What I'm reading this Memorial Day

[bettis1]

I've been reading Rick Atkinson's epic story The Day of Battle, The War in Sicily and Italy, 1943-1944 . Those invasions in the Mediterranean were larger and more deadly than the ones which followed at Normandy. I just read the part where General Mark Clark landed the Allied 5th Army at the beach in Salerno. It was one of the bloodiest battles of the entire War in Europe. The 36th Infantry Division from Texas was one of the first ones ashore on September 11, 1943. One unit, the 1st Battalion, 142nd Regiment, of the 36th had only 60 men who were still fit for duty at the end of day on September 13. The Division went on to even more difficult fighting at the Rapido River, Monte Casino, Anzio, and the Gustav Line on the way to Rome.

As a pre-teen, I grew up on a ranch which bordered Camp Bowie in Brownwood Texas and I recall seeing those "T" Patchers board the train as they left. Little did I know at that time that less than 10 years later, I would be a fresh volunteer in the Headquarters Company, 1st Battalion, 142nd Infantry Regiment, 36th Division. My First Sargent was a veteran of that Italian Campaign. Fortunately, there were still a few of the old NCO's around to take care of green recruits. As the years pass, my respect for those men grows.

God rest them all.

Bob

 

[Old 44 Guy]

I'm reading John Waynes biography. I once worked with a guy that landed at Anzio. He never talked about it.

 

[Sara Noh]

I'm currently reading "The Bitter Woods" by John S.D. Eisenhower, a very detailed account of one of the greatest military campaigns this country has ever engaged in the Battle of the Bulge. I had an uncle who was a radioman in a tank in the "Bulge". My father who was a veteran whose wartime service was in Los Alamos, NM with the Manhattan Project spoke of two of the wars campaigns with a respect which approached reverance. Iwo Jima and the Battle of the Bulge were the campaigns whose veterans he held in highest esteem. In the cemetary where my dad is burried tne local Boy Scouts place small American flags on the graves of all veterans, in addition there is an unused portion of the cemetary along one of the bussiest roads in the area where full sized flags honor all of the veterans interred there. It is quite a sight to see and a fitting tribute and rememberance of their service and sacrifice.

 

[kcoruol]

I'm reading "Marly & Me"

 

[Smithfan]

I'm re-reading The Hatchet Men, by Richard Dillion. Originally published in the early 60s, still very readable. It's about the tong wars in Chinatown, SF, from the 1870s until 1906. The earthquake finally ended what the law couldn't.

Sara, I had an uncle who was a medic in the Battle of the Bulge. It was truly hell.

Bill

 

[rocketdog]

Project Seven Alpha

http://www.pen-and-sword.co.uk/?product_id=1784

 

[Muddyboot]

Read The Road and One Second After. Chilling both.

 

[bobcat]

I've been reading Rick Atkinson's epic story The Day of Battle, The War in Sicily and Italy, 1943-1944

I read "An Army at Dawn" and have Day of Battle on my shelf, right now I'm almost done with "They Marched into Sunlight" it's about the Big Red One and the ambush on 10/17/67, and gives a flip side of the anti war protesters in Madison, WI. at about the same time. It's easy to forget how divisive that war was.

My hats off to all combat vets, I'm a vet, only a Vietnam-era vet so I defintely don't put myself in the same class as combat vets. God keep and hold you combat vets, you've earned your peace, take care...

 

[bettis1]

Originally posted by bobcat:
My hats off to all combat vets, I'm a vet, only a Vietnam-era vet so I defintely don't put myself in the same class as combat vets. God keep and hold you combat vets, you've earned your peace, take care...

Bobcat,

I'm a little confused by your comment that you were "only" a Vietnam-era vet. That certainly qualifies you as a veteran in my eyes.

For many years I carried a lot of guilt that my 8 years happened to fall during a period when my Country was at peace. However, I've realized that most of us who served at the lower levels in the military had little or no ability to impact just when or where we were called. It was simply a roll of the dice in most cases. Anyone who ever put on a uniform, trained, and made themselves available if called deserves the respect of all Americans. I still never stand when veterans are asked to stand and be recognized in a crowd because I too hold those who have faced death to a higher level of gratitude.

