audiobook The Hawk and the Dove: World War II at Okinawa and Korea by Roland Glenn in History

Review

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful. The revealing life story of a 7th Division veteran of Okinawa.By John E. LarsenGlenn was a 2nd Lieutenant and was posted to the 17th Infantry Regt; 7th Division as a replacement during the Battle of Okinawa. He then served occupational duty in Korea.Glenn is a small town boy and he devotes a few chapters to growing up and to the members of his rather extroadinary family. He is very religious and hard working and somewhat incongruously very open about his adventures with the ladies. He does well as a recruit and elects to undertake officer training (OCS 90 day program) and again does well. He spends a little time processing through replacement facilities but joins his unit in April 1945.His two months of combat are dealt with in 50 pages. His introduction to the front doesn't go smoothly. He gets off-side with his commander (and later misses out on a Silver Star as a result) and his first fight is a debacle. He is able to impose more control over later actions and his unit has considerable success. He writes that he killed several enemy but only goes into detail the once. This event; ironically a mercy killing; returns to haunt him in the decades after the war. There is interest in the combat revealed. Glenn losses several close comrades as well as a number of his men. There is considerable detail at times but it is not a gripping account by any means. This is partly because the dialogue reconstructed by the author is a bit trite.This is a solid memoir. A surprising amount is devoted to duties in Korea; including interactions with surrendered Japanese and Korean prostitutes. Indeed; there is a surprising amount of material of a sexual nature - some of it absolutely bizarre given the type and context. As alluded to above; it conflicts with the persona otherwise revealed by Glenn. While the author is perfectly within his rights to write it and let's face it; soldiers will be soldiers; it may make more conservative readers uncomfortable. On a less awkward note; Glenn periodically includes copies of letters he wrote and received. Perhaps one of the more noteworthy elements of this book is Glenn's fascinating revelation of his psychological problems (and treatment) stemming from his battle experiences. So there is certainly material of interest; to the point of being surprising even. Recommended.0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. Written from the heart; timely; courageous and poignant. This marvelous book should be read.By A. Elizabeth CavageThe reward of a well written book is to have written it. Roland Glenn's newly published offering; "The Hawk and The Dove"; is not only a poignant tribute to the author's marvelous story telling abilities and amazing recall; it is a reward for his readers as well. Throughout this beautifully crafted book; they are able to follow the author's journey as a young 20 year old US army infantryman from a small; rural Pennsylvania town to the killing fields of Okinawa and the last bloody battle of World War Two in the Pacific. From there it was on to Korea; where he was assigned as an officer to take part in the repatriation of the Japanese; the very soldiers he had been trained to kill in the war and then ordered to befriend and help. Written from the heart; courageous; poignant; poetic at times; sometimes humorous; but more often than not bravely facing the devastating toll of war; its carnage; and the unspeakable personal desolation born of killing other human beings ; this marvelous book should be read. Roland Glenn's story of how he fought his personal demons; nightmares and flashbacks after returning home and for most of his civilian life tells of his need for psychological help throughout the years for what is now called Post Traumatic Stress Disorder; PTSD. His revelations are made in an effort to assist and befriend returning servicemen from Iraq and Afghanistan who are suffering from it and need help.----Elizabeth Cavage; mother of five; grandmother of ten and the widow of a deceased US Navy Veteran; World War II2 of 3 people found the following review helpful. From the book jacket:By Spencer Smith"World War II combat veteran Roland Glenn is one of the best story tellers I've come across in a long time. These richly textured stories - complete with love; sex; friendship; loyalty; and betrayal - are the bookends that frame the tale of close combat with a mortal enemy. The Hawk and the Dove asks that we face the full human toll of war: the military and civilian casualties and the psychologically wounded as well. This book demands our attention." Army Colonel Jack Jacobs (retired); recipient of The Congressional Medal of Honor; CNBC military analyst and author of his Viet Nam war memoire; If Not Now; When with Douglas Century. "By turns humorous and tragic; Roland Glenn's richly detailed and compellingly written memoir of war and peace vividly recreates a small-town youth's transformation into a man and leader of men on the horrific killing fields of Okinawa. His fascinating account of involvement in the repatriation of thousands of Japanese soldiers from Korea sheds light on a significant but little-known chapter in postwar U.S. military history." Paul Siff; Ph.D.; Associate Professor of History; Sacred Heart University