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Packed for the Wrong Trip: A New Look inside Abu Ghraib and the Citizen-Soldiers Who Redeemed America’s Honor
by W. Zach GriffithHow an Unprepared, Undertrained Group of Maine National Guard Troops Went to Abu Ghraib to Fix the Irreparable The prison at Abu Ghraib was still a relatively unknown part of America’s War on Terror when with no special training and their gear lost somewhere between the United States and Baghdad the 152nd Field Artillery Battalion of the Maine National Guard was sent there to serve as guards in February 2004. Just before their arrival, the now infamous photos of the abuses suffered by the prisoners hit the world stage. Abu Ghraib became the focal point not only for global condemnation but for the insurgents’ outrage. Over the next year, the 152nd would come under attack by snipers, suicide bombers, vehicle-borne IEDs, and constant rocket and mortar fire. Yet at the same time, the Mainers would form close bonds with some of the prisoners, among them an Iraqi boy struck by a mortar in one of two mass casualty events, and Kamal, a community leader who acts as an envoy between the detainees and the soldiers and yet is assassinated after his release for helping the Americans. The men of the 152nd were an eclectic group of citizen-soldiers caught in one of the darkest corners of the war in Iraq. Packed for the Wrong Trip tells the true story of how they relied on each other and their own ingenuity to survive and to transform one of the most inhumane detainee centers into a functioning, humane prison or as close to one as you could get when tucked between Baghdad and the insurgent stronghold of Fallujah.Skyhorse Publishing, as well as our Arcade imprint, are proud to publish a broad range of books for readers interested in history—books about World War II, the Third Reich, Hitler and his henchmen, the JFK assassination, conspiracies, the American Civil War, the American Revolution, gladiators, Vikings, ancient Rome, medieval times, the old West, and much more. While not every title we publish becomes a New York Times bestseller or a national bestseller, we are committed to books on subjects that are sometimes overlooked and to authors whose work might not otherwise find a home.
Packing Inferno
by Tyler E. BoudreauTyler E. Boudreau is a twelve-year veteran of the Marine Corps infantry. He trained and committed himself physically and intellectually to the military life. Then his intense devotion began to disintegrate, bit by bit, during his final mission in Iraq. After returning home, he discovered a turmoil developing in his mind, estranging him from his loved ones and the bill of goods he eagerly purchased as a marine officer. Packing Inferno is the spectacularly written story of the ordeal of a marine officer in battle and then coming home. It is the struggle with a society resistant to understand the true nature of war. It is the fight with combat stress and an exploration into the process of recovery. It is the search for conscience, family, and ultimately for one's essential self. Here are the reflections of a man built by the Marine Corps, disassembled by war, and left with no guidance to rebuild himself. This is Tyler E. Boudreau's first book. He currently lives in western Massachusetts, where he works with other veterans on many projects related to war.
Paco's Story
by Larry HeinemannPaco Sullivan is the only man in Alpha Company to survive a cataclysmic Viet Cong attack on Fire Base Harriette in Vietnam. Everyone else is annihilated. When a medic finally rescues Paco almost two days later, he is waiting to die, flies and maggots covering his burnt, shattered body. He winds up back in the US with his legs full of pins, daily rations of Librium and Valium, and no sense of what to do next. One evening, on the tail of a rainstorm, he limps off the bus and into the small town of Boone, determined to find a real job and a real bed-but no matter how hard he works, nothing muffles the anguish in his mind and body. Brilliantly and vividly written,Paco's Story plunges you into the violence and casual cruelty of the Vietnam War, and the ghostly aftermath that often dealt the harshest blows. <P><P> Winner of the National Book Award
Pact with the Devil: He fought for the Führer
by Jeff SteelMax had enjoyed the camaraderie in the Hitler Youth organisation. His week at the Berlin Olympics was a life-time highlight. He saw the Führer and fell in love with Inge. He loved the Third Reich. Russia was where it started going wrong. He knew primal fear as the ruthless Red Army attacked in countless numbers. He was repulsed at the order to march innocent Jews to the SS awaiting in the forest. What would a refusal mean? The reality was unspoken but understood; there was no escape. Posted to Berlin, Max knew that each successive air raid edged him closer to death. The nightly terror was tempered by wonderful days spent with Inge. Until her nurses&’ barracks were struck by a bomb. If he searched for her, his desertion meant death. The German army was being over-run. Max, a sadder and a wiser man, had come little by little to understand the cause for which he had pledged his life; he also knew that cause was lost. But how could he survive? How could he find Inge?An impelling and rare exposé of Nazi Germany. Based on the true story of a recruit to the Hitler Youth.
