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Summary: Great book, surprisingly political
Review: I loved this book. It has a great story and a fantastic hero, and the battle scenes, especially in World War I, are gripping.I would like to focus on some aspects of the book that I didn't expect, because they are overlooked in most reviews. One is the left-leaning politics of the book. The hero (and presumably the author) clearly admire the Chinese Commmmunists, abhor the Chinese Nationalists, and are opposed to US involvement in Vietnam. The villian of the story is not only careerist, opportunist and manipulative, but is eager to foment an unnecessary war with China, has no qualms about wasting lives, wants an American colonial empire in the Pacific, and believes that war is a preferred state. American businessmen are portrayed as shirkers from battle, war profiteers who unscrupulously sell to the future enemy materials that will be used to kill poorer Americans' sons, and as pushing the US into unwise involvement in Vietnam in order to protect their exploitative profits. Whether one agrees or disagrees with the politics of the book, it is interesting that this book is so warmly embraced by US military officers. I wonder whether they agree with the political implications of the book, or simply oblivious to them. I also found interesting the portrayal of the stress on the hero's marriage, which displays a lot of sympathy for the wife's opposition to various postings he must take as part of his career. The author makes it clear that she has every right to be miserable with the horrible conditions of interwar service and his wartime postings. One minor aspect of the book I found annoying was the "good" characters' ability to fortell the future, whether regarding the unsatisfactory nature of the Versailles peace which must lead to a new war, the future victory of the Communists in China, or the lack of wisdom in advancing to the Yalu in Korea. Otherwise, this is a great book.
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Summary: Best Book I Have Ever Read
Review: Other reviewers have given short summaries of the story so I won't do that. But if you want an exciting story, filled with incredible historical detail, and a great rivalry, and great realism, and huge values, this book is for you. It is long but you will not want it to end!
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Summary: A war and leadership epic
Review: Once an Eagle dispells all romantic notion of war and heroism and at the same time paints an outstanding picture of what it takes to be an outstanding and effective leader. Sam gets out in front 100%. He won't issue an order unless willing to carry it out personally. A great, inspiring read.
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Summary: A great primer on leadership
Review: Anton Myrer has written a book for the ages with this impressive work. The book follows two officers from just before America's entry into World War I all the way to the opening days of Vietnam. The officers are archetypes of leadership: Sam Damon leads by example, cares for his soldiers and always strives to do what's best for the mission, while Courtney Massengale works equally hard to do whatever is calculated to advance his career. The book both shows how to be a great leader and provides the reader with an excellent look at America's Army, particularly in the interwar years. Anyone interested in leadership, regardless of how they need to apply it, would do well to read this book. Although it is unlikely any of us can live up to the example set by Damon, simply making the attempt can help make anyone a better leader.
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Summary: A Lame View of History
Review: If you want to read about what war in the 20th Century was really like, do not read this book. This book is war-lite, an attempt by a novelist of limited means to create an unrealistic hero who is never wrong in his decisions. Readers of this novel will be edified in no way: the main character is a cardboard cut-out of what Army officers should be, and his antagonist is portrayed as an effete snob. If you want propaganda reading material, read this novel. That's why the Army/USMC likes it so much: it stresses the core values of the modern military. This novel fails in every attempt to create real characters in real situations: the main character, Sam Damon, is a man who does no wrong (and we all know how false a premise that is). If you want to read about what WW2 was really about, pick up something by Wolf Heckman.
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Summary: A NOVEL RECOMMENDED FOR ALL LEADERS ANYWHERE !
Review: This book was recommened years ago to me and other soldiers by a the Post Cdr, Thomas A Schwartz. He recommended this book as required reading by all his officers and noncommissioned officers. At the time, on or about 1994, I did try to obtain a copy of this book and I did find an old copy. I found it a difficult book to read. I truly did not understand the value of the words written. You know, I put it down after about 200 pages and I would have trashed it, but I didn't. When I became a First Sergeant in the Army, I remembered this novel and I thought it would help in my leadership style as well as show me things I should not do; and I gave it a second try. Anyway, the general said it help him, but could I apply it to me as noncom. I did get pass 200 pages but I did not finish this giant book. The story revolves around the respect for a soldier and how they should be treated. This is a great idea for civilians to read also. The story conveys the idea that all soldiers and people must be informed by talking to them, showing some sensitivity to their needs, and providing some predictablity. The story cause me to think about how leaders are in the military. My book was lifted by a low life and I was glad to see it in reprint in HC. I will make this remarkable novel, its engrossing story, and the sheer excitment and a overwhelming account of the 20th Century War a part of my personal library. Oh, by the way I did finish the book this time and I must say, difficult read or not, you, the reader should not pass this huge story up. Those of you, who have read this book years ago, I recommend you read it again for the first time.
