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Redeeming the Great Emancipator
by Allen C. GuelzoAbraham Lincoln projects a larger-than-life image across American history owing to his role as the Great Emancipator. Yet this noble aspect of Lincoln's identity is the dimension that some historians have cast into doubt. The award-winning historian and Lincoln scholar Allen Guelzo offers a vigorous defense of America's sixteenth president.
Robert E. Lee: A Life (Jules Archer History For Young Readers Ser.)
by Allen C. GuelzoA WALL STREET JOURNAL BEST BOOK OF THE YEAR • From the award-winning historian and best-selling author of Gettysburg comes the definitive biography of Robert E. Lee. An intimate look at the Confederate general in all his complexity—his hypocrisy and courage, his inner turmoil and outward calm, his disloyalty and his honor."An important contribution to reconciling the myths with the facts." —New York Times Book Review Robert E. Lee is one of the most confounding figures in American history. Lee betrayed his nation in order to defend his home state and uphold the slave system he claimed to oppose. He was a traitor to the country he swore to serve as an Army officer, and yet he was admired even by his enemies for his composure and leadership. He considered slavery immoral, but benefited from inherited slaves and fought to defend the institution. And behind his genteel demeanor and perfectionism lurked the insecurities of a man haunted by the legacy of a father who stained the family name by declaring bankruptcy and who disappeared when Robert was just six years old. In Robert E. Lee, the award-winning historian Allen Guelzo has written the definitive biography of the general, following him from his refined upbringing in Virginia high society, to his long career in the U.S. Army, his agonized decision to side with Virginia when it seceded from the Union, and his leadership during the Civil War. Above all, Guelzo captures Robert E. Lee in all his complexity--his hypocrisy and courage, his outward calm and inner turmoil, his honor and his disloyalty.
Spectacular Women in Space (Women's Hall of Fame Series)
by Sonia GueldenpfennigSpace is the final frontier, and these ten women have established their place in it. This collection of ten biographies features women who have made an important contribution to the exploration of space. Included are Jerrie Cobb, who could only dream of flying above the atmosphere; some of the first women in space, Valentina Tereshkova and Sally Ride; and members of the current generation of women astronauts such as Julie Payette and Ellen Ochoa. This book shows the particular challenges faced by women in their quest to discover more about our universe.
Monsieur de Saint-George
by Alain Guédé Gilda M. RobertsThe first full biography of one of the greatest figures of eighteenth-century Europe, known in his time as the "Black Mozart"Virtually forgotten until now, his life is the stuff of legend. Born in 1739 in Guadeloupe to a slave mother and a French noble father, he became the finest swordsman of his age, an insider at the doomed court of Louis XVI, and, most of all, a virtuosic musician. A violinist, he directed the Olympic Society of Concerts, which was considered the finest in Europe in an age of great musicians, including Haydn, from whom he commissioned a symphony, and Mozart, to whom he was often compared. He also became the first Freemason of color, embracing the French Revolution with the belief that it would end the racism against which-despite his illustrious achievements-he struggled his whole life. This is the life of Joseph Bologne, known variously as Monsieur de Saint-George, the "Black Mozart," and, because of his origins, "the American." Alain Guédé offers a fascinating account of this extraordinary individual, whose musical compositions are at long last being revived and whose story will never again be forgotten.
