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When the War Is Over: A Novel
by Stephen BeckerBased on real events, this gripping tale of military injustice ranks alongside The Red Badge of Courage as one of the most original and timeless Civil War novels ever published On a fine September morning in 1864, Lt. Marius Catto leads a platoon of Union army soldiers across a Kentucky meadow. A figure rises in the distance and takes aim. Catto dives to the ground, but it&’s too late—the lead ball lodged in his shoulder will be his final souvenir of the war. The shooter, a barefoot teenager named Thomas Martin, claims to be a Confederate soldier, but he wears no uniform and his rifle is older than most of Catto&’s men. Taken prisoner and brought back to the garrison in Cincinnati, Martin is court-martialed as a guerrilla, found guilty, and sentenced to death by firing squad. From the bare facts of a long-forgotten incident in the final days of the Civil War, author Stephen Becker has crafted an indelible portrait of the military mindset that is as true today as it was one hundred fifty years ago. The story of Thomas Martin—a sixteen-year-old orphan whose only advocate was the man he shot—is a riveting tale of courage, loyalty, and the crushing inhumanity of life during wartime.
When the War Is Over: Far from home, far from family, safe from the war - a true story of two Second World War evacuees
by Barbara FoxTHE TOUCHING TRUE STORYTwo young Second World War evacueesFar from home, far from family, safe from the warGwenda and Douglas Brady were among the millions of British children sent to live with new families for their own safety during the Second World War, leaving behind their parents, their friends and all that felt familiar and safe. Evacuation could be a scary experience, but five-year-old Gwenda and her brother were lucky enough to be housed with a kindly schoolmaster and his wife, and soon the realities of the war felt very far away.WHEN THE WAR IS OVER touchingly tells the story of how Gwenda and Doug found a second family and a loving home in the remote Lake District village of Bampton . . . and how the war touched the lives of everyone, even those far, far away from the big cities. Readers love WHEN THE WAR IS OVER:'One of the very best books I have ever read without a doubt. A wonderful HEARTWARMING story''A RIVETING read''All the people really came to life''A WONDERFUL record''True stories of life and VERY ENTERTAINING''NOSTALGIC and ENJOYABLE''An intimate record of what it was like as a young child being evacuated in WWII'
When the War Is Over: Far from home, far from family, safe from the war - a true story of two Second World War evacuees
by Barbara FoxTHE TOUCHING TRUE STORYTwo young Second World War evacueesFar from home, far from family, safe from the warGwenda and Douglas Brady were among the millions of British children sent to live with new families for their own safety during the Second World War, leaving behind their parents, their friends and all that felt familiar and safe. Evacuation could be a scary experience, but five-year-old Gwenda and her brother were lucky enough to be housed with a kindly schoolmaster and his wife, and soon the realities of the war felt very far away.WHEN THE WAR IS OVER touchingly tells the story of how Gwenda and Doug found a second family and a loving home in the remote Lake District village of Bampton . . . and how the war touched the lives of everyone, even those far, far away from the big cities. Readers love WHEN THE WAR IS OVER:'One of the very best books I have ever read without a doubt. A wonderful HEARTWARMING story''A RIVETING read''All the people really came to life''A WONDERFUL record''True stories of life and VERY ENTERTAINING''NOSTALGIC and ENJOYABLE''An intimate record of what it was like as a young child being evacuated in WWII'
When the War Never Ends: The Voices of Military Members with PTSD and Their Families
by Leah WizelmanVeterans with PTSD speak: &“Anyone wanting to understand what it is to have a &‘flashback&’ will learn more from these firsthand accounts than from any textbook.&” ―The British Journal of Psychiatry The chances of service members developing PTSD after military-related traumas is, according to a U.S. study, at least thirty percent. The effects can be devastating, ranging from distressing flashbacks to nightmares, sleep disorders, physical symptoms, irritability, aggressions, and memory and concentration problems. These symptoms often cause severe impairment in all areas of life and may lead to despair and hopelessness. PTSD is neither a localized nor a temporary problem. Here, Leah Wizelman relates the true stories of service members from different service branches and ranks from the United States, Canada, Australia, and Germany, who were participants in various wars (Vietnam, Gulf War, Iraq, Afghanistan, Grenada) and peace missions (Kosovo, Bosnia, Croatia, Cambodia, Somalia, Cyprus, Haiti). They talk openly about their lives after trauma and share their fates with the reader. Spouses of affected military members also tell their stories. They talk about the challenges loved ones face when living with a partner with PTSD, how it affects their children, and how they manage to cope. As these stories show all too vividly, military-related PTSD has not been dealt with effectively or with enough empathy or sympathy. Those affected by PTSD will realize that they are not alone in their suffering—and others will gain insight into the realities of this challenging disorder. &“I highly recommend this volume to all who seek to understand combat-related PTSD.&” —Kathryn M. Magruder, MPH., PhD, Department of Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences, Military Science Division, Medical University of South Carolina
