Book Description
A highly personal account of the day-to-day experiences of 5 platoon leaders who served in the same tank battalion during Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm. While professional soldiers and historians will undoubtedly glean much from this narrative, the heart of the account concerns the experiences of the 5 young lieutenants who served on the front line facing physical, personal, and leadership challenges.
Customer Reviews:
Well described, paints a good picture of 'being there'.......2006-09-08
I met Alex Vernon on the job, but I haven't served or anything. He was a tough fellow, very intelligent. Not all balls-to-the-walls gung ho or anything.
To say he is whining in this book is like 'whatever...' I mean, he is a normal guy caught up in a war. Not in-humanized by the whole ordeal. Sure, a higher up who must send men to their possible deaths everyday might consider the voicings of any 'feelings' or whatnot to be 'whining' and not want to deal with it, but to the vast majority of people, who are more like the author, these are the thoughts you might have to face with those circumstances.
I did get lost with the shifting voice/personas in the story, but It was a compilation from 5 men. I did think it was a good read. It didn't glorify tank commanding, but gave a realistic account of the not-so-glorified aspects of war. You do get an idea of what its like to be plowing along inside that massive vehicle.
Duty, Honor, Country.......2006-08-27
I heartily concur with Dr. Forczyk's outstanding review of this volume. He is right on the money. There is little I can add to his criticisms of it. I am disappointed in the attitudes displayed by the authors, however, as four of them are graduates of the United States Military Academy at West Point, as I am, and it appears to me that these gentleman missed out on some of the outstanding leadership instruction given at the Academy, or, if they were present, they appear to have ignored it.
I am also a Gulf War veteran, though I was a Marine Corps artillery officer and not a US Army armor officer. That, however, should make no difference in professionalism and the ethic of service to one's country, especially in time of war. Those attributes are sadly lacking in this whining diatribe.
The best word that describes this book is 'pathetic.' It is a soldier's duty to fight for his country and the purpose of the Armed Forces is to fight when called upon to do so. If that basic fact cannot be accepted by anyone in uniform, then they need to get out and leave that work to trained professionals who are more than willing to put themselves on the line for their nation. The armed forces are a career of service, and those in uniform serve the nation. If you cannot do that properly, then leave it to those who will. One theme has been left out of this execrable volume, which is one of the tenets of military leadership-selflessness.
The best use for this overlong and self-serving nonsense is either as a doorstop or as another contender for the garbage can.
This review has been submitted because the previous one I wrote was mistakenly submitted under my wife's name. My apologies.
A Sense of Duty..........2006-08-26
I heartily concur with Dr. Forczyk's outstanding review of this volume. He is right on the money. There is little I can add to his criticisms of it. I am disappointed in the attitudes displayed by the authors, however, as four of them are graduates of the United States Military Academy at West Point, as I am, and it appears to me that these gentleman missed out on some of the outstanding leadership instruction given at the Academy, or, if they were present, they ignored it.
I am also a Gulf War veteran, though I was a Marine Corps artillery officer and not a US Army armor officer. That, however, should make no difference in professionalism and the ethic of service to one's country, especially in time of war. Those attributes are sadly lacking in this whining diatribe.
The best word that describes this book is 'pathetic.' It is a soldier's duty to fight for his country and the purpose of the Armed Forces is to fight when called upon to do so. If that basic fact cannot be accepted by anyone in uniform, then they need to get out and leave that work to trained professionals who are more than willing to put themselves on the line for their nation. The armed forces are a career of service, and those in uniform serve the nation. If you cannot do that properly, then leave it to those who will.
The best use for this overlong and self-serving nonsense is either as a doorstop or as another contender for the garbage can.
A not-so-objective review.......2003-07-12
I served with Alex Vernon and the other authors in Desert Shield and Desert Storm. Their book was a powerful trip down memory lane for me. The strength of Eyes of Orion is its honest look at the challenges of military service from the eyes of junior officers. It is indeed painfully honest. Though Alex and I were in the same company and talked often, even I didn't know how much he struggled with the experience. To me he was a calm and competent platoon leader. I think that says a lot about the masks we put on, especially when commanding soldiers. If you are interested in the psychology of leadership and people under stress then read this book.
An okay read.......2003-06-06
I was a M1A1 tank platoon leader in the 1st Infantry Division during Desert Storm and this book brought back memories of that time in my life. For a non-military person this book offers a unique insight into what it is like for a unit going off to war. there are flaws though, as mentioned by others it is hard at times to figure out who is doing the talking. One minute I'm reading about the scout platoon leader and the next I am reading about one of the tank platoon leaders without knowing I had left the scout platoon leader. Overall it is a pretty good book once you get past the confusion of who you are reading about on some pages.