The Land of Milk and Uncle Honey: Memories from the Farm of My Youth
by Alan Guebert Mary Grace Foxwell"The river was in God's hands, the cows in ours." So passed the days on Indian Farm, a dairy operation on 700 acres of rich Illinois bottomland. In this collection, Alan Guebert and his daughter-editor Mary Grace Foxwell recall Guebert's years on the land working as part of that all-consuming collaborative effort known as the family farm. Here are Guebert's tireless parents, measuring the year not in months but in seasons for sewing, haying, and doing the books; Jackie the farmhand, needing ninety minutes to do sixty minutes' work and cussing the entire time; Hoard the dairyman, sore fingers wrapped in electrician's tape, sharing wine and the prettiest Christmas tree ever; and the unflappable Uncle Honey, spreading mayhem via mistreated machinery, flipped wagons, and the careless union of diesel fuel and fire. Guebert's heartfelt and humorous reminiscences depict the hard labor and simple pleasures to be found in ennobling work, and show that in life, as in farming, Uncle Honey had it right with his succinct philosophy for overcoming adversity: "the secret's not to stop." https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DooGQqUlXI4&index=1&list=FLPxtuez-lmHxi5zpooYEnBg
El hijo judío
by Daniel GuebelMientras la inminencia de la muerte del padre se va tornando una realidad cada vez más concreta -cirugías, cuidadoras, montañas de Alplax- y la madre se obsesiona con las visitas al rabino y atesora estampitas de santos y rezos budistas, el narrador evoca su infancia y las huellas del rechazo que la atravesaron. Brillante y oscura, El hijo judío es una delicada arqueología de la obstinación de un niño que reclama la atención de sus padres. Una descarnada confesión de las múltiples coartadas para ganarse un espacio de aprobación en la conflictiva escena familiar. Un pequeño tratado sobre el exceso de amor y, paradójicamente, sobre el desamor. Y es, también, la lograda proeza de narrar la niñez desde la mirada adulta.Sin ceder a la idealización de la infancia ni al regodeo en el dolor ante la decadencia física y la muerte, Daniel Guebel disecciona, con belleza y desasosiego, su tempranísima conversión al sueño de la literatura como un acto de reparación. Hijo de un militante comunista, camuflado bajo la apariencia de pequeño empresario del rubro de los electrodomésticos, que no sabía cómo criar a su primogénito débil y llorón ("un oscuro renacuajo de piel amarillenta que se encerraba a leer"), y de una madre que solía delegar la administración de justicia en manos del marido y que exorcizaba su miedo a la pobreza mediante el arte del ikebana y el rocío del spray en el pelo. Su rabia por haber dejado de ser hijo único (la Chuchi, su hermana Claudia) expresada en una negativa a alimentarse. Los intentos por rescatar de la memoria indicios clave para reconstruir fielmente las escenas de indiferencia y rechazo. Un pibe complicado, "con problemas de conducta", que gritaba y pateaba puertas. El universo de los abuelos paternos y los maternos, de los hermanos de la madre y del padre. Una mesa dominical en la que el castellano era sustituido por una ensalada de dialectos. La escuela judía. Las pintadas callejeras. Un mundo que temblaba bajo los pies. Virgilio, Kafka, Lenin, Fogwill. El descubrimiento de la condición específica del lenguaje y, al fin, el aferrarse a la literatura como a una tabla de salvación.
El hijo judío (Edición corregida y aumentada)
by Daniel GuebelBrillante y oscura, El hijo judío es una delicada arqueología de la obstinación de un niño que reclama la atención de sus padres. Una descarnada confesión de las múltiples coartadas para ganarse un espacio de aprobación en la conflictiva escena familiar. Un pequeño tratado sobre el exceso de amor y, paradójicamente, sobre el desamor. Y es, también, la lograda proeza de narrar la niñez desde la mirada adulta. Premio de la Crítica de la Feria del Libro. Sin ceder a la idealización de la infancia ni al regodeo en el dolor ante la decadencia física y la muerte, Daniel Guebel disecciona, con belleza y desasosiego, su tempranísima conversión al sueño de la literatura como un acto de reparación. «¿Qué pasa si un escritor tendente a los juegos de espejos se enfrenta a su propia vida, al trauma de una infancia que parece no admitir el acolchado de la literatura? El resultado es El hijo judío, un libro único e intenso, que practica un equilibrio que sabe imposible entre el rencor y la piedad. Con un emocionante, por vulnerable, "deseo de reconciliación".»Carlos Pardo, Babelia «Con El hijo judío, Daniel Guebel prueba una vez más que es -quizá con Aira- el escritor con mayor amplitud de registro de la literatura argentina, alguien capaz de pasar sin solución de continuidad de la invención más desenfrenada a la crudeza total del documentalismo autobiográfico. Guebel es nuestro Philip Roth: un escritor que cuando escribe no le tiene miedo a nada.»Alan Pauls, Ñ «Es una novela hermosísima y conmovedora. No se me ocurren adjetivos mejores. Es un texto breve, entre tierno y triste, escrito maravillosamente.»Alejandra López, Redacción «Guebel se mide con Kafka en términos de sufridos hijos judíos. La alternancia entre el recuerdo de un padre autoritario y omnipotente con el presente del hombre viejo, agónico y triste, conforma los pasajes más conmovedores del libro.»Violeta Gorodischer, La Nación «El hijo judío es la narración de la conversión de Guebel a la religión de la literatura. Un espacio de escape a los radares de la ley y la observación paternas. Un lugar para ver todo de nuevo.»Demian Orosz, La Voz
