Women of the Blue and Gray: Mothers, Medics, Soldiers, and Spies of the Civil War by Marianne Monson

Click on cover image to purchase a copy

MWSA Review

War has always played a defining role in the evolution of man. While one side seeks an outcome, the other defends what is threatened; families are displaced, and the door is flung open to famine and disease. Body count and lost or claimed territory determine success and failure. Too often overlooked, is the emotional, psychological, and physical impact on women and children, the ones left behind while their sons, brothers, husbands, fathers, uncles head into battle, perhaps never to be seen or held again. In Women of the Blue and Gray, Marianne Monson sheds light on that sacrifice by sharing women’s journals and literary works written during the Civil War. She does not limit voices to the white and privileged. Represented in this fascinating account are the insights and reflections of women born into slavery, Native American survivors, and women on both sides who risked their all to support the cause they believed in and the men they loved.

With a personal interest in the wisdom of women’s voices as well as the historical significance of firsthand documentation, I had a vested interest in reading this book. I was not disappointed. As the author allows her characters to speak in their own words, the reader learns how some women chose to dress as men to fight on the battlefield; how others became spies using their charms, their ears, and their skirts to convey information; while other women inched their way into field hospitals saving lives that may have been lost without them.

Born outside the United States, my knowledge of the Civil War was gleaned from a few brief conversations, the occasional sighting of a Confederate flag, and a sobering afternoon spent at Vicksburg. I now understand the depth of a conflict that perhaps could not have been avoided. The author’s words inspire a reflection on how much headway we have made on racial issues and women’s rights. She also lays out a possible path for how the nation, again divided, can avoid another brutal sacrifice. The key rests in education, hope, freedom, forgiveness, understanding, and a vision of peace. Could these scribbles on whatever paper accessible at the time teach us something one hundred sixty plus years later? Sallie Watie, one of the few Native American voices whose words survived, summed up the dire impact of diversity when she wrote: “‘I would like to live a short time in peace just to see how it would be. I would like to feel free in life again and feel no dread of war.’” In bringing these long-ago voices to the fore, Marianne Monson invites the reader to ponder: Can oppression be overcome without hatred and violence? Can differences be resolved without hatred and violence? Is difference possible without oppression?

Review by Janette Stone (June 2023)

 

Author's Synopsis

Hidden amongst the photographs, uniforms, revolvers, and war medals of the Civil War are the remarkable stories of some of the most unlikely heroes—women.

North, South, black, white, Native American, immigrant—the women in these micro-drama biographies are wives, mothers, sisters, and friends whose purposes ranged from supporting husbands and sons during wartime to counseling President Lincoln on strategy, from tending to the wounded on the battlefield to spiriting away slaves through the Underground Railroad, from donning a uniform and fighting unrecognized alongside the men to working as spies for either side.

This book brings to light the incredible stories of women from the Civil War that remain relevant to our nation today. Each woman's experience helps us see a truer, fuller, richer version of what really happened in this country during this time period.

Format(s) for review: Paper and Kindle

Review Genre: Nonfiction—History

Number of Pages: 208

Word Count: 60,000

The Hardest Year: A Love Story in Letters During the Vietnam War by Carole and William Wagener

Click on cover image to purchase a copy

MWSA Review

The Hardest Year: A Love Story in Letters During the Vietnam War by Carole and William Wagener is a rare and intriguing treat in which the reader viscerally feels the desperation, anguish, pain, separation, confusion, and awfulness experienced by a young newlywed couple separated one day after their wedding by his deployment to the Vietnam War.

Carole has crafted a unique work based largely on 300 handwritten letters she and her soldier husband Bill exchanged, beginning before he left for basic training through when he returned home a changed young man of 23. She adds additional narratives throughout the book, weaving in her recollections of how she felt after receiving a particularly disturbing/annoying/terrifying account from Vietnam, wrestling at the same time with her own fears, longings, and frustrations as a young woman/student/wife pursuing her undergraduate degree during a time of campus protests.

This book was as revealing as it gets for a couple. Carole and Bill held nothing back in their letters. What a ride, what raw emotions, what daily stress they shared with each other, so many insecurities of youth, of young love, of a marriage she questioned from the beginning for a variety of reasons. I couldn't put it down and found myself grateful for the honesty these two young people shared.

Their two distinct voices, their words written decades ago, put the reader in a variety of settings: on campus witnessing student protests and racial unrest, in Vietnam both in the relative safety of an HQ office, and then on a convoy being ambushed in a life-threatening combat situation. The intense change in settings from the University of Wisconsin campus to various sites in Vietnam as well as the events they each lived and chose to share with each other offer a delightful, and sometimes uncomfortable experience for the reader. Each letter's date and place of origin is clearly indicated. The vocabulary used in their letters was raw and authentic—the feelings and longings of young lovers separated by great distance and terrible circumstances.

Chapter 18, written by Bill, in which he reflects on death-defying events that he never wrote to Carole about, really grabbed me.

The book is constructed with black and white photos included to further draw the reader into this tumultuous year in their lives. Endnotes add info on sourcing, news media accounts, colloquial speech, etc. The glossary includes translations of words used from a variety of languages.

Anyone who wants to feel the human side of how that war disrupted young lives of Americans, who would appreciate a thoroughly intimate and vulnerable account with words that survived the decades, words that reveal how at times these two Americans were just barely holding on as the war raged, and how their love for each other kept them going, will enjoy this book immensely. I highly recommend this book for adults only, due to its mature content.

