Product Description
In The Unpredictability of the Past, an international group of historians examines how collective memories of the Asia-Pacific War continue to affect relations among China, Japan, and the United States. The contributors are primarily concerned with the history of international relations broadly conceived to encompass not only governments but also nongovernmental groups and organizations that influence the interactions of peoples across the Pacific. Taken together, the essays provide a rich, multifaceted analysis of how the dynamic interplay between past and present is manifest in policymaking, popular culture, public commemorations, and other arenas.

The contributors interpret mass media sources, museum displays, monuments, film, and literature, as well as the archival sources traditionally used by historians. They explore how American ideas about Japanese history shaped U.S. occupation policy following Japan's surrender in 1945, and how memories of the Asia-Pacific War influenced Washington and Tokyo policy makers' reactions to the postwar rise of Soviet power. They investigate topics from the resurgence of Pearl Harbor images in the U.S. media in the decade before September 11, 2001 to the role of Chinese war museums both within China and in Chinese-Japanese relations, and from the controversy over the Smithsonian Institute's display of the Enola Gay to Japanese tourists' reactions to the U.S.S. Arizona memorial at Pearl Harbor. One contributor traces how a narrative commemorating African Americans' military service during World War II eclipsed the history of their significant early-twentieth-century appreciation of Japan as an ally in the fight against white supremacy. Another looks at the growing recognition and acknowledgment in both the United States and Japan of the Chinese dimension of World War II. By focusing on how memories of the Asia-Pacific War have been contested, imposed, resisted, distorted, and revised, The Unpredictability of the Past demonstrates the crucial role that interpretations of the past play in the present.

Contributors. Marc Gallicchio, Waldo Heinrichs, Haruo Iguchi, Xiaohua Ma, Frank Ninkovich, Emily S. Rosenberg, Takuya Sasaki, Yujin Yaguchi, Daqing Yang ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

Wow, amazing material here
The criticisms of this book are true. The information that the reviewers say is lacking is indeed not there. More importantly, the information--especially the photographs and drawings--that is there is spectcacular. While I would like to know much more information about the life of the prisoners, and many other details, the information that is here would likely be much harder to find than what is missing if the authors had not provided it. I think that the problem might be the title more than anything else. Possibly the title infers something different from what was delivered.
I was thrilled and amazed to see B24 and B17 aircraft with Swiss air force markings. These must be really rare photographs indeed.

Good Overview
This is in response to one of the previous reviews that wished there was more information on the pilots interned in Switzerland. You might want to read "Refuge from the Reich" by Stephen Tanner. He goes into all the details regarding the men and includes a nice, concise, history of how Switzerland ended up being neutral.

Good book from Squadron/Signal
This review is mainly a response to previous reviews more than the book itself.For those familiar with Squadron/Signal publications, the format of this book will be familiar.The subjects of most Squadron/Signal publications are aircraft specifically, more so than the men who flew them.

The two previous reviews for this book (as of the time of this posting) are actually for Strangers in a Strange Land Vol. II: Escape to Neutrality.The first (and more interesting) volume of this series, also by Stapfer, dealt with allied aircraft that had fallen into the hands of the Luftwaffe during WWII. ... Read more

Product Description
“THE MEN WHO SACRIFICED FOR THEIR COUNTRY ARERIGHTFULLY HERALDED . . . This is an honest book–one well worthreading. . . . Stanton has laid his claim to the historian’sranks by providing his reader with well-documented, interpretiveassessments.”
–Parameters

The VietnamWar remains deep in the nation’s consciousness. It is vital thatwe know exactly what happened there–and who made it happen. Thisbook provides a complete account of American Army ground combatforces–who they were, how they got to the battlefield, and whatthey did there. Year by year, battlefield by battlefield, thenarrative follows the war in extraordinary, gripping detail. Over thecourse of the decade, the changes in fighting and in the combat troopsthemselves are described and documented. The Rise and Fall of anAmerican Army represents the first total battlefield history ofArmy ground forces in the Vietnam War, containing much previouslyunreleased archival material. It re-creates the feel of battle withdramatic precision.

“Stanton’s writing. . . gives the reader a terrifying graphic description of combat inthe many mini-environments of Vietnam.”
–TheNew York Times

“[A] MOVING, IMPORTANTBOOK.”
–St. Louis Post-Dispatch
... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

I was there
Having lived through the time covered in the book, as either a member of the Army or an "Army Brat", this is the truth.My copy has notes for my kids on what it was like to see this happening.This book is honest, truthful and pulls no punches.This is a "must read" if you wish to understand these times.

