Posted on Dec 10, 2014

Recommendations for military books about little-known events in various wars?

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RPers, I seem to have a vacant spot in my reading schedule and would like your recommendations for the best military books to read. I am particularly interested in books that highlight little-known events in the various wars. TIA for helping me out!

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Military History

Posted >1 y ago

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Responses: 9

SMSgt (Join to see)

Posted >1 y ago

The Mission, the Men and Me. One of the best Military books I have had the privilege of reading, not only because I was part of Operation Anaconda, but the lesson that was taught was very impacting!!

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PO1 Michael G.

Posted >1 y ago

SrA Andrea West Two maritime history books that I emphatically recommend are "Six Frigates" by Ian Toll and "Blind Man's Bluff: The Untold Story of American Submarine Espionage" by Sherry Sontag et al. "Six Frigates" tells the story of the founding of the permanent US Navy and the six original frigates that were built, along with the wars and engagements that they were involved in. "Blind Man's Bluff" is about US submarines during the Cold War. Both books are written in gripping prose.

Hope this helped.

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SPC (Join to see)

Posted 9 y ago

Raiding Forces Series by Phil Ward. He is a 'Nam infantry vet and former Ranger School instructor. He does a lot of research for his book. The first two are mainly about fictional events with most of the main characters being fictional but he does have some real life ones sprinkled in. The rest are about real events that he inserts his characters into. Such as the Abyssinia campaign of WWII

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Capt Richard I P.

Edited >1 y ago

Posted >1 y ago

SrA Andrea West You may enjoy these discussions:

https://www.rallypoint.com/answers/what-is-the-best-professional-military-fiction

https://www.rallypoint.com/answers/what-is-your-favorite-military-non-fiction-fiction-biography-or-history-book-and-why

What is the best professional military fiction? | RallyPoint

Of the options offered? Warning: mentioning the movies without having read the books is a down-votable offense. Offering an alternative professional military fiction is acceptable, but six answers to a survey is not supportable.

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LTC (Join to see)

Posted >1 y ago

I know the title of this article says books every man should read, I think it is appropriate for every military service member.
There are 43 books here. Some old, some new.
http://www.artofmanliness.com/2013/12/02/books-about-war/

43 Books About War Every Man Should Read | The Art of Manliness

War is a great metaphor for life. Read about war not just for the history lesson, but for the life lessons to be had as well.

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CMC Robert Young

Posted >1 y ago

Are you looking for history or leadership? I have some ideas about either if I knew your interest.

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SrA Andrea West

>1 y

History mainly, but am not averse to leadership books. I read "It's Your Ship" by Capt. D. Michael Abrashoff and really enjoyed it.

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CMC Robert Young

>1 y

In no particular order of preference:

Noble Warrior
The Gift of Valor
Into the Fire
The Warrior Elite
Steel My Soldiers' Hearts
Faith of Fathers
Warrior Police
One Bullet Away
Flyboys
The Longest Winter
Phantom Warrior
The First Heroes
In the Company of Heroes
One Soldier's Story
A Bridge Too Far
Tonight We Die as Men
Strike & Hold

Abrashoff has two follow on books; It's Our Ship & Get Your Ship Together.

That should get you off and running. Enjoy!!

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SPC Cedar Bristol

Posted 9 y ago

If you're looking for lesser known areas of the war, It's hard to beat W.E.B. Griffin's "Honor" series.

I started thinking "How can Argentina really matter to WWII?", and I become convinced that it probably did matter quite a bit as I read. As with all Griffin novels, I love everyone in it:

http://www.webgriffin.com/series_honorbound.html

His "The Corps" series also deals with the Phillipine Insurrection against the Japanese occupation and American involvement with that which is a fascinating story. He deals with that same story again in his OSS series.

W.E.B. Griffin :: The HONOR BOUND Series

“Immensely entertaining adventures.”— KIRKUS REVIEWS

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1SG (Join to see)

Posted 9 y ago

It's not little know, but this book takes one year of the War of Independence and covers in much more depth than I've seen elsewhere.

http://www.amazon.com/1776-David-McCullough/dp/ [login to see] /ref=sr_1_1_twi_1_pap?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid= [login to see] &sr=1-1&keywords=1776

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1SG (Join to see)

9 y

Or, for lesser known and of major impact, this traces the Army from Independence to its full birth as a force that could keep order and maintain a peaceful frontier.

http://www.amazon.com/1794-America-Army-Birth-Nation/dp/ [login to see] /ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid= [login to see] &sr=1-1&keywords=1794+palmer

1794: America, Its Army, and the Birth of the Nation: Dave R. Palmer: 9780891415237: Amazon.com:...

1794: America, Its Army, and the Birth of the Nation [Dave R. Palmer] on Amazon.com. *FREE* shipping on qualifying offers. Examining the turbulent decade between 1783 and 1794--when America was determining the role of its military--a soldier-scholar finds similar struggles reappearing today. Palmer's engaging narrative explores the futile efforts to forge a peacetime military force in the wake of the revolutionary war

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1SG (Join to see)

9 y

The only Native American leader to defeat the US Army:

http://www.amazon.com/Heart-Everything-That-Untold-American-ebook/dp/B00BSAZ614/ref=sr_1_6?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid= [login to see] &sr=1-6&keywords=military+history

The Heart of Everything That Is: The Untold Story of Red Cloud, An American Legend Reprint, Bob...

The Heart of Everything That Is: The Untold Story of Red Cloud, An American Legend Reprint, Bob Drury, Tom Clavin - Amazon.com

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Capt Richard I P.

Posted 9 y ago

A couple off the top of the head
Defense of Duffers' Drift for the Boer War
Rifleman Dodd for the Peninsular Campaign in the Napoleonic Wars

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Recommendations for military books about little-known events in various wars?

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