I'm Alive: A Young Fighter Pilot's Diary of the US Navy Air War in Vietnam, 1964 to 1965 by Errol F. Reilly; Kevin Callahan; Christopher P. Callahan

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MWSA Review

I’m Alive, a biography of Errol F. Reilly (Rile), is written with great attention to detail. When I read that Kevin Callahan and Christopher P. Callahan are Errol Reilly’s stepsons, I understood why. It’s apparent from the Callahan brothers’ work on this biography that they loved and respected their stepfather.

I’m Alive is a story of a novice fighter pilot during the early years (December 7, 1964 to October 23, 1965) of the Vietnam conflict. Rile’s entries in the diary were written with a raw emotion laced with a sense of humor. I felt his depths of sorrow with each loss of a fellow pilot to the heights of excitement when he learned his time in the Gulf of Tonkin was over, and he was still alive. In the course of that year, while fighting an unpopular war, Rile evolved into a hardened combat pilot with a wealth of experience to share with others. And he did just that.

Having recently returned from his third Western Pacific (WESTPAC) cruise and the deadly air war in Vietnam, Rile was assigned to the Naval Air Station in Pensacola, Florida, as a flight instructor. This extraordinary man drove cross-country by himself from San Diego to the family’s new officers’ quarters with four rambunctious stepsons, aged seven to fifteen. When I read that, I knew that Errol Reilly was more than brave; he was fearless. In a wise move, his wife and toddler son flew to Florida to meet them.

Stepsons Kevin and Christopher Callahan are now retired US Navy captains. After organizing and editing their dad’s letters and diary, they produced a historical look at the Vietnam conflict from the cockpit of a fighter plane that will live on. I’m so glad I had the opportunity to read I’m Alive.

Review by Nancy Panko
 

Author's Synopsis
I'm Alive is the compelling diary of Lieutenant Junior Grade Errol F. Reilly, a 26-year-old US Navy fighter pilot, written aboard the aircraft carrier USS Coral Sea during his first combat cruise in Vietnam. In writing that is colorful, perceptive, and at times both humorous and heartbreaking, "Rile" chronicles his daily experiences "living, playing, and fighting" within the context of the Navy's fledgling air war. Covering the period from December 1964 to October 1965, I'm Alive details an untested F-8 Crusader pilot's personal journey from "nugget" aviator to seasoned combat professional. Reilly's feelings quickly change from patriotic enthusiasm to frustrated disillusionment as he begins to experience the realities of deadly air combat over Vietnam. His keen observations provide rare insights into the evolving strategies and tactics of the US Navy. With historical context and explanatory notes provided by the editors, I'm Alive offers a bold, unfiltered narrative of the earliest stages of the air war in Vietnam, and a fascinating personal account of friendship, war, and triumph over adversity.

Format(s) for review: Kindle Only
Review genre: Nonfiction—Memoir/Biography
Pages/Word count: 209 / 66,450

Hill 119, Defending a Reconnaissance Marines' OP, Vietnam 1969-70 by Colonel Michael O Fallon USMC (Ret)

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MWSA Review

Hill 119: Defending a Reconnaissance Marines’ OP, Vietnam, 1969–70 is an extremely detailed account of the Marines and Corpsmen of Delta Company, 1st Reconnaissance Battalion, as they manned an observation post near Danang during the Vietnam War. Like a James Michener novel, the account starts with a description of the surrounding infrastructure constructed during the French colonial period: roads, railroad tracks, dams, and canals. All of these features would play a part in the daily operations of the Hill. With two higher hills in close proximity, it was only through aggressive patrolling and regular night ambushes that the men of Hill 119 were able to maintain their presence and enable another group of Marines to conduct vital day-and-night surveillance over a valley that was an NVA infiltration “highway.”

The author, who spent considerable time as the commander on the hill, spares no one by offering an honest appraisal of both the valor and shortcomings of the people who manned the Hill and the supporting 1st Reconnaissance Battalion. Most chapters start with a short paragraph on what was happening in the U.S. at that time and in the conduct of the war, to provide necessary context. Even though Hill 119 was an isolated and occasionally beleaguered outpost, events on the Hill would eventually be felt not only in the larger theater of the Vietnam War but also in the United States.

The author uses an extensive collection of maps and diagrams, many of which he and others used during the war. An extensive glossary is provided, ensuring readers at any level of interest in military history do not get lost in the blizzard of jargon and acronyms from a conflict that happened over 55 years ago. This book will be of interest to military history enthusiasts, Vietnam veterans, or anyone seeking a deeper understanding of the U.S. military's final days in the Vietnam War.

Review by Terry Lloyd

 

Author's Synopsis

A narrative account of Reconnaissance Marines in Vietnam. Small Teams launching daring deep Stingray patrols in the bush. On the Observation Post, Hill 119 defending for 600 relentless days and nights. Surrounded by the NVA with the constant challenge of determining friendly Vietnamese civilians from hard corps Viet Cong and North Vietnamese regulars. Their lifeline were the Marine helicopters that flew out bringing water, ammo, food, and their replacement platoon. In 1969 and 1970, Delta Company, 1st Reconnaissance Battalion, 1st Marine Division manned the OP and ran patrols in Phu Loc Valley and Go Noi Island. This firsthand account of the Marines and Corpsmen who patrolled deep and occupied the OP describes their struggle to survive. Based on participant interviews and the detailed declassified debriefing reports compiled after each patrol returned to their rear base, at Camp Reasoner, Da Nang in the Republic of South Vietnam. This is their history!

