Military

By-Laws and Guidelines/Definitions (2012)

ARTICLE I    Name

 This organization is known as the Military Writers Society of America, and is sometimes referred to herein and elsewhere as MWSA

ARTICLE II    Board of Directors

The Board of Directors shall consist of nine members (President is the Chairman, Past-President serves one term as Board Member, the Founder as a Permanent Board Member and six elected members).

Tuffy’s Heroes

Title: Tuffy’s Heroes
Author: Joe “Tuffy” Tofuri
Genre: Military Sub-Category: Air Force
Reviewed by: Robert Schaefer

ISBN (for Amazon store): 0983174520

Meet the basic trainees whose lives will never be the same once they meet their Air Force Training Instructor, Technical Sergeant Joe "Tuffy" Tofuri. A hard-nosed T.I. who conveys his years of training and experience by using creative tactics to gain the attention of his trainees

Author(s) Mentioned: 
Tofuri, Joe "Tuffy"

King of the Oilers: The Story of the USS Chiwawa AO-68

Title: King of the Oilers: The Story of the USS Chiwawa AO-68
Author: Jon Strupp
Genre: Military Sub-Category: Navy
Reviewer: jim greenwald

ISBN (for Amazon store): 1592981917

With entry into World War II, the United States of America faced a daunting task of delivering men and material on two distant fronts on opposite ends of the world. Due to this, a logistical system was developed like never seen before. This book tells the story of the fleet oiler, USS Chiwawa AO-68. How both men and machine, not primarily designed for war, were called from civilian life to defend their country and become part of the backbone of the navy helping to tip the balance in the Allies favor. Loaded with cargo consisting of kerosene, gasoline, diesel oil, Navy Special Fuel Oil, top side cargo, and passengers, the Chiwawa participated in nine trans-Atlantic convoys, delivering the goods to the European theater. Facing bad weather and the imminent threat of U-boats, the Chiwawa performed the delicate job of refueling the escort ships protecting the convoy while underway. When the war in Europe was won, the Chiwawa was transferred to the Pacific theater to confront ever present mines and two typhoons. This often overlooked aspect of World War II is examined using U.S. Navy records, crew interviews, diaries, and letters written during the war, telling the Chiwawa's story through first-hand accounts of life at sea and land while visiting ports throughout Europe, Mediterranean, Caribbean and Pacific. This story is unique because the Chiwawa avoided scrapping after the war to return to civilian use, and serves to the present day on the Great Lakes as the ore carrier M/V Lee A. Tregurtha.

Author(s) Mentioned: 
Strupp, Jon

Walking the Tiger’s Path: A Soldier’s Spiritual Journey in Iraq

Title: Walking the Tiger’s Path: A Soldier’s Spiritual Journey in Iraq
Author: Paul Kendel
Genre: Military Sub-Category: Army
Reviewer: jim greenwald

ISBN (for Amazon store): ISBN / EAN

Paul M. Kendel (SSG Ret.) deployed with his National Guard unit out of Georgia to Iraq in 2005 hoping to use his knowledge of that land to bridge the gap between American soldiers and Iraqi civilians. However, the realities of war crushed his idealism when his buddies began dying at the hands of the enemy six weeks after their arrival. Eventually, his ongoing concern for the Iraqi people alienated some of his comrades, and he felt the sting of growing conflict within himself.
Turning to the books on Buddhist teachings he had brought with him, he found solace in the written words, but he longed for more. On a whim, he emailed Shambhala International and requested assistance. An unexpected response and ongoing support from Buddhist teacher and meditation instructor Margot Neuman helped him to retain a sane and humble humanity in a situation that often plummeted into lethal insanity.

This book addresses the horrors of war from an extraordinary human perspective. SSG. Kendel did not lose his compassion in the face of grave risk, nor did he endanger fellow soldiers while he remained true to himself--rare feats in our violent world.

Author(s) Mentioned: 
Kendal, Paul

Meet Our Reviewers

Although our members have opinions regarding current events, our intent is to support the United States military rather than denounce it. We have no illusion that the performance of our military or our nation's leaders are flawless, but we feel strongly that there are more than enough existing venues for criticizing them. We do not wish to become another one. Consequently, we make efforts to avoid publishing material that we find to be primarily critical in nature. Please submit requests for review to our Lead Reviewer, jim greenwald by using the "Submit Book for Review" heading on the right hand side of the menu.

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