This epic story recounts the exceptional valor and endurance of American troops that battled Japanese forces in the Philippines during World War II. Bill Sloan, “a master of the combat narrative” (Dallas Morning News), tells the story of the outnumbered American soldiers and airmen who stood against invading Japanese forces in the Philippines at the beginning of World War II, and continued to resist through three harrowing years as POWs. For four months they fought toe to toe against overwhelming enemy numbers—and forced the Japanese to pay a heavy cost in blood. After the surrender came the infamous Bataan Death March, where up to eighteen thousand American and Filipino prisoners died as they marched sixty-five miles under the most hellish conditions imaginable. Interwoven throughout this gripping narrative are the harrowing personal experiences of dozens of American soldiers, airmen, and Marines, based on exclusive interviews with more than thirty survivors. Undefeated chronicles one of the great sagas of World War II—and celebrates a resounding triumph of the human spirit.
A gripping narrative of unprecedented valor and personal courage, here is the story of the first American battle of World War II: the battle for Wake Island. Based on firsthand accounts from long-lost survivors who have emerged to tell about it, this stirring tale of the “Alamo of the Pacific” will reverberate for generations to come. On December 8, 1941, just five hours after the bombing of Pearl Harbor, Japanese planes attacked a remote U.S. outpost in the westernmost reaches of the Pacific. It was the beginning of an incredible sixteen-day fight for Wake Island, a tiny but strategically valuable dot in the ocean. Unprepared for the stunning assault, the small battalion was dangerously outnumbered and outgunned. But they compensated with a surplus of bravery and perseverance, waging an extraordinary battle against all odds. When it was over, a few hundred American Marines, sailors, and soldiers, along with a small army of heroic civilian laborers, had repulsed enemy forces several thousand strong––but it was still not enough. Among the Marines was twenty-year-old PFC Wiley Sloman. By Christmas Day, he lay semiconscious in the sand, struck by enemy fire. Another day would pass before he was found—stripped of his rifle and his uniform. Shocked to realize he hadn’t awakened to victory, Sloman wondered: Had he been given up for dead—and had the Marines simply given up? In this riveting account, veteran journalist Bill Sloan re-creates this history-making battle, the crushing surrender, and the stories of the uncommonly gutsy men who fought it. From the civilians who served as gunmen, medics, and even preachers, to the daily grind of life on an isolated island—literally at the ends of the earth—to the agony of POW camps, here we meet our heroes and confront the enemy face-to-face, bayonet to bayonet.
The horrors of the First World War were the product of a new and unprecedented type of industrial warfare. To survive and win demanded not just new technology but the techniques to use it effectively. In Surviving Trench Warfare, Bill Rawling takes a close look at how technology and tactics came together in the Canadian Corps. Drawing on a wide range of sources, from interviews to staff reports, Rawling describes the range of new weapons that the Canadians adopted, including tanks, trench mortars, and poison gas, making it clear that the decisive factor in the war was not the new technology itself but how the Canadians responded to it. Only through intensive training, specialization, and close coordination between infantry and artillery could the Canadians overcome the deadly trinity of machine-guns, barbed wire, and artillery. Surviving Trench Warfare offers a whole new understanding of the First World War, replacing the image of a static trench war with one in which soldiers actively struggled for control over their weapons and their environment, and achieved it. Released to coincide with the centenary of the First World War, this edition includes a new introduction and afterword reflecting the latest scholarship on the conduct of the war.
Black & White version - This is the second in a series of three books covering the history of the Attwell family. Now in its second edition, and considerably updated, this volume extends over 250 years, and recounts the lives of six generations of Attwells during the period 1640 - 1890. The book reveals how a Master of the Waxchandler's Company knew King Charles II, and how the royal association ultimately led to our ancestor's downfall. It shows how the family then moved from London to the Midlands. There they settled and prospered successively as school teachers, a staymaker and then as watchmakers, returning eventually to London where they became probably the foremost family of butchers in the capital. This volume not only describes their lives, but also provides detailed biographical information, numerous family trees, Wills, inventories, details of land dealings and much other fascinating information. Essential reading for all Attwell Family Historians, and an ideal birthday or Christmas gift.