Average customer rating:
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Whistle Punks and Widow-Makers: Tales of the Bc Woods
Robert E. Swanson
Manufacturer: Harbour Publishing
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
 General
| United States
| Americas
| History
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General
| Canada
| Americas
| History
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Forests & Forestry
| Natural Resources
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Look Inside Outdoors & Nature Books
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ASIN: 1550171771 |
Book Description
These tales from the golden age of logging in BC star all the legends of the woods. Not the founders of corporate dynasties, but the hookers, fallers, bull cooks, whistle punks and locie engineers who became real-life Paul Bunyans of the West Coast. "From sheer force of personality," writes Ken Drushka in his introduction, "these men rose above their workaday callings and became the subject of interminable bunkhouse bull sessions and barroom storytelling."
Whistle Punks and Widow-Makers features twenty-six unforgettable stories about these near-mythical characters. They had names like Bull Sling Bill, Eight-Day Wilson, Daddy Lamb and Broomhandle Charlie, and their stories are told by Robert Swanson, who was an inveterate collector of bunkhouse ballads for more than half a century. With over 120 photos from the glory days of logging, many of them published here for the first time.
Robert Swanson (1905-1994) worked for years as a logger, then as a forestry safety inspector for the government. A special horn Swanson invented for trains was adapted for use all over the world, and he also pioneered the development of air brakes on logging trucks. His expertise on steam trains and their whistles was central to the restoration of BC's popular Royal Hudson excursion train, and visitors to Vancouver will recognize his handiwork in Gastown's steam clock.
However, to his legions of fans Swanson will always be known as the "Bard of the Woods." During his forestry career he went to every logging camp and mill operation on the coast and spent long evenings bull slinging with the legends of logging. He started writing down their stories and ballads in the 1930s, and in the process he became one of BC's bestselling poets. A new edition of his collected bunkhouse ballads, Rhymes of a Western Logger, was published in 1992.
Product Description
3 Titles By James Jones : Go To the Widow-Maker The Merry Month of May Whistle. three mmpb books.
Average customer rating:
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Beware the Grey Widow-Maker: The Ongoing Harvest of the Sea
Bernard Edwards
Manufacturer: Brick Tower Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
Naval
| Military
| History
| Subjects
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General
| Ships
| Transportation
| World
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Ships & Shipwrecks
| Ships
| Transportation
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General
| Australia & Oceania
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General
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History
| Ships
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| Nonfiction
| Subjects
| Books
ASIN: 1883283329 |
Book Description
This book follows the changing pattern of man's fortunes at sea, from the golden age of sail, through the proud years when steam reigned supreme, to the present day, when the flag of convenience rules the waves. It tells of triumphs and disasters, some recent, some long forgotten, and illustrates how, contrary to all expectations, the fine art of seamanship has withered and died with the advent of advanced technology.
Average customer rating:
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Challenge The Widow-Maker And Other Stories Of People In Peril
Clark Howard
Manufacturer: Crippen & Landru Publishers
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
United States
| World Literature
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Anthologies
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General
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| Mystery & Thrillers
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General
| Mystery & Thrillers
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ASIN: 1885941404 |
Amazon.com
Penzler Pick, September 2000: A collection of Clark Howard's tales in a book of his own was long overdue. Having seen his first story published in the classic men's magazine, Stag, in 1956, Howard has since become a classic--and classy--crime-writing author. Frequently anthologized, Howard has also regularly been honored by the Mystery Writers of America (with seven nominations and one Edgar) and by the Private Eye Writers of America. As a frequent contributor to Ellery Queen's Mystery Magazine, he recently set a record when he scored his fifth annual Readers Award from that influential magazine.
The pleasure of discovering his varied scenes of dramatic adventure, with their unexpected situations and all-too-human protagonists, awaits a whole new audience with the publication of this excellent collection. Whether in a back-country village on the island of Maui, where the title story is set among surfers and pearl smugglers, or in the strife-weary precincts of Belfast, Ireland, where "The Dublin Eye" plunges us into a chilling episode of revenge, Howard seems completely at home. But wherever his heroes are encountered, they are always recognized as moral men, often propelled by circumstances into stretching, even breaking, the rules for the sake of righting injustices.
Trouble is the milieu that Howard's protagonists share, and each exhibits a certain sort of masculinity that might be regarded by some as old-fashioned. The great romantic-heroic tough guys of 1940s films are this author's paradigms, and one of his most popular stories, "The Dakar Run," even pays an affectionate homage to Casablanca and Humphrey Bogart, as well as to John Garfield and the boxing-themed noir staple, Body and Soul.
