Ronald H. Spector (1943–2026)

A first class rendition of Vietnam reportage. Helped by including "Dispatches" by Michael Herr in full in Vol.2.
What emerges from these writers is a feeling that in war, the human being enters a new state of being. Ideological delusion, when acted out requires the soldier, the advisor, the politician, the victim, everyone who's close at hand to enter a new crazed mentality. A moral civilized standpoint doesn't seem to work much any more.
Because war destroys one's humanity, a survivor from show more this hellish state suffers agonies and fears that haunt the person, too often for a lifetime. It is heartbreaking to remember that the average age of the combatant in this devastating descent to madness was nineteen.
A masterpiece from the Library of America. show less

This is an excellent history of China and Southeast Asia from after World War II ends until the mid-1950’s. There is so much information in here – the author presents a pretty balanced account of the civil wars and colonialism post WWII – excesses and failures on both sides. If you believe you have a “good” understanding of the history there but have never read any detailed accounts like this book, I urge you to read this book. Be prepared though, the book is lengthy and is likely show more to take a lot of reading time to digest everything.

I came away with such an enhanced understanding that changed some of my views on American and other foreign involvements in Korea (before and during the Korean War) and Vietnam (pre-US 1960’s involvement – the US Vietnam war is not covered, although the precursor years are covered.) Worst of all, the details of the deaths and casualties on every side will sadden you as it did me. The tales of vengeance and revenge that occurred before and after changes in control of areas will shock you. Perhaps not enough attention has been given to the human loss involved in what seemed like constant civil wars, fomented by foreign powers (this includes the US and France, but also China and the Soviet Union), partly because the focus in other countries (US and Europe) was on the end of WWII and recovery from the traumas of the early 1930s through 1945. show less

A first class rendition of Vietnam reportage. Helped by including "Dispatches" by Michael Herr in full in Vol.2.
What emerges from these writers is a feeling that in war, the human being enters a new state of being. Ideological delusion, when acted out requires the soldier, the advisor, the politician, the victim, everyone who's close at hand to enter a new crazed mentality. A moral civilized standpoint doesn't seem to work much any more.
Because war destroys one's humanity, a survivor from show more this hellish state suffers agonies and fears that haunt the person, too often for a lifetime. It is heartbreaking to remember that the average age of the combatant in this devastating descent to madness was nineteen.
A masterpiece from the Library of America. show less

Ronald Spector’s Eagle against the Sun is both the best one-volume history of the Pacific theater of World War II I have encountered as well as a model for other operational histories. As with most other ambitious operational accounts – particularly for subjects as vast as the Pacific campaign – this is primarily a narrative rather than analytical account, and its strength lies not in new interpretations or revelations of previously undisclosed information. (Spector did take a strong show more position on some contested areas, however, including a solid debunking of MacArthur’s “genius.”) Spector did make several well-documented arguments based on his research. First, Spector argued that the American two-pronged approach was the product of interservice rivalries – neither the army nor the navy wanted to have their forces commanded by a member of the other service – and because MacArthur, as a towering figure in the public eye, had to be given a command. The two-pronged strategy thus emerged as a solution to these problems rather than as a strategy that was initially preferred. Second, Spector argued that victory over Japan was less a matter of strategic brilliance than a result of efficient logistical solutions and resource allocations. The Americans’ resource constraints heavily shaped their strategic decisions and led to a war of attrition, eventually leading to the defeat of Japan. This is an eminently readable (exciting, even) and thorough account of a complex set of operations. This may not be a definitive history in the sense that a multi-volume history could provide another level or two of detail beyond this work, but Spector’s well-organized and -synthesized account made as few compromises as are necessary to fit the war into a single volume. It is also important to note the book’s subtitle: The American War with Japan. This volume contains the American perspective on the war; those looking for a truly comparative account of the war will have to look elsewhere (I am skeptical that such a work even exists, however).

High recommended.

Review copyright 2009 J. Andrew Byers show less