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The Man Who Rode the Thunder
by William H. RankinIt was July 26, 1959. An F8U Crusader jet fighter streaked across the sky, down the Carolina coast, close to the speed of sound. Altitude: 47,000 feet. Flying conditions: Perfect. Marine Lt. Colonel William Rankin gave only a fleeting glance at the mounting black thunderheads far below. Seconds later began the most incredible 40 minutes in history. Here is the thrilling, detailed account of how Col. Rankin was forced to bail out at almost 50,000 feet without special pressure equipment. How, after dropping 7 miles in a free fall, he plunged into the grip of a violent storm--an inferno of turbulence, rain, hail, thunder and lightning such as no man had ever seen before. For over a half hour, Col. Rankin was an airborne captive of the storm, and his eventual survival was against overwhelming odds. Here is the true story behind that headline-making event. And here is the adventurous life of the Marine--a life that fitted him so well for the fantastic ordeal he was forced to undergo. You will go with Col. Rankin as he recalls his adventures as a Marine Sergeant in World War II; into early flight training to become one of the three oldest cadets ever admitted for flying. You will fly with him as one of the famous "Fearless Four" as they bomb the bridges of Toko-Ri in Korea. You will know the thrill of trailblazing the jet age when Col. Rankin assumes command of the famous Marine Fighter Squadron 122. Finally, you will share one of the most astounding adventures of modern times--a thrilling epic of man against the terrifying forces of nature--the story of a man who survived because he had lived and trained in the true tradition of the United States Marine Corps. This book also serves as an important contribution to medical inquiries into what happens to man at great altitudes.
Sloop of War (Richard Bolitho #6)
by Alexander KentThe year is 1778, the ship is the HMS Sparrow, England's finest sloop of war, and the captain is Richard Bolitho, sailing his command into the fury of battle. The American Revolution has turned the Atlantic coast into a refuge for privateers and marauding French war ships--when the Sparrow comes upon the scene, bloody action soon follows. It is up to young Bolitho to fight the colonial rebels on the one hand, and to stave off the treachery of a beautiful woman and the dangerous incompetence of a senior officer with the other.
War in the Deep: Pacific Submarine Action in World War II
by Edwin P. HoytNo one ever lived more dangerously than those who took to the depths of the Pacific Ocean in submarines during World War II. In this book the well-known author Edwin P. Hoyt tells the exciting story of those perilous days when submariners of the U. S. navy, at first outnumbered by their Japanese enemies, put to sea in outmoded boats armed with faulty torpedoes. War in the Deep recounts hazardous adventure after adventure experienced by both Americans and Japanese. It follows the comeback of American submarines and their daring forays that led to their vital role in the economic strangulation of Japan.
Under Siege (Jake Grafton #4)
by Stephen CoontsIn a stunning explosion of terror, America's worst nightmares come true when Colombian suicide squads hit the streets of Washington. They have gone to war, and will destroy everything and everybody in their path. With its power and communications systems blown apart, the city is plunged into turmoil. In the Pentagon, Captain Jake Grafton and the Joint Chiefs of Staff face the most deadly challenge ever to threaten America. But while confusion and chaos rule the streets, a ruthless hunter, serving an unknown master, has his own catastrophic mission. He will not rest until he has wiped out the whole cabinet, starting with the President himself . .
Killer Elite
by Robert RostandMike Locken, a former specialist in security and transport, takes on a job to shepherd an exiled African politician in a risky transit across London, the first step in a triumphant return to his homeland. But out there somewhere waits an elite team of international assassins contracted to take him down -- one of whom not so long ago put three bullets into Locken that should have left him a corpse, but didn't... one bad guy's big mistake.
The Miracle of Father Kapaun: Priest, Soldier, and Korean War Hero
by Roy Wenzl Travis HeyingFather Emil Kapaun is a figure whose heroism during the Korean War still serves as a lamp to guide our feet on the path of life. Under the unbelievably brutal conditions of a prisoner of war camp, survivors say, no matter their religion Father Kapaun did more to save lives and maintain morale than any other man they know. In tracking down the story of Father Kapaun for the Wichita Eagle, Wenzl and Heying uncovered a paradox. What truly constitutes sainthood? Do we have it within ourselves? Father Kapaun was posthumously awarded the United States' highest military recognition, the Medal of Honor. The citation for it reads, in part, "Chaplain Emil J. Kapaun repeatedly risked his own life to save the lives of hundreds of fellow Americans. His extraordinary courage, faith and leadership inspired thousands of prisoners to survive hellish conditions, resist enemy indoctrination, and retain their faith in God and country."
Omake: Stories From the Warchild Universe
by Karin LowacheeIn the first collection of original stories based in the universe of the award winning novels Warchild, Burndive, and Cagebird, characters both familiar and new flesh out the worlds and lives impacted by a generational interstellar war. Included are the author's story notes, a glossary of the striviirc-na language, and the first chapter of the fourth novel in the mosaic series. Matrvoshka.
