Military and Veterans Studies Commons^™

Book Review: Nothing But Courage: The 82nd Airborne's Daring D-Day Mission—And Their Heroic Charge Across The La Fière Bridge, Wylie W. Johnson

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Author: James Donovan

Reviewed by: Dr. Wylie W. Johnson, chaplain, US Army War College class of 2010

In this riveting account, James Donovan tells the dramatic story of the 82nd Airborne Division’s mission to seize and hold the La Fière bridge—an unassuming but vital link in the success of the D-Day invasion. Dropped behind enemy lines hours before the beach landings, these paratroopers faced overwhelming odds in a brutal three-day battle that culminated in a near-suicidal charge across a narrow causeway. Blending firsthand accounts, archival research, and battlefield visits, Donovan honors the courage and sacrifice that helped turn the tide …

Book Review: The Ageless Call To Serve: Rethinking Military Service For A Changing World, Richard M. Yates

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Author: Lieutenant Colonel Lanny Snodgrass, MD, PhD

Reviewed by: Commander Richard M. Yates, faculty instructor, Department of Command, Leadership, and Management, US Army War College

At age 63, psychiatrist Lanny Snodgrass defied convention by joining the Army, challenging long-held beliefs about age and military readiness. Drawing on decades of clinical experience with veterans and young soldiers, he exposes the psychological toll of sending teenagers to war while advocating for the wisdom and resilience older recruits can bring. This provocative and inspiring book reimagines military service for a modern world, urging a shift from age-based limits to capability-based inclusion.

©2026 Richard …

Book Review: Countdown: The Blinding Future Of Nuclear Weapons, Wylie W. Johnson

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Author: Sarah Scoles

Reviewed by: Dr. Wylie W. Johnson, chaplain, US Army War College class of 2010

Countdown: The Blinding Future of Nuclear Weapons discusses the American nuclear weapons enterprise by analyzing arguments from the past and situations in the present. The author explains the field of nuclear anthropology and the effects of having a long-term nuclear stockpile, as well as how research of nuclear weapons has developed over time, computer modeling, and nuclear forensics. The reviewer considers it “a readable, thought-provoking book that makes this dense subject accessible.”

©2026 Wylie W. Johnson

Book Review: The Airborne Mafia: The Paratroopers Who Shaped America’S Cold War Army, Jason A. Yanda

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Author: Robert F. Williams

Reviewed by: Jason A. Yanda, assistant professor, US Army Heritage and Education Center, US Army War College

In this gripping organizational history, Robert F. Williams reveals how a tight-knit group of World War II paratroopers rose to dominate the US Army’s leadership and reshape its doctrine during the Cold War. Through bold innovation and a fiercely held airborne culture, figures like Ridgway, Taylor, and Gavin transformed civil-military relations, atomic warfare planning, and airmobile strategy. The Airborne Mafia uncovers how subcultures can wield extraordinary influence, leaving a legacy that still echoes through today’s military institutions.

©2026 Jason …

Book Review: Strategy And Grand Strategy, John Erickson

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Author: Joshua Rovner

Reviewed by: John Erickson, senior engineer, Axiom Technologies

Joshua Rovner’s Strategy and Grand Strategy is a compelling and essential exploration of how nations succeed—or fail—when aligning military strategy with broader security goals. Through vivid historical case studies and sharp analysis, Rovner reveals how misunderstanding or ignoring the relationship between strategy (a theory of victory) and grand strategy (a theory of security) can lead to disastrous outcomes. This book is a must-read for anyone involved in national security, defense planning, or the study of statecraft in an era of technological and geopolitical complexity.

©2026 John Erickson

Book Review: Who Will Defend Europe?: An Awakened Russia And A Sleeping Continent, Darrell Driver

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Author: Keir Giles

Reviewed by: Dr. Darrell Driver, director, warfighter studies, Department of Military Strategy, Planning and Operations, US Army War College

As Russia re-arms and the US retreats from its traditional role, Europe faces a chilling question: Can it defend itself against a rising threat? Keir Giles delivers a forceful wake-up call, exposing decades of complacency and the urgent need for renewed leadership and military investment. This gripping analysis warns that without decisive action, the continent risks sleepwalking into disaster.

