When one mentions combat parachute operations in Europe, the first question is “82nd or 101st?” Actually, the last parachute jump in Europe was made over the Rhine River at Wesel 24 March 1945 by the author’s unit, the 17th Airborne Division, and was the last divisional combat jump in the history of the U.S. Army. The Wilsons wrote this book to remind the world of that fact.

The first part of the book goes over the history of airborne in the U.S. Army and then picks up the story where Wilson enters training. He describes the intensive physical conditioning during the first weeks of training (run everywhere including carrying 90-pound loads over rough ground), which washed out a fourth of his entering class. One of the most important phases of training was learning how to pack a parachute, your parachute, and one to which all trainees gave their complete attention.

The first time Wilson ever rode in a plane was the occasion of his first practice jump, and over the course of the war he notes he took off in a plane 12 times, but never landed in one.

After graduating as a paratrooper, Wilson was assigned to the 464th Parachute Field Artillery Battalion of the 13th Airborne Division at Camp Mackall in North Carolina. His main occupation was as a cook, but he continued to take required parachute jumps. Training continued at Mackall until the 13th left for Europe in February 1945.

Once in Europe, planning for Operation Varsity began. This was an airborne show conceived by General Montgomery to put Allied troops across the Rhine (although both the U.S. First and Third armies had already crossed the river a few days earlier). In any event, Montgomery planned the activities and invited the Allied top brass to observe the operation. Three divisions were supposed to jump: the British 6th Airborne and the American 13th and 17th. However, at the last minute, it was decided to reduce the size of the operation and the 13th was scratched, but its 464th was transferred to the 17th for the jump. The 13th remained one of only two U.S. Army divisions to never see combat in WWII.

The jump went well, and although the troops were told ahead of time to expect a 50% casualty rate, and the airborne flak was very heavy, overall losses were nothing like that. Wilson landed safely, helped assemble pieces of his company’s howitzers and find the ammunition was scattered all over. All in all, it was an interesting, short, one-day operation — if perhaps, not a major contribution to the victory in Europe.
This is an interesting story of what happened to one soldier in WWII, told with sufficient information on the “big picture” to make it very readable.

(Authorhouse, 2005; 229 pp., $18.48 — ISBN 1420854291)

Bruning utilizes oral histories to chronicle the Oregon National Guard’s 2nd Battalion, 162nd Infantry Regiment (2/162) during their mobilization in the summer of 2003, through their deployment to Iraq and homecoming in 2005. More than a war story about an infantry battalion, the book represents an intimate reality for thousands of Army National Guard soldiers fighting in Iraq and Afghanistan.

The whirlwind adventure begins in July 2003, with a phone call alerting the Guardsmen for possible deployment. Geared up for the call, students, craftsmen, and various other professionals trained intensely at their local armories as they mobilized for war. In October, after saying good-bye to their families and friends, the battalion moved to Fort Hood, Texas, where they trained for combat operations that constantly evolved as the Iraq War raged.

Bruning explains that the deployment did not start as many of the soldiers had hoped. They lived in barracks that “had been slated for demolition” and were filled with “rotting food, and mildew covered walls.” The battalion received Humvees, forcing a transition from their current light infantry configuration to motorized infantry, which created last minute changes in tactics and training.

After the battalion arrived in Kuwait, they received different Humvees from those they trained with at Fort Hood. Many were unarmored models with no gun turrets. The soldiers improvised, adding scrap armor to the doors and building plywood walls reinforced with sandbags to protect the gunners. Next, the battalion convoyed into Iraq for their first baptism under fire, coinciding directly with Muqtada Al Sadr’s Shia uprising. For the next year, the Oregonians would participate in some of the fiercest fighting in Baghdad, Najaf, Falujah, and Sadr City, becoming involved in every major operation in Iraqi Freedom II.

