War memoir recommendations, please.
- ChrisinHove
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War memoir recommendations, please.
If matters stay as they are, in a couple of weeks I will be reading, sitting in the sunshine in Saumur, France (the home of the French Cavalry and armoured corps, and site of a noteworthy battle in 1940 when the officer cadets fought an armoured division after the general surrender, “for honour alone”).
Anyway, any recommendations for good war memoirs, please? Any conflict or cause is of interest.
Thanks!
Anyway, any recommendations for good war memoirs, please? Any conflict or cause is of interest.
Thanks!
Re: War memoir recommendations, please.
Chickenhawk - Robert Mason. Vietnam Huey pilot
Legionnaire - Simon Murray. Englishman’s experiences in the French Foreign Legion in the 1960s
Fireforce- Chris Cocks. Rhodesian Light Infantry trooper during Zimbabwe’s battle for independence
Contact - AFN Clark. Young officer in Northern Ireland in the 70s
Legionnaire - Simon Murray. Englishman’s experiences in the French Foreign Legion in the 1960s
Fireforce- Chris Cocks. Rhodesian Light Infantry trooper during Zimbabwe’s battle for independence
Contact - AFN Clark. Young officer in Northern Ireland in the 70s
- MichaelScott
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Re: War memoir recommendations, please.
Chicken Hawk is very good, but the absolute best, honest and true book to come out of Nam is
Dispatches, Michael Herr
Also works with Kubrick on Full Metal Jacket and Apocalypse Now screen plays.
Have a great vacation.
Dispatches, Michael Herr
Also works with Kubrick on Full Metal Jacket and Apocalypse Now screen plays.
Have a great vacation.
Overheard at the end of the ice age, “We’ve been having such unnatural weather.”
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- MichaelScott
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Re: War memoir recommendations, please.
MichaelScott wrote: ↑Fri Jul 10, 2020 8:22 amChicken Hawk is very good, but the absolute best, honest and true book to come out of Nam is
Dispatches, Michael Herr
He also worked with Kubrick on Full Metal Jacket and Apocalypse Now screen plays.
Have a great vacation.
Overheard at the end of the ice age, “We’ve been having such unnatural weather.”
http://acehotel.blog
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- Doc Dan
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Re: War memoir recommendations, please.
Here is one I want to read.
We Were Soldiers Once ... and Young: Ia Drang - the Battle That Changed the War in Vietnam
Book by Hal Moore and Joseph L. Galloway
We Were Soldiers Once ... and Young: Ia Drang - the Battle That Changed the War in Vietnam
Book by Hal Moore and Joseph L. Galloway
I Pray Heaven to Bestow The Best of Blessing on THIS HOUSE, and on ALL that shall hereafter Inhabit it. May none but Honest and Wise Men ever rule under This Roof! (John Adams regarding the White House)
Follow the Christ, the King,
Live pure, speak true, right wrong, follow the King--
Else, wherefore born?" (Tennyson)
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Follow the Christ, the King,
Live pure, speak true, right wrong, follow the King--
Else, wherefore born?" (Tennyson)
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Re: War memoir recommendations, please.
The only one I've read recently is:
Commando: A Boer Journal of the Boer War
Deneys Reitz
I assume you've read both of these already -- both were best sellers that were made into feature films:
Guadalcanal Diary
Richard Tregaskis (he was a war correspondent, not a soldier, but he was embedded with the USMC)
Seven Pillars Of Wisdom ("Revolt In The Desert" is an abridged version of this)
T. E. Lawrence
Commando: A Boer Journal of the Boer War
Deneys Reitz
I assume you've read both of these already -- both were best sellers that were made into feature films:
Guadalcanal Diary
Richard Tregaskis (he was a war correspondent, not a soldier, but he was embedded with the USMC)
Seven Pillars Of Wisdom ("Revolt In The Desert" is an abridged version of this)
T. E. Lawrence
- ChrisinHove
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Re: War memoir recommendations, please.
Fantastic recommendations! Thank you, everyone.
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Re: War memoir recommendations, please.
Force Recon Diary 1969, Force Recon Diary 1970, Sergeant Major, US Marines, One Tough Marine..... Maj. Bruce Norton USMC (Ret.)
