Reloader
03-06-05, 23:09
Anyone enjoy reading factual military history and want to talk about it? Some of the recent books I have read are:-
'Enemy at the Gates - The Battle for Stalingrad' by William Craig. First published in 1973, I had never heard of it until after the excellent film came out. It's much more than the story in the film and I think it's every bit as good as Anthony Beevor's 'Stalingrad'. It features personal accounts of combatants, excerpts from letters home & communications between senior commanders, highlighting the desperation & tragedy of this battle.
'We were Soldiers Once...and Young' by Lt. Gen. Hal Moore & Joe Galloway. I also read this after seeing the film and it too, is much more than the movie. I was totally amazed by what these young soldiers endured at LZ X-Ray. I also did not know that it didn't end at the Ia Drang or Chu Pong massif. It also tells the story of another Battalion's heavy engagement at nearby LZ Albany. A fitting tribute to a lot of brave young men.
'In Harm's Way' by Doug Stanton. Tells the story of the torpedoing of U.S.S Indianapolis on 30 July 1945, in the South Pacific. 1196 men went into the water, only 317 survived. Account of 5 days adrift told through the stories of the Captain, the doctor and a young marine. The Captain was blamed and court-martialled, but all of the survivors stood by him and believed that he was a scapegoat for the Navy's failings in not acknowledging the non-arrival of the ship at her destination, or mounting a search for her sooner. I couldn't put this one down & read it in 1 day!
'Enemy at the Gates - The Battle for Stalingrad' by William Craig. First published in 1973, I had never heard of it until after the excellent film came out. It's much more than the story in the film and I think it's every bit as good as Anthony Beevor's 'Stalingrad'. It features personal accounts of combatants, excerpts from letters home & communications between senior commanders, highlighting the desperation & tragedy of this battle.
'We were Soldiers Once...and Young' by Lt. Gen. Hal Moore & Joe Galloway. I also read this after seeing the film and it too, is much more than the movie. I was totally amazed by what these young soldiers endured at LZ X-Ray. I also did not know that it didn't end at the Ia Drang or Chu Pong massif. It also tells the story of another Battalion's heavy engagement at nearby LZ Albany. A fitting tribute to a lot of brave young men.
'In Harm's Way' by Doug Stanton. Tells the story of the torpedoing of U.S.S Indianapolis on 30 July 1945, in the South Pacific. 1196 men went into the water, only 317 survived. Account of 5 days adrift told through the stories of the Captain, the doctor and a young marine. The Captain was blamed and court-martialled, but all of the survivors stood by him and believed that he was a scapegoat for the Navy's failings in not acknowledging the non-arrival of the ship at her destination, or mounting a search for her sooner. I couldn't put this one down & read it in 1 day!