It has some good points
There is a large cloud over this author because of his conduct. But none the less, I enjoyed this book and think its worth the effort to keep an eye & mind open and read the book. ... Read more

Product Description

American Soldiers in Iraq offers a unique snapshot of American soldiers in Iraq, analyzing their collective narratives in relation to the military sociology tradition.

Grounded in a century-long tradition of sociology offering a window into the world of American soldiers, this volume serves as a voice for their experience. It provides the reader with both a generalized and a deep view into a major social institution in American society and its relative constituents-the military and soldiers-during a war. In so doing, the book gives a backstage insight into the U.S. military and into the experiences and attitudes of soldiers during their most extreme undertaking-a forward deployment in Iraq while hostilities are intense.

The author triangulates qualitative and quantitative field data collected while residing with soldiers in Iraq, comparing and contrasting various groups from officers to enlisted soldiers, as well as topics such as boredom, morale, preparation for war, day-to-day life in Iraq, attitudes, women soldiers, communication with the home-front, "McDonaldization" of the force, civil-military fusion, the long-term impact of war, and, finally, the socio-demographics of fatalities. The heart of American Soldiers in Iraq captures the experiences of American soldiers deployed to Operation Iraqi Freedom at the height of the conflict in a way unprecedented in the literature to date.

This book will be essential reading for students of military studies, sociology, American politics and the Iraq War, as well as being of much interest to informed general readers.

Customer Reviews (5)

A "must read" for commanders at all levels
Dr. Morten Ender's "American Soldiers in Iraq" is an impressive, timely and useful academic endeavor that provides powerful and thought provoking insights into the motivation of our Soldiers downrange.As a former infantry battalion commander who led Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen and Marines in combat, I highly recommend this book to leaders at all levels who desire a better understanding the American Soldier.

Insightful and Valuable Resource
Dr. Morten Ender's "American Soldiers in Iraq" is insightful, meaningful, and as importantly -- useful and valuable -- including for those who develop programs to benefit former and current Active, Guard, and Reserve service members and their families. By choosing, thankfully, to present his findings and analyses in easy-to-read language, Dr. Ender engages and enlightens the reader from start to finish. The historical perspective, combined with the rigor of his research and analyses, thought-provoking questions, and myth-debunking, offers multiple vantage points from which to learn, once again, from Dr. Ender's leadership in his field.

Clearly Informative
Morten Ender's "American Soldiers in Iraq" provides an expansive and academically compelling assessment of American Soldiers engaged in combat operations. The book is written without pretense in a direct manner using clear diagrams/tables that enable substantive conclusions. While many other authors iteratively publish on U.S. operations in Iraq and Afghanistan in an attempt to keep abreast of the changes, Ender's work is unlikely to become dated within the next decade. The level of rigor in the author's research ensures his findings and conclusions are not a topical affective assessment, but instead get after the larger social constructs that bind an "All Volunteer Force" to the Republic in the 21st Century. When appropriate he cross-references his findings with previous work to illustrate institutional change in America. The primary shortcoming of the book is that Ender limits his analysis to sociological theory. The book's information is rich, so in the near term I suspect a variety of scholars will find application of Ender's material across the social sciences.In the long term this work will likely will stand as a benchmark for the next generation of study in Civil-Military relations.

Great book for understanding soldiers at a deeper level
Like all of Ender's books, this one is engaging, useful, and based on evidence rather that journalistic conjecture or historical interpretation.If you want to understand the soldier experience in the current wars in Afghanistan or Iraq, this is a "must read."This is also an approachable author who is great to interview or engage in dialogue.

