Posts from The Ringo Kid in thread „What was the last book you read or are currently reading?“

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

    Thanks Shortgrub, I appreciate that ;-)) Also, if you want a very good book written by a Russian Soldier, one I have that I read and is hard to put down, is a book called: Penalty Strike, and was written by Alexander Pyl'Cyn-who was a Penal Unit commander in WWII. This has soem great stuff in it. The book is still available but is getting harder to find.

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

    My next book (hopefully) will be: "Blood Red Snow" which was written by Gunther Koscherek (SP?) It's the Memoirs of a German Soldier who fought only on the Eastern Front. Something that really intrigues me and that I am anticipating reading about, is when they fought all female Russian units. A bit of info on that is that the Russian Female units fought like savages and gave the Germans a pretty tough time fighting against them. Im looking forward to seeing what this man has to say.

    Oh and yeah, I KNOW I have a one-tracked-mind. Can't help it ;-)) this stuff is THAT interesting to me.

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

    Im still reading the book about Kursk. The fightings really beginning to heat up quit a bit with several Russian "fronts" facing a few German Panzer Korps and indy units. The timeline now is the night of July 10-11th adn the next days fighting will be THE largest Tank Battle-ever.

    After this book, I think im going to start to read a book either by Bill O'Reilly and or Gelm Beck. If that fails to materialize? then my next read will be the first 3 volumes to Armies of the Bear.

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

    Quote from SXViper

    Thanks Carl. My wife and I just finished putting my grandfather's scrapbook in a better book. This should help preserve it for the future. We are giving it to my dad for fathers day. Also, we found out dome more information about my grandfather, it looks like he was a Bronze star recipient as well and we are awaiting confirmation from the Veterans Admin office on that. It still amazes me that he was involved with all this during his war time duty and I never knew a thing about it.




    Hi Todd, quite welcome. Also, glad you are actively preserving his momories and such-most people out there-don't and often either sell, give or throw awa this valuable stuff. Case-in-point-several years ago when I was touring Germany-I met an Antiques and Militaria dealer in Lubeck-who was one of those who heard that Top-Uboat Ace-and recipient of the Knights Cross, Oak leaves, Swords and Diamonds (one of only 27 to get the Diamonds) Wolfgang Luth's family just threw away all of his stuff-uniforms, awards-certificates photos and such-into the nearby City garbage dump. Well-on hearing that-this guy as well as dozens of others-went there immediately to see if they could find any of Luths stuff-they did-thankfully) and as far as is known-everything thrown away by the Luth Family-was rescued and some of it can now be viewed in various museums. I had the priviledge to actually get to hold a pair of his Oak Leaves and Swords-which were then-secretly in storage at the Uboat Archi i Altenbruch-near Cuxhaven. Horst Bredow-that Museums Owner/Curator-was presented with these by the Luth family after the citizens of Lubeck had returned all of that valuable property. For prosperity sake-one of Luths pairs of oaks and swords-was given to Horst and his museum. At that time-this cased set would have easily sold on the market for about $150,000. On todays market-it would easily go for 1/2 a million dollars.

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

    Hi Todd, I still have no info from either of the sites I posted info and links about his nit on. I guess even the Pacific War guys aren't aware of their unit? Ill keep digging around though and seeif I can find anyone more knowldgable than I am-and see what they have to say? There is a site I used to belong to which I THINK is called: www.thepacificwar.com that should have some guys more knowledgable than I on it.On that site-if the url is correct? I was known as Manila John-after a US Marine Sergeant who won the Medal of Honor-while fighting on Guadalcanal in 42. Sadly, this Gent was later killed in action I think sometime in 1944-doing more combat duty that he could have opted out of ;( His name & rank was: Sergeant John "Manila John" Basilone. He was in charge of a Machinegun unit and during the fighting on Guadalcanal-all of his men were either wounded or killed-and he earned his MoH because he alone-operated both MGs-all night long making the Japanese Soldiers think that his unit was full-strength. During the night he successfully defended his position alone-also retrieving ammo for the MGs-Grenades for personal defense-and ammo for his .45.

    Early morning-he launched a 1-man assault through the Japanese positions killing in total all night and during his assault--somewhere around 100 or so Japanese Soldiers-single-handedly. When he made his assault through a fairly large Japanese position-he was armed only with a few Grenades and his .45-blew and shot his way through them and was numb from combat-and made it to a Marine Mortar position. He only stoppd to rest-and his only request was that someone give him a Peanut-butter & Jelly Sandwich.

    Sorry such a long way to tell you about the Pacific War forums--I don't know if it is still around ot not? but if so? someone there will or should, know more about the Bushmasters. I stopped visiting there only because of lack of time ;-))

    I bet that most anyone here who reads this post-that they will be shocked that all of my interests in WWII is not just associated with the War in Europe and Eastern Front ;-)) I "Cut-my-teeth" on interests in WWII with the War in the Pacific and the CBI Theaters.

    Take careand best regards--Carl.

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

    Quote from SXViper

    Carl, not a problem. I will check out his book when I have a chance.

    Did you have a chance to read the scan of the 2 pages from the book I am reading now from my previous post?


    Hi Todd, it's definately a worth see. I know that Barnes and Nobles usually keeps them in stock-I don't know if Borders or others have them or not? but I don't remember it being particularly expensive-much unlike the reference books I like getting. The last one I got was for over $130--which I think included postage from Europe.


