military history

Dec 29 2010

Into the Viper’s Nest by Stephen Grey

Similar to Iraq, I am not sure where our country is headed in Afghanistan. The country seems to be composed of tribes that shift their allegiances depending on the circumstances. Our efforts (going on ten years) sometimes seem to be working, but then at other times, we seem to be running in circles. We have a few successes that are marred by a few defeats (political and military) – the country’s progress is one big blob of mediocrity. Stephen Grey writes about the Battle of Musa Qala in his book entitled Into the Viper’s Nest: The First Pivotal Battle of the Afghan War. The December 2007 battle could be considered a microcosm of the whole conflict.

Musa Qala is a village located in one of Afghanistan’s more contentious provinces – Helmand. This province is key to the opium trade – its fields represent a significant percentage of the world’s opium production. As a result, it is an agricultural gold mine for whoever controls it – even the Taliban with their hard stance against drugs (they use the proceeds from the opium sales to fund their operations). The Afghan government does not openly support the growing of poppies, but corrupt government officials allow it in exchange for kickbacks.

Grey divides the book into several parts: The Rebellion; The Population is the Prize; The Taliban Strikes Back; The Plan; The Battle; and The Aftermath. The book is 308 pages, including an appendix listing the names of all those killed in Helmand Province from September 17, 2007 to March 31, 2008. Grey also includes seventeen black and white photographs (I think these were added to give the reader some visual context because most of them are not of the fighting during the time period covered in the book and I do not think any of them are of the combatants mentioned in the text).I like Grey’s background on the situation in Helmand – how the Taliban were beaten, but then allowed to creep back in because various missteps by NATO and the Afghan government. Grey paints a pretty bleak picture of the Afghan government led by President Hamid Karzai. Many of the officials in the province are corrupt and put their interests before the interests of the people. In addition, many of the NATO forces have blundered by obliterating civilians’ homes without a care. It also took NATO officers long time to embrace the ink blot strategy of counterinsurgency warfare rather than moving from location to location fighting the Taliban.

I think that Grey could have expanded the part on the battle – it is about 120 pages of the 308 pages. Because there were a number of different British and American units involved in the battle, it gets a little confusing trying to remember each of the unit’s objectives and the personnel who belong to each respective unit. The confusion may have been mitigated by placing the maps amongst the text rather than at the end of the book.

Despite some of the confusion in the text, I think this is an excellent book describing the situation in Afghanistan from the macro and the micro level.

By Jeff Grim • Reviews • 0 • Tags: , , , , , , ,

Nov 15 2010

In the Mail: Give Me Tomorrow

Give Me Tomorrow: The Korean War’s Greatest Untold Story–The Epic Stand of the Marines of George Company by Patrick K. O’Donnell

From the Publisher

“What would you want if you could have any wish?” asked the photojournalist of the haggard, bloodied Marine before him. The Marine gaped at his interviewer. The photographer snapped his picture, which became the iconic Korean War image featured on this book’s jacket. “Give me tomorrow,” he said at last.

After nearly four months of continuous and agonizing combat on the battlefields of Korea, such a simple request seemed impossible. For many men of George Company, or “Bloody George” as they were known—one of the Forgotten War’s most decorated yet unrecognized companies—it was a wish that would not come true.

This is the untold story of “Bloody George,” a Marine company formed quickly to answer its nation’s call to duty in 1950. This small band of men—a colorful cast of characters, including a Native American fighting to earn his honor as a warrior, a Southern boy from Tennessee at odds with a Northern blue-blood reporter-turned-Marine, and a pair of twins who exemplified to the group the true meaning of brotherhood—were mostly green troops who had been rushed through training to fill America’s urgent need on the Korean front. They would find themselves at the tip of the spear in some of the Korean War’s bloodiest battles.

After storming ashore at Inchon and fighting house-to-house in Seoul, George Company, one of America’s last units in reserve, found itself on the frozen tundra of the Chosin Reservoir facing elements of an entire division of Chinese troops. They didn’t realize it then, but they were soon to become crucial to the battle—modern-day Spartans called upon to hold off ten times their number. Give Me Tomorrow is their unforgettable story of bravery and courage.

Thoroughly researched and vividly told, Give Me Tomorrow is fitting testament to the heroic deeds of George Company. They will never again be forgotten.

By Kevin Holtsberry • In The Mail • 0 • Tags: , , , ,

Apr 11 2010

Surviving the Reich: The World War II Saga of a Jewish-American GI by Ivan Goldstein

In my second of three reviews I am doing on books about World War II, I decided to read about the experiences of Ivan Goldstein as a tanker in the 11th U.S. Armored Division in the European Theater.  Goldstein writes about his experiences in his book entitled Surviving the Reich: The World War II Saga of a Jewish-American GI.  Goldstein’s book is more about his whole life rather than just on his war experiences.

