Reviewed by Steven Robson for Readers' Favorite

Combat to College by John H. Davis is an elegant, astoundingly clear guide to the successful completion of college-level studies, specifically directed at military veterans, who face perhaps the most difficult journey of any to achieve that coveted degree. What makes this an incredible challenge for veterans is the whole change in structures in which they are expected to thrive; moving from a military environment rigid in controls, checkpoints, and accountability, to a college regime that places all of these burdens squarely on the individual. Mr. Davis not only shows how to make a successful transition to self-control in a college world but goes even further by demonstrating precisely how to tap into all the strengths gained through military service and apply them to achieve the best effect in the most important mission of your future. Whilst this book speaks to military veterans, make no mistake; the lessons, mindsets, and planning strategies laid out apply just as pertinently to anyone hoping to successfully navigate higher studies.

After reading John H. Davis’ Combat to College, I had a feeling of sadness within, which I know stemmed from the realization that if I had this book available to me when I entered college, it may have opened my eyes to the important things; all of the background noise that derailed my studies has been spotlighted, and strategies to cope with these have been detailed in ways you simply can’t fail to comprehend. There is no guarantee for success because the final responsibility lies with the individual, but the tools, methodologies and just plain common sense approaches documented in Combat to College will clearly lay blame for failure squarely on your shoulders; this book removes the possibility of you saying 'I just didn’t know how to manage it.'

Reviewed by Rabia Tanveer for Readers' Favorite

Always Coming Back Home: An Emotional Tale of Love, Adventure, Tragedy and Hope by Ashley Bugge is the story of Ashley and Brian as they navigate life and overcome hardships one day at a time. Brian loved his job in the Navy, he took pride in it and Ashley loved him with all her heart. They loved each other, but being apart was difficult. From starting a family to miscarriages, giving birth, pregnancies and living through it all, Brian and Ashley became a support for each other, regardless of the miles between them. They laughed together, they cried together, they shared their sorrows and drew strength from each other. Through it all, they knew that no matter what happens, they will always come back home and live the dreams they dreamed together.

Always Coming Back Home is such a beautiful and incredible tale of love and family. Ashley and Brian are such an amazing couple. They took their hard times as a challenge that they were going to overcome together. The memories Ashley shares with readers are so personal that you will feel like you are living in the moment with them. My heart went out to Ashley as she shared her successful and unsuccessful experiences with pregnancies and how Brian gave herculean support to her. A power couple, they take every challenge as a blessing, accept it, forge through it and come out of the trials as winners. I loved reading their story. I laughed with them, I cried with them and lived their life with them!

Reviewed by Christian Sia for Readers' Favorite

Next Mission: U.S. Defense Attaché to France: A Memoir from the Days of Punish France, Ignore Germany, Forgive Russia by Ralph Steinke is a fascinating military memoir with strong political and diplomatic themes. Ralph Steinke was assigned as a military attaché to France in one of the most turbulent periods in history and at a time when France was held in contempt by many superpowers. In this memoir, the author shares a story that embodies a strong sense of duty, the nuances of US foreign diplomacy, and the subtle art of wading in dangerous and murky political waters. The author shares personal stories, takes readers through family life, encounters with political characters and events and, above all, provides a compelling narrative that showcases the challenges of high-level diplomacy and the problems that accompany it.

While this is one person’s unique experience as a diplomat, the memoir provides insights into what US foreign policy is like and the art of diplomacy. There are moments of adventure, infused with strong emotions, and dilemmas in which important decisions are to be made. It is interesting how the protagonist balances his love of country and a keen sense of duty with his mission to create a positive relationship between the two countries, without playing down the respect that France deserves. Apart from being a great political figure, Ralph Steinke comes across as a great storyteller, creating strong images in the minds of readers and using a narrative voice that pulls them in and makes them feel as though they are next to the characters. Next Mission: U.S. Defense Attaché to France: A Memoir from the Days of Punish France, Ignore Germany, Forgive Russia is rich with historical references, engaging in its content, and compelling in the era it evokes.

Reviewed by Steven Robson for Readers' Favorite

War is Personal by Roy Wilkes and Elaine Wilkes shines a spotlight on Okinawa, a small island 66 miles long, 7 miles wide on average and only 400 miles south of the Japanese Island of Kyushu; the closest stepping stone to Japan during the Second World War. In 1945, it became a lot closer to Hell. This is the personal account of Mr. Wilkes’ experiences in the battle against the Japanese on this most deadly piece of real estate, and his subsequent duty guarding a bridge in China, in total isolation from anything remotely civilized. Told from both a first-person perspective as well as through interviews, this chilling glimpse into the human cost of warfare is a tale everyone should be obligated to read, in the hope that the insanity of war never visits our lives again.