The Islander: A Biography of Halldor Laxness
by Halldor Gudmundsson"An enthralling, heartening study of a man of unflagging interest in life" Independent"A thoroughly researched biography" New York Review of Books"Provides readers of English with a perfect introduction to the life and works of an outstanding writer, one whom everyone should read" Irish Times"I am thoroughly convinced by Gudmundsson's portrayal of Laxness" J. M COETZEEA strong and memorable portrayal of a man who fought heroically to write for the world, but in one of its rarest languages. Halldór Laxness won the Nobel Prize for literature in 1955. During his life, which spanned nearly the entire century, he not only wrote sixty books, but also became an active participant in Europe's idealistic debates and struggles.In the 1930s, Laxness became attracted to Soviet communism. He travelled widely in the Soviet Bloc and, despite witnessing some atrocities, remained a defender of communism until the 1960s. But his political leanings never dominated his work. Laxness continually sought to divulge the world of beauty that lurks beneath the everyday, ensuring his artistry remained a sanctuary of humanism and reflection.In this biography, Guðmundsson has been granted access to unique material by Laxness' family. As a result, the interrelationships between Laxness' personal life, his politics and his career are meticulously examined. What emerges is a grand description of a fascinating personality in which the manifold conflicts of the 20th century are mirrored."Laxness is a writer of the first degree, a writer I dreamed of coming close to" BORIS PASTERNAK, 1960"When in a bad mood I have picked one of your books. And there the pure and deep sound has welcomed me, strong and charming from the first page" KAREN BLIXEN in an open letter to Laxness in 1952Translated from Icelandic by Philip Roughton
The Islander: A Biography of Halldor Laxness
by Halldor Gudmundsson"An enthralling, heartening study of a man of unflagging interest in life" Independent"A thoroughly researched biography" New York Review of Books"Provides readers of English with a perfect introduction to the life and works of an outstanding writer, one whom everyone should read" Irish Times"I am thoroughly convinced by Gudmundsson's portrayal of Laxness" J. M COETZEEA strong and memorable portrayal of a man who fought heroically to write for the world, but in one of its rarest languages. Halldór Laxness won the Nobel Prize for literature in 1955. During his life, which spanned nearly the entire century, he not only wrote sixty books, but also became an active participant in Europe's idealistic debates and struggles.In the 1930s, Laxness became attracted to Soviet communism. He travelled widely in the Soviet Bloc and, despite witnessing some atrocities, remained a defender of communism until the 1960s. But his political leanings never dominated his work. Laxness continually sought to divulge the world of beauty that lurks beneath the everyday, ensuring his artistry remained a sanctuary of humanism and reflection.In this biography, Guðmundsson has been granted access to unique material by Laxness' family. As a result, the interrelationships between Laxness' personal life, his politics and his career are meticulously examined. What emerges is a grand description of a fascinating personality in which the manifold conflicts of the 20th century are mirrored."Laxness is a writer of the first degree, a writer I dreamed of coming close to" BORIS PASTERNAK, 1960"When in a bad mood I have picked one of your books. And there the pure and deep sound has welcomed me, strong and charming from the first page" KAREN BLIXEN in an open letter to Laxness in 1952Translated from Icelandic by Philip Roughton
Rise of Napa Valley Wineries, The: How the Judgment of Paris Put California Wine on the Map (American Palate)
by Mark GudgelA wine country odyssey. In 1976, the picturesque, agrarian Napa Valley was all but unknown to those who didn't live there. That changed dramatically when Steven Spurrier and Patricia Gallagher decided to host a blind tasting of American and French wines in Paris. When wines from California defeated those of France, the world was shocked, an industry reawakened, and Napa Valley exploded in a frenzy of growth and development. Families who had farmed for generations battled to hang onto their land, and many paid a steep price as the area transformed into one of the world's premier wine-growing regions. Join author Mark Gudgel as he explores the trials and tribulations of Napa's meteoric rise to prominence.
