9pm est March 14th, 1 week from today. here is a link to the Home page which has some nice trailers. It follows 3 Marines through the War: http://www.hbo.com/the-pacific/index.html

ORIGINAL: Graycompany

The HBO Series Starts 9pm est March 14th, 1 week from today. here is a link to the Home page which has some nice trailers. It follows 3 Marines through the War: http://www.hbo.com/the-pacific/index.html

Link of "Making the Pacific": http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=94et1Bb53mw

Regards
Gilbert