I am in the midst of reading two books right now. It isn’t like me to read multiple books at the same time, but my reading of choice has forced it on me.

First off I am reading the Federalist Papers:

Wow. I am only 100 pages into it, but wow. I tell you what the framers of our Constitution understood what they were doing. They thought it all out. Oddly enough, they didn’t mention all the super secret “rights” that modern day judges read into the thing.

*sigh*

Anyway, it is an amazing book, but it is hard reading. Very intellectual stuff and I want to really understand what they are trying to say.

So….when my brain hurts, I turn to my Father’s Day present:

Those of you that know me already know I love history and World War 2 in particular, so this book will come as no surprise. However, you probably don’t know the odd fascination I have with all things mundane and routine.

What I mean is that I do enjoy reading about battles, massive campaigns, amazing Generals, and strategic planning, but there is something that interests me even more than that.

I have an odd fascination for the day to day lives of soldiers in war. How did they eat, sleep, go to the bathroom, etc. When they fought, how did they fight. I don’t mean that Division A or Regiment X or Company B took such and such objective. I want to know HOW they fought. How did the move in combat? What formations did they use? How did they adjust to meet the enemy? How did a tank unit deploy for battle? What did it look like? How do you aim a mortar? How did the men stay supplied? What did the average soldier carry into battle?

You get the point.

When I find books that deal with the minute details of combat, I buy it. So far this book is just what I was looking for.

My Dad probably notices this because when I ask about his service in Vietnam, I ask questions like: What was your first day in country like? When did they put you in the helicopter on an actual mission? How did you learn to shoot from the helicopter? Did you learn by “walking” your tracers or were there other ways? When you say you were shot down, what did that look like? What was going through your mind?

I guess it goes back to how I enjoy history. I enjoy the broad knowledge, but I really enjoy the personal stories.

So, if you have other books that deal in this subject, please point them out to me.