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Barnsley Pals: The 13th & 14th Battalions York and Lancaster Regiment

The true World War I story of one British town&’s remarkable response to the message &“Your Country Needs You.&” The Pals battalions were a phenomenon of the Great War, never repeated since. Under Lord Derby&’s scheme, and in response to Lord Kitchener&’s famous call for a million volunteers, local communities raised (and initially often paid for) entire battalions for service on the Western Front. Their experience was all too frequently tragic, as men who had known each other all their lives, had worked, volunteered, and trained together, and had shipped to France together, encountered the first full fury of modern battle on the Somme in July 1916. Many of the Pals battalions would not long survive that first brutal baptism, but their spirit and fighting qualities have gone down in history. These were truly the cream of Britain&’s young men, and every single one of them was a volunteer. This book tells their story. Includes photographs and illustrations

Barnsley in the Great War (Your Towns And Cities In The Great War Ser.)

Geoffrey Howse is well known for his books on Yorkshire subjects, including six books in the Foul Deeds & Suspicious Deaths series, two of which cover Barnsley and District and a third which covers South Yorkshire as a whole. In Barnsley in the Great War, he has pulled out the stops and delved deeply into a wide range of diverse events that took place throughout Barnsley during the time when the most horrendous conflict known to man was raging abroad.As well as including interesting passages about the enormous changes that were taking place concerning the employment of women in roles they had never imagined possible, he has also assembled some fascinating accounts spanning the whole of Barnsley, packed with interesting sometimes mind-blowing facts about this beautiful area and its wonderful people. Within its seven absorbing chapters covering the prelude to the Great War and its aftermath, this book is sure to capture the curiosity of all individuals with an interest in the social history of Barnsley.

Barometer Rising

Baron Bagge

This astonishing short novel concerns the unfathomable, otherworldly experiences of an aristocratic young calvary officer in WWI A novel of love and valor, war and stupidity, life and death (as well as what may lay beyond our mortal coils), Baron Bagge concerns a young Austrian cavalry lieutenant in the Carpathian mountains at the beginning of WWI. The baron leads a desperate charge across a bridge to meet the Russian forces, following the orders of his mentally unstable commander: “We were soon to have proof of his unreliability… But perhaps it is not right to place the blame on him. Perhaps his foolishness was merely the instrument of fate, and the disaster into which he led his squadron, the slaughter of so many men and horses, took place in order that something which could no longer happen within the realm of the living—because it was too late—could happen after life.” And, swaying in a kind of fugue, the baron wanders off the bridge into unknown realms, where—mesmerized by Lernet-Holenia’s phosphorescent style—the reader joins his waking dream.

Baron Von Steuben's Revolutionary War Drill Manual: A Facsimile Reprint of the 1794 Edition (Dover Military History, Weapons, Armor #2)

On February 23, 1778, Frederick William Baron von Steuben reported to General George Washington at the Continental Army's bleak winder encampment at Valley Forge. Speaking virtually no English and at an unexpected ebb in his professional fortunes, Steuben nevertheless brought a depth of military training and grasp of command techniques sorely needed by the bedraggled, ragtag army. With his lofty military reputation, forceful bearing, and colorful personality, the Prussian commander had an immediate galvanizing effect on the disorganized insurgents. He soon became one of Washington's most valued officers -- an essential figure in the success of the American War of Independence. Commissioned to mold the troops into an efficient fighting force, Steuben formed a model drill company of one hundred men, transformed it into a precision unit copied throughout the ranks, and captured the imagination of the entire army. His record of drill instructions, written in brief installments, grew into the Regulations for the Order and Discipline of the Troops of the United States. Commonly known as the army's "blue book," this basic manual of military training and procedures remained the official U.S. military guide until 1812. This inexpensive facsimile reproduces the extremely rare 1794 edition of Steuben's drill manual, published in Boston by I. Thomas and E. T. Andrews. It describes in detail the arms and accoutrements of officers and soldiers, formation and exercise of a company, instruction of recruits, formation and marching of columns, disposition and firing of fieldpieces, laying out of a camp, inspection, treatment of the sick, reviews of parade, and other essentials. The volume is further enhanced by reproductions of the eight copperplates from the 1794 edition and an Appendix (the United States Militia Act of 1792).

Barracuda 945 (Arnold Morgan #6)

The enemy from within . . . Iranian-born British Commando Major Ray Kerman was a rising star in the SAS -- until he abruptly switched loyalties while on a mission in the Middle East. Fanatically determined to employ his brilliant talents and training in the destruction of those he once swore to protect, he is now General Ravi Rashood, leader of the world's most vicious terrorist organization -- and he has found his ultimate weapon: Barracuda 945. A sleek and silent Russian hunter-killer nuclear submarine that can fire land-attack guided missiles from below the ocean's surface, it is invisible to all pursuers and virtually impossible to track. Yet Admiral Arnold Morgan, the President's National Security Adviser, must somehow marshal America's forces and hunt down this 8,000-ton nightmare of modern warfare before it unleashes its fire and death . . . or the first target to fall will be California.

Barracuda: Final Bearing

In DiMercurio's most harrowing thriller to date, Greater Manchuria, a new independent nation, threatens its Japanese neighbors with nuclear devastation. But Japan initiates a preemptive strike in the form of a devastating new weapon that will bring the world to the edge of all-out war. Now Admiral Michael Pacino must return to active service to face the deadliest threat the world has ever seen!

Barrel of a Gun: A War Correspondent's Misspent Moments in Combat

A colorful, wide-ranging memoir of danger and adventure in wars around the world.Anybody who says that the pen is mightier than the sword hasn’t spent time in Somalia . . .So begins this memoir of a career spent examining warfare—on the ground and as the bullets are flying. While many are intrigued by these violent conflicts, Al Venter feels compelled to see them in person, preferably at the center of the action.Born in South Africa, Venter has found no shortage of horrific battles on his own continent, from Rhodesia to Biafra and Angola to Somalia. He has ridden with the legendary mercenary group Executive Outcomes; jumped into combat with South Africa’s crack Parachute Regiment, the Parabats; and traipsed through jungles with both guerrillas and national troops. During Sierra Leone’s civil war, he flew in the government’s lone Mi-24 helicopter gunship as it blasted apart rebel villages and convoys, complaining that the Soviet-made craft leaked when it rained.In the Mideast, he went into Lebanon with the Israeli army as it encountered resistance from multiple militant groups, including the newly formed Hezbollah. Curious about the other side of the hill, he joined up with General Aoun’s Christian militias while that conflict was at its height. Touching down in Croatia during the Balkan wars, and in Congo during their perpetual one, as well as the Uganda of Idi Amin, Venter never lost his lust for action, even as he sometimes had to put down his camera or notebook to pick up an AK-47.In his journeys, Venter associated with an array of similarly daring soldiers and journalists, from “Mad Mike” Hoare to Danny Pearl, as well as elite soldiers from around the world, many of whom, he sadly relates, never emerged from the war zones they entered. A renowned journalist and documentarian who has worked with the BBC, PBS, Jane’s, and other outlets, Al Venter here offers the reader his own personal experiences with combat.

Barrel of a Gun: A War Correspondent’s Misspent Moments in Combat

<p>“Anybody who says that the pen is mightier than the sword hasn’t spent time in Somalia, or in Beirut during its bloody heyday.” So begins this fascinating memoir of a journalist, filmmaker, and just plain raconteur who has made a career of examining warfare—on the ground and as the bullets are flying. While the average citizen is aware of violent conflicts broiling all around the globe, Al J. Venter—from some strange compulsion unexplainable even by him—has felt the need to see them all in person, preferably at the center of the action. <p>Born in South Africa, Venter has found no shortage of horrific battles on his own continent, from Rhodesia to Biafra, and Angola to Somalia. He has ridden with the legendary merc group Executive Outcomes, jumped into combat with South Africa’s crack Parachute Regiment (the Parabats), and traipsed the jungles with both guerrillas and national troops under whichever strongman in the country then held power. During Sierra Leone’s civil war he flew in the government’s lone Mi-24 Hind gunship as it blasted apart rebel villages and convoys, his complaint being that the Soviet-made craft leaked when it rained. <p>In the Mideast he went into southern Lebanon with the invading Israeli army as it encountered resistance from multiple Muslim groups, including the newly formed Hezbollah. Curious about the other side of the hill, he joined up with General Aoun’s Christian militias while that conflict was at its height. Touching down in Croatia during the Balkan wars, and in Congo during their perpetual one, as well as the Uganda of Idi Amin, Venter never lost his lust for action, even as he sometimes had to put down his camera or notebook to pick up an AK-47.</p>

Barrington Bayley SF Gateway Omnibus: The Soul of the Robot, The Knights of the Limits, The Fall of Chronopolis

Although largely, and unjustly, neglected by a modern audience, Bayley was a hugely influential figure to some of the greats of British SF, such as Michael Moorcock and M. John Harrison. He is perhaps best-known for THE FALL OF CHRONOPOLIS, which is collected in this omnibus, alongside THE SOUL OF THE ROBOT and the extraordinary story collection THE KNIGHTS OF THE LIMITS. THE FALL OF CHRONOPOLIS: The mighty ships of the Third Time Fleet relentlessly patrolled the Chronotic Empire's 1,000-year frontier, blotting out an error of history here or there before swooping back to challenge other time-travelling civilisations far into the future. Captain Mond Aton had been proud to serve in such a fleet. But now, falsely convicted of cowardice and dereliction of duty, he has been given the cruellest of sentences: to be sent unprotected into time as a lone messenger between the cruising timeships. After such an inconceivable experience in the endless voids there is only one option left to him. To be allowed to die.THE SOUL OF THE ROBOT: Jasperodus, a robot, sets out to prove he is the equal of any human being. His furturistic adventures as warrior, tyrant, renegade and statesman eventually lead him back home to the two human beings who created him. Question: Does he have a soul?THE KNIGHTS OF THE LIMITS: Nine brilliant stories of infinite space and alien consciousness, suffused with a sense of wonder...

Barron's Military Flight Aptitude Tests, 4th Edition

Only the best prepared are chosen to start the highly competitive multimillion-dollar training programs that transform aspiring candidates into U.S. military aviators. This fully updated edition of Barron's Military Flight Aptitude Tests provides would-be aviators in all five U.S. armed services with the competitive edge they will need to score their best and maximize their chances of being selected!This book is an effective, full-spectrum resource for officer candidates, ROTC cadets from all services, and current military members. Six full-length practice tests (two per service) with answers and explanations for every question get readers ready for the Air Force Officer Qualifying Test (AFOQT), the Selection Instrument for Flight Training (SIFT), and the Navy/Marine Corps/Coast Guard Aviation Selection Test Battery (ASTB-E). Test overviews and detailed review sections give potential pilots the boost they need to rise to the top of the selection list, and most of the review subjects apply to all three tests. Successful aviation applicants strongly recommend working through every valuable review section, and the other services' tests are great for extra practice to reinforce your learning.Written by a veteran, joint qualified military officer and instructor, this book's review sections cover language skills, reading comprehension, math knowledge, arithmetic reasoning, mechanical comprehension, aviation and nautical technical information, science, and specific mental skills such as block counting, finding hidden figures, and spatial apperception. The author also coaches readers on effective study techniques, provides expanded information resources, and gives pilot candidates a thorough preview of how each test is structured and conducted.