Bruning masterfully illustrates that the battalion fought valiantly during their entire stay in Iraq. They often encountered small arms fire, Improvised Explosive Device (IED) ambushes, and car bombs during patrols through their area of responsibility. In June 2004, battalion snipers uncovered a torture compound while observing Iraqi police and Ministry of the Interior personnel beating detainees. The battalion raided the complex and stopped the abuse.

The first major engagement the battalion participated in was the battle for the Jamelia Power Station on August 5th. Attacked by IEDs, Rocket Propelled Grenades (RPG), and various caliber small arms fire, Alpha Company battled enemy insurgents for over 18 hours, killing at least 100 enemy fighters. But fighting would grow more intense as the battalion’s tour continued. During the battle of Najaf, a platoon of volunteers fought Mahdi militia at a six-story hotel nicknamed the Apache Hilton. After a week in direct combat, the Oregonians had killed over 300 enemy militiamen.

During the unit’s tour, they performed countless civil affairs projects to assist the Iraqi citizens. They constructed roads, established schools, and repaired sewer and power lines, as well as numerous other civic projects.

Bruning does not neglect the incredible sacrifice and bravery families and friends of the deployed soldiers exhibited during the deployment. He explains the hardships and stress on those that remained at home as their loved ones went to war. He also shows the horrors they face as they wait and pray for the soldiers’ safe return after hearing of a death through the media. After a triumphant year in combat, the battalion returned home to a heroes welcome. Many would return to their civilian lives while others would return to Iraq for a second tour.

Bruning’s work is the best book written about the Army National Guard since 11 September 2001. Unfortunately, it has a few grammatical errors throughout the text and can be difficult to follow at times, but it is by far the best work written about the National Guard in years. The nation’s citizen-soldiers have been an integral part in the War on Terror, and their sacrifices, as well as those of their families, is vividly brought to life in this work.

(Zenith Press, 2006; 340 pp., $24.95 —ISBN 9780760323946)

The LRRP work was almost always deep in “Indian Country,” so the level of risk was very high. Chambers includes details of missions where lives were lost. Marcy was killed on one of the missions. It is obvious that Chambers respected those who died, and he deeply felt their loss. One of the more emotional incidents was the May 11, 1970 loss of six members of Team Kansas, a radio relay team. There was some satisfaction knowing that another team later killed a group of soldiers from the North Vietnamese Army (NVA) that included several who had been involved with the deaths of Team Kansas. The NVA participation was confirmed by citations involving leave in Hue and diaries found on two of the bodies.

Exact locations and maps are missing, which might be disappointing to some historians, and the text of a fire mission includes a couple of minor errors. The book does give an accurate portrayal of how the LRRP teams operated. The title of the book is a little misleading, as some of the missions described did not take place in the A Shau. The pictures show the LRRPs with a wide variety of clothing and equipment that was typical of the individualists who were drawn to the LRRP work.

The Appendixes are over 60 pages long and contribute much to the book as they detail how certain things were done in the LRRPs, including suggested supply lists; hand signals with Thai, Vietnamese, and English explanations that reflects the work the LRRPs did with troops of other nations on occasion; patrol techniques; and other topics. Hopefully, our military in the future will glance back at this book because it includes some very solid information that the Army seems to forget from one war to the next. The glossary is also very complete and not only helps with the understanding of this book, but might help readers of other books with less considerate authors.

The book should be on a “must read” list of those who want to understand the LRRP operations as practiced in Vietnam. In addition, some sections of the appendixes should be a “lessons learned” by squad and platoon leaders for troops in Iraq and especially the less populated areas like Afghanistan where U.S. troops are committed.

(Ivy Books, 1998; 171 pp., $17.95 — ISBN 0739400886)

Kugler got in trouble in boot camp and eventually got straightened out by a drill instructor before his advanced training and deployment to Santo Domingo. By the time he arrived in Vietnam, Kugler knew he wanted more control over his destiny than was offered him as a regular infantryman. He volunteered for sniper training and acquired some degree of control to the extent that he could decide who would live or die as he saw them through the scope of his rifle.

