On December 7; 1941; the Japanese Navy attacked the American Pacific Fleet at Pearl Harbor; Hawai'i. The perception remains that they succeeded in severely crippling the navy; however; nothing could be further from the truth. Thanks to meticulous research; Daughters of Infamy puts this myth rest and shows that the vast majority of warships in the harbor suffered no damage at all. Former US Navy photographer David Kilmer provides documentation on each ship that survived the Pearl Harbor massacre. He records what happened the day of the attack; then traces the ships' movements after December 7 and; in some cases; their destiny after the war. Contrary to popular belief; many met the enemy and helped to win the war in the Pacific. Undoubtedly the first work to compile factual and informative data on nearly all the ships in Pearl Harbor in December of 1941; Kilmer's in-depth record fills a scholarly void. His fascinating narrative on each ship adds another layer of expertise and provides a new perspective on a familiar event.
#5123534 in Books Myron Miller 2011-04-20Original language:EnglishPDF # 1 9.00 x .50 x 6.00l; .72 #File Name: 1456881450218 pagesThe Soul of a Soldier
Review
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful. a common man's perspectiveBy A. Wieland"The Soul of a Soldier" is a short; enjoyable book that gives the reader a common man's perspective of the Civil War. The book is built around 46 letters from Samuel Miller to his wife; Silence; and a few other individuals while he served with the 211th Pennsylvania Regiment during 1864-65. There are two ways to read the letters: (1) chronologically--the text of each letter is reproduced in Appendix B; or (2) topically--where excerpts from the letters are framed by explanatory material. This consitutes the 116 pages of the main body of the book. For those (like me) who are less familiar with the Civil War; the latter method is best. Samuel served in the Petersburg campaign before he was tapped to join the Mounted Pioneers. Think of the Mounted Pioneers as a predecessor to the Army Corps of Engineers. In Samuel's words; "wherever there is a bridge to build or repair; we have to do it." Samuel gives us a "boots on the ground" view of the war: what the soldiers ate; how they slept; the diseases that afflicted the troops; the status of their horses; and the price of supplies. We learn what was on Samuel's mind: the well-being of his family; news from back home; hostility from "Copperheads" (northerners opposed to the war); and how to to vote while deployed. We also see Samuel's Christian faith develop during his time in the military. Prior to the war; Samuel attended church but generally left matters of faith to his wife. While in the Union Army; he began reading a [New]Testament. The horrors of war prompted deeper thoughts about suffering; eternity; and commitment to God and family. Needless to say; Samuel returned home a different man than when he left. New to me were the number of confederate soldiers deserting to the North in the final months of the war (several hundred per day!) and "picket duty." Picket duty involved forward observation of enemy troops. Samuel describes how the pickets from each side held face-to-face conversations and traded goods and newspapers. Truly; this was a war between brothers. The author; Myron Miller; great-grandson of Samuel; has done much to enrich the reading experience. Appendix A contains helpful background material on Samuel's family; a list of individuals mentioned in the letters; and factual tidbits such as what newspapers Samuel read. Appendix C contains photos of some of the original letters in manuscript form so we can see what Silence would have received. This book will appeal to Civil War buffs; as well as to educators who want to give students a brief; accessible look at everyday life for a Union soldier. It will even appeal to those interested in spiritual formation. Last summer I listened to a cassette tape my husband sent to his parents in 1970 from the jungles of Vietnam. Different century; different war; yet strikingly similar content: hunger for news from home; descriptions of food and weather conditions; speculation as to when the war will end--all accompanied by reassurance that the soldier is managing fine. Do you know someone who is currently deployed? Why not write to them today.0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. Soul Soldier is a Super Read!By Doug LaufferYears ago I read The Soul of a Soldier; I did not know it was on . So it is only now that I am saying that this is an extraordinary read. I am a student of history but; I am not a Civil War expert; therefore the experiences of this soldier and his love for his wife; Silence and God; were really fascinating and engaging. This is a true story and I could NOT PUT THIS BOOK DOWN until I finished it!0 of 6 people found the following review helpful. Have Silence's pictureBy RobertaI have not read this most valuable book yet; however; I believe I furnished some of the letters in the book. Silence was a sister to my great grandfather John Duncan.