This winner of the Navy's Roosevelt Award for Excellence in Writing covers heroes and heroism in American flight missions since 1916 and includes 29 black and white photographs.
The men who served with in the 1st Infantry Division with F company, 52nd Infantry, (LRP) later redesignated as Company I, 75th Infantry (Ranger) --engaged in some of the fiercest, bloodiest fighting during the Vietnam War, suffering a greater relative aggregate of casualties that any other LRRP/LRP/ Ranger company. Their base was Lai Khe, within hailing distance of the Vietcong central headquarters, a mile inside Cambodia, with its vast stockpiles of weapons and thousands of transient VC and NVA soldiers. Recondo-qualified Bill Goshen was there, and has written the first account of these battle-hardened soldiers. As the eyes and ears of the Big Red One, the 1st Infantry, these hunter/killer teams of only six men instered deep inside enemy territory had to survive by their wits, or suffer the deadly consequences. Goshen himself barely escaped with his life in a virtual suicide mission that destroyed half his team. His gripping narrative recaptures the raw courage and sacrifice of American soldiers fighting a savage war of survival: men of all colors, from all walks of life, warriors bonded by triumph and tragedy, by life and death. They served proudly in Vietnam, and their stories need to be told.
“No heroes, everyone did their part, and everyone was scared to death.” They are the words of soldier Mark W. Harms in 1968, summing up his combat experience during the Vietnam War. His stunning letter home is just one of hundreds featured in this unforgettable collection, Letters from Vietnam. In these affecting pages are the unadorned voices of men and women who fought–and, in some cases, fell–in America’s most controversial war. They bring new insights and imagery to a conflict that still haunts our hearts, consciences, and the conduct of our foreign policy. Here are the early days of the fight, when adopting a kitten, finding gold in a stream, or helping a local woman give birth were moments of beauty amid the brutality . . . shattering first-person accounts of firefights, ambushes, and bombings (“I know I will never be the same Joe.”–Marine Joe Pais) . . . and thoughtful, pained reflections on the purpose and progress of the entire Southeastern Asian cause (“All these lies about how we’re winning and what a great job we’re doing . . . It’s just not the same as WWII or the Korean War.” –Lt. John S. Taylor.) Here, too, are letters as vivid as scenes from a film–Brenda Rodgers’s description of her wedding to a soldier on the steps of Saigon City Hall . . . Airman First Class Frank Pilson’s recollection of President Johnson’s ceremonial dinner with the troops (“He looks tired and worn out–his is not an easy job”) . . . and, perhaps most poignant, Emil Spadafora’s beseeching of his mother to help him adopt an orphan who is a village’s only survivor (“This boy has nothing, and his future holds nothing for him over here.”) From fervent patriotism to awakening opposition, Letters from Vietnam captures the unmistakable echoes of this earlier era, as well as timeless expressions of hope, horror, fear, and faith.
Situated in southeastern Harford County and edged by the Chesapeake Bay and the Bush and Gunpowder Rivers, the U.S. Army bases known as Aberdeen Proving Ground, Edgewood Arsenal, and Fort Hoyle have been home to ordnance, chemical, technology, and artillery commands. The photographs in this volume include scenes of the fertile farmlands of Aberdeen, Edgewood, and Michaelsville, and their transformation, which began in 1917, into the military base known today as Aberdeen Proving Ground, or APG. Views of daily life on base include the "Toonerville" Trolley, a small-scale train that shuttled commuting personnel between the main gate and the buildings on post. The images document changes in the ways wars have been fought and changes in society as a result of war. Brave officers voluntarily tested the effects of mustard agent and other chemical weapons on protective clothing and gas masks. Local women sewed gas masks for troops and civilians. Women moved into key jobs on base during World War II, manufacturing and maintaining tanks and weapons systems as the need for great numbers of troops depleted the workforce of civilian males. APG scientists led the way into the computer age when they developed ENIAC, the first electronic digital computer.
