By Craig L. Symonds. Oxford University Press, New York, NY. (2012) Reviewed by William Whyte Renowned historian Craig Symonds, Professor of History Emeritus at the U.S. Naval Academy, has penned a compact, topical overview of the naval effects on the U.S. Civil War. Symonds has written a number of works on the Civil War, most
By Robert Shenk, Naval Institute Press, Annapolis, MD. (2012). Reviewed by David F. Winkler, Ph.D. I wrote the dust-jacket promotion blurb for this book where I suggested this book be considered for the CNO’s reading list – for good reasons – this book provides a historical account of the post-World War I history where revolutionary
By Claude Berube, Naval Institute Press, Annapolis, MD. (2012). Reviewed By Nathan Albright The Aden Effect is the first novel by Claude Berube, whose varied career has so far taken him into teaching at the Naval Academy, serving in the Persian Gulf, as well as stints in Naval Intelligence and Capitol Hill. He uses this
By Rear Adm. Terry McKnight, USN (Ret.) and Michael Hirsh, Naval Institute Press, Annapolis, MD. (2012) Reviewed By Nathan Albright Retired Rear Admiral Terry McKnight and Michael Hirsh have written a book about Somali piracy that is both of topical interest and designed to provide a lasting influence on future policy for the United States,
By Bruce Swanson with Vance H. Morrison, Don H. McDowell, and Nancy N. Tomasko, Naval Institute Press, Annapolis, MD. (2012) Reviewed by Diana L. Ahmad, Ph.D. A Plain Sailorman in China by Bruce Swanson discussed the life of I. V. Gillis, part of a multigenerational Navy family, who became the first United States naval attaché
By John Prados, NAK Caliber Division of New American Library, New York, NY (2011) Reviewed by Captain Roger F. Jones, USN (Ret.) One of the meanings of the word “crucible” is “severe test,” and the Allied invasion of France in WW II was certainly every bit of that for each side. Prados draws on both
By Gina Nichols, Arcadia Publishing, Mount Pleasant, SC, (2011) Reviewed by Charles H. Bogart Written by Gina Nichols, archivist of the U.S. Navy Seabee Museum at Port Hueneme, California, this is another publication in Arcadia Publishing Images of America series. Point Mugu had developed as an upscale fishing camp during the years before World War
If you stopped by to visit our booth at the Surface Navy Symposium last week in Arlington, VA, you know that we were running a raffle. We had a nice collection of entries, and this week we selected six lucky winners. Three entrants were awarded the limited edition USS Enterprise commemorative coin, and three additional
By Colonel Wesley L. Fox, USMC (Ret.), Naval Institute Press, Annapolis, MD (2011) Reviewed by Jan Churchill Medal of Honor Recipient Col. Wesley L. Fox dedicated this book “To the Marines of yesterday whose personal sacrifices demonstrated the leadership traits addressed in this work.” He discusses how his superiors and fellow Marines impressed him with
By First Sergeant Jack R. Ainsworth, USMC, Edited by Ambassador Laurence Pope (Retired), U.S. Marine Corps History Division, Quantico, VA (2011) Reviewed by Colonel Curt Marsh, USMCR Retired This small book Among Heroes, published by the U.S. Marine Corps History Division, is a fairly quick read and well worth the effort. The book is actually
By Angust Konstam, Pen and Sword, Barnsley, South Yorkshire, England (2008) Reviewed by Alberto R Savoretti MD Angus Konstam’s Battle of North Cape brings to light this forgotten engagement with balance and flair. The lack of primary sources of the German side of which there were only a few dozen survivors has made it difficult for historians to
Last week, an enormous model of a unique cruiser from the Navy’s post-World War II fleet was moved from the main Navy Museum at the Washington Navy Yard, across the parking lot to the Cold War Gallery. The builder’s model of USS Worcester (CL 144) now sits in a prominent position in the center
The Naval History and Heritage Command (NHHC) Archives is preparing for a recently awarded major construction project to fix its records’ storage environment in building 108 at the Washington Navy Yard. In addition, it is engaging in a parallel project to reduce a large processing backlog. Both are necessary to protect the collections they hold and
On 13 October 2012, the U.S. Navy celebrated its 237th birthday around the world. The Washington, DC birthday celebration dinner, with 750 guests, featured the Chief of Naval Operations, Admiral Jonathan Greenert, and the Honorable Paul R. Ignatius, 59th Secretary of the Navy as keynote speakers. A commemorative 2012 Navy Birthday Coin was a “birthday
This fall, a new exhibition will open at the New York City based New-York Historical Society. The exhibition will be called WWII & NYC and is scheduled to open 5 October 2012. The exhibition will chronicle the most widespread and consequential conflict in history through the lens of New York City. Featuring more than 300