He served as a sniper with the 3rd Force Recon and the 4th Marines during his time in Vietnam. Unfortunately, the book is lacking some of the specifics of location. Kugler provides the reader with a good amount of pictures and text that apply to him personally, rather than a good picture of life as a sniper.

The book is not without its merits, but the profanity limits its use and recommendations. There are other books that give a much better picture of sniping in Vietnam.

(Ivy Books, 1999; 236 pp., $26.47 — ISBN 0739404598)

I found the book to be an honest, straightforward approach to tell the story of the grunts who fought the war. By that, I mean the men who night after night went out on patrol trying to stem the flow of re-enforcements/replacements and supplies; men who survived on a couple hours sleep a night for weeks at a time; those men who valued a hot shower, clean fatigues and dry socks above almost all else.

I also found a young man in turmoil, like many of us at that age, wondering how he would react when he faced the enemy. Would he freeze up, would he run, could the men in his squad count on him to do what needed to be done when it needed to be done? Some heady questions for a 21-year-old facing combat.

PFC Watkins was in country less than a week when he received his orders, he was headed to Cu Chi to join the 25th Infantry Division, Alpha Company 1/27 Wolfhounds. The Wolfhounds had a reputation for being very good at keeping the Generals happy with high body count; they also had a motto “No Fear on Earth,” something Watkins would find to be true on more than one occasion. He would also learn that being a member of the Wolfhounds carried another distinction — Charlie had a bounty out on the heads to the Wolfhounds. From Cu Chi he was chopper out to Fire Support Base Chamberlain where he had his cherry broken almost immediately — he was to replace a wounded soldier who had been flown out the day before. He was to replace the Radio Transmission Operator, RTO, new in-country and carrying an 80-pound pack with an antenna sticking up, which made him an instant target for Charlie. This was what he had been waiting for, time to find out if he was ready for Vietnam and all it had to throw at him.

Throughout those first few weeks in-country the newness wore off and he was amazed at how quickly he gained the confidence and savvy to react — something that comes when your life and the lives of the men around are dependent upon you actions.

Barely into his tour he received something that shook him to his core, one of those things that will eat at you and make you lose focus. The love of his life had sent a “Dear John.” A distraction like that could literally mean the difference between life and death to a combat soldier in the field. However he didn’t lose focus, he kept it together under extraordinary conditions and survived the main objective for soldiers who went to Vietnam. He would return home if for no other reason than to find out why and to let her know what she had almost done.

Through countless encounters with the enemy he maintained his focus and kept his objectives clearly in his mind — he had to survive. Obviously he did survive and found the answers to those questions that had troubled him; he also got some advice from a young lieutenant he had served with: “To survive once you leave Vietnam, you have to leave Vietnam behind.” Great advice, I wish I had been given advice like that; over the years I carried a lot of baggage of things I had seen and done.

The accounts of the ambushes are gritty and bear the marks of a battle-hardened soldier who knew that to survive he would need to do things that would change him forever, and he did them, No Regrets. He also found out that Vietnam had changed his outlook on life — life is to be treasured, he found friendships that can last a lifetime, and to take things one day at a time.

Thank you, Mr. Watkins.

(Bay State Publishing, 2005; 244 pp.; $17.95 — ISBN 9780979362903)

The author flew the Grumman TBF Avenger torpedo bomber during his active duty in the Pacific. His tale is not of heroic deeds or air-to-air combat, but of the mundane day-to-day events he experienced and observed around him. The story covers the earning of his wings as a civilian in Alaska, the first to do so, his joining of the U.S. Navy, training to become a pilot, preparation for battle, being severely injured in a plane crash, and eventual discharge from the Navy. We follow the author through his experiences of learning how to fly the Navy way, to his participation in the testing of the first rockets fired from naval aircraft, service in the war zone with Composite Squadron VC-7, loss of his aircraft while trying to land back aboard Manila Bay CVE 61, and his long recovery from the injuries suffered in this crash. Within this story we experience the heartbreak the author feels in having to inform the bride of one of his best friends that her husbands is dead, the anguish he feels of surviving his aircraft crash while his two crew members do not, and his regret in not reporting to the proper authorities the poor flying judgment constantly exercised by a fellow pilot who later caused the death of eight other men in a multi-plane crash. The author closes his story with his stateside duty after being released from medical care and his short postwar career in the Navy Reserves.