Format(s) for review: Paper or Kindle
Review genre: Nonfiction—History
Pages/Word count: 449 / 261,656

Grunt 0311 Reflections of a Marine Rifleman by George P Berg

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MWSA Review

George Berg's Grunt 0311: Reflections of a Marine Rifleman is a well written and poignant combat memoir by someone who experienced it firsthand. From his humbling performance in high school through boot camp and on to the battlefield, George is honest about himself and his experiences. He tells it like he felt it, the good and the bad, and makes no apologies about what he did or what he felt while he was serving his country as a Marine.

Most notable to the reviewer was his account of being seriously wounded; what it felt like, the thoughts he had, his survival instincts, and his recovery. He talks openly about how it felt to be a Marine no longer able to serve in combat; a feeling which many veterans can probably relate.

Army and Marine infantry vets will appreciate this book and will feel like they are spending time with someone who "gets it." Vietnam veterans especially will recognize and feel the camaraderie that for a while may have been missing when they came home. Well done, Grunt!

Review by Rob Ballister

 

Author's Synopsis

The author recounts his very personal combat experiences as an infantry rifleman in Vietnam. Grunt 0311 is a candid and often uncomfortably frank description of the brutal conditions Marines faced in Vietnam in 1968. The year, 1968 was the most violent of the entire war for the Marines - the operational tempo was extreme and unrelenting. The new Marine was challenged with moral decisions young men in war are often forced to make just to survive.

Format(s) for review: Paper or Kindle
Review genre: Nonfiction—Memoir/Biography
Pages/Word count: 202 / 68,000

The Bureau by Dale Kelley

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MWSA Review

The Bureau by Dale Kelly is a fast-paced crime novel chock-full of law enforcement procedural action and adventure. Protagonist Sean Hurley, an experienced FBI agent in Chicago, takes on a new assignment in Dallas, Texas, with a multi-agency task force. His target: a dangerous outlaw motorcycle gang who may have been involved in the murder of a judge.

While excited at the new challenges awaiting him in Texas, Sean has distractions in his personal life when his live-in girlfriend, Angie, returns to Lebanon to “help her people” and is kidnapped by Hezbollah. He’s torn between his responsibilities to the new job and the need to find Angie.

As fate would have it, while in Texas, Sean accidentally bumps into Dominique, a former love interest in Vietnam. Hearts pound and love is rekindled. Author Kelly throws in a twist when Dominique, who works for a French intelligence agency with contacts in Beirut, offers to help Sean look for his girlfriend, Angie.

Sean only has a limited amount of time to look for Angie, and people in the government want the culprit(s) responsible for the judge’s murder off the street.

Readers: fasten your seatbelts, you are in for a bumpy ride with The Bureau.

Review by Nancy Panko

 

Author's Synopsis

A gripping FBI thriller packed with crime, corruption, and the relentless pursuit of justice. Sean Hurley is a seasoned FBI agent in Chicago - battle-hardened by Army service, sharp, and driven by duty. He heads a team in a special investigation in Dallas searching for the killer of a federal judge.
This is the 3rd book in a trilogy. All written by a former FBI agent.

The author is a former FBI agent.

Format(s) for review: Paper or Kindle
Review genre: Fiction—Mystery/Thriller/Crime
Pages/Word count: 201 / 44,250

Sacred Plunder by Phillip Daigle

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MWSA Review

Sacred Plunder delivers an impactful and action-packed thriller set in Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia. Beginning with Navy SEAL Mike McCall’s wartime service, author Phillip Daigle places the reader in Vietnam, both the intensity of the jungles and the chaos of the sights and scenes in Saigon. Daigle’s sensory details create this story’s memorable and realistic experience.

The novel progresses at a rapid pace with interesting characters—some good, some bad—and villains readers can root against. The characters have their own hidden secrets making them all that more intriguing.

The plot turns down winding roads, and the reader is left wondering which path it will take. When mixing Vietnam veterans with journalists, high-powered businessmen, CIA operatives, Buddhist monks, and Saigon citizens, the outcome can be unsure. Tension is tight lending to the page-turning aspect of the book.

Sacred Plunder is highly recommended for thriller fans and those who may not be aware of this unfortunate chapter of sacred artifact looting during the Vietnam War.

Review by Valerie Ormond
 

Author's Synopsis

Vietnam, 1969: a SEAL's jungle discovery turns a routine mission into a lifelong vow.
Navy SEAL scout Mike McCall discovers a fallen temple and swears to protect the relics hidden there. Years later, that promise drags him back into the war he thought he'd left behind.
Mike is recruited by Joe Kane's private security firm after discharge—ex-military talent doing corporate work in Southeast Asia. But CIA handler Dani Piedra has other plans: go undercover inside Kane's operation and find out what he's really moving through Saigon.
Vietnamese partner Le and journalist Jane Wade help Mike uncover the truth. Kane isn't just trafficking stolen Buddhist artifacts—he's using the antiquities pipeline to move heroin that's killing American soldiers. The temple relics Mike vowed to protect are funding the war's deadliest secret.
Mike works to expose the ring before Kane's network silences everyone who knows. But the deeper he goes, the more he realizes bringing down Kane means risking Le and Jane, burning his CIA handlers, and destroying evidence that could save lives—or letting the pipeline continue.
To honor his vow, Mike can follow his orders and stay silent or blow his cover and face the consequences.
Sacred Plunder is a character-driven thriller about loyalty, faith, and what it costs to protect what matters when the system is rigged against you.

