THE WORLD WAR TWO GROUP discussion
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I'm Looking for a Book on........
Oh she definitely has an anti-Obama vibe. And in America, the issues are always black and white. I get that. I get that it's about race as much as anything for my fb friend. And I get that her entrenched views on race will not change. But her claims about Estonia being a threat to Russia, about NATO provoking Russia. That I do not understand, because surely such views (by her) are not contingent on her hatred of Obama. And surely it's a view that a knowledge of European history can address.
It's not about race. Obama is a poor leader and has none of the charisma of Putin. To hell with what color or gender anyone is. We are the leader of the free world and we need a leader....and I voted for Herman Cain in the last election. Obama is the Neville Chamberlain of our generation.I will have you know that the Republican party was founded by abolitionists and the Democrats were slave holders. In many ways they still are with all the welfare and food stamps and socialist programs that keep people in their place in exchange for their votes. Good luck with your friend.
Can anyone recommend a book or books on the internment of foreign nationals on the Isle of Man (or elsewhere in the UK) during WWII?
Here's some, Jamie:
by Connery Chappell
by Miriam KochanCollar the Lot! How Britain Interned & Expelled its Wartime Refugees
Hey everyone!I recently read a story about Vice Admiral James Bond "Jim" Stockdale, survivor of a notorious Vietnamese prison camp during the Vietnam War, called the "Hanoi Hilton." I would like to learn more about that infamous camp and Jim's heroism. I know this is a WWII group, but I was wondering if any of you have read about this subject and would be able to recommend some good books.
Thanks in advance!
Ethan
Ethan wrote: "Hey everyone!I recently read a story about Vice Admiral James Bond "Jim" Stockdale, survivor of a notorious Vietnamese prison camp during the Vietnam War, called the "Hanoi Hilton." I would like ..."
U.S. Senator and former presidential candidate John McCain spent six years in the Hanoi Hilton. Check out his --
Faith of My Fathers: A Family Memoir
@Manray9 Thank you! I've added it to my reading list. I actually didn't know John McCain spent time in the Hanoi Hilton. Hey, you learn something new every day!
I knew Jim and Sybil Stockdale, McCain, Throsness, Lerseth (who I worked with), Bud Day (also MOH), Dick Stratton and many others from the Hilton.
This is a different sort of "Looking for a Book" question. I find one of the best aspects of GR is keeping track of what I've read. When one has been reading for six decades that is difficult to do. GR helps, although you have to remember all you read waaay back before GR. Here's a question: I recall a personal account by a young Marine on Guadalcanal. He was a crewmember of a 37 mm anti-tank gun. He didn't encounter a Japanese tank on the Canal, but the gun was effective in firing canister rounds to repel the repeated Japanese infantry assaults. Who remembers such a book?
On Valor's Side by T. Grady Gallant (1963) ?On Guadalcanal, he was a corporal in charge of a 37mm gun which was positioned where the Matanikau River enters the Sea.
Dimitri wrote: "On Valor's Side by T. Grady Gallant (1963) ?On Guadalcanal, he was a corporal in charge of a 37mm gun which was positioned where the Matanikau ..."
Thanks, Dimitri, but that doesn't ring a bell.
Maybe a little off-topic, but I wonder whether my fellow WWII group members can point me to a good Harry S. Truman biography?
Bou wrote: "Maybe a little off-topic, but I wonder whether my fellow WWII group members can point me to a good Harry S. Truman biography?"I think David McCullough's is probably the major one.
Bou wrote: "Maybe a little off-topic, but I wonder whether my fellow WWII group members can point me to a good Harry S. Truman biography?"Bou: Earlier this year I read David McCullough's Truman. I can't imagine there's a better bio than McCullough's.
My take:
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Hi John, hi Manray9, that sounds like a good one. 5 stars I see. Thanks! Will read it and keep you posted.
I think David McCullough's is probably the major one."I concur.
@John, Manray9 and Lee: just finished his biography. I listened this while commuting from and to my work in the car and therefore I wasn't able to take notes, so no extended review. But it was a very good read, thanks for your reccomendation.
I sent a message to Aussie that's longer than World War 2 b/c I needed help looking for few books re my father who fought in Pacific & his brother who played role in Navy near Italy, elsewhere. I hope that you "experts" can suggest a few for me to start off this group:1- My dad was in last shore bombardment of Japan, then their group headed towards Aleutions (near Alaska?) before shipped to arrive in between bombs, so his destroyer, which always made mad, was one of ships up and down Japan where they came aboard to surrender.