Paddy Mayne: Lt Col Blair 'Paddy' Mayne, 1 SAS Regiment
by Hamish Ross‘Paddy’ Mayne was one of the most outstanding special forces leaders of the Second World War. Hamish Ross’s authoritative study follows Mayne from solicitor and a rugby international to troop commander in the Commandos and then the SAS, whose leader he later became and whose annals he graced, winning the DSO and three bars, the Croix de Guerre and the Légion d’Honneur.Mayne’s achievements attracted attention, and after his early death legends emerged, based largely on anecdote and assertion. Hamish Ross’s closely researched biography challenges much of the received version, using contemporary sources, the official war diaries, the chronicle of 1 SAS, Mayne’s papers and diaries, and a number of extended interviews with key contemporaries. It has the support of the Mayne family and the SAS Regimental Association.In Ross’s analysis Mayne is a dynamic, yet principled and thoughtful man, committed to the unit’s original concepts; not flawless, but whose leadership qualities and tactical brilliance in the field secured the reputation of the SAS.
Padre Mac: The Autobiography of Murdo Ewen Macdonald of Harris
by Murdo Ewen MacdonaldThe autobiography of a Scottish professor, army chaplain, World War II veteran, and prisoner of war. From a croft in the Hebridean island of Harris to the grim confines of the Nazis&’ notorious prisoner-of-war camp Stalag Luft III and the hallowed of Glasgow University, the life of Murdo Ewen Macdonald was one of extraordinary variety and richness. Macdonald was ordained as a Church of Scotland minister in 1939 and joined the military in 1940. After volunteering in the First Parachute Brigade, he was sent to North Africa where, during a catastrophic mission in which he was severely wounded, he was taken prisoner in 1942. At the infamous Stalag Luft III he supported countless prisoners through their POW experience and assisted the 76 men who took part in the famous Great Escape. After the war he served in various charges in Scotland before being appointed Professor of Practical Theology at Glasgow University, a post which he held to his retirement in 1984. In this much acclaimed book, he looks back over his long and eventful life.Praise for Padre Mac&“When we read this book, we find ourselves in the presence of an exceptional man.&” —Iain Crichton-Smith
Paducah and the Civil War (Military)
by John Philip CashonDespite Kentucky's aim to keep a neutral position in the Civil War and Paducah's Confederate tendencies, the Union captured the town soon after Confederate troops occupied Columbus. As a result, the Tennessee River and the Cumberland River became permeable entry points for infiltrating farther south and maintaining supply lines deep into Confederate states. That strategic advantage was halted when Confederate general Nathan Bedford Forrest invaded the town during the Battle of Paducah. Ultimately, a combination of guerrilla warfare tactics and General Eleazer Paine's Reign of Terror contributed to the Union's final victory over Paducah. Historian John Cashon recounts the tumultuous struggle for Paducah during the War Between the States.
Pagan: A Novel (Casemate Classic War Fiction #9)
by W. F. MorrisThe horrors of World War I continue to haunt two veterans on holiday in 1930s France in this &“stirring&” novel (Books Monthly). In the War to End All Wars, Charles Pagan and Dick Baron fought side by side and survived the slaughter. Over a decade later, they return to France not as soldiers but as tourists, taking a serene walking holiday through the Vosges Mountains. But their idyll soon turns dark when they stay at a remote country guesthouse. The locals are secretive and frightened, breaking their silence only to warn the visitors against visiting an old battlefield nearby. Having seen many such fields under fire, Pagan and Baron consider such apprehensions nonsense—until one night when Pagan thinks he&’s glimpsed an apparition on the moonlit battlefield . . .