Format(s) for review: Paper or Kindle
Review genre: Fiction—Mystery/Thriller/Crime
Pages/Word count: 315 / 91,000

Writings from the Barbed Wire Hotel, A Prisoner’s Account of Captivity and Survival by Diana Maul Halstead

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MWSA Review

Writings from the Barbed Wire Hotel by Diana Maul Halstead is akin to hearing a voice from the past. The author takes up the mantle that her father, Henry Eugene Maul, started as a prisoner of war in Stalag Luft III and IV during WWII.

Gene was a twenty-year-old waist gunner on a B-17. After flying eight missions, the aircraft dubbed Laura Jane was shot down on May 8, 1944, over war-torn Germany. Nine crew members were taken prisoner, serving time as POWs in brutal, unpleasant conditions.

For the next year, Gene passed the time by writing in his camp diary, drawing cartoons of camp life, and penning poems, even one titled, “Dear Draft Dodgers.” In the absence of a tablet, he used scraps of paper, including cigarette wrappers, to record daily life as a POW.

Maul writes, “Humor,” as shown in the cartoons he drew, “was one of the few ways prisoners coped with the anxiety and helplessness of having every possession subject to seizure.” The Germans would often confiscate the contents of packages sent by the American Red Cross.

Gene never talked about that period of his service. His daughter, author Diana Halstead, put together the puzzle pieces of Gene’s life, including the time he served his country. Writings from the Barbed Wire Hotel is a tribute from a daughter to the first man she ever loved, her father.

Review by Nancy Panko

 

Author's Synopsis

A World War II memoir unlike any other, built from the original writings of a prisoner of war.

Henry Eugene Maul was a 20-year-old B-17 waist gunner when his aircraft was shot down over Europe during World War II. He would spend the next year as a German prisoner of war, enduring the uncertainty, hardship, and isolation of life as a POW.

During that time, he wrote.

On scraps of paper, on the backs of flattened cigarette packs, and in whatever space he could find, he created poems, drawings, and personal reflections that captured the reality of life behind barbed wire. These writings were never meant for publication. They were his way to endure.

Almost 80 years later, his daughter brings these preserved materials together for the first time.

Writings from the Barbed Wire Hotel is more than a memoir. It is a rare and intimate collection of firsthand accounts created in the moment, not reconstructed from memory. Alongside these writings are reflections from family and those who knew him, offering a deeper understanding of the man behind the words and the lasting impact of his experience.

This is a story of survival, resilience, and the quiet strength that carried him through one of the darkest chapters of the twentieth century.

Format(s) for review: Paper or Kindle
Review genre: Nonfiction—Memoir/Biography
Pages/Word count: 302 / 25,000

Clifford's War: Redivivus by J. Denison Reed

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MWSA Review

In Clifford’s War: Redivivus by J. Denison Reed, Private Investigator Clifford Dee responds to a request from an old acquaintance, Grace, to find her missing daughter. The police have not been notified; Dee is asked to come without his team. However, his tech guru keeps track of Dee with a special watch—as long as he’s wearing it.

In addition to complications in the search, Dee meets Rox, a bartender with a good sense of people who is not put off by the roughness of Dee’s life. She contributes to the team’s efforts several times, unexpectedly. At one point Dee is captured by an old Army squad member who now goes by another name and who has a mission of his own.

The search for the missing daughter evolves into a far more serious crime, uncovered by Dee. There are layers and layers of complex crimes, some of which are still being discovered as the book ends. The Epilogue reveals one character is still on the hunt. More will be revealed in the next book, I presume.

Review by Nancy Kauffman
 

Author's Synopsis

After the conclusion of his case, "Without End", Private investigator Clifford Dee is unexpectedly
pulled from his team in Washington D.C. to assist in locating missing family members of an old acquaintance.
A case that initially appears straightforward but quickly spirals into something far more complex.
The deeper he digs, Clifford uncovers secrets, lies, and a danger that threatens to engulf him.
In the process, past memories and long-buried trauma resurface, especially when he reconnects with a ghost from the past, forcing him to confront his own demons while navigating the treacherous path of where the case leads.

Format(s) for review: Paper or Kindle
Review genre: Fiction—Mystery/Thriller/Crime
Pages/Word count: 279 / 76,000

Disaster and Emergency Preparedness Checklist by Captain Steven J. Craig, USCGR Retired

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MWSA Review

The author stated he was out to write a "practical, easy-to-follow guide that helps individuals, families, and communities prepare for, respond to, and recover from disasters." Mission accomplished. The checklists are easy to understand, very comprehensive, and cover practically every situation and category imaginable. The book emphasizes preparedness as key and highlights that a core of common tasks and activities will apply to most disaster situations across the board, saving time and effort. This guide will be useful to individuals, families, business owners and managers, and even first responders and government disaster preparedness professionals.

Review by Terry Lloyd

 

Author's Synopsis

Disaster and Emergency Preparedness is a practical, easy-to-follow guide that helps individuals, families, and communities prepare for, respond to, and recover from disasters. Drawing on decades of real-world emergency management experience, the book begins with foundational all-hazards planning, offering step-by-step guidance, checklists, and budget-friendly strategies for building emergency kits, “go bags,” and evacuation plans. It then examines specific hazards—including wildfires, earthquakes, hurricanes, floods, pandemics, and home fires—providing tailored preparedness strategies and lessons learned from past events. Additional chapters address often-overlooked planning needs such as pets, seniors, and other vulnerable populations, along with emerging tools like artificial intelligence in preparedness. The final section focuses on disaster recovery for both households and communities, including insights for Emergency Operations Center personnel and leaders responsible for coordinating response and rebuilding efforts. Throughout the book, practical checklists, planning templates, and real-life stories help readers build resilience and take meaningful steps toward being better prepared before disaster strikes.

