John Peddie's Roman War Machine - covers the one subject that is the most ignored by historians, both contemporary and ancient. The book is a fantastic look on Roman logistics, and looks for the war machine behind the great armies of Rome. The author's narrative attempts to fill the gaps with his thoughts, and most are quite sound.

J.F.C. Fuller's Caesar: Man, Soldier, Tyrant is an exceptional book. The author's critisism of Caesar is some times harsh, but never without reason, and his points are indeed valid. J.F.C. Fuller examines the man, not the legend, which some historians prefer to portray. He says that the authors contemporary with Caesar and Caesar himself both reveal a general who's legend is out of proportion. I would reccomend this book to those who are just starting out with ancient history, or who have read Caesar's Commentaries and would like a another opinion on them.

The Origins of Western Warfare: Doyne Dawson has written a book that attempts to go to the roots of Western
Warfare, and in the narrative the reader comes to know what "Western" Warfare is.  The book doesn't explain how the nations of Greece and Rome went to war, it barely touches on their methods except to make points about the books true subject, which is why.  Why do nations in the West go to war?  What did Greece and Rome implant in the way of war in the West?  What was their contribution?  Doyne Dawson gives us a good look at all these questions, and lets the reader make their own decision.

Doyne Dawson offers the opinions of many authors from ancient times, the middle ages, the renaissance, and indeed some from the 20th century to answer the questions above.  All these questions, however, are offered to answer the big question and subject of this book, which is can there ever be a future without war? The author says no, warfare shall always be a factor in the history of humanity.  He also gives insight into the most debated topics of our era, which is why is humanity so warlike?  This question again is open to the interpretation of the reader and Doyne Dawson gives an impressive summary of this debate, it's history, and it's debaters.  This question covers many areas of study, including Anthropology, Cultural Ecology (the New Rousseau, as he puts it), Sociobiology (the New Hobbes, as he puts it), and others.

Major-General J.F.C. Fuller's The Generalship of Alexander the Great: This book has for a long time been my choice of books to represent the campaigns of Alexander the Great.  Major-General Fuller has given Alexander's battles more accurate detail and has reworked some of the thoughts of Curtius, Diodorus, and Arrian to meet realistic proportions.  His interpretations of the battles are always very logical and they truly reveal the genius of Alexander's campaigns.  This is one of the only (and perhaps THE only) book that covers the history of Alexander the Great with a purely military focus.  There is no discussion of various legends or other such things in this book.  The book is a wonderful work of scholarship and it is a good read for anyone interested in military history and it is even better if you have basic knowledge of military history.

The Occupation of Japan: John W. Dower has written an excellent account of the American experience in The Occupation of Japan. The attitude of - we can do anything because we are the USA - comes through with the usual problems and with addedones because we had had no experience in this arena. Japan was a very old and sophisticated culture with nuances that escaped all but the most learned and discerning observers.

The section on war guilt is also enlightening as the author dares to ask the almost forbidden question - where was Hirohito at the War Trials?

It is a book for all seaons and I intend to buy a copy.

Lord of the Horizon: I have just started Jason Goodwin's History of the Ottoman Empire--the title is  Lord of the Horizon and it is published by Henry Holt and Company NY NY.  For those of us raised in the West and attending American schools the ottomans are frequently confused with footstools,  Mr. Goodwin an Historian and a journalist writes like a dream combining insight with wit charm and little known facts and observations.  For example, did you know that if you were a Balkan peasant with a Turkish overlord this is the load you would have to carry.  Three days per year working for the lord of the land and an additional 10 percent of your crops as a tax for being a Christian.  That is it!  The author points out that for many Balkan peasants the Turks came as liberators from the much more oppressive yolk of the Christian lords that had been displaced.

It is not a long work nor an academic one--about 300 pages--covering the period 1000 to 1920 BCE a time when the Ottomans sat athwart the bridge between Europe and Asia and caused us no end of grief,  Here is another gem.  In 1389, soon after the infamous battle of Kossovo, the Pope opened up a correspondence with Sultan Bayezit or Yilderim--The Thunderbolt.  The Pope might have been horrified to know that the Sultan planned to stable his horses in the High altar of St. Peters.  I would recommend this book to anyone who would like to learn of these remarkable people, their remarkable and lasting military innovations and their ability to cause Europe and the United States no small degree of concern right down to our present century.