Paid To Be Safe: Imperial War Museum Wartime Classics
by Margaret MorrisonWhen Singapore falls to Japan's Imperial army in early 1942, the life that Susan Sandyman has lovingly created abroad is shattered. Forced to flee home to the hamlets of southern England, she can either succumb to grief or find solace in war work. When a chance encounter with the elusive Air Transport Auxiliary pilots stirs a spark of excitement, Susan's decision is made.Based on the authors' own experiences with the ATA, Paid To Be Safe vividly captures the gruelling training and day-to-day life of female ferry pilots. To these women, the allure of the Spitfire is more than just the freedom to fly, but an invitation to start anew. Detailing their camaraderie, bravery and romantic encounters, this classic novel explores the depths of personal loss during conflict and the healing powers of love, family and friendship.(P)2023 Headline Publishing Group Ltd
Paid in Blood (NCIS Series, Book #1)
by Mel OdomPolitical unrest blankets the world. An NCIS agent is found murdered in North Carolina. A U.S. Marine with ties to the South Korean black market is assassinated in Chinhae. Colombian cocaine is discovered in Moscow. AND OLD SOVIET NUCLEAR MISSILES HAVE GONE MISSING, The stage is set for world destruction. Only Will Coburn and his team of dedicated NCIS agents can stop it. BUT TIME is RUNNING OUT. This groundbreaking new novel from best-selling author Mel Odom moves from the Middle East to Japan, from the U.S. to South Korea, from a remote village in eastern Russia to the South China Sea. Will Coburn and his team must fight against a countdown to global decimation as they race to uncover the face of true evil.
Pain Is Weakness Leaving the Body: A Marine's Unbecoming
by Lyle Jeremy RubinAn honest reckoning with the war on terror, masculinity, and the violence of American hegemony abroad, at home, and on the psyche, from a veteran whose convictions came undone When Lyle Jeremy Rubin first arrived at Marine Officer Candidates School, he was convinced that the &“war on terror&” was necessary to national security. He also subscribed to a strict code of manhood that military service conjured and perpetuated. Then he began to train and his worldview shattered. Honorably discharged five years later, Rubin returned to the United States with none of his beliefs, about himself or his country, intact. In Pain Is Weakness Leaving the Body, Rubin narrates his own undoing, the profound disillusionment that took hold of him on bases in the U.S. and Afghanistan. He both examines his own failings as a participant in a prescribed masculinity and the failings of American empire, examining the racialized and class hierarchies and culture of conquest that constitute the machinery of U.S. imperialism. The result is a searing analysis and the story of one man&’s personal and political conversion, told in beautiful prose by an essayist, historian, and veteran transformed.
Paine Field (Images of Aviation)
by Steve K. BertrandPaine Field was named in honor of hometown hero Topliff Olin Paine, an Army Air Corps pilot during World War I. Located 6 miles south of Everett and 20 miles north of Seattle, Paine Field-- known as Snohomish County Airport--got its start as a WPA project in the 1930s. Situated on 1,000 acres, this airport was shaped by numerous events, such as World War II, the Korean War, and the arrival of Boeing, as well as social, political, and environmental issues that continue to influence its destiny. Throughout its 77-year history, Paine Field has continued to evolve into a thriving aviation community. At the heart of its success has been the key role of general aviation. A rags-to-riches story, Paine Field has grown from a small regional airport into an aeronautical complex that garners worldwide attention.
Painting War: A History of Australia's First World War Art Scheme (Australian Army History Series)
by Margaret HutchisonDuring the First World War the Australian Government established an official war art scheme, sending artists to the front lines to create a visual record of the Australian experience of the war. Around two thousand sketches and paintings were commissioned and acquired between 1916 and 1922. In Painting War, Margaret Hutchison examines the official art scheme as a key commemorative practice of the First World War and argues that the artworks had many makers beyond the artists. Government officials' selection of artists and subjects for the war paintings and their emphasis on the eyewitness value of the images over their aesthetic merit profoundly shaped the character of the art collection. Richly illustrated, Painting War provides an important understanding of the individuals, institutions and the politics behind the war art scheme that helped shape a national memory of the First World War for Australia.
Painting and Finishing Techniques
by Gary EdmundsonAlthough many modelers can master the basic techniques of construction, it is with the painting and finishing of their kits that many begin to struggle. It is this skill that gives the model its distinctive look and feel and separates the good model form the truly great one. This title will present a detailed, step-by-step approach to addressing the difficulties involved in creating realistic, colorful finishes to armor and aviation models using a variety of different media and techniques. The book swill be aimed at both the beginner and the intermediate modeler looking to improve their skills and, through clear text and photography will give a chapter-by chapter guide to the subject. Each stage will deal with a particular element of the painting and finishing process, whether it be creating camouflage schemes or dealing with markings and decals, to build into a comprehensive study of the subject. Relevant tools and materials will be included in sidebars, whilst a Gallery feature will highlight the range of color schemes and finishes available throughout the world of military and aviation modeling.