Honest Review
The book, American Soldiers in Iraq by Dr. Morten Ender, is a book written from the detailed perspectives of the soldiers from an author who understands the soldiers.Opening up, the book begins with the cynical comments from the soldiers themselves, each stating how they hate surveys and how their lives will not be affected by the results.This book differs from others out there about the war in Iraq because of the methods taken and objectives of the book.
First, the author clearly has a better understanding of the average soldier than most authors do.Most often, reading books like this are either direct biographies and biased, or have a political agenda.Instead, this book is written with the common soldier in mind, bringing up a lot of point that most people miss and do not grasp - especially most civilians.The book opens up discussing the factors of boredom and makes sure to cover the day to day monotony and how boring war (especially this war) really can be.Not only that, but the author continues to cover other aspects, such as the increased amount of personal time.Each soldier given only one roommate, often gets too much time by themselves.Likewise, this is affected by the increase in technology and ability for soldiers to stay connected to the world using the internet and television.
Another important thing to mention is that the book does not assume anything of the reader.Most often, books such as this assume the reader is automatically in the know concerning the world they are entering.This book is more than understanding of people that are not familiar with the military.The books initial pages consist of lists of tables used, acronyms, ranks, pay grades, and other incredibly useful information.Instead of being at the back of the book as a reference, this author included this information in the beginning - automatically justifying and legitimizing the work that follows.
Reasons why this book was worth reading can be discussed simply by mentioning the chapters included.First, the book includes chapters on boredom, women, soldier attitudes, morale, communication, and more.This book is diverse and every inch of it is backed up with real facts and statistics - real interviews and real information.Which makes every bit of it pertinent.Chapters about soldiers quote the soldiers, and their attitudes are made very clear.
The chapter on boredom is something that is not commonly addressed.Most writers on war do not want to cover the fact that war is boring.Because boredom does not sell books, but the fact is that soldiers deal with a lot of other aspects of war, other than just combat.Because this book covers other aspects, it is made clear that information like this is important to cover.With that said, the boredom chapter, just like other chapters in the book are all based on previous information gathered as well.Which only helps to improve the legitimacy of the book.
So alright, down to the specifics.Is this book worth a read?Yes.Why?Because it is presented in such a way as to keep the reader interested (split up nicely into specific sections that get to the point), while also throwing the reasoning at the reader.Facts are cited specifically and statistics are mostly gathered into very easy to read graphs and charts.Each topic is explained, discussed and then further analyzed to provide as much thought on each subject as possible.It is clear from this book that soldiers are a lot more intelligent than they are commonly portrayed in the media and in television, and from the chapters, it is also obvious why they have to be.The leadership is forced to be creative, and the common soldier is forced to be diverse in mindset.
Overall, this book is worth the read.It gives reasons for everything, and purpose to the arguments.It does not argue for the sake of arguing, but rather, tries to find the reason there is argument.The book brings up points, and counterpoints.It assumes nothing of the reader, and understands that many people do not always think of all of these points and perspectives.Overall, the book does an excellent job of understanding the soldier and the American army of today.The author has clear respect and understanding of today's soldier and because of this, the book only benefits.
... Read more

Product Description
With the onset of World War II, African Americans found themselves in a struggle just to be allowed to fight for their country. Individuals like Lt. General Leslie McNair and First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt fought against the military's discrimination, arguing that the nation could little afford to overlook such an important source of strength. Their eventual success took the form of a military experiment designed to determine whether African Americans were as capable as white soldiers. The 784th was one tank battalion formed as a result. Part of an effort to chronicle the history of the first African Americans to serve in armored units, this history recounts the service of the 784th Tank Battalion. Replete with observations and comments from veterans of the battalion, it paints a vivid picture of World War II as seen through the eyes of soldiers who had to confront second-class treatment by their army and fellow soldiers while enduring the horrors of war. It details the day-to-day activities of the 784th Tank Battalion, describing basic training, actual combat, occupation and, finally, the deactivation of the unit. Special emphasis is placed on the ways in which these war experiences contributed to the American civil rights movements of the 1960s. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Well Done Oral History
_784th Tank Battalion in World War II_ is an oral history of one of only three African-American tank battalions in the US Army during the war.The author, Joe Wilson, Jr., previously published _761st "Black Panther" Tank Battalion in World War II: An Illustrated History of the First African American Armored Unit to See Combat_ (Jefferson, NC: McFarland & Company, 1999).He is also the son of a tanker from the 761st and a systems accountant in Washington, DC.

The 16 chapters of _784th Tank Battalion in World War II_ discuss the battalion from its initial organization to its deactivation after the war.The author also includes two short chapters on the 758th and 761st Tank Battalions, the other two African-American tank units that served in World War II.As with his previous volume on the 761st Tank Battalion, Wilson has produced an important, useful, and readable book.

