"Winner of the United States Marine Corps Gazette 2005 Francis Fox Parry Combat Initiative Award." Highpocket's War Stories is an eloquent account of combat leadership in Korea and Vietnam. Colonel Peter L. Hilgartner is widely recognized in the Marine Corps as a successful combat leader, first as a junior officer in Korea and later commanding the First Battalion, Fifth Marines fighting the Viet Cong and North Vietnamese Army. Hilgartner tells of leading troops in counter-guerilla action, and major battles with North Vietnamese troops -- Union I, Union II and Swift -- to control the strategic Que Son Valley. His story gives never-before-told, vivid descriptions of Marines in hand-to-hand combat with North Vietnamese troops from the perspective of Marines who were there. Every grunt will appreciate this gripping account.

Readers are introduced to courageous women and girls who risked their lives through their involvement in the conflict in Vietnam. These women served in dangerous roles as medics, journalists, resisters, and revolutionaries. Through their varied experiences and perspectives, young readers gain insight into the many facets of this tragic and complex conflict.

To compile the life of this amazing man in a single manuscript is almost impossible. His war years have been recorded many times, but there is also a person, an incredible person, who touched many lives and left a legacy and a spirit that will live on. —Zona Gayle Murray You've done a remarkable job pulling this project together and in capturing the history and the essence of this amazing man—how he lived and how he put his mark on this earth. I believe his spirit lives on in all the many, many, people he touched, which is his legacy. I agree that there will never be another like him, though I think that's exactly what we need: more people like Ray Murray. —Editor and author, Janet Wellington We asked you to get it right, and you did. The story of the Reservoir should be told by the people who experienced it. There was no one closer to it than Ray Murray. —Jack Buck, aide to Brigadier General Craig and historian with the Marine Museum, San Diego This tells the story of a great hero, who STOOD IN THE FOREFRONT OF THE PANTHEON OF HEROES. He helped form the Marine Corps into the fighting force it is today, never claimed credit for outstanding performance. —General Kenneth McLennan It is good to hear the full story: Ray Murray was the hero of the Chosin Reservoir where he saved thousands of Marines by leading a fearful, bloody trek to safety. His story is well known and has been recorded many times; it will be sung for centuries if the universe has any order at all. —Correspondent, John Van Doorn, winner of the Ernie Pyle Award I was with Ray Murray from the Pusan Perimeter through the frozen nightmare of North Korea. He was one hell of a leader. —Life correspondent and photographer, David Douglas Duncan At Hagaru-ri, I walked up to Ray Murray and openly commented, "Ray, you are a haggard ghost of the officer I watched lead the Fifth Marines in the assault on Red Beach of the successful Inchon landing." He replied, "Maggie, we've covered a lot of real estate since then." —Correspondent, Maggie Higgins Chesty Puller at Koto-ri: "Ray, when will the truth be told, the real truth about, the misdirected reason to proceed to the Yalu and the entrapment of the Marines at Chosin Reservoir?" There can never be enough written about this man. I've been in commands where I've called men Skipper. There was only one man who was really my Skipper. We called him Highpockets. —Author Leon Uris It was his humility that was paramount in his ability to lead. A man's man who stood head and shoulders above us all. Never used his position for himself. —Rev. Michel

June was passing quickly. Buckshot concentrated on fence repairs and improvements to the corrals. Tex was with him constantly, holding the other end when needed. Slowly, the scope of his chores increased, including the responsibility of grooming the horses and cleaning the stalls. Buckshot became the consummate teacher, but he also understood the importance of having some recreation at the end of the day. He made certain to include some time for fun or other pleasantry such as storytelling. As a result, he found Tex a willing and cooperative worker and student.One day Buckshot asked, "Tex, how would you like to go shooting with me this afternoon?"The boy's eyes widened, "You bet I would!""Well, I have an old single shot 20 gauge shotgun I think you can handle and we'll set some bottles up on yonder fence for you to shoot. We can start after we finish fixing this chute and loading ramp for the cattle. This will make it quick and easy to load the cows into the trucks.The boy smiled. He had taken off his shirt and Buckshot observed that his back was completely healed. He also noticed some new muscle developing in the lad's slight frame. I do believe he's put on a couple of pounds, he thought.Target practice that afternoon was a big success. Buckshot used the opportunity to teach and explain that knowing how to handle the gun safely was as important as good marksmanship. Tex took to the instruction like a duck to the water.After supper the trio moved into the sitting room for the evening Bible reading. When they finished Tex said, "Thanks, Buckshot, for the shooting lesson today. That was sure fun!" He was quiet for a moment then asked, "Buckshot, have you ever had any bad guys come onto the property, and do rustling or things like that?""Well son, as a matter of fact we have." Buckshot leaned back in his chair, a signature move indicating he was about to tell a story.

Once again, the Author uses his vivid imagination to capture the heroic and humorous exploits of his famed characters. You will see for the 6th time that the Author uses the unique personalities of his subjects to capture visionary excellence. From the formation of the Canine Mafia to Canines and Martians, the author will surely convince you that his sense of humor is only in your imagination. The next generation of pets will serve as a stepping stone for future adventures.

A Notable Social Studies Trade Book for Young People 2017 Glamorous American singer Claire Phillips opened a nightclub in manila, using the earnings to secretly feed starving American POWs. She also began working as a spy, chatting up Japanese military men and passing their secrets along to local guerrilla resistance fighters. Australian Army nurse Vivian Bullwinkel, stationed in Singapore, then shipwrecked in the the Dutch East Indies, became the sole survivor of a horrible massacre by Japanese soliders. She hid for days, tending to a seriously wounded British soldier while wounded herself. Humanitarian Elizabeth Choy lived the rest of her life hating war, though not her tormentors, after enduring six months of starvation and torture by the Japanese military police. In these pages, readers will meet these and other courageous women and girls who risked their lives through their involvement in the Pacific Theater of Operations during World War II. Fifteen suspense-filled stories unfold across China, Japan, Malaya, Singapore, the Dutch East Indies, and the Philippines, providing an inspiring reminder of womens' and girls' refusal to sit on the sidelines around the world and throughout history. These women—whose stories span 1932 to 1945, the last year of the war—served in dangerous roles as spies, medics, journalists, resisters, and saboteurs. Seven of them were captured and imprisoned by the Japanese, enduring brutal conditions. Author Kathryn J. Atwood provides appropriate context and framing for teens 14 and up to grapple with these harsh realities of war. Discussion questions and a guide for further study assist readers and educators in learning about this important and often neglected period of history.