ANYTHING written by Ernie Pyle.... Was a war correspondent in both the European Theater and Pacific Theater in WW2.
With the Old Breed at Pelilue and Okinawa by Eugene Sledge.
About Face by Colonel David Hackworth
These are all excellent reads.
ANYTHING written by Ernie Pyle.... Was a war correspondent in both the European Theater and Pacific Theater in WW2.
With the Old Breed at Pelilue and Okinawa by Eugene Sledge.
About Face by Colonel David Hackworth
These are all excellent reads.
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Re: War memoir recommendations, please.
I had the privilege of attending a dining in at Aberdeen Proving Grounds where General Moore was the honored guest. Hearing him speak about the Ia Drang Valley, his men and their courage was one of the most moving experiences of my life. He never forgot their names, their heroism and their sacrifice.
Met SgtMaj Basil Plumbley there also when he was a guest speaker for a ANOC (Advanced Non-Commissioned Officers Course). Let's just say that Sam Elliot portrayed him perfectly in "We were Soldiers".
Definitely read the book.
- Doc Dan
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Re: War memoir recommendations, please.
Thanks. I will do it as soon as I can. He and the Sgt Mgr are the real deal.OldHoosier62 wrote: ↑Sun Jul 12, 2020 8:41 amI had the privilege of attending a dining in at Aberdeen Proving Grounds where General Moore was the honored guest. Hearing him speak about the Ia Drang Valley, his men and their courage was one of the most moving experiences of my life. He never forgot their names, their heroism and their sacrifice.
Met SgtMaj Basil Plumbley there also when he was a guest speaker for a ANOC (Advanced Non-Commissioned Officers Course). Let's just say that Sam Elliot portrayed him perfectly in "We were Soldiers".
Definitely read the book.
Have you read The Great Raid?
I Pray Heaven to Bestow The Best of Blessing on THIS HOUSE, and on ALL that shall hereafter Inhabit it. May none but Honest and Wise Men ever rule under This Roof! (John Adams regarding the White House)
Follow the Christ, the King,
Live pure, speak true, right wrong, follow the King--
Else, wherefore born?" (Tennyson)
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Follow the Christ, the King,
Live pure, speak true, right wrong, follow the King--
Else, wherefore born?" (Tennyson)
NRA Life Member
Spydernation 0050
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Re: War memoir recommendations, please.
I have it in my bookcase but I haven't managed to get it read yet. It is in the que though.Doc Dan wrote: ↑Sun Jul 12, 2020 8:53 amThanks. I will do it as soon as I can. He and the Sgt Mgr are the real deal.OldHoosier62 wrote: ↑Sun Jul 12, 2020 8:41 amI had the privilege of attending a dining in at Aberdeen Proving Grounds where General Moore was the honored guest. Hearing him speak about the Ia Drang Valley, his men and their courage was one of the most moving experiences of my life. He never forgot their names, their heroism and their sacrifice.
Met SgtMaj Basil Plumbley there also when he was a guest speaker for a ANOC (Advanced Non-Commissioned Officers Course). Let's just say that Sam Elliot portrayed him perfectly in "We were Soldiers".
Definitely read the book.
Have you read The Great Raid?
Re: War memoir recommendations, please.
The Personal Memoirs of Ulysses S. Grant are something else again...
-Marc (pocketing an S110V Native5 today)
“When science changes its opinion, it didn’t lie to you. It learned more.”
“When science changes its opinion, it didn’t lie to you. It learned more.”
- ChrisinHove
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Re: War memoir recommendations, please.
I was hoping you would chime in, sir. I recall this being your speciality.OldHoosier62 wrote: ↑Sun Jul 12, 2020 8:22 amForce Recon Diary 1969, Force Recon Diary 1970, Sergeant Major, US Marines, One Tough Marine..... Maj. Bruce Norton USMC (Ret.)
ANYTHING written by Ernie Pyle.... Was a war correspondent in both the European Theater and Pacific Theater in WW2.
With the Old Breed at Pelilue and Okinawa by Eugene Sledge.
About Face by Colonel David Hackworth
These are all excellent reads.
My Kiwi neighbour and friend’s 21 y.o. USMC grandfather was killed on Pelileu; her and her mother have only recently provided dna samples to help identify remains. These events continue to chime down through the decades.