Military historians have overlooked African-American combat troops for too long, and it is only justified that they now get their due attention. That having been said, the book suffers from the same problems as all oral histories - namely the verifiability, or lack thereof, of the interviewees' accounts.In fact, Wilson states in the book's acknowledgements, "I make no apologies for any seeming inaccuracies in the combat stories.They are as the eyewitnesses told them, and in the confusion and danger of battle - the `fog of war' - things happen for which there is not obvious explanation."While I sympathize with Wilson's respect for his interviewees and their perspectives, the historian's job is to offer context and analysis - both of which would have greatly improved this book.

With that caveat in mind, I recommend this book for both scholars and the general public.For scholars, it might serve as a primary source for works on World War II tank battalions or African-Americans.For the general public, it is an interesting read on an underrepresented topic.

WW II Warriors
Very detailed information about many wonderful men who served our nation with honor and pride in some of the toughest battles of WW II in Europe, and, in doing so, they had to overcome major local, national and global prejudices and abuse that was present in our world at the time. ... Read more

Product Description
This is a comprehensive record of the 761st Tank Battalion, the first African American armored unit to enter combat. Assigned at various times to the Third, Seventh and Ninth armies, the “Black Panthers” fought major engagements in six European countries and participated in four major Allied campaigns, inflicting 130,000 casualties on the German army and capturing or destroying thousands of weapons, despite severe weather, difficult terrain, heavily fortified enemy positions, extreme shortages of replacement personnel and equipment, and an overall casualty rate approaching 50 percent. Richly illustrated and containing many interviews with surviving members of the 761st, this work gives long overdue recognition to the unit whose motto was “Come Out Fighting.” It recounts the events that in 1978—33 years after the end of World War II—led to the 761st Tank Battalion’s receiving a Presidential Unit Citation, the highest honor a unit can receive. Also described are the efforts that resulted, in 1997—53 years after giving his life on the battlefield—in the Medal of Honor being posthumously awarded to Sergeant Ruben Rivers. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

Magnificent Portrayal Of America's First African American Tank Unit!
Author Joe Wilson Jr. whose father fought with the 761st Black Panther Battalion during World War Two, has written a splendid book about America's first African American tank unit to see combat during the war.During the the beginning of the war, black soldiers were serving their country not on the front lines, but in secondary roles as cooks, laundry and logistics crews, and mail handlers.Out of neccessity, African American soldiers were finally given the chance to fight, and although they fought segregated from White troops, they were at least finally given the chance to prove themselves in battle just like their white counterparts.All too often they were stigmatized as being not smart enough or unable to handle the stress of battle.Air units like the Tuskegee Airmen and Armored units like the 761st tank Battalion proved that the African American soldiers and airmen were more than formidable foes for the enemy.The "Black Panthers", fought in many major engagements across Europe, inflicting as many as 130.000 casualties against the German army.They fought with valor, and suffered a 50% casualty rate, as they punched their way to Berlin, with their M4 Sherman Tanks.In 1978, the whole unit finally received long overdue recognition, as they were awarded the presidential Citation, and Sergeant Ruben Rivers received the Medal Of Honor posthumously for valor on the battlefield.This generously illustrated pictorial history not only brings the reader to the front lines of battle, but draws a vivid picture of the stereotypical discrimination that these young men had to endure on the homefront, before they ever had a chance to fire a shot at an enemy who was threatening the entire world.I highly recommend this book to all who wish to relive the history of some brave American Tankers who gave of themselves and asked for nothing in return.I dedicate this review to the late Dorie Miller USN cook, who without training, manned a deck machine gun on a damaged ship, and destroyed two Japanese Zero's during the Day Of Infamy at Pearl Harbor Dec 7th 1941.He was the first African American of the war to be awarded the Navy Cross for valor by Chester W. Nimitz commanding Admiral USN.

The 761st ...A true group of US heros
Here is a book that reads like a screenplay waiting to happen. A book that will make you ask; "Is that the way it really was for some US Army GI's willing to serve and die for thier country?" Read`about the true accounts of the men that fought and died in their segregated tank battallion of the US Army in WWII. Get to know the names of some of the soliders of the 761st and learn about their enemies, tatics, and battle plans for fighting the war against aggression in the Europe and fighting the war against prejudice both in the United States and on the bloody battlefields of WWII. Read about the exploits and heroics of the 761st tank battallion that will both shock you and make you proud of some US Army GI's that stood up to their country and for their country. This book will inspire you to greater goals indeed.