Pakistan's War on Terrorism: Strategies for Combating Jihadist Armed Groups since 9/11 (Asian Security Studies)
by Samir PuriThis book examines Pakistan's strategies in the war against Islamist armed groups that began late 2001, following the 9/11 attacks. The significance of the war inside Pakistan can hardly be understated. Starting in the tribal territories adjacent to Afghanistan, Pakistan’s war has come to engulf the majority of the country through a brutal campaign of suicide bombings. Thousands of Pakistani lives have been lost and the geostrategic balance of the region has been thrown into deep uncertainty. Pakistan's War on Terrorism is an account of a decade-long war following the 9/11 attacks, that is yet to be chronicled in systematic fashion as a campaign of military manoeuvre and terrorist reprisal. It is also an analytic account of Pakistan’s strategic calculus during this time, both in military and political terms, and how these factors have been filtered by Pakistan’s unique strategic culture. This text will be of great interest to students of Asian Politics, Terrorism and Political Violence, and Security Studies in general.
Pakistan's Wars: An Alternative History
by Tariq RahmanThis book studies the wars Pakistan has fought over the years with India as well as other non-state actors. Focusing on the first Kashmir war (1947–48), the wars of 1965 and 1971, and the 1999 Kargil war, it analyses the elite decision-making, which leads to these conflicts and tries to understand how Pakistan got involved in the first place. The author applies the ‘gambling model’ to provide insights into the dysfunctional world view, risk-taking behaviour, and other behavioural patterns of the decision makers, which precipitate these wars and highlight their effects on India–Pakistan relations for the future. The book also brings to the fore the experience of widows, children, common soldiers, displaced civilians, and villagers living near borders, in the form of interviews, to understand the subaltern perspective. A nuanced and accessible military history of Pakistan, this book will be indispensable to scholars and researchers of military history, defence and strategic studies, international relations, political studies, war and conflict studies, and South Asian studies.
Pakwagen SDKFZ 234/3 and 234/4 Heavy Armoured Cars: German Army, Waffen-SS and Luftwaffe Units—Western and Eastern Fronts, 1944–1945 (LandCraft #11)
by Dennis Oliver"...squeezes a lot of useful information into a modest 64 pages and is a useful addition to any library of German armored cars." — War WheelsExperience in the Polish and French campaigns had convinced the German high command of the value of fast-moving, armed reconnaissance vehicles. But it was realised that many of the early designs were too lightly-armed and development of a heavy eight-wheeled prototype resulted in the Sdkfz 234 series of armored cars, the first of which entered service in late 1943. Built by the firm of Büssing-NAG, these sturdy and reliable vehicles were gradually up-armed and served in the infantry support role and eventually as tank killers, largely as the result of Hitler's desperation to arm as many vehicles as possible with anti-tank weapons. Drawing on official documentation and unit histories Dennis investigates the formations that operated these vehicles and uses archive photos and extensively researched color illustrations to examine the markings, camouflage and technical aspects of the Sdkfz 234/2, 234/3 and 234/4 armored cars that served on the Western and Eastern Fronts in the last months of the war. A key section of his book displays available model kits and aftermarket products, complemented by a gallery of beautifully constructed and painted models in various scales. Technical details as well as modifications introduced during production and in the field are also examined, providing everything the modeller needs to recreate an accurate representation of these historic vehicles.
