Donald L. Caldwell

If I was rating this strictly as military history I'd have given this work a higher rating, as Caldwell has pulled together a strong account of the U.S. Provisional Tank Group sent to the Philippines in 1941. Also, as a community history, it's pretty good, and one presumes that Caldwell drew on materials the late Iris Chang pulled together for her own proposed book on the 192nd Tank Battalion.

Where I mark Caldwell down is that there are places where he needed to be more forthright about his show more own political and strategic perspective, seeing as he ultimately considers the American defense of the Philippines to have been a worthless sacrifice. In the bigger picture that's a defensible position which is hard to argue with. However, I expect the argument to be actually be made; throwaway snide comments about the American strategic leadership of the time and taking umbrage at how "supposed isolationists" were pilloried for their position doesn't cut it. show less

Excellent companion to his previous book. Loses a star for its format, the 'log entries' get a little dry but the pictures and information is excellent.

Excellent companion to his previous book. Loses a star for its format, the 'log entries' get a little dry but the pictures and information is excellent.

This is the story of the JG 26 pilots, or "Abbeville Kids." A microcosm of World War II exists in the rise and fall of this famous fighter wing--whose slashing attacks always seemed to come from the best position--from its founding during Hitler's military buildup, through its glory days in the first years of the war--when its bases in northen France were to be avoided at all costs--right up to the grim, final hours of the Third Reich.