Absolutely inspiring
The heroics and heroes described in this book should be made into an inspiring movie for all Americans, in fact, for all human beings, to be proud of. ... Read more

Product Description
A dramatic and moving tribute to the military’s unsung heroes, American Patriots tells the story of the black servicemen and women who defended American ideals on the battlefield, even as they faced racism in the ranks and segregation on the home front. Through hundreds of original interviews with veterans of every war since World War I, historic accounts, and photographs, Gail Buckley brings these heroes and their struggles to life. We meet Henry O. Flipper, who withstood silent treatment from his classmates to become the first black graduate of West Point in 1877. And World War II infantry medic Bruce M. Wright, who crawled through a minefield to shield a fallen soldier during an attack. Finally, we meet a young soldier in Vietnam, Colin Powell, who rose through the ranks to become, during the Gulf War, the first black chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. Fourteen years in the making, American Patriots is a landmark chronicle of the brave men and women whose courage and determination changed the course of American history. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (9)

Forgotten American History
Often American history has been incomplete when formally presented. The contributions of many Americans in establishing this nation have frequently been minimized, when any recognition is mentioned, or eliminated from public discourse entirely. This book gives a clearer view of the efforts and often sacrifices made by Americans of African descent for the love of their United States of America and in the hope of a better, more equitable country for their children.

The documentation of these historical facts should assure even the most skeptical of reviewers in the accuracy of reflecting these past events and deeds. This book is truly a fuller documentation of American history during the most critical and important times of our nation.

A Brilliant Work Whose Time Has Come!
Gail Buckley's extensively researched and lengthy book flows from page to page as it chronicles the Black soldier from the earliest beginnings of the Colonial era to the frontlines of Viet Nam to the dusty corridors of the Persian Gulf.Names, familiar and unknown, are introduced and profiled with ease by the author.The prejudices and biases endured by these gallant men and women make their respective stories an inspirational journey into the human spirit and willingness to overcome.

A few photographs are found mid-length and provide the reader with a view of the heroes/heroines mentioned in the text.This is a book for the history/sociology buff as well as those that have an interest in the American military.

I find it a shame that more have not read or reviewed it.If one more can be inspired to purchase the book, then I, as a reviewer, have done my job.

The Best
There are not many pieces of work detailing the African American's contribution in the military, but Ms Buckley's work "American Patriots" is good. As an ex-military that served during Desert Storm, it did me proud to read how we as a people served, sometimes in the most terrible and racist of conditions, and give their best to a nation that didn't treat them favorably in return. I am sorry that there were some mistakes in there(human error) I didn't know, but am glad someone took the time to give proper credit. Despite of it, I wouldn't dismiss the whole work as revisionist. Someone took the time to tell the story of how we served admirably for this country, andwe can read it. I agree that it should be in the schools for our children to read and every library within this country's paremeters should own a copy.

Historically informative
Extremely informative historical piece of writing laid out in an interesting and chronilogically easy to follow format.Excellent book that was well researched with lot of cross references to historical events, places and figures.Writer Gail Buckley did outstanding job of providing historical contexts to her research with the more "infamous" figures in our country's history. This is the type of history book that I painfully missed in my education of our country and military. A must read for anyone wanting a more expansive and "complete" view of the "forgotten american's" contributions to our military's history/success, fight for personal democracy, justice and equality.

Good, but not always great coverage
Here is a subject that is not as widely appreciated as it should be.Hopefully, this book gets as much popular acclaim as Brokaw's "Greatest Generation.""American Patriots" has many strengths, but its few weaknesses prevent its getting an outstanding review.

Keep in mind that there are two agendas at work in this subject:African American history and military history.It is rare to read studies that are compiled with equal passion and competence on both subjects.I suspect that the author's (and the editor's) competencies were stronger on the African American studies side of the equation, but having said that, let me add that this book's treatment of miltary, political, and social histories are usually well-researched and presented.

The positives:The text is tremendously readable.The reader is transported chronologically through over 225 years of American history, with broad, scene-setting discussions of culture and politics that form the backdrop for individual's stories.Great effort was made to properly cite facts.An unexpected plus is the inclusion of new information (having nothing to do with African Americans) that are not commonplace in "traditional" history-- one example is the apparent conflict over the use of Nationalist Chinese troops in the Korean War.

