What I'm Reading

['Aussie Rick']

I've just started reading one of the latest Australian release books on Gallipoli. I've recently re-visited the peninsula (the first time was in 1990) and managed to cover the British area of operations down at Cape Helles along with the Anzac area.

by Peter FitzSimons

[Austin]

I'm reading Killer Elite a history of a little known JSOC unit; the Intelligence Support Activity or ISA

['Aussie Rick']

Sounds like an interesting book Austin, let us know how it goes.

['Aussie Rick']

I've started Patrick O'Donnell's latest book which covers an elite unit from the American Revolutionary War:

Washington's Immortals: The Untold Story of an Elite Regiment Who Changed the Course of the Revolution by Patrick K. O'Donnell

['Aussie Rick']

Just learnt something new in my book; Washington's Immortals. First time I have ever heard of the Congressional Silver Medal, a forerunner of the Medal of Honor:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Congres...

http://www.revolutionarywararchives.o...

It appears only eleven such medals were awarded during this conflict and the Battle of Stoney Point "was one of the most decorated battles of the Revolution."

The Battle of Stoney Point:
http://www.revolutionarywararchives.o...

http://militaryhistory.about.com/od/a...

by Patrick K. O'Donnell

['Aussie Rick']

All great books Jerome, I agree about 13 Hours in Benghazi being a quick and easy read and the others are great accounts as well.

[James]

The Good Soldiers is excellent - also one of the most moving things I've read in a long time. I'm partway through his sequel, Thank You For Your Service, which follows the same group of soldiers after their return to the US.

[Liam]

Hello all-

I know this is a bit off-topic as it is not a book, but I saw a really extraordinarily well-done documentary last night on YouTube: (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8gUSq...). It is about the Australia/New Zealand Task Force in Viet Nam; specifically the battle of Long Tan, which took place on 18 August 1966.

As far as books go, I've been reading verrry slooowly these last few months, both because of exhaustion & lack of time (due to work), and also functional semi-blindness (due to the fact that I badly need to get some new glasses). That being said, I am roughly half-way through Lebanon: Death of a Nation (a.k.a. 'Lebanon: A House Divided'), which is one of the better books I have come across on the Lebanese Civil War. This book uses the same maps as The War For Lebanon 1970-1985, which would be a good reason to read the two books one after the other... I am also reading Region Of Revolt: Focus On Southeast Asia, but like I said, slowly... For now, though, I need to get some sleep, so good night!

['Aussie Rick']

That's a great documentary Liam, I have it on DVD and have watched it a few times. I found the story about the artillery support and the New Zealand forward controller great. Glad to hear you liked it as well.

I hope your exhaustion & lack of time issues get rectified soon. I'm lucky as I recently retired and all the time I have is mine to use as I wish, I hope you get some more free time soon as well.

[Manray9]

Liam wrote: "Hello all-

I know this is a bit off-topic as it is not a book, but I saw a really extraordinarily well-done documentary last night on YouTube: (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8gUSq...). It is ..."

Thanks, Liam. I'll check that out.

['Aussie Rick']

I've started David Glantz's monumental trilogy (of 4 books!) on Stalingrad, early days yet but so far it has been very readable.

by David M. Glantz

[happy]

The four book "trilogy" seem to be en vogue right now :)

I'm currently reading



It could well be subtitled, "Everything you wanted to know about the WW I German Army, but was afraid to ask". However it is very textbookish

[Liam]

happy wrote: "The four book "trilogy" seem to be en vogue right now :)

I'm currently reading



It could well be subtitled, "Everything y..."

Stone is a damned good historian & writer; I've been fairly impressed with the books I've read of his...

[Geevee]

Liam wrote: "Hello all-

I know this is a bit off-topic as it is not a book, but I saw a really extraordinarily well-done documentary last night on YouTube: (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8gUSq...). It is ..."

Thanks Liam these sound good. Hope you get back to speed with reading as I miss seeing your posts and updates on some interesting and different books.

[Geevee]

James wrote: "The Good Soldiers is excellent - also one of the most moving things I've read in a long time. I'm partway through his sequel, Thank You For Your Service, which follows the same group of soldiers af..."

Although I'm not an American the sequel sounds very interesting as there isn't too much on this subject so I'll be interested on your thoughts James.

[B. Lynwood]

Hello,

While more of a leadership text than military history, there is a strong military component:



I have found it to be an interesting read, and quite insightful.

[Geevee]

B. Lynwood wrote: "Hello,

While more of a leadership text than military history, there is a strong military component:



I have f..."

Thanks for posting and it looks interesting. I'm not a huge fan of business books but this might actually get on my TBR.

[B. Lynwood]

I would say it's at least 40% war stories and probably 75% discussion of military problems and how they approached them.

[Al]

I'm currently reading this overview of the Rhodesian civil war. It's well organized, and I'm currently on the section about the guerrilla armies, looking forward to reading about Fire Force.

['Aussie Rick']

Sounds good Al, not too many books cover the various 20th Century wars in Africa. I recently read Portugal's Guerilla Wars in Africa: Lisbon's Three Wars in Angola, Mozambique and Portugese Guinea 1961-74, and also have the author's new book: Biafra's War 1967-1970 to read.

by Al J Venter

by Al J Venter

[Al]

Thanks for the recommendations, Rick.
Moorcraft explains how Mozambique supported Rhodesia, until the Portuguese left. The country then became a guerrilla base, against Rhodesia. Rhodesia backed a rival movement in Mozambique, as a way of destabilizing the new government, and the resulting civil war lasted until 1992. The post-colonial wars seem to present an unending litany of war at its most savage. I have a 2-volume history of the King's African Rifles that is supposed to be the definitive history of that period, and has much material on the 1950's to 1963.

