And what country can preserve its liberties if their rulers are not warned from time to time that their people preserve the spirit of resistance? Let them take arms. The remedy is to set them right as to facts, pardon and pacify them. What signify a few lives lost in a century or two? The tree of liberty must be refreshed from time to time with the blood of patriots and tyrants.
I was going to recommend that book. One of the most intense reads I have ever indulged in. Had to read it a 2nd and 3rd time because I would read so fast during the non-stop action.
Bookend that book with "Neptunes Inferno" by Hornfisher. All about the Navy during the Battle of Guadalcanal and the horrific butt whopping it took while learning how to fight. Perfect book end books.
An outstanding book about the end of WWII in the Pacific is a book called "Tenozan: The Battle of Okinawa and the Atomic Bomb" Really goes in depth about the sea battles, kamikazees, the final voyage of the Yamato, and of course the last land battle of WWII on Okinawa nad the absolute desolation and savagery of that battle.
I've read "With the Old Breed" and watched "The Pacific" which follows Eugene Sledge and two other main characters, one of whom is MoH winner John Basilone through the war. The other main character wrote "A Helmet for My Pillow" but I've forgotten his name. For once Hollywood was true to the story.
Interesting. last night I finished John Wukovits book: "Dogfight Over Tokyo" the final air battle of the Pacific. It was 100% outstanding. I highly recommend this and all of this brilliant author's books. Hornfisher is another great WW-II subject author too.
Since the conversation switched to air battles, I highly recommend "Masters of the Air", by Donald L Miller. Its the story of the 8th Air Force stationed in England during WWII. Great read and great tribute to the men, and women, who fought in Europe. Horrendous losses during some missions. How you could climb into a B17 knowing the high percentage of losses amazes me.
I met a veteran here in Florida a few years back who was a crewman in a B17, was shot down over Belgium, managed to make it back to England and went right back to flying again. Great guy, sadly passed about two years ago. I hope this country still produces men like that.
I hear a series based on this book is being produced on Apple TV, just hope they don't screw up the story.
After the Tom Hanks movie "greyhounds" I read the "The Good Shepherd" by C.S. Forester during the Kung-Flu follies. It's fiction, but a great character study on the burden and relentless pressures of command in combat.
I had trouble with the movie; I found it shallow and period-incorrect. The Fletchers weren't really in these battles and Hanks character is too senior to be a destroyer Skipper. The Forester book is outstanding. Boat Guy
No "maybe" about this book -or any/ all of Hornfischer's. Actually Matthew some of those truly heroic Tin can sailors did make it to the end of the war; USS Nicholas (DD-449) featured in this book was selected to be at the surrender and many of her enlisted crewmen were aboard. Usually only the officers rotated. See also Julie Becton's "The Ship That Would Not Die" Another great Pacific war book is Mrazek's "A Dawn Like Thunder" about Torpedo EIGHT. Boat Guy
Let me tell you something. As I read the comments above, this blog has some very interesting people following it. Amazing, I want to have a beer with everyone of you all!!!
Most of the really heroic tin cans never made it to the end of the war.
ReplyDeleteTry "The Last Stand of the Tin Can Sailors" for some excellent examples.
I was going to recommend that book. One of the most intense reads I have ever indulged in. Had to read it a 2nd and 3rd time because I would read so fast during the non-stop action.
DeleteBookend that book with "Neptunes Inferno" by Hornfisher. All about the Navy during the Battle of Guadalcanal and the horrific butt whopping it took while learning how to fight. Perfect book end books.
An outstanding book about the end of WWII in the Pacific is a book called "Tenozan: The Battle of Okinawa and the Atomic Bomb" Really goes in depth about the sea battles, kamikazees, the final voyage of the Yamato, and of course the last land battle of WWII on Okinawa nad the absolute desolation and savagery of that battle.
Beat me to it.
DeleteI second your recommendation.
You must add "With the Old Breed" by Eugene Sledge "Sledge hammer". Fantastic writing by a guy who fought at Pelilieu and Okinawa.
DeleteI've read "With the Old Breed" and watched "The Pacific" which follows Eugene Sledge and two other main characters, one of whom is MoH winner John Basilone through the war. The other main character wrote "A Helmet for My Pillow" but I've forgotten his name. For once Hollywood was true to the story.
DeleteAl_in_Ottawa
Robert Leckie. Great author of many other books.
DeleteBoat Guy
Interesting. last night I finished John Wukovits book: "Dogfight Over Tokyo" the final air battle of the Pacific. It was 100% outstanding. I highly recommend this and all of this brilliant author's books. Hornfisher is another great WW-II subject author too.
ReplyDeleteSince the conversation switched to air battles, I highly recommend "Masters of the Air", by Donald L Miller. Its the story of the 8th Air Force stationed in England during WWII. Great read and great tribute to the men, and women, who fought in Europe. Horrendous losses during some missions. How you could climb into a B17 knowing the high percentage of losses amazes me.
ReplyDeleteI met a veteran here in Florida a few years back who was a crewman in a B17, was shot down over Belgium, managed to make it back to England and went right back to flying again. Great guy, sadly passed about two years ago. I hope this country still produces men like that.
I hear a series based on this book is being produced on Apple TV, just hope they don't screw up the story.
The Little Beaver? DesRon 23?
ReplyDeleteNope DesRon 21. Francis McInerny (sp?) was Commodore in USS Nicholas (DD-449)
DeleteAfter the Tom Hanks movie "greyhounds" I read the "The Good Shepherd"
ReplyDeleteby C.S. Forester during the Kung-Flu follies. It's fiction, but a great character study on the burden and relentless pressures of command in combat.
I had trouble with the movie; I found it shallow and period-incorrect. The Fletchers weren't really in these battles and Hanks character is too senior to be a destroyer Skipper.
DeleteThe Forester book is outstanding.
Boat Guy
No "maybe" about this book -or any/ all of Hornfischer's.
ReplyDeleteActually Matthew some of those truly heroic Tin can sailors did make it to the end of the war; USS Nicholas (DD-449) featured in this book was selected to be at the surrender and many of her enlisted crewmen were aboard. Usually only the officers rotated.
See also Julie Becton's "The Ship That Would Not Die"
Another great Pacific war book is Mrazek's "A Dawn Like Thunder" about Torpedo EIGHT.
Boat Guy
Let me tell you something. As I read the comments above, this blog has some very interesting people following it. Amazing, I want to have a beer with everyone of you all!!!
ReplyDeleteAnd I now each and every one of you is reading the ongoing saga being presented over at Chant du Depart! Amazingly talented writing over there!!
DeleteA reunion blog of sorts for lovers of history. Like some of the gatherings the other bloggers have like blog shoot in Florida and Boomer shoot
DeleteSome of the "usual suspects" do appear in both comment sections
DeleteBoat Guy