What is the best book on combat/war that you have ever read?

LTC Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 25 Jul 2017 08:18:52 -0400

I have a plethora of books that I have bought and read all or parts of for one reason or another, but I am nearly finished with War by Sebastian Junger and like the Documentary Restrepo it is amazing.
1. War- Sebastian Junger
2. The Filthy Thirteen, the True Story of the Dirty Dozen
3. About Face- David Hackworth (for good and bad lessons)
Most of what has been listed, and too many others to mention.

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 25 at 2017 8:19 AM

LTC Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 25 Jul 2017 08:19:38 -0400

I am nearly done with War by Sebastian Junger and it is one of the best that I can remember reading cover to cover.

Response by LTC Wayne Dandridge made Jul 25 at 2017 8:51 AM

LTC Wayne Dandridge — Tue, 25 Jul 2017 08:51:53 -0400

Five Years to Freedom by SF Major (KIA) Major James Rowe. After that, I like BLADES OF THUNDER (Book One)

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 25 at 2017 8:53 AM

CPT Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 25 Jul 2017 08:53:58 -0400

On Diplomacy by Henry Kissinger

Response by MAJ Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 25 at 2017 8:58 AM

MAJ Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 25 Jul 2017 08:58:43 -0400

I can't list just one so in no specific order: Band of Brothers, We were soldiers once...and young, Give Me Tomorrow, Ghost Soldiers...just to name some of my favorites.

Response by WO1 Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 25 at 2017 8:59 AM

WO1 Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 25 Jul 2017 08:59:39 -0400

Horse Soldiers

Response by PO1 Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 25 at 2017 9:14 AM

PO1 Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 25 Jul 2017 09:14:14 -0400

"The Only Thing Worth Dying For" was very good.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00338QEUQ/

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Response by CPT Lawrence Cable made Jul 25 at 2017 9:14 AM

CPT Lawrence Cable — Tue, 25 Jul 2017 09:14:44 -0400

That's a hard one, there a lots of good ones out there. Band of Brothers, Killer Angels, Helmet for my Pillow, To Hell and Back, Last Stand of the Tin Can Navy, Black Hawk Down. For early American historical narratives, Eckert's Wilderness Empire, The Frontiersman, Wilderness War, and That Dark and Bloody River. Oh, and A Ranger Born deserves a mention too.
If you have any interest in Early American History, Wilderness Empire and The Frontiersman are must reads. There are guys on all sides of the conflict that must had a cart to carry around their balls.

Response by 2LT Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 25 at 2017 9:16 AM

2LT Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 25 Jul 2017 09:16:11 -0400

Depends on what you are looking for. The story, the history, lessons learned, etc. Red Platoon, Black Hearts, Infantry Attacks, Out of the Mountains, Warrior Diplomat, The Last Warrior, Preventive Defense. All of these contain stories and lessons learned not only to just war but to strategy, policy and their effects at the tactical level.

Response by Maj John Bell made Jul 25 at 2017 9:25 AM

Maj John Bell — Tue, 25 Jul 2017 09:25:25 -0400

The Western Way of War: Infantry Battle in Classical Greece
Victory at High Tide: The Inchon-Seoul Campaign

Response by SGT Mark Halmrast made Jul 25 at 2017 9:38 AM

SGT Mark Halmrast — Tue, 25 Jul 2017 09:38:44 -0400

Killer Angels
The 13th Valley
We Were Soldiers Once...
Blackhawk Down
Lone Survivor

Thanks, all, for sharing your list. Gives us all more to pursue!

Response by LTC Tom Jones made Jul 25 at 2017 9:55 AM

LTC Tom Jones — Tue, 25 Jul 2017 09:55:17 -0400

War and Peace. Read it after finishing the Craig Speed Reading Course. It's about Russia. More seriously, The Red Badge of Courage by Stephen Crane not for the tactics but for the humanity that it expresses.

Response by SGT Todd Fairchild made Jul 25 at 2017 10:29 AM

SGT Todd Fairchild — Tue, 25 Jul 2017 10:29:31 -0400

Bill Mauldin, Up Front

Response by Sgt Brendan Bigney made Jul 25 at 2017 10:40 AM

Sgt Brendan Bigney — Tue, 25 Jul 2017 10:40:53 -0400

The Things They Carried
Tribes: On Homecoming and Belonging
The White Donkey

Response by MCPO Roger Collins made Jul 25 at 2017 10:42 AM

MCPO Roger Collins — Tue, 25 Jul 2017 10:42:30 -0400

Catch-22

Response by SCPO Jason McLaughlin made Jul 25 at 2017 10:44 AM

SCPO Jason McLaughlin — Tue, 25 Jul 2017 10:44:07 -0400

Starship Troopers

Response by SSgt Donald Libby made Jul 25 at 2017 10:55 AM

SSgt Donald Libby — Tue, 25 Jul 2017 10:55:23 -0400

Current book I am Reading "Hue - 1968" by Mark Bowden.

