Panic on the Pacific (Four Stars)

Following the attack at Pearl Harbor the Japanese followed up with a land-and-sea campaign which netted them Malaya, the Dutch East Indies, chunks of China and several American islands. Is it any wonder that Americans living on the West Coast believed that they might be next?




Bill Yenne examines the state of defense in the 4th Army area, which included Washington, Oregon and California, both before and after the attack in Hawaii. America remained woefully unprepared despite the fact that much of the United States' aircraft production happened to be on the West Coast. Only four U.S. Army divisions were located in the far west to prevent an invasion, yet these units were badly positioned to prevent a serious incursion against the Pacific states. There were almost no Navy warships (they had mostly gone to Pearl Harbor) and there were not enough aircraft to provide fighter cover or to attack an enemy task force at sea.




Meanwhile, General DeWitt (4th Army commander) and the governors of the Pacific states made the decision to relocate and intern Japanese living in the West, including citizens. Without FDR's acquiesence such a dishonorable measure could not have been carried out and this did little or nothing to protect the West Coast.




Well-written, with maps and black-and-white photos, this book tells a little-known story of American weakness early in WWII. It also includes a a bit of speculative history about what MIGHT have happened if Japan had decided to deny the United States the industries located on the West Coast and actually invade America. Overall, a good read!

Lincoln's Bodyguard (Five Stars)

If Lincoln had survived the Civil War things would have been different. But would they have been better?




T.J. Turner's alternate history features Joseph Foster, an Indian halfbreed who was assigned to be President Abraham Lincoln's personal bodyguard. When John Wilkes Booth attempts to murder the President in Ford's Theater he is himself killed by Foster's Bowie knife. But instead of the war ending Booth becomes a martyr to the Confederacy and the rebels do not return to their old lives but instead begin an insurgency which keeps the country from moving forward. Years later, southern raiders are attacking isolated Union units and holding trains up for ransom while the North takes the most heinous measures in retaliation. And Lincoln is caught in the middle of it all, unable to end the conflict.




Turner's book is riveting and suspenseful. The characters are well-developed and Bodyguard is a real page-turner!

Moonshine (three stars)

I got this book to provide some good background on moonshining in southern Ohio and possibly some info on my family, which was involved in the illicit production of liquor back in the 1920s-1940s. I didn't find any family history but much of the information is useful for understanding the role moonshine played in southern Ohio. Most of it focuses on the author's family. Some black-and-white photos included.

Baptism Under Fire (Four Stars)

Colonel Mandeep Singh looks at the 1965 war between India and Pakistan and the role antiaircraft played in it. During this short conflict both sides possessed a mix of obsolete aircraft (Indian Mysteres and Pakistani Sabres) and technologically-advanced fighters (Pakistani Starfighters and Indian MiG-21s). However, both sides relied upon 40mm guns to provide the bulk of their antiaircraft artillery. Neither side could adequately defend their manuever forces with the types of guns available but as the war progressed the guns were found to be effective at point defense when deployed intelligently. Colonel Singh conveys the courage of both sides in the air raids and dog fights of this short conflict, reminding us of the human element of this fight.


If there is a weakness in this book it is the editing of the text. VIJ Books certainly let Col. Singh down. Some sentences are repeated, there are mispellings and in some sections the idioms are used incorrectly. With that said, I never had a problem understanding what the author was trying to convey. I do wish there had been more maps as I am not familiar with the border area between India and Pakistan.


This study of the war is an excellent addition to my air defense library. Illustrated with black-and-white artwork and photographs.

The Army at War (The Vietnam Experience) (Four Stars)

This volume of the series looked at the War from the aspect of the "Patches," the big units of the U.S. Army which fought in the war (with just a couple of notable exceptions). These units include the 25th Infantry ("Tropic Lightning"), the 173rd Airborne Brigade ("Sky Soldiers") and the ill-fated Americal Division (24th Infantry Division). The book provides thumbnails of how the divisions were employed, what the state of their training and manning was upon arrival in Vietnam, what operations they participated in and where they operated. Each division is discussed in context and a graphic provides the period of service, the names of commanders and which brigades, regiments, battalions and independent companies/detachments came under their colors. The book also includes a section of original artwork showing the various uniforms worn by the Army during the conflict. If the Army in Vietnam is what interests you, then this book is for you!

Let's Declare Ourselves Winners (Five Stars)

I am a great admirer of Mauldin's work, from his early cartoons for the Army during WWII to his social commentary in the 1960s. While I didn't always agree with his politics I could still admire his angle in editorial cartoons. He always came up with something thoughtful without having to go for cheap shots or even the occasional graphic lie. There are a lot of so-called cartoonists today who could learn from this today.

I review almost exclusively history books (with rare exceptions). I will eagerly review any book having to do with antiaircraft or air defense. I am also interested in books on Africa, but again, mostly the history of the continent, especially in the 20th Century. Get in touch with me for more information. Most of my book reviews are also on Goodreads and Amazon.

Hammer and Tickle (Four Stars)

Hammer and Tickle looks at the Soviet era and the way humor was shared in the totalitarian regimes which sprung up under communism. Ben Lewis looks at jokes under communism, what was considered funny, what the punishment was for making fun of communism and how the State viewed humor. Lewis traveled throughout Eastern Europe and former Soviet republics, reaching out to communist officials, secret policemen, convicted joke-tellers, etc. to get a unique perspective of the humor of the times. Has some illustrations.

Jefferson Davis in Blue (Four Stars)

Jefferson C. Davis had a unique history when the Civil War broke out: he was a sergeant who served during the Mexican-American War, who then got a direct commission into the U.S. Army when a promised slot at West Point failed to appear. He found himself at Fort Sumter when the first shots of the Civil War were fired and was soon embroiled in the confused fighting in the border state of Missouri. He next found himself in Kentucky during the 1862 Confederate invasion and the event which would follow him for the rest of his life took place in Louisville: the murder of General William Nelson following a heated argument as to the best means to defend the city.




The author does an excellent job of examining the whole incident with Nelson and explaining why no charges were ever made against General Davis. He also does a great job of discussing Davis's rise from brigade commander to corps commander, serving in the Atlanta campaign, the March to the Sea and the Carolina Campaign. His postwar career in Alaska and the Modoc War are also dealt with. A lot of information but well worth the read.

Bazooka vs Panzer (Four Stars)

Steven Zaloga does an awesome job of discussing the use of WWII bazookas against German tanks during the Battle of the Bulge, in particular using the engagement at the Krinkelt-Rocherath and the Lausdell crossroads as a way of illustrating both the use of the anti-armor weapons and the ability of the panzers even after they were hit. Full of useful information, Bazooka vs Panzer has info on both tyhe development of the Bazooka by the U.S. Army and the anti-tank measures developed by the Germans (although mostly in response to anti-tank rifles). A good book, it includes first-hand accounts of the fighting at the crossroads, original artwork, period photos, and maps. Another great Osprey book.

Soviets (Five Stars)

Danzig Baldaev's illustrations are awesome and he pulls no punches when it comes to life in the Soviet Union: Russian chauvinism, rampant alcoholism, fossilized bureacrats, worker inefficiency, mass shortages, perestroika, and the fate of the Soviet Afghan vets. The drawings can be ugly at times (especially when depicting many of the communist leaders as "zionists") but that is an unfortunate effect of totalitarianism: when the state lies about so many things EVERYTHING it says is suspect. The photos are a nice counterpoint to the illustrations, showing the Soviet's self-image.