©2026 Darrell W. Driver

Book Review: War Ethics: Theory, Practice, And Memoir, Geoff Bailey

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Edited by Brian Orend

Reviewed by: Chaplain (Colonel) Geoff Bailey, PhD, US Army War College chaplain and director of ethical development, Department of Command, Leadership, and Management, US Army War College

Blending philosophical insight, real-world application, and personal reflection, this volume offers a comprehensive exploration of the ethics of war. From just war theory to the lived experiences of soldiers and civilians, it bridges the gap between abstract principles and battlefield realities. It is a compelling resource for scholars, practitioners, and anyone grappling with the moral dimensions of armed conflict.

Book Review: Women In Intelligence: The Hidden History Of Two World Wars, Wylie W. Johnson

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Author: Helen Fry

Reviewed by: Dr. Wylie W. Johnson, chaplain, US Army War College class of 2010

Fry’s book, Women in Intelligence, uncovers stories of women working in intelligence and espionage during wartime. Using recently declassified files, she brings to light stories of individuals and the advances in women’s suffrage during the two World Wars. The reviewer sees this as an essential work that makes a significant contribution to the history of intelligence efforts and recommends it to practitioners of the military profession.

©2026 Wylie W. Johnson

Book Review: Betting Against America: The Axis Powers’ Views Of The United States, Thomas Bruscino

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Author: Harry Yeide

Reviewed by: Thomas Bruscino, professor, operational art and theater planning, Department of Military Strategy, Planning, and Operations, US Army War College

What if the Axis powers had seen America clearly before launching into war? Betting Against America dives into the flawed intelligence, cultural biases, and strategic miscalculations that led Germany, Japan, and Italy to underestimate the United States. Through intercepted communications and insider reports, Harry Yeide reveals how these fatal errors shaped the course of World War II.

Book Review: Rhino Tanks And Sticky Bombs: Gi Ingenuity In World War Ii, William Phillips

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Author: Robert P. Wettemann Jr.

Reviewed by: Colonel William Phillips, US Army (retired), assistant professor, Department of Joint, Interagency, and Multinational Operations, US Army Command and General Staff College

Improvised weapons and battlefield creativity take center stage in Rhino Tanks and Sticky Bombs, Robert P. Wettemann Jr.’s tribute to the ingenuity of American GIs during World War II. From modifying tanks to crafting makeshift explosives, soldiers turned innovation into survival and success. This compelling account reveals how necessity and resourcefulness shaped the outcome of history’s most devastating conflict.

Copyright: ©2026 William Phillips

Book Review: The Russian-Ukrainian War, 2023: A Second Year Of Hell And The Dawn Of Drone Warfare, Paul Andrew Lushenko

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Author: John S. Harrel

Reviewed by: Paul Andrew Lushenko, professorial lecturer, Elliott School of International Affairs, The George Washington University

In the brutal second year of Russia’s invasion, Ukraine faced relentless assaults while pioneering the battlefield use of drones in a desperate bid for survival. Retired General John S. Harrel delivers a gripping account of mechanized warfare’s evolution, where unmanned aerial vehicles reshaped tactics from the trenches to the Black Sea. This vivid chronicle captures the chaos, innovation, and global reverberations of a war that redefined modern combat.

©2026 Paul Andrew Lushenko

Book Review: Lessons From The Admiral: Naval Wisdom And Sea Stories For Leaders, Richard M. Yates

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Author: Mark C. Fava

Reviewed by: Commander Richard M. Yates, US Navy, faculty instructor, Department of Command, Leadership, and Management, US Army War College

Mentorship, reliability, and adaptability—explore the Admiral’s wisdom for navigating high-stakes environments. From attention to detail to building resilient teams, discover insights that transcend the military and shape modern leadership.