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 25 at 2017 11:13 AM

LTC Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 25 Jul 2017 11:13:16 -0400

About Face- Col. David Hackworth

Response by SSgt Gary Andrews made Jul 25 at 2017 11:26 AM

SSgt Gary Andrews — Tue, 25 Jul 2017 11:26:47 -0400

Blackhawk Down......also a great movie.

Response by SFC Terry Fortune made Jul 25 at 2017 11:35 AM

SFC Terry Fortune — Tue, 25 Jul 2017 11:35:25 -0400

This is a tough one. I read so many great books. Both to that come to mind are Bravo Two Zero and Lone Survivor.

Response by MAJ Don Bigger made Jul 25 at 2017 11:36 AM

MAJ Don Bigger — Tue, 25 Jul 2017 11:36:29 -0400

East of Chosin: Entrapment and Breakout in Korea, 1950 By Roy Edgar Appleman

Response by SPC John Chambers made Jul 25 at 2017 11:37 AM

SPC John Chambers — Tue, 25 Jul 2017 11:37:02 -0400

Recon Scout and Batt 22. Recon Scout is about a WWII Cav Scout and is basically a published version of his journal. Batt 22 is about a Pilot shot down in Vietnam and how he stayed alive behind enemy lines by calling in air strikes and artillery fire on his position to wipe out the enemy.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 25 at 2017 11:37 AM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 25 Jul 2017 11:37:38 -0400

For the few that I have read/listened to so far,
"Lions of Kandahar: The Story of a Fight Against All Odds," and
"Hammerhead Six: How Green Berets Waged an Unconventional War Against the Taliban to Win in Afghanistan's Deadly Pech Valley."
Both great books in their own ways, as Hammerhead Six was less action, but dealt more with the counterinsurgency campaign.

Response by PO2 Peter Klein made Jul 25 at 2017 11:37 AM

PO2 Peter Klein — Tue, 25 Jul 2017 11:37:44 -0400

Sniper

Response by SSG Diane R. made Jul 25 at 2017 11:39 AM

SSG Diane R. — Tue, 25 Jul 2017 11:39:07 -0400

One of my favorite books, that I first read as a teenager, having found a copy at the base Library was "The Germans who never lost", the story of the cruiser Königsberg by Edwin P. Hoyt, Jr.

It's a fantastic story of adventure, heroism and determination that takes place in German East Africa from 1914 to 1918, and is largely unknown today.

Response by PO3 Donald Murphy made Jul 25 at 2017 11:42 AM

PO3 Donald Murphy — Tue, 25 Jul 2017 11:42:46 -0400

The Guadalcanal trilogy by Eric Hammel. Covers the pivotal naval battles, the nail biting Marine battles and the grueling air battles.

Response by Sgt Wayne Wienke made Jul 25 at 2017 11:53 AM

Sgt Wayne Wienke — Tue, 25 Jul 2017 11:53:32 -0400

Fields of Fire by James Webb

Response by PFC Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 25 at 2017 12:28 PM

PFC Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 25 Jul 2017 12:28:22 -0400

Matterhorn by Karl Marlantes is probably the best war book I've ever read.
I also recommend:
"They Fought for Each Other" by Kelly Kennedy
"The Outpost" by Jake Tapper
"Redeployment" by Phil Klay

Response by MAJ Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 25 at 2017 12:46 PM

MAJ Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 25 Jul 2017 12:46:36 -0400

War Without Hate: Desert Campaign 1940-43. Looks at the whole campaign not just the battles but the politics as well.

Response by CW5 Ranger Dave made Jul 25 at 2017 12:54 PM

CW5 Ranger Dave — Tue, 25 Jul 2017 12:54:42 -0400

"Hills of Scrafice" the history of the 5th RCT in Korea.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 25 at 2017 2:08 PM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 25 Jul 2017 14:08:05 -0400

People Other Than Grunts by Myles Page
Band of Brothers
Outlaw Platoon by Sean Parnell

Response by PFC Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 25 at 2017 2:19 PM

PFC Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 25 Jul 2017 14:19:50 -0400

Helmet for my pillow, generation kill, I'm staying with my boys, band of brothers, gentlemen bastard's.

Response by SMSgt Thor Merich made Jul 25 at 2017 2:33 PM

SMSgt Thor Merich — Tue, 25 Jul 2017 14:33:05 -0400

There are so many great books on war. But the two that come mind are We Were Soldiers Once...And Young, Everything We Had, and Chicken Hawk.