Format(s) for review: Paper Only
Review genre: Nonfiction—Reference
Pages/Word count: 62 / 8,940

Wrong Bird: A Humorous Memoir of Misdiagnoses, Corporate Tattoos, and the Art of Being Confidently Wrong by Matthew West-James

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MWSA Review

Wrong Bird by Matthew West-James is a collection of relatable, humorous stories sure to evoke a chuckle or two. The title comes from a tattoo the author desired at the tender age of nineteen. Despite the artist’s suggestions that specific changes be made to the image, the author insisted on the one he chose. Then, in his mid-thirties, author James traveled to Europe. Upon his return home, the aircraft was routed through Helsinki. With plenty of time to kill, James wandered around the terminal looking out of the large windows at airplanes coming and going, when he spotted the symbol he had tattooed on his arm. Japan Airlines had the logo on the tail of every plane in its fleet. The same image, in a different shade, that Matthew James chose at age nineteen. For almost twenty years, Matthew sported the logo of a large company in Japan, free of charge, with no royalties. Now he knew why the artist wanted to tweak the design.

Every story in Wrong Bird is full of self-deprecating humor that makes a reader laugh out loud. But haven’t we all been there to some degree? Live, grow up, and learn. Haven’t we all done something embarrassing or stupid that we look back on with chagrin?

Review by Nancy Panko

 

Author's Synopsis

Wrong Bird: Misdiagnoses and Other Things I Got Completely, Confidently Wrong' is a humorous collection of personal stories about the universal experience of being absolutely certain about something… and being completely wrong.

Through a series of self-deprecating essays, Matthew West-James recounts moments from across his life including childhood misunderstandings, professional miscalculations, travel mishaps, military experiences, and everyday situations that spiraled into embarrassment. Each story explores the gap between confidence and reality, and the strange ways memory, assumptions, and human nature conspire to create mistakes that seem obvious only in hindsight.

Rather than presenting failure as tragedy, 'Wrong Bird' approaches these moments with humor and reflection. The stories show how embarrassment can eventually become perspective, how missteps can become stories, and how the things we most wish we could forget often become the experiences we learn from the most.

Drawing on experiences that include military service, family life, and professional work in technology, the book highlights a simple truth: everyone gets things wrong. The difference is whether we hide those moments or learn to laugh at them.

Ultimately, 'Wrong Bird' is a reminder that being wrong is not the end of the story. Sometimes it is the beginning of the best one.

Format(s) for review: Paper and Kindle
Review genre: Other—Humor
Pages/Word count: 118 / 21,657

Scattered, Smothered, and Covered: A Memoir of Resilience by Sandra Tow

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MWSA Review

Scattered, Smothered, and Covered by Sandra Tow is a memoir told in an honest, no-holds-barred manner. As I digested her words, I felt like Sandra Tow was confiding in a trusted friend.

I was both saddened and horrified to read about Tow’s family dynamics. Despite having a mother who doesn’t feel complete without a man, regardless of how he treats her, Sandra loves her mother unconditionally. Sandra assumes the role of her mother’s caregiver each time a relationship ends. To add to her burden, Sandra also has to care for a younger sibling or siblings.

Although a heartbreaking story of poverty and abuse, Scattered, Smothered, and Covered is also a story of grit and survival. Young Sandra is determined to break free of the symbiotic relationship she has with her mother. These pathological family ties threaten teenage Sandra’s mental and physical health.

Author Tow writes: “Anger can be beneficial and a fuel for change, but my unresolved rage, resentment, and misplaced shame began to choke my happiness and settle into the dark recesses of my soul, where it would reside for years, leaking toxic sludge and polluting my thoughts and relationships.”

She dreams of achieving independence, and at the age of eighteen, Sandra enlists in the U.S. Army, where she can make a mark for herself. Scattered, Smothered, and Covered is a gritty, beautiful story of the struggle to overcome poverty and hopelessness. I will remember Sandra Tow’s book long after I finish reading it.

Review by Nancy Panko
 

Author's Synopsis

How do you build a meaningful life when your foundation has cracks from the start?

Amidst the backdrop of rundown motels and trailer parks, the lines between mother and daughter blur, and a young woman bears burdens she never asked for as she tries to survive the chaos of her life. Scattered, Smothered, and Covered is a story about resilience, family bonds, and the battle to be the heroine of your own story.

In this gripping memoir, Sandra Tow explores the extraordinary resilience that can emerge from life-changing obstacles.

Format(s) for review: Paper or Kindle
Review genre: Nonfiction—Memoir/Biography
Pages/Word count: 315 / 85,000

War on the Porch by Travis Davis

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MWSA Review

War on the Porch: A Doughboy’s Interview by Travis Davis is historical fiction about one soldier’s experience in World War I. It is a story of bravery, heroism, perseverance, and sacrifice, as well as post-traumatic stress syndrome experienced by both the interviewer and the interviewee. An old soldier who was blinded during a mission in WWI is interviewed by a reporter who experienced trauma during WWII. Through the days of the interview, the WWI veteran tells a story—in striking detail—that he has kept secret for 50 years because he did not want to burden others with what he had experienced. It is also a story of how servicemen respond to trauma and rehab, as well as the tale of a loving marriage. It is a moving story on many levels.

