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Once An Eagle

4.32 of 5 stars 4.32 · rating details · 1,091 ratings · 108 reviews

Once An Eagle is the story of one special man, a soldier named Sam Damon, and his adversary over a lifetime, fellow officer Courtney Massengale. Damon is a professional who puts duty, honor, and the men he commands above self interest. Massengale, however, brilliantly advances by making the right connections behind the lines and in Washington's corridors of power.

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Paperback, 1312 pages

Published May 7th 2002 by Harper Perennial (first published 1968)

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May 04, 2012 Chris rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Myrer's mammoth novel is an engaging, disciplined, and, ultimately, powerful examination of American military life—its hardships and demands, its rewards and sacrifices, its meaning and tragedies, its uses and abuses—as filtered through the evolving life story of Sam Damon: raw and naïve recruit in the First World War, seasoned veteran in the Second, despairing old schooler in the looming presence of the Vietnam folly. Damon meets his diametric archetype in Courtney Massengale, his coeval and li...more Myrer's mammoth novel is an engaging, disciplined, and, ultimately, powerful examination of American military life—its hardships and demands, its rewards and sacrifices, its meaning and tragedies, its uses and abuses—as filtered through the evolving life story of Sam Damon: raw and naïve recruit in the First World War, seasoned veteran in the Second, despairing old schooler in the looming presence of the Vietnam folly. Damon meets his diametric archetype in Courtney Massengale, his coeval and lifelong counterimage, a man born to privilege and well-connected within the military network who will, perforce, rise higher up the chain than Damon, assume greater responsibilities, without ever having been required to give much of himself other than time. Sam, a career soldier who works his way to an officer's rank by way of gruntdom, is the ideal American GI: brave, resolute, honorable, resourceful, thoughtful, and—perhaps most important of all—honest. Sam is a combat officer, leading his men in the field of battle from the front; Courtney a staff officer, who crafts the plans from the rear echelon that will send the likes of Sam into the fires of hell. Myrer is positioning here two species of military men and delineating the effect, ofttimes wide-ranging, that each brings to bear upon the wars America was called upon to fight in the twentieth century.

In the battlefields of World War I, young Damon finds a father figure in the wise and mentoring Colonel Caldwell; this bond only grows tighter when, in the postwar years, Damon marries Caldwell's daughter, Tommy. Other reviews have announced that Tommy was a poorly-drawn character, flat and lacking substance. It may very well be that I don't know all that much about people, especially women—or, at least, many years ago when I blazed through this bad boy, ere the interweb had shorted the speed relays within my mental reading circuitry—but I held that Tommy was a vivid presence, a strong-willed, practical woman, full of common sense and an invaluable partner to her husband, who suffered as the wife of a junior officer in Depression America—surviving on a meagre salary, living in decrepit assigned military housing, chafing at the banal role expected of her by other officer's spouses—but always managed to make it work. She's also a skeptical bulwark to set against the enthusiasms and occasionally narrowly-focussed perspectives of her military father and husband, the voice of civilian America that strives to remind these servicemen, sometimes exasperatedly, that we need to set the domestic table before we can praise God and pass the ammunition. In many ways, Tommy was the stateside and familial linchpin that connected Sam to the humanity that existed outside of rank and uniform; her husband, who passes a considerable portion of the book overseas, fighting against the Germans, the Japanese, and the power-blind Massengale—finds a constant reminder in his wife of what, exactly, motivates him to put his life on the line in the name of a duty that such as Courtney value quite cheaply.

As can readily be imagined, there are myriad ways a novel of this type—especially one that clocks in at a formidable thirteen hundred pages—could go wrong; but Myrer, for the most part, avoids the pitfalls. He's a thoroughly competent writer, and if the interwar scenes can at times unfold in a routine narrative that might glaze the eyes of others (I found the whole shebang to be enjoyable), he excels, as would only be expected, when the stage shifts to the French fields of WWI and the sweltering Pacific Islands of WWII. Damon himself grows both on the pages and upon the reader—and if such a stalwart, dutiful man can tend towards revealing himself to be a touch plodding, occasionally prone to temper flares, possessed of a cramped side when away from the battlefields and military routine and forced to deal with the minutiae of the quotidian, his core is of a thoroughly decent man who shines under pressure and always attempts do the right thing, as he determines it. He's not a saint, he's not John Wayne, he's capable of his own calculating nature, he and Tommy share some tumultuous arguments over dueling outlooks on life's demands, and he makes decisions—especially one forced upon him after a ferociously contested offensive against a powerful Japanese position that was callously scripted by the cooly loathsome Courtney—that will continue to haunt him long after the war itself has been concluded.