Response by 1LT Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 25 at 2017 2:44 PM

1LT Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 25 Jul 2017 14:44:07 -0400

Several from the Old Testament of Bible.

Response by SGT Philip Roncari made Jul 25 at 2017 3:22 PM

SGT Philip Roncari — Tue, 25 Jul 2017 15:22:32 -0400

The three volume set by Bruce Catton on the Civil War as a young man these got me interested in that period, later I branched out to other historical periods,but Catton got my interest early on and remains my favorite.

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 25 at 2017 6:16 PM

LTC Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 25 Jul 2017 18:16:42 -0400

The Mission, The Men and Me. Pete Blaber

Response by Capt Seid Waddell made Jul 26 at 2017 3:42 PM

Capt Seid Waddell — Wed, 26 Jul 2017 15:42:29 -0400

All quiet on the Western Front and Northwest Passage, read as a boy, had the greatest effect on me.

As an adult, Killer Angels, That Dark and Bloody River, Andersonville, and a diary of a Civil War enlisted man who wrote compellingly about his first-hand experiences during many battles and the camp live and forced marches between battles.

I am away from home right now so I cannot lay my hands on the diary and I cannot remember the soldier's name at the moment. I do that a lot lately.

Response by 1SG John B. Enlow made Jul 26 at 2017 7:58 PM

1SG John B. Enlow — Wed, 26 Jul 2017 19:58:29 -0400

The Civil War: A Narrative, a three-volume history of the American Civil War by Shelby Foote

Response by 1SG Russell S. made Jul 26 at 2017 9:44 PM

1SG Russell S. — Wed, 26 Jul 2017 21:44:44 -0400

The Forgotten Soldier
And
Quartered Safe out Here

Response by SFC Dean Allen made Jul 27 at 2017 12:17 AM

SFC Dean Allen — Thu, 27 Jul 2017 00:17:15 -0400

SOLDIER, by LTC Anthony Hebert.

Response by SGT Bryce Mahoney made Jul 27 at 2017 1:52 PM

SGT Bryce Mahoney — Thu, 27 Jul 2017 13:52:28 -0400

The Mission, The men, and Me. or Gentle Propositions

Response by MSgt Mark Bucher made Jul 27 at 2017 2:01 PM

MSgt Mark Bucher — Thu, 27 Jul 2017 14:01:52 -0400

About Face by Col David Hackworth

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 27 at 2017 7:57 PM

CPT Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 27 Jul 2017 19:57:21 -0400

"On Killing" and "On Combat" for the physiological and emotional effects of Combat.
It's hard to pick a single book for leadership but "Band of Brothers" is at the top of my list.
My favorite book describing the grunt's view of the war from the Maribe perspective is "Generation Kill."

Response by SSgt Donald Libby made Aug 3 at 2017 5:02 PM

SSgt Donald Libby — Thu, 03 Aug 2017 17:02:23 -0400

Hue - 1968: A Turning Point Of The American War In Vietnam
This is a fascinating in depth look into the days surrounding Tet and the intense and deadly street-to-street fighting. It also examines how politicians as well as Generals held mistaken beliefs as to how the war was going and how even during the beginning hours of Tet they were in denial that this was a major push by the NVA and VC. Below is an excerpt from the book regarding the attack on Hue.

"The surprise achieved in Hue was complete. It was not simply a case of being caught off-guard. It was so unexpected it triggered not just alarm, but disbelief - deadly disbelief."
Excerpt from Hue 1968: A Turning Point Of The American War In Vietnam by Mark Bowden.

Response by SGT Fredrick Ramm made Mar 6 at 2018 11:28 PM

SGT Fredrick Ramm — Tue, 06 Mar 2018 23:28:59 -0500

I heard about Dave Hackworth from my First Sergeant Allen Haller in April of 1971, who I believe knew him in Korea. From then to about 1990 there was various stories about him in the media.
I wrote a letter to Old Dave shortly after he appeared on the cover of Parade Magazine, and after reading About Face. He became some what of a mentor to me, over the next 11 years. We became pen pals (almost an internship) I wrote gags for him, did some sneaking around West Point, errands, edited a chapter in one of his books (didn't think I was qualified, but gave it my best shot) and other situations.
Met him twice, at a book signings, but my deal was U.S. Army Reform. I'm not a Combat Veteran, but a Veteran of much mayhem and disorganization during The Vietnam Era in U.S. Army Europe...I wanted to help The Army, not destroy it. I know Old Dave was a little critical of West Point, I but tried to change his mind....understand my Childhood Roll Model was T/Sergeant Martin Maher!

Response by LTC Wayne Dandridge made Mar 20 at 2018 4:54 PM

LTC Wayne Dandridge — Tue, 20 Mar 2018 16:54:03 -0400

Five years to Freedom by SF Major (KIA) James Rowe