Once again, the wittily named small press, Crippen & Landru (after two of the 19th century's most notorious mass murderers), is to be congratulated for its intelligent publishing program spotlighting the mystery short story. --Otto Penzler
Book Description
Challenge the Widow-Maker and Other Stories of People in Peril is about ordinary people who have not always done well with what life has dealt them — ex-cons, hardluck boxers, aging surfers, Puerto Rican dirt farmers, lonely old men living in tenements. When crises enter their lives, they have to find the strength, the humanity, to meet the challenges. In the moving "Custer's Ghost," one of the last survivors finds closure half a century after Little Bighorn. In "The Dakar Run," a former race car driver must find the integrity to stand up both to gangsters and to the grueling desert race in northern Africa. In "Animals," an old man who has lost his late wife's cat joins a street punk to free tortured animals. In these and nine other tough but compassionate investigations into the human condition, Clark Howard demonstrates why he is one of the finest storytellers of this generation.
Customer Reviews:
Great Short Stories.......2000-08-02
The title of this book does not do the stories inside justice. These are great stories, all with a lot of heart. These stories are all technically mystery stories, because they all include a crime, but each would appeal to readers of any genre because they are so well-written and intriguing.
Book Description
Work on the two-day conference on military operations on urbanized terrain that was held at the RAND office.
Amazon.com
Despite scientific evidence to the contrary, as far as the health care profession is concerned the standard operating design of the human body is male. So when a book comes along as beautifully written and endlessly informative as Natalie Angier's Woman: An Intimate Geography, it's a cause for major celebration. Written with whimsy and eloquence, her investigation into female physiology draws its inspiration not only from scientific and medical sources but also from mythology, history, art, and literature, layering biological factoids with her own personal encounters and arcane anecdotes from the history of science. Who knew, for example, that the clitoris--with 8,000 nerve fibers--packs double the pleasure of the penis; that the gene controlling cellular sensitivity to male androgens, ironically enough, resides on the X-chromosome; or that stress hormones like cortisol and corticosterone are the true precursors of friendship?
The mysteries of evolution are not a new subject for Angier, a Pulitzer Prize-winning biology writer for the New York Times whose previous books include The Beauty of the Beastly and Natural Obsessions. The strengths of Woman begin with Angier's witty and evocative prose style, but its real contribution is the way it expands the definition of female "geography" beyond womb, breasts, and estrogen, down as far as the bimolecular substructure of DNA and up as high as the transcendent infrastructure of the human brain. --Patrizia DiLucchio
Book Description
With the clarity, insight, and sheer exuberance of language that make her one of The New York Times's premier stylists, Pulitzer Prize-winner Natalie Angier lifts the veil of secrecy from that most enigmatic of evolutionary masterpieces, the female body. Angier takes readers on a mesmerizing tour of female anatomy and physiology that explores everything from organs to orgasm, and delves into topics such as exercise, menopause, and the mysterious properties of breast milk.
A self-proclaimed "scientific fantasia of womanhood."
Woman ultimately challenges widely accepted Darwinian-based gender stereotypes. Angier shows how cultural biases have influenced research in evolutionary psychology (the study of the biological bases of behavior) and consequently lead to dubious conclusions about "female nature." such as the idea that women are innately monogamous while men are natural philanderers.
But Angier doesn't just point fingers; she offers optimistic alternatives and transcends feminist polemics with an enlightened subversiveness that makes for a joyful, fresh vision of womanhood.
Woman is a seminal work that will endure as an essential read for anyone intersted in how biology affects who we are?as women, as men, and as human beings.
Customer Reviews:
Raging feminism.......2007-05-03
Really. There's little significant new information in this book that isn't covered in the 30 something pages of sources. Just pick up any anatomy book and you'd get the same information, minus the feminism BS.
One of my favorites!.......2007-05-02
I just love this book. It gives insight into the possible connections in our lives. Why is painful labor beneficial? Why do we have menopause and other animals do not?... I could go on and on. It provides great insight and a sense of womanly pride. I love science-based books that are not a bore. This is entertaining and I have a new perspective and appreciation for many things that make me a woman!
Very informative and feminist!.......2007-01-19
After looking for books about female biology and wanting something that did not place women in gendered roles according to their supposed biological nature, I came upon this one.