Enlightening Encounters: The Journeys of an Anthropologist
by Stephen GudemanOne of the world's top anthropologists recounts his formative experiences doing fieldwork in this accessible memoir ideal for anyone interested in anthropology. Drawing on his research in five Latin American countries, Steve Gudeman describes his anthropological fieldwork, bringing to life the excitement of gaining an understanding of the practices and ideas of others as well as the frustrations. He weaves into the text some of his findings as well as reflections on his own background that led to better fieldwork but also led him astray. This readable account, shorn of technical words, complicated concepts, and abstract ideas shows the reader what it is to be an anthropologist enquiring and responding to the unexpected. From the Preface: Growing up I learned about making do when my family was putting together a dinner from leftovers or I was constructing something with my father. In fieldwork I saw people making do as they worked in the fields, repaired a tool, assembled a meal or made something for sale. Much later, I realized that making do captures some of my fieldwork practices and their presentation in this book.
In the Name of Gucci: A Memoir
by Patricia GucciThe gripping family drama--and never-before-told love story--surrounding the rise and fall of the late Aldo Gucci, the man responsible for making the legendary fashion label the powerhouse it is today, as told by his daughter. Patricia Gucci was born a secret: the lovechild whose birth could have spelled ruination for her father, Aldo Gucci. It was the early 1960s, the halcyon days for Gucci--the must-have brand of Hollywood and royalty--but also a time when having a child out of wedlock was illegal in Italy. Aldo couldn't afford a public scandal, nor could he resist his feelings for Patricia's mother, Bruna, the paramour he met when she worked in the first Gucci store in Rome. To avoid controversy, he sent Bruna to London after she became pregnant, and then discretely whisked her back to Rome with her newborn hidden from the Italian authorities, the media, and the Gucci family. In the Name of Gucci charts the untold love story of Patricia's parents, relying on the author's own memories, a collection of love letters and interviews with her mother, as well as an archive of previously unseen photos. She interweaves her parents' tempestuous narrative with that of her own relationship with her father--from an isolated little girl who lived in the shadows for the best part of a decade through her rise as Gucci's spokesperson and Aldo's youngest protégé, to the moment when Aldo's three sons were shunned after betraying him in a notorious coup and Patricia--once considered a guilty secret--was made his sole universal heir. It is an epic tale of love and loss, treason and loyalty, sweeping across Italy, England and America during the most tumultuous period of Gucci's sixty years as a family business.From the Hardcover edition.
The Autobiography of Gucci Mane
by Gucci Mane Neil Martinez-BelkinThe New York Times bestselling memoir from the legendary Gucci Mane spares no detail in this &“cautionary tale that ends in triumph&” (GQ). For the first time Gucci Mane tells his extraordinary story in his own words. It is &“as wild, unpredictable, and fascinating as the man himself&” (Complex).The platinum-selling recording artist began writing his remarkable autobiography in a federal maximum security prison. Released in 2016, he emerged radically transformed. He was sober, smiling, focused, and positive—a far cry from the Gucci Mane of years past.A critically acclaimed classic, The Autobiography of Gucci Mane &“provides incredible insight into one of the most influential rappers of the last decade, detailing a volatile and fascinating life...By the end, every reader will have a greater understanding of Gucci Mane, the man and the musician&” (Pitchfork).
