1. On Sep 01 2009 ralston read Challenge of Command by Roger H. Nye
  2. On Sep 01 2009 ralston read American Soldiers: Ground Combat in the World Wars, Korea, And Vietnam by Peter S. Kindsvatter
  3. On Sep 01 2009 ralston read Company Commander: The Classic Infantry Memoir of World War II by Charles B. MacDonald
  4. On Sep 01 2009 ralston read America's First Battles, 1776-1965 by Charles E. Heller
  5. On Sep 01 2009 ralston read Band of Brothers : E Company, 506th Regiment, 101st Airborne from Normandy to Hitler's Eagle's Nest by Stephen E. Ambrose
  6. On Sep 01 2009 ralston read Patton: A Genius for War by Carlo D'este
  7. On Sep 01 2009 ralston read If You Survive: From Normandy to the Battle of the Bulge to the End of World War II, One American Officer's Riveting True Story by George Wilson
  8. On Sep 01 2009 ralston read We Were Soldiers Once...and Young: Ia Drang - the Battle That Changed the War in Vietnam by Harold G. Moore
  9. On Sep 01 2009 ralston read For the Common Defense by Allan R. Millett
  10. On Sep 01 2009 ralston read Face of Battle by John Keegan
  11. On Aug 18 2009 Tom Copeland (USCG) read A Bell for Adano by John Hersey and commented:

    This is a wonderful little story of an American major who oversees the small Italian town of Adano after the Allied invasion. It reminded me of Lederer's "The Ugly American"; it's even better, I think. The only character who seemed a bit overdone was General Marvin, the villain. Reading this was a nice break from the usual blood and guts of the USMC list. This was an inspired selection indeed.

  12. On Jul 26 2009 cresswell6265 read The Anatomy of Courage: The Classic WWI Study of the Psychological Effects of War by Lord Moran
  13. On Jul 11 2009 Tom Copeland (USCG) read Six Frigates: The Epic History of the Founding of the U.S. Navy by Ian W. Toll and commented:

    This book is filled with interesting stories about the founding of the American Navy. The building of the first ships (including the difficulties in floating one of them), Stephen Decatur's burning of the captured Philadelphia, the naval engagements in the War of 1812 - it's all great stuff. Finally you'll know the full story of "to the shores of Tripoli"!

  14. On Jul 08 2009 Tom Copeland (USCG) read The Crisis of Islam: Holy War and Unholy Terror by Bernard Lewis and commented:

    This is a great read as Bernard Lewis effectively boils down the issues facing Islam. One thing he notes is a difference between Christianity and Islam - in Matthew 22 Jesus says to "render unto Caesar what is Caesar's" whereas there's no similar concept in Islam. This book is one you could re-read once every few years and still get good value.

  15. On Jul 08 2009 Tom Copeland (USCG) read Battle Cry of Freedom: The Civil War Era by James M. McPherson and commented:

    This is a massive Civil War reference; it covers everything from details of all the major battles to the political maneuvering that Lincoln did to deal with his cabinet. It will take you a while to plow through this, but it's worth it.