When the War Was Here: A Novel
by Roxanne VeletzosAn epic World War II tale of star-crossed lovers separated by class, circumstance and tragedy from the bestselling author of The Girl They Left Behind Hungary, 1943. As war encroaches on the country&’s borders, willful young Eva arrives in the idyllic town of Sopron to spend her last summer as a single woman on her aristocratic family&’s estate. Longing for freedom from her domineering father, she counts the days to her upcoming nuptials to a kind and dedicated Red Cross doctor whom she greatly admires. But Eva&’s life changes when she meets Aleandro, a charming and passionate Romani fiddler with a love for painting. With time and profound class differences against them, Eva and Aleandro still fall deeply in love – only to be separated by a brutal act of hatred. As their lives diverge and they are each swept into the tides of war and its aftermath they try to forget what they once shared. But as the years pass, the haunting memory of their romance will reshape their destinies and drive them to decisions that will change their lives forever. From the horrors of World War II to the tensions of the 1956 Hungarian uprising and beyond, When the War Was Here is a sweeping story about the toll of secrets, the blurred lines between desire and loyalty, sacrifice and obsession, and the endurance of the human spirit.Praise for When the War Was Here &‘A lyrical and deeply moving story ... Book clubs will love this intimate tale of courage and sacrifice&’ Anita Abriel, bestselling author of The Light After the War &‘Veletzos deftly weaves a tale of music, heartbreak, survival and, ultimately, enduring love&’ Jillian Cantor, author of Half Life &‘A Tale of Two Cities meets The Nightingale in this luminous wartime love story&’ Laurie Lico Albanese, author of Stolen Beauty
When They Burned the White House [Illustrated Edition]
by Andrew TullyAt 9:45 p.m. on August 24, 1814, the British set fire to the White House and, within an hour, the Capitol had been gutted.How could this happen?The war was not widely supported and the defense of Washington had been placed in the hands of two inept and ill-appointed leaders-Secretary of War Armstrong and Brigadier General Winder-whose "thimble headed stupidity" meant that the arriving British troops met little resistance. There were heroes in the mix: the U.S. First Lady, Dolley Madison, stayed until the last moment and, with the help of her servants, managed to save important books, a portrait of George Washington, and a copy of the Declaration of Independence.Ironically, the burning of the White House had a galvanizing effect on the divided views of the young country. "Overnight, the nation united in its determination to pursue this unpopular war with new vigor, to take its revenge on a power which had shamed an independent people by burning its capital."President Madison had, at last, the support he needed.Award winning author and newspaperman, Andrew Tully, has added flesh to the bones of this true story of an often over-looked and confusing period of U.S. history.Well-researched and historically accurate, When They Burned the White House is a fascinating read for U.S. history buffs eager for more information about the War of 1812 and all readers interested in historical drama.Illustrated throughout by celebrated graphic designer Milton Glaser."Well told...attractive...lively"--Allen Drury, author of Advise and Content and A Shade of Difference
When Thunder Rolled
by Ed RasimusEd Rasimus straps the reader into the cockpit of an F-105 Thunderchief fighter-bomber in his engaging account of the Rolling Thunder campaign in the skies over North Vietnam. Between 1965 and 1968, more than 330 F-105s were lost--the highest loss rate in Southeast Asia--and many pilots were killed, captured, and wounded because of the Air Force's disastrous tactics. The descriptions of Rasimus's one hundred missions, some of the most dangerous of the conflict, will satisfy anyone addicted to vivid, heart-stopping aerial combat, as will the details of his transformation from a young man paralyzed with self-doubt into a battle-hardened veteran. His unique perspective, candid analysis, and the sheer power of his narrative rank his memoir with the finest, most entertaining of the war.From the Hardcover edition.