Copyright: ©2026 Richard M. Yates

Book Review: Cassino ’44: The Brutal Battle For Rome, Wylie W. Johnson

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Author: James Holland

Reviewed by: Wylie W. Johnson, chaplain, US Army War College class of 2010

In this masterful retelling of the Italian Campaign’s final months, James Holland captures the harrowing struggle to break through the German Gustav Line and liberate Rome. Drawing from 20 years of research and firsthand accounts, he brings to life the chaos of Monte Cassino and Anzio through the eyes of soldiers, nurses, and civilians caught in the maelstrom. Cassino ’44 redefines our understanding of World War II’s most grueling campaign, revealing its strategic importance and human cost just days before the D-Day landings.

©2026 …

Book Review: The Ballad Of Roy Benavidez: The Life And Times Of America’S Most Famous Hispanic War Hero, Wylie W. Johnson

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Author: William Sturkey

Reviewed by Dr. Wylie W. Johnson, chaplain, colonel (US Army, retired), US Army War College Class of 2010

Dr. Wylie W. Johnson presents a review of a recent publication on one of the most celebrated Hispanic war heroes in US history—Medal of Honor recipient Roy Benavidez. Johnson overviews author William Sturkey’s biography of Benavidez, which discusses Benavidez’s “perseverance against racial prejudice, poverty, substandard education, bureaucratic inertia, popular bias against patriotism, anti-military sentiment, and physical disabilities” and also his heroism in the Vietnam War and his lifetime of service afterward. Johnson recommends the book as “military leaders need …

Book Review: Standing Up Space Force: The Road To The Nation’S Sixth Armed Service, Robert D. Bradford Iii

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Author: Forrest L. Marion

Reviewed by Robert D. Bradford III, associate professor of defense and Joint processes, Department of Command, Leadership, and Management, US Army War College

Robert D. Bradford III reviews this “first history” of the United States Space Force. He overviews the author Forrest L. Marion’s resources (“primary sources and extensive oral history interviews”) and highlights the book’s value in the way it “depicts cultural and bureaucratic barriers to…organizational change.” Bradford notes the history’s universal applicability as it relates to other situations in which an institution successfully approaches change.

Book Review: Info Ops: From World War I To The Twitter Era, José De Arimatéia Da Cruz

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Editors: Ofer Fridman, Vitaly Kabernik, and Francesca Granelli

Reviewed by Dr. José de Arimatéia da Cruz, Department of Homeland Defense and Security Issues, Center for Strategic Leadership, US Army War College

Dr. José de Arimatéia da Cruz calls Info Ops a “must-read for any future combatant commander concerned about how our enemies use information and communication technologies within a contested environment to advance their causes and wreak havoc within an increasingly polarized society.” He overviews the book’s topics, including World War I and World War II, social media, Soviet Union propaganda, and even Israel and Hamas, and discusses their immediate …

Book Review: Team America: Patton, Macarthur, Marshall, Eisenhower, And The World They Forged, Wylie W. Johnson

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Author: Robert L. O’Connell

Reviewed by Rev. Dr. Wylie W. Johnson, US Army War College class of 2010

Although early twentieth-century America’s Army was small, meagerly funded, short on equipment, and rife with other struggles, it saw the rise of great leaders. Team America: Patton, MacArthur, Marshall, Eisenhower, and the World They Forged focuses on four of them. They came from different backgrounds, yet “Together they accounted for 19 stars; together they brought about victory in their generation. Two became Chief of Staff of the Army. One rose to become the US Commander in Chief.”