Review by Grace Tiscareno-Sato (June 2023)

 

Author's Synopsis

During 1968-1969, nineteen-year-old college student Carole, thinking she's pregnant marries her enlisted soldier, Bill, one day before he departs for the Vietnam War. Carole then transfers to the tumultuous UW-Madison campus amidst the riots and antiwar protests. This memoir is based on over 300 authentic letters written by the couple skillfully woven together with short stories, poems, and 31 photographs written from the female point of view of "the girl left behind." The couple's dialogue through distance is a love story, a war story, and a coming of age story as they navigate an ocean apart to keep their long-distance relationship alive. During Bill's R&R, they meet in Hawaii, but have difficulty saying goodbye again. Nine months later, Bill returns home all in one piece, but soon experiences his first traumatic nightmare where he believes he's back in Vietnam, requiring a visit to the hospital. It takes thirty years for Carole to discover Bill has Post Traumatic Stress Disorder and seeks counseling for him from the local Veterans Administration . After seven years of therapy, Bill is awarded a 50 % service-connected disability and starts doing a local talk-TV show. The book ends with an Epilogue in 2007 with the couple questioning the morality of war while attending an Iraq antiwar rally with their fifteen year old twins. On a beach in Santa Barbara, California, 3,000 white wooden crosses symbolize the lives lost in yet another war. Carole wonders "Will war never cease?" Then she remembers their letters tucked away in a shoebox in the garage where they remain collecting dust until "the time is right to tell our story, this story, of The Hardest Year" which may help other veterans and their families who still struggle with the aftermath of war. There is a line drawn map of Vietnam, a glossary of terms, and extensive end notes of significant historical information.

Format(s) for review: Paper and Kindle

Review Genre: Nonfiction—Memoir/Biography

Number of Pages: 274

Word Count: 77000

Above Average: Naval Aviation the Hard Way by D.D. Smith

Click on cover image to purchase a copy

MWSA Review

Above Average: Naval Aviation the Hard Way soars above the typical "there I was..." first-hand account of a Navy flier's life and service. The account follows the conventional timeline beginning with the author's childhood in Minnesota and following his 20-plus year flying career that culminated with his tours as the Navy’s chief test pilot.

Most memoirs published by military fliers provide a detailed account of the writer’s professional service, usually enlivened by personal stories and accounts of wartime exploits, harrowing or otherwise. Reading Above Average, however, is like sitting at an Officers’ Club table littered with empty beer bottles, listening to the author’s sea stories.

This autobiography hits all the traditional milestones, starting with a nomadic childhood and youth that encounters the life-changing opportunity of the NAVCAD program. The narrator’s career as a Naval Aviator includes combat deployments in the crucible of Vietnam and later sea tours leading to the professional challenge of serving as a test pilot. Detailed incidents in the flak-filled skies over North Vietnam are balanced with even more harrowing accounts of near-death flight test experiences.

While the author always treats the demands of flying and flight test with absolute sincerity, he never takes himself too seriously. He emerges from his two decades of Naval service as one who understands that he is lucky to be alive and grateful for the opportunities he has encountered. The result is an account of a remarkable lifespan that afforded him the chance to accomplish what John Gillespie Magee described: “a hundred things you have not dreamed of.”

Any reader looking for a glimpse into the life of a naval aviator and jet pilot will enjoy the story of this man’s life and will easily be able to ignore the broken hyperlinks and minor editorial shortcomings of the publication.

Review by Peter Young (June 2023)

 

Author's Synopsis

Way beyond the usual Vietnam War shoot ‘em up! Does it have electrifying high adventure? Oh yes – the eye-popping action of combat naval aviation and the harrowing dangers of testing the world’s hottest jets. But the book is much more. It is a cleverly written and refreshingly honest story of the author’s life and times as he struggles his way from rural Minnesota to the blazing skies over North Vietnam. 138 combat missions. The Navy’s first Chief Test Pilot. Piloting the first EVER flat spin in an F-14 that nearly killed him. That says it all. No swaggering bravado here; this is a fresh, insightful look at life, luck and guts – in Vietnam and beyond.

Format(s) for review: Paper and Kindle

Review Genre: Nonfiction—Memoir/Biography

Number of Pages: 344

Word Count: 102,000

A Day Like Any Other by Bob Every

Click on cover image to purchase a copy

MWSA Review

A Day Like Any Other by Robert Every is a beautifully written story. Author Every’s writing paints a colorful picture of a love story between an anti-war Boston socialite doctor and a Navy man from South Boston.

From the beginning, I was invested in the main character, Lieutenant Bill Simmons. When he meets Mary, I felt the intensity of this chance encounter as Bill experiences love at first sight. While Mary struggles with her unexpected attraction to a military man, Bill falls even more in love, and in a short time, so does Mary. Bill proposes, much to Mary’s father’s consternation.

Bill’s deployment to Japan after their marriage separates the couple until Mary joins him a few weeks later. Mary isn’t sure what her husband does on his diesel-powered submarine, but she fears it is dangerous. After turning down a well-paying job at the local hospital, Mary spends her time helping out at a local orphanage and falls in love with Mikasa, a petite, dark-haired Down’s Syndrome girl. When introduced to Mikasa, Bill falls in love as well.

The author’s knowledge and experiences of naval service are apparent with his definitive descriptions of the sub, Daedalus, of which Lt. Simmons is the executive officer. Simmons works hard to forge respectful relationships with his crew and runs a tight ship. Before leaving port on a potentially dangerous mission, the lieutenant and his men qualify on the weapons range in preparation for a possible enemy encounter.

Bill, Mary, and Mikasa have a tearful parting as Bill sets out to sea on the Daedalus to patrol waters off the coast of North Korea. Mary has a sense of foreboding and Bill’s valid concerns went unspoken to his wife.

This wonderful story captivated me. I couldn’t put the book down and wanted more when it ended. Does the sub run into trouble? Will this family be reunited? I was on the edge of my seat, and you will be, too.

Review by Nancy Panko (June (2023)
 

Author's Synopsis

As the war in Vietnam is drawing to a close, Bill, a navy lieutenant from South Boston, meets Mary, a doctor and anti-war daughter from one of Beacon Hill's oldest families. A day that would transform two lives and two visions, initiating events that would disrupt seats of power and headlines around the globe. A tender story of love and redemption amid the violence of a nation torn by war. A Day Like Any Other combines military romance with literary fiction to create a captivating novel that makes you pause and think about its reflection in your own life.