In the final stretch, when steadily applied pressure from Massengale and his cronies, ensconced within the ranks of those pushing for an armed American intervention in Vietnam, refuses to break Sam, he must face the possibility of his entire life of service being encapsulated as periodic episodes in crankery; and, when you consider all of the evidence, do the Massengalean factions of the world actually have the right view of things? Myrer is a skilled enough storyteller to allow all sides, believing they are right, to be persuasive; that we cheer for Damon, pull for Damon, like Damon, is a testament to something vital that endures within the beating heart of human nature. That core essence, accessed and allowed to blossom, is what permits the United States' insanely armed and sized military to operate with its human face visible; its soldiers to hate what they have committed to enduring, even whilst convinced that commitment is an essential component of the responsibility of being an independent republic. Myrer's book laments that, under the guidance of an elite that has nested itself on high for all of the wrong reasons—and a compelled soldiery resentful of this guidance pressing down upon their reluctance—this may be in danger of disappearing, or at least being altered into something metastasized or feral. Once an Eagle would certainly not be everybody's cup of tea, but its thoughtfulness and readability may surprise some people.(less)

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Feb 26, 2012 Marcia Brisson Van Camp rated it 5 of 5 stars

My old boss Jim Rutherford said this was one of his favorite books and since he had great taste in literature I was curious. My dad had an original copy and said he loved the book as well and that it had been required reading as part of his military work...War College perhaps? Well...the copy my dad had was big and heavy...about 800 pages and for any DC metro goer...you know that it is real real hard to carry a book like that. I tried to find it on kindle but no luck and then I tried to convince...more My old boss Jim Rutherford said this was one of his favorite books and since he had great taste in literature I was curious. My dad had an original copy and said he loved the book as well and that it had been required reading as part of his military work...War College perhaps? Well...the copy my dad had was big and heavy...about 800 pages and for any DC metro goer...you know that it is real real hard to carry a book like that. I tried to find it on kindle but no luck and then I tried to convince myself I would just read it at home again no luck...it was too good!

I felt like as an Army brat growing up on base after base, I had a very limited idea of what military life was all about. My mom would say things every now and then but I sometimes feel this strong desire to read books like this to just help me understand what soldiers go through since I will never experience it myself. I feel the same about war movies...I just feel like I need to watch as many as I can to try and wrap my mind around everything. I recently watched Patton and I am so glad I did, because it gave me a totally different idea about WWII than I had ever considered. Books like All Quiet on the West Front or A Soldier of the Great War...there are some amazing books out there and I have added Once an Eagle to my list of favorites.

While most books I have read cover just 1 war, this book covers WWI, and WWII and towards the end touches on conflicts rising out of our desire to crush the spread of Communism. The main character Sam Damon grew up hearing stories of those who had served in the miliary and felt strongly compelled to join up. He is by far a perfect man and some of the decisions he had to make were very hard. I liked that this book showed how military life affected people in different ways but that ultimately you and you alone have to live with your decisions for a very long time. It was interesting to watch him struggle with family life in the Army as well. This is not something that most books cover...they might cover the soldier reuniting with his love or perhaps she has been unfaithful but what about the soldier who drags his family all over the place to base after base when some of those places are really hard to live in? Trying to balance being a dutiful solider and dutiful husband is hard on everyone.

It is interesting to study and consider all of the politics that go into military careers. Certainly, we have all seen the movie where our golden hero has an enemy within the ranks but we usually don't think about this on a larger scale. People want to be recognized and commended for their work and they also want power. How the Army generals interacted with each other, with the other U.S. military forces and with military leaders in other countries is fascinating.