When Tigers Ruled the Sky: American Outlaw Pilots over China in World War II
by Bill YenneFrom the acclaimed author of Hit the Target and Big Week, an in-depth account of the legendary World War II combat group, the Flying Tigers.In 1940, Pearl Harbor had not yet happened, and America was not yet at war with Japan. But China had been trying to stave off Japanese aggression for three years--and was desperate for aircraft and trained combat pilots.General Chiang Kai-shek sent military aviation advisor Claire Chennault to Washington, where President Roosevelt was sympathetic, but knew he could not intervene overtly. Instead, he quietly helped Chennault put together a group of American volunteer pilots.This was how the 1st American Volunteer Group--more commonly known as the Flying Tigers--was born.With the trademark smiling shark jaws on their P-40 fighters, these Army, Navy and Marine pilots became a sensation as they fought for the Chinese. Those who initially doubted them were eventually in awe as they persevered over Rangoon despite being outnumbered 14-1 by Japanese aircraft; as they were described by Madame Chiang Kai-shek as her "little angels" and by a Chinese foreign minister as "the soundest investment China ever made"; and as they ultimately destroyed hundreds of Japanese planes while losing only a dozen of their own in combat. Two of their veterans would later earn the Medal of Honor--and as a group, the Flying Tigers managed to rack up a better record than any other air wing in the Pacific theater. When Tigers Ruled the Sky is a thrilling and triumphant account of their courage and their legacy.
When Time Stood Still: The Sinking of the S.S. Dorchester
by Chester J. SzymczakWhen Time Stood Still, first published in 1956, is the account of the sinking of the S.S. Dorchester, an army transport ship, by a German submarine in the North Atlantic in February 1943. Author and crewman Chester Szymczak was working aboard the Dorchester, and was one of nine survivors of the crew of 23. Tragically, of the 900 military servicemen traveling aboard as passengers, 678 were lost in the frigid waters. Also of note was the presence of four chaplains, each representing a different faith, who went down with the ship as they worked together in assisting passengers with lifejackets and in helping them get off the rapidly sinking ship. Fortunately, three U.S. Coast Guard Cutters were part of the transport convoy, and were able to pull a number passengers from the sea.
When Time Stopped: A Memoir of My Father's War and What Remains
by Ariana NeumannA Simon & Schuster eBook. Simon & Schuster has a great book for every reader.
When Time Stopped: A Memoir of My Father's War and What Remains
by Ariana Neumann&‘Beautifully told' John Le Carre &‘More than just history&’ Michael Palin &‘Truly exceptional&’ Jon Snow &‘Absolutely remarkable&’ Edmund de Waal &‘Beautifully written&’ Stephen D. Smith In this remarkably moving memoir, Ariana Neumann dives into the secrets of her father&’s past: years spent hiding in plain sight in wartorn Berlin, the annihilation of dozens of family members in the Holocaust, and the courageous choice to build anew. &‘The darkest shadow is beneath the candle.&’ As a child in Venezuela, Ariana Neumann is fascinated by the enigma of her father, who appears to be the epitome of success and strength, but who wakes at night screaming in a language she doesn&’t recognise. Then, one day, she finds an old identity document bearing his picture – but someone else&’s name. From a box of papers her father leaves for her when he dies, Ariana meticulously uncovers the extraordinary truth of his escape from Nazi-occupied Prague. She follows him across Europe and reveals his astonishing choice to assume a fake identity and live out the war undercover, spying for the Allies in Berlin – deep in the &‘darkest shadow&’. Having known nothing of her father&’s past, not even that he was Jewish, Ariana&’s detective work also leads to the shocking discovery that a total of twenty-five members of the Neumann family were murdered by the Nazis.Spanning nearly ninety years and crossing oceans, When Time Stopped is a powerful and beautifully wrought memoir in which Ariana comes to know the family that has been lost – and, ultimately, her own beloved father.
