William Lindsay White (1900–1973)

Well, this kind of book is the reason why I read contemporaneously-written history: it's much more effective at translating the weight of events without the overly morbid backwards-looking feel of secondary histories. White did a great job of giving Americans a taste of Blitzed London and what life was like for regular Britishers. Knowing that he was writing for an American audience that was divided between isolationism, some Antisemitism, and ignorance about what was happening over in Europe, I could feel his anger. He very directly derides his countrymen for sitting back (at their bridge tables) and admiring the bombed-out British from an ocean away, without sending any real help.

The Margaret O'Brien movie of the same name is extremely good, although it changed a significant part of the ending for Hollywood's benefit (and Good. Lord. that girl was aDORable). Big recommend for both.… (altro)

An excellent comparison of treatment received by soldiers of all sides during the Korean War. Although dated, it illustrates how difficult it was to follow the rules of the Geneva Convention when only one side recognizes the convention. Although hopelessly opinionated, the differences between Chinese communists, Chinese Nationals,Chinese who just want to go home to farm, Communist Koreans, Non-Communists Koreans, Koreans who had no clue and go where the food was best versus the U.N. backed troops and neutrals who tried to please everyone. I had not realized the complexity of holding prisoners under such conditions. Definitely worth reading now in order to try and understand the different Islamic faiths with their different desires and how people react.… (altro)

Published just months after the events described, this has a fresh and naive feel about it. I am sure this is because we know what happened after these events and we know now why the US military was so helpless in those first few weeks. Having said that, it is still an amazing story of bravery and determination to continue the fight even after their weapons and ammunition were gone. White interview five surviving members of Motor Patrol Boot Squadron 3 stationed in Manila at the start of WW II. While they suspected a Japanese attack, when it came it was still a shock for which they were not prepared. Some of the propaganda is now humorous such as one comment by one of the sailors that he knew they were Japanese soldiers because they all wore glasses. One aspect that I might follow up on is what happened to the American nurses that were trapped in Bataan and Corregidor after the surrender for one of the officers described his relationship with one of them. The descriptions of the battles between the PT Boats and the Japanese vessels are exciting and probably a little too one sided to be absolutely true. The officers do comment on the propaganda and incorrect reporting of the first battles in the Pacific for the men & women trapped in the Philippines were misled into thinking help was on the way and when they realized it was not, they discovered they were expendable and thus were very bitter at being abandoned.… (altro)