Books/Atkinson

[Chickenboy]

Both of those are very good Trugrit. Highly recommended.

Since we're dealing with some newer arrivals on the forums, "Shattered Sword" is a widely-acclaimed "must read" for an understanding of IJN carrier warfare and-in particular-the battle of Midway.

[comte]

The Best book on the Vietnam War I have ever read was:

The Rise and Fall of an American Army: U.S. Ground Forces, Vietnam, 1965-1973 by Shelby L. Stanton

[krishub1492]

Atkinson's books were tremendous in providing a well-rounded history of the US Army in the MTO and ETO. However, for a pure operational history of the Western European campaign, "Eisenhower's Lieutentants" is the best one-volume analysis. It would be a great book to read while playing WITW.

[Ormbane]

I've been working my way through the first volume of this trilogy and enjoying it very much. I appreciate the recommendation.

One quote that caught my attention was: "the average solider reached his peak effectiveness in the first 90 days of combat and was so worn out after 180 days that he was rendered useless and unable to return to military.." I read elsewhere that if a soldier survived the first 30 days at the front he was very likely to survive the war. Still elsewhere I read the criticism that the US did not do a very good job or rotating and resting units but simply threw replacements into frontline troops in a wasteful manner. Does anybody have any insight into what the actual practice was for the US in WW2?

[rustysi]

ORIGINAL: Ormbane

I've been working my way through the first volume of this trilogy and enjoying it very much. I appreciate the recommendation.

One quote that caught my attention was: "the average solider reached his peak effectiveness in the first 90 days of combat and was so worn out after 180 days that he was rendered useless and unable to return to military.." I read elsewhere that if a soldier survived the first 30 days at the front he was very likely to survive the war. Still elsewhere I read the criticism that the US did not do a very good job or rotating and resting units but simply threw replacements into frontline troops in a wasteful manner. Does anybody have any insight into what the actual practice was for the US in WW2?

Well, I've got a story from family experience. My uncle (whom I never met) was with the 9th ID during the war. They went into North Africa, Sicily (about 1/2 way through), and Normandy at Utah on D+4. Went into Cherbourg and eventually ended up in the 'Battle of the Bulge' where in January '45 he became KIA. So in his case no rotation out except in a body bag.

On a brighter note his friend became my uncle when he married my aunt. My uncle and he went through it together and he came back (obviously) after only being WIA. Although it was not the milliion dollar wound, he went back into action after he healed. BTW they were assigned to a machine gun platoon.

[Amoral]

ORIGINAL: Symon
screaming for validation.

I have never known anyone to spend so much time complaining about not getting enough validation as you. Maybe I just haven't spent enough time around those damn homo-sexers for comparison.

[geofflambert]

That was rather thoughtful of you Amoral, my opinion of you has risen substantially. Some will judge others by whether they belong to the same cult, others do by the substance of what is said. Once judged, you may wish to go further and discover if they are incorrigible or not. No one's judgment trumps any other's on matters of this sort but inflexibility in opinions and the inability to learn anything that contradicts current prejudices (which are easily seen by all) is not a good sign. I'm seeing in you the ability to arrive at logical conclusions not based on blind hatred. Good work, keep it up!

[geofflambert]

Did I sound rather pompous there? I fear I did. Please forgive.