['Aussie Rick']

That looks like an excellent two-volume history as well :)

[Geevee]

A fine regiment AL that gave great service in WWII. Looks like a good book and not one I have yet in my collection of regimental histories.

[Al]

I have a few other books on the KAR, but they aren't that good. This edition is almost an academic book, with lots of footnotes and a huge bibliography. I'll start it at the end of the month.

[Geevee]

Hopefully it will provide some good information. A mixed bag regimental histories and some regiments are well served by their authors others are less so. I'd be interested in your thoughts though Al.

[Manray9]

Al wrote: "I have a few other books on the KAR, but they aren't that good. This edition is almost an academic book, with lots of footnotes and a huge bibliography. I'll start it at the end of the month."

Al: I read -- A History Of The King's African Rifles And East African Forces by Malcolm Page

I considered it just "okay."

[Al]

Manray9 wrote: "Al wrote: "I have a few other books on the KAR, but they aren't that good. This edition is almost an academic book, with lots of footnotes and a huge bibliography. I'll start it at the end of the m..."

I read it in 2014 and gave it 2 stars. It wasn't all bad and is a decent reference, but I thought it was painful. I'm disappointed that there isn't more out there on the colonial regiments prior to independence. Most of the books I've come across are personal accounts, and the quality is uneven. Still, there is some good information to be gleaned from any of them. I collect the postal history of the KAR and some of the other colonial regiments, and as long as the book can give me units, locations, and dates, I'm usually satisfied. :)

[Manray9]

Al wrote: "Manray9 wrote: "Al wrote: "I have a few other books on the KAR, but they aren't that good. This edition is almost an academic book, with lots of footnotes and a huge bibliography. I'll start it at ..."

Al: Postal history? As in mail?

[Al]

Manray9 wrote: "Al wrote: "Manray9 wrote: "Al wrote: "I have a few other books on the KAR, but they aren't that good. This edition is almost an academic book, with lots of footnotes and a huge bibliography. I'll s..."


Yes, indeedie! The military mail markings are fascinating and based on dates and location, I can trace certain operations. The material is hard to find, though. I also collect general military mail (Chaco War, French colonial wars, etc.), WW I German feldpost and U.S. infantry and armored division WW II APOs. I'm a huge stamp geek.

[Manray9]

Al wrote: "Manray9 wrote: "Al wrote: "Manray9 wrote: "Al wrote: "I have a few other books on the KAR, but they aren't that good. This edition is almost an academic book, with lots of footnotes and a huge bibl..."

Wow! That's esoteric.

['Aussie Rick']

Interesting and somewhat different way of tracking military history, good one Al!

[Paulo]

I'm curently reading Air Power, Insurgency and the "War on Terror", by Joel Hayward
The book is a collection of texts, articles, lectures and essays on the subject. All of them deal with ancient as well as more recent battles involving air power applied against insurgencies and the Terror.

[Paulo]

I'm reading Air Power, Insurgency and "the War on Terror", edited by Joel Hayward. The book is a collection of essays, articles and lectures of fifteen authors and researchers. All of them analyze the way Air Power was applied in "small wars" through history, summarizing lessons learned. A very interesting book.

[Smokebringer]

Sounds interesting. How does the book come down so far on the argument over whether airpower can be decisive without ground interventions?

[Steve]

This might drift slightly off topic ... but I've recently enjoyed Robert Leckie's WWII Marine/Pacific memoir: Helmet For My Pillow - quite different, and given the topic, surprisingly well written/constructed (which is no surprise given the author's background and lifelong publishing productivity).

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/8...

[Paulo]

Smokebringer, generally speaking the authors argue that the success in employing air power is more likely to come under air-ground close coordination. Many of them argue, for example, that, even though attacks during close air support missions are very supportive, the main contribution of air power does not come via air direct attacks but from air power allowing great mobility and from ISR and logistics support missions, all of them in favor of ground forces. Another argument is that irregular forces get their strength, ironically, from the lack of important targets to be attacked, which is the focus of air strategic bombing, reducing air power usefulness to supporting ground forces.
That is the book: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/2...

[Dale]

I tend to agree, esp with irregular forces.

['Aussie Rick']

I'm currently reading this two very interesting books:

Black Flags: The Rise of ISIS by Joby Warrick

Pax Romana by Adrian Goldsworthy

[happy]

I just finished Mary Roach's new offering



It's a look at what military scientists are looking at right now, with a little history thrown in for good measure.

very humorous and in places wee bit gruesome - some of the chapters are not for those with a weak stomach or right before dinner!

['Aussie Rick']

Sounds like a pretty interesting book Jerome, one to keep an eye out for!

I'm currently reading this book on aspects of the US Army during its entry into the Great War:

by Edward G. Lengel

[Manray9]

Jerome wrote: "
Just finished this interesting true story of a U.S. Navy officers ordeal after his destroyer was sunk in the Solomon..."

Thanks, Jerome. It's on my TBR.

[happy]

happy wrote: "I just finished Mary Roach's new offering



It's a look at what military scientists are looking at right now, with a l..."

If anyone is interested,I finally got around to typing up my thoughts

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

['Aussie Rick']

I've just started this book on the Welsh Guards in Helmand Province, Afghanistan, in 2009:

Dead Men Risen: The Welsh Guards and the Real Story of Britain's War in Afghanistan by Toby Harnden

[James]

Now starting ON DESPERATE GROUND by Hampton Sides.

I read his book GHOST SOLDIERS last year and really enjoyed it. I haven't read any Korean War history in quite a while (not since Halberstam released THE COLDEST WINTER back in 2008) so hopefully this current book will put me back on azimuth :-)

[sachin nair]

A little work, a little play, by HS Malik ,WWI pilot, later excelled in administrative and foreign service . a great read , especially his experience as a pilot in RFC , lucky one to survive