Tell to Win: Connect, Persuade, and Triumph with the Hidden Power of Story
by Peter GuberToday everyone -- whether they know it or not -- is in the emotional transportation business. More and more, success is won by creating compelling stories that have the power to move partners, shareholders, customers, and employees to action. Simply put, if you can't tell it, you can't sell it. And this book tells you how to do both. Historically, stories have always been igniters of action, moving people to do things. But only recently has it become clear that purposeful stories -- those created with a specific mission in mind -- are absolutely essential in persuading others to support a vision, dream or cause. Peter Guber, whose executive and entrepreneurial accomplishments have made him a success in multiple industries, has long relied on purposeful story telling to motivate, win over, shape, engage and sell. Indeed, what began as knack for telling stories as an entertainment industry executive has, through years of perspiration and inspiration, evolved into a set of principles that anyone can use to achieve their goals. In Tell to Win, Guber shows how to move beyond soulless Power Point slides, facts, and figures to create purposeful stories that can serve as powerful calls to action. Among his techniques: *Capture your audience's attention first, fast and foremost *Motivate your listeners by demonstrating authenticity *Build your tell around what's in it for them *Change passive listeners into active participants *Use state-of-the-heart technology online and offline to make sure audience commitment remains strong. To validate the power of telling purposeful stories, Guber includes in this book a remarkably diverse number of voices -- master tellers with whom he's shared experiences. They include YouTube founder Chad Hurley, NBA champion Pat Riley, clothing designer Normal Kamali, Mission to Mars scientist Gentry Lee, Under Armour CEO Kevin Plank, former South African president Nelson Mandela, magician David Copperfield, film director Steven Spielberg, novelist Nora Roberts, rock legend Gene Simmons, and physician and author Deepak Chopra. After listening to this extraordinary mix of voices, you'll know how to craft, deliver -- and own -- a story that is truly compelling, one capable of turning others into viral advocates for your goal.
Judas: A Biography
by Susan Gubar"Judas is a dark journey through the murderousness of Christian Anti-Semitism, culminating in the mass slaughter of more than a and their associated European butchers. Lucid, study is close to definitive on the fictive figure of Judas."--Harold Bloom
Late-Life Love: A Memoir
by Susan Gubar“Winning [and] intelligent. . . . [An] impressive, often heartening addition to the literature of aging.” — Heller McAlpin, Wall Street Journal In this “unique blend of memoir and literary commentary” (Bookpage), acclaimed author and literary scholar Susan Gubar contemplates the beauty and strength of enduring love—both for her husband and for the literature that has shaped her life. Throughout the complications of devoted caregiving, her own ongoing cancer treatments, and a stressful move to a more manageable apartment, Gubar proves that love and desire have no expiration date—on the page or in life. Late-Life Love offers a resounding retort to ageist stereotypes, appraises the obstacles unique to senior couples, and celebrates second chances.
Memoir of a Debulked Woman: Enduring Ovarian Cancer
by Susan GubarA 2012 New York Times Book Review Notable Book "Staggering, searing...Ms. Gubar deserves the highest admiration for her bravery and honesty."--New York Times Diagnosed with ovarian cancer in 2008, Susan Gubar underwent radical debulking surgery, an attempt to excise the cancer by removing part or all of many organs in the lower abdomen. Her memoir mines the deepest levels of anguish and devotion as she struggles to come to terms with her body's betrayal and the frightful protocols of contemporary medicine. She finds solace in the abiding love of her husband, children, and friends while she searches for understanding in works of literature, visual art, and the testimonies of others who suffer with various forms of cancer. Ovarian cancer remains an incurable disease for most of those diagnosed, even those lucky enough to find caring and skilled physicians. Memoir of a Debulked Woman is both a polemic against the ineffectual and injurious medical responses to which thousands of women are subjected and a meditation on the gifts of companionship, art, and literature that sustain people in need.
True Confessions: Feminist Professors Tell Stories Out of School
by Susan GubarThis work collects autobiographical essays by 27 pioneering feminist professors who transformed American academia in the 1970s-80s, when larger numbers of women were becoming tenured professors and administrators in higher education. Contributors come from humanities areas such as English, psychology, African-American studies, theater, and of course the interdisciplinary women's and gender studies programs that many of the contributors helped launch. They reflect on the personal roots of their professional lives and on professional conflicts surrounding the integration of women in higher education. Some of the topics they explore include coming out in academia, dealing with charges of sexual harassment, entering elite universities, and the tension between academic success and family life.
