Beyond Terror: Strategy in a Changing World
By Ralph Peters. Stackpole Books. ISBN 0-8117-0024-0.

Ralph Peters is well-known as a writer of modern military chillers. A retired U.S. Army officer, he also is a savvy commentator on timely political and military subjects, unconcerned about political correctness.

Beyond Terror, a collection of 18 of Peters' previously published essays, addresses such contemporary issues as international terrorism, U.S. foreign policy, force structure, corporate welfare in the defense industry, and the future of war. His other most recent nonfiction book is Fighting for the Future (Stackpole Books, 1999).

Peters' writing is sometimes abrasive, is always provocative, and surely will be considered controversial.

Several essays deal with terrorism and how the United States should combat it. Peters asserts that America's greatest external threat is from Islamic terrorists whose hatred of the United States is exceeded only by their fear of the future. According to Peters, the Islamic world represents a decayed, corrupt, and failing civilization that cannot hope to compete with the West in the 21st century. Because the Islamic world does not favor the West's wealth, power, freedom, mobility, and opportunity, it rejects everything Western and tries to revert to the primitive myths of the past.

Peters' response is that "cowardice is never a good strategy," that apocalyptic terrorists cannot be reasoned with and must be destroyed, and that the price to terrorists who attack the United States must be exorbitant. Such reaction must be overwhelming and without guilt ("If you bloody my nose, I will break both your arms.")

Concerning force structure, Peters asserts that the U.S. military (with the exception of the Marine Corps) is overweight, ponderous, and poised to fight a war that will never happen. He also criticizes a defense establishment that forces the military to buy expensive weapons it does not need with money it does not have for wars it will not fight. He believes we should stop thinking from the generals down and start thinking from the corporals up.

The future of war is grim and not without cost, but Peters' observations and arguments are right on target.

Eisenhower: A Soldier's Life
By Carlo D'Este. Henry Holt & Co. ISBN 0-8050-5686-6.

It is somewhat ironic that a man who was raised in poverty and had little interest in either West Point or a military career would grow up to achieve the highest command accorded any soldier in the Western alliance in World War II and later become the 34th president of the United States. Yet that is just what Dwight D. Eisenhower did.

Carlo D'Este's biography reveals much about the man as it explores Eisenhower's life from his birth in 1890 to the end of World War II in 1945. D'Este, a retired U.S. Army officer and historian, has written six other books, most recently Decision in Normandy (William S. Konecky, 2000). His portrait of Eisenhower is as much a primer on military leadership as it is an inspirational story of a man destined to wear five stars as general of the Army.

D'Este joins Stephen Ambrose, Michael Beschloss, and other biographers who have presented Eisenhower as a common soldier placed in extraordinary circumstances who achieved astonishing results. Fortunately, there is no hero worship here; rather, D'Este offers a colorful, refreshing, and balanced view of Eisenhower, with all his strengths and weaknesses.

Many Americans remember Eisenhower as a hero, but few know the details of his life, which make him every bit as human as the rest of us. D'Este reveals that Eisenhower loved to fistfight as a young man. He was a practical joker and had an explosive temper and an expressive use of profanity, even as a general.

As D'Este relates, Eisenhower smoked four packs of cigarettes a day, loved to eat fried foods, and was a restless workaholic. He suffered from headaches, intestinal ailments, and cardiovascular problems. He was charming and attentive but also ambitious, hard-boiled, and ruthless. He distrusted all politicians and is not known to have voted in any election.

D'Este masterfully discusses Eisenhower's complex relationships with such notables as Winston Churchill, Franklin D. Roosevelt, George C. Marshall, Bernard Montgomery, George Patton, and Charles DeGaulle, adding numerous anecdotes that reflect the mercurial nature of Allied cooperation.

He clearly details the thorny strategic and political decisions Eisenhower grappled with throughout the war and the obstacles he faced as a general officer who had never commanded more than a battalion and had never seen combat. From North Africa to Italy, from Normandy to the Elbe, Eisenhower was the perfect coalition commander, despite national and interservice rivalries and the overblown egos of his subordinates.

D'Este's argument for not capturing Berlin and his descriptions of Eisenhower's agonies over D-Day are riveting and convincing. He also debunks the rumors of Eishenhower's affair with his female driver, Kay Summersby, and offers tender insight into Ike's marriage to Mamie.

As for leadership, Ike said it best: "The struggle is to do one's best, to keep the brain and conscience clear; never to be swayed by unworthy motives or inconsequential reasons, but to do one's duty."