The book generally traces his childhood growing up in Denver, Colorado in a conservative Jewish family.  Goldstein grew up with a loving mother who did all that she needed to do to keep her family together (his father died when he was a child) - one of his mom’s relatives told her to put her boys in an orphanage.  Goldstein’s love for his mother shows throughout the book.  He not only values his family, but also his religion.

The book then describes Goldstein’s military service.  He ended up in Europe just prior to the Battle of the Bulge.  In his first battle, his tank was destroyed and he was taken captive.  In captivity, he lost more than 100 pounds and needed extensive rehab after his POW camp was liberated.  The last segment of the book covers Goldstein’s post-military career – including his reconnection with his destroyed tank in a Belgian town.

Keep Reading

By Jeff Grim • Reviews • 1 • Tags: , , ,

Apr 6 2010

D-Day: The Battle for Normandy by Antony Beevor

In the next several weeks I will be looking at several books about World War II – possibly the most studied war in American history (with the possible exception of the Civil War, but only because it is older).  The first book I read explores the Normandy Campaign – probably the most studied campaign in World War II.  So, you would wonder why someone would want to delve into this subject again.  But, Antony Beevor chose to explore this subject (I am glad he did) in his latest book entitled D-Day: The Battle for Normandy.

Beevor covers the usual in books about D-Day and the Normandy Campaign – the actual landings, the ensuing fighting to take control of the region, and the break out to Paris.  Beevor describes the actions and reactions of the Americans, British, Canadians, and Germans during the battles – from the generals to the privates.  However, Beevor also writes extensively about the French military forces (under that annoying and super-nationalist De Gaulle) and the French Resistance – how the former hindered operations and how the latter helped.  Yes, the French Second Armored Division helped with the drive to Paris, but their General, Philippe Leclerc, did not always follow orders.  Beevor succinctly points out that De Gaulle and other French leaders were more interested in their own interests rather than the interests of the Allies as a whole.

I like Beevor’s take on the different generals involved in the fighting.  He equally praises and criticizes all of the generals.  Obviously, he criticizes Hitler and his obstinacy in not releasing the panzer divisions to attack and crush the Allied beachheads.  But, he also questions Eisenhower and his bland performance.  He heavily criticizes (rightly so) British Field Marshal Bernard Montgomery – several times his mistakes caused innumerable casualties for the British and Canadian troops.  For example, Montgomery’s tardiness in sacking mediocre commanders caused many men to be killed or wounded unnecessarily.  Beevor proves that Montgomery was not fit to command such a large body of troops – Army Group commander – because Montgomery’s pettiness put his interests in front of the greater goal.

Beevor honors the common soldier as they struggled to survive each day.  He compliments the Germans for doing so well at containing the Allies for as long as they did with the few resources they were given.  According to Beevor, citing statistics and studies, the average German soldier was a better fighter than the average Allied soldier – the Germans believed more of the propaganda their leaders fed them and thus were more motivated to fight harder.  Beevor also praises the Allied soldiers for their ingenuity in dealing with the hedgerow fighting in Normandy – for example devising the hedgehog apparatus for the front of Sherman tanks to plow through the thick hedgerows.

Although Beevor praises the foot soldiers from both sides, he does not hold back on criticizing them as well.  The blatant and nonchalant killing of prisoners was rampant on both sides – especially if the Waffen SS were involved as captors or prisoners.  As the fighting became more heated, it was not uncommon for prisoners to not make it to the rear alive.  Beevor also criticizes Allied soldiers, especially Americans, for their insatiable appetite for plunder – not just from the Germans, but from French civilians as well.  He mentions that tankers were the worst because they could easily store their loot in their tanks.

The book is 523 pages, but do not be discouraged by its size.  Beevor writes with an easy-to-follow prose.  He includes several pages of black and white photographs of the major leaders and action shots from both sides.

I would highly recommend this excellent history of the Allied victory in the Normandy Campaign in World War II.

By Jeff Grim • Reviews • 2 • Tags: , , ,

Jan 27 2010

The Marne, 1914: The Opening of World War I and the Battle That Changed the World by Holger Herwig

Most people’s knowledge of World War I centers around trench warfare – where waves of men climbed out of trenches and were mowed down by machine guns and massed artillery. This was certainly the case for a majority of the war on the Western Front – but, not in the beginning. In the beginning, the action was more fluid and territory was conquered quickly (especially for the Germans) – men were still slaughtered in the thousands.

Holger Herwig captures this action in his book entitled : The Marne, 1914: The Opening of World War I and the Battle That Changed the World. The title is a bit deceiving because it covers more than the epic battle between the French/British against the Germans in early Septemeber 1914. Herwig discusses the plans that the Germans and the French had if a war was to commence between the two countries. The German plan – Schlieffen – called for a large flanking movement around the French Army through Belgium. The French plan – Plan XVII – called for the French to assault the German-occupied Alsace and Lorraine regions and then invade Germany itself.

By Jeff Grim • Reviews • 0 • Tags: , , , ,

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