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Summary: Too Much Hype--The Wrong Lessons Learned
Review: Perhaps, all the rave reviews and hype were bound to be too great for the actual book to live up. If that were the case, I would leave it right there.The author, Anton Myrer, overreaches in both scope and time. His begins from just prior to WWI to the advisory period of the Vietnam War. This four decade span is too much for Myrer to cover in this one tome, leaving out the Korean War and many of America's "little wars" while concentrating on the dreary, poverty-stricken inter-war years of the '20s and '30s. While making a good facsimile for Army life of that time period and certainly exposing the rank (using all meanings of this word) politics of peacetime service. The real problems with this book have to deal with the "so-called" lessons that I see military officers believe are afforded by this book. They would like the future leaders of our military to read this book and learn its lessons. And what lessons would that be? Would it be the lesson that most military marriages are failures? Would it be the lesson that the hero, Sam Damon, a.k.a. the "Night Clerk," would as a mustang and an idealist lose out in almost every career turn to the West Point Protection Association and one of it's perfumed peacocks? Or do they prefer the almost ludicrous and cliche-ridden dialog of the Khotiane protagonist whose sophistic comparisons of his fight to be the one on par with our Founding Fathers and Lincoln's Union would seem to have an affinity with the hero? As it certainly does with the author. I say every citizen who has to register for Selective Service or contemplates enlistment, should be required to read this book. To familiarize themselves with those types of men who would send them into combat and risk their lives in doing so. To see the reality of the best they could expect and, more importantly, the worst they can expect of those who would lead them.
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Summary: Great book about the military
Review: I read this several times and it is a classic of what it means to be a military professional. I also recommend Bob Mayer's Special Forces books or Company Commander a classic in the genre.
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Summary: More Mustangs Like Sad Sam, Fewer Courtney Massengales
Review: Quite Simply, one of the finest books about professional soldiers ever published. This is the story of the US Army from WW I to the beginnings of Vietnam. It is also the story of one true American hero, "Sad Sam" Damon, the former Night Clerk and Nebraska farm boy who receives the Medal of Honor in France in WW I and goes on to retire a general officer in the early stages of America's involvement in Vietnam. Sad Sam is a Mustang who learned early to take care of the people he was responsible for. In the process, he also earns a battlefield commission. In the interwar years, he sweats out numerous moves,terrible pay and slow promotions. But, he never loses his way. His foil is the ambitious, scheming West Pointer, Courtney Schuyler Massengale. Courtney Massengale is the quintessential "staff puke" who doesn't like to lead troops, doesn't like the field and doesn't like to get dirty. Like our vaunted Commander in Chief, he also doesn't like to tell the truth, either. As a result, he manages to manipulate his way to the top of the officer corps, where his brand of leadership (or lack thereof) can do the most damage. I read Once and Eagle when it was first published (I was 14 at the time) and it made me realize that I wanted to be an officer just like "Sad Sam." I even tried to live my life by the code established with his dying words to the son of his dead friend Ben Krisler. He said to Lt Col Joey Krisler, "if you ever have to choose between being a better person and a better soldier, always try to be the better person." It is reassuring to see that the Army and Marine Corps think so much of this book that they have influenced bringing it back into print. It should be the required leadership primer for all second lieutenants and ensigns. I hope every potential Courtney Massengale at West Point, USAFA, USCGA and USNA see themselves in its pages and mend their ways before it's too late (for them, their service and their troops). This is a book about honor, integrity, loyalty and service. These are noble words for concepts which have been erased from the popular lexicon of everyday American life. While the military has once again re-discovered this book, I believe it should be introduced as required reading at the high school level, where it might have a real impact. As a caveat however, I offer the quote from the flyleaf where Myrer found an eagle, stricken with a dart, said when he saw the fashion of the shaft, with our own feathers, not by others' hands are we now smitten." Aeschylus This is a powerful warning to those who would do right by America and her armed forces. There are numerous enemies operating from within. This book gives us a wonderful hero but, it also warns us to look over our shoulders as well. The resurgence of this book should also serve as a reminder to the "perfumed princes" in the officer corps that their oath is to the Constitution, that their duty is to the country and that honor demands that they put the nation above personal consideration. The men and women of the armed forces, who are sworn to obey the orders of the officers appointed over them, deserve no less. The nation deserves no less and Anton Myrer's novel from 1968 reminds us of that even today.
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Summary: Required reading for those who would lead American Soldiers.