The Heart Speaks: A Cardiologist Reveals the Secret Language of Healing
by Mimi GuarneriWEAVING MEDICAL NARRATIVE AND CUTTING-EDGE SCIENCE, DR. MIMI GUARNERI EXPLORES THE FRONTIERS BEYOND THE PHYSICAL HEART. Every day, 2,600 Americans die of cardiovascular disease -- one person every thirty-three seconds. Ten times more women die of heart disease than breast cancer. Despite remarkable interventional and surgical procedures, over 650,000 new heart attacks occur annually. With groundbreaking new research, Dr. Guarneri skillfully blends the science and drama of the heart's unfolding. She reveals the heart as a multilayered, complex organ and explores the new science that indicates the heart acts as a powerhouse of its own, possessing intelligence, memory, and decision-making abilities that are separate from the mind. When Dr. Guarneri was only eight, her vivacious forty-year-old mother died of a heart attack. To overcome the powerlessness she felt that night in Brooklyn when her mother was taken from her, she became a cardiologist -- healing her own heart by healing the hearts of her patients. Dr. Guarneri spent her early years as an overworked, sleep-deprived medical student, trained to view the heart as a simple mechanical pump. She came to realize through the lives of her patients, her own medical journeys, and breakthroughs in heart research that medicine is not just about stitching up patients and sending them on their way. The heart may be "broken" as much by loneliness and depression as high cholesterol and elevated blood pressure. The lessons of the heart are as much about forgiveness and gratefulness as they are about genetics and nutrition. And healing the heart can have much more to do with healing a mind and soul than we ever knew. From the racing heartbeats of cardiac emergencies to the gentle rhythms of healing touch, Dr. Guarneri draws us into the intimate moments of life and death. She leads us on a riveting exploration of the heart's mysteries, such as why heart transplant recipients may suddenly display unique characteristics of their donor or why someone who has normal coronary arteries may experience a heart attack. For it is only by knowing the whole heart -- the mental heart, affected by hostility, stress, and depression; the emotional heart, able to be crushed by loss; the intelligent heart, with a nervous system all its own; the spiritual heart, which yearns for a higher purpose; and the universal heart, which communicates with others -- that we can truly heal.
Old-School Comfort Food: The Way I Learned to Cook
by Alex GuarnaschelliHow does one become an Iron Chef and a Chopped judge on Food Network--and what does she really cook at home? Alex Guarnaschelli grew up in a home suffused with a love of cooking, where soufflés and cheeseburgers were equally revered. The daughter of a respected cookbook editor and a Chinese cooking enthusiast, Alex developed a passion for food at a young age, sealing her professional fate. Old-School Comfort Food shares her journey from waist-high taste-tester to trained chef who now adores spending time in the kitchen with her daughter, along with the 100 recipes for how she learned to cook--and the way she still loves to eat.Here are Alex's secrets to great home cooking, where humble ingredients and familiar preparations combine with excellent technique and care to create memorable meals. Alex brings her recipes to life with reminiscences of everything from stealing tomatoes from her aunt's garden and her first bite of her mother's pâté to being one of the few women in the kitchen of a renowned Parisian restaurant and serving celebrity clientele in her own successful New York City establishments. With 75 color photographs and ephemera, Old-School Comfort Food is Alex's love letter to deliciousness.
