Book Review: "Don't Tread on Me, A 400 year...

[dustdevil28]

.... History of America at War, from Indian Fighting to Terrorist Hunting" By H.W. Crocker III

Well, time for another book review. I can't say that I enjoyed this book as much as I enjoy most. It is notably slanted toward the right and seems to place America and Americans in the right in almost every instance.

On the plus side, this book gives great coverage on the Civil War and World War II. I also thought the coverage of the Korean War was adequate, but was disappointed by the Vietnam section.

Mario, I remember that you mentioned you read this book a few months back and you said that the Vietnam section was pretty good. I have to disagree with you on a few points here. In the imidiate start of the Vietnam section H.W. Crocker repeats 2 false assumptions on Ngo Dinh Diem stating that he ruled as a Catholic over a land of "90% Buddhist" Buddhist's at most made 40%. Also he states of Diem's brother "Ngo Dinh Nhu even raided Buddhist pagodas to crack down on dissent." The raid was because of communist infiltration in the "Buddhist protest" and the raids produced communist arms and propaganda.

Other than that it's a book that I'm sure most here would enjoy, but I wouldn't cite it as a sole reference.

[MARIO]

battleborn said:

.... History of America at War, from Indian Fighting to Terrorist Hunting" By H.W. Crocker III

Well, time for another book review. I can't say that I enjoyed this book as much as I enjoy most. It is notably slanted toward the right and seems to place America and Americans in the right in almost every instance.

On the plus side, this book gives great coverage on the Civil War and World War II. I also thought the coverage of the Korean War was adequate, but was disappointed by the Vietnam section.

Mario, I remember that you mentioned you read this book a few months back and you said that the Vietnam section was pretty good. I have to disagree with you on a few points here. In the imidiate start of the Vietnam section H.W. Crocker repeats 2 false assumptions on Ngo Dinh Diem stating that he ruled as a Catholic over a land of "90% Buddhist" Buddhist's at most made 40%. Also he states of Diem's brother "Ngo Dinh Nhu even raided Buddhist pagodas to crack down on dissent." The raid was because of communist infiltration in the "Buddhist protest" and the raids produced communist arms and propaganda.

Other than that it's a book that I'm sure most here would enjoy, but I wouldn't cite it as a sole reference.

I must have missed that in my reading of the chapter, Zach. What I really enjoyed in the Vietnam war chapter was his discussion of military tactics and strategy. But where Diem is concerned, the best book remains Moyar's Triumph Forsaken.

Overall, I liked Crocker's book. There are a few dry chapters. But overall it was a good book.

[dustdevil28]

Well yes, we can agree that Crocker covered the military tactics very well. I think his book is one of the few that do give a vivid picture of the battlefield in some of the older wars.

[scot]

Nice book review. I may just consider reading that book one of these days.

[dustdevil28]

scot said:

Nice book review. I may just consider reading that book one of these days.

Thanks, I used to post them in the "Let me entertain you" portion of the board, but since the majority of my reading is about history I thought I'd move my reviews to this section.

[scot]

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