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Summary: Not Just War, but a World and a Code of Conduct
Review: Many years ago, my father, a captain at the Battle of the Bulge who was tremendously proud of his service, but never spoke of it, found me examining his copy of ONCE AN EAGLE. The book vanished -- his way of sparing me. I did not wish to be spared. A visit to the US Army War College and a recommendation by MG Edward Atkeson inspired me to buy ONCE AN EAGLE and to realize that this was the same book I had investigated as a teen. Coming to it as an adult, a writer, and a civilian scholar, I know what I'm reading: one of the greatest novels of the twentieth century, possibly in the English language. It's an extravagant claim to compare it to WAR AND PEACE, but I think it's a claim that may stand the test of time. Here is a whole world: not just the men who fought and fight, but the men and women who support or oppose them. Here are not just nations in conflict, but values. And here is what we all want and need: a clear moral choice as exemplified by Sam Damon, mustang, straight-arrow, MOH winner, who made not war, but duty, honor, and country his career (though he never went to West Point) before entering his last war. I am grateful to the War College for reprinting ONCE AN EAGLE and hope that, once again, civilians will also read it as they did upon its initial printing. At a time when an immense, post-Vietnam gap exists between US military and US civilians, the work of Anton Myrer, the Harvard man who was a gentlemen ranker on Guam, is very necessary. And I would like to thank the other reviewers here on Amazon (whose work I found very moving) for their reviews, certainly, but -- much more important -- for their service to our country.
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Summary: Powerful novel, and an inspiration to all who serve
Review: I ordered this book after reading the recent NY Times article about its reprinting and I now understand the striking impact that Once an Eagle has on people. The lessons of Sad Sam Damon are simple but profound. Work hard. Remember from where you came. Seek self-improvement and always, always, do the right thing. We all struggle with the challenge of being a moral leader in a society which at times does not seem fair. As a young naval officer I took comfort in the ethics and inegrity which Sam Damon possessed. This is a must read for all interested in what makes a quality leader and transcends the textbook leadership books that de-humanize the strong leader. We can't all be James Stockdales, Colin Powells, and Sam Damons but the standard for achievement has been set and we can all strive to reach that level. Read "Once an Eagle" and be prepared to remember the lessons of Sad Sam Damon for a long, long time.
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Summary: Follow him
Review: A wonderful book anyway, for anyone, it is indeed an exceptional book for military of all ranks and branches. I wish I'd had it when I was an Army lieutenant pre-Vietnam. I can see why it has joined Shahara's THE KILLER ANGELS as one of the most-read books by military people.
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Summary: Sam Damon, 2000
Review: Having last read OAE when I was in junior high, reading it again in my 30s was a real treat. All of the innuendos and references to common cultural icons as well as being in the U.S. Army for about 2 decades made the book come alive like new. To fully understand OAE you need to be in the military or a veteran. Just to understand the lingo of such things like "TO and E". If you are not Army, get that way! When I first OAE I was desperately looking for heroes. Today, I see myself in the book. The reason is that if you care about the mission and the men certain inevitable conclusions will follow. Sam Damon is concerned about saving lives and he is a technotactical wizard who sees the connection between cargo net construction and wasting valuable time at sea exposed to enemy fire. As a military professional, I am able to read the book and vicariously live the experiences of WWI/WWII Army life as Myrer knew that life was. I reread the book to try to understand Courtney Massengale and why he is such a monster and how many today are like him. Clearly the answer is that Massengale believes in nothing. Life is what you can get for yourself and he goes through the motions of life in his own mental caccoon not loving anyone least of all himself. Massengale got this way by losing daily contact with lower ranking people in the Army. In contrast, Sam stays close to the men and can handle the truth unvarnished whereas Massengale wants it sanitized. Interestingly Myrer has Damon meet General MacArthur and shows him in a good light as anguished over leaving his men in the Philipines yet employing creative bypass tactics saving lives. OAE is a very clever book full of hidden meanings and connections if you look for them. I even found Damon advocating the speed march as a way to "maneuver warfare" and collapse enemies, as his gamble at Moapora did. The insights into how the Germans failed to take Gibralter to control the Med were very interesting..I suggest reading the book with a highlight pen, making your own notes in the margins the next time you read OAE. If you get a chance to see the TV mini-series, the U.S. Army and Armed Forces Radio-TV is said to be showing the series overseas in a few months and perhaps you could get a serviceman to tape it for you. Sam Damon is making a big comeback in the U.S. military! I think its time we write a sequel to OAE. I like the 1976 TV mini-series cover and wish to see it on a new version of the book in paperback. The TV mini-series has a better ending than the book, but the book's ending is designed to trouble you. SAM DAMON LIVES!
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