Review by Nancy Kauffman

 

Author's Synopsis

On a hot July day in 1918, along the banks of the Marne River in Northern France, an incredible tale of heroism, bravery, leadership, selflessness, and perseverance unfolds on a World War I battlefield. A squad of Doughboys is given the secret mission to infiltrate the German lines and gather intelligence before the Second Battle of the Marne. A mission so cloaked in secrecy that it was hidden for fifty years. That is, until a hot July day in 1968, when Patrick King, one of the soldiers on the mission who was blinded in the execution of it, reveals it in vivid detail to a reporter. With his wife, Pauline, by his side on their porch in Bald Knob, Arkansas, Patrick shares his story, which becomes much more than a reporter getting a story: a journey of healing for both him and the reporter, Gordon Grover, a World War II veteran.

Format(s) for review: Paper or Kindle
Review genre: Fiction—Historical Fiction
Pages/Word count: 238 / 61,829

New Mission: Your Career Transition by Walter Nowocin

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MWSA Review

New Mission: Your Career Transition by Walter Nowocin is a well-written workbook for enlisted service members, written by a seasoned Marine Corps Master Sergeant, retired. It is a step-by-step roadmap with well-thought-out charts, checklists, and numerous clear hints. The nine chapters take the reader from a mission overview through preparation and planning, job search or college consideration, cover letters and resumes, how to dress, how to prepare for an interview, negotiating and accepting a job offer, and how to move through the learning period in a new job. He even discusses what questions to consider on where you will locate after you leave. In addition, there are ten appendices that provide further information on federal employment strategies, assistance on cover letters and resumes, and interview questions.

Throughout the chapters there are Target Icons, Drill Instructor Icons (the attention getter), and Mentor Icons to quickly summarize significant points. The author periodically inserts his experiences both in his transition to a civilian job and from his current position as a hiring manager in Human Resources. The specifics of the examples and the charts are very helpful. The author frequently reminds the reader of the value of his or her military experience and explains how to translate that into civilian language.

This is a workbook or instruction manual that contains hints and explanations that would benefit anyone looking for a job as well as the targeted enlisted military audience. Each chapter clearly explains what will be learned, then gives information and examples as well as checklists and charts. Each chapter ends with a summary—a Mission Debrief—which hits the high points of the chapter.

This book should be on offer at every military base. Transitioning to a whole new culture in civilian life is a challenge, and this book offers valuable assistance.

Review by Nancy Kauffman

 

Author's Synopsis

Transitioning from military service to the civilian workforce is one of the most challenging missions a service member will ever face. New Mission: Your Career Transition provides a clear, practical roadmap for navigating this journey with confidence and purpose.

Written by retired Marine Corps Master Sergeant and former Senior Engineering Manager at Medtronic, Walter Nowocin brings more than four decades of combined military, corporate, and academic leadership to this comprehensive guide. Drawing from real-world hiring experience and firsthand transition lessons, he addresses the unique challenges faced by enlisted service members and non-commissioned officers—an audience often under-served by traditional career resources.

This book walks readers step by step through every phase of the transition process, from early preparation and mission planning to job searching, resume and cover letter development, interview preparation, salary negotiation, and succeeding in the first months of a new civilian role. Practical tools such as checklists, self-assessments, sample questions, and military-to-civilian language guidance help readers translate their service experience into skills employers value.

Unlike generic career advice, New Mission: Your Career Transition is written in a mission-based framework familiar to veterans, transforming uncertainty into an achievable plan. The book is enriched with real-life examples and insights from fellow veterans and corporate leaders, offering clarity, credibility, and reassurance throughout the process.

Empowering, structured, and action-oriented, this guide equips service members with the knowledge and confidence to turn military excellence into civilian career success. Whether preparing months in advance or actively navigating the job market, readers will find this book an essential field guide for their next mission.

Format(s) for review: Paper or Kindle
Review genre: Nonfiction—How to/Business
Pages/Word count: 213 / 54,912

The Colonel's Way- The Secret Diaries of a POW: Philippines 1941-1945 by Heather P. Shreve

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MWSA Review

The Colonel’s Way: The Secret Diaries of a POW: Philippines 1941-1945 by Heather P. Shreve honors the author’s grandfather, Colonel Arthur Lee Shreve, Jr., a U.S. Army pilot. Author Shreve shares with the reading public her grandfather’s innermost thoughts and feelings as he is held a prisoner of war by the Japanese. We read how he places the well-being of his fellow prisoners above his own. In desperate times, the colonel provides them with food to eat, as well as food for the soul in encouragement and demonstrations of his own bravery under duress.

Colonel Shreve leaves a legacy for his family in his own writings, and Author Shreve knits together a timeline complete with visual evidence of her grandfather’s time as a POW. History buffs will appreciate Heather Shreve’s efforts and Colonel Shreve’s incredible tenacious bravery.

Review by Nancy Panko

 

Author's Synopsis

A Commemorative Special Edition for America-250, Honoring a US Army officer with a military career that bridges five decades -- a titanic story of survival from a compassionate leader who had unsurpassed integrity.