Even if you have seen Izmir, Troy, Constantinople (Istanbul) or Ankara, the book is a treasure trove of information.  The poetic and charming prose is a plus and a pleasure.

Sun Tzu, The Art of War: Not much is known about Sun Tzu. Some information points that he wrote the book while other argue that he never existed. It is generally considered that Sun Tzu, wrote the book during the Warring States period in China, and was a general in Wu's army. Also, Sun Tzu may have went by his Chinese name, Sun Wu. Sun Tzu's training is with the Wu helping to defeat the Ch'u and defending off the barbarian attacks from the north. Sun Tzu is qualified to write The Art of War simply because he helped the small state of Wu defeat a much bigger and larger army of the  state of Ch'u.

We know that Sun Tzu obtained the information for The Art of War by experience the battles and tactics first hand and seeing which tactics seemed to work and what tactics didn't work. Plus, it seems most likely that Sun Tzu confirmed with his lower generals about his tactics. Also, Sun Tzu used spies, so he might have gotten some of information about strategies and tactics that didn't work from his spies in the other states. He also may have had help editing the book by another famous military general who wrote his own "Sun Tzu" style book, called Military Methods by, Sun Pin.

The point of view that Sun Tzu has in The Art of War is of a military one. An example of the military point of view can be found in chapter three, " Planning Offensives"
Sun Tzu states, " The strategy for employing the military is this: If your attack strength is ten times theirs, surround them; if five, then attack them; if double, then divided your forces. If you are equal in strength to the enemy, you can engage him. If fewer you can circumvent him. If outmatched you can avoid him." This obviously means that Sun Tzu used military experience to develop this tactic. Another example is in chapter twelve:

" Incendiary Attacks" Sun Tzu said, " In incendiary warfare you must respond to the five changes of fire:
 If fires start within an enemies camp, then you should attack.
If fires are ignited but their army remains quiet, then wait; do not attack.
When they flare into a conflagration, if you can follow up, then do so; if you cannot, then desist.
If the attack can be launched from outside without inside assistance, initiate it at an appropriate time.
If fires are ignited upwind, do not attack downwind."

Sun Tzu had knowledge of fire attacks and used his military experience from pervious fire battles to created this type of fire tactic.

The thesis that Sun Tzu had in his book, The Art of War is terrain controls where you position your troops and the battle environments. Sun Tzu thought that terrain was so important that he had two chapters about it and word terrain is mentioned throughout his book. Sun Tzu two chapters about terrain are "Configurations of Terrain" and "The Nine Terrain's". In "Configurations of Terrain" Sun Tzu stated, "The major configurations of terrain are accessible, suspended, constricted, precipitous, and expansive." Also, in "The Nine Terrain's" Sun Tzu mentioned, "There is dispersive terrain, light terrain, contentious terrain, traversable terrain, focal terrain, heavy terrain, entrapping terrain, encircled terrain, and fatal terrain." Sun Tzu used these terrain's to strategically position his troops in the battle envoirments to defeat the Ch'u. Plus, terrain is used in chapter one, "Initial Estimations", as a warning not to over look it during a generals initial estimations of the enemy. Even before Sun Tzu would move an army he would make sure his generals knew that, "Someone unfamiliar with the mountains and forests, gorges and defiles the shape of marshes and wetlands cannot advance the army" and " One who does not employ local  guides cannot gain advantages of terrain". So the generals would do the opposite and do employ guides and understand the terrain that they would be traversing through.

The value of The Art of War immeasurable. If a general could successfully master the books hit-and-run tactics that general could defeat any nation on earth. Two prime examples of how valuable this book could be, is when, Ho Chi Men used the books strategies and tactics to defeat the French and later, the United States. This book is designed to be read by the intellectual. The intellectual, would be able to understand what Sun Tzu means by, " In general, in battle one engages with the orthodox and gains victory through the unorthodox". While, an average man might get confused with the sentence's "big" words and thought. The book is interesting if you like the topic and the book can be very boring if you don't. Also, the book can be difficult at times because it is hard to get an image of what Sun Tzu is trying to say and because of the use of outdated and hard to understand words.

