In 2010; the Army created Cultural Support Teams; a secret pilot program to insert women alongside Special Operations soldiers battling in Afghanistan. The Army reasoned that women could play a unique role on Special Ops teams: accompanying their male colleagues on raids and; while those soldiers were searching for insurgents; questioning the mothers; sisters; daughters and wives living at the compound. Their presence had a calming effect on enemy households; but more importantly; the CSTs were able to search adult women for weapons and gather crucial intelligence. They could build relationships—woman to woman—in ways that male soldiers in an Islamic country never could.In Ashley's War; Gayle Tzemach Lemmon uses on-the-ground reporting and a finely tuned understanding of the complexities of war to tell the story of CST-2; a unit of women hand-picked from the Army to serve in this highly specialized and challenging role. The pioneers of CST-2 proved for the first time; at least to some grizzled Special Operations soldiers; that women might be physically and mentally tough enough to become one of them.The price of this professional acceptance came in personal loss and social isolation: the only people who really understand the women of CST-2 are each other. At the center of this story is a friendship cemented by "Glee;" video games; and the shared perils and seductive powers of up-close combat. At the heart of the team is the tale of a beloved and effective soldier; Ashley White.Much as she did in her bestselling The Dressmaker of Khair Khana; Lemmon transports readers to a world they previously had no idea existed: a community of women called to fulfill the military's mission to "win hearts and minds" and bound together by danger; valor; and determination. Ashley's War is a gripping combat narrative and a moving story of friendship—a book that will change the way readers think about war and the meaning of service.
#171262 in Books Mark Lee Gardner 2016-05-10 2016-05-10Format: Deckle EdgeOriginal language:EnglishPDF # 1 9.00 x 1.13 x 6.00l; .0 #File Name: 0062312081352 pagesRough Riders Theodore Roosevelt His Cowboy Regiment and the Immortal Charge Up San Juan Hill
Review
6 of 6 people found the following review helpful. The Rough Riders--and TRBy Steven PetersonThis is a terrific story of the founding of the Rough Riders and then their deployment and combat experience. And the aftermath. Teddy Roosevelt was a bundle of energy--and sometimes that might not have been so good; in general. In this case; his energy had positive effects--although perhaps not so much at the outset of the Spanish-American War.The sinking of the Maine in Cuban waters (under the control of Spain) fed a lust for war with Spain. The assumption was that that nation had taken action to sink the Maine. History suggests that that was an inaccurate explanation. Nonetheless; many prominent Americans--including TR--urged that the US avenge the sinking of the Maine. This is not Roosevelt at his best. A part of him wanted "action;" to take part in military action.The book chronicles the process by which the Rough Riders (a cavalry regiment) were recruited and trained. Roosevelt wanted cowboys; sharpshooters; and others from the West (including native Americans). Also participating--gentlemen from the East Coast; including athletes; upper strata individuals; and so on. A strange mix indeed! But the troops got along pretty well; given their differing backgrounds.Roosevelt was neatly terrified by the possibility that his regiment would not be sent into battle. He used his many connections to make sure that his troops got into the fight. In the end; of course; a large proportion (but not all) of his troops boarded transports (without their horses) and steamed toward Cuba.The work does a nice job of describing the difficult conditions in Cuba--inadequate supplies; heat; disease. There is a solid depiction of the battles that involved the Rough Riders. The deaths and injuries suffered and the accomplishments. The regiment did well--but suffered heavily from battle casualties and disease.Afterwards the Rough Riders became favorites of the American people. The troops went back to their homes and life went on. Some did well--others poorly. There was such esprit; that meetings of surviving troops took place. TR's arrival at such meetings was responded to well.The book also provides a good picture of TR--his pluses (intelligence; energy; imagination; a concern for the people) and some minuses (a lust for battle and a willingness to push the nation toward war). All in all; a fine volume and very readable.4 of 4 people found the following review helpful. Give 'Em Hell TeddyBy Bob C. HaynieI bet a lot of readers out there are in the position I was when I started this book: knowing more or less that Roosevelt and his Rough Riders charged up San Juan Hill and it was a big deal during the Spanish