Barrow's Boys: A Stirring Story of Daring, Fortitude, and Outright Lunacy

From the author of Ninety Degrees North, a spellbinding account of how officers of the British Navy explored the world after the Napoleonic Wars. In 1816, John Barrow, second secretary to the British admiralty, launched the most ambitious program of exploration the world has ever seen. For the next thirty years, his handpicked teams of elite British naval officers scoured the globe from the Arctic to Antarctica, their mission: to fill the blanks that littered the atlases of the day. Barrow&’s Boys is the spellbinding story of these adventurers, the perils they faced—including eating mice, their shoes, and even each other to survive—and the challenges they overcame on their odysseys into the unknown. Many of these expeditions are considered the greatest in history, and here they&’ve been collected into one volume that captures the full sweep of Barrow&’s program. &“Here is all the adventure you could want, stirringly and generously told.&” —Anthony Brandt, National Geographic Adventure &“History at its most romantic.&” —The Columbus Dispatch &“A sure bet for fans of Caroline Alexander&’s The Endurance, this captivating survey of England&’s exploration during the nineteenth century illuminates a host of forgotten personalities.&” —Publishers Weekly &“Travel history of the best kind: entertaining, informed and opinionated.&” —The Sunday Times

Barrow-in-Furness in the Great War (Your Towns & Cities in the Great War)

This book is about how Barrow's output of war materials was vital to the Great War effort, and it is about the Barrovians and men from the surrounding south Lakeland area - from all walks of life - who fought abroad, and the area's women war heroes. It includes background information on the history of the town, such as the Furness Railway, iron ore in the area and shipbuilding, and lists vessels built at Barrow pre- and during the war with information on what happened to them. These vessels include Mikasa and HMS Vanguard. At the outbreak of World War One, Vanguard fought in the battle of Jutland. The Mayfly (or the Won't Fly as Churchill called it), built by Vickers at Barrow along similar lines to the very early Zeppelins, was launched in 1911. She was the first British rigid airship to be built. Today, Astute submarines for the Royal Navy keep Barrow busy and local people turn up when new submarines are launched. This book also acts as a reference guide to local war dead and war heroes, lost heroes, the area's recipients of the Victoria Cross, memorials with details of those commemorated (including those whose names were unwelcome on memorials). Barrow's War Memorial in Barrow Park was unveiled in November, 1921 by Field Marshall Sir William "Wullie" Robertson and records close to 600 names of those who fought and died in the First World War.

Barry Goldwater: The Biography of a Conservative

AN INTIMATE, HUMAN AND REVEALING PORTRAIT OF THE MAN WHO MADE SUCH A UNIQUE IMPACT UPON THE AMERICAN SCENE.BARRY GOLDWATER stands in the forefront of the new wave of American conservatism. His appeal is not only to those usually associated with vested interests but also to a large body of women, college students and Southerners.Allied against him are liberals, labor and Easterners. Almost without exception, Americans are lined up solidly for or against Barry Goldwater. There are few neutrals.Veteran reporters Wood and Smith have delved into the phenomenon of Barry Goldwater with piercing insight. Nothing is left out—from the rise of the family’s fortunes in Arizona to the growth of the Senator’s influence in Washington.This is a book that every responsible American—whatever his political beliefs—will want to read. It is the story of one of the most important and controversial figures in government and of his particular brand of conservatism.Illustrated and including excerpts, from his major speeches.

Base Defense At The Special Forces Forward Operational Bases

Special Forces forward operational bases (FOB) are essential for mission and contingency planning as well as for the preparation, infiltration and exfiltration of Operational Detachment Alphas (ODA). Therefore, the defense of this command and control headquarters is critical for preserving combat power and synchronizing military actions in a theater of operations. Because the enemy has the capability of projecting forces with the objective of disrupting US military operations, FOBs have become likely targets.According to SF doctrine, FOBs should be located in secure areas with MP or host-nation personnel providing the bulk of the security force. Although this situation is preferable, it is by no means assured. FOBs should be able to provide their own security in the event other forces are not available or when rapid deployment restricts the flow of conventional forces into a theater of operations. After-action review results from the Joint Readiness Training Center demonstrate that many SF battalions are not prepared to execute base defense tasks without the assistance of other forces. Many SF commanders do not consider base defense a mission essential task and the result is a lack of training by many of their personnel.This study analyzes joint and SF doctrine, observations from the field, and the effects of the contemporary operating environment to identify weaknesses in the readiness of SF battalions.

Base Politics: Democratic Change and the U.S. Military Overseas

According to the Department of Defense's 2004 Base Structure Report, the United States officially maintains 860 overseas military installations and another 115 on noncontinental U.S. territories. Over the last fifteen years the Department of Defense has been moving from a few large-footprint bases to smaller and much more numerous bases across the globe. This so-called lily-pad strategy, designed to allow high-speed reactions to military emergencies anywhere in the world, has provoked significant debate in military circles and sometimes-fierce contention within the polity of the host countries.In Base Politics, Alexander Cooley examines how domestic politics in different host countries, especially in periods of democratic transition, affect the status of U.S. bases and the degree to which the U.S. military has become a part of their local and national landscapes. Drawing on exhaustive field research in different host nations across East Asia and Southern Europe, as well as the new postcommunist base hosts in the Black Sea and Central Asia, Cooley offers an original and provocative account of how and why politicians in host countries contest or accept the presence of the U.S. military on their territory.Overseas bases, Cooley shows, are not merely installations that serve a military purpose. For host governments and citizens, U.S. bases are also concrete institutions and embodiments of U.S. power, identity, and diplomacy. Analyzing the degree to which overseas bases become enmeshed in local political agendas and interests, Base Politics will be required reading for anyone interested in understanding the extent-and limits-of America's overseas military influence.

Baseball Saved Us

A Japanese American boy learns to play baseball when he and his family are forced to live in an internment camp during World War II, and his ability to play helps him after the war is over.

Bases Subterrâneas

Bases Subterrâneas revela detalhes sobre instalações subterrâneas nos Estados Unidos e ao redor do mundo, confirmadas e rumorejadas. Contendo raras provas fotográficas, bem como citações pouco conhecidas de figuras chave do governo, lança argumentos convincentes para a existência de um enorme mundo oculto sob a superfície da terra.

Bash Bash Revolution

Seventeen-year-old Matthew Munson is ranked thirteenth in the state in Bash Bash Revolution, an outdated Nintendo game from 2002 that, in 2016, is still getting tournament play. He’s a high school dropout who still lives at home with his mom, doing little but gaming and moping. That is, until Matthew’s dad turns up again. Jeffrey Munson is a computer geek who’d left home eight years earlier to work on a top secret military project. Jeff has been a sporadic presence in Matthew’s life, and much to his son’s displeasure insists on bonding over video games. The two start entering local tournaments together, where Jeff shows astonishing aptitude for Bash Bash Revolution in particular. Then, as abruptly as he appeared, Matthew’s father disappears again, just as he was beginning to let Jeff back into his life. The betrayal is life-shattering, and Matthew decides to give chase, in the process discovering the true nature of the government-sponsored artificial intelligence program his father has been involved in. Told as a series of conversations between Matthew and his father’s artificial intelligence program, Bash Bash Revolution is a wildly original novel of apocalypse and revolution, as well as a poignant story of broken family.

Basher Five-Two: The True Story of F-16 Fighter Pilot Captain Scott O'Grady

While flying his F-16 in Bosnia, O'Grady was shot down. His plane exploded and he parachuted down into enemy territory. This is how he evaded capture with little water and no food.

Bashert: A Granddaughter's Holocaust Quest (Willie Morris Books in Memoir and Biography)

Haunted by her grandmother's Old World stories and bigger-than-life persona, Andrea Simon undertook a spiritual search for her lost family. Her sojourn, a quest for truth, gave her tragic answers. On a group tour of ancestral Jewish homeland sites that had been crushed in the Holocaust, she makes a riveting detour to her grandmother's village of Volchin, in what is now Belarus, where the last known family members had lived. There, she followed the trail of the death march taken by the village Jews to the place of their slaughter by Nazis and Nazi collaborators in the fall of 1942. During the same period, in Brona Gora, a forest between Brest and Minsk, some 50,000 Jews were shot. Simon was in one of the first American groups to visit this little-publicized site. Bashert, the Yiddish word for fate, guided her through the arduous quest. With newly translated archival records, she peeled back layers of clues to confront the mystery. This story of her momentous odyssey reveals the terrible fate of her kin. Mass shootings of Jews, particularly in the Soviet Union, have not been addressed with the same focus given to concentration-camp atrocities. Yet Simon's research reveals that Nazis killed nearly fifty percent of their Jewish victims by means other than gassing. In the historiography of the era, comparatively scant reference is made to the executions at Brona Gora. Thus Simon fills a significant gap in Holocaust history by providing the most extensive report yet given on the executions at Brona Gora and Volchin. As she interweaves tragic narrative with evocative family anecdotes, Simon writes a story of life in czarist Russia and, within this frame, of her family's flight from pogroms and persecution. From a unique vantage Simon's memoir discloses her dogged genealogical search, the newly perceived Jewish history she uncovered, and the ramifications of the Holocaust in the postwar generation.

Basic Training For Dummies

The easy way to prepare for basic trainingEach year, thousands of young Americans attempt to enlist in the U.S. Armed Services. A number of factors during a soldier's training could inhibit successful enlistment, including mental toughness and physical fitness levels. Basic Training For Dummies covers the ins and outs of this initial process, preparing you for the challenges you?ll face before you head off for basic training..You'll get detailed, week-by-week information on what to expect in basic training for each branch of service, such as physical training, discipline, classroom instruction, drill and ceremony, obstacle courses, simulated war games, self-defense, marksmanship, and other milestones.Tips and information on getting in shape to pass the Physical Fitness Test (PFT)All-important advice on what to pack for boot camp Other title by Powers: ASVAB For Dummies Premier, 3rd Edition, Veterans Benefits For DummiesWhether you join the Army, Air Force, Navy, Marine Corps, or the Coast Guard, Basic Training For Dummies prepares you for the challenge and will help you survive and thrive in boot camp!

Basic: Surviving Boot Camp and Basic Training

Every American fighting man and woman share one thing in common: they have all survived basic military training. Basic tells the story of that training.Medal of Honor recipient Col. Jack Jacobs and David Fisher recount the funny, sad, dramatic, poignant, and sometimes crazy history of how America has trained its military, told through the personal accounts of those who remember the experiences as if they happened yesterday.If you've been through basic or boot camp, these memories of drill instructors, marching chants, combat training (and the "gas chamber"), hospital corners, and the shared feeling of triumph are guaranteed to make you smile. And those who haven't done it will understand and appreciate this life-changing experience that turns a civilian into a soldier—and in just eight weeks.

Basil Wilson Duke, CSA: The Right Man in the Right Place

The first biography of &“one of Kentucky&’s best Confederates . . . [who] became a good citizen working for reconciliation between North and South.&”—The Post and Courier After practicing law for several years in St. Louis, Basil Wilson Duke (1838-1916) enlisted in the Confederate army in 1861 and was elected first lieutenant of John Hunt Morgan&’s legendary cavalry unit. As second in command, he was, Morgan recorded, &“wise in counsel, gallant in the field,&” and always &“the right man in the right place.&” Duke was twice wounded in battle and was captured during Morgan&’s Great Raid and held prisoner for over a year. When Morgan, who was also Duke&’s brother-in-law, was killed in 1864, Duke was promoted to brigadier general and appointed commander of Morgan&’s men. Moving to join forces with those of Gen. Joseph E. Johnston&’s army in North Carolina, he was assigned to the force escorting Jefferson Davis in his retreat from Richmond at the close of the war. Basil Wilson Duke, CSA, the definitive biography of this important but often overlooked figure in Civil War history, establishes that Duke was in fact the brilliant tactician behind much of the success of Morgan&’s cavalry. Author Gary Robert Matthews not only offers an in-depth study of Duke&’s celebrated Civil War exploits but also traces his varied postwar literary, legal, and political careers. &“Fascinating . . . a vividly written story about a modest Southern gentleman in which the reader may come to his own conclusion that Basil W. Duke was the power behind Morgan&’s so-called military genius.&”—Edison H. Thomas, author of John Hunt Morgan and His Raiders

Basil's War

A swashbuckling British agent goes behind enemy lines to search for a religious text that might hold the key to ending the second World War Basil St. Florian is an accomplished agent in the British Army, tasked with dozens of dangerous missions for crown and country across the globe. But his current mission, going undercover in Nazi-occupied France during World War II, might be his toughest assignment yet. He will be searching for an ecclesiastic manuscript that doesn’t officially exist, one that genius professor Alan Turing believes may hold the key to a code that could prevent the death of millions and possibly even end the war. St. Florian isn’t the classic British special agent with a stiff upper lip—he is a swashbuckling, whisky-drinking cynic and thrill-seeker who resents having to leave Vivien Leigh’s bed to set out on his crucial mission. Despite these proclivities, though, Basil’s Army superiors know he’s the best man for the job, carrying out his espionage with enough charm and quick wit to make any of his subjects lower their guards. Action-packed and bursting with WWII-era intrigue (much of which has basis in fact), Basil’s War is a classic espionage thriller from Pulitzer Prize-winning critic, essayist, and bestselling novelist Stephen Hunter.