    I couldn't get the scans to expand to be able to read them-but it's not your fault-im having to resort to using my Brothers laptop for awhile since we don't have internet service at home--still-and he has some sort of program that blocks pop-ups and expanding pictures and such. It'll probably next week sometime before I can got onto another computer ;-))

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

    Hi Todd, an updat of sorts for you. I have not been able to log onto the http://www.ww2f.com site for about 10 or so days because the site is moving to a new host-or whateveritscalled? and has been down since then. I will be asking the Pacific War Guys there about this as soon as the site is back up and running. Also, I haven't had a chance to ask the guys over at Warrelics and Wartradersguild-yet but plan on doing so hopefully in a little while.


    Best regards--Carl.


    PS, a title I think you would enjoy which is still available-was written by a WWII American Officer/Veteran who was living in Corpus Christi untill he passed away a few years ago. I can't remember his entire name but his last name is Eglin-and he wrote a book called: The Fool Lieutenant. This guy fought in various battles against the Germans-ala-the E.T.O (European Theater of Operations)


    I met this gent about 15 years ago when he and company used to hold Auctions in Kingsville-once a week those many years ago. Amyway, they quit coming to Kingsville several years ago and only did their actions in Corpus Christi. Anyway, the guy was a nice guy but also quite a character. As far as WWII Vets I have met--this guy is one of my absolute favorite falling a little behind Gents such as Brigarier General David Lee "Tex" Hill (commander of I think the 2nd Flying Tigers Squadron/ later USAAF General) and "Dutch" van Kirk-the Enola Gays-Navigator.

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

    Quote from SXViper

    If anyone has any information that they share let me kow Carl. I am interested in any stories that someone might have concerning the Bushmaster's 158th RCT. Thanks.



    :thumbs_up: Hi Todd, ill be more than happy to. I can spread the word around a bit to a few guys who are on te site who specialize in the War in the Pacific.


    No new books yet but hopefully sometime in May, I can get my hand on Klaus Patzwalls book listing all the DKiG guys-and possibly Werner Haupts excellent trilogy abot the war on the Eastern Front. 1) Army Group North, 2) Army Group Center & 3) Army Group South-respectively.

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

    Quote from SXViper

    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.




    H Todd, quite welcome and glad to know about the existance of this unit. Im going to be trying to research them and see what I cna find to post over at ww2f wartradersguild and warrelics.com websites. Those guys will want to know about The Bushmasters.

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

    Quote from WaynamoJim

    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.



    Hi Waynamojim, what you say is absolutely true-about all the stuff still lying about as well as just under the surface. I have a friend in France that has a huge collection of Ordnance and all-kinds of other military artifacts. In fact, not more than about 1/3rd a mile from his home-in a farmer/friends of his property-he just a few months ago, discovered an entire American Fuel truck trailer-still full of fuel. He called the authorities and they came nd removed the fuel. Believe it ot not? the tank is still in excellent condition being an item left forgotten out in the open-since mid to late 1944. His farmer friend never knew it was on his property even though about 30 years ago-he did find a destroyed Americn SHerman tank in some woods on his property. The Sherman is long since gone and in somebodys collection.

    A for remains found sticking out of the ground at Stalngrad-tha is true as well as destroyed tanks and other vehicles-ordnance-ID tags, weapons, canteens, crates of unused ammo, tins of food etc. Also still lying on the ground are thousands of German and Soviet Helmets and such. It's frowned upon to take things rom the battlefield-but if you slip the authorities some money-they look the other way.

    A good friend of mine who is in the Belgian Army-as a Musician, he and about 9 other buddies rented a motorhome and went to visit the Stalingrad battlefield back about 2003 or so? As they were being searched at the border checkpoint-it was dscovered that they had taken some 22 German and about the same number of Soviet Helmets. They of course were confiscated, these men held for questioning for about 10 hours, and finally released after they gave all their cash away to the authorities.

    Another good friend of mine-who lives in London-used to run a Stalingrad Battlefiled tours company-and I ave seen many photographs od German and Russian Armor-artillery and such-in many many areas of the battlefield-which stretched for some 150 or thereabouts-Kilometers.

    Just recently another person I know claims to have found an Italian Army Helmet at Stalingrad. There were no Italian Combat Troops there-just a group ofaout 40 odd Italian truckdrivers-who were there for the sole purpos of transporting one of the five German Assault Pioneer Battalions that were sent there for "Special Purpose Duty" in which they were used to try to take and hold the Barrakady Cannon/Tractor Factory as well as the Durzhensky (SP?) and Red October Factories.

    Anyway, allegedly he found an Italian Army Helmet there-which would almost be akin to finding a certain drop of water-in an ocean full of the wet stuff. However, it was later proved by me-that his helmet was a standard 1942 produced Russian helmet-which looks EXACTLY like the Italian helmets.

    Sorry im off topic but-my main thin was to confirmyour posting about finding things-even corpses-stiking out of the ground. It's that way all over what is or was, the Eastern Front. Vera could even confirm this because she lives in what used to be named Leningrad-formerly St Petersburg-but when "Uncle Joe Steel" died-the City name reverted back to St Petersburg.

    Since im involved with several Military History and Militaria sites, I get news of these things being found all over the world-all the time. Cases in point--not too long ago, it was discovered that there were at least 40 complete and intact German tanks buried up to their turrets-on Bulgarias border. The same thing happened a few years ago in Rumania and some other places.