The King's Commission (The Naval Adventures of Alan Lewrie #3)
by Dewey LambdinFresh from duty on the frigate Desperate in her fight with the French Capricieuse off St. Kitts, Midshipman Alan Lewrie passes his examination board for lieutenancy and finds himself commissioned first officer of the brig o'yvar Shrike. There's time for some dalliance with the fair sex, and then Lieutenant Lewrie must be off to patrol the North American coast and attempt to bring the Muskogees and Seminoles onto the British side against the American rebels (dalliance with an Indian maiden is just part of the mission). Then it's back to the Caribbean, to sail beside Captain Horatio Nelson in the Battle for Turks Island.... Naval officer and rogue, Alan Lewrie is a man of his times and a hero for all times. His equals are Hornblower, Aubrey, and Maturin--sailors beloved by readers all over the world.
The Inn of the Sixth Happiness
by Alan BurgessGladys Aylward. She leaves England in her mid 20's, determined to reach China in spite of a war raging at the Chinese/Russian border, and eventually makes her way to a remote Chinese village where she sets up an inn with an aging missionary woman. After her partner's death, Gladys continues the mission inn alone, coming to be known as "Ai-weh-deh," the virtuous one. Her love & compassion for the people she meet form the substance of this fascinating story, including her friendship with the local mandarin. During World War II, Gladys, now a naturalized Chinese citizen, finds herself in charge of over 100 Chinese orphans with the Japanese army coming & Japanese planes dropping bombs from overhead. What happens to Gladys & the children?
The Emperor's Sword: Japan vs. Russia in the Battle of Tsushima
by Noel F. Busch"On this one battle rests the fate of our nation. Let every man do his utmost." From the bridge of his flagship, Mikasa, Admiral Togo signaled the beginning of the battle, standing near the forward rail, his body thrust forward in the determined stance of some classic Japanese war god. A tiny, Napoleonic figure-barely five feet, three inches tall, and weighing less than 130 pounds -Togo carried his Zeiss binoculars(one of three pairs in Japan) and wore his magnificent ceremonial sword, its gold-encrusted scabbard nearly touching the deck. The sword was a gift from Togo's deified Emperor, and symbolized Japan's new drive to world power by domination of the Eastern seas. The Japanese Fleet was drawn up in the Strait of Tsushima between Japan and Korea. A long smudge of smoke on the southern horizon signaled the approach of the Imperial Russian Ships. On the outcome of the Battle of Tsushima depended the fate of Japan and-ultimately-the fate of the U.S. Fleet at Pearl Harbor. One hundred years after Trafalgar, on May 27, 1905, Togo met Rozhdestvensky, Imperial Russia against Imperial Japan, with most of the long- range firepower and weight on the Russian side. This battle would decide world policy in the Pacific for decades to come. The Emperor's Sword is a violent chronicle of war and death at sea, of diplomatic intrigue, heroism, cowardice, stupidity, international politics, and individual tragedy. The backbone of the Russian Second Pacific Squadron were four new battleships, top-heavy and slow. The armada totaled forty-two vessels. Many if not most of the seamen were bitterly hostile to their officers; the crews were untrained conscripts. When Rozhdestvensky lined up his squadron to face Togo, he had already survived an eighteen-thousand-mile journey, mutiny, lack of fuel, a shortage of ammunition, and a series of mishaps that had won his armada the name of "the mad dog fleet." Noel Busch weaves the complex strands of history into a gripping, absorbing narrative of The Emperor's Sword. As history, as adventure tale, and as sobering analysis of the part played by hazard in deciding defeat or victory, The Emperor's Sword is a fascinating chronicle by a master historian- storyteller.
The Second World War Volume II
by Henri Michel“The best available history of the subject” is how the Times Literary Supplement (London) described the original French edition of this book. And Professor Michel, as President of the International Historical Committee for the Second World War and for the past twenty years Secretary-General of the French Historical Committee for the Second World War, was certainly uniquely qualified to produce the authoritative work on the second “war to end all wars.” The Second World War was an unprecedented event. Starting as a European conflict on the established pattern, it eventually became the first war to involve every continent and, in the case of the Pacific, war between continents. The use of air and sea power and the advance of technology made it the first conflict in which civilians were in the front line, and in which the distinction between combatants and noncombatants was almost erased. To a hitherto unknown degree it was also an economic struggle, decided in the end not by individual or collective skill or valor but by the balance of resources available to the participants. The last factor is most clearly evident in the long-term consequences of the war. As Professor Michel demonstrates, it is now clear that the Second World War was the swan song of the European hegemony. Europe, for centuries the begetter of nations and the master of empires, entered the conflict with the trappings, if not the substance, of world leadership. In 1945, however, it was clear that the victory had been won by the resources and manpower of the United States and the Soviet Union, and that the age of the superpowers had dawned. The nations of Europe were physically battered and economically crippled. They had lost their place in the front rank; their empires were doomed; their political and economic power destroyed. Moreover, the two superpowers were now directly involved in European affairs and would henceforth hold the whip hand in deciding the outcome of European conflicts. Professor Michel’s handling of his vast subject and its themes is masterly. The narrative is fluent and lucid, the analysis clear and brilliantly argued. He does full justice to the subject and leaves the reader with an understanding of an immensely complex period that is in itself a tribute to the author’s skill. The Second World War is amply supplemented with maps, a comprehensive bibliography, and an index, and the translation by Douglas Parmee of Queens’ College, Cambridge University, renders with admirable clarity the original’s mastery of style and subject.