When COL Arthur Lee Shreve, Jr. (U.S. Army pilot, WWI) becomes a POW of the Japanese, his life turns into an unforgettable tale of grit, American ingenuity, and raw bravery. After the fall of the Philippines, he survives the Bataan Death March, cares for his men, and leverages a secret intelligence operation for humanitarian purposes. Working with the Filipino Resistance, he smuggles in his own checkbook to buy food for his men—unthinkable acts of courage under the direst circumstances, risking execution, saving lives, and forging a legacy of leadership and purpose that defines a true hero: The Colonel’s Way.

These are his diaries, unabridged, transcribed by the War Department and his brother, COL L. G. Shreve from the originals written in Filipino composition schoolbooks and hidden from the Japanese while a POW. Not only an unmatched account of the Fall of Bataan and the teamwork that followed among his brothers, but submittable evidence in the 1946-48 International War Crimes Trials.

Format(s) for review: Paper Only
Review genre: Nonfiction—Memoir/Biography
Pages/Word count: 308 / 60,000

Betrayed Valor: A Veteran's Story of Service, Sacrifices and Systemic Neglect by Dr. Sammie Lee Young

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MWSA Review

Dr. Sammie Young begins his memoir with a summary of his life in Mississippi before he joined the Navy and his Naval career. I wish he’d written more about both topics. The rest of the book is about the challenges he faced after his discharge from the Navy. The author doesn’t describe the accident at sea that caused him to be discharged with a service-connected disability or the disability itself.

Dr. Young was surprised by the lack of support to help him with his transition to civilian life. He was unemployed for a year before finding what he thought was his dream job at the VA. Things went well in the beginning and he was promoted several times.

The rest of the memoir highlights the author’s struggle with discriminatory treatment and the failure of the bureaucracy to address such mistreatment. He tried his best to keep a low profile so he could continue to do the work he loved, but he continued to be targeted. When his request for accommodation during Covid was denied, he realized his life depended on fighting back.

This book is inspirational for those who find themselves mistreated at work and need the motivation to stand up for themselves. One of my favorite parts of the book is the recommendations Dr. Young makes in the last chapter to address some of the failures of the systems designed to protect people who have been mistreated. One of the reforms he suggests is the creation of a Veterans Claims Surge Corps, a temporary, trained workforce whose only job is to clear the backlog of claims. I worked for a year on such a team back in the early 1980s with the Board for Correction of Naval Records. We eliminated a three-year backlog in claims related to military discharges.

I admire Dr. Young’s courage in writing about his experiences to inspire others to address similar challenges. I hope he continues to advocate for the reforms he suggests.

Review by Eva Nevarez St John
 

Author's Synopsis

Betrayed Valor is the true story of Navy Chief Sammie Young, a combat veteran whose four decades of service were defined by leadership, duty, and an unwavering commitment to the creed “No Man Left Behind.” From the sands of Iraq to senior leadership roles within the federal system, Young dedicated his life to serving both his country and his fellow service members.

Yet his most difficult battle did not take place overseas.

When Chief Young sought help within the very institution designed to support veterans, he found himself facing retaliation, professional isolation, and systemic failure. What began as a request for assistance evolved into a deeply personal confrontation with bureaucracy, discrimination, and the human cost of speaking truth within a closed system.

Through candid reflection and documented experience, Betrayed Valor examines the often-unseen struggles veterans encounter after their uniforms are folded away. It explores the emotional and financial toll of institutional retaliation, the fragility of due process, and the moral responsibility owed to those who have served.

At its core, this is a story about integrity under pressure. It is about what happens when the creed “No Man Left Behind” collides with institutional self-preservation. It is about resilience in the face of isolation — and the courage required to stand alone.

More than a memoir, Betrayed Valor is both testimony and call for accountability. It invites readers to consider not only the sacrifices made in combat, but the promises that must be honored long after the battlefield is quiet.

Format(s) for review: Paper or Kindle
Review genre: Nonfiction—Memoir/Biography
Pages/Word count: 65 / 13,232

Redfish by A. Michael Hibner

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MWSA Review

Redfish by Arthur Michael Hibner is a biography of the author’s father, Arthur Francis Hibner, who served as a submariner on the USS Redfish, a Balao class submarine in World War II.

Redfish is a thorough account of the senior Hibner’s naval service, especially in the waters surrounding Japan and the Philippines. Certainly a treasure for his family, this book illustrates the unforgettable character of the author’s father, who accepted any challenge the Navy gave him and exceeded all expectations. Throughout the Pacific, Senior Hibner was not only known for his performance as Third Class Torpedoman but also as the best coffee maker in the fleet.

Review by Nancy Panko

 

Author's Synopsis

Arthur Francis Hibner, a high school senior from a small town in northern New Mexico, is drafted into the Navy during WWII. He goes to San Diego Naval Training Center for boot camp, then to BESS (Basic Enlisted Submarine School) in Groton, Connecticut, where he learns the basics for survival on submarines, then becomes a plank holder on the newly constructed Balao class submarine, Redfish, USS SS-395.

Though Redfish and crew spent only six months in hostile waters surrounding Japan and the Philippines, they made the most of their time and wreaked havoc on the Imperial Japanese Navy and Japanese supply shipping.

Third Class Torpedoman’s Mate Hibner relates the two epic patrols of Redfish, and its harrowing escape from the fury of three escorting destroyers after the sinking of the aircraft carrier Unryu.

