Rating: 
Summary: An incredible account of a soldier's life
Review: Given to me by my commanding officer, Once an Eagle has become one of my all-time favorite books. It traces the story of a young soldier who continually finds himself placed in positions of incredible responsibility and danger and gives the reader a peek into his soul. Through the eyes of Sam Damon we see that soldiers are people, too, and that they reflect personalities of every type, from the courageous to the reckless to the evil. By watching how Sam Damon deals with all these different types of people and still gets them to follow him both in peacetime and in battle, we realize that leadership abilities have little to do with education or upbringing, but rather with whether or not subordinates believe that their leaders truly care about them. Once an Eagle is an unforgettable lesson in leadership and soldiering, and I'm sure I'll read it many times over.
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Summary: "With our own feathers are we now smitten."
Review: "Once An Eagle" is the epic tale of two military men in conflict with each other over the span of 50 years during the middle decades of the twentieth century.Meet Sam Damon. At the outset, he's a dreamy, idealistic teenager in the small town of Walt Whitman, Nebraska. He's the night clerk in the local hotel and eatery. He's possessed with a first class intellect and a fiery ambition to "do something great with his life." He dreams of getting an appointment to West Point. Sam applies for admission to the U.S, Military Academy, but gets impatient at the bureaucratic delays. He enlists in the Army, serves with General John J. Pershing in the 1916 "punitive expedition" to Mexico, and ends up in the trenches of France a year later, during the last year of World War I. It is there that Sam performs his greatest act of military heroism, an act that earns him a battlefield commission as a Second Lieutenant; the Medal of Honor; and the affectionate sobriquet "The Night Clerk." Throughout his tour of duty in France, Sam continues to distinguish himself not only with valorous deeds on the battlefield, but also with his no-nonsense leadership style, centered upon his passionate dedication the welfare of his men. He consistently sets a superb example of the highest ideals of personal behavior in his dealings with both his superiors and subordinates. It is here that he begins to understand the ultimate futility of war. It is also here that he has his first encounter with his lifelong "bête noire," Courtney Massengale. Massengale is the complete antithesis of Sam Damon and everything he stands for. Like Damon, he's keenly intellectual and ambitious, but he seeks recognition and career advancement through being in the right place at the right time; currying favor with his superiors; and his incessant political maneuvering. His disdain for his subordinates is evident during his first encounter with Sam Damon shortly after Damon's unit comes "out of the line" in France. Throughout their parallel careers in the Army, most of which occurs in the years between the two World Wars, Massengale, the unctuous West Point graduate, and Damon, the heroic "mustang" (a term of respect for officers with prior enlisted service) occasionally find themselves stationed together, and almost always on opposite sides of whatever issues confront them at any given moment. Their relationship comes to a head in the heat of battle against the Japanese the Philippines during World War II, and again, two decades later, in the jungles of Southeast Asia. The Damon/Massengale relationship forms one of the central themes of this wonderful novel. For, in this relationship can be found a study in personal ethics as it applies to those not only in military life but also in the business sector as well. Through these two disparate characters, Myrer asks a fundamental question about human nature: why do people who rely on slipshod ethics and oleaginous double-talk so frequently successful at the expense of those whose moral compass is based on a well defines set of noble values and principles? It's a question that's plagued society from its inception, and such an important question that the U.S. Army War College includes a study of "Once An Eagle" as part of its curriculum in advanced leadership training for senior officers. "Once An Eagle," originally published in 1968, was re-released in a beautifully bound hardcover edition in 2000. It's newly billed as "...a classic novel of soldiers and soldiering." It is indeed that, but it's also much more. For, at its heart, this beautifully crafted novel is one of the finest ANTI-war novels I've ever read. Anton Myrer, himself a veteran of some of the bloodiest fighting in the Pacific theater during World War II, pulls no punches in his condemnation of war. His battle scenes are consistently tough, gritty, highly descriptive accounts of men fighting against other men. He describes combat on the most human terms... from the perspectives of those who did the fighting and dying. Myrer takes the reader inside the minds of his characters, allowing the reader to understand the character's hopes, fears, anxieties, and physical torments... "Once An Eagle" is a long book - over 900 pages - but it's well worth reading. Anton Myrer's style is polished and highly literate. Despite its length, it's actually a fairly quick read. I finished it in about 10 days. The book always held my interest, and in places, actually proved difficult to put down. It is an eloquent condemnation of war and its effects on the human soul.
