Official Review: A Russian in the American Army - WWII
Posted: 27 Jun 2020, 11:51
[Following is an official OnlineBookClub.org review of "A Russian in the American Army - WWII" by Karl Thomson.]
As the title suggests, A Russian in the American Army - WWII chronicles one man’s experiences in the United States military. Alexander Vetov is the son of Russian immigrants and was among the first American forces to storm the beaches of Normandy in 1944. An effective leader and talented strategist, he earned the respect of his soldiers and superiors. Even after the invasion, the fighting in Europe was relentless and seemed to grow more intense as the Germans realized they had nothing left to lose. Alex becomes part of an intelligence unit after the war as the threat of communism leads to other conflicts and brings the United States again into costly and devastating conflicts. As a White Russian, he is loyal to his homeland as it was before the Russian Revolution and finds himself in a pivotal position to provide invaluable insight for American intelligence units to stand against the spread of communism.
Author Karl Thomson transports readers to another time, and this shows in the writing from the beginning as the family boards a steamship to Ellis Island. Descriptions of the setting such as the peaceful Dutch countryside and care-free days at school create an enticing background and an ominous tone for the widespread destruction and loss of life that will blanket the entire continent a few short years later. The author effectively captures military culture, and I found his descriptions to be quite realistic and compelling. Examples of this include the unique relationship between soldiers of different ranks, common operating procedures for combat patrols, and the importance of keeping morale up among the soldiers.
The best part of this book is the author’s detailed inclusion of familiar historical events. President Eisenhower and General Patton are among some of our national leaders who make appearances in the story, and infamous battles in Europe are the backdrop for the book's plot. I found myself reading sections over and over again for two reasons. First, I just could not wrap my mind around what I was reading. Anyone who has ever pondered the reality of post-traumatic stress should read this book; few words can even begin to portray the carnage many soldiers have witnessed. I also had to stop reading a few times to do my own research on the many poignant details. Were the last words soldiers heard before landing on Utah Beach from President Eisenhower himself? I also did not know about the unique role of the French civilians, the formidable German arsenal of weapons, or the extensive slave labor in Asia.
The only negative thing I can say about this book is the editing. I noted numerous errors that seemed to increase in frequency the further I read. This was a little distracting because many of the errors involve punctuation. For this reason only, I give the book 3 out of 4 stars; the description of the setting, the capture of timeless themes, and the immersion in history described above was extraordinary, and I really didn’t want it to end.
I recommend this book to mature readers who really enjoy military history, particularly those who do not mind some violence and graphic content associated with the perils of war. Readers who are looking for a character-driven novel may not enjoy it because there is a lot of technical information about military life and machinery. Some knowledge of modern history, including the Russian Revolution and wars involving the United States is helpful. Overall, this is an engaging and informative read that has given me a better understanding of the scope of our military forces, the sacrifices they make, and the scars many of them carry.
******
A Russian in the American Army - WWII
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
As the title suggests, A Russian in the American Army - WWII chronicles one man’s experiences in the United States military. Alexander Vetov is the son of Russian immigrants and was among the first American forces to storm the beaches of Normandy in 1944. An effective leader and talented strategist, he earned the respect of his soldiers and superiors. Even after the invasion, the fighting in Europe was relentless and seemed to grow more intense as the Germans realized they had nothing left to lose. Alex becomes part of an intelligence unit after the war as the threat of communism leads to other conflicts and brings the United States again into costly and devastating conflicts. As a White Russian, he is loyal to his homeland as it was before the Russian Revolution and finds himself in a pivotal position to provide invaluable insight for American intelligence units to stand against the spread of communism.
Author Karl Thomson transports readers to another time, and this shows in the writing from the beginning as the family boards a steamship to Ellis Island. Descriptions of the setting such as the peaceful Dutch countryside and care-free days at school create an enticing background and an ominous tone for the widespread destruction and loss of life that will blanket the entire continent a few short years later. The author effectively captures military culture, and I found his descriptions to be quite realistic and compelling. Examples of this include the unique relationship between soldiers of different ranks, common operating procedures for combat patrols, and the importance of keeping morale up among the soldiers.
The best part of this book is the author’s detailed inclusion of familiar historical events. President Eisenhower and General Patton are among some of our national leaders who make appearances in the story, and infamous battles in Europe are the backdrop for the book's plot. I found myself reading sections over and over again for two reasons. First, I just could not wrap my mind around what I was reading. Anyone who has ever pondered the reality of post-traumatic stress should read this book; few words can even begin to portray the carnage many soldiers have witnessed. I also had to stop reading a few times to do my own research on the many poignant details. Were the last words soldiers heard before landing on Utah Beach from President Eisenhower himself? I also did not know about the unique role of the French civilians, the formidable German arsenal of weapons, or the extensive slave labor in Asia.
The only negative thing I can say about this book is the editing. I noted numerous errors that seemed to increase in frequency the further I read. This was a little distracting because many of the errors involve punctuation. For this reason only, I give the book 3 out of 4 stars; the description of the setting, the capture of timeless themes, and the immersion in history described above was extraordinary, and I really didn’t want it to end.
I recommend this book to mature readers who really enjoy military history, particularly those who do not mind some violence and graphic content associated with the perils of war. Readers who are looking for a character-driven novel may not enjoy it because there is a lot of technical information about military life and machinery. Some knowledge of modern history, including the Russian Revolution and wars involving the United States is helpful. Overall, this is an engaging and informative read that has given me a better understanding of the scope of our military forces, the sacrifices they make, and the scars many of them carry.
******
A Russian in the American Army - WWII
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