Review: This novel is a classic of the military genre. It takes some literary license, but basically it's the study of the development of two officers, one good and true to his oath and duty, and one careerist, ticket punching self serving typical 'REMF'. As a career enlisted soldier, I recognizes both protaganists and the stage on which they play. It's a great exposition of the trials and tribulations of the Army in peace and war, and of an officer's struggle to survive long enough to make a difference when the balloon goes up. Required book for young soldiers. A good read for any American, male or female. The TV series was good, as well.
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Summary: An excellent tale of the military, good and bad
Review: I first read this book many years ago and have reread it several times since, through my time at West Point, in the infantry and special forces. Now that I am retired I can safely say the characters rnig true, to include the bad ones. I recommend a couple of other books about the military if you are interested: Andy McNabb's SAS books which are #1 bestsellers in England and an excellent view into special operations-- the SAS wasn't that much different than SF. Closer to home I've enjoyed Bob Mayer's Special Forces series-- wish they were all in print-- as I had wished for years they'd resissue this book-- but you can get some here at Amazon.
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Summary: Once an Eagle in the news
Review: I read this book soon after publication, in Reader's Digest condensed books of all things. I found it affecting, as others have, and was impressed enough to list it as my favorite book in college applications. I don't know what I'd think of it now, but I do find it heartening that Myrer wins over the bestselling Tom Clancy tripe as a favorite within the military. Other fans of this book might be interested in reading the story "Military Goes by the Book, but It's a Novel" By Elizabeth Becker in the NYT of 8/16/99; it lead me to look up the book here. I assume this article had something to do with the sudden surge to #5 on the Amazon bestseller list. For those in the military who worry that the Courntney Massengales are running things, you might take heart in the following excerpts: Quote: Gen. Henry Shelton, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, says it is the only book he has ever read twice. The Army War College in Carlisle, Pa., recently brought the book back into print because military schools wanted it for courses in ethics and leadership. . . . The book is on the Marine Corps commandants' reading list -- making it required reading for all Marines. The U.S. Army War College holds an annual leadership seminar that uses the book. For West Point cadets, who are assigned the book in classes and seminars, reading "Once an Eagle" has become a rite of passage, much like discovering "Catcher in the Rye" as a teen-ager. Favorite passages are quoted routinely, especially Sam Damon's dying words: "Joey, if it comes to a choice between being a good soldier and a good human being -- try to be a good human being ..." And the names of Sam Damon and Courtney Massengale have entered the language of the U.S. military as code words for the good officer who thinks first of the troops and the other one who thinks only of personal gain. When Shelton wants to exclude a candidate from a promotion, all he has to do is tell the board of review: "This is another Courtney Massengale." "It's a household name and I've used it to say we shouldn't have an individual like that in the ranks -- someone who is motivated for all the wrong reasons, someone you don't want leading the troops," Shelton said.
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Summary: Quite simply, the best - Myrer and his hero Sam Damon.
Review: I am a retired soldier. I have read "Once an Eagle" many times, and I cannot imagine life without this book on my bookshelf. I have presented copies to budding leaders and will continue to do so throughout my life. If you truly want to understand the Army, its ideals and those who do and do not share them -- if you want to understand the soldiers who fought for you, from World War I to Viet Nam -- if you want to know what it truly means to be a soldier -- then read this book and try to be like "the Night Clerk," Sad Sam Damon. If only we had more Damons, and fewer Courtney Massengales -- in every walk of life.
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Summary: excellant
Review: this is the best novel about a person and war that i have ever read. to see someone coming up thru the ranks like he did was outstanding. i also saw the nbc miniseries, which followed the book to a tee...i had two long tours in vietnam and i wish we had someone like that to lookup to like this outstanding person in the book. i wish nbc, would release it for vedeo so very one can see it.
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Summary: A True Classic
Review: The best book and movie in years,needs to be out on tapes so all of us can have a copy/copys and every one needs to read this book a couple of times,it will help you understand that era and what people when through,it was a hard time for every one.I'm glad to have a copy of "Once An Eagle" on my bookshelf.
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Summary: The best text book for those who want to lead
Review: I don't have the education to be as eloquint as these other reviewers, but I was a soldier, and a NCO. I also had the privlege of working for Col. Bud Taylor, BG. Bob Brainard, and BG. Floyd Glass.All men who inspired trust & confidence in their men( & woman). I also worked for "ring knockers", who could destroy a unit within months. I really feel that if this book were REQUIRED reading for ALL acadamy students, we would produce the greatest leadership cadre in the world .Not just militataraly , but even those who don't stay on and make a carear of the military. The mini series was the best, & I too would love to have a copy(if any one knows how to get a copy please let me know). I've read the book 9 times, And look foreward to reading it again.
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