What are you reading?

[Dholupko]

I am reading this at a snails pace because I find it so dense. Still on book 1 so I have a long ways to go!

I would encourage you to keep with it. The books are long and it takes quite an investment to stick with them but I feel so much more aware of not only that war but also of current events. Such as, why is Benghazi, Gibraltar and most of Northern Africa so important. If anyone has wondered why Greenland is of interest to Trump the answer is within the pages of these books.

 

[Safari Dave]

I'm finishing up "Doomsday Reef" by Matt Bracken right now. (last of a 3-part series)

(He's a really decent writer, for an Ex-Navy Seal)

I'm a motorboat Captain, so I don't find his in-depth discussion of sailing too annoying.


His "Enemies" series from several year's ago was almost prophetic.

Next on the list is "The End of Everything: How Wars Descend into Annihilation," by Victor Davis Hanson.

Then it's "Lone Survivor" by Marcus Luttrell, even though I've already seen the movie (because my daughter gave it to me for my birthday).

I will probably be back to Africa after that.

 

[Houston Bill]

Just finished Horned Death by John F Burger. I very much liked the book and I just ordered a few of his other books. I started reading The Elephant Hunters of The Lado by Robert Foran last night.

 

[Houston Bill]

Kambuki by Harry Manners, very good. Before that (as above) Months of the Sun by Ian Nyschens, excellent

I have read both those books and liked them both very much.

 

[Houston Bill]

I'm reading Pondoro - Last of the Ivory Hunters by John Taylor, first published in 1955.
I think this was his last book. Different than African Rifles and Cartridges, the focus on various game of Africa, and the Africans he hunted and lived with.

Absolutely love John Taylor's books. I have read all of them a couple of times except Shadows of Shame. I believe Maneaters and Marauders was his last book. I have also read Capstick's biography on John Taylor A Man Called Lion. that is also a very good read

 

[Altitude sickness]

I'm finishing up "Doomsday Reef" by Matt Bracken right now. (last of a 3-part series)

(He's a really decent writer, for an Ex-Navy Seal)

I'm a motorboat Captain, so I don't find his in-depth discussion of sailing too annoying.


His "Enemies" series from several year's ago was almost prophetic.

Next on the list is "The End of Everything: How Wars Descend into Annihilation," by Victor Davis Hanson.

Then it's "Lone Survivor" by Marcus Luttrell, even though I've already seen the movie (because my daughter gave it to me for my birthday).

I will probably be back to Africa after that.

Safari Dave, When reading Lone Survivor just realize most of it is complete fiction. It pains me to say it or admit the Navy failed repeatedly in Afghanistan.



The Naval Special Warfare community had suffered some embarrassing failures just before operation “Red Wings”. So the Brass couldn’t have it public that a Navy Seal allegedly ran from the battle field. (There was a drone overhead the whole time, and there are recordings of the entire battle) Marcus ran into the Pastun Mohammad Gulab with 15 full magazines and in good health.

The Seals stole the operation from the US Marines. The Marines had a more conventional plan. Insert at night and hump to the objective.

The Seals were bored and basically stole the operation. Failed to follow insertion protocols. Flew in daylight. And were dropped too close to the objective. The whole valley heard them land.
The Taliban easily tracked them and engaged.


This is just the beginning of the failure’s. It would take another book to write everything they did wrong and all the lies of that story. The book was nothing but a Navy recruitment initiative.

It has been rumored for years in the community that this book and movie was bogus. But now it’s out in the open.

Marcus himself now says the Navy sent him away on a special assignment, gave him a writer and handed him the story they needed told.

The worst offense is that Marcus stated his entire team was dead. Apparently Axel lived for up to a week and was found no where near where Marcus said he died.

When the Army Rangers rescued Marcus they said he had minor injuries and walked calmly to the helicopter. They were all forced to sign the military version of an NDA. Which is very common. Threatening years in prison if caught

I don’t have time here to list the dozens of serious leadership and tactical failures.

“Roberts Ridge” Petty Officer First Class Neil Roberts during Operation Anaconda. The battle at Takur Ghar
was another complete cluster F
Seals playing cowboys not following protocols. And got a lot of good people killed. The Navy buried it and came up with a fake story. And actually handed out a Medal of Honor due to a lie. Both Takur Ghar and Red Wings were sold to save face that the Navy had the top operating units in Afghanistan. Believe it or not. The branch’s still compete for money and missions.

So they Navy was building phony stories to compete with the Army and Marines. Unfortunately it’s sad to say many of the Navy stories we know from the GWOT are complete BS.

The Army and Marines didn’t suffer from this because they have more entrenched fundamentals. Their Spec War teams come from a basic infantry background then move into more training. So they have for example. land navigation, shooting, and discipline built in from the ground up and from day one.

The Teams suffer from the same thing that makes them formidable. A Seal can come from anywhere in the Navy. He could be a paper pusher or cook one day. Never have handled a weapon, land navigation, basic combat tactics. And decide he wants to be a Seal. It’s a tough selection and training program. But they don’t have the fundamentals that the Army or Marines Special Warfare guys have. So you get more Non conventional, pirate type personalities. Which is a double edge sword. It can work well or the wheels can fall off quickly.

Again, I am embarrassed to print this. But do your research and realize fiction from fact.

 

[Hunt anything]

I just started “Last Stand, Saving the American Buffalo” I have a feeling it will be enlightening and infuriating at the same time.

 

[Wishfulthinker580]

Safari Dave, When reading Lone Survivor just realize most of it is complete fiction. It pains me to say it or admit the Navy failed repeatedly in Afghanistan.