I was really sucked into this book by all the discussions of not just tactical and strategic maneuvers but how short those plans can fall when you lack the leadership to carry them out. How do you get men to rush an oncoming enemy? How do you keep them motivated when they are wounded, tired, hungry, and death is the likely outcome of their onslaught?

Obviously, I could keep writing and writing about the book but I will try to end with this last item. I was delighted by all of the colloquial sayings in the book that I had never heard before. I had to keep asking Jim and my dad what they meant!

Sowing the dragon's teeth
Bearding a lion

These are just a few :0)

The book was written beautifully...the author had such a mastery over his words that I would often read a sentence a few times...the way you would look at a favorite piece of art for a long time.(less)

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Jul 18, 2011 Matt rated it 4 of 5 stars

This is a novel as big as a life.

Usually, when I go to airports, I am well prepared. I have my main book; my backup book; my backup to the backup; and my ultimate backup, if I meet with a series of delays or the other backups are terrible or I somehow find time to read all the others. On my way back from Florida, though, I suddenly found myself in Tampa's airport with nothing to read, so I purchased this 1,200 page doorstop with the knowledge that it'd last.

Once An Eagle traces the arc of a so...more

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Mar 16, 2012 S.A. Bolich rated it 5 of 5 stars

This is perhaps my all-time favorite book. Like many a young second lieutenant, I often stopped for a "what would Sam do?" moment when faced with tough situations. This is the quintessential novel about leadership and honor and the American soldier. "Sad Sam" Damon, who shuns the advice of everyone as a young man to pursue a military career, doggedly sticks out the drudgery of being an enlisted man pre-World War I, believing fully in destiny and that he will find his in the army. And does he eve...more

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Feb 27, 2012 Ben Lowsen added it

Myrer in some ways wrote the ur-military "adventure" book, as its ubiquity on military reading lists suggests. It is the story of a youthful US volunteer - Sam Damon - who earns the Medal of Honor and an officership in WWI, stays on with the US Army in the interwar period, fights skilfully and bravely in WWII, and ascends to high command. Myrer emphasizes traditional military virtues in describing Damon's wars, but devotes at least as much space to describing life in a peacetime military. Myrer...more

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Feb 15, 2010 G rated it 5 of 5 stars Recommends it for: anyone

Recommended to G by: BG Jefforey Smith

My favorite novel. It is thick but every bit as timeless and brilliant as a couple of other sweeping epics, the Illiad and the Odyssey.

A quick look and it is obvious it is about war and soldiering, however, it is so well crafted that it would leave any reader uplifted and touched. Yes, war is ugly, yet the virtues that the hero, Sam Damon, possesses are what we should hope that all of our soldiers ascribe to model their own values upon. Although the story is a work of fiction, throughout the boo...more

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Aug 20, 2012 Rachel rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I give this book 5 stars because it is extremely well written and engaging. However, I hated almost every minute of it. I read it in the first years of my husband's Army career and found it extremely depressing. The hero of the story is never fully appreciated by his military leadership, constantly being overlooked and overshadowed by a more charismatic officer, who probably could have coined the acronym 'CYA'. I see that many reviewers admired the character of Sam and wanted to be an Officer l...more

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Jul 25, 2011 Frank rated it 5 of 5 stars

My favorite book of all time, this is the story of the American dream from the perspective of a military officer in the first half of the twentieth century. It captures the naivete,the skill, the courage, and the dogged determination of Americans as they emerged from one period of Manifest Destiny into another.

This is the main track of the book; it has many side tracks and crossings. The most important of these is the humility of the hero, a humility that is now largely lost among Americans.