When War Played Through
by John StregeThe New York Timesbestselling author pays tribute to the golfers who rallied for an Allied victory during World War II-and shows how the Greatest Generation kept golf alive, despite equipment shortages, bombings, and even captivity. World War II transformed the American home front, and golf was no exception. The world-famous Masters course at Augusta National became a farm to ease food shortages. Ben Hogan and Sam Snead were drafted, and Bobby Jones enlisted. Rubber rationing forced pros and amateurs alike to play with well-worn golf balls-and created a black market for new ones. The 1942 U. S. Open was canceled, replaced by the Hale American Open-whose winner, Ben Hogan, was awarded $1,000 in war bonds-while golfers across the country raised millions of dollars for the war effort. When War Played Throughbrings to life these little-known aspects of an endlessly fascinating period in golf's history. Bestselling golf author John Strege's narrative extends overseas to captured soldiers in Germany who constructed golf courses in a POW camp and English golfers who devised rules for playing around bomb craters and shrapnel during the Blitz (from the Richmond Gold Club in London: "A player whose stroke is affected by the simultaneous explosion of a bomb may play another ball. Penalty one stroke. "). Many golfers returned home from battle with commendations for valor, finding unmatched solace on the links after a dark time. When War Played Throughis the compelling story how an elite sport became a selfless one-and how golf became, for a nation at war, much more than a game.
When War Played Through
by John StregeWorld War II transformed the American home front, and golf was no exception. The world-famous Masters course at Augusta National became a farm to ease food shortages. Ben Hogan and Sam Snead were drafted, and Bobby Jones enlisted. Rubber rationing forced pros and amateurs alike to play with well-worn golf balls--and created a black market for new ones. The 1942 U.S. Open was canceled, replaced by the Hale American Open--whose winner Ben Hogan was awarded $1000 in war bonds--while golfers across the country raised millions of dollars for the war effort. When War Played Through brings to life these little-known aspects of an endlessly fascinating period in golf's history. Bestselling golf author John Strege's narrative extends overseas, to captured soldiers in Germany who constructed golf courses in a POW camp and English golfers who devised rules for playing around bomb craters and shrapnel during the Blitz. Many golfers returned home from battle with commendations for valor, finding unmatched solace on the links after a dark time. When War Played Through is the compelling story of how an elite sport became a selfless one--and how golf became, for a nation at war, much more than a game.
When We Danced on Water: A Novel
by Evan FallenbergFromacclaimed author Evan Fallenberg, an exquisitelycrafted debut novel tells the story of a preeminent male ballet dancer in theautumn of his career—a Jew whose talent once saved him from the Nazis—whosefading passion for life will flare back to life after a new romance links himto a younger woman fleeing the ghosts of her past as an Israeli Soldier. Fallenberg’s Tel Aviv-set tale that will resonate withreaders of Wladyslaw Szpilman’sThe Pianist, Dalia Sofer’sThe Septembers of Shiraz, and Thrity Umrigar’s The Space Between Us, as well as any whohave been touched by war or diaspora, as two characters’ intimate journeypoignantly explores the pain of fractured pasts, the hope for second chances, thepotency of artistic catharsis, and the certainty that love can conquer all.