Guadalcanal Diary, by Richard Tregaskis:

    The author's point of view in this book is that of a personal and reporter's view. His entire job during the Guadalcanal campaign is to be a war correspondent, that is, to observe and report on what he sees, hears, and is told by his superiors. Evidence of his observations are found in the first chapter where he reports on morale before the landing. He wanders around the ship watching the marines load guns, talk, and clean. He then becomes, "satisfied that this was a peaceful, lazy day of rest almost everywhere on the ship. Everyone seems relaxed despite the fact that probably, today. or tomorrow, we will know where we are headed, where, possibly, we may die or be wounded on a Japanese beachhead." Also, in chapter five, he writes about some of the horrors of the Gaudacanal campaign. After the Tenaru River fight he vists the area and explains, "the stench of bodies strewn along Hell Point and across the Tenarus spit was strong" and, "we saw groups of Jap bodies torn apart by artillery fire, their remains fried by the blast of the shells". He goes on to call this area a, "macabre nightmare" and describes how some of the dead Japs look like. The author adds a personal view by complaining about how, "there is no laundry on Gaudalcanal. It was one of the things the Japs forgot to provide. Apparently they did their own, as we must do now." There is also a little bit of humor located in this book, one of the things the author thought funny at the time was when he decided to sleep in his underwear. During a Jap bombing run, "Col. Hunt and I arrived at the dugout at the same moment. We bumped into each other at the entrance and then backed away and I said, 'You go first, Colonel.' He said politely with a slight bow, ' No, after you'. And we stood there for a few moments arguing the matter, while the shells continued to fall. The colonel too had decided to sleep comfortably last night and now wore only his 'scivvie' drawers and shirt. We must have made a comical couple."
    The author's thesis is that living on Guadalcanal was rugged and dangerous. It was a rugged life because the terrain made it so. The terrain didn't allow for large scale tank attacks as did Russia or Europe. Since the terrain was mostly jungle, combat would be close quarters and each side would suffer lots of causalities. It was dangerous because of the constant bombing of the island by the Japs. As the author points out, "the worst time in a bombing is the short moment when you can hear the bombs coming. Then you feel helpless, and you think very intensely of the fact that it is purely a matter of chance whether or not you will be hit." Another reason that it is dangerous is because of the Jap snipers who would fire not only at the living but at wounded men and priests. Lastly, the author observes that the, " Jap dead are dangerous, for there are usually some among them alive enough to wait until you pass, then stab or shoot you. Our marines had by this time learned to take no chances. The dead were shot again with rifles and pistols, to make sure."
    This book's value is excellent. Since this book was printed in 1943, it is obvious this book was printed for the home front to boost morale. Also, all through out the book the author mentions the heroic deeds of the marines, In my opinion, he does this in order to add quality to the book and to make the public think we are winning by showing patriotic countrymen doing dangerous actions. Surprisingly, a person from, what I'm assuming to be, Toledo, Ohio is mentioned. Here is what the author wrote, " Sgt. Max Koplow (of Toledo, O.) had disposed of the Japs in two dugouts connected by tunnels; he had earlier killed three Japanese who were 'playing dead' amongst the corpses on Gavutu beach."
    This book is designed to be read by the general public. As I stated before, this book was printed to boost morale so this book has to be easy to read and understand. Plus, some words are censored so as not to offend the general public back at the home front. This book is very interesting and I enjoyed this book from the first page. I feel this way because I can get a mental picture of what life was like, how the battles were started, fought and ended and, how important Guadalcanal was. Plus, on the books front and back covers and in the middle are maps and pictures to help one get a visual on how Guadalcanal looked and how it was fought. Lastly, one, in my opinion, should read Gaudalcanal Diary and see the movie, The Thin Red Line to get a full visual interpretation of the battle.

Touched With Fire, by Eric Bergerud: This book was written about the infantrymen of the South Pacific Theatre. I found it very informative, and enjoyable. It focused on the differences between fighting methods, and doctrines of Australian, Japanese, U.S. Army and Marine Infantry. I was impressed by important details like the quality training the Army 25th Infantry Division recieved before it was deployed to Guadalcanal, and the lack of training the 32nd was able to achieve before its first combat. The attention to the weapons of each nation and their effectiveness were commendable, as was the author's ability to enable me to understand the difficulties of jungle warfare of which I knew virtually nothing. I was enlightened especially of the New Guinea Campaign. The sections on New Guinea have convinced me that the most atrocious fighting conditions in the World were here. I don't know how the Australians and the Americans in the 32nd, and 41st Infantry divisions survived it. Very effective book on the nature of the South Pacific Theatre of Operations.

