The Vietnam War . . .Nixon . . .Kent State . . .The late 1960s and early 1970s were a time of total turmoil in America-the country was being torn apart by a war most people didn't support; young men were being taken away by the draft; and racial tensions were high. Nowhere was this turmoil more evident than on college campuses; the epicenters of the protest movement. The uncertain times presented a challenge to two of the greatest football coaches of all time. Woody Hayes; the legendary archconservative coach of Ohio State; feared for the future of America. His protégé and rival; Bo Schembechler of the University of Michigan; didn't want to be bothered by these "distractions." Hayes worshipped General George S. Patton and was friends with President Richard Nixon. Schembechler befriended President Gerald Ford; a former captain and team MVP for the Wolverines.In this enthralling book; Michael Rosenberg dramatically weaves the campus unrest and political upheaval into the story of Hayes and Schembechler. Their rivalry began with Schembechler arriving in protest-heavy Ann Arbor; Michigan; at the height of the Vietnam War. It ended with Hayes wondering what had happened to his country. War As They Knew It is a sobering and fascinating look at two iconic coaches and a different generation.
#112879 in Books Adam Makos 2014-01-07 2014-01-07Original language:EnglishPDF # 1 9.00 x .94 x 6.00l; .90 #File Name: 0425257835432 pagesVoices of the Pacific
Review
102 of 105 people found the following review helpful. Through their eyesBy Frank JosephI just started this book and had to post an early review to warn people…if you’re a fan of A Higher Call like me and you bought this book thinking it’s another A Higher Call; you’re in for a surprise. Adam Makos didn’t write this book like A Higher Call. The WWII Marines wrote this book. It’s 98% in their words. Makos just chimes in here and there to give some history tidbits and to set the stage for the veterans’ stories.I’m not complaining. In fact; by turning the spotlight on the vets the action is faster. I just read the Battle of the Tenaru River part where 4 of the Marines put you in the foxholes with them (Sid Phillips; Jim Young; Roy Gerlach; and Arthur Pendleton). Literally you’re there as the Japanese are splashing across the river toward them waving swords and flashing bayonets.One vet tells a spurt of a story then the next chimes in. Then another guy piles onto the other guy’s story and before you know it the stories are building in intensity. I found my heart pounding. When you see war only through the veterans’ eyes it’s a scary thing.I’ll add to my review later but wanted to warn people that this is a very different kind of WWII story. It’s no A Higher Call; but very unique in style and like a good WWII book should be; it’s all about the men who were there.0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. Viet Nam was bad enough for me but that was a thirteen month ...By Richard McCauleyThese stories brought the history alive for me. I knew of the battles and the casualties but this put names and faces to them. Viet Nam was bad enough for me but that was a thirteen month tour. We knew that going in. The WWII tour was get there and stay as long as you are alive and unbroken. The final pages on coming home bring it all together. I became familiar with many of the participants of this book in THE PACIFIC series on HBO. I got to know them in this book0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. Learn From This BookBy Michael D. MosesThere are stories here many people need to hear; younger as well as older people. Stories burned in the memories of men who experienced horrendous war conditions that molded them into warriors infused with an appreciation of what the costs of war really are. Each of these stories reach out to us in today's world to tell us there is a cost for freedom and liberty; ideals no longer taught in schools and universities. To read these individual journeys transcends time and distance and brings alive the experiences; conditions; and sacrifices these men made on our behalf. Our responsibility is to take these experiences and apply them so future generations will not have to endure war's brutality. We are repeating yesterday's wars because we have not learned history's lessons. We repeat them because we refuse to believe them through ignorance and the continuing desires of power and money by those who wish to become members of the elite of society. It is an ageless problem; but it can be overcome by recognizing and understanding the past; not by pretending it doesn't exist because we don't want to hear it or because we cover it up by calling it racist. We must understand and learn from the past or we will be forever doomed to repeat it; probably bloodier and more violent than what these men expetienced. That us the lesson we need to take away from this book.