The author makes several invaluble arguments to counter the 'biology is who we are' theory. I'm a young university student and reading this was indespensable, and informative. All authors who write about women need to be feminists. Recommended for young women, particularly as an informed intelligent book about our body as well as armor for what society may be pushing down your throat.
great writing, great info.......2006-09-05
I'd call this a textbook on Women's Anatomy except it's too well-written to call it that. Still, it's packed with information, every chapter focusing on one area of a woman's body, from breasts to uteruses to how ovaries work. Angier also takes up debates like people like breasts so much, what we "know" about gender roles from anthropological biology, to why breast-feeding goes in and out of fashion. Really, this one is more than recommended, it's required reading for anyone who wants to know how women's bodies work.
A must read or re-read for every woman or man who loves women.......2006-07-30
What do you really know about female biology. Author Natlie Angier a Pulitzer Prize winner takes on everything from organs to orgasm. She goes into such topics as menopause, female anger/aggression and evolutionary ideas. She writes about biology for the NY Times and knows her stuff. A great book for a college student or pre-med student or a senior citizen. Start with how one perfect solar cell forms and what is involved in female chrosome. The author covers a whole chapter on the Clitoris and all of its 8000 nerve fibers and moves on to talk about the Uterus and the breast and breast milk. Ovaries get their due and hormones estrogen, testotsterone and women and desire all get their own sectins. Why muscle not fat. And what role does evolutionary psychology play in making women vs men. Bonding and oxytocin --complex female bonding stuff and more.
Product Description
Still more original bread recipes, both traditional and cutting-edge, fill the third book in the
Bread Machine Cookbook series. Special features include an in-depth discussion of ingredients and their substitutions, valuable tips on troubleshooting and sections on nut breads, toppings and fillings.
Customer Reviews:
WONDERFUL--buy the whole series!!.......2007-04-04
This is an AWESOME cookbook, I love the way the recipes are listed in the book, very easy to follow. The ingredients are listed in order to how they should be placed in the machine, there are instruction for 1, 1/2, and 2 lb loaves. The print is large which also makes the recipes easy to follow. I own her whole series of BM cookbooks because I like them so much!! Great variety also--if I have a certain ingredient that I want to use up in my cupboard, 9 times out of 10 I can find a recipe for bread that I can use it in!! Can't say enough good things about this cookbook!!
More variations for those who love their ABMs.......2000-05-22
This is not my favorite of the Nitty Gritty series, but I love having a huge selection of ABM recipes. I would rate Rehberg's "Bread Machine Magic" books as superior, in general, but "The Bread Machine Cookbook III" gave me a delicious "Cranberry Orange Bread,", page 76, "Anadama Bread", page 42, "Jalapeno Corn Bread", page 45, "Orange Ginger Bread", page 84, "Chocolate Chocolate Chip Bread", page 101, and "Poulsbo Bread", page 131.
For those who want an ABM recipe for every possible inspiration, they'll need this volume!
Average customer rating:
- good overall,in-depth in some areas yet not in others.
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Popular Guide to Tropical Aquarium Fishes
Dick Mills
Manufacturer: Voyageur Press (MN)
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
Fish & Aquariums
| Animal Care & Pets
| Home & Garden
| Subjects
| Books
General
| Animal Care & Pets
| Home & Garden
| Subjects
| Books
General
| Gardening & Horticulture
| Home & Garden
| Subjects
| Books
ASIN: 1564651096 |
Customer Reviews:
good overall,in-depth in some areas yet not in others........2002-03-05
For the beginner, as I am, this book is very helpful in describing many different kinds of fish and their requirements. It helps the reader make very informed decisions about which fish will do well in the type of community the keeper is looking to establish. However, the book lacks the "aquariums for dummies" information that the keeper needs for the day to day stuff. Water change schedule, diseases & treatments, etc. Overall, the book was very good. I just needed to use another book in-tandem with this one to gather all the information I needed as a first time "aquarium dummy".
Customer Reviews:
Great for cichlid lovers.......2000-05-29
A comprehensive guide to keeping cichlids. There are also useful tables concerning plants and decorations suitable for cichlid tanks. The first 100 pages contain the more general info on natural habitats, aquarium selection, water requirements and filtration, heating and lighting, aquascaping, maintenance, feeding, health and breeding. The last section on breeding has separate sections on African, Central American and South American cichlids. This same division is used in the second part of the book, the species section. The descripion of the different fishes is very comprehensive and includes wonderful information such as sexing and compatibility. The index includes both scientific name as well as common name. Great reference book for the beginning and advanced hobbyist alike.
