| huevans011 | 16 Jun 2018 8:56 a.m. PST |
Thought I would post this, as I am doing a blitz of war books on Afghanistan and am 3/4 of the way through Clinton Romesha's "Red Platoon". Romesha was a platoon sgt posted in a small, company size outpost in 'ghanistan. The post was isolated, undermanned and hopelessly exposed and one night, it was hit my a major Taliban assault. The base was partly over-run with high casualties to the defenders. Over time, air assets arrived and Romesha and his men put in a counter-attack and retook the base. Romesha is a good writer and a meticulous narrator of both combat details and of the personalities of the men he fought with. The book is absorbing on both levels. You learn tactics, along with how morale works / malfunctions at a small unit level. You learn what happens when claymores malfunction. And how sub unit cohesion falls apart under pressure. So far, this is my war book of the year. Just wondering about the books that stand out for the other members of this board? link |
T Corret  | 16 Jun 2018 9:13 a.m. PST |
I'm fond of Popski's Private Army. Good balance of action and character. |
| Big Red | 16 Jun 2018 9:22 a.m. PST |
WW1: The Storm of Steal, Junger. WW2: Company Commander, Macdonald. WW2: Brazen Chariots, Crisp. Among many others. |
| Tgunner | 16 Jun 2018 9:37 a.m. PST |
Dan Mills' Sniper One is a favorite of mine. link I would also recommend David Zucchino's Thunder Run… link And David Bellavia's House to House too. link Both Sgt. Bellavia and Sgt. Mills' experiences were also documented in Andy McNab's Tour of Duty TV show. Some really intense stuff for sure. Here's a link to the episode that tells Sgt. Bell's story. YouTube link |
| RittervonBek | 16 Jun 2018 9:47 a.m. PST |
Quartered Safe Out Here. G M Fraser. |
| rmaker | 16 Jun 2018 10:02 a.m. PST |
"Bugles and a Tiger" and "Road Past Mandalay" by John Masters. "The Gods Were Neutral" by Robert Crisp |
| jurgenation | 16 Jun 2018 10:22 a.m. PST |
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| Joes Shop | 16 Jun 2018 10:34 a.m. PST |
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| BillyNM | 16 Jun 2018 11:25 a.m. PST |
Diary of the American War: a Hessian Journal by Johann Ewald. |
| Frederick | 16 Jun 2018 12:54 p.m. PST |
With the Old Breed by Eugene Sledge is a pretty good read too! |
| Major Mike | 16 Jun 2018 12:54 p.m. PST |
Sappers in the Wire, life and death of Firebase Mary Ann by Keith Nolan. |
| Bellbottom | 16 Jun 2018 3:24 p.m. PST |
Reach for the Sky The Great Escape The Dambusters All by Paul Brickhill Also The Greatest Raid of All (St. Nazaire) by C E Lucas Phillips |
| jdginaz | 16 Jun 2018 4:23 p.m. PST |
WWII
"Clay Pidgins of St. Lo" by Glover Johns
"If You Survive" by George Wilson
"Bataan: Our Last Ditch" by John Whitman Korea
"Porkchop Hill" by S. L. A. Marshall
Vietnam
"Platoon Leader" by James McDonough
"Small Unit Action in Vietnam Summer 1966" by Frances West
"Seven Firefights in Vietnam" by Major John A Cash
"Infantry in Vietnam"
"A Distant Challenge"
"Armored Combat in Vietnam"
all three by Albert Garland
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John Leahy  | 16 Jun 2018 4:36 p.m. PST |
Agree on the Garland books. Very good.I also really like Company Commander. Sorta depends on how small the criteria is. Thanks. John |
| RJT2003 | 17 Jun 2018 1:48 a.m. PST |
18 Platoon by S. Jary and Company Commander |
| Florida Tory | 17 Jun 2018 7:00 a.m. PST |
We Were Soldiers Once, and Young |
| Fingerspitzengefuhl | 17 Jun 2018 7:20 a.m. PST |
18 Platoon by S. Jary – platoon commander from Normandy to the surrender Quartered Safe Out Here by GM Fraser – Pvt And JNCO in Burma. This is probably the finest account of a section in battle. |
| Oberlindes Sol LIC | 18 Jun 2018 11:38 a.m. PST |
Thanks for all of the recommendations for airplane reading for the next few years! |
| Cke1st | 19 Jun 2018 6:33 p.m. PST |
"Tank Sergeant" by Ralph Zumbro. A superb view of Viet Nam from inside the turret of an M48. |