Slow Dance On the Killing Ground
by Lenox CramerThis is a story about Special Forces, the trials and tribulations of its members. Excellent action adventure.
Marshal Zhukov's Greatest Battles
by Georgi K. Zhukov Theodore Shabad Harrison E. SalisburyHistory of 4 of Zhukov's battles during WWII: The Battle of Moscow, the Battle of Stalingrad, the Battle of Kursk, and the Battle of Berlin
The Green Glass Sea
by Ellen Klages(back of book) It is 1943, and almost eleven-year-old Dewey Kerrigan is on a train to New Mexico, where she will live with her father. She doesn't know where in New Mexico, exactly; the corporal who took her to the station can't tell her. It's wartime, and so many things are secret. Soon she arrives at a town that- officially- doesn't exist. It is called Los Alamos, and it is abuzz with activity, as famous scientists and mathematicians from all over America and Europe- Dewey's father among them- work on the biggest secret of all, something everyone calls only "the gadget." Over the next few years, Dewey gets to know those scientists, starts working on her own mechanical projects, and locks horns with Suze Gordon, a budding artist who is as much of a misfit as she is. None of them- not J. Robert Oppenheimer, the director of the Manhattan Project; not the mathematicians and scientists; and least of all, Dewey and Suze- know how much "the gadget" is about to change their lives, and the world. Ellen Klages's voice is remarkable, fresh, and without pretense. You will be swept away by The Green Glass Sea.
Great American Fighter Pilots of World War II
by Robert D. Loomis General Robert Lee Scott Jr.During World War II American fighter pilots ranged fiercely and bravely over most of the seas and continents of the world. They escorted our bombers, protected carriers and land bases and --whether alone or skillfully teamed together they fought to win and hold control of the air , without which no final victory was possible . In Great American Fighter Pilot of World War II, Robert Loomis presents a vivid, sweeping picture of the war fought by our ace fighter pilots from Pearl Harbor to China, from Casablanca to Berlin. as he moves form theater to theater, from service to service, he recounts the thrilling air battles of such famous pilots as Dick Bong, Don Gentile, David McCampbell, "pappy" Boyington and Bob Scott. Here is an exciting book which pays tribute to the skill and courage of the American fighter pilot, and dramatizes the important part he played in the overall strategy of the world's greatest war.
The Don Flows Home to the Sea
by Mikhail Sholokhov Stephen GarryThis rousing novel follows the brave, lusty, reckless Cossacks through four years of catastrophic upheaval-from bloody revolution to bitter civil strife.
Love and Glory
by Jeane Eddy WestinTHROUGH THE FIRE AND FURY OF WORLD WAR II, THEY RISKED THEIR HEARTS AND THEIR LIVES ... On a hot July day in 1942, at a military base in Iowa, their friendship began: wisecracking, softhearted Bunny; Page, the ambitious Army brat; naive, tormented Jill: elegant, sensual Elisabeth. Trading silk for khakis, they joined the U.S. Army as the first women officers-the WACs. From bomb-blasted England to Nazi France, from Italy to the Pacific, they plunged into the terror and splendor of war ... discovering the pride of command," the tragedy of sudden death, the passionate, deep loves that held a tender hope for tomorrow. Filled with all the ardor and gallantry of World War II. LOVE AND GLORY is the once-in-a-lifetime story of four American women who chose to serve their country-and change their destinies forever.
Time of the Singing of Birds (Grace Livingston Hill Series #23)
by Grace Livingston HillYoung Lieutenant Vance returned home to find his old gang tainted with worldliness. Then one untarnished jewel of a girl sparkled his future with honesty and innocence, bringing him the priceless gift of love with [Christian] faith." In addition, Barney Vance is concerned about his war buddy, Stormy Applegate. Find out whether Stormy survives the war and finds happiness like Barney.
The Minutemen and Their World
by Robert A. GrossHistory book about the American revolution 1775-1783, in Concord Mass.
I Served on Bataan
by Juanita RedmondThe true story of an Army nurse trapped in the Philippines during the beginning of America's entrance in WWII.
The Light in the Cellar: A Molly Mystery
by Sarah Masters BuckeyMolly and Emily are disapointed with their volunteer asignment at first. But then, they see a strange light and begin the investigation that will turn their volunteer experience from drab to dangerous!