Palabras huérfanas: Los niños y la Guerra Civil
by Verónica SierraLa historia de todos los niños que vivieron La Guerra Civil basada en sus cartas, diarios, cuadernos, redacciones y dibujos. En el 70 aniversario del fin de La Guerra Civil, el emocionante testimonio de las víctimas más inocentes de la guerra, los niños. En 1937, una España dividida en dos sufría los efectos de un conflicto que se preveía largo y cruel. Muchos niños padecieron la separación de sus familias y la muerte de sus seres queridos; vieron cómo la violencia y la venganza se adueñaron de sus calles; tuvieron que hacer frente a la escasez de alimentos, a la insalubridad y la enfermedad; vivieron los efectos de los bombardeos? Otros muchos tuvieron que huir. Alrededor de 30.000 niños protagonizaron el primer exilio del pueblo español. Francia, Bélgica, Inglaterra, México o Rusia abrieron sus puertas a los niños españoles. Este libro reconstruye, setenta años después, la historia deaquellos niños, de los que se quedaron y, especialmente, de los que tuvieron que dejarlo todo para poder sobrevivir y nunca volvieron. Y lo hace a partir de los documentos -cartas, diarios, cuadernos, redacciones y dibujos- que éstos, con sus letras temblorosas e inexpertas, escribieron entonces. Testimonios impresionantes de aquel tiempo convulso en los que ha quedado la huella de una historia de encuentros y desencuentros, de pasiones y represiones, de esperanzas y sufrimientos, en la que, por encima del bien y del mal y de las diferencias ideológicas de los dos bandos contendientes, reposa la memoria de unos niños que lo único que quisieron fue vivir en paz y recuperar aquella infancia que la guerra les robó.
Palace Cobra: A Fighter Pilot in the Vietnam Air War
by Ed RasimusPalace Cobra picks up where Ed Rasimus's critically acclaimed When Thunder Rolled left off. Now he's flying the F-4 Phantom and the attitude is still there.In the waning days of the Vietnam War, Rasimus and his fellow pilots were determined that they were not going be the last to die in a conflict their country had abandoned. They were young fighter pilots fresh from training and experienced aviators who came back to the war again and again, not for patriotism, but for the adrenaline rush of combat. From the bathhouses and barrooms to the prison camps of North Vietnam, this is a gripping combat memoir by a veteran fighter pilot who experienced it all.The wry cynicism of a combat aviator will give readers insights into the Vietnam experience that haven't been available before, and the heart-stopping action will keep readers turning the pages all night.
Palace Wagon Family: A True Story of the Donner Party
by Margaret SuttonThe Donner party is the name given to a group of emigrants, including the families of George Donner and his brother Jacob, who became trapped in the Sierra Nevada mountains during the winter of 1846-1847. Nearly half of the party died, and some resorted to eating their dead in an effort to survive. The experience has become legendary as the most spectacular episode in the record of Western migration.This is a story about the ordeal that the Donner Party faced on their trek to California. This story is told from Virginia Reed’s (Patty’s older sister) point of view, and is a tale of indomitable courage on the American frontier. The book portrays the theme of how families had to work together to overcome the many struggles of day to day life on the wagon trail.
Palace of Tears
by Anna KingHope is the only refuge for those left behind . . . A classic saga of World War One from the author of A Handful of Sovereigns. When Emily Ford&’s kindly employers decide to escape the Zeppelin raids that bedevil Hackney in 1916, the pretty housemaid is delighted to return to her parents for an unexpected break. But the holiday proves anything but peaceful. If finding her mother Nellie in hospital after a savage beating from her husband wasn&’t enough, Emily&’s plight deepens when she yields to the advances of Tommy, a young soldier, and becomes pregnant with his child. Not for nothing is Victoria station nicknamed the &“palace of tears.&” As trainloads of men leave for the Western Front, and Emily says goodbye to Tommy, she is left contemplating the life of a single mother. Yet amidst the devastation, happiness still lies within her grasp . . .
Pale Blue: A Thriller (Blue Gemini #3)
by Mike JenneAs the Project enters its final phase, Air Force Majors Carson and Ourecky are dispatched on an urgent mission to intercept and investigate a massive orbiting object suspected of harboring nuclear weapons. Emotionally exhausted, with his marriage teetering on the brink, Ourecky reluctantly accepts the assignment; in return for his sacrifice, he is promised an opportunity to go to MIT to pursue the Ph.D he has long desired.As they draw close to the mysterious satellite and prepare to destroy it, they are confronted with a dark secret that they will carry forever, and are forced to contemplate their own mortality and the dire prospect of dying in space.On their return to earth, they are offered an opportunity almost too good to pass up, which entails flying into orbit yet again, except under considerably different circumstances. Ourecky wrestles with his decision, knowing that choosing to fly will almost certainly result in the loss of his marriage while Carson is finally granted an opportunity to fly in Vietnam. Although he is finally allowed to fulfill his dream of flying in combat, Carson soon discovers that there are some fates worse than death.Pale Blue is the epic, high-flying conclusion to the Blue Gemini trilogy that will leave you breathless.Skyhorse Publishing, as well as our Arcade, Yucca, and Good Books imprints, are proud to publish a broad range of books for readers interested in fiction-novels, novellas, political and medical thrillers, comedy, satire, historical fiction, romance, erotic and love stories, mystery, classic literature, folklore and mythology, literary classics including Shakespeare, Dumas, Wilde, Cather, and much more. While not every title we publish becomes a New York Times bestseller or a national bestseller, we are committed to books on subjects that are sometimes overlooked and to authors whose work might not otherwise find a home.