From the end of WWII to the end of the Obama administration, development assistance in Africa has been viewed as an essential instrument of US foreign policy. Although many would characterise it as a form of aid aimed at enhancing the lives of those in the developing world, it can also be viewed as a tool for advancing US national security objectives. Using a theoretical framework based on 'power', United States Assistance Policy in Africa examines the American assistance discourse, its formation and justification in relation to historical contexts, and its operation on the African continent. Beginning with a problematisation of development as a concept that structures hierarchies between groups of people, the book highlights how cultural, political and economic conceptions influence the American assistance discourse. The book further highlights the relationship between American national security and its assistance policy in Africa during the Cold War, the post-Cold War, and the post-9/11 contexts. This book will be of great interest to students and scholars of Development Studies, Political Science and International Relations with particular interest in US foreign policy, USAID and/or African Studies.
Bill Watts leads readers on a tour through his checkered life, starting with his stormy upbringing and his tumultuous years at the University of Oklahoma and culminating in a reawakened spirituality that snatched him back from the brink of destruction. The legendary pro wrestler talks frankly and fearlessly about his ugly encounters with the top names in the ring and his uglier encounters with the life and world surrounding the sport.
In the stunning New York Times bestseller Treachery, Bill Gertz blows the lid off the dirty dealings of our so-called allies. Gertz’s groundbreaking reporting exposes how France, Germany, Russia, and other “friends” of the United States have armed the world’s most dangerous tyrants and terrorists—putting Americans directly in the line of fire. And in a brand-new chapter based on classified intelligence reports, Gertz documents how the treachery continues unchecked. Plus, for the first time ever, he reveals the complete story on what happened to Saddam Hussein’s weapons—a shocking account that will change the way you look at the dangers in the Middle East.
Bill Shanahan was troubled by his line company duty in Vietnam: whenever his unit went on patrol, the North Vietnamese Army and Viet Cong could hear them coming. His unit didn't have a chance against an enemy that quietly emerged from the jungle like ghosts-and just as quickly disappeared. Shanahan wanted a better way to fight . . and to stay alive. And so, just four months after he arrived in Vietnam in 1968, he joined the LRPs (Long Range Patrol).The mission of the Lurps, as they were called, was dangerous: Five- or six-man teams were dropped into the dense forest behind enemy lines. They were to observe enemy troop movements and stage ambushes that sometimes ended in fierce firefights. When their mission was over, they called for quick helicopter rescue. Back on base, they debriefed and tried to sleep off the adrenaline. Two days later they were back in the brush. The missions changed, but one goal was always the same-stay alive.In hard-hitting prose, Bill Shanahan, with co-author John Brackin, tells his story of survival behind enemy lines.
This is the complete account of New Jersey's important role in the American Revolutionary War, as only the accomplished novelist and historian Alfred Hoyt Bill could tell it. Not only does he survey the major military developments, but he also covers the social and economic effects of the war in New Jersey. Bill tells the story of the war and provides in-depth explanations of war-related problems--victory and defeat, Jerseymen defecting to the British, recruitment difficulties, troop discipline problems, the outbreak of disease and a smallpox epidemic--everything that led to the eventual surrender of Cornwallis. Bill introduces us to the people who were responsible for winning the war and shaping the future of our country, people such as George Washington, General Hugh Mercer, Thomas Paine, Alexander Hamilton, James Monroe, and Thomas Marshall. He also portrays other colorful figures, such as Benedict Arnold, and British officers, including Howe, Cornwallis, and Rall. Alfred Bill has produced that rare species of history book that reads like an exciting adventure story. He not only presents the facts, but clearly illumninates them with pertinent background information. Clearly written and highly readable, this book will be enjoyed by everyone from students to serious historians.
A memoir of the veteran author's experiences as a member of the famed K/3/5 First Marine Division during the pivotal invasion of Guadalcanal describes his command at Peleliu and losses of several friends.
This Band of Brothers for the Pacific is the gut-wrenching and ultimately triumphant story of the Marines' most ferocious—yet largely forgotten—battle of World War II. Between September 15 and October 15, 1944, the First Marine Division suffered more than 6,500 casualties fighting on a hellish little coral island in the Pacific. Peleliu was the setting for one of the most savage struggles of modern times, a true killing ground that has been all but forgotten—until now. Drawing on interviews with Peleliu veterans, Bill Sloan's gripping narrative seamlessly weaves together the experiences of the men who were there, producing a vivid and unflinching tableau of the twenty-four-hour-a-day nightmare of Peleliu. Emotionally moving and gripping in its depictions of combat, Brotherhood of Heroes rescues the Corps's bloodiest battle from obscurity and does honor to the Marines who fought it.