The negatives are few but troublesome.Not once, but twice, Buckley refers to Gen. Jimmy Doolittle as commander of the Flying Tigers (in fact:Gen. Claire Chennault commanded the Flying Tigers; Doolittle commanded the carrier-launched B-25 raid on Tokyo in April 1942).Also, Fred V. Cherry's Korean War fighter plane is described as a "F89G" (in fact: a Republic F-84G).Occasional errors in equipment designations are forgivable, but the mis-read on Doolittle is something that even casual military historians will catch.When such basic errors exist, it casts doubt on the "new" information that this book presents.

My concern is that unsympathetic reviewers will use the innaccuracies as an excuse to dismiss this volume as "revisionist history."The actual history, which this book takes great strides to portray, does not deserve that.Discipline and excellence, the qualities that which Gen. Benjamin O. Davis, Jr. expected from his subordinates, are what this subject's research and presentation deserve. ... Read more

Product Description
The My Lai Massacre was the most publicized incident subjected to military law during the Vietnam War, but military lawyers in all the service branches had their hands full with less-publicized desertions, drug use, rapes, fraggings, black marketeering, and even small claims. William Allison reveals how the military justice system responded to crimes and infractions both inside and outside the combat zone and how it adapted to an unconventional political, military, and social climate as American involvement escalated.

In taking readers to war-torn Vietnam, Allison's study depicts a transitional period in the history of the Uniform Code of Military Justice, which was revised in 1968. Reflecting American beliefs in discipline and efficiency in military operations, the Code and its implementation were viewed as an integral facet of pacification and counter-insurgency programs. As Allison makes clear, military law and justice in Vietnam were not intended merely as behavioral controls but were also promoted to the Vietnamese as American ideals: respect for the rule of law and an example of the best that democracy had to offer.

American military law and lawyers made near-daily contact with the Vietnamese people, and those interactions open an unusual window on the war and also shed light on contemporary military operations and nation-building missions. Based on deep research into wartime archives and interviews with participants in that conflict (including his own father, a Marine Corps lawyer who served in Vietnam), Allison offers a reflective and well-rounded picture of daily life for military lawyers in Vietnam. That portrait also illuminates the complexities of trying to impose military law and justice on a foreign culture not accustomed to Western-style democracy.

As Allison shows, while the difficulties were great and military justice may have fallen short of its goals, as in the My Lai case, military lawyers conducted themselves with honor in Vietnam. And as military crimes in Iraq dominate today's news and military justice in a combat zone continues to challenge our democratic ideals, his book provides critical insight into the historical process that underlies American military law today.

This book is part of the Modern War Studies series. ... Read more

Product Description
Eddie Fung has the distinction of being the only Chinese American soldier to be captured by the Japanese during World War II. He was then put to work on the Burma-Siam railroad, made famous by the film The Bridge on the River Kwai. In this moving and unforgettable memoir, Eddie recalls how he, a second-generation Chinese American born and raised in San Francisco's Chinatown, reinvented himself as a Texas cowboy before going overseas with the U.S. Army. On the way to the Philippines, his battalion was captured by the Japanese in Java and sent to Burma to undertake the impossible task of building a railroad through 262 miles of tropical jungle.

Working under brutal slave labor conditions, the men completed the railroad in fourteen months, at the cost of 12,500 POW and 70,000 Asian lives. Eddie lived to tell how his background helped him endure forty-two months of humiliation and cruelty and how his experiences as the sole Chinese American member of the most decorated Texan unit of any war shaped his later life. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (6)

quick read
I ordered this book for class. My professor was able to find the author and have him lecture for us, and I even got his autograph :D Fast shipping, great condition

The Adventures of Eddie Fung
My sister gave me Adventures of Eddie Fung as a Christmas present because I had previously read several other books about the Lost Batallion of WWII (Some Survived, 1000 Cups of Rice, Death March, Ghost Soldiers).All of these books are excellent and give very good accounts of the atrocities and brutality heaped upon the members of the Lost Batallion, but Eddie Fung's account stands "Head and Shoulders" above the others.Eddie gives accurate account, as other authors do, of his POW experience--with one major difference.All the other accounts of the events seem to place major emphasis on the brutality and unjust treatment given to the POWs, but Eddie approaches the book from the positiveness of the human spirit and his ability to accept the ordeals as learning blocks for the time when he would once again be on American soil.His positive approach puts the entire ordeal much more in perspective than the other accounts.Anyone wanting to learn more about the Lost Batallion MUST read The Adventures of Eddie Fung to get the entire picture.It is also a must read for any history buff that wants to learn more about the Japanese treatment of POWs in WWII.An OUTSTANDING book!!!!

