What are you reading now...?

[mdpatterson]

Original translation, not corporate. Only book I bring with me and read daily.

[Requiem]

"The Junior Officer's Reading Club: Killing Time and Fighting Wars"
by Patrick Hennessey. An account of Hennessey's transformation from arrogant enlistee to seasoned soldier.

The Ugly American

Now that is an excellent read.

[akv]

Alaska Bear Tales by Larry Kaniut,

Full of stories of Grizzly Bears vs men in Alaska from Alaska Sportsman over the last century, mostly stories of attacks, survivor accounts, and what not to do in Grizzly country, with some humor as well.

[Tress]

Originally posted by akv:

Full of stories of Grizzly Bears vs men in Alaska from Alaska Sportsman over the last century......

I always thought the following was humorous and maybe a little too accurate....

The National Park Rangers are advising hikers in Glacier National Park and other Rocky Mountain parks to be alert for bears and take extra precautions to avoid an encounter.

They advise park visitors to wear little bells on their clothes so they make noise when hiking. The bell noise allows bears to hear them coming from a distance and not be startled by a hiker accidentally sneaking up on them. This might cause a bear to charge.

Visitors should also carry a pepper spray can just in case a bear is encountered. Spraying the pepper into the air will irritate the bear's sensitive nose and it will run away.

It is also a good idea to keep an eye out for fresh bear scat so you have an idea if bears are in the area. People should be able to recognize the difference between black bear and grizzly bear scat.

Black bear droppings are smaller and often contain berries, leaves, and possibly bits of fur.

Grizzly bear droppings tend to contain small bells and smell of pepper.

[Requiem]

Full of stories of Grizzly Bears vs men in Alaska from Alaska Sportsman over the last century, mostly stories of attacks, survivor accounts, and what not to do in Grizzly country, with some humor as well.

Those kind of stories make me shiver. But I take 'em seriously, having had a curious (hungry?) Kodiak eye me for waaaaay too long.

Susan

[Druid5]

I'm currently re-reading "Afghanistan" by Stephen Tanner. It's a good overview of the military history of AF, excluding most of the current events of course, and I could always use a refresher on its contents.

I plan on reading my way through Rommel's "Infantry Attacks", Poole's "Phantom Soldier" and the Bhagavad Gita if I get the chance. May save the last one for the R&R ride.

[akv]

Originally Posted by Susan

Those kind of stories make me shiver. But I take 'em seriously, having had a curious (hungry?) Kodiak eye me for waaaaay too long.

That would get my attention too, the stories are not all grim, they reinforce that bears are unpredictable.

My favorite is about a 4 year old named Ella in Sitka in 1921, she told her mom if her mom would bake a blueberry pie she would get the berries. Her father a forest official came home a few hours later, and both parents realized to their horror Ella had wandered off with a pail into Grizzly country two hours prior. I can't imagine the terror in her father's mind as he grabbed his rifle and sprinted into the woods screaming her name and praying. He found her safe and sound, asleep next to an empty pail with fresh bear sign all around her. She woke up asking " Papa what happened to all the berries I picked?"

[Team Sergeant]

"The French Laundry Cookbook" by Thomas Keller

"Ad Hoc at Home" by Thomas Keller

[Requiem]

Originally Posted by akv

He found her safe and sound, asleep next to an empty pail with fresh bear sign all around her. She woke up asking " Papa what happened to all the berries I picked?"

She's one lucky kid!

My RFL once insisted on changing the oil in the car while a young grizzly hung around the property. Every time the doofus (the bear, not my husband, although that's debatable...) came too close, hubby would climb out from under the car, shoo it away, and go back to work.

Susan

[Team Sergeant]

Originally Posted by Requiem

She's one lucky kid!

My RFL once insisted on changing the oil in the car while a young grizzly hung around the property. Every time the doofus (the bear, not my husband, although that's debatable...) came too close, hubby would climb out from under the car, shoo it away, and go back to work.

Susan

Nah, Bear was probably from Portland and a Vegan.

[Requiem]

Originally Posted by Team Sergeant

Nah, Bear was probably from Portland and a Vegan.

Wish they all were!

[Matt520]

Currently reading The Only Thing Worth Dying For; How 11 Green Berets fought for Afghanistan, by Eric Blehm.

It is nice to read the account of SF's participation in the war for southern Afghanistan, but also how it correlated with SF's participation in north.

As I was reading a thread concerning the possible loss of contractors at Ft. Bragg (specifically the possible loss of those employed/volunteering during Robin Sage), I came across and interesting quote by Captain Amerine (page 178, first paragraph):

"Stay with the G-chief, just like in Robin Sage, " said Amerine. "I can't emphasize enough how important that training was. Karzai appreciates being advised and won't think it overbearing. I've been joined at the hip with him since we got here."

I cannot comment on Robin Sage, as I have not yet attended, but felt the above-mentioned quote confirms the need for qualified persons to teach aspiring SF Soldiers; to further provide the necessary skills to those "G-chiefs" out there in need.

Thanks for your service and example.

[Flame Magnet]

Lone Survivor by Marcus Luttrell

[swpa19]

Backbone of the Wehrmacht. By Richad D. Law