At Belleau Wood

Rating:
Summary: How Robert Asprey Became a Superb Historian
Review: Robert Asprey has emerged as the consummate military historian. His recent works, which include War in the Shadows, The German High Command, and the two volumes on Napoleon, have brought him critical praise for their detail and keen insights into the minds of military professionals. To understand how Aprey arrived at where he now stands in the world of military historians, one must read this book, one of his earliers forays into writing. The budding historians would be well served by reading this book because it neatly folds details-analytical and precise-with sparse dramatization while giving the reader keen insights in the demeanor of the military mind at war. At Belleau Wood remains a masterful narrative and more importantly, the book has lost none of its relevance. Why? If the reader substitutes the situation in which the American Expeditionary Force found itself at Belleau Wood with the situation in which it now finds itself in Afghanistan, the relevance becomes all too clear: extended presence in an unfamiliar nation, stagnant combined-arms training, aviation limited by horrible weather conditions, and erstwhile allied support. The University of North Texas Press has done the military a great service by reprinting this book because the lessons learned can't come quickly enough as they gear up for a very, very, long war.

Rating:
Summary: How Robert Asprey Became a Superb Historian
Review: Robert Asprey has emerged as the consummate military historian. His recent works, which include War in the Shadows, The German High Command, and the two volumes on Napoleon, have brought him critical praise for their detail and keen insights into the minds of military professionals. To understand how Aprey arrived at where he now stands in the world of military historians, one must read this book, one of his earliers forays into writing. The budding historians would be well served by reading this book because it neatly folds details-analytical and precise-with sparse dramatization while giving the reader keen insights in the demeanor of the military mind at war. At Belleau Wood remains a masterful narrative and more importantly, the book has lost none of its relevance. Why? If the reader substitutes the situation in which the American Expeditionary Force found itself at Belleau Wood with the situation in which it now finds itself in Afghanistan, the relevance becomes all too clear: extended presence in an unfamiliar nation, stagnant combined-arms training, aviation limited by horrible weather conditions, and erstwhile allied support. The University of North Texas Press has done the military a great service by reprinting this book because the lessons learned can't come quickly enough as they gear up for a very, very, long war.

Rating:
Summary: Retreat, hell, we just got here!
Review: These famous words uttered by a Marine Corps Major sum up the fighting spirit of the United States Marine Corps. And "At Belleau Wood" is a fabulous glimpse into the "Old Corps." Rarely does a book so technically sound, and painstakingly researched, captivate the reader so fully. Appropriate for both the "armchair general" and the military scholar. If you are interested in either the origins of our nations "Premier Fight Force," or in the brutal combat of the Great War, this book is for you.

Rating:
Summary: Retreat, hell, we just got here!
Review: These famous words uttered by a Marine Corps Major sum up the fighting spirit of the United States Marine Corps. And "At Belleau Wood" is a fabulous glimpse into the "Old Corps." Rarely does a book so technically sound, and painstakingly researched, captivate the reader so fully. Appropriate for both the "armchair general" and the military scholar. If you are interested in either the origins of our nations "Premier Fight Force," or in the brutal combat of the Great War, this book is for you.