The...more

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Mar 18, 2012 Roger rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: absolute-fav

I suppose this review will be at the end of a long line of reviews but I'd be remis not to discuss it. This book is one of the reasons I went into the US Army. Its one of the reasons I became an officer after 7 years as an enlisted man. It clearly laid out what the standard was and is for those who wish to lead soldiers, both in professional and personal conduct. Also for those "shit happens" moments where all you can do is drive on and hope it works. As a company commander this was mandatory re...more

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Dec 09, 2012 Mike Kershaw rated it 5 of 5 stars

One of the five books that I thought every officer should read. This ia a classic that became popular in the late 80s and early 90s. This epic novel is follows the lives of two army officers from WWI to the Vietnam era. It was made into a mini-series in the 70’s and has been reprinted by the Army War College. Myrer has taken some of the most outstanding combat leadership of WWII (Darby, York, Truscott, Eichelberger, etc..) and crafted it into a historical novel of epic proportions, centering on...more

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Jun 11, 2010 Justin rated it 5 of 5 stars

I never thought that I'd be reading a book like this; that is, a military story. The narrative, though, is highly compelling, and the writing, though it has a tendency to lean on the highly metaphorical for basic physical description, is balanced, forgiving, humanistic, and mostly quite beautiful--precisely because it does not pander to audience, but seems to be an authentic determined display of what the author wants... hard to say this isn't almost essential reading, but I've been on a bit of...more

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Feb 21, 2013 Roger Huder rated it 5 of 5 stars

This is the story a single man all the way through his Army career. It begins in WWI and ends in Vietnam. Once an Eagle chronicles the dedication and scrafices demanded of those who serve their country and their families. The lonely posts, the poor pay, the rise of the politically connected all are part of Sam Damon's story. Considered a classic by military officers it was required reading at West Point and on the Commandant of the Marine Corp's reading list. Yet it is entertaining enough to hav...more

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Mar 11, 2013 Morgan rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: my-all-time-best, inspirational, books-i-own

Man, if there ever was a book that made me reconsider my life decisions and reflect on life, morals, and the important things in life it is Once An Eagle. Sam Damon is easily my favorite fictional character, and Once An Eagle has propelled its way towards the top of my all time favorite books.

This book has taken me through a roller coaster of thoughts and reflections. I admire Sam so much, as anyone should, and wish his life had been easier. Sam is a man of legend from the beginning of the book....more Man, if there ever was a book that made me reconsider my life decisions and reflect on life, morals, and the important things in life it is Once An Eagle. Sam Damon is easily my favorite fictional character, and Once An Eagle has propelled its way towards the top of my all time favorite books.

This book has taken me through a roller coaster of thoughts and reflections. I admire Sam so much, as anyone should, and wish his life had been easier. Sam is a man of legend from the beginning of the book. He already knows he is different from other people and that he can't possibly live life in his small town, so he decides to join the military. Based off of his intelligence, athleticism, and moral code alone would Sam be someone to look up to, but he continues to astonish me time and time again throughout the book. Earning his fame as the Night Clerk, which stuck with him throughout his life, and wanting to join the military so badly that he rejects West Point upon hearing the wait he will have to go through, even after everthing he went through to earn the spot was unbelievable!

I could go on about each and every point and event in this book that inspired me and made me reflect life, but I would be here for a ver long time. This book, although rather long (worth it 100 times over), took me a while to finish due to school, and I wish I had been able to give it the attention it deserves and without the sporadic nature I went about reading it. There were large gaps in-between readings so I don't remember everything, but I do know that there was never a moment I wasn't feeling some sort of strong emotion. (view spoiler)

There were so many characters in this book and for the duration that they were in the book each one was important. This was a very good thing, but it also made things a bit confusing for my non-Damon-like mind.

Sadness. There was a lot of sadness in this book. I guess you would expect that in an anti-war novel, but when you get attached to characters so strongly as anyone would with Sam Damon, even the slightest pain felt by him is magnified in the reader, or at least for me personally. (view spoiler)

There is so much I could just go on and on about in this book, but basically it was just an amazing read. I came to love Sam as a human being I would feel honored to have known. I came to utterly despise the man who called people by their first names (I never knew someone calling somone "Samuel" could piss me off as much as it did in this book.), and I came to look back onto decisions I had made, and things I had thought I considered important. This book has made me refect life so much more than any other book, and I think every time I read it, it will have the same effect. Ah, I want to just go on into every aspect, thought, feeling, emotion, etc. that I experienced while reading this book, but very soon it will grow repetitive, rant-like, boring perhaps, and never-ending for sure. The one thing I can say for sure about this book is that it is an amazing piece of work and I will never forget it. I will read and enjoy this book many times in my life before I find I cannot any longer. I want to end this review differently, and give it the praise it deserves, but I'm sure Sam would rather not have anything special done on his account.