Eddie Fung kept me reading late into the night!
Eddie Fung's curiosity, sense of adventure, and generous spirit in helping others is inspiring!

He never let his small stature get in the way of anything he was determined to do, whether it was to enlist in the army, help the men on the ranches where he worked at during his teens, or (secretly) help get food and medicine for his fellow POW's during WWII.

I admire his way of sharing his adventurous life, which was often humorous: he didn't hesitate to recount the times he got in trouble or made himself look not-so-smart when he could have asked for help. I like his forthright manner! As he put it to his second wife: "What you see is what you get."

Fung's spirit shines throughout the book; it serves as reminder to me of the sacrifices made by servicemen such as himself, as well as my father, and members of their generation during WWII. Moreover, he describes how he helped his fellow POW's to survive in the most unimaginable circumstances by using his past experiences, however minor they may have seemed. Being frugal, helping his mom with household chores like making preparations for dinner, and working on the ranch provided useful skills he could share with the other prisoners.

His many adventures are nicely complemented with loving family background/memories of parents and siblings, and life, post-POW. A really enjoyable read!

Don't miss out!

Eddie Rides Again or Ding-Hao Pardner!
"Another Little Big Man" might have been the immodest title of this too modest gentleman's autobiography. That memorable movie from 1970 told the life story of a diminutive guy who lived many different lives within the span of one and that could also describe Eddie Fung. Short on stature, big on life, that's Eddie. Born in San Francisco's Chinatown, he dropped out of high school and went to Texas at age 16 to become a cowboy just because he wanted to. There he discovered a now nearly vanished breed of everyday honest men and a challenging way of life that for him epitomized the American dream of freedom of spirit paid for by hard work.By 1940 as war raged in China and simmered in Europe he too joined the Texas National Guard just as many of the other ranch hands were doing. That one simple act put Eddie onto a path that took him through three and a half very tough years as the only Chinese American prisoner of war after his unit's capture by the Japanese Army early in 1942. You won't want to put it down once you begin Eddie's book but the beauty of it is that you can pick it up and open it nearly at random and be rewarded with simple truths as experienced by a complex man. For this we have Eddie's wife Dr. Judith Yung to thank for an excellent job of editing a number of multi-hour interview sessions. Judy is one of this nation's most well known and respected scholar/authors of the modern Chinese American experience. Be sure to read the Preface to learn how they met and married when Judy needed a WW II vet interview for a project she had begun. This memorable book has one little shortcoming, so to speak, that must be mentioned .... it comes to an end. This reader wanted Eddie's adventures to continue indefinitely. We do learn of his post war life including family and career, his eventual involvement with the Lost Battalion Association and its annual reunions, etc. so it is a well rounded effort. My wish came true recently when I discovered that YouTube offers a six part look at one of this special couple's book talks. Thank you sharing your life Eddie.

A Greatest Generation Inspiration
I met Eddie Fung in person last week and heard him discuss the book and his life.What a journey!He is a 10 an so is his book.There are many greatest generation stories that will never be told (my Dad's for example) so take advantage of reading this amazing story of survival from a good story teller.

Also, it is a reminder that many American minorities were in WWII who were staunch patriots, sacrificed much, and should not be overlooked. ... Read more

Product Description
Despite racial discrimination and second-class status within the enlisted corps, the U.S. Navy's mess attendants, officer's cooks, and stewards compiled a proud legacy of combat service in World War II. The heroism of a few like "Dorie" Miller became well known to the American public, but most have long been forgotten. This book tells the story of those thousands of unheralded sailors of African descent who served in frontline combat with fellow "messmen" of Filipino, Guamanian, and Chinese ancestry from the first day of war to the last. Their story begins with recruit training in the racially segregated confines of Norfolk, Virginia's Units K-West and B-East during the 1930s and proceeds through the perilous early months of war. Though long disparaged as "seagoing chambermaids" and worse, they gallantly upheld the honor of their race while shedding their blood in full proportion in some of history's greatest naval battles.