The Naval Special Warfare community had suffered some embarrassing failures just before operation “Red Wings”. So the Brass couldn’t have it public that a Navy Seal allegedly ran from the battle field. (There was a drone overhead the whole time, and there are recordings of the entire battle) Marcus ran into the Pastun Mohammad Gulab with 15 full magazines and in good health.

The Seals stole the operation from the US Marines. The Marines had a more conventional plan. Insert at night and hump to the objective.

The Seals were bored and basically stole the operation. Failed to follow insertion protocols. Flew in daylight. And were dropped too close to the objective. The whole valley heard them land.
The Taliban easily tracked them and engaged.


This is just the beginning of the failure’s. It would take another book to write everything they did wrong and all the lies of that story. The book was nothing but a Navy recruitment initiative.

It has been rumored for years in the community that this book and movie was bogus. But now it’s out in the open.

Marcus himself now says the Navy sent him away on a special assignment, gave him a writer and handed him the story they needed told.

The worst offense is that Marcus stated his entire team was dead. Apparently Axel lived for up to a week and was found no where near where Marcus said he died.

When the Army Rangers rescued Marcus they said he had minor injuries and walked calmly to the helicopter. They were all forced to sign the military version of an NDA. Which is very common. Threatening years in prison if caught

I don’t have time here to list the dozens of serious leadership and tactical failures.

“Roberts Ridge” Petty Officer First Class Neil Roberts during Operation Anaconda. The battle at Takur Ghar
was another complete cluster F
Seals playing cowboys not following protocols. And got a lot of good people killed. The Navy buried it and came up with a fake story. And actually handed out a Medal of Honor due to a lie. Both Takur Ghar and Red Wings were sold to save face that the Navy had the top operating units in Afghanistan. Believe it or not. The branch’s still compete for money and missions.

So they Navy was building phony stories to compete with the Army and Marines. Unfortunately it’s sad to say many of the Navy stories we know from the GWOT are complete BS.

The Army and Marines didn’t suffer from this because they have more entrenched fundamentals. Their Spec War teams come from a basic infantry background then move into more training. So they have for example. land navigation, shooting, and discipline built in from the ground up and from day one.

The Teams suffer from the same thing that makes them formidable. A Seal can come from anywhere in the Navy. He could be a paper pusher or cook one day. Never have handled a weapon, land navigation, basic combat tactics. And decide he wants to be a Seal. It’s a tough selection and training program. But they don’t have the fundamentals that the Army or Marines Special Warfare guys have. So you get more Non conventional, pirate type personalities. Which is a double edge sword. It can work well or the wheels can fall off quickly.

Again, I am embarrassed to print this. But do your research and realize fiction from fact.

Thanks for the info. Neither the book nor the film (especially the film but I always thought Hollywood had screwed it up) ever set well with me but I didn’t know the backstory. A disservice in the extreme to those who lost their lives.

 

[Firebird]

Started The Anxious Generation. More an employment related read for continuing education and special interest relating to patients I may deal with.
Thunder without th Rain was reviewed by several in the books section. I did not care for it at all and gave my copy away. Others wrote very positive things-I have other McIntyre books that I did enjoy-Augusts in Africa for example.

 

[Altitude sickness]

 

[Don458]

Trader Horn

 

[yamoon]

Finally found 7 Pillars of Wisdom on Internet Archive without restrictions, parts of it are kind of a slog, but other parts are enjoyable. 722 pages will take awhile.
Mike

 

[Safari Dave]

Thanks for the insight. I've heard that, but didn't know the details.

 

[baxterb]

This one now , About the kitchens and recipes , parties and guests in the homes of Karen Blixen in Africa and in Denmark . Ordering kitchen equipment and much more from both Denmark and abroad to get sent to Kenya to build up the kitchen and quality there .

Learning both the native recipes and learning Danish and continental style to the helpers there . Quite a very good book with short stories of many kind , and yes about safaris there also .

Hey thanks for this! I have never seen it but looks interesting.

Presume you have read Babette’s Feast? I liked it a lot.

 

[Houston Bill]

Wow, very disappointing that Marcus was a true coward and fraud and that the Navy covered up the mistakes of the mission.

 

[cajunchefray]

Absolutely love John Taylor's books. I have read all of them a couple of times except Shadows of Shame. I believe Maneaters and Marauders was his last book. I have also read Capstick's biography on John Taylor A Man Called Lion. that is also a very good read

I have to check my library, I have several PHC books, “A Man Called Lion”, I must read.

 

[Altitude sickness]

Houston Bill, The real travesty is that they didn’t try to learn from the first few of these debacles. They were in direct competition with Army and Marine Spec War teams. So could not be embarrassed by these failed operations.

So as a result good men continued to die.

For example during Operation Red Wings. When the call went out that they had made contact. The mission should have been scrubbed and they should have humped out to be picked up several valleys over.

So it took so long for them to get a hold of the TOC the local Seal leadership couldn’t be embarrassed that so many hours lapsed. So instead of sending the Army reaction force was standing by very close. the local Navy leadership tried to hide it and send their own Seals in from the base. that Helo was Extortion 17 and was shot down and killed 38 more people.

which leads into another debacle. It was not an RPG that shot the helo down but a US missile that the military didn’t want to admit the Taliban had so more people died because they had missiles that made daytime inserts even more dangerous.

So them hiding the failures killed many more quality Sons, Fathers, brothers and husbands.

I won’t mention the leadership that intentionally withheld this info. It’s available if you search correctly.

 

[DieJager]

Finally found 7 Pillars of Wisdom on Internet Archive without restrictions, parts of it are kind of a slog, but other parts are enjoyable. 722 pages will take awhile.
Mike

1 dollar on Kindle for my ebook. Not too bad