Even when no one in the world would deserve it more than he.(less)

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Aug 14, 2012 Sam Reaves rated it 4 of 5 stars

Lately I've been in the mood for big epic novels that cover a lot of time and territory. This one ranges over half the twentieth century, following the army career of a "mustang", an officer who rises from the ranks, through two world wars and the usual personal vicissitudes. Myrer was an accomplished novelist (and no jingoist), and this is more than just military adventure. It's the history of the U.S. as it mutated from upstart to superpower, and a look at why men want to be soldiers and what...more

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Dec 27, 2012 Garrett Rebstock rated it 5 of 5 stars

Hands down, my favorite books I have ever read. There was no finer example of how I've heard it put "The unoffical Field Manual on Leadership and Army Values." It was a nine hundred page epic that took me a few months to get through, but the slow pace was nice. I bookmarked many passages and quotes that I found deeply inspiring from a soldier and leader's standpoint. I damn near flooded my twitter and facebook feed with quotes from this book. It is on the officer's reading list for a reason. Dam...more

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Nov 28, 2010 Jessica rated it 4 of 5 stars

This was such a satisfying read! To be fair, I generally enjoy war novels, which is why I picked up this 1300 page monster to begin with. The upshot of this book is simply that good soldiers aren't typically good politicians, and the best politicians oftentimes make the worst soldiers. It's a simple theme, for sure, but the two characters employed to illustrate this point both make for compelling reading. The book sprawls across WWI, WWII, and Vietnam (the author apparently decided Korea wasn't...more

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Jan 24, 2012 Lee rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: historical-fiction, military-history, world-war-ii

If you want to know who I wanted to be when I was 18, read this. I hadn't read it then, but the hero of this book is pretty much the upright, shining knight in (khaki) that I wanted to be.

I didn't read it until much later (1993), but Sam Damon is the Army officer I dreamed of becoming: decisive, clear-sighted, morally upright, compassionate about his soldiers, and even well-read. He is clearly contrasted with Courtney Massengale, the shiny careerist staff officer that is so easy to despise (and...more

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Jul 19, 2009 Doug rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: fiction

I bought this book because I discovered it was on the required reading list at the US Military Academy at Westpoint. This intrigued me because the book is a work of fiction and I couldn't fathom why a work of fiction would be a required read at Westpoint. I know many grads of Westpoint and know a former instructor and a current instructor and two of my Eagle Scouts are cadets at Westpoint so I also read it for that reason.
What I discovered was probably one of the most succinct theses on leade...more I bought this book because I discovered it was on the required reading list at the US Military Academy at Westpoint. This intrigued me because the book is a work of fiction and I couldn't fathom why a work of fiction would be a required read at Westpoint. I know many grads of Westpoint and know a former instructor and a current instructor and two of my Eagle Scouts are cadets at Westpoint so I also read it for that reason.
What I discovered was probably one of the most succinct theses on leadership I've ever read. I think that says something because I was an NCO in the military and have been involved in the Boy Scouts for over 30 years. Leadership is something I have a little experience, to say the least.
Myrers teaches the reader leadership through his fictional story in the most vivid ways. He follows the life of a young man from a small town who enlists in the Army and follows him from the Punitive Expedition into Mexico to France in World War I to China between the wars to the Pacific in World War II and finally to Viet-Nam in the 60s. His natural born leadership ability and initiative takes him from a junior NCO to a General. This experience makes him an advocate for enlisted men and the disgraceful way they were treated by officers. Anyone who has served has known officers who treat enlisted men as a necessary evil and beneath their station. Their wives are sometimes even worse. In fairness, some enlisted men (and their wives) treat those of lower rank with the same disregard. Myrers paints a beautiful portrait of this mistreatment and its effects on enlisted soldiers.
I used to wonder why Academy graduates (of all 3 academies) were so different than officers who did not attend the academies. I think I have a greater understanding of why Academy grads have such a different attitude towards the enlisted ranks than non-grads. Academy grads take better care of their men than non-grads. I'm not sure if Annapolis and the Air Force Academy require this book to be read or if they have similar books (hey, I'll have to find out). I do find it interesting that an officer I knew who treated the enlisted worse than any I served with rose through the ranks like Myrer's character. Perhaps "Once an Eagle" should be required reading for Officer Candidate Schools and perhaps even NCO Schools. I think we'd end up with better leaders as a result.
Even for those not interested in leadership principles will enjoy this book because it is also the story of the sacrifices and privations suffered by the members of our Armed Forces. In many ways "Once an Eagle" is also a tribute to all who have served, particularly those who have served during times of war.(less)