Format(s) for review: Paper and Kindle

Review Genre: Fiction—Literary Fiction

Number of Pages: 293

Word Count: 71,000

Before the Snow Flies by John Wemlinger

Click on cover image to purchase a copy

MWSA Review

Part romance, part courtroom drama, part mystery, and part literary fiction, Before the Snow Flies by John Wemlinger has something for everyone to enjoy. Revolving around Major David Keller, a double amputee returning home from Afghanistan in June—by way of Landstuhl and Walter Reed—the storyline leads readers through family issues, small-town politics, post-traumatic stress episodes, and well-kept secrets. Dynamic characters and a well described setting enhance the story. Throughout the book, the question lingers as to whether David will attain his goal of completing suicide before the snow flies. The reader is kept wondering whether an old flame will reignite or past jealousies will douse the flame. The suspense drives the story to the final page when the reader discovers if hope will triumph over fear.

Review by Betsy Beard (June 2023)

 

Author's Synopsis

Major David Keller was well on his way to becoming a general when a roadside bomb in Afghanistan took his legs. Angry, grieving, and carrying a loaded gun, David returns home to mend a few fences before using that gun to end his life. But before the snow flies, his family, his community, and Maggie McCall, someone he's tried to forget, will prove to him that life in the small town of Onekama, Michigan, can be great once again--if he will only let it--and if murder doesn't get in the way

Format(s) for review: Paper and Kindle

Review Genre: Fiction—Romance

Number of Pages: 313

Word Count: 80K

The Cut by John Wemlinger

Click on cover image to purchase a copy

MWSA Review

Lydia Cockrum and Alvin Price grow their love with a backdrop of life along Lake Michigan in the 1870s. Paramount at this time near Portage Lake was the increasing animosity between the local farmers and an active sawmill. Based on real history, the story focuses on farmers who were losing arable land to Portage Lake as the local sawmill management dammed the lake to have enough water along an out-flowing creek to run their muley saw.

Fed up with the loss of their land, and armed with a legal document and the support of a judge, the story finds Alvin Price, his father Ben, and his near-brother Jeb Washington reluctantly deciding to solve the problem. The mill owner continually refuses to follow the injunction that requires him to desist from damming the lake. Although both Alvin and Jeb are wounded Civil War veterans, they embrace a project that is both physically and politically grueling. With a band of farmers, some of whom made extra money at the mill, they decide to take matters into their own hands to lower the water level at Portage Lake so their farms won’t flood.

As Alvin’s and Lydia’s romance progresses, they must deal with fathers who are on opposite sides of the issue. Reilly Cockrum, Lydia’s father, is a railroad builder and relies on the wood from the mill. Ben Price, Alvin’s father, is a farmer and insists on full use of his land.

How the farmers resolve this issue changed the shoreline of Lake Michigan in the area of Portage Lake and Manistee. But Alvin must make peace with Mr. Cockrum and seizes the opportunity to do so after a tragedy occurs in the town of Manistee, where the Cockrums live.

Author John Wemlinger does an excellent job of weaving the love story into the colorful history of this area and era of Michigan. The Cut relates an enlightening and interesting story. The characters are well-drawn, and his writing flows smoothly.

The author provides helpful annotated photographs, illustrations, and maps that give the reader a true sense of “the cut” and provides images that help the reader understand what a sawmill of that time looked like, and what homes and farms looked like.

For a noteworthy, fact-based historical glimpse of an interesting and unique issue in the 1870s upper Midwest, The Cut makes an excellent and satisfying read that addresses industry, farming, prejudice, women’s growing acceptance as college students, and enduring love. And if you are a dog-lover, Alvin's dog Kip will steal your heart.

Review by Patricia Walkow (June 2023)

Author's Synopsis

The Cut is a 19th-century David and Goliath story set in northwestern Michigan, where the powerful lumber industry is trampling on the rights of local farmers trying to eke out a living on their 80-acre homesteads.  in the aftermath of the Civil War, The Cut follows the plight of the local farmers through the eyes of their reluctant leader as he fights for his family, friends, and love.  It is a beautiful story of Michiganders' perseverance woven into Michigan's history

Format(s) for review: Paper and Kindle

Review Genre: Fiction—Historical Fiction

Number of Pages: 250

Word Count: 75K

100 Days Smart: A Kindergarten teacher shares lessons on life, learning, and community during the COVID-19 outbreak in bella Italia by Karin Tramm

Click on cover image to purchase a copy

MWSA Review

Kindergarten teacher, Karin Tramm documented her experiences teaching military children in a DOD school in Northern Italy during the initial months of the COVID-19 pandemic. Her book, 100 Days Smart, takes us on the journey with her via diary-style entries that cover the 100 days after her school reverted to online learning only. Written with humor and insight, the book is relatable to all of us who experienced the pandemic in a multitude of different ways.

Those who are not teachers will see how difficult the transition was not only for the teachers, but for the children and parents as well. Using narration, emails, chats, and texts, Tramm shares the early moments of desperation, the anxiety of the unknown, the desire to stay connected with family and friends, the helplessness of not being able to be “there” for others, the joy of small victories, the learning curve of technology to make things work, the isolation of quarantine, and the peace that comes from accepting life and adapting to what it gives us.

Much of the humor comes from the kindergarten chats, a rare treat to readers who do not teach kindergarten. The wonder, excitement, and absurdity of the situations as seen through youthful eyes allows the reader to appreciate the young students whose world was turned upside down in a single day. 100 Days Smart is an endearing and heartwarming read.

Review by Betsy Beard (June 2023)

 

Author's Synopsis

100 Days Smart chronicles the first hundred days of the COVID-19 outbreak on the American Army base in Vicenza, Italy, only miles away from the epicenter of the European crisis. Beginning on the 100th day of school, the last day before pandemic lockdown, this narrative journals the very different lesson plan that coronavirus had in store for Vicenza Elementary School in 2020. The experiences of DoDEA teachers, military connected students and their parents living through the startling onset unfolds through personal accounts and communications with colleagues, family, and friends. One hundred days later, when Italy began to ease out of the most draconian lockdown in all of Europe, emerged a glimpse into the old yet new world.

This story reflects the resilience, strength, and flexibility of our military connected families. Written with a nod to classic children’s literature, 100 Days Smart explores the fears and frustrations, the hopes, heroes, and lessons learned, beginning that fateful day in February 2020.