Bastogne - The Story Of The First Eight Days: In Which The 101st Airborne Division Was Closed Within The Ring Of German Forces [Illustrated Edition]

[This edition benefits from numerous maps of the battlefields that the actions were fought over]"NUTS!" - Among the many military legends that abound from the fighting of the Second World War, the one word reply to a German summons to surrender must rank highly in terms of its resonance, importance and sheer grit. General Mcaulliffe decided that despite the odds and the lack of supplies and ammunition his troops would continue to hold the important communication hub of Bastogne during the Battle of the Bulge. This dramatic, yet authoritative account brings all of the action to the fore as the Battered Bastards of Bastogne wrote their names into legend."THIS STORY OF BASTOGNE was written from interviews with nearly all the commanders and staff officers and many of the men who participated in the defense of Bastogne during the first phase of that now celebrated operation--the days during which the American forces were surrounded by forces of the enemy...Thus it is essentially the account of how a single strong defensive force was built from separate commands of armor, airborne infantry and tank destroyers--a force convinced that it could not be beaten."-Introduction.

Bastogne: Battle of the Bulge (Battleground Europe)

By Christmas 1944, the Allies were on the threshold of victory, having remorselessly rolled the Germans back to the very borders of "The Fatherland". The, the shock of a massive Nazi counter-attack through the Ardennes in the depth of winter threw the Allies into confusion. Bastogne was at the very centre of this dramatic and most dangerous setback.

Bat Bomb: World War II's Other Secret Weapon

It was a crazy way to win World War II in the Pacific— All the United States had to do was to attach small incendiary bombs to millions of bats and release them over Japan's major cities. As the bats went to roost, a million fires would flare up in remote crannies of the wood and paper buildings common throughout Japan. When their cities were reduced to ashes, the Japanese would surely capitulate... The plan made sense to a handful of eccentric promoters and researchers, who convinced top military brass and even President Roosevelt to back the scheme. It might have worked, except that another secret weapon—something to do with atoms—was chosen to end the war. Told here by the youngest member of the team, this is the story of the bat bomb project, or Project X-Ray, as it was officially known. In scenes worthy of a Capra or Hawks comedy, Jack Couffer recounts the unorthodox experiments carried out in the secrecy of Bandera, Texas, Carlsbad, New Mexico, and El Centro, California, in 1942-1943 by "Doc" Adams' private army. This oddball cast of characters included an eccentric inventor, a distinguished Harvard scientist, a biologist with a chip on his shoulder, a movie star, a Texas guano collector, a crusty Marine Corps colonel, a Maine lobster fisherman, an ex-mobster, and a tiger. Not to be defeated by minor logistical hurdles, the bat bomb researchers risked life and limb to explore uncharted bat caves and "recruit" thousands of bats to serve their country. Through months of personality conflicts, military snafus, and technical failures the team pressed on, certain that bats could end the war with Japan. And they might have—in their first airborne test, the bat bombers burned an entire brand-new military airfield to the ground. For everyone who relishes true tales of action and adventure, Bat Bomb is a must-read. Bat enthusiasts will also discover the beginnings of the scientific study of bats.

Bat Bomb: World War II's Other Secret Weapon

&“Inside information on a wondrously droll, highly classified yarn from WWII . . . A well-told, stranger-than-fiction tale that could make a terrific movie.&” —Kirkus Reviews The plan: attach small incendiary bombs to millions of bats and release them over Japan&’s major cities. As the bats went to roost, a million fires would flare up in remote crannies of the wood and paper buildings common throughout Japan. When their cities were reduced to ashes, the Japanese would surely capitulate . . . Told here by the youngest member of the team, this is the story of the bat bomb project, or Project X-Ray, as it was officially known. In scenes worthy of a Capra or Hawks comedy, Jack Couffer recounts the unorthodox experiments carried out in the secrecy of Bandera, Texas, Carlsbad, New Mexico, and El Centro, California, in 1942-1943 by &“Doc&” Adams&’ private army. This oddball cast of characters included an eccentric inventor, a distinguished Harvard scientist, a biologist with a chip on his shoulder, a movie star, a Texas guano collector, a crusty Marine Corps colonel, a Maine lobster fisherman, an ex-mobster, and a tiger. The bat bomb researchers risked life and limb to explore uncharted bat caves and &“recruit&” thousands of bats to serve their country, certain that they could end the war with Japan. And they might have—in their first airborne test, the bat bombers burned an entire brand-new military airfield to the ground. For everyone who relishes true tales of action and adventure, Bat Bomb is a must-read. Bat enthusiasts will also discover the beginnings of the scientific study of bats.

Bataan Uncensored

Bataan Uncensored, published in 1949, is the first-hand account by U.S. Army Colonel Ernest Miller of his experiences in the battle for Bataan, his subsequent surrender and participation in the infamous "Death March," followed by imprisonment at Camps O'Donnell and Cabanatuan, and finally transfer to a labor camp in Japan on a cramped, fetid "Hell Ship." Upon their arrival in the Philippines, Miller, commander of an armored National Guard unit from Minnesota—the 194th Tank Battalion—and his troops are soon thrown into the thick of the fighting in a desperate attempt to slow the Japanese take-over. The U.S. And Philippine armies, grossly unprepared for the massive Japanese invasions, do not have a chance of victory, compounded by their obsolete equipment, lack of fuel and food, and a chaotic command structure. Once in captivity, the struggle to survive begins, hindered by always inadequate food, no medicines to treat raging diseases such as malaria and dysentery, and beatings at the hands of sadistic guards. As the author states, by war's end, 75% of his battalion did not return to the United States. Unlike other works dealing with the U.S. military in the Philippines in the Second World War, Bataan Uncensored realistically portrays the experiences of the soldiers but also identifies critical weaknesses in American policy and tactics that greatly affected the outcome of the battle. Included are 11 pages of maps.

Bataan: The Judgment Seat

Bataan: the Judgment Seat, first published in 1944 is the account of Lieutenant Colonel Allison Ind about U.S. preparations and defenses prior to and during the Japanese invasion of the Philippines. Ind, an Air Intelligence Officer, provides a blow-by-blow account of his activities within the broader picture of the war, from the tense days before the attack on Pearl Harbor, to the frantic scrambling of unprepared and under-equipped American and Filipino fighting forces, to the defense and fall of Bataan and Corregidor. The book ends with Ind leaving the Philippines via Mindanao for Australia with his commanding officer. Bataan: the Judgment Seat remains a sobering look at America's military in the Pacific during the early days of the Second World War.

Batallas de Malvinas: Todos los combates de la Guerra del Atlántico Sur

Una obra imprescindible para que la guerra de Malvinas deje de ser una parte silenciada de nuestra historia cercana. ¿Cuál fue el significado de la guerra de Malvinas? ¿Se trató de una lucha justa contra un dominio colonial anacrónico o no fue más que la estrategia de escape de un régimen dictatorial que ya no podía ocultar su crisis? Encontrar las respuestas a estas preguntas no es tarea fácil. La necesidad de pasar de las emociones al juicio objetivo es todavía un desafío pendiente para la sociedad, que, embanderada en la causa desde una u otra posición, llena con ideología los análisis y favorece de ese modo la existencia de ese #manto de neblina# que cubre todavía los sucesos de una guerra cruda, disputada en tierras inhóspitas. Pablo Camogli se propone ayudar a descorrer ese velo mediante la exposición detallada de los hechos bélicos, porque #sin las bombas, sin la muerte, sin el hambre y el frío, ningún análisis estaría completo, ninguna conclusión sería acertada#. Tras una minuciosa investigación, enriquecida con testimonios de los protagonistas, Batallas de Malvinas cuestiona medias verdades y mitos difundidos tras la guerra para favorecer intereses políticos parciales. Revela qué pasó durante esos setenta y cuatro días, con qué capacidad militar se contó y cómo fue utilizada, cuál fue el espíritu de los soldados frente al enemigo, cómo actuaron las Fuerzas Armadas como institución y también de manera individual, sobre todo a la hora del combate, cuál fue el planteo estratégico y con qué tácticas se lo llevó a cabo.

Batallas decisivas de la historia de España

Las grandes batallas que conformaron el futuro de España. Este libro presenta una amena aproximación a los hechos bélicos que marcaron decisivamente el devenir de los acontecimientos en nuestro país. Analizar las batallas, las causas de las mismas, así como las trascendentales consecuencias de sus resultados es el objetivo de esta obra. En ella se analizan pormenorizadamente algunos episodios bélicos fundamentales, desde la Alta Edad Media hasta comienzos del siglo XIX. Juan Carlos Losada trata, por otra parte, de hacer reflexionar al lector sobre lo diferente que podría haber sido la historia de España de no haberse producido estos terribles enfrentamientos, y sobre el papel de la violencia en la construcción de los Estados.

Batallas entre hermanos: Todos los combates de las guerras civiles argentinas

Un recorrido por más de cien años de luchas civiles en el proceso de surgimiento de la nación y la construcción del Estado argentino. «En 1813, una lucha entre dos grupos de guaraníes acabó en un enfrentamiento armado. Los protagonistas nunca lo sabrían, pero este conflicto marcó el inicio de la guerra civil en la Argentina. Sólo 101 años después, esa guerra tendría su conclusión formal.» Este libro recorre esos más de cien años de luchas fratricidas, para develar el papel central que los enfrentamientos armados tuvieron en el surgimiento de la nación y la construcción del Estado argentino. Tanto en la definición del modelo de país como en la delimitación de su territorio, esas guerras civiles no sólo acompañaron la evolución política, sino que en muchos casos la decidieron y determinaron. Con una novedosa y fundamentada interpretación, se incluye la llamada "guerra contra el indio" en el contexto de esas luchas entre hermanos. A partir de una documentada investigación, Pablo Camogli relata las batallas que jalonan esos procesos históricos. Detalla las fuerzas enfrentadas, los recursos de que disponían, los jefes que las comandaban, las tácticas aplicadas, los escenarios donde se produjeron y los resultados de más de cuatrocientos combates, en su correspondiente contexto político, social y económico. Brinda así una visión a la vez integral y pormenorizada de un aspecto central para comprender el surgimiento y la consolidación de la Argentina.

Bath at War, 1939–45 (Your Towns And Cities In World War Two Ser.)

Bath at War 1939-45 is a comprehensive account of the citys experience of the conflict, covering in detail life on the Home Front set against the background of the wider theatres of war.The narrative of that global struggle is given with a focus on the ordeals endured by the people of Bath, as they cheered their men and women fighters off to war, welcomed thousands of evacuated men, women and children to the city, and faced the full might of Hitlers Luftwaffe.Rare insights into the life of the war-torn city are included, along with untold stories from the footnotes of history, from the Bath blitz to the influx of American GIs. The book incorporates memoirs and memories, along with in depth research from official records and newspaper accounts, so the reader sees the war from the perspective of ordinary people, although the military experiences of Baths citizens - and in many cases their tragic sacrifices - are also included.More controversial topics are also touched upon, such as civil defense, military injustice, racism and local politics, to give a full and fascinating picture of a great city facing profound trials of endurance and courage, thus revealing the many characteristics which has sustained Bath throughout its illustrious history.

Bath in the Great War (Your Towns & Cities in the Great War)

When news of the war broke out in 1914, nothing could prepare the citizens of Bath for the changes that would envelop their city over the next four years. The story of Bath in the Great War is both an interesting and intriguing one. This book covers this historic city's involvement from the commencement of the Great War in July 1914, to the Armistice in November 1918, describing in great detail what happened to the city and its people, including their everyday lives, entertainment, spies and the internment of aliens living within the city. Bath played a key role in the deployment of troops to Northern Europe as well as supplying vital munitions. Local men responded keenly to recruitment drives and thousands of soldiers were billeted in the city before being sent off to fight the enemy overseas. The city also played a vital role caring for the many wounded soldiers who returned home from the front. As the end of the war was announced there were tremendous celebrations in the streets, but the effects of war lasted for years to come. By the end of the conflict, there wasn't a family in Bath who hadn't lost a son, father, nephew, uncle or brother. Bath features many forgotten news stories of the day and includes a considerable collection of rare photographs last seen in newspapers nearly 70 years ago.

Battersea Girl: Tracing a London Life

A couple of years ago, Martin Knight began a quest to delve into his family history. He had a head start on many amateur genealogists, as 30 years earlier he had produced a school project on the very subject. The project was based on the papers and oral history of his then elderly grandmother, Ellen Tregent. Martin dusted this off and began to assemble the chain of events that shaped his grandmother's life. He even made contact with several living relatives who had known Ellen or some of the people and events she described.Ellen Tregent was born in 1888 and died in 1988 - her lifetime encompassing an unprecedented century of social change and world upheaval. She was born into a poor working-class family in Battersea, London. Her grandfather had arrived from Ireland 40 years earlier to escape almost certain death as potato famine ravaged his country. In Battersea Girl, Martin Knight charts Ellen's long and eventful life and the lives of her siblings. They encounter abject poverty, disease, suicide, murder, war and inevitably death, but, equally, the spirit of stoical people who were determined to make the most of their lives shines through in this enchanting book.