The other nine stories are not so much of movie screen heroism but of carrying out one’s duties to oneself and to others during wartime. Each of these stories, his wife’s included, tells of life during WWII on the civilian front and in the war zone. They all add to the literature about “The Greatest Generation.” All in all, the book is an excellent account of how the day-to-day events of 1941-45 were viewed through the eyes of ten American citizens.

(Trafford Publishing, 2004; 343 pp.; $26.99 — ISBN 9780971079519)

Readers expecting military details on the basis of the book’s title may be disappointed. The author’s military focus is on what he believes are the major turning points during World War II in Europe. The invasion and conquest of Poland, the conquest of France, and the Battle for Britain in 1939-40, the Battle of Moscow in the winter of 1941-42, the Battle of Stalingrad in the winter 1942-43, and the beginning of the mass strategic bombing of German cities and towns in 1945.

The author blends his narrative with the war’s progress and the personal testimony of many people; from army generals and SS officers to the front-line soldiers, from members of the Hitler Youth to middle-class wives, from Catholic priests to survivors of the concentration camps. Within Germany itself almost all aspects of the people’s lives were affected by the war; educational, judicial, entertainment, church, and propaganda. The author presents a Germany speeding to self-destruction.

A primary theme in the narrative is Hitler’s extermination of the Jews in the context of his genocidal plans for the racial restructuring of Europe. Eugenics, which became legal in 1933, would be the method used to breed a master German race. Hitler became interested in American eugenics and perverted this in his attempt to eliminate all Jews, gypsies and others he considered racially and physically inferior. “At the heart of German history in the war years lies the mass murder of Jews in what the Nazis called ‘the final solution’ of the Jewish question in Europe.” The mass murder of the Jews and Nazi racial policies towards others considered inferior or non-human is an inescapable part of German history.

(The Penguin Press, 2009; 926 pp., $40 — ISBN 9781594202063)

Beginning with the first modern Communists in the aftermath of the French revolution, when the term “socialism” was first used, the author examines the ideas, attitudes, behavior, and motives of thinkers and Communist leaders, among them: “Karl Marx and his friend Freidrich Engles, who showed the true power of a form of socialism that melded rebellion with reasonable modernity” (Introduction); Vladimir Lenin, who believed Communism “was militant, sectarian, and hostile to compromise” (p.77); Mao Zedong and Ho Chi Minh, who “created a new and successful Asian model of Communism” that merged Communism with Nationalism (p. 238). Iosif (Josif) Stalin’s “model of Soviet socialism” was “highly repressive, xenophobic, and hierarchical” (p. 181). Mikhail Gorbachev “was inadvertently destroying the ideological foundation of the Soviet system” (p. 539). Ernesto “Che” Guevara “endorsed the Stalinist position on the legitimacy of violence” (p.370). Pol Pot (Saloth Sar) “arrived at his extreme version of Marxism” in the course of his lifetime (p. 489).

The author explains how Communism, in all its versions, appealed to different societies for different reasons, and for a time, ruled one-third of the world’s population. Communists may have promised to build a “utopian” version of a modern society while they destroyed the one of capitalism and privilege; however, it never reached its goal. Economic failure, horrific violence, and a loss of faith in the system left Communism a failure. Although Communism remains in a few Asian and Latin American countries, “Communism in the old form has been discredited, and will not return as a powerful movement” (Introduction).