Format(s) for review: Paper and Kindle

Review Genre: Nonfiction—Memoir/Biography

Number of Pages: 256

Word Count: 85,000

Navy Dog - A Dog's Days in the US Navy by Neal Kusumoto

Click on cover image to purchase a copy

MWSA Review

In Navy Dog, author Neal Kusumoto takes readers on an unforgettable journey aboard the guided-missile frigate USS Vandegrift. Kusumoto, a retired Navy captain and former skipper of the Vandegrift, weaves a heartwarming tale that effortlessly combines his love for his ship and crew with the endearing story of the Vandy’s four-legged shipmate and mascot, a Navy Dog named Jenna.

Kusumoto’s admiration and respect for the Navy and his fellow sailors shine through from the opening pages to the conclusion. His vivid descriptions of life at sea bring the reader right into the heart of the action, creating an immersive experience that is both enlightening and entertaining. Through Kusumoto’s keen storytelling, we gain unique insights into the day-to-day realities of Navy life. We learn about some of the Navy’s terminology and history, sail with his crew while crisscrossing the Pacific Ocean, and visit exotic—and often dangerous—ports of call.

By the time you reach its conclusion, the book will have fostered a better appreciation for the sacrifices and camaraderie shared by those who serve at sea—no matter how many legs they have. It’s also very likely that Kusumoto’s shipmate, Jenna, will have wound her way into the reader’s heart as she managed to do with her fellow sailors and Marines.

I highly recommend this heart-warming book to anyone who wants to learn about the Navy and how it eventually learned to live with its first mammal mascot in decades.

Review by John Cathcart (June 2023)

 

Author's Synopsis

Having Seaman Jenna as the mascot on the USS Vandegrift was never meant to be a statement or to put the ship on the radars of four-star admirals. Jenna came onboard unannounced, a Christmas gift that brought instant joy to the crew and transformed a grey ship into a home for 225 sailors. Her addition was not approved by the chain of command, and she was the first dog on a Navy ship since WWII. This orphaned Shiba Inu and the displaced crew shared countless adventures and trials during her five years onboard. Jenna dodged being eaten in Korea, sidestepped Hawaii's strict quarantine law, avoided being shot in Australia, charmed a Chinese admiral, and nearly initiated an international incident in Pakistan. Jenna became a symbol of the ship and created a bond amongst the crew that remains strong decades later...long after her death.

Format(s) for review: Paper and Kindle

Review Genre: Nonfiction—Memoir/Biography

Number of Pages: 336

Word Count: 63,412

Washington’s War, Triumph, Trials and Treason by Donald J. Farinacci

Click on cover image to purchase a copy

MWSA Review

Washington’s War views Washington from multiple aspects, and at the same time ends up giving a fairly complete history of the Revolutionary War. It is practically a comprehensive biography, without trying to be, at least from his early days to the end of the Revolution. This unique perspective enables the author to make the war personal through the victories and tribulations that Washington experiences as he tries to fight a desperate war for the freedom of a new nation and ideals that will eventually free tens of millions across the world. The book is logically organized, and the storyline flows smoothly. It would appeal to readers with an interest in George Washington and the Revolutionary War, American military history, and people interested in the general history of the latter eighteenth century.

Review by Terry Lloyd (June 2023)
 

Author's Synopsis

This book is a history of the American Revolutionary War, but focusing on George Washington, Commander in Chief of the Continental forces.

George Washington was a man of action who never shirked from danger but was at the same time deeply introspective.  He examined his inner-self to make sure he was doing the right and correct thing before making any decision.  He was a man of great courage, sincerity, empathy, conscience, intellect, ideals, passion and strength of will.  He cared as deeply for the well-being of the troops under his command as he did for the ideal of an independent nation.  He was also ambitious, driven to be the very best he could be, a greatly skilled and accomplished leader in the eyes of others and of himself. 

The book fully examines and provides factual descriptions of the key battles of the war and Washington’s critical influence on each one.

Washington may not have been the greatest battlefield General, a thought certainly shared by British generals such as Howe, Clinton, Burgoyne and Cornwallis; but among all military leaders on both sides, he was the only one possessed of the special qualities of heart, mind and soul required to achieve victory in a long and bloody war.  He was successful principally because he brought every ounce of intellect and will he possessed to both win the war and in so doing establishing the foundation for a democratic republic.

Most of the British generals and certainly George III, King of England, underestimated  Washington’s skills and viewed him as little more than an inferior colonist.  They did this to their ultimate regret.  The book provides convincing evidence that both Washington and the residents of the thirteen colonies were up to the task of earning freedom for themselves; and in the process supplanting autocracy with democracy.

Format(s) for review: Kindle Only

Review Genre: Nonfiction—History

Number of Pages: 264

Word Count: 21,834

Landslide by Adam Sikes

Click on cover image to purchase a copy

MWSA Review

Adam Sikes’ thriller, Landslide is one long adrenaline rush. Protagonist Mason Hackett, a US Marine combat veteran, is settled in London, minding his own business. Imagine his shock when his old Marine buddy’s face is plastered on the news, especially since Hackett saw him die fifteen years ago. The claim that his old friend is a journalist, has a different name, and is detained on the Russia-Ukraine border perplexes Hackett even more. A cryptic plea for help clinches it and Semper Fidelis—the Marine motto, Always Faithful—kicks in, and we’re taken on a wild, violent ride. Hackett’s seat-of-his-pants tenacity while searching for his friend forces him to face his own demons while fending off what seems like half the Slavic world. “[N]eighbors had become enemies, families had split, and sometimes people never revealed their true loyalties, exacerbating the distrust and making everyone suspicious of another’s true intentions.”

Written before the full-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine and with Sikes’ first-hand experience as a combat Marine and CIA operative, the story is eerily feasible. Despite too many clichés throughout the book, Landslide is a contemporary, intriguing, espionage thriller.

