dborengasser

This is a great one. The dedication itself tells it all,

For Tamina

"No path leads to happiness;
the path itself is happiness."

---Buddha

Vietnam Vet

'Gulag' by Anne Applebaum. About the Russian concentration camps that existed at the same time as the Nazi concentration camps, and killed a lot more people.

https://www.barnesandnoble.com/s/Gulag

G Brown Loc: Sunny Bognor Regis West Sussex UK

I have a boring weekend job in a caravan shop. Fortunately there is a charity shop on site which sells secondhand books at 3 for £1. So I am now reading 2-3 books per week and 'returning' them to the local GP's surgery - they sell them at 2 for £1 so make some money. I get a 'movement' in choice from the charity...Win Win Win.

have fun

LFingar Loc: Claverack, NY

Very appropriate book for a UHH member!

nimbushopper Loc: Tampa, FL

The Hidden Places Of WW II, by Jerome O'Conner. He goes into details of the war that I have not seen before, written from a veterans perspective.

pendennis

In the middle of "The World Wonder'd: What Really Happened Off Samar", by Robert Lundgren. It's the story of the WWII battle in which three outnumbered escort carrier groups valiantly fought a far superior Japanese fleet. A nearly minute-by-minute account of the heroism of American sailors.

Los-Angeles-Shooter Loc: Los Angeles

Sword and Scimitar, about Islam's 1400 year war with the 'West.' A rare combo of scholarly and a thrilling read.

trapper1 Loc: Southside Virginia

"How War Came" by Watt. Incredibly detailed narrative of the events in 1938-1939 that led downhill to the attack on Poland. It featured the actions of the politicos in practically all European countries, how they acted and reacted to others and to events as they occurred. It is the most comprehensive, well-written work on that era I have ever come across. It treats extensively of the small European countries as well as the major ones.The down side is that it is in the 600+ page category. Of course it helps if you are a history major and history buff as I am.

marine73 Loc: Modesto California

I read 3-4 books a week. They range from fiction to tech manuals and everything in-between. I am here read two to my wife one.

Bill 45

I just end reading Paul C. Nagel's book "John Quincy Adams : Public Life, Private Life" He one of the forgot presidents of America.(1824 to 1828). In some way he was a man of all seasons. He was a son of a president( John Adams). He had to deal with alcoholism in his family- brother and two sons die from alcoholism. Yes, I would said read this book to learn about a forget America and what he did for his country.

pendennis

Finished the book on Friday; not a terribly long book, but detailed in the recount of the battle off Samar. It contains a lot of technical information about ship damage at particular areas of the ships; whether on hangar decks, engine/boiler rooms, hull locations, etc. I tried not to get hung up on those aspects, and focus my attention on the actions of the sailors and officers, both American and Japanese.

This book truly reflects the fog of war. While individual ships' captains and crews fought valiantly, especially on the American side. The communications methods of the day made it difficult to keep track of the ships, damages, and orders at times.

The American command structure, from the detached task force levels, seemed to keep the ships moving in and out of weather and smoke, to make the best of a dangerous situation. The Japanese had battleships, cruisers, and destroyers against an American force of escort carriers and destroyers. The Naval aviators provided badly needed cover, and attacked Japanese ships, sometimes with only machine guns. For the mid-1940's, the gunfire on both sides was extremely accurate.

The USS Johnston continued to attack until she was virtually shot dead in the water. After the bridge was destroyed, Captain (Commander) Evans commanded the ship from the stern. Finally, he had to abandon the ship after it started to sink. He, and many of the crew survived, but Captain Evans and a number of others perished before they could be rescued. He was later awarded the Medal of Honor for his heroism.

The Japanese fleet turned and left, headed back to Borneo and Brunei. Admiral Kurita gave the order, and his commanders obeyed without question, allowing the Americans to escape. One of the Japanese captains knew they could win, yet obeyed Admiral Kurita instantly and without question. This battle highlighted the rigidity of the Japanese military.

At the end, I did shed some tears. These were American sailors, many of which were the same age as my father (he also served in the Navy during WWII), and they performed their duties without hesitation knowing they would likely die. They aren't called the Greatest Generation for nothing.

DJphoto Loc: SF Bay Area

One of the most important books I have read recently is "The Hundred-Year Marathon" by Michael Pillsbury about China's plan for world dominance.

SteveR Loc: Michigan

IS IT WRITTEN IN ALL CAPS?

dborengasser

Sorry Steve, my mistake. David B