Mysterious Mike and the Hmong: Secrets of the Secret War in Laos by M H BurtonMy rating: 0 of 5 stars
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Wednesday, January 30, 2019
Review: Mysterious Mike and the Hmong: Secrets of the Secret War in Laos
Mysterious Mike and the Hmong: Secrets of the Secret War in Laos by M H BurtonMy rating: 0 of 5 stars
MWSA Review
MWSA Review Pending
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Tuesday, January 29, 2019
Review: Kato's Grand Adventure
Kato's Grand Adventure by Jasmine TrittenMy rating: 0 of 5 stars
MWSA Review
Jasmine Tritten has written a wonderful story for children in her book Kato's Grand Adventure. The story is about a cat, Kato, who is adopted by a nice family. The day before the family adopted Kato, his sister disappeared from the home in which they were staying while awaiting adoption. Kato is happy with his new home and family, but knows he must leave and search for his sister. In setting forth the trials and adventures Kato experiences in his attempt to find his sister and then return to the safety of his new home, the author spins an interesting tale for any child who likes to read or be read to. The use of a variety of animals to befriend Kato and help him during his adventure adds depth to the story. I recommend this book for all children.
Review by Bob Doerr (January 2019)
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Review: Eddie and Bingo: Destination Christmas
Eddie and Bingo: Destination Christmas by Kathleen and Katherine TaylorMy rating: 0 of 5 stars
MWSA Review
Eddie and Bingo: Destination Christmas by Kathleen Taylor and Katherine L. Taylor is a delightful children’s picture book based on the life of a U.S. Navy sailor. As a sequel to Eddie and Bingo: A Friendship Tale, this book explores the life of a naval combat photographer during the years of the Korean War. The book is a heartwarming tale of normal everyday ship life as well as time spent ashore. Eddie, our “hero” is a regular guy whose kindness and compassion shine through in all he does. After Christmas leave is cut short and Eddie is ordered to return to the ship, the sailors find a meaningful way to share Christmas where they are stationed. And what about Bingo, the dog Eddie discovered on board in the previous book? Rest assured he makes an appearance in this book too, bringing joy to children and sailors alike.
Eddie and Bingo is engagingly illustrated, and children will identify particularly with the facial expressions of the characters throughout the book. They will also find enough detail to capture their attention while someone reads the words of each spread. A brief glossary of navy terms as well as some fun facts are found in the back, along with some of the actual photos taken by the Navy photographer who is the inspiration for this book.
For those who love the Navy or are interested in learning more about combat photographers, this book will provide exceptional conversations with your young ones.
Review by Betsy Beard (July 2018)
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Review: The Consultant
The Consultant by T.J. O'ConnorMy rating: 0 of 5 stars
MWSA Review
The Consultant by Tj O'Connor introduces us to a consultant for the CIA who likes to work alone and to do things his way. His superior believes in sharing information on a need-to-know basis and knows his rogue agent well. Information about Hunter's professional and personal lives are shared with the reader as the story evolves; both are complicated. He arrives home in Virginia in response to a message from his older brother only to witness his brother's dying words. He learns of his brother's family as he struggles with relating to various law enforcers. It's unclear who can be trusted. As he searches for his brother's murderer, he stumbles into much bigger problems as terrorist attacks on civilians escalate and the country seems to be drifting toward another Middle East conflict. At times Hunter uses self-deprecating humor that endears the character to readers. His humor makes the "consultant" more likable in spite of his history of doing horrific things in his line of work. A timely story worth reading.
Review by Nancy Kauffman (July 2018)
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Review: Chopper Heroes: Have Guns Will Travel
Chopper Heroes: Have Guns Will Travel by William PetersonMy rating: 0 of 5 stars
MWSA Review
This read will take your breath away. The harrowing details faced daily by Vietnam chopper crew members are vividly presented. Each brief and deeply personal story creates new visuals of the daily fight to stay alive. Powerfully moved, I felt back in time--similar to punching big buttons on a 60's jukebox full of deep cuts during that era. However, this book's selections were not classic music from long ago. Instead, in an amazing fashion, Chopper Heroes records ordeals faced by our bravest young men in service that are far more powerful than the music back then. Simply stated, I highly recommend this book to those who appreciate valor and enjoy history about potentially forgotten warriors.
Review by Hodge Wood (July 2018)
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Review: Bradley vs BMP: Desert Storm 1991
Bradley vs BMP: Desert Storm 1991 by Mike GuardiaMy rating: 0 of 5 stars
MWSA Review
Mike Guardia’s “Bradley vs BMP: Desert Storm 1991” does an excellent job comparing two of the world’s most well-known Infantry Fighting Vehicles during their first major conflict against each other.
The author organized the book well, comparing attributes such as mobility, protection, and firepower in short, easy to understand paragraphs. In some cases the comparison was augmented with side by side looks at the interior of the vehicle, or the optics each crew had at their disposal.
I especially enjoyed how after the technical comparison of the vehicles, the author launched extensively into the more human side, detailing how the training of the US vehicle crews allowed them to better use the strengths of their vehicles (and diminish its shortcomings), while the Iraqi crews struggled due to lack of training and education. Guardia used this as a platform to discuss the benefits of a professional, all-volunteer force over a mostly conscripted army.
I also appreciated how the author talked about the actual combat between the vehicles by using extensive quotes from the men that fought the battle. Especially interesting was that virtually all the commentary was from junior officers and NCO’s; this made the combat coverage of the book much more realistic.
A well-researched yet easy read, this book will appeal to armor enthusiasts, Desert Storm vets, and professional military officers who enjoy the study of modern warfare.