Countdown To Cassino, by Alex Bowlby: A great book, very detailed in the Battle of the Mignano Gap, and the German units defending it. This book covers the Italian Campaign from the arduous pursuit of German forces after the Salerno victory, to the capture of San Pietro further north. It focuses on the mountainous German defense of the little known but fortuitous Bernhardt Line some 20 miles south of Monte Cassino. This line of resistance was errected to buy time for the construction of the infamous Gustav Line hinged on the famous Monte Cassino Benedictan Monestary. The Author does an exceptional job of laying in the plans of each divisions, and the slow but intense fighting on their particular parts of the line. One great example is in the manner he describes how the Germans poured concrete bunkers on the reverse slope of hills to protect them from the massed Allied artillery. The enemy infantry would emerge when the bombardment resided and return unscathed to their trenches instantly. This is the only book that fills a huge gap between the amphibious assault on Salerno, and the monstrous campaign to breach the Gustav Line at Monte Cassino.

The Forgotten War, by Clay Blair: This 1,100 page account of the Korean War is absolutely the most educational book on the war. While it focuses on American units in combat, it succeeds in explaining strategies, and all the political developments very clearly. Exciting, full of explanations, and certainly informative. Of 11 books I used, it was the most important source for my 63 page research paper on the United States Army in Korea. Clay Blair is a no nonsense author. Every page is rich. He describes every unit in battle, how they performed, and why. He isn't just filling pages here, every paragragh has something important to say. He explains the flaw of 8th Army disposition one minute, then takes you to the units fighting for their lives the next. While other books on the Korean War may emphasize only certain aspects of the war, The Forgotten War does the best job encompassing the spectrum of topics within the conflict, also allowing you to get the big picture. This is my favorite military history book of all.

Camp Blanding: Florida Star In Peace and War:Located near St. Augustine, Fla. is a military facility that has been the birthplace or teaching ground for some of the most storied units of the Second World War.  Its name is Camp Blanding.

In his book Camp Blanding: Florida Star In Peace and War retired Maj. Gen. W. Stanford Smith traces the history of the camp from the pre-World War II days through the late 1990s.

Broken into four  sections, Before world War II, The World War II Years, The Years After World War II and Camp Blanding Today the book is an extremely easy yet fascinating read.

Units that used Camp Blanding before overseas shipment in World War II, either for training of for the "birth" of the division read like a who's who of the US Army and are affectionately called "The Blanding Divisions."  They are the:

-  1st Infantry Division
-  29th Infantry Division
-  30th Infantry Division
-  31st Infantry Division
-  36th Infantry Division
-  43rd Infantry Division
-  63rd Infantry Division
-  66th Infantry Division
-  79th Infantry Division
-  And although not a division the men who trained and readied the unit are proud to claim the 508th Parachute Infantry Regiment as one of theirs because it was activated and trained there.

With chapters like Troop Support, Military Police, Off-Duty Time (all in The world War II Years) and Support For Desert Storm (the 101st Airborne Division used the camp to stage aircraft before they were moved to Jacksonville, Fla. for shipment to Saudi Arabia) he writes in an almost folksy style, like a family member passing on the oral and written history of the family to younger generations.

While not as well known or a "household" name like Fort Bragg or other famous posts, Camp Blanding, the men who trained there, and their trainers made some valuable and historic contributions to the war effort, among the units that used the camp as a way-station there were 46 men who earned the Medal of Honor.

Camp Blanding: Florida Star In Peace and War may not be a sexy topic, but it's an easy and often fascinating read any serious World War II researcher should pick up.

Associates of Military History

Generals of the Ardennes: American Leadership in the Battle of the Bulge: Written by J.D. Morelock, Generals of the Ardennes: American Leadership in the Battle of the Bulge, is an amazing study and analysis of the American commanders for the largest US ground battle of World War II.Starting with the state and dispositions of the American forces in the Ardennes area, the book reads easy and flows quickly into chapters about (in order): Eisenhower, his career and an analysis of his leadership in the Bulge, Omar Bradley's career and the history of the 12th Army Group, William Simpson and his Ninth US Army, Troy Middleton and the attack on his VIII Corps, The Defense of St.-Vith: Jones and Clarke with a detailed look at Maj. Gen. Alan Jones (commander of the 106th Infantry Division) and Brig. Gen. Bruce Clarke, commanding Combat Command B of the 7th Armored Division and Heros and Victims of the battle.