Review by Sue Rushford (June 2023)

 

Author's Synopsis

U.S. Marine veteran Mason Hackett moved to London to start his life over, and he's done his best to convince himself that what happened fifteen years ago doesn't matter—the people he killed, the men he lost, the lives he ruined. But when Mason sees the face of a dead friend flash on a television screen and then receives a mysterious email referencing a CIA operation gone bad, he can no longer ignore his inner demons.

Driven by loyalty and a need to uncover the truth, Mason launches on a perilous journey from the Czech Republic to Romania toward the war-torn separatist region in eastern Ukraine to honor a fifteen-year-old promise. The answers he seeks—the fate of a friend and his connection to the underworld of international arms dealers and defense corporations—throw Mason into the cauldron of a covert war where no one can be trusted.

Format(s) for review: Paper and Kindle

Review Genre: Fiction—Mystery/Thriller

Number of Pages: 369

Word Count: 96019

Mokane to Mole City: A Manchu Vietnam Memoir Bravo Co. Nov. 1968-Nov. 1969 by Stanley J. Adams

Click on cover image to purchase a copy

MWSA Review

Mokane to Mole City is a sincere, unembellished account of a nineteen-year-old from smalltown Mokane, Missouri, drafted into the military in 1968. It was not his choice to go into the military and it was not his choice to go into the Army. Those decisions were made by the draft lottery and a marine sergeant’s walk down a red line, sending boys in the induction center that day into the Marines on one side and the Army on the other. After three months of training, they would be combat-ready men. Stanley J. Adams introduces his memoir by recounting two recurring dreams that have haunted his nights since returning home from Vietnam. This is also where he introduces his wife, Rita, who encouraged him to begin his road to recovery by telling his story and searching for the men with whom he served. The memoir then centers around his tour of duty as an infantryman assigned to the 4th Battalion, 9th Infantry Regiment (Manchu), Bravo Company from November 1968 to November 1969. “It seems like the daylight always saved us” writes the author, coming out of his nightmare with the break of day just as he and his brothers in arms did after nights of battles and patrols.

Between the covers of this book are two stories. Book One is the author’s memoir of his Vietnam experience and his homecoming. Those who lived through the Vietnam era know their version of those days. Adams’s memoir takes the knowing deeper. Without sensationalizing his experience, he invites the reader to feel in their own way what he experienced.

The pages in between are tributes to the men with whom he has reestablished contact, their reunions, those who lost their lives in Vietnam, and those who made it home and have passed in recent years. Stan and Rita maintain contact with the families of the deceased and foster ongoing relationship. The tribute section is a compilation of the author’s personal journey and information gathered from other relevant sources. Photos and newspaper clippings of young soldiers and their headstones put faces to names and honor their sacrifice. An index of terms, abbreviations, and acronyms assist the understanding of non-military readers.

Ultimately, the author’s words transfer from the battleground to life in general: “Courage is picking up your gear and going into battle when you know you could be killed; bravery is what you do when you get there.” With courage and bravery, Stanley Adams has steered his fear, loss, and pain into the light of day. He has also shone a lasting and meaningful beam on those who put themselves on the line for the rest of us. Thank you.

Review by Janette Stone (June 2023)

 

Author's Synopsis

Drafted in late May 1968, Adams, barely 20 years old, was quickly transformed into an infantry rifleman on the front lines of the Vietnam War, where he survived a year of combat with the famed “Manchu” Regiment, 25th Infantry “Tropic Lightning” Division. Sent in as replacements for those Bravo Co. soldiers who were killed in the Thanksgiving Day Battle of 1968, Adams and his fellow soldiers were charged with building “Mole City,” a combat patrol base camp near the Cambodian Border, to purposely bait the NVA and disrupt their supply lines through the region. He had been “in country” for less than a month when the NVA attacked Mole City during a Christmas truce, just before midnight on December 22, 1968. The Manchus fought valiantly through the night as their ammo supplies dwindled, and as a last resort, artillery was called in on Mole City. In 2003, Adams began reaching out to the families of fallen comrades and reconnecting with his fellow Manchus – many of whom suffer some form of PTSD as a result of the horrors they experienced in Vietnam. As these surviving warriors age, they are now burying their Manchu Brothers. Fifty years later, through a photographic history featuring 250+ color pictures, Adams recounts his journey from a rural Midwestern town to the jungles of Vietnam, sharing what it's like to fight – and not die – for your country.

Format(s) for review: Paper Only

Review Genre: Nonfiction—Memoir/Biography

Number of Pages: 272

Word Count: 73,398

They Served to Keep the Peace by D. Ray Bowe

Click on cover image to purchase a copy

MWSA Review

In the memoir, They Served to Keep the Peace, author D. Ray Bowe tells his life story from early childhood until he enters into civilian life after an honorable discharge from the U.S. Air Force. Bowe is one of three brothers from rural Tennessee who serve their country to escape poverty and less-than-desirable home life.

These young men venture into a world they’ve never experienced before. While in service to their country, the boys travel, meet new challenges, and grow into men with skills honed by the military. Returning home, they find it hard to land a civilian job. Ray Bowe attends college and attains two bachelor’s degrees, one in Christian Ministry and the other in Pastoral Studies.

The author gives tribute to many young men besides his brothers who left middle Tennessee to serve their country during the cold war. They all “served to keep the peace.”

Review by Nancy Panko (June 2023)

 

Author's Synopsis

This book is a compilation of the stories of three brothers, and the many others they knew, while they served in their respective Air Force units alongside other branches of the military and support groups worldwide, during the most confrontational time with Russia and the communist block of enemies. The writer’s early years, interactions with his family and neighbors while growing up on the ridges and hollows in rural Tennessee, and experiences throughout entry to everyday life in the military, draw the reader through this highly relatable story as retold some sixty years later. While centered mostly around Dorris Ray Bowe’s life, and his brothers’ military service and activities, these stories could be about any one of the thousands of men who served in the late 1940’s into the early 60’s.