Bob

 

[7003006]

Originally posted by Muddyboot:
Read The Road and One Second After. Chilling both.

I finished One Second After Saturday.Actualy I should say I read it Saturday because once I picked it up I couldn't put it down,scary stuff.

 

[armybass]

I am reading The Third Reich at War. Fits today but it is a depressing read and an ominous one about what happens when dictators come to power and socialist states in action. Scary.

 

[gunsmith11]

Bettis
I too am a Viet Nam Era Vet, but I sure dont put myself at the same level as the guys that were in the front line or the Air
USN 1962-1968

 

[bobcat]

I still never stand when veterans are asked to stand and be recognized in a crowd because I too hold those who have faced death to a higher level of gratitude.

Very true, I did my 4 and got an honorable discharge, no regrets, but the guys that have been shot at and shed blood are true heros in my book. I'm not belittling anyone who served at anytime, but I think you know what I mean. Reading these books makes you realize what a sacrifice these guys made, and the hell they endured makes my 4 years seem pretty tame.

 

[bummer]

WE NEED A BOOK SECTION.In the past 2 months I have read One Bullet Away, On Call in Hell,Shadows in the Jungle,The last Drop and A Dawn Like Thunder. All were excellent reads. I am trying to figure out what to read next( have about 100 plus in the to read boxes)

 

[bmhiii]

I'm reading One Shot, One Kill. It's OK, but I enjoyed Marine Sniper more.

 

[bummer]

Originally posted by bettis1:

Originally posted by bobcat:
My hats off to all combat vets, I'm a vet, only a Vietnam-era vet so I defintely don't put myself in the same class as combat vets. God keep and hold you combat vets, you've earned your peace, take care...

Bobcat,

I'm a little confused by your comment that you were "only" a Vietnam-era vet. That certainly qualifies you as a veteran in my eyes.

For many years I carried a lot of guilt that my 8 years happened to fall during a period when my Country was at peace. However, I've realized that most of us who served at the lower levels in the military had little or no ability to impact just when or where we were called. It was simply a roll of the dice in most cases. Anyone who ever put on a uniform, trained, and made themselves available if called deserves the respect of all Americans. I still never stand when veterans are asked to stand and be recognized in a crowd because I too hold those who have faced death to a higher level of gratitude.

Bob

I agree 100%. Your country asked, and you and a hell of a lot of others served, be it in peacetime or war. I served from 81-89 and while there was Grenada,Beirut and Panama I lucked out and never had to face an enemy.I salute those serving now and in the future.I attended a parade today and when the American Legion Color Guard passed I rendered a proper salute and what brought a tear to my eye was when one of the vets saluted me back.I guess what I am trying to say is it doesn't matter if you pulled kp or a trigger it's that you served.

 

[Kazo]

I'm reading: " Biker's Handbook: Becoming Part of the Motorcycle Culture". A friend from work loaned me this; I'm not a biker; I've been an invester in HOG; and, maybe again soon.

 

[LTC]

I recently read "Day of Battle". My Father went ashore at Salerno and survived to go on to Corscia, France and Belgium. His points got him home in July of '45 after 33 months in N. Africa and the ETO. He has never had much to say about his expearences

LTC

 

[Jellybean]

I just finished "Sharpshooting for Sport and War" by W.W. Greener. It took me awhile because it wasn't all that interesting. I'm not sure what I'm going to start next. I have a lot of unread books and a few that are worth a second read.

I've picked up a few books at the Goodwill stores, haven't read any of them yet. I started on a biography about Gary Cooper but stopped around chapter 4. It was too disgusting and changed my already poor regard for "Hollywood Heroes".

 

[ACP230]

I'm reading River Horse by William Least Heat Moon. He wrote Blue Highways about crossing the country on small highways.
This current book is about going from New York to the West Coast by boat.

An interesting war book is Ghost Soldiers by Hampton Sides. It's about the Ranger rescuing POWs from the Cabanatuan prison camp in the Philipines.