When We Had Wings
by Ariel Lawhon Kristina McMorris Susan MeissnerFrom three bestselling authors comes an interwoven tale about a trio of World War II nurses stationed in the South Pacific who wage their own battle for freedom and survival.The Philippines, 1941. When U.S. Navy nurse Eleanor Lindstrom, U.S. Army nurse Penny Franklin, and Filipina nurse Lita Capel forge a friendship at the Army Navy Club in Manila, they believe they&’re living a paradise assignment. All three are seeking a way to escape their pasts, but soon the beauty and promise of their surroundings give way to the heavy mantle of war.Caught in the crosshairs of a fight between the U.S. military and the Imperial Japanese Army for control of the Philippine Islands, the nurses are forced to serve under combat conditions and, ultimately, endure captivity as the first female prisoners of the Second World War. As their resiliency is tested in the face of squalid living arrangements, food shortages, and the enemy&’s blatant disregard for the articles of the Geneva Convention, the women strive to keep their hope— and their fellow inmates—alive, though not without great cost.In this sweeping story based on the true experiences of nurses dubbed &“the Angels of Bataan,&” three women shift in and out of each other&’s lives through the darkest days of the war, buoyed by their unwavering friendship and distant dreams of liberation.&“Three of the biggest powerhouses in historical fiction come together to pen this breathtaking story of three nurses serving in the Philippines during the Second World War.&” —PAM JENOFF, New York Times bestselling author of The Woman with the Blue Star World War II historical fictionStand-alone novelBook length: approximately 128,000 wordsIncludes discussion questions for book clubs
When We Meet Again: A sweeping and heart-breaking WW2 novel from a New York Times bestselling author
by Kristin Harmel'Kristin Harmel is firmly in the top echelon of WW2 storytellers' HEATHER MORRIS'A master storyteller' SANTA MONTEFIORESome secrets echo through timeEmily Emerson has recently lost her job and is looking for a new purpose in life. When a mysterious parcel comes her way, she's intrigued. Inside is a painting of a beautiful woman standing at the edge of a sugarcane field, and attached is a note: 'He never stopped loving her ...'Emily recognises the young woman as her much-missed and beloved grandmother, but where was she, and who sent the painting? As Emily delves further, she uncovers a trail leading to a pivotal moment in twentieth-century American history, and a link with the portrait that reveals long-buried family secrets that ripple through the ages.An unforgettable and sweeping story of love and survival against the odds.From New York Times bestselling author Kristin Harmel, a beautifully repackaged and updated edition of WHEN WE MEET AGAIN which has been refreshed by the author including a new author's note.
When We Meet Again: A sweeping and heart-breaking WW2 novel from a New York Times bestselling author
by Kristin Harmel'Kristin Harmel is firmly in the top echelon of WW2 storytellers' HEATHER MORRIS'A master storyteller' SANTA MONTEFIORESome secrets echo through timeEmily Emerson has recently lost her job and is looking for a new purpose in life. When a mysterious parcel comes her way, she's intrigued. Inside is a painting of a beautiful woman standing at the edge of a sugarcane field, and attached is a note: 'He never stopped loving her ...'Emily recognises the young woman as her much-missed and beloved grandmother, but where was she, and who sent the painting? As Emily delves further, she uncovers a trail leading to a pivotal moment in twentieth-century American history, and a link with the portrait that reveals long-buried family secrets that ripple through the ages.An unforgettable and sweeping story of love and survival against the odds.From New York Times bestselling author Kristin Harmel, a beautifully repackaged and updated edition of WHEN WE MEET AGAIN which has been refreshed by the author including a new author's note.
When We Were Young
by Jaclyn GoldisThree generations of women come together in this page-turning debut full of family secrets, heart-wrenching drama, and the promise of second chances.Corfu, 1942: To sixteen-year-old Sarah Batis, the Nazis are a distant danger—of far greater threat is the opposing needs of her heart and her people. Tradition demands that Sarah marry a Jewish man. Only Sarah has fallen in love with a fisherman outside their community. And when the Nazis invade, Sarah must watch from afar as her family is taken away. . .Corfu, 2004: Sarah's daughter, Bea, has built a happy life with a steadfast husband and two independent daughters. Their summers on the Greek island with the Winn family appear idyllic, especially the love that blossoms between Bea's daughter Joey and Leo Winn. But there is a secret threatening their beach paradise.Florida, 2019:Joey is only days away from marrying the nice Jewish man her family adores. The arrival of Leo, Joey's first love, sends her reeling. Even after fifteen years, the attraction between them burns bright—but Leo isn't looking for a happy reunion. He's there to reveal why he really broke up with her during their last summer together. Weddings have a way of bringing out the best—and worst—in those you love the most. And as the revelations of her family flood to the surface, what Joey learns will either bring them closer together . . . or tear them apart forever.