Most boys select policemen, fire fighters, cowboys, or truck drivers as heroes or role models. Times when they saw soldiers were probably dismissed as just another part of life for those children; but for Dorris, as he walked more than a mile to and from school each day, watching the vehicles and military on maneuvers in his section of the country was special! Not only had he seen soldiers on the road but got to stand beside one of them in a neighbor’s yard. As he observed the neatly pressed uniform and those spit-shined boots, he thought of how big and strong this man looked. To him, the soldier appeared as tall as a giant and Dorris wanted to be just like that someday.

This image took root and began to grow in his heart and mind. Over time, it matured as he watched news clips and movies about the wars. The “Atom Bomb Threat” had citizens building shelters near their homes in the cities of most states. Yes, during the ‘Big War’ (WWII), the young boy tried to focus on learning the “Three R’s” that confronted him in the 2-room schoolhouse each morning. Amidst worries as to that conflict’s final outcome, he experienced sorrows as classmates lost family members in the ongoing war.

As circumstances and times changed on the home front (and on the world scene) most of the fighting stopped and some of those young men came home wearing decorated uniforms, telling their stories, and displaying their war souvenirs. The shooting war was over, but the settlements and boundaries were bitterly disputed. The atomic bomb was now the topic of concern. America had used it against Japan who, in retaliation, had attacked and sunk the American fleet in Hawaii without warning.

Anxieties mounted as we learned other countries stole the formula to re-create these destructive weapons. While Americans and others slept, those in uniform trained, traveled non-stop day and night, and stood watch on many fronts. These brave men and women held the line in difficult places and situations wondering if what they did accounted for anything. It did! These stories are about the men and women who served to keep the peace.

The majority of the Bowe brothers’ story unfolded while the Korean conflict was in full swing and throughout the Cold War. Some of his neighbors that had been drafted to serve in the Army came back physically wounded, others psychologically, or both. This book tells their story, including the dis-appointments and heartaches over the interruption of the “American Dream” resulting from the disruption of their lives.

Format(s) for review: Paper and Kindle

Review Genre: Nonfiction—Memoir/Biography

Number of Pages: 180

Word Count: 87839

Welcome Home: A Post Vietnam War Novel by David S. Lewis

Click on cover image to purchase a copy

Author's Synopsis

Tom Grey, a 24-year old veteran of the Vietnam War finds himself in the middle of drug murder connected to both Soviet spies and an emerging gang, the Cholos. Grey becomes a newspaper reporter sucked into the maelstrom of Los Angeles in 1969.

Format(s) for review: Paper and Kindle

Review Genre: Fiction—Mystery/Thriller

Number of Pages: 241

Word Count: 62,386

The Skunk Who Lost His Cents by Nancy Panko

Click on cover image to purchase a copy

MWSA Review

An adorable way to introduce young readers to the confusion words can cause. Emily is a friendly young girl who helps Adam the skunk look for his scents . . . or is it his cents? Together they battle the mean bulldog from next door and become friends. The addition of commonly confused words and fun facts about skunks in the back add to the educational value of this book. The colorful, well-done pictures will capture the attention of young listeners.

Review by Dawn Brotherton (May 2023)

 

Author's Synopsis

Emily is playing on her swing in the backyard when she sees movement near the porch. Dirt is flying through the lattice work to make a pile on the grass. Someone, or something, is digging under the porch! She stops to investigate and encounters a small, sad skunk named Adam. He's lost something important. Emily sets out to help him.

We have all been confused by words that sound the same but have different meanings and spellings. This charming story is perfect for kids learning the differences between such words. The whimsical tale is followed by a list of some common words that sound alike but are spelled differently and have different meanings. Also included are several Fun Facts about skunks and an easy recipe for a tasty snack to make with a grown-up.

Format(s) for review: Paper Only

Review Genre: Children & Young Adult—Picture Book

Number of Pages: 44

Word Count: 1660

Typhoon Coast by Mark R. Clifford

Click on cover image to purchase a copy

MWSA Review

Typhoon Coast by Mark Clifford is part mystery with mystical, fantastical twists around every corner. Trent McShane is the main character, introduced as a ten-year-old grieving the loss of his mother. Trent’s best friend is Eddie Thompson, who has a wild and vivid imagination and a penchant for entertaining others. The boys hear about the Golden Lily Treasure, buried in the jungle of the Philippine Islands.

With a supporting cast of dozens of odd characters and unusual places, Trent and Eddie’s adventures have them enlisting in the Marines. In time they are both deployed to the Philippines. The hunt for treasure intensifies but is thwarted by the eruption of Mount Pinatubo. Is the coveted treasure lost?

This surrealistic story is sometimes hard to follow. However, the author gives a reader a realistic look at the difficult trek through a tropical jungle when time is of the essence in searching for what is lost. Complications and confrontations occur when Trent realizes that he’s not the only one seeking the Golden Lily Treasure.

Review by Nancy Panko (June 2023)

 

Author's Synopsis

Ten-year-old Trent McShane watches in horror as his beautiful young mother is swept away from California’s Typhoon Coast into the unforgiving wild blue Pacific, never to be seen again. Lost and bewildered, Trent falls under the spell of class clown Eddie Thompson, who has a wanderlust for treasure hunts—in particular, the infamous World War II Golden Lily Treasure, buried on the other side of the ocean, deep in the wild green Philippine jungle.Together, Trent and Eddie follow childhood’s illusions of grandeur through San Francisco, then Marines in the vast Philippine mountains. Mount Pinatubo explodes with apocalyptic fury, but does it take the Golden Lily Treasure with it? Eddie and Trent are not alone in the hunt. The trillions in treasure could afford the US government incredible power in international affairs and bankroll the nation’s black operations. It’s all fair game.

Format(s) for review: Paper and Kindle

Review Genre: Fiction—Mystery/Thriller

Number of Pages: 290

Word Count: 85,000

The Making of an Army Psychologist by Bob Worthington

Click on cover image to purchase a copy

MWSA Review

To say that retired U.S. Army Lieutenant Colonel Elliott Robert Worthington lived a full life is an understatement. A three-tour combat veteran with service in three military branches, a family man, a PhD with multiple degrees and related job descriptions, over two thousand publications, a pilot and a businessman, Bob Worthington never shied away from an opportunity to learn something new. Last in a trilogy depicting his military life, The Making of an Army Psychologist: from Fighting in Vietnam to Treating Fellow Veterans, is a professional memoir bordering on narrative inquiry that exemplifies how change presents opportunity. Sparing no details, he takes the reader on a journey through numerous PhD application rejections, promotions up the ranks and demotions down, to end up Chief of Psychology Services at Brooke Army Medical Center. As a former school counselor, I connect with his clinical methods, his listening with hearing, his digging deep into a patient’s past, his fact checking and his commitment to team building and empowering others.

