100 books like 3 Para

Anna Rosenberg is a name I never heard of, despite being a US History and US Government teacher. I was spellbound by the life she made for herself as a Hungarian immigrant, imprinting her stamp on this Country as a public servant, spanning President Roosevelt through Eisenhower.

I was entranced by how effortlessly she navigated the male-dominated political and military arenas, rising to become the first and only Female Assistant Secretary of Defense. I love her approach to always looking for a mutually agreeable solution to the problems she has to resolve. Having three daughters of my own, Anna Rosenberg is a role model I truly want my girls to emulate.

I met John H. Dalton, a former Secretary of the Navy, at a fireside chat and book signing held at my current employer. I served under him while on Active Duty in the Marine Corps, so the opportunity to confirm how I viewed him during that time and match his character with the tales in his book was a once-in-a-lifetime joy.

I was struck by how every chapter in his life was handled with the utmost humility and grace. Whether a Navy circumstance, private industry adventure, or personal struggle, he looked for the lesson to be learned and the opportunity to be gained. Each chapter provided a guidepost I found to be of lifetime value. 

It has been on my ‘must-read’ list for decades. The story of our premier Naval Officer of World War 2 is compelling, from the first page to the last. His humble beginnings, early career miscues, and the wisdom of his senior leaders to see the potential reminded me of my own early career in military service.

How and why, he was able to balance the temperaments of brilliant but aggressive officers (MacArthur, Halsey and his boss, King), while always focusing on what was essential for the US to win in the Pacific is a true tale in knowing your audience. I modeled my servant leadership style on his deference to elevating others before himself. He is a genuine figure in our history and an ethical guidepost for all.

I love a story in which the central character is approachable and authentic. Joshua Chamberlain had no family legacy of military service, but putting his academic background to use, in understanding the purpose of his unit, the mission, and the war, I found myself reliving every moment of his life, as if I was a member of his unit.

His humility and genuine appreciation for those serving with him was yet another example of how I sought to lead those I served. I found myself immersed in who he was and how he was able to put into context the struggles of those serving with him. I, too, try to ‘live the talk’ as he did during and after the Civil War.

Many war graves in Italy are inscribed with South African names, attesting to the hard-won victories and the tragic losses of the 6th Armoured Division in Italy.

As a stickler for detail, I was impressed by Bourhill’s descriptions and meticulous attention to the minutia that makes for an immersive reading experience. It is especially the first-hand accounts of servicemen that bring this book to life and give a clear picture of what it was like to fight and live in Italy during the war.  

The book tells the story of tanker Clarence Smoyer, who served with the Third Armored Division during the last months of World War II in Europe. Makos expertly tells the personal story of the soldier and his tank as the unit thrust into Germany in early 1945. Smoyer’s tank is involved in a famous one-on-one duel with a German tank in Cologne. It's a thrilling read!

I recently reviewed this book for the nonfiction Author’s Association award. Presenting a different perspective on WWII in Europe, this is a factual story about the author’s father, Sam Hogan, as commander of a tank Task Force during the final stages of the war in Europe.

It is an interesting mix of details about the tactics and strategy of US tanks moving across France and Belgium to drive back the German front. It includes sobering reflections on the stifling conditions within the tanks, their vulnerability against a stronger, better-protected tank force, and the loss/ injuries of comrades as they continued to push forward against the odds.

This book took me on a journey with a group of unlikely heroes, starting with their decision to enlist to fight in the war, following them through their training as paratroopers, and ending the conflict. Like many World War II veterans, they were volunteers. But the anticipation leading up to D-Day and the hell they went through in the woods of Bastogne was more than anyone could have ever expected.

Few histories of World War II hit me as hard as this one. As a child of the 1960s and 1970s, the war has always fascinated me. I’d read about the strategy, the epic battles, and the atrocities committed by the Axis Powers, but I’ve returned to this book many times over the past thirty years.

I think it is only natural to include an autobiography in a list like this, and Bruno Friesen's book is compelling to me for several reasons, mainly because he was a Canadian who ended up in the German Army.

Friesen talks about these curious circumstances honestly and with good humour, and the book transitions quickly from light-hearted reminiscences to a really very good technical study of what it was like to fight in tanks on the Eastern Front.

I thought the book illustrated well how an individual could fight against the multiple dehumanizing forces of modern war and come out the other end with spirit intact. The book juxtaposes well the helplessness of men fighting in machines with their human survival instincts.

Many books have been written about TR’s time in the Rough Riders, including his 1899 version (I have an original), but Risen’s is perhaps the best. He provides context by delving into the Spanish occupation of Cuba and why it motivated so many young Americans to take up arms to free its people.

Foremost among them was 39-year-old Theodore Roosevelt, a family man with a safe government job willing to risk it all in combat. They had only three weeks of training before shipping out, and their logistical support was nightmarish. They didn’t even have enough food while on the march to San Juan Heights, and mosquitoes felled as many men as Spanish bullets, yet TR and the Rough Riders charged into history. I felt as if I was charging right along with them.