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Sep 16, 2008 Dena rated it 5 of 5 stars Recommends it for: war and history buffs

Recommended to Dena by: no one - got it with a gift card at Barnes and Noble

I am about halfway through and I am really enjoying it. I can't tell the bent of the author although I did read the review that it was a great anti-war book. But not like you'd think. There are a thousand things that make war horrible and military life unpleasant - things that seem ridiculously unfair to a civilian. But the thinking of Sam Damon is fascinating and admirable and I wonder how many soldiers today think that way......

Finally done. It was a puzzling view. I thoroughly enjoyed it and...more

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Jan 07, 2012 JDK1962 rated it 5 of 5 stars

(IMHO, few books deserve five stars. I'd give this book six stars if I could. Go out to Amazon, and look at the distribution of reviews. Virtually EVERYONE who reads this massive book rates it five stars. You should read it. Period.)

I love this book. I read it for the first time probably 10-20 years ago, and find that I can easily open it at any point and get engrossed again in Sam Damon's journey. It's just this incredibly broad and rich tapestry.

What I think I love most about this book is Sam'...more

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Jul 10, 2010 Jan rated it 5 of 5 stars

An incredible book, history of the military from Spanish American War through Viet Nam. Told through one man Sam Damron; who serves his country and is representative of a career in the military staying true to the ideals of military as it should be. The description particularly of World War 1, makes you wonder how anyone would entertain the idea of another war. This book honors the Best of Military while being the ultimate anti-war novel right up there with Alls Quiet on the Western Front.

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Jun 17, 2012 Matthew Klobucher rated it 4 of 5 stars

This is a true American epic that spans 50 years and four wars. The protagonist, Sam, enlists in the Army in time for the First World War and lives, loves, suffers, and leads through the Second World War, Korea, and Vietnam. This story is a coming-of-age, both for the characters and for the United States, and it ends as an enduring study of leadership and manhood. A long read, but well worth it.

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Jul 24, 2012 Lucille Bellucci rated it 5 of 5 stars

I have re-read this one at least three times and it will stay on my shelf as long as I can read. Myrer brings the fact of war close up, he makes you care for the man who goes to the European theater of war in such a way that you come to despise his opposite. The other, fat-catly situated among politicians, profits from war and rises in status. Was this ever made into a film? If not, it should be.

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Apr 18, 2013 Francis Gahren rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: military, leadership, fiction

America's fighting men have turned to Once an Eagle as a sourcebook for the military's core values since its publication at the height of the Vietnam War. The novel, following the careers of virtuous Sam Damon and opportunistic Courtney Massengale, is required reading for all members of the United States Marine Corps and frequently taught in leadership courses at West Point.

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Jul 11, 2009 Kate Quinn rated it 5 of 5 stars

Anything you want to know about war and leadership, here it is. Sam Damon is an idealistic boy who joins the army in 1916, wins the Medal of Honor and an officer's commission in France during World War I, stays in the army through World War II as a general, and ends finally as an observer and an old man in Vietnam. Sam is a terrific character: brave, strong, and true without being a cardboard white-hat hero. Contrasted against him is his lifelong enemy Massengale, a smooth operator who loathes S...more

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Mar 10, 2012 Joe rated it 4 of 5 stars

An amazingly ambitious novel spanning the life of Sam Damon from PFC to Three Star General. At points through the book, I felt like the author included story lines that detracted rather than added to the main story. But, the primary story line is fabulous and incredibly researched with very interesting characters. The anti-war theme that develops through the book is powerful and as relevant today as when it was written.