Each chapter looks a the life, career and leadership style of the general in question, and compares their actions in the Bulge with decisions made earlier in the war.

In his analysis of the commanders Morelock is quick praise on the commanders deserving of it (Clarke and his mobile defense) and not afraid to criticize commanders when called for.  Some of his harshest words are pointed toward Lt. Gen. Courtney Hodges, First US Army commander. "First Army's successes during the battle seem more the result of initiave of other units than its own.  [Commander of the US V Corps, Maj. Gen. Leonard T. Gerow] began the critical massing of units on the Elsenborn Ridge, not Hodges.  Without prompting from Hodges, Middleton requested the use of the First Army combat engineer units already in the area to flesh out his meager reserves .... And it was Simpson who called Hodges to begin the process of sending the bulk of Ninth Army's combat power to the First Army area.  Weigley assessed First Army as having "a competent staff [that] needed a cool...and dominant commander."  Clearly Hodges was not that man."Although not mentioned in any of the chapter titles Lt. Gen. George Patton and the Third army are covered in the discussion of the 12th Army Group, lest any Patton fans think a shining piece of the Patton legend is overlooked in this book.

From the reading of the book it also becomes clear that Lt. Gen. William Simpson (Ninth Army) is one of the more interesting and sadly, unknown, of the highest level of command in the European Theater.  Hopefully works like this will inspire more research into this steady and more than capable commander.

World War II historians, professional or amateur, should find this a fascinating read.  It kept me awake till the early morning hours and cursing the author when I dragged my body out of bed a few hours later for work.  An excellent read and one I think will wind up on many bed stands or next to computers for reference.

Black Valor - Buffalo Soldiers and the Medal of Honor 1870-1898: The 9th and 10th Cavalry Regiments.  The 24th and 25th Infantry Regiments. From 1870 to 1898  those four units had 23 men earn the Medal of Honor, the United States' highest award for gallantry on the battlefield, in eight separate campaigns.

From the Texas Raid of 1870 to the Spanish-American War in 1898 these units were on the edge.  What separates the men and units from others is that the soldiers mentioned were Buffalo Soldiers, black men who served in the US Army, and the subject of the book "Black Valor - Buffalo Soldiers and the Medal of Honor 1870-1898" by Frank N. Schubert.

Tracing action during the Indian Wars, guarding the paymaster through the wilds of the newly expanding western United States and through the Cuban Campaign of the Spanish-American War "Black Valor" brings to life, and into the light, the story of men, some of whom just a few years before were slaves, as they distinguished themselves in battle.

Called the Buffalo Soldier by the American Indians who saw a similarity between their corse hair and dark skin and that of the coats of the buffalo, the details of these frontier soldiers, carefully researched and brought to life by Schubert, are engrossing and sometimes truly sad.

Like Sgt. George Jordon, Troop K, 9th Cavalry, who received the Medal of Honor for his actions while defending a civilian settlement at Fort Tularosa, N.M.  He would later die after twice being refused admission to a military hospital because he was black.  Or Sgt. William McBryar, Troop K, 10th Cavalry, who earned his honors after fighting a party of attacking Apache Indians on Salt River, Az  He was awarded a volunteer commission as well, but when he retired from the military was not allowed to retain his commissioned rank.

Tracing the history of the black regiments, Schubert paints pictures with his words, while never getting too maudlin, and stating clearly when facts are still, after over 100 years, confused.

Not a work of political correctness, but rather one of stories of soldiers who did extraordinary things in a wicked and sometimes hellish environment. Blacks, whites and any other race will marvel at some of the actions and recoil at the institutional discrimination men who put everything on the line faced when their white officers submitted them for recognition.Anyone with an interest in military history should find this a compelling read.  A high recommendation for "Black Valor." "Black Valor" is published by Scholarly Resources Inc. and while it may be hard to find, worth the search.

Check out The Literate Hussar - The Best Books on War