Driven by an intense curiosity, Bob’s first research project, conducted not long after the conflict officially ended, challenged the popular belief that Vietnam veterans would have difficulty adjusting to life at home. Validated by a study some twenty years later, his research revealed that the majority of veterans maintained stable relationships, raised families, and resumed their studies and careers. His research further shed light on the impact of childhood trauma and substance abuse as precursors to an inability to cope postwar rather than their military service. As a two-tour Vietnam veteran, Bob took returned prisoners of war under his wing, revealing how the life “the real heroes” hung onto during their internment was, for many, unrecognizable when they returned home.

So what if some sections of the book are redundant or long winded, the narrative lacks an arc, or that several minor technical issues interfere with an otherwise perfect flow to the writing. Bob Worthington’s memoir is a valuable guidepost for military personnel aspiring to a career in psychology, a wonderful reference for those in the field of clinical practice interested in knowing how those skills transfer to business, defense cases, and team building. Bob Worthington passed away five weeks before this review was written. I’m disappointed to have missed the opportunity to have a conversation with the remarkable human being whose memoir I am privileged to review.

Review by Janette Stone (June 2023)

 

Author's Synopsis

In the early 1970s the US Army was undergoing traumatic change.  The Vietnam War ended, almost 600 American POWs were released by North Vietnam, the draft was terminated, and the Army was in dismal shape.  Doctoral educated behavioral scientists, former combat soldiers, were brought on active duty to assist the Army to navigate the necessary changes to become an effective force for future challenges.

Simultaneously the profession of psychology also faced change.  Clinical psychologists, no longer satisfied with only seeing patients in a medical setting, branched out into other areas such as management, sports, aviation, industry, organizations, and community.  The field of psychology was growing, expanding, and entering new areas where behavioral science knowledge could make a positive impact.

The psychology education of Worthington is described, a former decorated combat infantryman returning to the Army as a clinician, becoming a senior psychology consultant to the Army, assisting to make the Army better.  He became a pioneer researcher in PTSD and Vietnam veterans, served as a sport psychologist for the US Olympics, managed a clinical service and mental health center, became a pilot and aviation psychologist, treated patients, and conducted military research, authoring numerous journal articles and book chapters.

Format(s) for review: Paper and Kindle

Review Genre: Nonfiction—Memoir/Biography

Number of Pages: 268

Word Count: 95,000

The Hunt for the Peggy C by John Winn Miller

Click on cover image to purchase a copy

MWSA Review
While World War II brews, Jake Rogers captains the Peggy C, a merchant steamer ship, picking up and delivering cargo throughout the Atlantic. The cargo is often illegal, and sometimes even dangerous, but on this trip, unbeknownst to his crew, Rogers upped the ante even more. With the help of Obasi, his Nigerian Igbo sidekick/bodyguard/friend, they sneak a family of Dutch Jews out of Amsterdam, right under the noses of the Nazis. The plan to transport Miriam and her family to Gibraltar goes awry. Although they normally fight the sea, an occasional dangerous “customer,” and pirates, this time German U-boats have become the biggest threat.

John Winn Miller’s, The Hunt for the Peggy C: A World War II Maritime Thriller is not the typical World War ll naval story of torpedoes, sinking submarines, errant friendly fire, ruses, and betrayal. Yet they are nonetheless in the midst of a war zone. Miller artfully squeezes in a love story and unexpected witty humor. There are magnificent depictions of Jewish ceremonies, and “normal” life for the refugees.

Meanwhile, catastrophe after catastrophe perpetuate the cat and mouse game between Rogers and Oberleutnant Viktor Brauer, the captain of a German U-boat. The situation is far from a game, however, with deadly twists and turns. You’ll be on the edge of your seat, reading as fast as you can, to find out the fate from the U-boat’s boomeranging torpedo—the epitome of irony.

I highly recommend The Hunt for the Peggy C, even for those who would not normally read naval fiction. Cover to cover, the book will keep you in a perpetual state of suspense. There is no time to guess what will happen next—you’ll be too busy biting your nails and crossing your fingers.

Review by Sue Rushford (May 2023)
 

Author's Synopsis

John Winn Miller's THE HUNT FOR THE PEGGY C captures the breathless suspense of early World War II in the North Atlantic. Captain Jake Rogers, experienced in running his tramp steamer through U-boat-infested waters to transport vital supplies and contraband to the highest bidder, takes on his most dangerous cargo yet after witnessing the oppression of Jews in Amsterdam: a Jewish family fleeing Nazi persecution. 

The normally aloof Rogers finds himself drawn in by the family's warmth and faith, but he can't afford to let his guard down when Oberleutnant Viktor Brauer, a brutal U-boat captain, sets his sights on the Peggy C. 

Rogers finds himself pushed to the limits of his ingenuity as he evades Brauer's relentless stalking, faces a mutiny among his own crew and grapples with his newfound feelings for Miriam, the young Jewish woman whom, along with her family, he must transport to safety. 

When Rogers is seriously wounded, Miriam must prove she is as tough as her rhetoric to save everyone as the U-boat closes in for the kill. THE HUNT FOR THE PEGGY C is laced with nail-biting tension and unexpectedly heartwarming moments that any reader, not just fans of naval fiction, will enjoy.