Rating:
Summary: "Do you honestly believe there will be another war?"
Review: "[Caldwell]...I'm affraid so...We will go through one of a different kind. [Sam] But that's impossible! [Caldwell] Do you honestly believe people are going to stop being greedy and resentful and full of pride and prejudice...Do you think they will quit hating and fearing--do you think the lordly heads of government are going to abandon their methods of seizing and holding power, of gaining advantages...Why should they change?" Need I say more? Read this book. God Bless America. 9-11
Rating:
Summary: Six Stars
Review: If it where possible to rate a book at six stars this would be my first choice of the countless books I have read regarding the miltary and the United States Army.
Following the "Night Clerk's" career from the blistering sands of Mexico in pursuit of Pancho Vila , thru the First World War, into the Second World War, Korea, and from there to the early stages of the War in Vietnam is totally compelling.
This book clearly illustrates the calling of DUTY,HONOR and COUNTRY and the implications of living by those standards. Its impact on the career of one of the finest characterazations
of the Career Officer, sets an example for all those who follow.
The depictions of combat in each of the major engagements of the 20th century have a tremedous attention to detail and amazing accuracy. Life in the United States Army and On-Post living during the years between the World Wars gives you a remarkable glimpse on house such leaders as Marshall, Eisenhower,Patton and Bradley where forged. I have actually read this book twice(with a space of twenty years between readings.) I can not tell you how many times in my military experience, when task with a difficult leadership question, I asked myself "What would Sam do?"
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Summary: A Great American Novel
Review: I picked this book up at the airport to kill some hours in the air. The story wonderfully woven and vibrantly told. For once an author has accurately captured why so many soldiers hate war while they dedicate their lives to fighting one. It is an excellent read and just as relevent to today's readers as it was when it was originally released in 1968. Fortunately today's readers lose out on some of the irony in the story now that we are not in the Viet Nam war.
Rating:
Summary: A wonderful novel
Review: I have just recently finished "Once an Eagle" and encourage anyone with an interest in military history, historical fiction and/or America in the 20th century to read it. Above and beyond the compelling characters, especially the protagonist Sam Damon, and the scope of the story, this novel is beautifully written. The narrative is perfectly paced and moves along with alternating speed and slowness (not in a bad way) as the characters move from peace to war and back again. My only criticism of the novel is that the last part "Delta" appeared to me to lack the same development as the rest of the novel. No doubt that is in part due to the events described, and the fact that when the book was written America was still involved in Vietnam. Still, it was a slight letdown from the rest of the writing in the book. If you have read and enjoyed Winds of War, War and Remembrance or Flags of Our Fathers you will enjoy this wonderful book.
Rating:
Summary: A Must Read for Military
Review: While this is a great novel, it is also one of the best books I have read about war. The plight of Sam Damon is captivating from his enlistment early in the book, through to the end. Damon excels at every position he holds in the military because he truly cares. He cares about his soldiers first and the Army second. He is intelligent and courageous and leads us through his decisions and considers his own leadership. He evokes a self-analysis of anyone in the military, or in a leadership position anywhere, as his plight is not unique.
Rating:
Summary: Not well known but should be on your list!
Review: Came across this title and read due and was overwhelmed by the scope and breadth of this book. Should be a perennial best seller as it covers the range of human experiences through the world wars. Incredible leadership lessons contained in following Sam Damon through his life. A must read!
Rating:
Summary: breathtaking and stunning
Review: I love to read fictional drama taking place during the World Wars. I got a little more than I emotionally bargained for in this book. This turned out to be one of the most haunting and captivatingly powerful stories I have ever read. Several times I broke down in tears while reading the soul-wrenching portrayal of war and it's aftermath. I cheered in my heart the courage and dignity of Sad Sam and the soldiers who followed him to the battlefield. Unforgettable and magnificent!
Rating:
Summary: Help!
Review: Once an Eagle is definately one of the great American novels, however overlooked it may be by the larger culture; I can appreciate it as a veteran of Viet Nam war era service, and as a historian. I would love to use portions of the video version in some of my classes, but have not been able to find a copy anywhere I can't believe that will all the trash that is available on VHS and DVD that whoever owns the rights to this gem has not released it; it should be in every school and public library in the country.
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