Need Recommendations for Good War/Military Books For Christmas

Skyman

[skyman]

This is off topic, but I'm going to treat myself to some books for Christmas presents to myself and I'm looking for recommendations.

I especially like military book themes with true stories from any modern war. (They don't need to be the latest books)

One of my recent favorites was, "One Shot One Kill" by Sasser/Roberts. It's a great book with stories of snipers through many wars. The stories are fascinating. I would love to find similar books with true interesting stories through the eyes of tanks drivers, pilots, sailors, etc. or the grunt in the field during war and battles rather than just all factual books.

Although another book I liked was, "Bogeys and Bandits: "The Making of a Fighter Pilot" by Gandt.

What are some of your favorites?

Any suggestions?

Thanks,

Sky

[Texas Eagle]

This sounds like a fun book.

For those who remember when America still had "grit and gumption." And, more importantly, for those who don't 85 stirring tales of valor from 33 American patriots

"I turned on my gun sight before heading toward the target, and as I began the attack, my engine started sputtering and cutting off and on, and then quit, right on final with my nose pointed down at 40,000 Japanese troops." -1st Lt. William Shwab, U.S.A.A.F.

From bail-outs to belly landings ... flaming cockpits to lurching carrier decks ... victory in the air to capture on the ground ... flak dodging to losing friends in battle, the brave men from the Middle Tennessee WWII Fighter Pilots Association fought with backbone in all theaters of combat, using every frontline fighter. And they fought to the finish, as David Kipp recalls:

"I was about 125 miles inland over Japan when I got the call. It was about 11 a.m. and on my way home some Japanese fighter planes came out of the sun. Well, either they didn't believe the war was over, or they were mad, but they came out fighting. Here the war was over, and I had to shoot them down to come home alive."

http://www.conservativebookclub.com

[bootless]

You beat me to it! I saw Flyboys on the rack, too. Looks good, but I don't remember - is it about fighter pilots, bomber pilots...?

[nathanbedford]

I unreserevedly endorse this recommendation.

If you want to gain a real feeling for the most important theater in the most important war, THE FORGOTTEN SOLDIER is uniquely valuable. The author reveals how the German army maintained its famed unit cohesion in the face of unrelieved disasters and unimagined privation.

Simply one of the best war books ever.

[A2J]

I recently picked up a copy of the Harper Encyclopedia of Military Biography at Tuesday Morning for about $15.00 (it retails for over $50.00).

It covers nearly every famous and infamous military leader in history and gives their view of his abilities.

It's a good one.

[185JHP]

"A Station In The Delta", "Huey", "Everything We Had", 'Dispatches", "Last Man Out."

[P-Marlowe]

[agooga]

Open Fire! by Roy Roush. He was a Marine corporal in the Pacific during WWII. It's his remembrances, observations, actions, etc. Very personal, small-scale in a way. You get a great point-of-view experience of an individual soldier fighting on Guadalcanal, Tarawa, Saipan, Tinian, Okinawa and elsewhere. Also covers his service during Korea as an Air Force fighter pilot. Really well illustrated with hundreds of pictures, maps, letters, etc. Published by a small publisher, use this email to order: promack@quik.com. Here's the phone number: (480) 829-9507.

I bought mine from Roy himself at the Ventura Gun Show. He signed my book and told me a few things. It was really great. The book is very interesting and it's nice to help out a vet who's sharing his experience with us.

[Mike Darancette]

"Guns of August" by Barbara W. Tuchman.

Best history of the start of WWI.

[P-Marlowe]

[Nik Naym]

Flyboys is about Navy pilots who were captured by the Japs at Chichi Jima. It goes into a lot of background on not only the fliers themselves, but of the Japanese as well. I have a much clearer understanding of just how warped the average Japanese soldier was then, as well as why.

A great read, but at some points it seems as though the author is trying too hard to be "fair and balanced" by looking for isolated events to show that the U.S. could be just as evil as the Japanese were.

Of particular interest is the story of George Bush getting shot down, and rescued near Chichi Jima. He is was interviewed and is quoted extensively.

All in all a must have for any WW2 history Buff.

Nik

[Psycho_Bunny]

The three books by C. Ryan:  The Longest Day, A Bridge Too Far, and The Final Battle.

[Joe Boucher]

WAR'S END

by Maj Gen Charles Sweeny

He is the pilot of the plane that dropped the 2nd bomb on Japan.
He was the pilot that flew the photography plane during the drop on Hiroshima.

An American Hero.

[Bonaparte]

The Bounty was a good one. Another is Life in Nelson's Navy by Pope (Blue Jacket series).

[Hillarys Gate Cult]

Has anyone read the new book "War Stories" by Oliver North? Has a DVD with it.

[The Coopster]

The Autobiographies of Norman Schwartzkopf and/or Moshe Dayan (sp?). Both great reads, and this from a mostly fiction reader.....