Roy Wilkes and Elaine Wilkes have created in War is Personal a book that simply had to be compiled. The stark reality of the situations Mr. Wilkes had to endure burns into the soul of the reader, leaving you to ponder just how lucky your life has been in comparison to those caught up in war. Told with incredible humility, you quickly realize anyone facing death on a daily basis in the most extreme conditions is, without doubt, a hero, even when they don’t see that in themselves. For me, the clear and resonant message coming from the pages of War is Personal was simply this; war is not about glory, it is about survival, and coping with loss. This book is definitely well worthwhile and of interest to many people.

Reviewed by Christian Sia for Readers' Favorite

Mayhem 337: Memoir of a Combat Advisor in Afghanistan by Chad Rickard is a nonfiction narrative that will immensely appeal to fans of military books. It is a record of the author’s experience in combat, fighting the orchestrators of the 9/11 tragedy. Growing up in Central Pennsylvania, Chad never thought of a military career, never imagined jumping out of airplanes with weapons strapped on his body, but after the tragedy of 9/11 he felt compelled to join the army and support his nation in the war against terrorism. In this narrative, a seasoned infantryman and a senior Army NCO shares his experiences fighting the Taliban and the Al Qaeda forces in Eastern Afghanistan.

The author gives readers a first-hand account of combat in very dangerous encounters and in unfamiliar and rough terrain. I loved the way he captures the “incertitude, the addiction that combat became” and the sense of mortality and humanity that permeates the narrative. Deafening gunshots, unsettling silences, the sound of the stampede of feet that scurry in uncertain directions in moments of danger. The narrative is beautiful and the imagery very strong. Mayhem 337: Memoir of a Combat Advisor in Afghanistan offers powerful images of military missions and enables readers to run alongside soldiers engaged in combat. The action is intense and the tension permeates every page of the narrative. The prose is beautiful and the narrative is enriched by streams of consciousness that transport readers into the psyche of the protagonist. It is a page-turner, balanced and deftly written.

Reviewed by Rabia Tanveer for Readers' Favorite

Mortal Men, Immortal Warriors by Steven London is a salute to the unsung heroes of the Afghanistan war, the harsh times they had to go through and how they survived that time away from their families with a band of brothers that they cherished. The Afghanistan war was hard on everyone, but it was extra gruesome for the men in uniform and their families. I was emotional and touched by the way the author talked about the soldiers, their hardships and how much they had to lose in order to do their duty. I got so emotional at some points that I had to put the book down, collect my thoughts and calm myself before resuming my read. The interviews were the hardest part for me to read, not because they were written poorly, but because of what they entailed. I could feel the respect that Steven London had for these soldiers and what they went through. The narrative was easy to digest, the reading material had a nice flow and the choice of words had a great impact.

The information provided in the book is raw and unfiltered. The author has compiled interviews, written accounts by the soldiers, and includes photographs that detail their time spent fighting the war. While the war was being fought, the soldiers were doing their job while at the same time trying to protect their brothers in arms, trying to survive and hoping to get back to their families one day. This is an emotional read, so it is not for those who are looking for a quick, breezy novel to kill some time. When you pick this up, you should be prepared to give it time and your entire focus because that’s what this book deserves. This is a gem!

Reviewed by Jack Magnus for Readers' Favorite

Left for Dead at Nijmegen: The True Story of an American Paratrooper is a nonfiction biography written by Marcus A. Nannini, who spent several years interviewing Gene Metcalfe, who was determined to become a paratrooper, enlisted and was part of Operation Market Garden, a paratrooper landing in Nijmegen, Holland. It was his first foray into the field of battle, the culmination of years of training in every aspect of the paratrooper’s skills in war-craft. Operation Market Garden was, from the outset, a poorly timed and executed operation, one for which the Germans almost seemed to have advance notice. For Metcalf, his inability to hear the order to retreat resulted in an injury that led one of his comrades to believe he was dead. While he was stunned and rendered unconscious for a while, Metcalf was indeed not dead. Over the next 24 hours, he would be imprisoned in a strange castle-like building and interviewed by Heinrich Himmler himself. Thereafter, until the war ended, he would languish in a series of gulags wherein Allied soldiers were deprived of food, forced into hard labor and doomed to die slow and agonizing deaths.

Left for Dead at Nijmegen is a stunning and beautifully written recounting of Gene Metcalfe’s experiences beginning with his life-changing decision to quit school and enlist to become a paratrooper. While the story is written by Nannini, I consistently felt Metcalfe’s presence within the telling, and the photographs included in the book increase the impact and credibility of Metcalfe’s story. I enjoyed seeing the young soldier through the author’s eyes, especially his artistic and humorous side, and I loved the stories of how he would get in trouble in school and boot camp for his cartoons. I was thrilled to see a few of his drawings were included in the back of the book and couldn’t help but chuckle at the one entitled “das brot.”