(Grover Press, 2009; $30 — ISBN 9780802145123)

The book focuses on an area about 50 miles NW of Saigon. Bradford attempts to make pacification work in spite of corruption of the Vietnamese and a lack of understanding by American policy makers on what a pacification program was supposed to do and what criteria would be used to measure effectiveness. The numbers game without a policy that would give the villagers some freedom and self-respect was doomed from the start.
Bradford went to Viet Nam with an MA degree in ancient history, and sometimes his reflections on ancient historical events can be confusing to a reader without a classical background. In addition, the book does not have the solid information about pacification that is found in books by Corson and Flynn on pacification in the Marine Corps.

The lack of an index also limits the usefulness by researchers who might be studying pacification. I found this surprising in a book by an author with such an extensive historical background. The real positives are that Bradford recognized that his program could not be as successful as he planned due to policies in place. He also gives voice to veterans who thought they could create a better place or return to a world they could understand. Instead, upon their return to the U.S., the veterans felt alienated, hyper-vigilant, and safe only with their weapons near them and in the company of other veterans.

The book provides some added perspective about the Viet Nam War, but it is neither a good picture of operations of the unit nor one of the best on pacification.

(Praeger Publishers, 1994; 192 pp., $19.95 — ISBN 0275947858)

Phil’s sister, Trish, has spent half a lifetime seeking answers to open questions about what Phil did in the Air Force and the illness that prematurely shortened his career. The discovery of unit alumni websites and email contacts enabled Trish’s correspondence with a great many helpers who guided her search for military records that might hold informative clues. Many also dug deeply, 40 to 50 years back into sometimes dimming memories, informing Trish that they remembered her brother or that they had served in USAF units similar to his, often suggesting ideas about what duties he probably performed. Some helped with translations of the acronyms and abbreviations in Phil’s military records and orders. Soon a substantial network of cyberspace helpers was filling the blanks in each others’ recollections.

As the email contacts mounted, a colorful first-person mural depicting the normally-hidden world of clandestine Cold War operations began to emerge. Trish was soon able to grasp not only the routines of her brother’s classified service but something more she hadn’t expected. Veterans of a shadowy unseen world, customarily reluctant to “talk about it” and officially restricted by lifetime secrecy oaths, had always lacked a public outlet for trading work-related reminiscences, claiming unrecognized credit, second-guessing the brass, documenting obscure exploits, questioning and criticizing, and otherwise offering pent-up personal commentaries. Before long, an expanding network broadened in scope well beyond the world of radio interception as headquarters types, aviators, blue water sailors, and veteran grunts of ground warfare added to the picture. Sensing their common need to communicate long-suppressed memories, Trish planted an Internet seed asking that Cold War anecdotes be contributed for a book she thought she might pull together.

Trish imposed a late 2008 cutoff for submissions, having selected 227 articles by 70 named authors and 11 who remain anonymous. At 718 pages, “These Guys” presents a spectrum of attempts at writing by many who haven’t done much formal writing (some results better than others). Several entries are verbatim emails containing tidbits of info, included just as Trish received them. Quite a few submissions are clearly long-awaited opportunities to vent frustrations that continue to trouble young troops since morphed into senior citizens. The articles are real, un-self-conscious, sometimes raw and spiced with strong GI language. The collection in “These Guys” is an untold part of Cold War secret operations history reported from the indispensable worker-bee level and parallels histories of earlier U.S. wars pieced together from troops’ letters home.

“These Guys” is highly recommended reading for Cold War-era veterans of cryptologic service, many of whom are going to learn something new or to find an explanation for something they may not have understood way-back-when or will have their memories jogged about long-forgotten events. The collected stories should also be an inspiration to reflective military, military family, and civilian role players of the Cold War years to document and share their experiences and contributions.

(Old Lieutenant Press, Portsmouth VA; 2009; 718 pp. — ISBN 0967016940. For ordering/pricing, contact the author Trish Schiesser, via email Clara19126@msn.com)