Battle At St. Vith, Belgium, 17-23 December, 1944 [Illustrated Edition]

Includes 11 excellently detailed mapsThis is the narrative of one phase of the greatest pitched battles on the Western Front in World War II. The battle of St. Vith is an excellent example of how American Troops held their ground in the midst of confusion, defeat, and uncertainty; and thereby threw the German timetable sufficiently off schedule to allow American forces to regroup, hold, and then counterattack. The stand at St. Vith has been recognized by both German and Allied commanders as a turning point in the Battle of the Bulge.

Battle Beneath the Trenches: The Cornish Miners of 251 Tunnelling Company RE

Undermining the positions of the enemy is one of the most ancient activities. For almost 3000 years even before 1914, it was a popular siege-breaking technique. During the Great War, arguably the greatest siege the world had ever seen, it presented a conflict environment that perfectly favoured the skills of the military miner. During 1915, the Western Front was established as a static line that grew into a huge network of defence-in-depth earthworks. Siege conditions demanded siege tactics and as the ground was everywhere mineable, the Western Front was a prime candidate for underground warfare.Royal Engineer tunnelling companies were specialist units of the Corps of Royal Engineers within the British Army, formed to dig attacking tunnels under enemy lines during the First World War. The Cornish Miners were one of these specialist units recruited from the tin mines of Cornwall.In February 1915, eight Tunnelling Companies were created and operational in Flanders from March 1915. By mid-1916, the British Army had around 25,000 trained tunnellers, mostly volunteers taken from mining communities. This is their story.

Battle Born (Robbie & Sam)

A Companion to the Robbie & Sam SeriesDaniel Messana wanted a way out of Thornwood, Colorado, and he found it in the Army. Now he’s returned with no more direction to his life than he had when he left as an angry teenager. And even though the war is behind him, the things he experienced won’t leave him in peace. His PTSD plagues him in crowds, and isolation sets in when he’s by himself. Because of the way he treated his brothers, regret gnaws at him, and he has no family to turn to. For Franklin “Coop” Cooper, the Army was life, and one he loved. But when an IED in Afghanistan left him blind, it ended not only the career he’d built, but any chance of being his own man. Back home, his parents refuse to let him do anything for himself, even though Coop and his service dog are ready to move forward and adjust to his new conditions. His only escape from being coddled like a child is going for pizza on base while his mother shops on Fridays. There, Daniel sits down next to him, and the two men begin a friendship that could become more—if they can break free from everything holding them back.

Battle Born: Lapis Lazuli

From the bestselling author of The White Donkey, a heartbreaking and visceral graphic novel set against the stark beauty of Afghanistan's mountain villages that examines prejudice and the military remnants of colonialism.In this hotly anticipatednew work from Maximilian Uriarte, creator of the popular Terminal Lance comics and The White Donkey, tells a "thrillingly cinematic" (Publishers Weekly) story of the personal cost of war and the power of human connection. Lapis Lazuli is a rich blue semiprecious gemstone found deep in the Sar-i-sang mountains of Afghanistan's Badakhshan province. For thousands of years it has sustained the nearby mining villages, whose inhabitants lived peacefully in the mountainous landscape--until the Taliban, known in the region as the Horsemen, came to seek the riches stored deep beneath the earth. Taliban rule has turned the stone into a conflict mineral, as they steal and sell it for their own gain. At the behest of the fledgling Afghan government, seeking to wrest back control of the province, United States Marines are sent into the mountains. A platoon led by their eager and naive commander, First Lieutenant Roberts, and a stoic, fierce squad leader, Sergeant King, must overcome barriers of language and culture in this remote region to win the locals' trust, and their freedom from Taliban rule. Along the way, they must also wrestle with their demons--and face unimaginably difficult choices.A sweeping yet intimate story about brutality, kindness, and the remnants of colonialism, Battle Born: Lapis Lazuli is an epic saga from the voice of a new generation of military veterans.

Battle Command In The Storm: Lieutenant General Franks And VII Corps

This study examines the concept of battle command from a modem historical perspective. It analyzes the decision making and leadership displayed by Lieutenant General Franks during the planning, preparation and execution of Operation Desert Storm to determine if General Franks exhibited the principles of battle command. Decision making and leadership are the two major components of battle command, a concept championed by Franks following Desert Storm, and, as such serve to frame the discussion. As the commander of the U.S. VII Corps during Operation Desert Storm, General Franks made decisions that had tactical, operational, and strategic implications. These decisions directly affected the lives and actions of the over 142,000 U.S. and British service-members assigned to his command. The results were overwhelmingly successful but many criticized him for being too cautious and conservative. This study investigates if the criticism founded in fact or whether General Franks was merely striking the best balance possible between decision making and leadership on the battlefield.

Battle Cry

Battle Cry is the riveting Marine epic by the bestselling author of such classics as Trinity and Exodus. Originally published in 1953, Leon Uris's Battle Cry is the raw and exciting story of men at war from a legendary American author. This is the story of enlisted men - Marines - at the beginning of World War II. They are a rough-and-ready tangle of guys from America's cities and farms and reservations. Led by a tough veteran sergeant, these soldiers band together to emerge as part of one of the most elite fighting forces in the world. With staggering realism and detail, we follow them into intense battles - Guadalcanal and Tarawa - and through exceptional moments of camaraderie and bravery. Battle Cry does not extol the glories of war, but proves itself to be one of the greatest war stories of all time.

Battle Cry of Freedom: The Civil War Era

The history of the Civil War that brings to life, the generals, the presidents, the soldiers, politicians, Abolitionists, Southern fire-eaters, Northern barn-burners, Copperheads, and Know-Nothings. A volume on the war and its background<P><P> Pulitzer Prize Winner

Battle Diary: From D-Day and Normandy to the Zuider Zee and VE

A fast-paced account by a soldier who was twice decorated. Charlie Martin, company sergeant-major in the Queen’s Own, was with his beloved A Company in all of the significant Normandy actions.

Battle Digest: Bunker Hill

<p>The Battle Digest summary includes all the key aspects of the campaign and battle, including maps, images, and lessons learned.<p> <p>In the weeks following the skirmishes at Lexington and Concord, Colonial militia and volunteers rallied around Boston to besiege Lt. Gen. Thomas Gage’s British garrison. But when reinforcements arrived from England, Gage devised a plan to regain the initiative by occupying Dorchester Heights south of town. When the Colonials heard of Gage’s plan, however, they preempted him by occupying different high ground ? the heights of Bunker Hill near Charlestown.<p> <p>When Gage awoke on 17 June to the sight of rebel positions on Breed’s Hill, he quickly attacked in what would be the first pitched battle of the American Revolution. The misnamed Battle of Bunker Hill would prove a costly and shocking victory for the British, while giving the Colonials faith in their militias and an important boost of confidence for the long struggle ahead.<p>

Battle Digest: D-Day (Battle Digest Series)

<p>A concise guide to the Normandy invasion with facts, maps, historical significance, strategies, and more.<p> <p>Operation Overlord, commonly referred to as “D-Day,” was the Allied invasion to secure a foothold in northern France to enable the final offensive into Germany. The Normandy invasion would be the largest combined air-sea assault landing in history. This massive feat would finally enable the Allies to deploy forces on the continent, of sufficient size and scale, to bring about the beginning of the end of Hitler and his Third Reich.<p> <p>Learn how General Eisenhower managed to attack German weakness with Allied strength as well as how intelligence and deception were crucial to the outcome.<p> <p>The Battle Digest summary includes all the key aspects of the campaign and battle, including maps, images, and lessons learned.<p>

Battle Digest: Desert Storm (Battle Digest Series)

<p>A concise guide to the American-led coalition’s speedy defeat of Saddam Hussein in 1991, with maps, facts, historical significance, and more. Just two years after the end of Iraq’s war with Iran, an emboldened Iraqi dictator, Saddam Hussein, invaded Kuwait. Operation Desert Storm was the final phase of the U.S.-led Coalition’s effort to expel Saddam’s forces from his southern neighbor’s borders. In less than 100 hours of joint air and ground combat, the U.S. and its allies would not only triumph, but also demonstrate to the world the superiority of a new breed of weapons. The battle also had the unintended effect of renewing a pride and confidence in the U.S. military after the long shadow of Vietnam.<p> <p>Learn how America built a coalition of nations to go to war, and how Gen. Norman Schwarzkopf used maneuver and deception to create one of the most lopsided victories in the history of warfare.<p> <p>The Battle Digest summary includes all the key aspects of the campaign and battle, including maps, images, and lessons learned.<p>

Battle Digest: Little Bighorn (Battle Digest Series)

<p>A concise history of Custer’s Last Stand with maps, facts, historical significance, and more. The battle of Little Bighorn, despite its relatively small size, was the worst defeat for the U.S. Army in the Indian Wars. Although it was a clear tactical victory for the Plains Indians, it also would be a significant strategic setback for their cause. The outrage resulting from the Indian victory only intensified efforts by the U.S. Army and its Department of the Missouri to pacify the Native Americans and return those who resisted to their reservations. Within months of their victory at the Little Bighorn, the Plains Indians were defeated in the Great Sioux War of 1876–1877 and their lands in the Black Hills of the Dakota Territory were confiscated.<p> <p>Learn why the controversial George A. Custer rushed into battle against his Indian opponents on that fateful day, and how Brigadier General Terry’s failure to synchronize his forces contributed to “Custer’s Last Stand.”<p> <p>The Battle Digest summary includes all the key aspects of the campaign and battle, including maps, images, and lessons learned.<p>

Battle Digest: Pearl Harbor (Battle Digest Series)

<p>A concise guide to the Japanese attack on Hawaii that plunged America into WWII, with facts, maps, historical significance, and more.<p> <p>As America prepared for WWII, everything changed on December 7, 1941—described by President Franklin D. Roosevelt as a “date which will live in infamy”—when Japan launched a successful surprise attack on the U.S. Pacific Fleet anchored at Pearl Harbor. The devastating attack crippled the fleet, while showing the world the new dominance of carrier-borne aircraft in naval warfare. Japan’s tactical success, however, belied her strategic failure. With America’s declaration of war the following day, Japan had created a determined and powerful enemy. And while Japan did gain time to expand in the Pacific, that time would be short-lived. Japan had awakened the “sleeping giant” of America.<p> <p>Learn how Admiral Yamamoto’s bold plan caught America by surprise yet doomed the larger Japanese cause. Learn also about Japan’s lost opportunities during the attack—opportunities that would have tilted the scales decidedly more in her favor.<p> <p>The Battle Digest summary includes all the key aspects of the campaign and battle, including maps, images, and lessons learned.<p>

Battle Digest: Shiloh (Battle Digest Series)

The Battle Digest summary includes all the key aspects of the campaign and battle, including maps, images, and lessons learned. After his early success in the Civil War’s Western Theater, Maj. Gen. Ulysses S. Grant moved south to capture the key railroad hub at Corinth and further cut into the Confederate hold on the Tennessee and Mississippi River Valleys. But Confederate Gen. Albert S. Johnston wasn’t playing by Grant’s script. Instead of waiting for Grant to combine armies with Maj. Gen. Don Carlos Buell, Johnston moved north for a surprise attack. It almost worked. But after taking a beating the first day, a resolute Grant rallied his army and pushed the Confederates back, salvaging victory from what appeared to be certain defeat and further opening the Confederacy’s vulnerable Western flank. But Shiloh was also a sobering wake-up call for both sides. With carnage on a scale not seen before, all illusions of a short and low-cost war were shattered.

Battle For Air Supremacy Over The Somme: 1 June-30 November 1916

Much has been written about the Battle of the Somme. From July through late November 1916, British, French, and German armies fought one of the costliest battles of the twentieth century. Well over a million casualties and only a few miles of ground gained by the Allies were the result when the battle ended. Little, however, has been written about the second battle which occurred simultaneously, this one in the skies above the Somme, where for the first time in the history of warfare a deliberate attempt was made to control the sky. The British Royal Flying Corps, under the resolute command of General Sir Hugh Trenchard, fought to gain air supremacy from the German Air Service. Trenchard believed that the best way to support the ground force was to dominate and control the sky above the battlefield. This air campaign was critical because of its impact on the doctrine and theory of air warfare which followed it.This study examines the efforts of the Royal Flying Corps to gain air supremacy against the German Air Service before and during the Battle of the Somme.