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Jun 28, 2010 Eric rated it 5 of 5 stars

I originally read this book in the late 70's and again in the early 2000's. I found it to be an excellent read. There is also a mini-series from the late 70's that was one of the best miniseries I have seen. Finally the mini-series will be released 8/31/10 on DVD. I stongly recommend both the book and the mini-series.

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Sep 21, 2007 Natalie rated it 5 of 5 stars Recommends it for: Military Wives and Soldiers

Shelves: military

This is on many infantry company commanders' must-read lists for their platoon leaders and XO's. Officer's wives will love it too. It's easy to feel as if you know the characters. Most Army wives have been through long deployments and can relate to the joys and heartwrenching times during their husband's career. And, all Army wives had felt their husband's pain of having to work with a soldier who is out for himself, knows how to kiss butt perfectly,is a fraud, etc. Basically, a true Masengale....more

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Jun 16, 2011 J. Keith rated it 5 of 5 stars

One of the best examples of character development over a lifetime. This one ties the major conflicts of the 20th century together spanning the lifetimes of two men as they advance through the ranks of the US Army. This is one of my all time favorites. If you like military fiction, this one is not to be missed.

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May 24, 2009 Charles rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: historical-fiction

Not sure about the category for this one either. Maybe Historical fiction since it's about the World War. To tell you the truth, I read it long ago and don't remember a lot about it. It's very long and that's generally not a good thing in my mind. But I've hung on to it and as I remember I enjoyed it fairly well.

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About Anton Myrer

Anton Myrer, who died of leukemia in 1996, was a best-selling author whose themes were America's loss of innocence and the use and abuse of power. He is particularly remembered for The Last Convertible (1978), a summation of the American experience during and after World War II, and for Once an Eagle (1968), which traces the life of a regular Army officer and his family from before World War I to...more Anton Myrer, who died of leukemia in 1996, was a best-selling author whose themes were America's loss of innocence and the use and abuse of power. He is particularly remembered for The Last Convertible (1978), a summation of the American experience during and after World War II, and for Once an Eagle (1968), which traces the life of a regular Army officer and his family from before World War I to Vietnam. Orville Prescott, in The New York Times wrote of Once an Eagle: "Myrer is a superb story teller....who cares about the narrative and is a master." The Army War College Foundation, which is republishing the novel this year, describes it as "a perceptive study of the profession of arms an a chilling overview of armed conflict... Myrer forces us to smell and feel the battlefield as well as hear and see it."

Myrer also wrote Evil Under the Sun (1951); The Big War (1957), of which one critic wrote, "I doubt if it is possible to come much closer... to an American War and Peace"; The Violent Shore, (1962); The Intruder: A Novel of Boston (1965); The Tiger Waits (1973); and A Green Desire (1981). The Library has copies of all eight novels in much-read first editions and, in the case of six of the eight, in leather-bound volumes recently donated by Mrs. Myrer.

Born in Worchester, Massachusetts, Myrer grew up in the Berkshires, Cape Cod, and Beacon Hill -- all settings for his novels. A 1941 graduate of Boston Latin School, he interrupted his education at Harvard after Pearl Harbor to enlist in the Marine Corps and spent more than three years in the Pacific. He rose to the rank of corporal, took part in the invasion of Guam, and was wounded. He returned to graduate from Harvard magna cum laude and subsequently lived on the Cape, in Portugal, and at the time of his death, in upstate New York where he received books by mail from the Library

All who have read Myrer's novels know the strength and passion of his moral vision.

by Barbara H. Stanton

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Once an Eagle (Part 2 of a 2-Part Cassette Edition) (Library)

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Quotes from Once An Eagle

“That's the whole challenge of life - to act with honor and hope and generosity, no whatter what you've drawn. You can't help when or what you were born, you may not be able to help how you die; but you can - and you should - try to pass the days between as a good man.” — 1 person liked it

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Once An Eagle

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