American War and afterwards. I admit it; that was pretty much what I knew. So I was happy to see that Mark Gardner (whose "To Hell on a Fast Horse" and "Shot All To Hell" are thoroughly researched; well written and very enjoyable) had a new book out on this very topic.It lines up straight with his others: well researched and written; and an enjoyable and instructive read. The Spanish American War is barely a blip on many American History screens; but it has its place in the story--the first defeat of a vested European power by the upstart United States; the cutting edge of the Monroe Doctrine. I had supposed it was not much of a war; and I guess you could add things up and say that it wasn't; but it had some battles that provided as much action and danger as anyone could want. Roosevelt and his Rough Riders; a fascinating mix of cowboys and rich boys; all got into the spirit of the thing and were willing to "ride to the sound of the guns." All they had to do was be recruited and vetted and trained and collected and transported to Tampa; and equipped and then shipped to Cuba. Roosevelt and Leonard Wood; both of whom went on to big things; got the men together and all the way to Tampa and then saw that there was an excellent possibility that they would not get to Cuba and in on a fight that probably was not going to last all that long. A little finagling and a few shenanigans; and the Rough Riders (only about 2/3 of the entire contingent were cleared to go in) were loaded up on a ship and sent south. Once there; they were sent into action and completed their military education under fire.So there were a lot of long odds and happenstance and all that to get them into the fight. Once there; they fought with elan and courage. Roosevelt led them from the front; daring the Spanish to hit him while they hit things and people all around him; and at one point was ready to advance them on his own command; thus overriding the dilatory General Shafter; back in a tent in the rear. One wonders how his post-bellum political career might have fared had he been court-martialed. Well; probably well: Americans loved him and his spirit; and an advance was exactly what conditions demanded. As it was; he and his men (those who survived) came back covered in glory and media acclaim. It is a hell of a story.Maybe the most amazing thing in this long list of long shots and near-misses; is Roosevelt himself. He spent his own money on his men when the Army did not equip them properly; he stayed with the men in the field; sleeping and eating just like them; he led from the front. After the hostilities; when the Army dragged its feet in returning the volunteers to America; Roosevelt wrote and published a letter chastising the Army for dragging its feet; leaving these men underfed in Cuba as the disease season approached. It caused a huge controversy but got them home.There is much to admire in this story. Turn from the Big Picture and think of just this one thing: Roosevelt was politically ambitious. He knew that his actions; if admirable; would help his political fortunes. Read this book and see how he thought; what he did; how much he sacrificed; how well he comported himself; how genuinely and deeply he cared for those under his command. This was only 115 years ago. Looking around at today's crop of homo politicus; you will not believe that the political animal could have devolved that far that fast.2 of 2 people found the following review helpful. Gardner's latest work details Theodore Roosevelt's brief career as a Rough Rider - and I can speak with some authority when I teBy John A.DeMattosMark Lee Gardner and I share an interest in Wild West figures and Theodore Roosevelt. Gardner has written previous books that concern Pat Garrett; Billy the Kid and Jesse James. Gardner's latest work details Theodore Roosevelt's brief career as a Rough Rider - and I can speak with some authority when I tell you that Gardner's work is one of the best of the many books devoted to Theodore Roosevelt. Like Gardner; I have written books devoted to famous Wild West figures. Three of my seven books were devoted to men ( Bat Masterson; Pat Garrett and Ben Daniels ) who had all received appointments from President Roosevelt and were known; collectively; as the "White House Gunfighters." One of those men; Ben Daniels; had actually served in Cuba as a Rough Rider with Roosevelt and was remembered by T.R. in his 1899 book The Rough Riders. Gardner's book now occupies a place on one of my bookshelves immediately next to Roosevelt's 1899 The Rough Riders. These two volumes - the original by Roosevelt; and this impressive study by Gardner - really compliment each other and I recommend both volumes for your bookshelf. - Jack DeMattos; author of Masterson and Roosevelt ( 1984 ); Garrett and Roosevelt (1988 ) and A Rough Ride to Redemption: The Ben Daniels Story ( co-authored with Robert K. DeArment; 2010 ).