What struck me most vividly, however, was the brutal truth behind the treatment of those prisoners of war in the German gulags. While most of us think the Geneva Convention ensured that somewhat tolerable conditions for prisoners was the rule, this book shows how soldiers held by the Germans were often literally starved and worked to death. As I read, I couldn’t help but remember the photographs I’ve seen showing the condition of surviving prisoners of war taken when US troops entered the gulags and death camps of Germany. Those images and Metcalfe’s story paint an unforgettable picture of the suffering and privation inflicted in those camps. Left for Dead at Nijmegen: The True Story of an American Paratrooper is an important work, one that exemplifies the sacrifices made by our military and reveals the reality of the POWs’ struggle to survive under the harshest of situations. It’s most highly recommended.

Reviewed by Ray Simmons for Readers' Favorite

Operation Retrospect: A Soldier’s Journal in a Veteran’s Reunion by Paul Endris moved me on many levels. I loved it. The places where it reached me are many, and they are very personal, so I realize it may not move others with the same power. So, let me tell you why it moved me, and you be the judge as to whether or not it will mean the same for you. First, I am a veteran and any book about the military, especially the modern U.S. military, is interesting to me. Second, I was an infantryman, 11B, like the men this book mentions. Next, I was in a special program that the Army initiated at the time I joined. It was called COHORT. It was based on the British Regimental system. We went through Basic Training together and served side by side for our entire term of enlistment. We became brothers. Eventually, brothers in arms. The last reason this book touched me was because I was there. I knew the triumph and frustration associated with serving in Iraq.

I can testify firsthand that the events of Operation Retrospect are authentic. This book is the real thing. The way the story is told is perfect. We move back and forth from Paul’s wartime journal to the reunion itself. The writing is great, capturing all the emotions of war and all the complications of being back home. The setting is perfect. Paul captures the tone and feel of wartime Iraq and the complexity of being back home while often reliving events of the war. The characters are great. I served with guys exactly like these men and the pictures really added to the story. I could also relate to how crucial Paul’s wife Kat was to his eventual assimilation back into normal life. That was true for so many of us. So that is why I loved Operation Retrospect. I think many of you will too, even if it doesn’t touch you on all the levels that it touched me. Being American is level enough.

Reviewed by Kimberlee J Benart for Readers' Favorite

Finding St. Lo: A Memoir of War and Family is a collection of writings and photographs from World War II Army medic Gordon Edward Cross (1906 – 1973) and National Guard infantryman Robert Lewis Fowler (1921 – 2006) with the addition of essays and illustrations by editor Ted Neill, Fowler’s grandson. The collection is divided into three parts: narrative and photos about Fowler, Cross’s memoir, and Cross’s photographs. While the Cross and Fowler narratives lead up to and revolve around the Allied push across Europe in 1944, Neill contemplates the effect of war on his “Grampa” and his family in the decades after. An appendix lists the members of the 134th Infantry Regiment mentioned in Fowler’s memoir and links to sites offering help to military members and families struggling with post-traumatic stress syndrome and other physical or mental injuries during or following military service.

In Finding St. Lo, Ted Neill provides different perspectives on war and its aftermath. Each is unique and impactful in its own way. I was gripped by the stark imagery that Cross presents of his immersion into the brutality of the battlefield. A New York entertainer before he joined the push to liberate France, he returned to a successful civilian life afterward though he never forgot what he saw. But Neill’s reflection on Fowler’s life as a career soldier, of both “the heroic patriarch and the irascible, swaying drunk," was utterly engaging and touchingly poignant. Neill brings these threads and themes together with a masterful touch and honors the service of these two men while also musing on the connections between the historical and societal forces at work in 1944 and the forces at work in the world today. Highly recommended.

Reviewed by Ray Simmons for Readers' Favorite

I have read a lot of books about war, from ancient battles to the present. I like them maybe because I am a veteran myself. But none has moved me, none has taken me there and made me as proud to be an American fighting man as Abandoned in Hell by William Albracht and Marvin J. Wolf. It is the story of the fight for Firebase Kate during the Vietnam War. I have never read anything quite like it. It reads like a cross between an official Army after-action report and a conversation with a veteran about said action. It is detailed, it is gripping, it is descriptive, and it is very colorful. I couldn’t stop reading. It was like meeting a veteran of that particular battle in a bar somewhere and he was telling me the story over a few beers. We spoke the same language, shared similar experiences, so I could appreciate his story and he could appreciate that he had an audience that understood.

Everything about the way this story is told appealed to me. The writing was great, the people were great, the chain of events was very well laid out, and the setting was superb. I learned a lot about Vietnam. There are too many excellent things about Abandoned in Hell to mention in this review. Read the blurb. It is very accurate. I will say that I loved the way the story was told. I loved the tone of the tale. I loved the no-nonsense military jargon. I loved the way the people were described. But I think I loved the way the story unfolded most of all. This is a tale well told. The men on that hill deserve to be honored and remembered. I think this book accomplishes that.