Format(s) for review: Paper Only
Review genre: Nonfiction—Memoir/Biography
Pages/Word count: 159 / 67,500

The Haunted Assassin by Allen Wittenborn

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MWSA Review

The Haunted Assassin by Allen Wittenborn provides an in-depth look at life in North Korea from the vantage point of a mid-level official’s daughter who was identified during her first year of life as a unique child. She was sent to special schools during the week at first, but was then required to spend more and more time away from her family. By age seven, she lived away from home full time, cutting ties to family and relatives. She was gifted in languages and trained in several martial arts with extensive training so that she was quite capable of killing with her hands. She learned to use firearms and drive cars and tanks. Most significantly, she was thoroughly indoctrinated to love only the Great Leader and his son, the Dear Leader. She followed orders without question.

The effect of that indoctrination is clearly shown throughout the story. As she begins to doubt some of the actions carried out by North Koreans, she is restrained by never having been allowed to make decisions. How can she possibly question decisions made by the Great Leader. She has been taught that procreation is only to create children for the state—there is no room for love. Of course, she meets someone for whom she develops feelings, but she could be executed for talking with a foreigner.

The foreigner is a middle man or broker for businesses in Asia. He believes that he can broker the export of magnesium from North Korea for smaller companies, but he unwisely agrees to try to provide intelligence to the CIA. In his attempts to meet people who can give him access to the right people in North Korea, he meets Yeong Hwa, who is the NK’s ambassador in Burma. Their relationship is entwined in Yeoung Hwa’s gradual emergence from her robot-like life.

As Yeoung Hwa experiences loss after loss, she begins to learn more about herself and who she could be. She does meet caring people along her journey, but ultimately, she is aware of North Korea’s view of anyone who tries to leave. Her strength shows through repeatedly in the story.

Review by Nancy Kauffman

 

Author's Synopsis

Kim Yeong Hwa has been raised since birth by the state apparatus, the Democratic People’s Republic of North Korea, to produce a human instrument, a supremo agent who willingly follows every command without question, a human robot. Her lifelong indoctrination is insidious and relentless, a constant psychological drumbeat even to the point that the Party and its leaders supplant her true biological family.
Kim reaches the pinnacle of success by bombing an airplane in flight killing all aboard, an event that has little impact on her moral fiber. But as she continues to obey orders, she faces a series of tragedies that threaten to shake her deepest convictions. Ingrained beliefs wear thin until a cathartic jolt reveals to her how she’s been molded and used. Her discovery compels her to face a dilemma she never expected to happen—to fight the grip on her mind and escape from who and what she is: a haunted assassin.

Format(s) for review: Paper or Kindle
Review genre: Fiction—Historical Fiction
Pages/Word count: 402 / 114,075

One Death Too Far by Dennis Koller

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MWSA Review

One Death Too Far by Dennis Koller is a gripping thriller, akin to a wild roller coaster ride with crazy twists and hairpin turns. Ken “Mac” McArthur is called home from a mission with the Red Squadron when his father, Special Agent Walt McArthur, is killed in a fiery plane explosion. Mac vows revenge for his father’s death. The story takes off like a rocket as Mac investigates the bombing of the aircraft his father was on, which leads him to a cartel boss. As a reader, I was invested and along for the ride.

Victor Serna, a ruthless cartel boss, knows that the younger McArthur will want to avenge his father’s murder, so he orders a hit on the son. The attempts to kill Mac fail, but succeed in strengthening Mac’s resolve to find answers to an unraveling puzzle in his hunt for Serna.

While working for the DEA on a mission to dismantle the cartels, Mac uncovers a deadly deception within the agency that puts him in the crosshairs of traitors.

One Death Too Far is a fast-paced book, hard to put down.

Review by Nancy Panko

 

Author's Synopsis

When DEA Special Agent Walt McArthur is assassinated in a fiery plane explosion orchestrated by a ruthless Mexican drug cartel, his son, Ken "Mac" McArthur—a recently retired Navy SEAL and leader of the elite Red Squadron Security Agency—returns home to bury his father…and unleash hell.

Fueled by grief and vengeance, Mac reactivates his covert team of operatives to hunt down those responsible. But cartel boss Victor Serna, a man known for silencing threats before they rise, issues a kill order on Mac—knowing full well that blood ties ignite vendettas.

Mac accepts a shadowy DEA mission—Operation Snow Plow—a sweeping plan to dismantle the cartels once and for all. But as the body count rises, he begins to question who’s really pulling the strings.
What starts as a black ops mission spirals into something far darker. Mac uncovers a treacherous conspiracy within the very agency he’s working for—one that reaches into the heart of Washington power and puts his entire team in the crosshairs.

Now hunted by both the cartel and those he thought were allies, Mac must navigate a deadly web of deception, betrayal, and moral ambiguity…before he becomes the next casualty in a war where no one is clean—and nothing is as it seems.

Format(s) for review: Paper or Kindle
Review genre: Fiction—Mystery/Thriller/Crime
Pages/Word count: 319 / 73,000

The Art of Leadership by David Ocheltree

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MWSA Review

This book is a 52-week “course” in leadership using examples from the 250-year history of America, written by a retired U.S. Navy senior Petty Officer. It is “faith -based,” but the only real evidence of this is a Bible quote at the beginning of each chapter, appropriate to its theme.

The content is well illustrated, and workbook-type exercises are included in numerous chapters. The topics are relevant and insightful for any study of leadership. Complex ideas are explained, making this book a “primer” for someone new to the concept of individual leadership. Commendable is the tackling of some very “tough” leadership topics, like accepting responsibility for bad results, accepting criticism, and handling egos: yours and others.