For this first major study of the subject, Richard E. Miller draws on a wealth of previously untapped primary documents and more than forty oral history interviews that he conducted.The men he interviewed served at the Naval Academy and aboard ships of all types prior to their wartime service. Miller focuses on the period from late 1932, when the Navy reopened its doors to black men, to 1943, when the ranks of the re-named "steward's branch" had grown and become transformed by the influx of wartime inductees. Collectively, the interviews cover nearly every naval campaign in the first two years of war. This unexplored perspective of the U.S. Navy puts a face on the "greatest generation's" last overlooked heroes while making a significant contribution to the operational, social, and cultural history of the U.S. Navy. 15 photographs. 6 x 9 inches. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

The Messman Chronicles: African-Americans in the U.S. Navy, 1932-1943
Richard Miller has bridge the gap between yesterday's Navy Messman rating to today's Culinary Specialist rating. He has spent a huge amount of time to "uplift the veil" of our military's unsung heroes. Heroes who fought the enemy abroad, and fought the enemy within their own country

The beauty of this book is that it links the naval heritage of Sailors who are currently Culinary Specialists and/or are Filipino, Guamanian, and African American. A person gets to see through the experiences of others the true reality of serving one's country during the 1930's and 1940's depending on one's race, creed, color, or sex. This diverse group of Americans can easily be seen in today's ranks in the Navy's Culinary Specialist rating. One can trace the impact the past has had and the impact it holds in the future. Lessons for the future are available in this book in regards to the allowance of creating a "sub class culture" in the Supply ratings.

Out of my 16 years of faithful, dedicated service, "The Messman Chronicles", by Richard Miller has been the most important book I've ever read since enlisting in the United States Navy. Before I enlisted, several veterans in my community were displeased of my choice to become a Mess Management Specialist (Culinary Specialist). I never knew of "their" story and couldn't understand their remarks or their concerns for my future welfare. As I advance through the ranks I began to understand what truly happened to them during their time of service. I could also understand why some of them are still bitter and resentful. I've decided to mend the gap of a generation misunderstanding, but more importantly I've chose to unselfishly show appreciation for a group of Americans who have not yet received their honor or recognition for their service to their country, their leadership, their commitment, their bravery, their dedication, their teamwork, and their professionalism that were displayed under the most extreme conflicting working environments and social settings. These Sailors stood tall, by living up to our current Sailor's Creed. Their story is a testimony of what our Nation's Flag represents in structuring freedom, equal rights, and civil liberties.

Those of us serving in the Navy find it very hard to express the picture we see during our years of service. When you finish the last page of "The Messman Chronicles", you will realize that "the watch" you are standing was better prepared and is a little more comfortable due to the prior generation. We must never forget their "whole story", the good and the bad. We must pass their story to the next watch for proper turnover. They stand relieved and have struck below. We now have the watch!

CSCS(SW) Thaddeus T. Wright
Force Culinary Specialist
Code: N411C2
1430 Mitscher Ave
Norfolk, Va 23551-2494
Office: (757) 836-3173
DSN: 836-3173
Cell: (757) 777-8116
Email(1): thaddeus.wright@navy.mil
Email(2): thaddeus.wright@navy.smil.mil

The Messman Chronicles: African-Americans in the U.S. Navy,
Richard Miller has obviously spent a great deal of time finding and interviewing the messmen veterans and does a masterful job, by analyzing their often poignant personal accounts, of showing how multidimensional they are. Through insightful discussion, he shows the reader the role thousands of these men played in the desegregation not only of the U.S. Navy and the military,but of all of American society as a whole. I found the final section of the book, which dealt with Doris "Dorie" Miller - the messman who displayed valor aboard the battleship West Virginia during the attack on Pearl Harbor - particularly compelling for the way it showed how politics of that era manipulated that young man's action in order to drive desegregation.

I look forward to Miller's sequel dealing with the messmen's branch during 1943 and after. There is also room for a chronicle of the Asian-Pacific Island comrades of the African-American messmen. ... Read more

Product Description
When nearly 200,000 black men, most of them former slaves, entered the Union army and navy, they transformed the Civil War into a struggle for liberty and changed the course of American history. Freedom's Soldiers tells the story of those men in their own words and the words of other eyewitnesses. These moving letters, affidavits, and memorials--drawn from the records of the National Archives--reveal the variety and complexity of the African-American experience during the era of emancipation. ... Read more