Pale Horse: Hunting Terrorists and Commanding Heroes with the 101st Airborne Division
by Jimmy BlackmonPale Horse is the remarkable never-before-told true story of an army aviation task force during combat in the Afghan War, told by the commanding officer who was there. Set in the very valleys where the attacks of 9/11 were conceived, and where ten Medals of Honor have been earned since that fateful day the war began, the narrative races from ferocious firefights and bravery in battle to the quiet moments where the courageous men and women of Task Force Pale Horse catch their breath before they take to the skies again. Jimmy F. Blackmon writes with a power and hard-hitting honesty that leaps off the page. He has the respect of the men and women of his brigade, and a command of the narrative to tell their story. From pilots of lethal Apache attack helicopters who strike fear in their enemies to the medevac soldiers who risk their lives daily, these are warriors from a variety of backgrounds who learned selflessness and found the closest brotherhood they ever knew through the crucible of war. Pale Horse both honors and commemorates the service of this elite task force from the unique vantage point of the commander who led them in battle.
Palestine Underground: The Story of the Jewish Resistance
by J. BorisovJEWISH Palestine is enveloped in the flames of revolt. There is a virtual state of war between Palestinian Jewry and Great Britain, the Mandatory Power. The Jerusalem correspondent of the London Observer (March 30, 1946) most clearly told the readers of that influential English weekly: “The tragic truth, which becomes clear here on the spot, is that what is now going on is mainly a British-Jewish conflict and not so much an Arab-Jewish quarrel which needs impartial arbitration.”The Jews did not enter this conflict light-heartedly; they do not defy the British unnecessarily. The Jews were never an aggressive, war loving nation, never a people seeking conflict. They do not seek it today. Nor does anyone suggest for a moment that the British Empire is not stronger by far than the Palestine Yishuv, which is now engaged in a desperate Resistance struggle. But history has proved that Resistance movements do not count the might of the adversary, nor the price to be paid. Neither does their own strength lie in their numbers. The war the Jewish Resistance forces are waging is a deliberate attempt to persuade the Mandatory Power—to persuade by deeds and not by words—that no military or police force can keep the gates of Palestine closed to the Jewish repatriates and crush the Jewish longing for freedom and statehood.The epos of the Jewish Resistance Movement in Palestine will be written someday, after it has achieved its goal. This book, which was first published in 1947, is a very imperfect attempt to tell the story of Resistance in the light of the available material, published and unpublished. The publishers believe that even in its present incomplete form the story deserves public interest.
Palestine: A One State Solution
by Paul M. BergstromPalestine: The Right of Return is a must-read novel that addresses several critical issues facing world leaders who seek a solution to the almost century-long Arab-Israeli conflict. The "Balfour Declaration," issued in 1917, set the conflict in motion. Mr. Bergstrom's story, albeit fiction, should be required reading for anyone hoping to understand the current stalemate. Mr. Bergstrom defines a path to lasting peace via a single state solution. Further, he highlights the problems created by America's well meaning but one-sided intervention on the side of Israel in the peace negotiations. Mr. Bergstrom argues that Palestine's future will not be found in an agreement that divides Palestine into two equally or unequally aggrieved states, further asserting that peace can only come from the efforts of the primary stakeholders, those who will benefit or suffer most immediately through any resolution. The United States, Hamas, Hezbollah, Iran, Lebanon, and other interested parties must stand aside. Mr. Bergstrom concludes that the people of Palestine itself own the problem, and they must join together if a workable solution is to be created.