Stephen

A Micro Study of a Viet Nam Battle

Revisado: 02-10-24

1. Author told the battle in narrative format. It was still historical. In addition, the author describes certain activities in very realistic detail.

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The Man Who Would Be King

Revisado: 06-07-17

Performance: Excellent, no issues.

Content: I saw the movie and I wanted to hear the book. I was surprise on the actual story but like it anyway. I recommend this book for listening or reading.

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Nothing Like It in the World - The "East" Bridge

Revisado: 06-07-17

Wow. I read about the railroad construction in the past but not in the detail here. The two big takeaways are:
1. The large financial, logistical, engineering, and personnel requirements of this venture during a major conflict. The Panama Canal was a wonder and you would think laying just railroad track would be easy until you read about the engineering needed, the movement of supplies and personnel to places to support the construction across hundreds of miles,the unbelievable labor required without machines, the impact of weather even in sunny California, and the politics and financial shenanigans.
2. The vision. Most Americans saw the utility of this venture as the foundation to support a spider web of logistic lines across the west and to link the country to Asia; a much earlier "Pivot to Asia". As they said in the last "Long Ranger" movie, man was limited to how fast his horse could run but with the railroad he can travel faster, longer, and with more baggage in most kinds of weather. All these things we take for granted now in the age of flight and space.

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Forty-Seven Days - AEF

Revisado: 06-07-17

Performance: Very good, no issues.

Content: Given that we are in the centennial of WWI, there are no shortages of new and re-printed books of this conflict. I wanted to read about the AEF since there was, and I assume there still is, controversy about the mistakes and achievements of AEF and General Pershing's leadership. My best take away was how on difficult it was for him to deploy, train, equip, and send into the battle US forces, independently, or with allied forces. I am still not sure if his decisions were correct but I see from this book the great difficulty on his mind and body he had in commanding such a large force in this new war.

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The Ambassadors - Classic Henry James

Revisado: 06-07-17

Performance: Very good, no issues.

Content: Classic Henry James. Slow action, detailed interior discussion and a low about of dialogue compare to internal reflections. Iffy, if I would read it again.

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The Swamp Fox - Francis Marion

Revisado: 06-07-17

Performance: Very good, no issues.

Content: I purchased this book since I knew little of the American Revolution in this "theater" or in the Southern Colonies. It was interesting to read more about this person's life, his motivations, and his tactics. Like the Washington, his tactics and actions range from the tactical level to the operational / strategic ... that is it affected the outcome of the war by tying down British forces in the countryside; a goal of all weaker forces and insurgents. Finally, the discussion on French Huguenot roots, customs, and relations were interesting and unknown to me before this novel. His physical description and personal life are very out of step with the traditional tall, dashing figures we see in many leaders.

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Hammer-Head Six - Another SF Story

Revisado: 06-07-17

Performance: Very good, no complaints

Content: Overall this is good to very good story. The unique thing is the thread of the SF doctrine from Vietnam and earlier about Foreign Internal Defense (FID). FID is the hard part of counterinsurgency and SF operators life. It is far more fun to conduct direct action and special reconnaissance, the stuff of movies. The author shows the impact of good and FID actions in Afghanistan. All the doctrine, tactics, techniques, and procedures in this book we take as normal I guess were not in 2001-2003 despite our long history of FID and advisor work in the 18th century to the present. This is good book. I might listen / read it again.

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Ulysses - Classic, yes, but ...

Revisado: 06-07-17

Performance: Excellent planned, rehearsed, and executed performance.

Story: Well, there is really not one. Yes, it is a classic, but the story was backdrop for writing techniques / experimentation and very long study of interior and character development. I am sure all the literature professionals write reams on how revolutionary and cutting edge this novel is to English readers. Thus, that is why it is high on the reading lists. However, it is glacial ponderous despite it wet and dry humor. At the same time, I am at loss how you can abridge the novel.

Did I find interesting with the amount of experiments and styles? Yes. Did I find it to fixated on sex? Yes, but that was part of the issue of the novel. Would I re-read it? No. It takes too long and too much concentration for the incredible detail.

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Dark Terrritory - Another Good Read by Kaplan

Revisado: 05-22-17

I enjoyed and agree with most of what Mr. Kaplan writes. This is a nice review of cyber operations at the national level. He concentrates on the history and policy that shape our current status. I recommend this book as a primer that explores the events and factors that shape our current cyber environment.

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An Loc - A Study in a Successful Advisors

Revisado: 05-22-17

Here is my bias: I believe the loss of the Vietnam was due to the loss of information and diplomatic campaigns in Vietnam, the US, and the world. We believed the hype and gave up; Congress de-funded the war in 1973 after this 1972 victory. Thus, reading this book about the 1972 offensive, where the US forces are drawn-down and there is only the advisors with medical, logistical, aviation, and fire support in South Vietnam units, and the North still lost to a semi-competent South is affirmation of this assessment. It was proved in Tet and proved again in this 1973 Easter Offensive. Some declare Iraq another lost war. History, rhyming again Iraq, after Vietnam. Yet, again, the same model was successful in Iraq that allowed the withdraw ... until the sectarian PM of Iraq, had us pull out. The advisor model with enablers to a host nation force works ... if you give it a try and treat it as a generational commitment.

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