In Come On, People, Bill Cosby and Alvin F. Poussaint tell an inspiring story about human beings fighting hardships and succeeding. It is a story about strong, resilient people who have overcome poverty and mistreatment. Do not be surprised if you find yourself identifying personally with the stories because you see the same struggle in either yourself or in an acquaintance or a relative. It is a stirring call for us all to complete the daunting transition from victims to victors, from helplessness to hope. Come On, People will encourage you to set aside excuses and make a better life today—for you, for your children, for your community, and for your future.
From an acclaimed writer of military history comes a stunning account of the 60 days following the Allied breakout from Normandy to the liberation of Paris. black-and-white photos. Original.
A collection of the linguist's articles on English in Science and Technology (EST) written between 1978 and 1994 and published in different countries. The primary areas of her research are represented here: lexicology and phraseology, text linguistics, stylistics, and diachronic LSP studies. Emphasizing an integrated approach to genre analysis, the articles are unique for the extensive text corpora and the resulting genre profiles. Annotation copyright by Book News, Inc., Portland, OR
Since 1941, the 2nd Marine Division has written a record of unparalleled success through their courage, spirit, dedication and above all, their sacrifice. This historical anthology of history starts off in the jungles of the Solomons. Heritage Years gives an upfront and personal view of the division's record on Tarawa, Saipan-Tinian, and Okinawa. Included are one of a kind photos of the division's training at Hawaii, New Zealand and Saipan, plus the post war years of 1946-1949 in Camp Lejeune. Written by Bill Banning.
During his playing career, a baseball player's every action on the field is documented--every at bat, every hit, every pitch. But what becomes of a player after he leaves the game? This exhaustive reference work briefly details the post-baseball lives of some 7,600 major leaguers, owners, managers, administrators, umpires, sportswriters, announcers and broadcasters who are now deceased. Each entry tells the date and place of the player's birth, the number of seasons he spent in the majors, the primary position he played, the number of seasons he spent as a manager in the majors (if applicable), his post-baseball career and activities, date and cause of his death, and his final resting place.
British Military Long Arms in Colonial America By: Bill Ahearn and Robert Nittolo In British Military Long Arms in Colonial America, Bill Ahearn and Robert Nittolo explore the story of the various long arms used during this point in history. Covering a vast time period, Ahearn and Nittolo first illustrate the long arms as tools to help create British rule in Colonial America and continue their explorations to the war that cost Britain their American empire. British Military Long Arms in Colonial America is an educational and informative guide that will provide an enlightening account to the curious readers and historians alike.
Not since The F.B.I. Story, a book authored by Don Whitehead in the 1950s which spawned a succesful motion picture starring Jimmy Stewart, has an updated version of the career of an F.B.I. agent been written. The work has changed considerably since the publication of that book. Although Mr. Whitehead's version was somewhat void of humor, the authors of this book have taken the liberty to include some of those humorous occurences which surfaced throughout their careers.
A vibrant exhibition of adventurous yet meticulously crafted writing.—Donna Seaman, Booklist The Pushcart Prize XXVII continues as a testament to the flourishing of American literature in our small presses. Edited with the assistance of over 200 distinguished contributing editors—including Philip Levine, Rick Bass, Rosellen Brown, Joyce Carol Oates, Billy Collins, and Stephen Dunn—this edition includes over sixty stories, essays, and poems from scores of little magazines and small presses, both print and online. As the consolidation of commercial publishers continues, the small presses capture and encourage what is truly lasting and important in our literary culture. For new writers, the small presses are where they will almost always get their start. The Pushcart Prize serves as their inspiration and source book, with listings of hundreds of presses. Among writers discovered in the Pushcart editions are John Irving, Mary Gordon, Rick Moody, and many more.
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