MWSA Review by Rob Ballister (March 2018)
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Review: Blades of Thunder: Book One
Blades of Thunder: Book One by W. Larry DandridgeMy rating: 0 of 5 stars
MWSA Review
A realistic and accurate depiction of the life a young helicopter pilot in Vietnam. Dandridge shares his experiences and those of his helicopter classmates, unit members and friends to paint a picture of camaraderie and patriotism while fighting one of the most vicious military conflicts in US history. Using his own personal account and those of his fellow troops, Dandridge unfolds the heartache, pain and triumphs of young soldiers who bravely flew “slicks” and “gunships” in an unforgiving war with unforgiving consequences. This book successfully serves as a living tribute to them.
Review by Mick Simonelli (June 2018)
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Review: Air Force One: The Aircraft of the Modern U.S. Presidency
Air Force One: The Aircraft of the Modern U.S. Presidency by Nicholas A VeronicoMy rating: 0 of 5 stars
MWSA Review
Air Force One, The Aircraft of the Modern U.S. Presidency by Robert F. Dorr and Nicholas A. Veronica is the first in-depth history of the iconic airplane with the call sign "Air Force One" indicating that its passenger is the president of the United States. The book is rich in detail and has all manner of fascinating behind-the-scenes glimpses into the flight, operation, and impact of Air Force One. As the authors point out, though people think that Air Force One is the Boeing 747 painted in presidential livery, the call sign actually refers to any aircraft in which the president flies (the exception being the Marine helicopter he uses, whose call sign is "Marine One"). Covering sixty years of history, it is loaded with historical photos and contains many interviews of people who worked at varying aspects of the aircraft. An important addition to the history of the presidency and aviation.
Review by Dwight Zimmerman (July 2018)
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Review: African American Warrant Officers - Their Remarkable History
African American Warrant Officers - Their Remarkable History by Farrell J ChilesMy rating: 0 of 5 stars
MWSA Review
The handsome red, white and blue cover of Farrell J. Chiles’ “African American Warrant Officers: Their Remarkable History,” promises stories of achievements and contributions of the too-long-unacknowledged men and women who have served as warrant officers of the United State Army—those men and women, that is, who administer, manage, maintain, operate and integrate “Army systems and equipment across the full spectrum of Army operations.” A companion volume to Chiles’s earlier collection, “African American Warrant Officers: In Service to Our Country,” this volume honors the centennial of the Army Warrant Officer Corps by presenting individual vignettes of one hundred African American warrant officers. Chiles has compiled these profiles from a variety of sources, some submitted by individual authors, many written and published by Chiles himself in official newsletters such as the “Rocket” and the USAWOA (United States Army Warrant Officers Association) “Newsliner.”
Chiles opens the book with a short chapter defining Warrant Officer (“an adaptive technical expert, combat leader, trainer, and advisor”) and explaining the different grade, ranks and education system for warrant officers. This is followed by a brief overview of the one hundred year history of the Warrant Officers Cohort, established by Act of Congress on 9 July 1918. The main chapters of individual profiles are then grouped by information source such as newsletters, obituaries and Chiles’ earlier collection, “African American Warrant Officers: In Service to Our Country.” Each vignette includes the accomplishments and awards of individual warrant officers along with one to three photographs, and many include personal anecdotes and quotations that provide fascinating glimpses into the warrant officers’ lives.
“African American Warrant Officers: Their Remarkable History” is a handy research guide that offers a series of individual histories rather than the broader history of African American contributions to the Warrant Officer Cohort that the title seems to promise. For his dogged research, writing and publication over the years, we owe a debt of gratitude to Farrell J. Chiles. His work provides the inspiring first steps needed in illuminating the remarkable history of African American serving their country as warrant officers in the U. S. Army.
MWSA Review by Nancy Arbuthnot (August 2018)
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Review: The Adventures of a Helicopter Pilot: Flying the H-34 Helicopter in Vietnam for the United States Marine Corps
The Adventures of a Helicopter Pilot: Flying the H-34 Helicopter in Vietnam for the United States Marine Corps by Bill CollierMy rating: 0 of 5 stars
MWSA Review
Bill Collier’s book The Adventures of a Helicopter Pilot, Flying the H-34 in Vietnam for the United States Marine Corps is a rough-and-tumble journey through initial training to combat flying in the jungles of Vietnam. It is at times gritty, at times funny, and always very, very real. I found myself almost reflecting constantly on the way he described the losses of some of his friends in combat in such a down-to-earth "here one minute, gone the next," sort of fashion.
Through it all, the author cheats death in the air and on the ground, and yet always manages to keep his wits and sense of humor about him. I particularly enjoyed the way he was able to switch quickly between a humorous anecdote and a terrifying flying event, giving the reader some understanding of what it must be like to be scared to death in one moment and then relatively safe thirty minutes later, beer in hand and skin fully intact.
I also enjoyed the way he spoke of the times he was afraid, or of how he dealt (or for a while ignored) his PTSD upon his return. This made the author and the book seem much more real, and he does his fellow vets a service by describing how he eventually discovered that he needed some help.
Vietnam vets, helicopter pilots, and anyone with an interest in military aviation will enjoy this book.
MWSA Review by Rob Ballister (June 2018)
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Review: At First Light: A True World War II Story of a Hero, His Bravery, and an Amazing Horse
At First Light: A True World War II Story of a Hero, His Bravery, and an Amazing Horse by Walt Larimore My rating: 0 o...
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Winged Brothers: Naval Aviation as Lived by Ernest and Macon Snowden by Ernest Snowden My rating: 0 of 5 stars ...
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Dark Waters by Chris Goff My rating: 0 of 5 stars MWSA Review Dark Waters by Chris Goff is an intricate...