- ChrisinHove
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Re: War memoir recommendations, please.
Thank you, Michael.MichaelScott wrote: ↑Fri Jul 10, 2020 8:22 amChicken Hawk is very good, but the absolute best, honest and true book to come out of Nam is
Dispatches, Michael Herr
Also works with Kubrick on Full Metal Jacket and Apocalypse Now screen plays.
Have a great vacation.
I feel incredibly lucky and privileged just to be able to take even a camping holiday this year.
- MichaelScott
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Re: War memoir recommendations, please.
Excellent book. More snafued **** in there than the movie.
Overheard at the end of the ice age, “We’ve been having such unnatural weather.”
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Re: War memoir recommendations, please.
Low Level ****- Vietnam
Quartered Safe Out Here by Fraser- WWII
Death Traps- WWII Armor
Combat Crew - John Comer, WWII B-17 flight engineer
Lots of good ones out there, is there a particular time or place you are interested in?
Quartered Safe Out Here by Fraser- WWII
Death Traps- WWII Armor
Combat Crew - John Comer, WWII B-17 flight engineer
Lots of good ones out there, is there a particular time or place you are interested in?
Re: War memoir recommendations, please.
I don't want to put too fine a point on it, but you do know that Herr has admitted at least two of his characters are fictionalized? Not to say truth can't be found in fiction (probably most often found there, actually), but journalists are supposed to stick to the facts...MichaelScott wrote: ↑Fri Jul 10, 2020 8:22 ambut the absolute best, honest and true book to come out of Nam is
Dispatches, Michael Herr
I'm actually a little suspicious of war memoirs, as they often turn into self-promotion at the expense of facts, U.S. Grant's excepted. I prefer oral history, expecially in compilations that afford comparisons. Journalist Harry Maurer's Strange Ground: An Oral History of Americans in Vietnam, 1945-1975, and historian Christian Appy's Patriots: The Vietnam War Remembered From All Sides are worthy compilations.
Not sure if such things are what Chris seeks, but I mention them at least for you.
-Marc (pocketing an S110V Native5 today)
“When science changes its opinion, it didn’t lie to you. It learned more.”
“When science changes its opinion, it didn’t lie to you. It learned more.”
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Re: War memoir recommendations, please.
ChrisinHove wrote: ↑Sun Jul 12, 2020 1:47 pmI was hoping you would chime in, sir. I recall this being your speciality.OldHoosier62 wrote: ↑Sun Jul 12, 2020 8:22 amForce Recon Diary 1969, Force Recon Diary 1970, Sergeant Major, US Marines, One Tough Marine..... Maj. Bruce Norton USMC (Ret.)
ANYTHING written by Ernie Pyle.... Was a war correspondent in both the European Theater and Pacific Theater in WW2.
With the Old Breed at Pelilue and Okinawa by Eugene Sledge.
About Face by Colonel David Hackworth
These are all excellent reads.
My Kiwi neighbour and friend’s 21 y.o. USMC grandfather was killed on Pelileu; her and her mother have only recently provided dna samples to help identify remains. These events continue to chime down through the decades.
My most sincere hopes that the remains are found and returned to the family. I still have a couple of relatives who are MIA/presumed KIA from WW2 and Korea.
- Naperville
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Re: War memoir recommendations, please.
How about reading the tactical guide to how they fought the war by von Clausewitz.
I believe that I used Archive DOT org to locate the complete book, and a 3 volume set of "On-War." The books are FREE and are still being studied.
I believe that I used Archive DOT org to locate the complete book, and a 3 volume set of "On-War." The books are FREE and are still being studied.
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- Doc Dan
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Re: War memoir recommendations, please.
The Anabasis by Xenophon is a fine read. It used to be required reading at West Point.
I Pray Heaven to Bestow The Best of Blessing on THIS HOUSE, and on ALL that shall hereafter Inhabit it. May none but Honest and Wise Men ever rule under This Roof! (John Adams regarding the White House)
Follow the Christ, the King,
Live pure, speak true, right wrong, follow the King--
Else, wherefore born?" (Tennyson)
NRA Life Member
Spydernation 0050
Follow the Christ, the King,
Live pure, speak true, right wrong, follow the King--
Else, wherefore born?" (Tennyson)
NRA Life Member
Spydernation 0050