When We Were Young & Brave: A Novel
by Hazel Gaynor"Gaynor's story of courage and strength will make you believe in the heroic spirit in each of us." —Lisa Wingate, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Before We Were YoursThe New York Times bestselling author of The Girl Who Came Home sets her unforgettable new novel in China during WWII, inspired by true events surrounding the Japanese Army’s internment of teachers and children from a British-run missionary school.Their motto was to be prepared, but nothing could prepare them them for war. China, December 1941. Having left an unhappy life in England for a teaching post at a missionary school in northern China, Elspeth Kent is now anxious to return home to help the war effort. But as she prepares to leave China, a terrible twist of fate determines a different path for Elspeth, and those in her charge. Ten-year-old Nancy Plummer has always felt safe at Chefoo School, protected by her British status. But when Japan declares war on Britain and America, Japanese forces take control of the school and the security and comforts Nancy and her friends are used to are replaced by privation, uncertainty and fear. Now the enemy, and separated from their parents, the children look to their teachers – to Miss Kent and her new Girl Guide patrol especially – to provide a sense of unity and safety. Faced with the relentless challenges of oppression, the school community must rely on their courage, faith and friendships as they pray for liberation – but worse is to come when they are sent to a distant internment camp where even greater uncertainty and danger await . . . Inspired by true events, When We Were Young and Brave is an unforgettable novel about impossible choices and unimaginable hardship, and the life-changing bonds formed between a young girl and her teacher in a remote corner of a terrible war.
When Wishes Come True: A moving wartime saga of love, motherhood and freedom
by Joan JonkerA young mother is left abandoned, yet finds strength in the busy streets and communities of Liverpool. Joan Jonker's heart-warming saga, When Wishes Come True, is guaranteed to bring tears of sadness and joy to readers everywhere. Perfect for fans of Katie Flynn and Cathy Sharp.Evelyn Wilkinson married Charles Lister-Sinclair just hours before he left for war, unaware that she would never see him again and that she was already carrying his child. When Amelia is born, Charles's parents refuse to accept that she is their grandchild, so, penniless and afraid, Evelyn moves to the backstreets of Liverpool where she dreams of escaping. Meanwhile, as little Milly grows up she discovers that a world of happiness lies on her doorstep. What readers are saying about When Wishes Come True: 'What a great book to read, couldn't read it fast enough as I was gripped from the very first page' 'I've read lots of Joan Jonker's books. This is one that surpasses all others. Full of love, sorrow, comedy and emotions'
When You and I Collide
by Kate NorrisA race against time, war, and the very fabric of the universe itself, perfect for fans of Sliding Doors and 11/22/63.Sixteen-year-old Winnie Schulde has always seen splits--the moment when two possible outcomes diverge, one in her universe and one in another. Multiverse theory, Winnie knows, is all too real, though she has never been anything but an observer of its implications--a secret she keeps hidden from just about everyone, as she knows the uses to which it might be put in the midst of a raging WWII. But her physicist father, wrapped up in his research and made cruel by his grief after the loss of Winnie's mother, believes that if he pushes her hard enough, she can choose one split over another and maybe, just maybe, change their future and their past. Winnie is certain that her father's theories are just that, so she plays along in an effort to placate him. Until one day, when her father's experiment goes wrong and Scott, the kind and handsome lab assistant Winnie loves from afar, is seriously injured. Without meaning to, Winnie chooses the split where Scott is unharmed. And in doing so, finds herself pulled into another universe, an alternate reality. One that already has a Winnie. In this darkly thrilling novel that blends science and war with love and loss, some actions just can't be undone.Praise for When You and I Collide: "A serious tale of attempting reinvention at the cost of rending reality." --Kirkus Reviews
When Zachary Beaver Came to Town
by Kimberly Willis HoltNational Book Award WinnerThe red words painted on the trailer caused quite a buzz around town and before an hour was up, half of Antler was standing in line with two dollars clutched in hand to see the fattest boy in the world.Toby Wilson is having the toughest summer of his life. It's the summer his mother leaves for good; the summer his best friend's brother returns from Vietnam in a coffin. And the summer that Zachary Beaver, the fattest boy in the world, arrives in their sleepy Texas town. While it's a summer filled with heartache of every kind, it's also a summer of new friendships gained and old friendships renewed. And it's Zachary Beaver who turns the town of Antler upside down and leaves everyone, especially Toby, changed forever.With understated elegance, Kimberly Willis Holt tells a compelling coming-of-age story about a thirteen-year-old boy struggling to find himself in an imperfect world. At turns passionate and humorous, this extraordinary novel deals sensitively and candidly with obesity, war, and the true power of friendship.When Zachary Beaver Came to Town is the winner of the 1999 National Book Award for Young People's Literature. This title has Common Core connections.