Battle For Rome: Twilight of Empire III (Twilight of Empire #3)

In this &“well-crafted, atmospheric&” war novel set in ancient Rome, an officer battles under Constantine while in the midst of personal turmoil.(Ben Kane, author of Fields of Blood) The Roman Empire is on the brink of civil war. Only Maxentius, tyrant of Rome, stands between the emperor Constantine and supreme power in the west. Aurelius Castus is now a tribune in Constantine's army. But great honor brings new challenges: Castus is tormented by suspicions that his young wife has been unfaithful. And as Constantine becomes increasingly devoted to Christianity, he is forced to ask himself whether he is backing the wrong man. The coming war will decide the fate of empire. But Castus's own battle will carry him much further. &“Hugely enjoyable. The author winds up tension into an explosion of fast-paced events.&” —Conn Iggulden, author of Stormbird &”A thumping good read . . . thoroughly enjoyable.&” —Ben Kane, author of Lionheart &“This is up there with Harry Sidebottom and Ben Kane.&” —M.C. Scott, author of Into the Fire

Battle For The Solomons [Illustrated Edition]

Includes the Island War In The Pacific Illustration Pack - 152 maps, plans and photos.Pulitzer Prize winning author Ira Wolfert provides a gripping eye-witness account of one of the pivotal campaigns of the Second World War.The campaign to liberate the Solomon islands from Japanese domination, which had crept sloe to cutting off Australia and New Zealand, was hugely important in regaining the initiative for the Allies in the Pacific. The action in this account is centered around the legendary fighting on Guadalcanal, in the air, on the sea and on the land. The author toured the area recording the thoughts, feelings and anecdotes of the American Marines, Soldiers, Sailors and Airmen who fought this brutal but successful campaign. Weaving all of these parts into a narrative of vivid clarity he captured the spirit of the "Greatest Generation" as they faced their most implacable enemy, the forces of Imperial Japan.

Battle Front (USA vs. Militia)

The final collapse of trust between the ruled and the rulers has happened in an America where civil war rages again. From bestselling author Ian Slater. "As impelling a storyteller as you're likely to encounter."—Clive Cussler The Federals drew first blood as battalions of freedom fighters went tank-to-tank with the National Guard in the Northwest. Though the President declares the area secure, top officials know the truth: The Militia movement is spreading from the fringes like wildfire, now more organized, committed, and violent than ever, and hellbent on an armed victory over the United States. No matter how desperately the government tries to regain its hold, the roads of America are shuddering under the columns of tanks, the skies throbbing with Blackhawks. Two hundred thousand trained militiamen are armed with high-tech killing tools and the courage of true believers. And after a spark ignites the Everglades, the USA takes the most explosive hit of all.

Battle Group!: German Kamfgruppen Action in World War Two

The author of War on the Eastern Front offers an in-depth analysis of Nazi Germany&’s shock troop tactics in every theater of WWII. The German army in the Second World War sought to fight and win swift, decisive victories in a succession of short campaigns known as blitzkrieg, or &“lightning war.&” Flexibility was as essential as the will to win. Battle groups, or shock troops, were created from miscellaneous and often disparate military units to undertake a specific local operation; it was the army's skill in combining superior numbers, aggressive tactics and the battle group commander's ability to exploit the changing situation on the ground which brought success on the battlefield. The actions described here cover all theaters of the war, and include battle groups large and small, deployed usually to smash a breach in the enemy line or seal off an enemy penetration. It covers operations in the first dynamic years when Wehrmacht forces defeated the armies of one European country after another in fast campaigns, through to the years after Stalingrad and Africa as they moved towards defeat. The battle groups&’ contribution to Wehrmacht fortunes offer powerful lessons in the tactics of battle management, and this book by James Lucas, a military historian known for his close studies of the German soldier, is considered to be one of the most detailed and authoritative accounts on the subject.

Battle Hardened: An Infantry Officer's Harrowing Journey from D-Day to V-E Day

Battle-Hardened: An Infantry Officer's Harrowing Journey from D-Day to VE-Day tells the story of an American soldier's growth from a 2nd Lieutenant eager to prove his worth in battle to a skilled and resolute commander over the course of the Northern European Campaign. Craig Chapman delves deep into the personal recollections and mental state of Bill Champman as he fought against the Nazis, enduring frontline combat and witnessing horror on a massive scale. Lieutenant Chapman maintains his sanity by isolating his emotions from the chaos of the battlefield, and the young officer turns into a hard-edged warrior who dispassionately orders men to risk their lives yet still manages to hold onto his humanity.

Battle Hymn

The explosive, true story of a man of God turned fighter pilot who fought and prayed his way through 300 combat missions and two wars.Author Dean E. Hess is the subject of this inspiring autobiography, Battle Hymn, first published in 1956, which tells of his experiences as a U.S. Air Force colonel, including his involvement in the so-called “Kiddy Car Airlift” during the Korean War on December 20, 1950.With the airfield over capacity, Hess sent Korean orphans to an orphanage in Seoul. When the North Korean forces began to capture the city, Hess reportedly organized 15 C-54 Skymaster aircraft to airlift 950 orphans and 80 orphanage staff from the path of the Chinese advance to safety on Jeju Island. When Hess departed Korea in June 1951, a new orphanage on this island held over 1,000 Korean children.The book later served the basis for the 1957 film of the same name, where he was played by Rock Hudson.“Stirring”—San Francisco Chronicle“In his career as a war correspondent Quentin Reynolds has met his share of heroes, but few of them, he says have impressed him as deeply as Col. Dean E. Hess.”—Readers Digest“Twentieth century American soldiers, sailors, airmen and Marines have enjoyed a warm reputation for caring about the children of the lands they have fought in. Col. Dean E. Hess—Air Force humanitarians—well represents this tradition.”—The Times Magazine

Battle Hymn

From the New York Times bestselling author of the Legion of the Damned® novels comes the final volume in the postapocalyptic military science fiction trilogy about America warring with itself and the people trying to keep it together...The Second Civil War continues to rage as Union president Samuel T. Sloan battles to keep America whole and, more than that, to restore the country to its former greatness."Wanted Dead or Alive." Following a fateful battle between Union Army major Robin "Mac" Macintyre and her sister, the New Confederacy places a price on Mac's head, and bounty hunters are on her trail.But there's work to be done, and Mac is determined to help Sloan reunify the country by freeing hundreds of Union POWs from appalling conditions in Mexico and capturing a strategic oil reserve that lies deep inside Confederate territory.However, to truly have peace it will be necessary to capture or kill the New Confederacy's leadership, and that includes Mac's father, General Bo Macintyre.

Battle Hymn: The Best and Worst Civil War Generals

An entertaining, informative, and unbiased look at the American Civil War&’s best and worst military leaders. Want to know which general was the most respected by soldiers on both sides? Or why George Thomas is considered the best combat general of the war? Read history professor Richard M. Walsh&’s entertaining book! In it, he reveals the strengths and weaknesses of the Civil War&’s top generals. Find out why Nathan Bedford Forrest and William T. Sherman are both hated and respected. Discover why Stonewall Jackson was considered the best combat leader in the Confederacy and why George McClellan was called &“Little Napoleon.&” Walsh even includes citizen soldiers Patrick Cleburne and Joshua Lawrence Chamberlain in his chronicle. Satirical portraits scattered throughout add to the fun of this educational read.

Battle Leadership

Battle Leadership by Adolph von Schell is a timeless and insightful examination of the psychological and practical aspects of leadership in combat. Von Schell offers a profound exploration of the challenges faced by leaders on the battlefield and the strategies necessary to inspire and maintain the morale of troops under the most extreme conditions.In this concise yet impactful work, von Schell emphasizes the importance of understanding the human element in warfare. He argues that beyond tactics and strategy, effective leadership in battle requires a deep awareness of the psychological pressures faced by soldiers, including fear, stress, and the uncertainty of combat. Von Schell shares practical advice on how leaders can build trust, communicate effectively, and make quick decisions that instill confidence in their men, even in the chaos of battle.Battle Leadership is rich with anecdotes and lessons learned from the front lines, offering readers a rare glimpse into the mindset of a combat leader. Von Schell’s reflections are grounded in real-world experience, making his insights both credible and relatable for military professionals and anyone interested in leadership under pressure.The book also delves into the dynamics of small unit leadership, highlighting the critical role of junior officers and non-commissioned officers in maintaining the cohesion and effectiveness of their units. Von Schell’s observations on the importance of adaptability, initiative, and the moral responsibilities of leadership remain highly relevant to military leaders today.Battle Leadership is essential reading for military officers, historians, and students of leadership. Adolph von Schell’s wisdom transcends time and context, offering valuable guidance for anyone tasked with leading others in difficult and demanding situations. This classic work continues to inspire and educate new generations of leaders, reinforcing the enduring principles of courage, decisiveness, and empathy in the art of command.

Battle Leadership: Some Personal Experiences of a Junior Officer of the German Army with Observations on Battle Tactics and the Psychological Reactions of Troops in Campaign

A collection of lessons learned by Adolf von Schell, a small unit infantry commander during World War I.

Battle Line

A portrait in words and photographs of the interwar Navy, this book examines the twenty-year period that saw the U.S. fleet shrink under the pressure of arms limitation treaties and government economy and then grow again to a world-class force. The authors trace the Navy's evolution from a fleet centered around slow battleships to one that deployed most of the warship types that proved so essential in World War II, including fast aircraft carriers, heavy and light cruisers, sleek destroyers, powerful battleships, and deadly submarines. Both the older battleships and these newer ships are captured in stunning period photographs that have never before been published. An authoritative yet lively text explains how and why the newer ships and aircraft came to be. Thomas Hone and Trent Hone describe how a Navy desperately short funds and men nevertheless pioneered carrier aviation, shipboard electronics, code-breaking, and (with the Marines) amphibious warfare - elements that made America's later victory in the Pacific possible. Based on years of study of official Navy department records, their book presents a comprehensive view of the foundations of a navy that would become the world's largest and most formidable. At the same time, the heart of the book draws on memoirs, novels, and oral histories to reveal the work and the skills of sailors and officers that contributed to successes in World War II. From their service on such battleships as West Virginia to their efforts ashore to develop and procure the most effective aircraft, electronics, and ships, from their adventures on Yangtze River gunboats to carrier landings on the converted battle cruisers Saratoga and Lexington, the men are profiled along with their ships. This combination of popular history with archival history will appeal to a general audience of naval enthusiasts.

Battle Lines: Star Trek Voyager (Star Trek: Voyager #18)

While exploring a sector of uncharted space, the U.S.S. Voyager is ambushed -- and forcibly pressed into service as part of the Edesian Fleet in their war against the enemy Gimlon. The Edesian commander claims that the Fleet is fighting only to defend his people against a merciless invader, but Captain Janeway is suspicious. War, she has learned, is seldom so simple or black and white. With Chakotay and several other crew members held hostage, and the Starship Voyager under the control of the Edesians, Janeway has no choice but to join the campaign against the Gimlon, only to discover that the enemy has developed a new super-weapon capable of destroying entire worlds. Soon the Captain and her crew find themselves fighting a losing battle in a war they never wanted!

Battle Lines: The Last Good War, Book One (The Last Good War #1)

It is 1941, and friends Adam, Joe, Dale, and Catherine are similar to most young adults. College, dating, and fast cars are what they know and live for. And in Chicago, Illinois, the near center of America, world conflict seems merely a distant rumor.But as turmoil in Europe develops into full-scale war, Chicago suddenly abounds with talk of America's entering the fight. Drawn by the promise of freedom and the allure of battle, Joe and Dale join the Army, Adam the Marines, and Catherine the Naval Nurse Service. Far away from home and facing the reality of war in all its horror, they find the world a frighteningly big and unforgiving place, and what began as a quest for freedom becomes a battle to stay alive in one of the bloodiest wars of the twentieth century.At the Publisher's request, this title is being sold without Digital Rights Management Software (DRM) applied.

