Posted on Apr 21, 2014
SGT Avionic Special Equipment Repairer
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For me, this is a tough choice, as I consider several military-themed works of fiction as my favorite. I would have to say the one that inspired me to rejoin the military (especially the Army) was "Team Yankee" by Harold Coyle.<br><br>http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Team_Yankee<br><br>Anyway, I was in line at a now-defunct department store chain where I saw this red hardbound book with an M-1 Abrams on the cover in the check out line. Without any hesitation, I picked it up and purchased the book. The days after that and leading up to and after my medical procedure, I could not put the book down. I was enthralled by the technology of the M-1 Abrams, which was described in almost Clancy-like detail, and the leadership and team dynamics of the unit in the books title.<br><br>I was seriously considering being a Tanker- a 19K - M1 Abrams Crewmember. However, my recruiter who was a 63T- Bradley Mechanic, told me I can "do better" (those were his words, not mine- don't down vote me, LOL!). I did ignore him for a bit at the MEPS station (I did receive my medical waiver), but the only Armor MOS that was open was 19E- M60 Armor Crewmember. In the end, I chose 35R - Avionic Radar Repairer as my Army MOS. <br><br>Even though I was never a Tanker, I was inspired by that book to join the Army in order to "Be All I Can Be".<br><br>What is your favorite military-themed fictional book that you have read? Did it inspire you to join a particular Service Branch? What else did it inspire you to become?<br><br><br><div class="pta-link-card"><div class="pta-link-card-picture"><img src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/9/99/Question_book-new.svg/50px-Question_book-new.svg.png"></div><div class="pta-link-card-content"><div class="pta-link-card-title"><a target="_blank" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Team_Yankee">Team Yankee - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia</a></div><div class="pta-link-card-description">Team Yankee is a speculative fiction novel written in 1987 by Harold Coyle, then a major in the United States Army, whose subject is the actions of a company-sized armor unit of the United States Army...</div></div><div style="clear:both"></div><div class="pta-box-hide"><i class="icon-remove"></i></div></div>
Edited 10 y ago
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SFC Michael Hasbun
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Starship Troopers, by Robert Heinlein... Hands down.
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MAJ Brigade Logistics Officer (S4)
MAJ (Join to see)
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An excellent, thought-provoking book, and one of my favorites.

Too bad they dumbed it down to the point of being unrecognizable when they made the movie.
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COL Jean (John) F. B.
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The whole W.E.B Griffin "Brotherhood of War" series. I could really relate to the characters and to the locations. Very true to life.

Would make a great TV series.
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LTC Engineer Officer
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>1 y
Agree completely! Read that series when I was in ROTC and thorougly enjoyed every book. Perhaps I should reread them now ...
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COL Jean (John) F. B.
COL Jean (John) F. B.
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I first read them in the 1983-84 time-frame and re-read them a few years ago. Well worth the effort. It is funny how the passing of time and the experiences that go along with that passing allows you to have a new perspective on things you read. I believe I enjoyed them more the second time I read them, than the first.
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Maj Matt Hylton
Maj Matt Hylton
9 y
Great series - it was the first set of his I read while I was still in ROTC.

I love his work on the Presidential Agent series as well. It's more modern day and "fictitiously" reflects current problems associated with Russia and terrorism.
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COL Jean (John) F. B.
COL Jean (John) F. B.
9 y
Maj Matt Hylton

I have read his Presidential Agent series, as well, but really enjoyed the Badge of Honor series more. I love military-based books and police-based. The Badge of Honor series is police-based and written in the same style as the Brotherhood of War series. Great characters that you follow throughout the series. Check them out. I think you would like them, as well.
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Mila18
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I read this powerful historical novel when I entering my teens . . . Mila 18 (title), Leon Uris (author), 1961 (1st ed)

Mila 18 is set in Nazi occupied Warsaw Poland before and during WW-II . . . based on actual events . . . covers the Nazi occupation of Poland and the atrocities of systematically dehumanising and eliminating the Jewish People of Poland. The term ghetto takes on a clearer meaning as the courageous Jewish resistance fighters pursue a losing battle against not only the Nazis and their henchmen, but also profiteers and collaborators amongst themselves. Eventually, as the ghetto is reduced to rubble, a few courageous individuals with few weapons and no outside help assume command of ghetto defence, form a makeshift army and make a stand . . . attacking Nazi tanks with Molitov cocktails. Later, this army led to the formation of the State of Israel.

The reader will get depressed . . . and yet this powerful story instills wonderful hope for belief in human nature and man's ability to survive. As a young girl . . . I found the stories of small band of resistance fighters awe inspiring.
CMDCM Gene Treants
CMDCM Gene Treants
>1 y
1LT Sandy Annala this is one of Uris' best. All of his books are great and complex, but I really agree that he outdid himself here.
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