Aldo Marín: Carne de cañon
by Juan Cristóbal GuarelloUna crónica sobre la increíble trayectoria vital de Aldo Marín, un revolucionario chileno desconocido hasta hoy <P><P> La madrugada del jueves 5 de agosto de 1977 dos jóvenes murieron en Turín mientras intentaban cometer un atentado contra el diario La Stampa. Uno de los autores del fallido atentado es un chileno que, durante los días previos, detonó bombas en distintas ciudades italianas. <P>Juan Cristóbal Guarello narra la increíble peripeciavital de Aldo Marín, un joven del norte de Chile que, producto de circunstancias inverosímiles, formó parte del proceso político llevado a cabo por la Unidad Popular. <P>Escapando de la policía secreta y exiliado en México, el protagonista llegó a Cuba para formar parte de una élite militar que tendría por objetivo volver al país para ajusticiar a Pinochet. La llegada de Carlos Altamirano a La Habana a comienzos de 1974 echó por tierra este descabellado y desesperado plan. La historia se traslada entonces a Italia, donde Marín y sus compañeros de armas se encontraron con la insurrección armada que caracterizó a la turbulenta década de los sesenta.
American Guerrilla: The Forgotten Heroics of Russell W. Volckmann—the Man Who Escaped from Bataan, Raised a Filipino Army against the Japanese, and Became the True “Father” of Army Special Forces
by Mike GuardiaA main selection of the Military Book Club and a selection of the History Book Club With his parting words, "I shall return," General Douglas MacArthur sealed the fate of the last American forces on Bataan. Yet one young Army Captain named Russell Volckmann refused to surrender. He disappeared into the jungles of north Luzon where he raised a Filipino army of more than 22,000 men. For the next three years he led a guerrilla war against the Japanese, killing more than 50,000 enemy soldiers. At the same time he established radio contact with MacArthur's headquarters in Australia and directed Allied forces to key enemy positions. When General Yamashita finally surrendered, he made his initial overtures not to MacArthur, but to Volckmann. This book establishes how Volckmann's leadership was critical to the outcome of the war in the Philippines. His ability to synthesize the realities and potential of guerrilla warfare led to a campaign that rendered Yamashita's forces incapable of repelling the Allied invasion. Had it not been for Volckmann, the Americans would have gone in "blind" during their counter-invasion, reducing their efforts to a trial-and-error campaign that would undoubtedly have cost more lives, materiel, and potentially stalled the pace of the entire Pacific War. Second, this book establishes Volckmann as the progenitor of modern counterinsurgency doctrine and the true "Father" of Army Special Forces--a title that history has erroneously awarded to Colonel Aaron Bank of the European Theater of Operations. In 1950, Volckmann wrote two army field manuals: Operations Against Guerrilla Forces and Organization and Conduct of Guerrilla Warfare, though today few realize he was their author. Together, they became the US Army's first handbooks outlining the precepts for both special warfare and counter-guerrilla operations. Taking his argument directly to the army chief of staff, Volckmann outlined the concept for Army Special Forces. At a time when US military doctrine was conventional in outlook, he marketed the ideas of guerrilla warfare as a critical force multiplier for any future conflict, ultimately securing the establishment of the Army's first special operations unit--the 10th Special Forces Group. Volckmann himself remains a shadowy figure in modern military history, his name absent from every major biography on MacArthur, and in much of the Army Special Forces literature. Yet as modest, even secretive, as Volckmann was during his career, it is difficult to imagine a man whose heroic initiative had more impact on World War II. This long overdue book not only chronicles the dramatic military exploits of Russell Volckmann, but analyzes how his leadership paved the way for modern special warfare doctrine. Mike Guardia, currently an officer in the US 1st Armored Division is also author of Shadow Commander, about the career of Donald Blackburn, and an upcoming biography of Hal Moore.