Battle Of Antietam, Staff Ride Guide [Illustrated Edition]

Contains more than 20 maps, diagrams and illustrationsThe Battle of Antietam has been called the bloodiest single day in American History. By the end of the evening, 17 September 1862, an estimated 4,000 American soldiers had been killed and over 18,000 wounded in and around the small farming community of Sharpsburg, Maryland. Emory Upton, then a captain with the Union artillery battery, later wrote, "I have heard of 'the dead lying in heaps,' but never saw it till this battle. Whole ranks fell together." The battle had been a day of confusion, tactical blunders, individual heroics, and the effects of just plain luck. It brought to an end a Confederate campaign to "liberate" the border state of Maryland and possibly take the war into Pennsylvania. A little more than one hundred and forty years later, the Antietam battlefield is one of the best-preserved Civil War battlefields in the National Park System.Antietam is ideal for a staff ride, since a continuing goal of the National Park Service is to maintain the site in the condition in which it was on the day of the battle. The purpose of any staff ride is to learn from the past by analyzing the battle through the eyes of the men who were there, both leaders and rank-and-file soldiers. Antietam offers many lessons in command and control, communications, intelligence, weapons technology versus tactics, and the ever-present confusion, or "fog" of battle. We hope that these lessons will allow us to gain insights into decision-making and the human condition during combat.

Battle Of Aschaffenburg: An Example Of Late World War II Urban Combat In Europe

The Battle of Aschaffenburg examines the fight for the Main River city of Aschaffenburg in the closing weeks of World War II in Europe. It investigates the reasons why it took mobile and well supported elements of the U.S. Army ten days to subdue a defending German military force that was very much militia in character. After setting the battle in the context of Nazi Germany and the Aschaffenburg region just prior to the fight, the study takes the reader through the battle day-by-day describing the struggle and establishing the reasons why it was so prolonged.The study groups the reasons for the successful German defense into three categories: terrain, operational factors and behavioral determinants. It establishes that the terrain favored the defenders with the town located across the Main River from the attackers so that they were forced into frontal assaults. Granting favorable defensive terrain, it was not until a numerically superior attacking force enveloped the urban defenses, under the cover of massive fire support, that the Americans gained the upper hand. The study further demonstrates the Impact of the concept of the will to win on military operations, even in a hopeless cause.The Battle of Aschaffenburg addresses Europe an urban combat in the context of World War II and concludes that the factors relevant to success then are still applicable. An attacker must carefully plan operations in urbanized terrain, follow doctrine and be physically and mentally prepared for a difficult fight.

Battle Of Ball’s Bluff, Staff Ride Guide [Illustrated Edition]

Contains more than 20 maps, diagrams and illustrationsOn the night of 20 October 1861, Union Brig. Gen. Charles P. Stone put into action a plan to attack what had been reported as a small, unguarded Confederate camp between the Potomac River at Ball's Bluff and Leesburg, Virginia. Later, after Stone learned there was no camp, he allowed the operation to continue, now modified to capture Leesburg itself. But a lack of adequate communication between commanders, problems with logistics, and violations of the principles of war hampered the operation. What originally was to be a small raid instead turned into a military disaster. The action resulted in the death of a popular U.S. senator and long-time friend of President Abraham Lincoln, the arrest and imprisonment of General Stone, and the creation of a congressional oversight committee that would keep senior Union commanders looking over their shoulders for the remainder of the war. For such a small and relatively insignificant military action, Ball's Bluff would cast a long shadow. The purpose of a Ball's Bluff staff ride is to learn from the past by analyzing the battle through the eyes of the men who were there, both leaders and rank-and-file soldiers. The battle contains many lessons in command and control, communications, intelligence, weapons technology versus tactics, and the ever-present confusion, or "fog," of battle. Hopefully, these lessons will allow us to gain insights into decision making and the human condition during combat. Today, the battlefield is enclosed in the 225-acre Ball's Bluff Regional Park, managed by the Northern Virginia Regional Park Authority. A short trail includes interpretive markers and a small national cemetery containing the remains of fifty-four soldiers.

Battle Of Crete: Hitler’s Airborne Gamble

As Adolf Hitler conquered most of the European continent in 1939-1941, the small island of Crete in the Mediterranean Sea became vital to future operations in the Mediterranean region for both the Axis and Allied powers. If the Allies controlled Crete, their air and sea superiority would not allow the Germans a strategic military foothold in the region. For the Germans, Crete would secure the Aegean Sea for Axis shipping, loosen Great Britain's grasp in the eastern Mediterranean Sea and provide air bases to launch offensives against British forces in Egypt. Therefore, the central research question is: Did the results of the German campaign in Crete justify its execution? The operational results of the German campaign in Crete and the strategic advantages gained from its success did not justify the execution of the battle. Although Germany's conquest of Crete achieved all of the strategic advantages, Hitler did not accomplish the strategic objectives set forth at the beginning of the campaign. Crete was not used as a staging base from which to engage the British in offensive operations against the Suez Canal or North Africa. German losses to the highly trained air corps were staggering and Hitler never again employed parachutists on a large-scale airborne operation. Future war efforts were deprived of this elite, highly mobile striking force. Hitler did not capitalize on the hard fought victory in Crete by using the island as a stepping-stone, ultimately controlling the eastern Mediterranean region because he was hypnotized by the invasion of Russia.

Battle Of Gazala (May- June 1942) [Illustrated Edition]

Includes the War in North Africa Illustration Pack - 112 photos/illustrations and 21 maps.The Battle of Gazala, fought from 26 May-20 June 1942, was Rommel's greatest triumph in battle. It is also considered the most convincing defeat of British forces during all the desert campaigns of World War II. Rommel's success was a demanding effort and rested on the exploitation of British weaknesses. It required an understanding of the environment, a commitment to the essential principles of war, and the ability and willingness to maintain initiative. The Battle of Gazala was not just a mastery of warfare by Rommel; it also illustrated (for both sides) the importance of logistics, maneuver, mass, and surprise (FM 3-0, 4-13).When analyzed individually, one, if not all the factors discussed possesses the potential to be the most significant factor(s) in the British defeat at Gazala. The Germans, specifically Rommel, understood how to combine leadership, logistics, mass, and maneuver to impose their will on the British. The British failed to incorporate lessons learned into their plans rendering them incapable of dealing with a mobile war in the Northern Desert. The Battle of Gazala in itself may not profess to be Rommel's great triumph in battle. However, Rommel's ability to apply the principles of war while outnumbered and trapped, and turning defeat into victory could very well define the Battle of Gazala as his finest moment in battle.Analysis of the Battle of Gazala provides several lessons concerning the outcome and whether or not it could be considered Rommel's greatest triumph in battle. Examining the factors presented thus far it could be concluded that British should have had the upper hand.

Battle Of Hampton Roads: A Revolution In Military Affairs

This thesis examines the Battle of Hampton Roads, 8 and 9 March 1862, the first battle of ironclads, to determine if it was a Revolution in Military Affairs. This study is an analysis of naval developments prior to March 1862, the battle, and the impact the battle had on the U.S. Navy and the Royal Navy from 1862 to 1871. The battle signaled the end of the wooden warship era when the CSS Virginia destroyed two wooden warships on 8 March 1862. The USS Monitor influenced a change in naval design, which led the U.S. Navy and the Royal Navy to build turreted warships, which culminated in the launching of the first modern battleship in 1871. The transformation from sailing and steam ships with broadside armament to steam-powered turret ships led to a reduction in the size of the crews and the acceptance of engineers into the naval community. The battle led both navies to assign ironclads to their squadrons to counter ironclads of hostile nations. The battle influenced the development of tactics for fighting ironclads including ramming and coastal warfare. The Battle of Hampton Roads was a Revolution in Military Affairs and the onset of modern naval warfare.

Battle Of Mogadishu: Anatomy Of A Failure

By applying Cohen and Gooch's model to the Battle of Mogadishu, this paper shows that the failure of the TFR mission on 3-4 October 1993 was the result of a system failure. Secretary Aspin received far more blame than he deserved for making the decision. Misperception of the real impact tanks and APCs could have had on the overall mission is the real cause of this disproportionate blame. GEN Hoar and GEN Powell, in addition, bear as much responsibility as Secretary Aspin for the decision. Neither of these generals strongly advocated the deployment to Aspin even though the worsening situation on the ground merited their strong support. Both Hoar and Powell's approval recommendations can be characterized as lukewarm. Aspin's real failure was of not being more critical of the conduct of the TFR operations. In light of Secretary Aspin's acknowledged concern over the number of similar operations conducted by TFR and his knowledge that the Administration was seeking a political solution, he should have notified MG Garrison of the policy shift though the JCS and CINCCENT and provided additional guidance on risk. Had Aspin either reassessed the risk of each TFR operation more thoroughly or done a better job coordinating the policy shift in light of the increased risks, it is likely that the three October raid would not have occurred.

Battle Of Savo Island - Lessons Learned And Future Implications

As the United States enters into the 21st century, it will face new and different challenges that will be more complex than those encountered in the past. Evolutions in doctrine, training, and equipment modernization, influenced by informational and technological advances, will enhance U.S. ability to accomplish national objectives. Valuable lessons learned can be realized by studying past operations that failed to understand the threat and capitalize on friendly capabilities. The Battle of Savo Island in August 1942 is one such event. This short but violent naval engagement, a daring Japanese night surface attack conducted at the beginning of the Guadalcanal campaign on 9 August 1942, was a significant tactical victory for the Imperial Japanese Fleet and has been called the worst blue water defeat in the U.S. Navy's history. This paper will address the shortcomings at Savo Island, particularly in terms of intelligence, command and control, training, force protection, and leadership and discuss these concepts as they apply to current and future operations in the 21st century.

Battle Of Tanga, German East Africa, 1914

In November 1914, British Indian Expeditionary Force "B" conducted an amphibious assault on the Port of Tanga in German East Africa. The British possessed all the tools required for success; they outnumbered the defenders almost eight to one, they possessed the only artillery and naval guns available for the battle, and they landed where the Germans were weak. Despite these factors, a hastily organized German defense force of 1,100 soldiers not only defeated the 8,000 British soldiers, but also compelled Indian Expeditionary Force "B" to retreat to Mombasa.This thesis examines the manner in which German and British forces were organized, trained, equipped, and led. Additionally, it identifies the critical factors that together led to British defeat at Tanga.

Battle Of The Barricades: U.S. Marines In The Recapture Of Seoul [Illustrated Edition] (Marines In The Korean War Commemorative Series #2)

Includes over 30 maps, photos and illustrationsThe Second Battle of Seoul was the battle to recapture Seoul from the North Koreans in late September 1950.The advance on Seoul was slow and bloody, after the landings at Inchon. The reason was the appearance in the Seoul area of two first-class fighting units of the North Korean People's Army, the 78th Independent Infantry Regiment and 25th Infantry Brigade, about 7,000 troops in all.The NKPA launched a T-34 attack, which was trapped and destroyed, and a Yak bombing run in Incheon harbor, which did little damage. The NKPA attempted to stall the UN offensive to allow time to reinforce Seoul and withdraw troops from the south. Though warned that the process of taking Seoul would allow remaining NKPA forces in the south to escape, MacArthur felt that he was bound to honor promises given to the South Korean government to retake the capital as soon as possible.On September 22, the Marines entered Seoul to find it heavily fortified. Casualties mounted as the forces engaged in desperate house-to-house fighting. Anxious to pronounce the conquest of Seoul, Almond declared the city liberated on September 25 despite the fact that Marines were still engaged in house-to-house combat. Despite furious resistance by the North Korean forces, the Marines triumphed; pushing the communists soldiers out of Seoul. This U.S. Marine Corps history provides unique information about this important battle of the Korean War.

Battle Of Waterloo [Illustrated Edition]

Illustrated with documents, paintings, and relics of the period. Renowned Napoleonic historian, J. Christopher Herold recounts the fascinating details of the great battle of Waterloo which ended the career of the greatest conqueror of modern times--Napoleon Bonaparte, Emperor of the French.

Battle Ready

Marine general Tony Zinni was known as the "Warrior Diplomat" during his nearly forty years of service. His credentials as a soldier were impeccable, whether he was leading troops in Vietnam, commanding hair-raising rescue operations in Somalia, or - as Commander in Chief of CENTCOM - directing strikes against Iraq and Al Qaeda. But it was as a peacemaker that he made just as great a mark - conducting dangerous troubleshooting missions all over Africa, Asia, and Europe, and then serving as Secretary of State Colin Powell's special envoy to the Middle East, before disagreements over the 2003 Iraq war and its probable aftermath caused him to resign." Battle Ready follows the evolution of both General Zinni and the Marine Corps, from the cauldron of Vietnam through the operational revolution of the '70s and '80s, to the new realities of the post-Cold War, post-9/11 military - a military with a radically different tools for accomplishing it. Opinions differ sharply about just what that job and those tools should be - and General Zinni makes it clear where he stands.