- I'd also like book that talks, if possible, about carrier, destroyer, etc group doing "normal" things, if that makes sense when they're not in battle.
- one bat Battle of Midway
2- 2nd issue- my uncle was in PT Boat 9 off Italy during war. Apparently they have quite a history. His boat was found, refurbished, and put on special display at museum in Texas. The family (I couldn't due to stroke) traveled there & were given special permission to get on PT 9 and go below. Don't know navy term, but they found the plaque with Uncle Jim's name as part of original crew.
I'd like any books that cover the team with PT 9
Looking forward to reading other books in this great group. Thanks to anyone who can help!
Kim
^^^ Try Becton's "The Ship That Would Not Die." It's a good insight into how destroyers work, and very readable.
I've a book on HMNZS Gambia, in which it is claimed that she fired the last shell at Japan. It's not a particularly footnotey book. But it's a good story.
Kim wrote: "I sent a message to Aussie that's longer than World War 2 b/c I needed help looking for few books re my father who fought in Pacific & his brother who played role in Navy near Italy, elsewhere. I h..."If you have already read something in regards to Midway. I would suggest.
Shattered Sword: The Untold Story of the Battle of Midway
This book is fantastic and goes a long way to explaining things like the differences between US and Japanese Carriers, Radar and tactics. However it isn't quite stand alone.
kim, the PT boat is most likely the PT-309 which is on display at the National Museum of the Pacific War in Fredericksburg, Texas.It's billed as the only restored PT that saw action, Ital campaign.
along w/a lot of other fun stuff at their site, here's a look at the PT:pacificwarmuseum.org/your-visit/pt-bo...
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Geevee, Assisting Moderator British & Commonwealth Forces
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Hi Kim,These are the official US Navy histories of WWII. They are vert readable and do provide good information on actions and battles. They'll cover the areas and times your Dad was in those areas and also have some of the out of action information although not ship life. Hope they are of some help: https://www.goodreads.com/series/56898
Kim:You came to the right place for book recommendations. The book which was recommended on the USS Laffey is a good one, and there's also this one which I highly recommend:
Hell from the Heavens: The Epic Story of the USS Laffey and World War II's Greatest Kamikaze AttackIf you want a book which provides lots of detail of life aboard a major ship in the Pacific, check out this one:
Pacific War Diary, 1942-1945: The Secret Diary of an American SoldierThere's also the History of U.S. Naval Operations written by Samuel Eliot Morison. While it doesn't go into complete detail on everything, it does hit everything at least a little bit.
Hope this helps!
Well, Aussie sure sent me to the right place regarding books. Marc, Geevee, Carl, and DJ, thank each of you so much for each sending me into one of the areas I asked about when it comes to my father in the Pacific and his brother in the Atlantic. (They were in the process of transferring my uncle and others to the Pacific to help end that part of the war, but you all probably know that.Carl, you were right that Uncle Jim's PT was 309, but they actually called it Oh, Frankie. Rumor has it that in the final days before leaving NYC, Frank Sinatra came around. By the time it was over, there was some discipline passed out. While he was in Italy, they had a dog for several yrs names Oh Frankie.
Carl do you know of any books ant PT books? Thanks again each of you for finding me books to start off my military reading.
You're wonderful!! Kim
Kim:You might want to try this one for a quick read on PT boats:
Devil Boats: The PT War Against Japan
Thanks Marc! Again, you're one of my heroes! I look forward to getting to know you all a little better as time goes onKim
Well done group members in helping Kim out in regards to her search for those books of interest, many thanks.
Kim wrote: "Thanks Marc! Again, you're one of my heroes! I look forward to getting to know you all a little better as time goes onKim"
Always glad to help, Kim. Having read books on World War II for nearly 40 years, I can comfortably say I can at least recommend a book on virtually any World War II topic.
Yeah thanks Marc, and any others who want to join in on a suggestion. Only PT specific book I can recall reading would be from elementary school days, PT-109.
