Michael Lee Lanning

photographs, maps, survival, military-history, WW2, Europe, airman, due-diligence, historical-figures, historical-places-events, historical-research*****

There's no debate that these downed airmen had the more hazardous task, but the incredible task of wading through 43,000 pages in 58 boxes of hand written accounts, typed first drafts, edited copies, final reports from US army air forces records is a close second in arduousness. These are the stories, in their own hands, of (primarily) American airmen evaders of WW2 who lived to utilize, write, and rewrite, the survival training of Escape and Evasion as instigated by Gen Curtis LeMay (Pacific Theater of Operations) and utilized in Europe. There was training and even a basic survival kit for each airman sent up. This book is a testimony to the bravery of the men (and the blisters on their feet) and effective use of the information supplied. Very well done!
I requested and received a free ebook copy from Rowman & Littlefield, Stackpole Books via NetGalley. Thank you!… (mehr)

This work is unique in my experience of reading about the American Civil War. Instead of a linear history of the period 1861 to 1865, the author has ranked events, battles, people, and even music as they impacted the war. Thus, the Battle of Antietam (Sharpsburg in the Southern history), September 16-18, 1862 as the most significant event of the entire war (followed by Abraham Lincoln and U.S. Grant). To reach this conclusion, one has to consider geopolitical factors far beyond this tiny creek. The logic is good but it requires a reforming of the popular place of Honest Abe. Some might quarrel with Grant being ranked above Lee but that Grant is so ranked might be due to Grant being the winner as much as anything else. Still, while the North would have inevitably won the victory, Grant did stop Lee and force him to surrender. Similarly, the placement of Antietam before Gettysburg is also controversial. But, quibbling aside, Lanning has done a good job of defining the events in the order he has established.

One thing that seems to be conspicuously lacking is lessons learned. Only occasionally are instances identified. What is demonstrably clear is political generals rarely measure up although a few are identified. Sadly, perpetuation of what might be termed the political flag officer protective organization persists.… (mehr)

A rather dismal book on the most influential military commanders of all time. The author is a retired U.S. Army Lt. Colonel of whom I seriously doubt really studied military history much beyond the book covers.
There are several questionable personalities in the rankings. For instance he ranks Baron Jomini at 26 above Marshal Berthier who I consider to have been more influential as he was the founder of the staff system.
However the most glaring additions are those of Norman Scharwzkopf and Saddam Hussein at 49 and 81 respectively. The author ranks Scharwzkopf above Konev,Zhukov and Patton. Hussein speaks for himself.
I wonder if the fact that author served on Scharwzkopf's staff has something to do with the rankings.
Two stars.… (mehr)