—Reviews by William D. Bushnell

Member Books

Fiction

Deep Selection. By Lt. Cmdr. Robert V. Ricard, USCG-Ret.
Retired Congresswoman Constance Kellerman is murdered. As a feminist member of Congress, she had gotten involved in an investigation into sexual misconduct at an annual convention for Naval aviators. The investigation becomes a witch hunt, unjustly ending the careers of several male aviators. Themes include the complex world of the coed military and coed police departments.
Xlibris Corporation, 436 Walnut Street, Philadelphia, PA 19101. (888) 795-4274. www.xlibris.com. ISBN 1-4010-7042-6. 234 pp. $18.69 plus postage.

Nonfiction

Kicking Tires and Lighting Fires: Coast Guard Aviation As It Made the Leap From Recips To Jets. By Capt. Carl W. Swickley, USCG-Ret.
Swickley describes what he witnessed in Coast Guard aviation during the late 1950s through the late 1970s. Vivid description of exciting helicopter and fixed wing rescues place the reader in the cockpit and convey what it is like to fly with the Coast Guard. Included are descriptions of various air stations, aircraft, people, places, and trivia that illustrate the essence of Coast Guard aviation in that era.
Available from the author, 10148 Bittern Drive, Pensacola, FL 32507. (850) 492-9698. ISBN 0-9721812-0-2. 236 pp. $30.00 postpaid.

No Room for Error: The Covert Operations of America's Special Tactics Units from Iran to Afghanistan. By Col. John T. Carney Jr., USAF-Ret. and Benjamin F. Schemmer.
Carney reveals how he was handpicked as a young Major to organize a small, under-funded, classified ad hoc unit known as Brand X. He reviews the secret reconnaissance in the desert of north-central Iran during the hostage crisis; the simple rescue operation in Grenada that turned into a prolonged bloody struggle; Operation Just Cause in Panama; and Desert Storm. Carney also includes the latest information on the war against terrorism direct from the special operations soldiers on the front lines in Afghanistan – plus never-before-published photos of U.S. Special Operations Forces.
Ballantine Books, 1540 Broadway, New York, NY 10036. 703-451-2476. www.ballantinebooks.com. ISBN 0-345-45333-6. 336 pp. $25.95 plus postage.

The Pentagon Miracle: An Eyewitness Account. By Lt. Col. Linda R. Herbert, USA.
This is an eyewitness account of God's saving grace on September 11th, 2001 from an active duty Army officer who survived at "Ground Zero", Pentagon. The book is intended to provide the reader with insight into the reality of the event as it impacted many military and civilian people who could have died on 9-11-01.
Morris Publishing, 3212 East Highway 30, Kearney, NE 68847. 800-650-7888. www.pentagonmiracle.com. ISBN 0-9723185-1-8. 94 pp. $7.00 plus postage.

Were You There? Vietnam Notes: Birth, Death, Infinity. By Lt. Col. Wayne "Randy" Cribbs, USA-Ret.
A poignant and personal collection of poems and illustrations that convey the emotions of the soldier's life in Vietnam.
OCRS, Inc., P.O. Box 551627, Jacksonville, FL 32255.(904) 392-9610. www.somestillserve.com. ISBN 0-9725796-0-5. 136 pp. $12.95 plus postage.

American Soldiers: Ground Combat in the World Wars, Korea, & Vietnam. By Lt. Col. Peter S. Kindsvatter, USA-Ret.
The first book to gather and contemplate the wartime experiences of American combat soldiers from the doughboys of World War I to the grunts of Vietnam. Focusing on both Marines and soldiers, it draws on histories and memoirs, oral histories, psychological and sociological studies, and even fiction to show that their experiences remain fundamentally the same regardless of the enemy, terrain, training, or weaponry.
University Press of Kansas, 2501 West 15th Street, Lawrence, KS 66049-3905.(785) 864-4154. www.kansaspress.ku.edu. ISBN 0-7006-1229-7. 480 pp. $34.95 plus postage.

All Things Come of Thee... My Book of: Sermons, Lectures and Biblical Insights. By Maj. Hilary H. Battle, USAR-Ret.
This inspirational collection of works, developed over many years of preaching and lecturing, comprise Battle's reflections on the Bible and related subjects. Topics discussed include: manhood, marriage, suffering, music, liberation theology, tithes and tithing, among others.
LightHouse Press, P.O. Box 281375, Nashville, TN 37228. ISBN 0-9703823-5-9. 243 pp. $17.95 postpaid.

