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The background for this well written book comes of course from The Korean War, a 'police action' never declared a war by Congress but most people refer to it as a 'war' all the same. Built into this background is the work that James A. Michener did while spending time aboard both aircraft carriers and planes collecting datum during the war prior to his writing the book The Bridges at Toko-ri. Later from his writings came two Hollywood movies, Men of the Fighting Lady and The Bridges at Toko-ri. The movies and the book were well received (even to this day) both by the United States Navy and the reading and viewing public. Late in his career Michener stated that he felt the best book he had ever written was The Bridges at Toko-ri.
I purchased a copy of this new book by Mr. Sears primarily for two reasons: I hold an honorable discharge from the United States Navy during the Vietnam era and I have been a lifelong fan of James Albert Michener. I have to agree with author Michener for I too feel The Bridges at Toko-ri represent his best work. Short, concise, but with a realism that jumps both off the page and movie screen. Similar things can also be said for Mr. Sears' new book, with title SUCH MEN AS THESE, having its genesis with Michener's book, The Bridges at Toko-ri. Of all the contents of Michener's book, the words "Where did we get such men?" spoken by Admiral Tarrant have always been ingrained in my memory.
SUCH MEN AS THESE is written by an ex-Navy officer, not an aviator, but we will not hold that against him! SUCH MEN AS THESE is a very fine book on many levels due to its offering several aspects of history, in addition to describing these mostly citizen pilots, abruptly, some would say unfairly, called back to active duty to become heroic combat pilots. Imagine being home with the wife and kids, working your job or profession after serving during World War Two, now only to be removed within days from all you have worked for during the last few years, finding yourself quickly back in a combat zone trying to stay alive on a day-to-day basis.
Mr. Sears sets the entire Korean War combat area and the U.S. Navy carrier operations before the reader, giving context and depth to both the political and military parallel activities. Names such as Truman, MacArthur, Syngman Rhee, Mao, Stalin, et al., pop up continuously with resultant explanations of the politics into the conflict. The maps are not many in the book but they are adequate, while the photos are more than adequate and the notes, glossaries, and appendices are far above average.
I read many books of a military nature and cannot overstate how well this book reads, its flowing style is of the best quality and meter. Due to the nature of the subject and the manner in which the author has connected the war, the political, and the writings of James A. Michener together in one neat bundle a reader can in all good manner call this a very unique book.
I have enjoyed reading the book over several nights and recommend it to all who enjoy a solid work of history, especially of a mostly forgotten war in that far away place called Korea. For those of us who grew up during this period, reading Michener's books, and later serving in the Navy close to these areas (serving in Japan for 25 months, I was in and out of Yokosuka several times). I say again, this is one fine, interesting work of non-fiction.
Click Here to see more reviews about: Such Men as These: The Story of the Navy Pilots Who Flew the Deadly Skies over Korea
In 1951, James Michener went to Korea to report on a little known aspect of America's stalemated war: navy aviators. His research inspired novel about these pilots became an overnight bestseller and, perhaps, the most widely read book ever written about aerial combat.Using Michener's notes, author David Sears tracked down the actual pilots to tell their riveting, true-life stories. From the icy, windswept decks of aircraft carriers, they penetrated treacherous mountain terrain to strike heavily defended dams, bridges, and tunnels, where well entrenched Communist anti-aircraft gunners waited to shoot them down. Many of these men became air combat legends, and one, Neil Armstrong, the first astronaut to walk on the moon.Such Men As These brims with action-packed accounts of combat and unforgettable portraits of the pilots whose skill and sacrifice made epic history.