Where Away The Story of the U.S.S. Marblehead
by George Sessions Perry Isabel Leighton John Joseph FlohertyWhere Away, first published in 1944, recounts the exploits of the Omaha class light-cruiser U.S.S. Marblehead in her service in the Pacific during World War Two. The Marblehead was in Borneo at the time of the Pearl Harbor attack, and joined other ships of the Royal Netherlands and Royal Australian Navies in patrol duty and as escorts to merchant ships. On January 24, 1942, the Marblehead was attacked by Japanese bombers and hit by three bombs. Marblehead was severely damaged, on fire and had 15 dead and 84 seriously injured crewmen. However, the crew managed to extinguish the fires and get the damaged ship underway. She then began a journey of over 9000 miles westward to South Africa, the first port where repairs could be made. In April, the Marblehead set sail for the United States, arriving in New York on May 4, 1942. Following further repairs at the drydock of the Brooklyn Naval Yard, Marbleheadreturned to duty on October 15, 1942, and joined the South Atlantic Fleet where she served until February 1944. A short stint in the convoy lanes of the North Atlantic followed. Marblehead next sailed to the Mediterranean, reaching Palermo on July 29, 1944. She took part in Operation Dragoon, the invasion of southern France, and was used in bombardment of enemy shore positions, her final combat mission. Included are maps and numerous pen and ink drawings by John Floherty, Jr.
Where Chiang Kai-shek Lost China: The Liao-Shen Campaign, 1948 (Twentieth-Century Battles)
by Harold M. Tanner&“A masterful contribution not simply to the history of the civil war, but also to the history of 20th century China.&” —Steven I. Levine author, Anvil of Victory: The Communist Revolution in Manchuria, 1945-1948) The civil war in China that ended in the 1949 victory of Mao Zedong&’s Communist forces was a major blow to U.S. interests in the Far East and led to heated recriminations about how China was &“lost.&” Despite their significance, there have been few studies in English of the war&’s major campaigns. The Liao-Shen Campaign was the final act in the struggle for control of China&’s northeast. After the Soviet defeat of Japan in Manchuria, Communist Chinese and then Nationalist troops moved into this strategically important area. China&’s largest industrial base and a major source of coal, Manchuria had extensive railways and key ports (both still under Soviet control). When American mediation over control of Manchuria failed, full-scale civil war broke out. By spring of 1946, Chiang Kai-shek&’s Nationalist armies had occupied most of the southern, economically developed part of Manchuria, pushing Communist forces north of the Songhua (Sungari) River. But over the next two years, the tide would turn. The Communists isolated the Nationalist armies and mounted a major campaign aimed at destroying the Kuomintang forces. This is the story of that campaign and its outcome, which were to have such far-reaching consequences. &“Where Chiang Kai-shek Lost China is more than a fluidly written battle narrative or operational history. By tapping an impressive array of archival materials, published document collections, and memoirs, Harold Tanner has put the Liao-Shen Campaign in the larger context of the Chinese Civil War and significantly advanced our understanding of the military history of modern China.&” —Michigan War Studies Review
Where Cowards Go to Die
by Benjamin SledgeA former soldier awarded the Bronze Star and Purple Heart tells the story of overcoming the mental and physical wounds of war on a fifteen year odyssey that led him back to the very place where his nightmares began—and the only place redemption was possible.While serving a portion of his time under the Special Operations Command, Benjamin Sledge fought to keep his humanity amid the killing fields of Iraq and Afghanistan. But war never leaves its participants uscathed. In Where Cowards Go to Die, Sledge reveals an unflinchingly honest portrait of war that few dare to tell. Stationed on a small base on the border of Pakistan in the aftermath of the terrorist attacks of September 11, the young warrior returned home shattered after embracing the barbarity he witnessed around him. Haunted by his experiences overseas, he began a 15 year odyssey wrestling with mental health, purpose, and faith, that eventually drove him to volunteer for another combat tour in the deadliest city of the Iraq War—Ramadi. In his memoir, Sledge vividly captures the reality of the men and women who learn to fight without remorse, love each other without restraint, and suffer the high cost of returning to a country that no longer feels like home. &“In life or war, you&’ll die a coward by refusing to live and act selflessly. Or you can kill your inner cowardice for something greater to emerge. But either way, a coward dies.&” -Benjamin Sledge