While beneficial to a reader at any level of leadership experience, this book is also well suited for a homeschooling course for older students, scouting and other youth groups, and for individuals becoming first-tier supervisors, especially managing volunteers in an organization.

Review by Terry Lloyd

 

Author's Synopsis

Have you ever been told you will be a leader, but no one actually gave you the training? You may have reviewed different websites, watched podcasts or even consulted with other people on leadership. Your search is finally over. "The Art of Leadership" gives you the tools to deal with some of the most complex issues that leaders face on a daily basis. Some of those issues like: How to Have a Difficult Conversation; The Difference Between Manipulation and Leadership; Why Is Humility the Cornerstone in Leadership; and many, many more. If you are a leader now, or maybe you wish to be one in the future, this book is for you. If you are a stay-at-home mom or a successful business owner–here is something for everyone. The key is if you want personal and professional growth! This book will help you on your journey. Don’t take my word for it. This is what other people have said:

“This is the kind of work that belongs on the desks and bookshelves of those who lead—whether in uniform, in business, or in the community. It reminds us not just how to lead, but why we lead.” -Bobby Baker, Captain, U.S. Navy (Retired)

“'In The Art of Leadership,' David matches stories to core qualities of bravery, morality, intuition and faith. It is my honor to help bring to the American public these cherished values so skillfully designed in the course work.” -Cindy McGrew, Founder and CEO of Operation Second Chance, Inc. (illus. Masthof Press, 2026.)

Format(s) for review: Paper Only
Review genre: Nonfiction—How to/Business
Pages/Word count: 352 / 75,246

A Walk Among Heroes by James McDevitt

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MWSA Review

A Walk Among Heroes tells an absorbing, intimate tale spanning two world wars. First-person accounts by two combat veterans (one from each conflict) relate the enduring toll their wartime experiences imposed on themselves and their loved ones. The predominant storyline traces a young man’s coming of age as a US Army enlistee in the years before, during, and after WWII. Much of this narrative is devoted to the friendships formed in the period leading up to his unit’s baptism by fire on D-Day. Courage and devotion to his comrades are subsequently tested in battles fought in Europe up to V-E Day. His homecoming after the war is marked by further challenges as he fights survivor's guilt and his abiding obsession with “the girl who got away”—his first and only love.

The story arc moves between the viewpoints of the two warriors, gradually filling in personal details and relationships to reveal how their lives have been intertwined. Occasional dialogs with two female characters fill in other specifics of the warriors’ histories. Intertwined relationships between the characters are revealed slowly through the story and its timeline.  The narrative moves forward and back in time freely within chapters, often without warning or guidance. This can leave the reader briefly confused about whether the narrator is experiencing a scene or imagining it. Scenes are satisfyingly descriptive of surroundings, environment, and situations. Battle action accounts are in-depth and detailed, but readers who are sticklers for historical authenticity will question some incidental references.

The final few chapters quickly tie together the generational and romantic threads that were hinted at throughout the storyline. A few of these connections may strain some readers’ credibility, but all’s fair in fiction. Nonetheless, A Walk Among Heroes delivers an engaging and complex experience that engages readers from the outset and carries them through to a satisfying finish.

Review by Peter Young

 

Author's Synopsis

Through TJ and Smitty — a World War I aviator scarred by his past — the novel weaves a sweeping story of two wars, two men, and one enduring love that binds generations. It is a deeply moving reflection on duty, sacrifice, and the price paid by those who return home forever changed.

An incredible story of two wars that seamlessly come together through the eyes of two veterans.

Format(s) for review: Paper or Kindle
Review genre: Fiction—Historical Fiction
Pages/Word count: 370 / 77,000

Dances with Arrows by Steve Stratton

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MWSA Review

Set in a post-EMP World War III Wyoming, this military thriller follows the Wyoming Army of Resistance as it wages guerrilla warfare against occupying Russian and Chinese forces while racing to secure critical nuclear assets before they can be used. The story delivers a high-stakes narrative grounded in tactical realism, with a clear focus on operational planning, combat execution, and the pressures of asymmetric warfare in a collapsed infrastructure environment. Action sequences are a particular strength, offering clarity, momentum, and immediacy that keep the story moving at a strong pace.

The novel will appeal to readers who enjoy military fiction centered on special operations, resistance movements, and strategic conflict scenarios. With a large ensemble cast of characters and a steadily escalating conflict, it builds a cohesive and continuously evolving storyline that supports the broader Mongol Moon Universe.

Review by Bob Ritchie

 

Author's Synopsis

The Russians and Chinese need our crops. They believe America is broken and attack.

In Wyoming, they will find out what unbreakable means. Brigadier General Lance Bear Wolf and his team form the Wyoming Army of Resistance. The very survival of America is at stake… and Wolf will not let it die.

From the wind-swept plains with their ICBM silos to the blood-soaked snow of occupied Cheyenne, Wolf ignites a rebellion that spreads across the Rockies. Every strike risks annihilation. Every decision is a fight between his principles and a primeval need to avenge the staggering losses America has suffered.

Written in the Mark Sibley Mongol Moon universe—where World War III is not a nightmare but a brutal reality—Dances With Arrows is a raw, relentless story of sacrifice and resistance in America’s darkest hour.

Format(s) for review: Paper or Kindle
Review genre: Fiction—Mystery/Thriller/Crime
Pages/Word count: 328 / 91,000