Book Sentry, September 2011

Identify the library's new books on military history, particularly those providing context for the library's Veterans History Project.

If you see a book that looks good, click on "Check Our Catalog" and place a hold.

Afghanistan: Graveyard of Empires: A New History of the Borderlands
By Isby, David
2010-04 - Pegasus Books
9781605980829 Check Our Catalog
This illuminating history of modern Afghanistan, written by a veteran defenseanalyst, details the complex story of a country caught in a vortex of terror.448 pp.

Black Sheep: The Life of Pappy Boyington By Wukovits, John F.
2011-06 - US Naval Institute Press
9781591149774 Check Our Catalog

Carrier: A Century of First-Hand Accounts of Naval Operations in War and Peace By Hood, Jean
2011-02 - Conway Maritime Press
9781844861118 Check Our Catalog
Examines the history of the aircraft carrier

Eden to Armageddon: World War I in the Middle East By Ford, Roger
2010-05 - Pegasus Books
9781605980911 Check Our Catalog In this epic account of World War I in the Middle East, Ford presents the complete story of the invasion of the Garden of Eden that ended with a momentous victory on the site of the biblical Armageddon and the creation of Iran and Iraq.

A Glorious Army: Robert E. Lee's Triumph, 1862-1863
By Wert, Jeffry D.
2011-04 - Simon & Schuster
9781416593348 Check Our Catalog
"A Glorious Army" explains why Lee succeeded in the context of a narrative history of the 13 months when it seemed the Confederates might prevail.

The Last Mission of the Wham Bam Boys: Courage, Tragedy, and Justice in World War II By Freeman, Gregory A.2011-05 - Palgrave MacMillan9780230108547
Check Our Catalog Military historian Gregory A. Freeman brings to life for the first time the dramatic story of a young American bomber crew that was forced to bail out over Germany in August 1944. After landing, they were captured and lynched in a two-hour assault by local townspeople who had fallen prey to the worst impulses of the ravages of war. The families of these airmen were never told what actually happened to their loved ones and the few survivors had to carry this burden alone for years. After the war, a highly dramatic trial took place in the German town, forcing the locals to confront their wartime atrocity. Drawing from government archives, photos, trial records, interviews with family members, and letters home from the crew, Freeman creates a vivid narrative of the dramatic event and follows the survivors’ moving, sometimes heartrending, efforts to understand how good men could die in such a terrible way and how those left behind are supposed to go on.

Charles Jacobs and His Honor Flight

Chuck made his Honor Flight on Wednesday, August 10, catching a dawn flight aboard Southwest Airlines. Upon his 9 p.m. return to Midway Airport, he is pictured with his wife Margaret and sons, Tim, Mark and Chris from left to right. Chuck served as a Pharmacist's Mate, 2nd Class, aboard the USS Sims (DE 154/APD 50) during its service in support of the Okinawa invasion.




Chuck was the first veteran to be interviewed at the Niles Public Library for the Veterans History Project.


Adrienne Szulczynski, pictured on the left, organized the library's welcoming team and crafted the engaging, colorful, tri-fold poster. A Navy veteran herself, she had her picture taken later in the evening with an Officer Zumwalt, a grand nephew of the famous Admiral.

Access to Military Records by the General Public

The National Personnel Records Center, St. Louis can provide access to the general public, including genealogists who are not next-of-kin. Limited information from Official Military Personnel Files is releasable to the general public without the consent of the veteran or the next-of-kin.

"Hundred Years of Boot Camp" Great Lakes Naval Station

In the Friday, July 1st, issue of the Chicago Tribune writer Robet McCoppin recounts the proud and consequential history of the Naval Station Great Lakes, founded 100 years ago. On page 10 and 11 the reader can view a timeline, and pictures of such famous graduates as Michael Monsoor, the Fighting Sulivan Brothers, Carl Brashear, George Halas, and the Golden Thirteen.

Located about 30 miles north of Chicago on Lake Michigan, the training center has graduated 3.5 million recruits at a current rate of 35,000/year. The performance of sailors from the Midwest during the Spanish-American War is reported to have led military officials to chose a Great Lakes training site for the ocean-going navy.

A helpful timeline accompanied the articles in the newspaper on page 10.

Virtual Wall Vietnam Veterans Memorial

"The Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall in Washington DC honors those who died in the Vietnam War. Their relatives and friends leave letters, poems, and photographs at the Vietnam Veterans Memorial and on this web site. We bring the Vietnam Veterans Memorial to your home to help remember the sacrifices of the fallen and their families."

The Memorial Pages allow for searching by Last Name and by State & City


The pages also include
Wall Panels by Date
Faces of Freedom (photos)
Send us a photo
Height of Valor (medals)
By Military Unit
MIA Status
About The Wall
Background
Links
FAQs

65th Anniversary of VFW Post 7712 in Niles

The Niles Patch carried an excellent treatment of the above event on Friday evening, June 10. Pam DeFiglio is the editor of the Niles Patch

Niles Annual Memorial Day Observance

The local ejournal, the Niles Patch, provided a descriptive paragraph and video link in its coverage by Meryl Williams of the yearly event at the Veterans Memorial at the Waterfall at the southwest corner of the Touhy and Milwaukee intersection.