Army Life: Up Close and Personal As an active duty and reserve Soldier, as well as Army wife and mother, there were times when I felt like I was cramming six lifetimes into one. These commentaries are about those occasions that produced laughter, adventure, even heartbreak. Some helped me to understand the importance of successfully completing missions while others afforded me opportunities to grow as a person, family member, and friend. Some even led me to spectacular events in life I might never have known. For those that read this book and recognize themselves, it is my prayer they will enjoy reliving all the great times with me. As for the rest of you, whether or not associated with military life, I trust you can relate in some way to these unique Army moments. After all, it could have been you!

This is the true story of a man who fulfilled his destiny. He was just a country boy from Nebraska who grew up to achieve great things for his country. A multitude of short stories that chronicle his life begins with his parents. To know them is to know him. Through them, he received an adventurous childhood and he was instilled with a value system that governed his life. The story continues with wartime exploits, travels to Iran and Pakistan, and world-wide assignments. The story includes some people that he met along the way; some famous and some not so famous. The man was a soldier. A professional soldier who rose through the ranks and was considered the expert at the top of his chosen career field. Life after the Army has involved local politics, community service, recreation and retail sales. His primary wish in life is to see his grand children grow up and not have to follow in his footsteps.

She can’t let him out of her sight...

From the last days of the Vietnam War to the present-day war on terrorism, this story is a moving and poignant tribute to love, marriage, family, and the men and women who serve this nation. In describing her thirty-three-year journey as an Army wife, Cody gives an in-depth look at what it takes to keep a marriage strong, raise a family—oftentimes as a single parent—create a home, and face separations and loneliness amid the uncertainty and stresses that are so much a part of Army life. Over the years, Cody learns to embrace the uniqueness of her circumstances, and she finds joy, self-fulfillment, and pride in her role. But when both her sons follow in their dad’s footsteps, becoming Army Aviators and flying Apache helicopters in combat zones in Afghanistan and Iraq, Cody faces her greatest challenges as a mother and again, must balance the needs of her family with her husband’s position. Full of humor and honesty, Army Wife brings the reader into Cody’s private life in a very personal way, and in doing so opens the lens for a broader view of world events.

This gripping book is about what it was really like to fight at the sharp end in World War II. In 1947, US General S. L. A Marshall controversially wrote that out of every one hundred combat soldiers only fifteen to twenty-five actually fired their weapons at the enemy, because of the innate human reluctance to take another's life. Others maintained the opposite view that soldiers enjoyed killing. David Lee demonstrates that the situation was far more complex than either of these positions, arguing that the crucial factor for a unit s success in battle was the type of training it received. To illustrate this Lee covers actions from each theatre of the war, in depth and with comprehensive coverage of weapons and tactics. First there is the story of what happened when a battalion of British soldiers trained in the traditional manner came up against the Waffen SS, whose training was formidable and bore close resemblance to the Commandos . The success of No. 4 Commando at Dieppe is covered to show how this was put into effect. For the desert war there is a detailed look at how a rifle battalion held the snipe position against overwhelming odds, and how that same battalion was virtually wiped out when it later went to Italy. For the Far East, Lee explains how hatred of the Japanese Army gave impetus to British soldiers fighting at Kohima and American soldiers at Iwo Jima. And finally there is the story of one US infantry regiment on D-Day.

This book is a collection of short stories, diary extracts, letters, anecdotes and quotes from past and present serving soldiers. From WW1 to modern day conflicts, this book is an up close and personal perspective of what the soldier regards as his core values. These include compassion, mateship, courage, initiative, loyalty, integrity and trust. Aussie Soldier includes a 30-page battle book that summarises some of Australia's most famous battles.