What was the last book you read or are currently reading?

"Liberty" by Stephen Coonts, a tale of terrorism.

Eat That Frog! by Brian Tracy. A book about procrastination. My favorite subject, but one I'd like to drop out of and flunk, if you know what I mean.

Cheers

Hunter by James Byron Huggins.
An illicit medical experiment has gone wrong, and the attempt to combine the recovered DNA of one of our more violent and predatory predecessors with that of modern man has resulted in a creature whose amazing powers of brain and muscle are matched only by its survival instincts. Only a .50 cal Barrett will hurt the creature.

Last book I read was a Young Adult book called "City of Embers" about people who're living underground and don't realize it...

Book I'm currently reading is my History textbook.

i am reading a book for my english class that, for the first time, is actually pretty decent, fahrenheit 451. its about this townt aht doesnt allow any type of book or reading and it was written in the 40's i think and is set in a futuristic time. and the firemen are the ones eho actually set the fires on houses of those who own a book and they also burn all the books they find.
i am also reading nicholas sparks' book the choice and so far it is grreat also!

Quote from Duke's Duchess

i am reading a book for my english class that, for the first time, is actually pretty decent, fahrenheit 451.

That is a great book. I have lost count the amount of times I read the book or watched the movie.

I am currently reading Bushmasters: America's Jungle Warriors of World War II by Anthony Arthur. We have just recently come across a old scrapbook that my grandfather made up and found out he was in the 158th Bushmaster RCT during WW2. He never talked about it while he was alive so I have been doing some research. For interesting story, these guys were in the middle of the south pacific's worse fighting.

And on a side note Bill, they started out as a Arizona National Guard unit.

Quote from SXViper

I am currently reading Bushmasters: America's Jungle Warriors of World War II by Anthony Arthur. We have just recently come across a old scrapbook that my grandfather made up and found out he was in the 158th Bushmaster RCT during WW2. He never talked about it while he was alive so I have been doing some research. For interesting story, these guys were in the middle of the south pacific's worse fighting.

And on a side note Bill, they started out as a Arizona National Guard unit.

That's interesting info, Todd. I've read a lot of military history and this is the first time I've ever heard of that unit. I'll have to do some research - will also try to get hold of the book you're reading.

Quote from Stumpy

That's interesting info, Todd. I've read a lot of military history and this is the first time I've ever heard of that unit. I'll have to do some research - will also try to get hold of the book you're reading.

My grandpa was a heavy machine gunner(.30 cal) in the 6th army, 158th RCT, 43rd Div, Company M(at one time he was with company L). He received a purple heart(with a cluster, was wounded 2 times), CIB(combat infantry badge) Philipphine Liberation medal(with a bronze arrow), plus a couple more ribbons for WW2 victory, good conduct, ect... I don't have his seperatino papers in front of me. I do have the ribbons and purple heart as well.

He fought in New Guinea, Bismark Archipelago, Luzon/Phillipines and was part of the occupation forces in Japan. I have his scrapbook with various photos, boot camp and related photos and info. He trained at Fort Ord and Camp Roberts before being assigned to the 158th Bushmasters RCT. I also have a japanese sword that he took off a dead japanese.

I was always very close to him before I went into the Navy in 1984, he died Dec. 14th, 1986. I never knew any of his story though and I am just now getting the full picture of what he did in WW2. I wish I could have talked to him about it, he might not have talked about it as most vets don't, but it would have been nice to try. From an article that is in the scrapbook from "Yank" magazine he had a paragraph circled and I can see why he decided to not talk about his time in WW2. I am going to try and post the circled article here:

Yank article.jpg

Here is there shoulder patch that they wore as well:

158th patch.jpg

Here are a couple website's that have some info on the 158th RCT :

http://www.bushmasters158.com/

http://bushmaster.vibobgen.com/

I'm currently reading a book called Aftermath: The Remnants Of War. It's about battlefields around the world that still yield remnants, both human and man made. For instance, the first chapter deals with the WWl battlefields in France, like Verdun, where as of 1995, more than 12 million unexploded shells, bombs and, grenades are still in the earth and still work their way to the surface and the special crews France uses to clear the fields. Since 1946, they've cleared 18 million artillery shells of various sizes, 10 million grenades, and 600,000 bombs dropped from aircraft. They're taken to a special disposal area on the coast of France and tons and tons are blown up underwater. It's really something else. Those crews risk their lives moving live ordnance that could go off anytime. Some of it has mustard and chlorine gas inside them and very lethal.
The second chapter deals with The Battle Of Stalingrad where the remains of hundreds of thousands of German soldiers are still buried in mass graves and their bones protrude from the earth much like the shells of Verdun. and now, I'm reading about the nuclear test sites in Nevada and what they yield since all those nuclear bombs were tested years ago. Very interesting book.

Thanks Carl. It has been fun and enlightening getting to know the history of this unit and my grandpa's time in WW2. There is another book about the Bushmasters that I plan on geting once I am done with the one I mentioned above. It is by Harold Braun and it is called Braun's Battlin' Bastards: The Bushmasters of Company B 1st Batallion, 158th R.C.T. I wish I caould show you guys all that I have from his scrapbook that he made. Very intersting photos and humbling to see what those guys went through.

Quote from SXViper

humbling to see what those guys went through.

I cannot but help comparing the caliber of Americans we used to have and those we have now. And as far as I'm concerned, large numbers of our contemporaries don't hold up too well in the comparison.

I cannot fault the job our youngsters have done in Iraq and Afghanistan. I personally think they've looked as good as our boys did in earlier conflicts but what's sad is that there are so few of 'em.

I'm down to the last 200 pages of Lonesome Dove. Great book! I have read McMurtry's entire saga with Captain Gus McRae & Captain Woodrow Call. All were very good books.

After that, I'm starting: Texas Rangers, The First 100 years by Robert Utley. Utley is a great author.

I've got a buddy who is also a moderator on our Western Forum that is a Western author who I would highly reccommend. His name is Chuck Lewis. He has written approximately (6) Western books. Those of you who like funny Westerns should read The Reprobates- A Hundred-Proof Tale of the West. That book will have you laughing from the first page to the last. I have read all but one of Chuck's books & have thoroughly enjoyed them all. Chuck is also a contributing editor for True West Magazine.

Here is a link to Chuck's website:

http://www.chlbooks.com/western_books.htm

Happy reading all!

Quote from Stumpy

I cannot but help comparing the caliber of Americans we used to have and those we have now. And as far as I'm concerned, large numbers of our contemporaries don't hold up too well in the comparison.

I cannot fault the job our youngsters have done in Iraq and Afghanistan. I personally think they've looked as good as our boys did in earlier conflicts but what's sad is that there are so few of 'em.

The caliber and also I believe Americans have been getting more and more forgetful of what made this country great. The blood, sweat and tears it took to mold this country into what it is has been forgotten.

Unfortunately the psychology of our country changed with the advent of the flower children back in the 60s, throwing ideas completely on the liberal side!
I know - we're getting