Book Description
Here’s a complete course in the basic, safe, and correct techniques for mastering the lathe. Each chapter takes on an essential aspect of woodturning—from types of lathes and accessories to sharpening; from turning between centers to faceplate turning; from copy turning to boring and routing. “Rowley has done a fine job of preparing sketches, text, and photos. Don’t pass up this book.”—Woodwork.
Amazon.com
If you're feeling disconnected from the world, it might not be because of your mood; you could be a temporal lobe epileptic. In this collection of fascinating, accessible essays, Richard Restak--bestselling author of Brainscapes--explores the relationship between mind and brain. " ... I still find it difficult to believe," he states in the introduction, "that this three-pound mass of protoplasm with the consistency of an overripe avocado is the seat of who I am, of who we all are." If you've ever wondered how much our humanity is shaped by the gray, wrinkled organ between our ears, or even what's going on in our brains when we daydream or ride a bicycle, this book of spirited anecdotes will provide some interesting answers and raise even more questions.
Book Description
Neurologist and best-selling author Richard Restak puts readers in touch with the latest scientific findings about the most complex and inscrutable object in creation--the human brain. "By all means let Richard Restak take you on this lively journey to the very roots of our being. Along the way you will gain new understanding of consciousness, dreams, drugs, emotions, memory loss, and many kindred subjects."--William Warner
Line drawings.
Average customer rating:
- Thorough - But is it accurate?
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The Lives, Loves, and Art of Arthur B. Davies
Bennard B. Perlman , and
Arthur B. Davies
Manufacturer: State University of New York Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
Artists, Architects & Photographers
| Arts & Literature
| Biographies & Memoirs
| Subjects
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General
| Biographies & Memoirs
| Subjects
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General
| United States
| Historical
| Biographies & Memoirs
| Subjects
| Books
General
| Arts & Photography
| Subjects
| Books
ASIN: 0791438368 |
Customer Reviews:
Thorough - But is it accurate?.......2002-04-16
I compliment the author on his thorough research, including letters written and received by Davies. Here lies part of the problem with the book. It is far too detailed. I would rarely say this, but the author verbally describes many of the paintings that are illustrated in the book. Why? This becomes tedeous.
I also question some of the information in the book. For example, he states that he and his mistress travelled to Europe because Davies lived in NYC with her and in the country with his wife. This seems a bit extreme to me so I did some research on [internet search company] and failed to find a single cite to support this. Why would census takers care if a man lived with a mistress? They were not throwing them in jail for it. If the author makes such a far fetched statement, then he should provide evidence of it.
The loves of Davies are not fully explored. Yes, the author tells the reader that Virginia, the first wife, shot her first husband and skipped town to NYC. This is interesting. But how is Davies affected by leading double and triple lives. Stieglitz was having his affair with O'Keeffe at this time. Stieglitz's art reflects the love of O'Keeffe, etc.
One last example. The author states that Davies, who was responsible for the Armory Show of 1913 would give tours to distinguished guests. While doing so, his posture was interpreted as a sign of arrogance. OK. But then the author tells us that Davies did not intend to appear arrogant. How does he know Davies' thoughts at such specific times?
The book has strong points, but the weaknesses ultimately overwhelm the reader. That's the gist of it. Check it out at a library and decide for yourself.
Average customer rating:
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Mrs Milburn's Diaries: An Englishwoman's Day-to-day Reflections 1939-1945
Peter Donnelly
Manufacturer: Time Warner Books UK
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
Irish
| Ethnic & National
| Biographies & Memoirs
| Subjects
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General
| Biographies & Memoirs
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General
| England
| Europe
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General
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Europe
| World War II
| Military
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ASIN: 0349106231 |
Books:
- The Last Stand of the Tin Can Sailors: The Extraordinary World War II Story of the U.S. Navy's Finest Hour
- The Man Who Invented the Third Reich
- The Splendid Five: A True Story About the Splinter Fleet in the Pacific During WWII
- The Story of a Soldier 1940-1971: The Airborne Spirit and Recollections of Colonel Edward S. Mehosky (Ret.) U.S. Army, Infantry
- The Trafalgar Roll: The Ships and the Officers
- The Unconquered Knight: A Chronicle of the Deeds of Don Pero Nio, Count of Buelna (First Person Singular) (First Person Singular)
- Too Young the Heroes: A World War II Marine's Account of Facing a Veteran Enemy at Guadalcanal, the Solomons and Okinawa
- TUNNELMASTER AND ARSONIST OF THE GREAT WAR: The Norton-Griffiths Story
- Two Wars: An Autobiograhy of Gen. Samuel G. French, an Officer in the Armies of the United States and the Confederate States, a Graduate from the U.S. Military
- U.S. Army Serial Number 37531447
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