Format(s) for review: Paper and Kindle

Review Genre: Fiction—Mystery/Thriller

Number of Pages: 264

Word Count: 77,000

Taking Flight with Captain Mama by Graciela Tiscareño-Sato

Click on cover image to purchase a copy

MWSA Review

Taking Flight with Captain Mama is an entertaining picture story book for young children. Author Graciela Tiscareno-Sato tells a story that takes Marco and his school friends on a surprise flight on his mother's U.S. Air Force airplane. The aircraft is one that refuels other airplanes. In this story the children get to watch as the big jet refuels two F-117 Nighthawks and two F-22 Raptors. The book is filled with excellent illustrations. The complete story is written in both English and Spanish with each page or adjacent page having the same narrative in each language. The story should capture the interest of most young children, especially those children whose parents are in the military. I recommend this book.

Review by Bob Doerr (May 2023)
 

Author's Synopsis

In this third book in the award-winning, bilingual Captain Mama series, Marco, his sisters and his classmates go airborne in the U.S. Air Force KC-135R aerial refueling tanker, as part of a field trip with his class. The students and teachers hear a pre-mission briefing, watch what each crew member does to get the flying gas station into the sky, and witness an aerial refueling with stealth fighter jets. 

Includes an origami airplane (referenced in story) activity designed by author's son Kiyoshi who inspired this book series, so readers can enjoy a classic Japanese paper craft.

Format(s) for review: Paper and Kindle

Review Genre: Children & Young Adult—Picture Book

Number of Pages: 60

Word Count: 2200

Life Lessons From the Color Yellow by Patricia Walkow

Click on cover image to purchase a copy

MWSA Review

Patricia Walkow's Life Lessons from the Color Yellow is a captivating and thought-provoking book that will leave a lasting impression on its readers. Written by an author experienced with life, this book offers stories told from various points of view from various locales. All stories are mined from the author’s personal history and span the globe from California, New York, and Peru to the Italian seaside. Yellow appears as a symbol throughout the lives of the characters that inhabit the pages. Through a series of engaging and well-crafted stories, the author explores the many ways in which yellow can be seen as a symbol of hope, positivity, and transformation.

The book is comprised of eight stories from different points of view and at various stages within life. The author has a gift for storytelling, and each story captures the protagonist’s life intimately. Walkow’s characters whether a young inquisitive child, a woman recalling a summer romance, or a neighbor mourning the loss of an almost friend are genuine characters readers will want to meet.

Readers looking for a quick absorbing read should pick up a copy.

Review by Elvis Leighton (May 2023)

 

Author's Synopsis

An unusual memoir, Life Lessons from the Color Yellow relates memorable people and events in the author’s life. Like puzzle pieces, the stories coalesce into a comprehensive image that reveals what shaped the life and philosophy of the writer. As she wrote these stories, Ms. Walkow was surprised to find the color yellow kept surfacing as an important element. She decided to publish the stories in this small, yet deeply rich volume of memorable tales. 

Each story reveals something the author incorporated into her spirit. There is a lesson from an elderly gardener, a premonition about a dog walking against a yellow wall, and the evolution of the meaning of a yellow kitchen. The reader will discover love surrounded by lemons, a woman who only wore yellow, a golden meadow that heard the dreams of teenage girls, and a yellow box that held a young woman’s future. 

From betrayal to love, from heartbreak to happiness, in memoir, narrative non-fiction, and essay, yellow is an essential element in each of these tales.

Format(s) for review: Paper and Kindle

Review Genre: Nonfiction—Memoir/Biography

Number of Pages: 130

Word Count: 16,177

Moms In The Military Raising A Child While Serving In The Armed Forces by Patricia Qaiyyim

Click on cover image to purchase a copy

MWSA Review

In her own words, Author Patricia Qaiyyim advises us she wrote Moms in the Military “to help other women understand that they are not alone and provide some helpful insight into their roles as servicewomen and mothers.”

The book accomplishes exactly what the author intended and, in the process, reveals to the civilian the challenges faced by military personnel who are also mothers.

Active duty, reserve, and retired servicewomen from all branches of service offer their insights and experiences on several topics: choosing motherhood and service, family reaction to that choice, the impact of raising a child without a nearby family, the impact of the mother’s extended absences, the impact on the mother’s military service because she is raising children, fears and regrets, rewards and motivations, and, finally, the impact of motherhood on military service.

Several themes emerge as the interviewees share their experiences. Not least among them is the desire to be a good role model for their daughters, to be part of something larger than themselves, to recognize the need to create “family” among other military women, and to enjoy a job with good pay and outstanding benefits for themselves as well as their spouses and children.

Patricia Qaiyyim does an excellent job of explaining military terms and leads off with a glossary at the beginning of the volume. References are well-annotated, and the rank structure is explained. There is also a page of “Tips for Moms” that is helpful.

Although many of the challenges military moms face also apply to mothers in civilian life who hold demanding jobs that require relocation, travel, and long hours, the military service of the interviewed moms is unique. And very few of them would give up one role for the other. They manage, they thrive, they innovate, and they make the path smoother for those who will follow them.

This is a book worth reading for any mom or dad, for any woman or man. But more importantly, it is valuable for any person responsible for setting military policy regarding servicewomen.

In a society that continues to demand more from women than from men regarding raising children, our policymakers should be required to read this book.

Well done, Ms. Qaiyyim!

Review by Pat Walkow (June 2023)
 

Author's Synopsis

As much as thirty percent of the women on active duty and almost thirty-five percent of those serving in the Reserve and Guard are raising their children while serving in their chosen branches. That was not always the case. Fifty years ago, women had the choice to serve in uniform but lost that choice once they became a mom. And today, Congress is still dealing with that decision to force women to separate simply because they had a child.

Today, almost fifty years later, women continue to prove that motherhood is compatible with service in the Armed Forces. The women in this book have served or are serving their country and raising their children in the Army, Air Force, Navy, Marines Corps, or Coast Guard.

Check out what this group of “Moms in the Military” have to say about choosing the obligation of service while tackling the responsibilities of motherhood and see how they are proving that motherhood is not a barrier to military service.

These Moms in the Military openly discuss:

     -The decision to remain in the military after pregnancy

     -The impact of military service on their children

     -The impact of separation due to temporary duty/deployment

     -And more

Format(s) for review: Paper Only

Review Genre: Nonfiction—History

Number of Pages: 136

Word Count: 43,161