Battle Ready: Memoir of a Navy SEAL Warrior Medic

“Mark is a true American hero. [His memoir] is a well-written journey from training to combat to recovery.” —Howard Wasdin, New York Times–bestselling author of Seal Team SixAs A SEAL and combat medic, Mark Donald served his country with valorous distinction for almost twenty-five years and survived some of the most dangerous combat actions imaginable.From the rigors of BUD/S training to the horrors of the battlefield, Battle Ready dramatically immerses the reader in the unique life of the elite warrior-medic who advances into combat with life-saving equipment in one hand and life-taking weapons in the other. It is also an uplifting human story that reveals how a young Hispanic American bootstrapped himself out of a life that promised a dead-end future by enlisting in the military. That new life begins with the Marines and includes his heroic achievements on the battlefield and the operating table, and finally, of his inspirational triumph over the demons caused by Post Traumatic Stress Disorder that threatened to destroy him and his family.“A compelling account of a remarkable American’s journey in the military.” —Wade Ishimoto, Former Senior Advisor to Assistant Secretary of Defense, Special Operations/Low Intensity Conflict“Straightforward reflections on what it takes to be the most elite sort of soldier and the hidden costs of that life.” —Kirkus Reviews“A superb description of the infamously brutal weeding-out ordeal of SEAL training, the nuts-and-bolts duties of a medic, and the battle actions that won [Donald] the Navy Cross.” —Publishers Weekly

Battle Royal: 1440-1462 (The\wars Of Lancaster And York Ser. #01)

The enthralling story of the dynastic wars fought between the houses of Lancaster and York, the first of a dynamic two-volume history of the Wars of the Roses. England, 1454. A kingdom sliding into chaos. The mentally unstable King Henry VI, having struggled for a decade to contain the violent feuding of his dukes, is losing his mind. Disgruntled nobles support the regal claims of Richard, Duke of York, great-grandson of Edward III. The stage is set for civil war. The first volume of an enthralling two-part history of the dynastic wars fought between the houses of Lancaster and York, Battle Royal traces the conflict from its roots in the 1440s to the early 1460s—a period marked by the rise and fall of Richard of York, the deposition of Henry VI following the Lancastrian defeat at Towton, and the subsequent seizure of his throne by Richard's son Edward. Populating this late-medieval saga of ambition, intrigue, and bloodshed are such fascinating characters as the vacillating Henry VI himself, his indefatigable queen Marguerite of Anjou, Richard of York (father of kings but never king himself), his opportunist ally Richard Neville—"the Kingmaker"—and the precociously virile Edward of York. Charting a clear course through the dynastic complexities of fifteenth-century power politics, and offering crisply authoritative analysis of the key battles of the Wars of the Roses, Battle Royal is a dynamic and rigorously researched account of England's longest and bloodiest civil war.

Battle Scarred: The 47th Battalion in the First World War

"The dead and wounded of the 47th lay everywhere underfoot". With these words Charles Bean, Australia's Official War Historian, described the battlefield of Dernancourt on the morning of the 5th of April, 1918, strewn with the bodies of the Australian dead. It was the final tragic chapter in the story of the 47th Australian Infantry Battalion in the First World War. One of the shortest lived and most battle hardened of the 1st Australian Imperial Force's battalions, the 47th was formed in Egypt in 1916 and disbanded two years later having suffered one of the highest casualty rates of any Australian unit. Their story is remarkable for many reasons. Dogged by command and discipline troubles and bled white by the desperate attrition battles of 1916 and 1917, they fought on against a determined and skilful enemy in battles where the fortunes of war seemed stacked against them at every turn. Not only did they have the misfortune to be called into some of the A.I.F.'s most costly campaigns, chance often found them in the worst places within those battles. Though their story is one of almost unrelieved tragedy, it is also story of remarkable courage, endurance and heroism. It is the story of the 1st A.I.F. itself - punished, beaten, sometimes reviled for their indiscipline, they fought on - fewer, leaner and harder - until final victory was won. And at its end, in an extraordinary gesture of mateship, the remnants of the 47th Battalion reunited. Having been scattered to other units after their disbandment, the survivors gathered in Belgium for one last photo together. Only 73 remained.

Battle Scars: Twenty Years Later: 3d Battalion 5th Marines Looks Back at the Iraq War and How it Changed Their Lives

A unique insight into how combat in Iraq has shaped the lives of a battalion of young Marines. The most eye-opening, and terrifying, story in Chip Reid's career as a journalist was the six weeks he spent with 3d Battalion, 5th Marines, during the invasion of Iraq in 2003, as a correspondent for NBC News. Traveling shoulder-to-shoulder with the young Marines, he had unparalleled access, witnessing them in combat, and interviewing as many as he could persuade his bosses to put on air, allowing them to tell their war stories in their own words. It took only 22 days for the Marines of 3/5 to fight their way to Baghdad, but the effects on those who fought have lasted a lifetime. They lost a number of their own in battle, and others suffered life-threatening injuries. Of those who returned - even if they avoided physical scars - many have had to find their own way through survivor's guilt and the nightmare of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, with all its attendant miseries. Twenty years on, Chip sat down with the Marines of 3/5 once more. They told Chip inspiring stories of heroism in battle, of camaraderie and comrades lost, of patriotism and belief in mission, of recovery and success in both military and civilian life, and of the new appreciation for life that results from Post-Traumatic Growth. Visceral and searingly honest, this book is a tribute to the Marines for their service, and for the many sacrifices they made then, and that many still make today.

Battle Song: The 13th century historical adventure for fans of Bernard Cornwell and Ben Kane (de Norton trilogy)

'There is a fury in England that none shall suppress - and when it breaks forth it will shake the throne'1264 Storm clouds are gathering as Simon de Montfort and the barons of the realm challenge the power of Henry III. The barons demand reform; the crown demands obedience. England is on the brink of civil war. Adam de Norton, a young squire devoted to the virtues of chivalry, longs only to be knighted, and to win back his father's lands. Then a bloody hunting accident leaves him with a new master: the devilish Sir Robert de Dunstanville, who does not hesitate to use the blackest stratagems in pursuit of victory. Following Robert overseas, Adam is introduced to the ruthless world of the tournament, where knights compete for glory and riches, and his new master's methods prove brutally effective. But as England plunges into violence, Robert and Adam must choose a side in a battle that will decide the fate of the kingdom. Will they fight for the king, for de Montfort - or for themselves? Searingly vivid and richly evocative, Battle Song is tale of friendship and chivalry, rivalry and rebellion, and the medieval world in all its colour and darkness.(P) 2023 Hodder & Stoughton Limited

Battle Song: The 13th century historical adventure for fans of Bernard Cornwell and Ben Kane (de Norton trilogy)

'A very promising historical adventure' - THE TIMES***'There is a fury in England that none shall suppress - and when it breaks forth it will shake the throne'1264 Storm clouds are gathering as Simon de Montfort and the barons of the realm challenge the power of Henry III. The barons demand reform; the crown demands obedience. England is on the brink of civil war. Adam de Norton, a young squire devoted to the virtues of chivalry, longs only to be knighted, and to win back his father's lands. Then a bloody hunting accident leaves him with a new master: the devilish Sir Robert de Dunstanville, who does not hesitate to use the blackest stratagems in pursuit of victory. Following Robert overseas, Adam is introduced to the ruthless world of the tournament, where knights compete for glory and riches, and his new master's methods prove brutally effective. But as England plunges into violence, Robert and Adam must choose a side in a battle that will decide the fate of the kingdom. Will they fight for the king, for de Montfort - or for themselves? Searingly vivid and richly evocative, Battle Song is tale of friendship and chivalry, rivalry and rebellion, and the medieval world in all its colour and darkness.

Battle Song: The 13th century historical adventure for fans of Bernard Cornwell and Ben Kane (de Norton trilogy)

'A very promising historical adventure' - THE TIMES'A terrific novel' - HISTORIA MAGAZINE***'There is a fury in England that none shall suppress - and when it breaks forth it will shake the throne'1264 Storm clouds are gathering as Simon de Montfort and the barons of the realm challenge the power of Henry III. The barons demand reform; the crown demands obedience. England is on the brink of civil war. Adam de Norton, a young squire devoted to the virtues of chivalry, longs only to be knighted, and to win back his father's lands. Then a bloody hunting accident leaves him with a new master: the devilish Sir Robert de Dunstanville, who does not hesitate to use the blackest stratagems in pursuit of victory. Following Robert overseas, Adam is introduced to the ruthless world of the tournament, where knights compete for glory and riches, and his new master's methods prove brutally effective. But as England plunges into violence, Robert and Adam must choose a side in a battle that will decide the fate of the kingdom. Will they fight for the king, for de Montfort - or for themselves? Searingly vivid and richly evocative, Battle Song is tale of friendship and chivalry, rivalry and rebellion, and the medieval world in all its colour and darkness.***Readers absolutely love BATTLE SONG:'Another five star Ian Ross novel!' *****'Truly is a masterclass in historical fiction' *****'The best historical fiction I've read in years. Up there with Hilary Mantel!' *****'A great well researched novel' *****'Brilliantly researched, gorgeously plotted and blessed with a terrific cast of exquisitely drawn characters' *****'Well written and engaging characters' *****'Ian Ross writes with a class and style that leaves the reader or listener thirsting for more' *****'Brilliantly researched, gorgeously plotted and blessed with a terrific cast of exquisitely drawn characters' *****'A gripping tale of early England' *****'A really good story, brought to life by an excellent narrator' *****

Battle Songs

An early novel from the masterful Drndic, Battle Songs is an intimate, ferocious account of her years spent as a refugee in Canada during the Yugoslav Wars In the 1990s, the unnamed narrator of Battle Songs leaves Yugoslavia with her daughter Sara to Toronto to start a new life. They, along with other refugees, encounter a new country but not a new home. Book editors sell hotdogs, mathematicians struggle to get by on social security, violinists hawk cheap goods on the street. Years after arriving in Canada, when she thinks no one can hear her, Sara still sings in the shower: What can we do to make things better, what can we do to make things better, la-la-la-la. In true Drndic style, the novel has no one time or place. It is interspersed with stories from the Yugoslav Wars, from Rijeka to Zagreb to Sarajevo—with, as always, the long shadow of the Second World War looming overhead. Her singular layering of details—from lung damage to silk scarves to the family budget to old romances—offers an almost unbearable closeness to the characters and their moment in history. “Wry and kindly, funny, angry, informed and intent on the truth, no voice is quite as blisteringly beautiful as that of Drndic” (Financial Times).

Battle Stations: How the USS Yorktown Helped Turn the Tide at Coral Sea and Midway (American War Heroes)

The true story of the valiant men who gave their all to save the aircraft carrier USS Yorktown—and changed the course of the Pacific War. On June 4, 1942—six months after the attack on Pearl Harbor—Yorktown&’s crew began the carrier&’s final battle against Japan&’s infamous aircrafts. Hotshot fighter pilot Lieutenant Scott McCuskey attacked from the air in his Wildcat, becoming the Navy&’s second-ever &“ace in a day.&” Carpenter Boyd McKenzie worked tirelessly to repair Yorktown before a fresh air strike. Critically injured gun crew member George Weise fought for his life as the ship threatened to capsize. Meanwhile, Pharmacist&’s Mate Second Class Warren Heller raced to save the lives of bloodied gunners and sailors by evacuating them before time ran out. The stories of these heroes and many other brave servicemen bring the gripping narrative of Yorktown&’s final thirty days to life, as she fights in the near back-to-back Battles of Coral Sea and Midway. Through unpublished memoirs and interviews with Yorktown&’s last surviving veterans, acclaimed author Stephen L. Moore offers up a new and compelling amount of a pivotal month in World War II, while honoring the courage of those who served.