Book Review: Military Virtues, George J. Fust

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Editors: Michael Skerker, David Whetham, and Don Carrick

Reviewed by Major George J. Fust, active-duty US Army officer

Filling the gap between theoretical and practical application, this collection of essays by leading scholars and practitioners revitalizes the application of virtue to the modern military environment and answers the question, “Why did the service component choose this value?” Case studies and vignettes in each chapter reinforce main arguments and drive further reflection. After reading this book, readers will not have to accept military-prescribed virtues at face value; they will have obtained an understanding and a moral map for dealing with ethical …

Book Review: The Age Of Ai And Our Human Future, Russell W. Glenn

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Authors: Henry A. Kissinger, Eric Schmidt, and Daniel Huttenlocher

Reviewed by Dr. Russell W. Glenn, principal, Innovative Defense Research LLC

Notable for its authoritative arguments and analysis of the nature and potential impact of artificial intelligence (AI), this short, effective primer complements many longer treatments and journal articles on the subject. Readers well-versed in AI will find little new here, but the book’s national security implications merit consideration. Primary themes include the transformative character and criticality of establishing international agreements regarding the application of AI. The authors remind readers of humanity’s control of AI development and the contingent responsibility to …

Book Review: The Weaponisation Of Everything: A Field Guide To The New Way Of War, Robert J. Bunker

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Author: Mark Galeottii

Reviewed by Dr. Robert J. Bunker, director of research and analysis, managing partner, C/O Futures LLC

In this field guide, Galeotti departs from his customary focus on Russia and covers a broad area of new ways—or emerging twenty-first-century means—of warfare. His expertise and penchant for illustrative and entertaining vignettes allows him to inject informed insights into his work and syncretize military historical and contemporary examples pulled from time and space.

Book Review: Determined To Persist: General Earle Wheeler, The Joint Chiefs Of Staff, And The Military’S Foiled Pursuit Of Victory In Vietnam, Gregory L. Cantwell

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Author: Mark A. Viney

Reviewed by Dr. Gregory L. Cantwell, professor, Center for Strategic Leadership, US Army War College

Published on April 20, 2023. How did the leadership dynamics of the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff (CJCS), the president, and others during the height of the Vietnam War play out? Determined to Persist analyzes General Earle G. Wheeler and others and offers what the reviewer calls a fresh perspective on the topic.

Book Review: Clear, Hold, And Destroy: Pacification In Phú Yên And The American War In Vietnam, Samantha A. Taylor

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Author: Robert J. Thompson III

Reviewed by Dr. Samantha A. Taylor, assistant professor of military and security studies, Air Command and Staff College

Published on April 20, 2023. There is no shortage of books that explore the Vietnam War and why it ended the way it did. This book does not focus on strategy or events but on the middle-level US and South Vietnamese pacification policy in the Phú Yên province and the communist strategy to counter it.

Book Review: War In The Villages: The U.S. Marine Corps Combined Action Platoons In The Vietnam War, William Thomas Allison

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Author: Ted N. Easterling

Reviewed by Dr. William Thomas Allison, professor of history, Georgia Southern University

Published on April 20, 2023. Former Marine and Vietnam War veteran Ted Easterling evaluates the Marine Combined Action Platoons and their effectiveness, calling them an “appropriate counterinsurgency method” whose potential was squandered during the Vietnam War.

Book Review: Old & New Battlespaces: Society, Military Power, And War, Robert J. Bunker

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Authors: Jahara Matisek and Buddhika Jayamaha

Reviewed by Dr. Robert J. Bunker, director of research and analysis and managing partner, C/O Futures, LLC

Published on April 7, 2023. In Old & New Battlespaces: Society, Military Power, and War, Drs. Jahara Matisek and Buddhika Jayamaha, examine the nature of battlespace and how one can make sense of it across space, through well-known and emergent domains, and along the various levels of war, asking where one should look, how one should look, and for what one should look. Reviewer Dr. Robert J. Bunker shows how the book executes well in its modernist …

Book Review: Useful Captives: The Role Of Pows In American Military Conflicts, Michael E. Lynch

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Editors: Daniel Krebs and Lorien Foote

Reviewed by Dr. Michael E. Lynch, senior historian, Strategic Studies Institute, US Army War College

Published on April 7, 2023. A book of useful and thought-provoking essays, Useful Captives: The Role of POWs in American Military History explores 300 years of wars and the role POWs have played in them. Reviewer Dr. Michael Lynch walks readers through more than half of the groups featured in the book.