The American Heroes Collection: Hal Moore, Shadow Commander, and American Guerrilla
by Mike GuardiaThree stirring military portraits—including a biography of the Vietnam War hero who wrote the New York Times bestseller, We Were Soldiers Once . . . and Young. Hal Moore: A heroic commander in the Vietnam War, Harold G. Moore cowrote the New York Times–bestselling memoir of the battle at Ia Drang and was portrayed by Mel Gibson in the film We Were Soldiers. This “outstanding” and definitive biography expands on the account of that pivotal battle to encompass Moore’s distinguished military career from the Korean War through his courageous and invaluable service in Vietnam (Armchair General). Shadow Commander: In World War II, US Army legend Donald Blackburn escaped from Bataan along with Russell W. Volckmann and organized the guerrilla fighters known as “Blackburn’s Headhunters” against the Japanese. He would go on to play a key role in the Vietnam War, revitalizing Army Special Forces operations in Southeast Asia, spearheading Operation White Star in Laos, and eventually taking command of the highly classified Studies and Observations Group (SOG). Blackburn was also the architect of the infamous Son Tay Prison Raid, officially termed Operation Ivory Coast, the largest prisoner-of-war rescue mission of the Vietnam War. “A follow-up to a fine bio of Russell Volckmann, this tale of guerrilla warfare spans from Bataan to Vietnam.” —World War II Magazine American Guerrilla: Here is Russell Volckmann’s own story, from his refusal to surrender at Bataan to raising a Filipino army of more than twenty-two thousand men and leading a guerrilla war against the Japanese for the next three years. When General Yamashita finally surrendered, he made his initial overtures not to General Douglas MacArthur, but to Volckmann. The progenitor of modern counterinsurgency doctrine, Volkmann wrote the field manuals that became the US Army’s first handbooks outlining the precepts for both special warfare and counter-guerrilla operations, making him the true “father” of Army Special Forces. “[Volckmann’s private army] waged arguably the most successful guerrilla campaign of the entire war . . . Mr. Guardia argues, convincingly, that Volckmann deserves the title of ‘father’ of Special Forces.” —The Washington Times
Crusader: General Donn Starry and the Army of His Times
by Mike GuardiaThe biography of US Army general Donn Starry, creator of the AirLand Battle doctrine that led to victory in Operation Desert Storm. Donn Starry, one of the most influential commanders of the Vietnam War, went on to become one of the “intellectual giants” who reshaped the US Army and, throughout his career, worked to improve training, leadership, and conditions for the men who served under him. Starry was a leading advocate for tank warfare in Vietnam. His recommendations helped shape the American armor position in Southeast Asia and paved the way for his success as commander of the 11th Armored Cavalry during the invasion of Cambodia. As commander of Fort Knox and the US Army Armor School in the 1970s, Starry brought new advances to armor tactics, training, and strategy. Most notably, he created the new “AirLand Battle” doctrine, which paved the way for a decisive US victory in the Gulf War. Like most Vietnam-era commanders, Starry’s legacy has been overshadowed by the controversy surrounding the war itself—but few have had as much of an impact on modern maneuver warfare. In this new biography of Gen. Donn Starry, armor officer Mike Guardia examines the life and work of this pioneering officer using extracts from interviews with veterans and family, as well as from Starry’s personal papers.
Hal Moore: A Soldier Once . . . And Always
by Mike GuardiaHal Moore, one of the most admired American combat leaders of the last fifty years, has until now been best known to the public for being portrayed by Mel Gibson in the movie We Were Soldiers. In this first-ever, fully illustrated biography, we finally learn the full story of one of America's true military heroes.A 1945 graduate of West Point, Moore's first combats occurred during the Korean War, where he fought in the battles of Old Baldy, T-Bone, and Pork Chop Hill. At the beginning of the Vietnam War, Moore commanded the 1st Battalion of the 7th Cavalry in the first full-fledged battle between US and North Vietnamese regulars. Drastically outnumbered and nearly overrun, Moore led from the front, and though losing seventy-nine soldiers, accounted for 1,200 of the enemy before the Communists withdrew. This Battle of Ia Drang pioneered the use of "air mobile infantry"--delivering troops into battle via helicopter--which became the staple of US operations for the remainder of the war. He later wrote of his experiences in the bestselling book We Were Soldiers Once . . . and Young.Following his tour in Vietnam, he assumed command of the 7th Infantry Division, forward-stationed in South Korea, and in 1971, he took command of the Army Training Center at Fort Ord, California. In this capacity, he oversaw the US Army's transition from a conscript-based to an all-volunteer force. He retired as a lieutenant general in 1977.At this writing, Hal Moore is ninety years old and living quietly in Auburn, Alabama. He graciously allowed the author interviews and granted full access to his files and collection of letters, documents, and never-before-published photographs.