Battle Stories — Britain Overseas 2-Book Bundle: Goose Green 1982 / Isandlwana 1879

Two pivotal moments in British military history, separated by more than a century, yet both with decisive impacts on Britain’s national identity and power overseas. At Isandlwana, South Africa, as at Goose Green in the Falkland Islands, British commanders underestimated local forces and found themselves unprepared for the full extent of combat on the ground. One engagement ended in disaster and a total rethinking of tactics. The other, thanks to hard lessons learned, ended in British victory. Two renowned experts tell the full stories of both battles, complete with detailed profiles of key figures and a moment-to-moment breakdown of history in the making. Isandlwana 1879 On January 22, 1879, a 20,000-strong Zulu army attacked 1,700 British and colonial forces. The engagement saw primitive weapons of spears and shields clashing with the latest military technology. However, despite being poorly equipped, the numerically superior Zulu force crushed the British troops, killing 1,300 men, while only losing 1,000 of their own warriors. It was a humiliating defeat for the British Army, which had been poorly trained and which had underestimated its enemy. The defeat ensured that the British had a renewed respect for their opponents and changed their tactics; rather than fighting in a straight, linear formation, known as the Thin Red Line, they adopted an entrenched system or close order formations. The defeat caused much consternation throughout the British Empire, which had assumed that the Zulu were no match for the British Army; thus, the army was greatly reinforced and went on to victory at Rorke’s Drift. Isandlwana 1879 puts you at the forefront of the action. Goose Green 1982 The Battle for Goose Green has become an integral part of the Falklands story, and yet it nearly didn’t take place at all. Originally earmarked to be isolated, Goose Green was eventually attacked due to the loss of momentum in the invasion force. The British 2 Para Regiment were deployed against the 12th Argentinean Regiment, which numbered about 1,200 men. The British believed that the Argentinean force numbered at least half this and set off with a strength of 690 men. They took two days’ rations, weapons, and ammunition in the belief that it would be a swift conquest. There followed a bitter and bloody fight as the Argentine forces fiercely defended Goose Green. Despite reconnaissance, the British were hampered by trench systems that they had been unaware of. It was the first major engagement of the Falklands War.

Battle Stories — The English Throne and the Fate of Europe 3-Book Bundle: Hastings 1066 / Bosworth 1485 / Waterloo 1815

Three battles that shook the British Isles and changed the course of world history. Three renowned experts each take up one crucial day when the future of the throne, or Europe itself, hung in the balance. Hastings 1066 In 1066, a foreign invader won the throne of England in a single battle and changed not only the history of the British Isles, but that of Christendom, forever. Harold Godwinson’s army, exhausted from their victory against an invading Norwegian Viking army at the Battle of Stamford Bridge in the north, and his navy, scattered by storms, could not hold back William of Normandy. But would the invasion have succeeded if the two armies had met on equal terms? Bosworth 1485 Bosworth Field saw the two great dynasties of the day clash on the battlefield: the reigning House of York, led by Richard III, and the rising House of Tudor, led Henry Tudor, soon to become Henry VII. On August 22, 1485, this penultimate battle in the Wars of the Roses was fought with the might of the Yorkists ranged against Tudor’s small army. This book describes how these two great armies came to meet on the battlefield, and how the Tudor tactics eventually led to the downfall and death of King Richard III. Waterloo 1815 The might of the French Empire under the leadership of the Emperor Napoleon faced the Coalition army under Duke of Wellington and Gerhard von Blucher for one last time at Waterloo. The battle saw the culmination of a long campaign to destroy Napoleon’s forces and halt the growth of the French Empire. Both armies lost over 20,000 men on the battlefield that day, but it was the coalition that emerged victorious in the end. Wellington’s counter-attack threw the French troops into disarray, a resounding victory for the British Army that changed the course of European history.

Battle Stories — The WWII 3-Book Bundle: El Alamein 1942 / Arnhem 1944 / Iwo Jima 1945

Three battles that changed the course of WWII and echo through world history to the present day. Three renowned experts each take up one of these crucial engagements. Iwo Jima 1945 Operation Detachment, the invasion of Iwo Jima, on February 19, 1945, was the first campaign on Japanese soil, and it resulted in some of the fiercest fighting of the Pacific campaign. El Alamein 1942 El Alamein saw two of the greatest generals of the war pitted against each other: Rommel and Montgomery. Arnhem 1944 When we think of Arnhem, we think of a bridge too far and a sky full of parachutes dropping the Allies into the Netherlands. It was one of the most complex and strategically important operations of the war.

Battle Stories — WWI 2-Book Bundle: Somme 1916 / Passchendaele 1917

Discover two pivotal battles of the First World War in this collection of Battle Stories. Somme 1916 The Battle of the Somme was one of the bloodiest fought in military history. It has come to signify for many the waste and bloodshed of the First World War, as hundreds of thousands of men on all sides lost their lives fighting over small gains in land. Yet this battle was also to mark a turning point in the war and to witness new methods of warfare. In this Battle Story, Andrew Robertshaw seeks to lift the battle out of its controversy and explain what really happened and why. Passchendaele 1917 Passchendaele is perhaps one of the most iconic campaigns of the First World War, coming to symbolize the mud and blood of the battlefield like no other. Fought for over three months under some of the worst conditions of the war, fighting became bogged down in a quagmire that made it almost impossible for any gains to be made.

Battle Story: Bannockburn 1314

Bannockburn 1314 is the most celebrated battle between Scotland and England, in which a mere 7,000 followers of Robert the Bruce defeated more than 15,000 of Edward II’s troops. The Battle of Bannockburn, fought over two days on 23 and 24 June 1314 by a small river crossing just south of Stirling, was a decisive victory for Robert, and secured for Scotland de facto independence from England. It was the greatest defeat the English would suffer throughout the Middle Ages, and a huge personal humiliation for Edward. Chris Brown’s account recreates the campaign from the perspectives of both the Scots and English. If you want to know what happened and why read – Battle Story.

Battle Story: Blenheim 1704

Blenheim has gone down in history as one of the turning points of the War of the Spanish Succession – and some would say in the history of conflict in Europe. The overwhelming Allied victory ensured the safety of Vienna from the Franco-Bavarian army, thus preventing the collapse of the Grand Alliance. Bavaria was knocked out of the war, and Louis's hopes for a quick victory came to an end. France suffered over 30,000 casualties including the commander-in-chief, Marshal Tallard, who was taken captive to England. Before the 1704 campaign ended, the Allies had taken towns on the Moselle in preparation for the following year's campaign into France itself. It was a brilliant victory for Marlborough, which involved a lightning march of over 250 miles and superb deception – even of his own Dutch allies! Blenheim must be one of the most well known battles – because of Blenheim Palace – but few know why.

Battle Story: Cambrai 1917

Cambrai 1917 was the battle that sowed the seeds of future combined-arms tank and infantry warfare, while remaining a battle of singular drama in its own right. If you truly want to understand what happened and why – read Battle Story. Detailed profiles explore the background of the generals of the two opposing forces, as well as what made up the average German and British soldier. First-person, contemporary sources bring the reader into the world of the Battle of Cambrai and show what it was like to be in the thick of battle. Detailed maps highlight key points in the battle and the surrounding area. Photographs place you on the front line of the unfolding action. Orders of battle reveal the composition of the two opposing forces’ army in detail. Packed with fact boxes, this short introduction is the perfect way to explore this important battle.

Battle Story: El Alamein 1942

The Second Battle of El Alamein marked a major turning point in the Western Desert Campaign of the Second World War. El Alamein saw tow of the greatest generals of the war pitted against each other: Rommel and Montgomery. Through key profiles and a chapter devoted to 'The Armies' Battle Story: El Alamein explores what made these men inspired leaders and what led to their respective defeat and victory. Montgomery's success ensured that the Axis army was unable to occupy Egypt and therefore gain control of the Suez Canal or the Middle Eastern oil fields, thereby preventing a major source of income and power for them. The background and impact of the battle are explored in separate chapters, so offering the reader a clear insight into why what happened in this remote part of Egypt was so central to the Allied cause. Through quotes and maps the text explore the unfolding action of the battle and puts the reader on the frontline. If you truly want to understand what happened and why - read Battle Story.

Battle Story: Goose Green 1982

The Battle of Goose Green was the first and longest land conflict of the Falklands War, which was fought between British and Argentine forces in 1982. The British forces, attacking over featureless, wind-swept and boggy ground, were heavily outnumbered and lacked fire support, but brilliantly defeated the Argentine garrison in a fourteen-hour struggle. If you want to understand what happened and why – read Battle Story. Detailed profiles examine the personalities of the British and Argentine commanders, including that of Victoria Cross winner Lt Col ‘H’ Jones. First-hand accounts offer an insight into this remarkable fourteen-hour struggle against the odds. Detailed maps explore the area of Darwin Hill and Goose Green, and the advance of the British forces. Photographs place you at the centre of this pivotal battle. Orders of battle show the composition of the opposing forces’ armies. Packed with fact boxes, this short introduction is the perfect way to explore this crucial battle.

Battle Story: Hastings 1066

In 1066 the most significant battle on English soil – and arguably the most important in British history – took place some six miles northwest of Hastings. A king would die on the battlefield and a new dynasty would be established. The fighting exemplified the superiority of an all-arms combined attack employing foot soldiers, cavalry and archers against massed infantry. To understand what happened and why – read Battle Story. Photographs of the battlefield today, artist’s interpretations and of course reproductions from the Bayeux tapestry place you in the centre of the action. Easy-to-read maps plot each development in the struggle. Descriptions of the weaponry, armour and tactics of the combatants help explain why the famous housecarls of England were obliterated for all time. Packed with fact boxes, this short introduction is the perfect way to explore a turning point in British and European history.

Battle Story: Isandlwana 1879

On 22 January 1879 a 20,000-strong Zulu army attacked 1,700 British and colonial forces. The engagement saw primitive weapons of spears and shields clashing with the latest military technology. However, despite being poorly equipped, the numerically superior Zulu force crushed the British troops, killing 1,300 men, whilst only losing 1,000 of their own warriors. It was a humiliating defeat for the British Army, who had been poorly trained and who had underestimated their enemy. The defeat ensured that the British had a renewed respect for their opponents and changed their tactics, rather than fighting in a straight, linear formation, known as the Thin Red Line they adopted an entrenched system or close order foundations. The defeat caused much consternation throughout the British Empire, who had assumed that the Zulu were no match for the British Army and thus the army was greatly reinforced and went on to victory at Rorke's Drift. Battle Story: Isandlwana puts you at the forefront of the action.

Battle Story: Iwo Jima 1945 (Battle Story #1)

Operation Detachment, the US invasion of Iwo Jima on 19 February 1945, was the first campaign on Japanese soil and resulted in some of the fiercest fighting in the Pacific. If you truly want to understand what happened and why – read this battle story.Detailed profiles explore the leaders, tactics and equipment of the US and Japanese armies. Nine specially commissioned maps track the progress of the battle and the shifting frontlines. Rare photographs place you in the centre of the unfolding action. Diary extracts and quotes give you a soldier’s eye-view of the battle. Orders of Battle reveal the composition of the opposing forces’ armies.Packed with fact boxes, this short introduction is the perfect way to explore this important battle.

Battle Story: Kabul 1841-42

Kabul is a name that has had much resonance in current affairs over the last few years, however its place in military history can be charted much further back to the first British incursions into Afghanistan during the 19th century. The First Anglo-Afghan War saw British India attempting to obtain power over Central Asia by gaining control of Afghanistan. The British had little understanding or appreciation of the terrain or tribal warfare in Afghanistan and incurred heavy casualties, despite being far superior in training and weaponry than the Afghan warriors they faced. In 1841 the British, having held Kabul for several years in an attempt to stop the Afghans colluding with the Russians, relaxed their grip on the garrison, allowing the Afghans to rebel, leading to the slaughter of over 16,000 British and Indian troops and camp followers. The outrage from the disaster resounded throughout the British Empire and reinforcements were sent to Afghanistan in 1842 to quell the Afghan troops. However, a rash of uprisings broke out around Kabul, leading to the murder of Indian sepoys and the imprisonment of British officers. In retribution an army was sent to support the British retreat from Afghanistan, laying waste to the city of Kabul on their way.

Battle Story: Kohima 1944 (Battle Story)

Kohima was the turning point in the Japanese invasion of India, witnessing the end of their attempt to overthrow the British Raj. It was a bitter battle fought in three stages, spanning three months and ending with the siege of Imphal. Losses on both sides were heavy, with the Japanese suffering their greatest land defeat thus far in the war. Against the odds and an enemy who nearly refused to give in, the British Army resisted the Japanese and their victory paved the way for the reconquest of Burma. Battle Story: Kohima explores the historical context of this critical point in the war in Asia, the personalities of the opposing armies and offers a blow-by-blow account of the battle.