Memoirs

Shootdown: A World War II Bomber Pilot's Experience as a Prisoner of War in Germany. By Col. William H. Wheeler, USAF-Ret.
Shootdown brings the story of Wheeler and his crew to life as they are forced to abandon their blazing fortress after failing to extinguish a fire caused by enemy action. Describing the first horrible days of lost freedom, Wheeler gives a vivid look at the despair and depression of captivity. His real test of leadership, however, began on a cold wintry night in January 1945 when the Germans hurriedly evacuated 12,000 Allied POWs within the sound of the Russian guns.
White Mane Publishing Co. Inc., P.O. Box 708, Shippensburg. PA 17257. marketing@whitemane.com. ISBN 1-57249-310-0. 211 pp. $17.95 postpaid.

The Hostile Sky: A Hellcat Flier in World War II. By Lt. Cmdr. James W. Vernon USNR-Ret.
In the summer of 1942 Vernon, a 19-year-old student in Butte, Mont., joined the U.S. Navy's aviation cadet training program. By the end of the war he was flying F6F Hellcats from the USS Ticonderoga against the Japanese mainland. This memoir provides a carrier pilot's view of the conflict in the Pacific during the final months of the war when atomic bombs were dropped and Japan capitulated.
Naval Institute Press, 291 Wood Road, Annapolis, MD 21402. (410) 295-1081. www.navalinstitute.org. ISBN 1-55750-865-8. 224 pp. $29.95 plus postage.

Accidental Warrior: The Forging of an American Soldier. By Col. Andrew P. O'Meara, Jr., USA-Ret.
This is the story of an Army veteran who fought in Vietnam and served more than 30 years in uniform – a period that covered much of the Cold War. The book details the author's struggle with the aftermath of combat that eventually let to Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). It describes his mastery of training in troop units throughout the Army during the Cold War, details the persecution of veterans by the peace movement, and relates the role played by the media in encouraging opposition to the war.
Elderberrry Press LLC, 1393 Old Homestead Drive, Oakland, OR 97462-9506. (541) 459-6043. www.elderberrypress.com. ISBN 1-930859-42-2. 293 pp. $29.95 plus postage.

From The Cockpit: Coming of Age in the Korean War. By Cmdr. Tex Atkinson, USN-Ret.
Atkinson's memoir is a combination of his first-hand experiences as a naval aviator and his personal recollections of growing up in the 1930s and 1940s.
PublishAmerica Book Publishers. www.publishamerica.com. ISBN 1-59129-977-2. 203 pp. $19.95 plus postage.

Korea: (Our War) 1950-1953. By Col. Peter W. Cutbert, USAR-Ret.
A personalized memoir of a tank platoon leader during the Korean War, using photos, maps, unit records, and official documents. Also included are excerpts from history books by well known authors and personal letters to and from Cutbert and his wife.
Trafford Publishing Inc., Suite 6E, 2333 Government St., Victoria, BC, Canada V8T 4P4. (888) 232-4444. www.trafford.com. ISBN 1-55369-746-4. 311 pp. $19.71 plus postage.

Patriots Will: Surviving the Great Depression and World War II Combat. By Maj. Jack C. Hubbard, USAF-Ret.
This gripping memoir follows an adventurous youth through perils and triumphs. Step back in history to ride with escaped prisoners, meet notorious "Texas Slim," ship out to England amid German U-Boats, and fly 24 B-17 missions over Nazi Germany. A rare insight through Jack Hubbard's eyes as he makes the best of seemingly endless horrible situations while happenstance puts him in contact with celebrities and delightful escapades.
Signed copy available from the author for $20.00. Email hubbnett@aol.com or phone (941) 907-4151. Also available from the publisher. 1stBooks Library, 2595 Vernal Pike, Bloomington, IN 47404. (888) 280-7715. www.1stbooks.com. ISBN 1-4033-5372-7. 247 pp. 16.50 plus postage.

Proceed Orange. Assume Command. By Cmdr. Herbert Kriloff, USN-Ret.
In 1943 Kriloff was ordered to Orange, Texas, to assume command of one of the Navy's new Destroyer Escorts, the USS Scroggins. Kriloff recounts spending the next two years hunting U-boats in the Atlantic, escorting troopships and vital supplies to the front in Europe and North Africa. Kriloff includes important historical information on ships, tactics, and technology for the serious historian.
Temeron Books Inc., P.O. Box 896, Bellingham, WA 98227. (403) 283-0900. www.temerondetselig.com. ISBN 1-55059-238-6. 188 pp. $27.95 plus postage.