Oliver P. Smith fought at Peleliu and Okinawa and then commanded the 1st Marine Division in Korea during the assault at Inchon; the recapture of Seoul; and the breakout from the Chosin Reservoir. Called one of the twentieth century’s great Marine leaders; Smith was known as an outstanding combat commander and a man of great intellect and moral courage. This biography; written by the granddaughter he helped raise; illuminates the general’s remarkable life. It draws on interviews; oral histories and a thorough examination of letters held by the family and not previously available to researchers. Gail Shisler’s investigation of Smith’s relationship with his Army superiors in Korea and with his Marine Corps peers and superiors takes exception to previously published descriptions and adds new insights into the Corps’ postwar battle for survival.
#2181296 in Books 2004-02Ingredients: Example IngredientsOriginal language:EnglishPDF # 1 1.10 x 6.32 x 9.26l; #File Name: 159114292X336 pages
Review
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful. Ships of Wood and Iron; Yanks and Rebs of SteelBy Fife and DrummerVery good history of the campaign and battle of Mobile Bay; Alabama; in 1864. It is unlikely we'll see one better at this stage.Admiral David Farragut; USN; had to shut down one of the Confederacy's last functional Gulf of Mexico ports. You can almost feel the frustration of this tough sea-dog as "friction" repeatedly foiled his attempts to assemble a fleet strong enough (and secure enough Army cooperation) to fight past Fort Morgan; dare the torpedo field; and take on the CSS Tennessee.Admiral Franklin Buchanan; CSN; had to hold that blockade-runner port open for the Confederacy; and though greatly outnumbered; no mean antagonist was he; for those long odds had no meaning to him.The lead up to this long-delayed battle is well told; but the battle itself is the best part. Good explanation of why Tecumseh's skipper chose to cross the torpedo field. Best on the close-quarter action between the Union fleet and the all too lethal (judging by the lopsided casualty figures) CSS Tennessee.Mr. Friend makes the valid point that; in August 1864; with Grant and Sherman apparently stalemated outside Petersburg and Atlanta; respectively; much hinged on Farragut's success or failure influencing President Lincoln's re-election prospects.Many excellent maps of Mobile Bay (with depth lines - important information; because although Mobile Bay was huge; only a very restricted area was deep enough in which to maneuver deep-draft warships); the Confederate Lower Defense Line; and track charts of the battle. Nice USNI edition. Numerous photos and a biographical appendix of the main characters round out this fine battle study.1 of 1 people found the following review helpful. An exceptional book! Friend; a Mobile native; ...By Jed M.An exceptional book! Friend; a Mobile native; brings an historian's sense of detail with his own local knowledge to tell a compelling story of perhaps the premier naval battle of the Civil War. The only shortcoming in the book is that not enough of them were printed. It is difficult to find anywhere at a reasonable price!3 of 3 people found the following review helpful. The Definitive Book on the BattleBy John MatlockThe Battle of Mobile Bay is best knows for Farragut's "Damn the torpedoes; full speed ahead." Less well known is the fact that this was a very important battle. Mobile was an important base for blockade runners; and was one of the victories that helped Lincoln be re-elected.Jack Friend has studied this battle for literally years. Among other things; he talks about just how effective the Confederate torpedoes (mines in today's terminology) really were. He begins in 1862 when Ferragut took command of the Union's West Gulf Blockading Squadron and continues through the end of the war. It covers the people; the tactics; the battle itself; the aftermath of the battle and the associated capture of Mobile.This is and will probably remain the definitive book on this battle.
