What are some books to recommend to civilians to explain our profession of arms since a generation has grown up not bearing the brunt?

LTC Martin Metz — Wed, 02 Dec 2015 14:10:14 -0500

Less than 1% are currently serving in uniform. Only about 8% of Americans are Veterans. Not experiencing the impacts of war is both a gift and a curse. To avoid creating ignorance and furthering naivete, there are some good books to sustain some flickering knowledge. Here is a link for some of these to prime the discussion:
http://www.artofmanliness.com/2013/12/02/books-about-war/

43 Books About War Every Man Should Read | The Art of Manliness

War is a great metaphor for life. Read about war not just for the history lesson, but for the life lessons to be had as well.

Response by MAJ David Vermillion made Dec 2 at 2015 2:13 PM

MAJ David Vermillion — Wed, 02 Dec 2015 14:13:33 -0500

Thanks for the information.

Response by LTC Stephen F. made Dec 2 at 2015 2:14 PM

LTC Stephen F. — Wed, 02 Dec 2015 14:14:54 -0500

I would recommend
On Infantry by John English,
Scipio Africanus: Greater Than Napoleon, Great Captains Unveiled, T.E. Lawrence in Arabia and After by CPT H. H. Liddell Hart,
The Theory of war by carl von Clausewitz
Brave Men, Here is Your War by Ernie Pyle
Attacks by Erwin Rommel
The Art of War by Sun Tsu

Response by SGT David T. made Dec 2 at 2015 2:27 PM

SGT David T. — Wed, 02 Dec 2015 14:27:39 -0500

Many of the books at the link are really good and written by some heavy hitters in the field. However, I don't think that a civilian who has not been through it can fully understand the profession or those who practice it. A few of those books glorify war and that should be avoided as well.

Response by LTC Bink Romanick made Dec 2 at 2015 2:34 PM

LTC Bink Romanick — Wed, 02 Dec 2015 14:34:36 -0500

LTC Martin Metz thanks for posting. My wife just got rid of my books all 500. A 50 year collection.

Response by LTC Bink Romanick made Dec 2 at 2015 2:39 PM

LTC Bink Romanick — Wed, 02 Dec 2015 14:39:34 -0500

LTC Martin Metz I would add Panzer Battles by Von Manteuffel, The Forgotten Soldier by Sajer, Death Traps, Logistics for the 21ast Century, the face of Battle by Keegan.

Response by SFC Wade W. made Dec 2 at 2015 3:08 PM

SFC Wade W. — Wed, 02 Dec 2015 15:08:50 -0500

I'm reading Jake Tapper's "The Outpost" right now and it is pretty much spot on about the war in Afghanistan. It has a lot of detail about the men who were there, their motivation, why they are serving and the nasty bits of the war that few people talk about or they over exaggerate. For today's generation I think it would be a great read, kind of long but good.

Response by MAJ Ken Landgren made Dec 2 at 2015 3:17 PM

MAJ Ken Landgren — Wed, 02 Dec 2015 15:17:39 -0500

I would recommend the American Revolution for the impetus of our existence. Later the war can be used to describe the requisite components of a successful revolution.

Response by SGT Patrick Reno made Dec 2 at 2015 5:37 PM

SGT Patrick Reno — Wed, 02 Dec 2015 17:37:00 -0500

Most of the books suggested are on battle tactics. two of my favorite are My helmet for a pillow by Robert Leckie, and With the old breed by Eugene Sledge. I know they are both by Marines, but great books about the Pacific Campaign.

Response by PO3 Michael Cardinale made Dec 2 at 2015 6:08 PM

PO3 Michael Cardinale — Wed, 02 Dec 2015 18:08:00 -0500

I would recommend Rescue Warriors: The US Coast Guard, America's forgotten Warriors

Response by MSgt Curtis Ellis made Dec 2 at 2015 6:17 PM

MSgt Curtis Ellis — Wed, 02 Dec 2015 18:17:57 -0500

LTC Martin Metz Sir, You could always have them speak with real Vets...

Response by SSG Melvin Nulph made Dec 2 at 2015 7:00 PM

SSG Melvin Nulph — Wed, 02 Dec 2015 19:00:44 -0500

I'm reading one right now, 'VALOR A Gathering of Eagles', it lets them see some of the military members that has served in the past to allow them to have the freedom they have today, speaks of the price they paid as well as others have paid and reminds us of the selfless acts it takes in attempt to make sure our fellow members make it home, when your in a situation's of a living nightmares. Do not know the number of times I've read this book but think it's the third one I've owned.

Response by SGT Dana Williams made Dec 2 at 2015 9:52 PM

SGT Dana Williams — Wed, 02 Dec 2015 21:52:40 -0500

"Company Commander" by Charles McDonald woulg be a good start.

Response by PO3 Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 3 at 2015 7:53 AM

PO3 Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 03 Dec 2015 07:53:07 -0500

The only cure for generation of ignorance and furthering naivete .... is war. History shown that ... it is a cycle. all mankind can do is to delay the cycle, most of the time they make it worse by delaying it, very few they minimized it.

Response by PFC Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 3 at 2015 6:35 PM

PFC Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 03 Dec 2015 18:35:21 -0500

"The Outpost" by Jake Tapper and "They fought for each other" by Kelly Kennedy are both pretty insightful books.

Response by SSG John Jensen made Dec 3 at 2015 8:51 PM

SSG John Jensen — Thu, 03 Dec 2015 20:51:38 -0500

'The Great War for Civilization' by Robert Fisk, Iraq and Iran going back to WWI when Robert Fisk's own father risked a firing squad by refusing to lead a firing squad.

the war poetry of Siegfried Sassoon and of Wilfred Owen and Robert Graves, all served in the trenches of WWI, all wrote of PTSD, Wilfred Owen wrote a poem of a gas attack:
Gas! Gas! Quick boys - an ecstasy of fumbling, (all of us who've played with the M17 for time know that ecstasy)...........
If you could hear, at every jolt, the blood
Come gargling from the froth- corrupted lungs,
Obscene as cancer, bitter as the cud
of vile, incurable sores on innocent tongues-

Homage to Catalonia by George Orwell
autobiography of his service in the Spanish Civil War