Maybe when they finish the renovation where Uncle Jim's PT is in Texas they'll at least put together something then. I'm going to remember how helpful you'll been for this newcomer. I'm hoping to hit several books you recommend later this fall.Kim E
Kim. E. wrote: "Maybe when they finish the renovation where Uncle Jim's PT is in Texas they'll at least put together something then. I'm going to remember how helpful you'll been for this newcomer. I'm hoping to h..."Just remembered another book on PT boats you might want to check out if possible:
United States Pt-Boats of World War II in ActionThis one has a whole chapter on PT Boats in the Mediterranean, as well as lots of pictures.
Fantastic Marc! I'll put that at the top of my list!
My son's AP English class is taking a hard look at "Farewell to Manzanar" and the US internment camps. For a research topic, he went for the Nisei interpreters in the Pacific. A quick spin through my library last night turned up some books with references to the Allied Translation Intelligence Service, and its leader, Sidney Mashbir.Anyone have suggestions to go deeper? So far, I've got mentions in
,
,
.I also found that the Army's Center for Military History has a monograph downloadable.
Anything else?
Can somebody recommend a book about Gestapo please
Hi Michal,I've only actually read one book on the Gestapo and it was some time ago:
The Gestapo: A History of Hitler's Secret Police by Rupert Butler
I ask for book they give me 4. Love this group. Thank you guys!
Hi, This may be the wrong group for help with this, but I'm looking for good detailed research material on US (not British) WWII home front issues, details of conscription and exemptions beyond the list of basic categories, and any information on the home front, particularly on the US West Coast. This is being more difficult to research than I expected. Battle research seems to receive most of the attention.If anyone can suggest books I'd appreciate it. Thanks!
These two come up a lot:
Wartime America: The World War II Home Front
Home Front U.S.A.: America During World War IIThe standard work, the legacy of the WWI precedent and a few peculiarities of the draft:
Serving Our Country: Japanese American Women in the Military during World War II
Women Against the Good War: Conscientious Objection and Gender on the American Home Front, 1941-1947
The Draft, 1940-1973 
To Raise an Army: The Draft Comes to Modern AmericaThe search issue is of course to separate the Pacific war from the Pacific coast... apart from the general Home Front and the draft, are the invasion scare of 1941 or the Nisei (both interned and in the service) important to you ?
P.S. to really map the herd, Questia lists 200+ titles:
https://www.questia.com/searchglobal#...
I'll be writing after the invasion scare and although there will be reference to the internments, (1943 is my tentative year) I will be writing after both happened. It is going to have a civilian setting so any male characters will of necessity be exempt, disabled or possibly conscience objectors. I tend to be pretty anal about research so I want to be sure I make how that would have happened historically accurate. Apparently there was a lot of variation in which or when certain occupations were exempted, for example. And I have in mind one particular character who was discharged because of injuries and have no clue how that worked. It will be set in Portland, OR by the way.Thanks for all the suggestions.
ETA: I had already ordered, although I haven't yet received, the Winkler book but the rest are new to me, so your list is very helpful. Thanks again. :)
J.R. wrote: "Hi, This may be the wrong group for help with this, but I'm looking for good detailed research material on US (not British) WWII home front issues, details of conscription and exemptions beyond the..."J. R. -- How about --
Let the Good Times Roll: Life at Home in America During World War II by Paul Casdorph
J.R. wrote: "Hi, This may be the wrong group for help with this, but I'm looking for good detailed research material on US (not British) WWII home front issues, details of conscription and exemptions beyond the..."Another home front book--California focused:
The Bad City in the Good War: San Francisco, Los Angeles, Oakland, and San Diego
J.R. wrote: "I'll be writing after the invasion scare and although there will be reference to the internments, (1943 is my tentative year) I will be writing after both happened. It is going to have a civilian s..."JR, I saw your other info request on Kboards re medical discharges and enlistment screenings, but prefer not to register there to post - this link has some general info, but more importantly footnote references to some pertinent War Department Directives, Memos, etc.
http://history.amedd.army.mil/booksdo...
THE WORLD WAR TWO GROUP
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Relax. I think she admires Putin for some of the same reasons that many Americans admire putin. He is a man and not some Namby-pamby, left-wing ideologue, weak, girly-man like the inadvertent founder of ISIS President Obama...A weak, apologetic socialist that is running the United States into the ground while undermining our allies. Oh how I long for a man like Teddy Roosevelt...I would settle for another Jimmy Carter over Barack Hussein Obama.