Consortium Book Blog

Shadow and Stinger Wins Futrell Award for Excellence

Shadow and Stinger: Developing the AC-119G/K Gunships in the Vietnam War by William Head has received the 2008 Frank Futrell Award for Excellence in Historical Publications from the United States Air Force History and Museum Program.

The book focuses on the gunship's impact on the Vietnamese and later the American forces against enemy ground forces, among other parts of the gunship's history. 

"I think the greatest honor is in fact that it's named after Frank Futrell who was truly one of the pioneers of Air Force history and a real gentleman," Head said.

For more information on this book, visit http://www.tamu.edu/upress/BOOKS/2007/head.htm

Testing American Sea Power Receives Honorable Mention

Testing American Sea Power: U.S. Navy Strategic Exercises, 1923–1940, by Craig C. Felker, received an Honorable Mention for the 2007 Theodore and Franklin D. Roosevelt Naval History Prize. The Franklin and Eleanor Roosevelt Institute awards the prize annually in cooperation with the Theodore Roosevelt Association and the New York Council Navy League of the United States. The awards were presented at the annual Roosevelt Naval History Prize Luncheon on June 5, 2008 at the New York Athletic Club.

For more information on this book, visit http://www.tamu.edu/upress/BOOKS/2007/felker.htm

Forgotten Account Gives Window into Texas's Past

The Texas State Historical Association is proud to announce the release of General Vicente Filisola’s Analysis of José Urrea’s Military Diary: A Forgotten 1838 Publication by an Eyewitness to the Texas Revolution edited by Gregg J. Dimmick and translated by John Wheat. This long-forgotten eyewitness account of the Texas Revolution has been translated into English for the first time. There are only six known original copies of Gen. Vicente Filisola’s analysis of José Urrea’s military diary. Filisola was second in command of the Mexican army in Texas during the Revolution. After the defeat of Gen. Antonio López de Santa Anna by Sam Houston's Texans at San Jacinto, Filisola became commander-in-chief of the 4,000 Mexican soldiers that remained in Texas. The Mexican army eventually retreated to Matamoros, Mexico, and Filisola became the scapegoat for all that went wrong in the campaign in Texas.

His chief accuser in this disastrous action was Gen. José Cosme Urrea, commander of one of the Mexican divisions in the campaign. In 1838 Urrea published a book he entitled The Military Diary of General José Urrea. Filisola published his ultracritical analysis of Urrea's diary that same year. Totally focusing on the actions of the Mexican army, and especially Urrea's division, Filisola critiques Urrea's every move, from his advance into Texas until the disastrous and humiliating trip back to Matamoros in May and June 1836.

After reading this fascinating account of the Mexican army in Texas the reader may well need to reevaluate his opinions of the Mexican army's generals. In spite of the fact that the work is extremely biased and at times blatantly unfair, Filisola does make valid points that at least make one wonder if Urrea deserves the high respect that has been generally accorded him by Texan scholars.

New book from State House Press called "the most comprehensive volume on the Alamo . . ."

Just released from State House Press, The Illustrated Alamo 1836: A Photographic Journey has already garnered praise from several noted historians throughout the state.

Richard Bruce Winders, Historian and Curator at the Alamo states:

"Many visitors to the Alamo know only its iconic postcard image. Those who realize there was more to the old mission compound are surprised to find that so much has been lost over time. Alamo aficionados long for resurrection. Mark Lemon has produced something for all of them—the curious and the serious. The Illustrated Alamo 1836: A Photographic Journey is a must for anyone who wishes to visualize the Alamo as it appeared at the time of the battle."

Jesus Francisco de la Teja, State Historian of Texas notes that by

"Combining the artist's imagination with a scholar's attention to detail, Alamo enthusiast Mark Lemon has produced the single most comprehensive volume on the Alamo as it was at the time of its rendezvous with history.The Illustrated Alamo 1836 will bring hours of pleasure to anyone wishing to gain an understanding of how a dilapidated Spanish mission became the stage for the most famous event in Texas history."

 To see what others have said about Mark Lemon's The Illustrated Alamo 1836: A Photographic Journey, or to purchase a copy of the book, click here.

Selfless Service Honored with Generous Donation

Texas Aggies Go to War                                                                                                                   
In Service of Their Country                                                                       Henry C. Dethloff with John A. Adams Jr.                                          

When their country calls, Texas Aggies go to war. To honor the thousands of Aggies who have served and sacrificed in all branches of the military over the past 100 years, Texas A&M University Corps of Cadets and the Corps of Cadets Association have donated a copy of Texas Aggies Go to War by Henry C. Dethloff with John A. Adams Jr. to every high school library in the state of Texas—a donation totaling nearly 1,800 books.

Texas Aggies Go to War celebrates the school's distinctive Corps of Cadets and its military contributions while honoring the individual sacrifices of its members.  Those students who read its pages will find a comprehensive account of the distinguished war record of Texas A&M.
The stirring stories in the book include the horrific experiences of some of the eighty-seven Aggies who were stationed at Corregidor and Bataan on December 7, 1941; the perils of five Aggies who participated in the raid over Tokyo with Jimmie Doolittle; the heroics of the seven Medal of Honor recipients from Texas A&M during World War II; James Earl Rudder's leadership of the Ranger assault at Normandy on D-Day; and examples of vigorous support and devotion to duty given by Aggies in Korea, Vietnam, and the Middle East.

“Since the university's founding in 1876 Texas Aggies have provided exemplary leadership and service to their state and their country in peace and in war. . . . Texas Aggies Go to War: In Service of Their Country is a remarkable story, one that makes me value and admire my adopted university all the more.”—George H. W. Bush

    The donation of these books will ensure that students across the state can be inspired by these Aggies' stirring stories of selfless service, integrity, excellence, loyalty, and leadership.

For more information:

A Forgotten Hero, Remembered

War Bird Ace                          
The Great War Exploits of Capt. Field E. Kindley           
Jack Stokes Ballard

"Until now, Field Kindleys was one of the great, yet lost, stories in Air Force history. Jack Ballard brings this world War I ace to life, chronicling the kind of American hero that makes us proud."—Herman S. Wolk

"Almost everyone remembers Eddie Rickenbacker and Frank Luke from World War I; a few recall Raoul Lufbery, Elliott White Springs. . . . To that pantheon must be added the name of Field Eugene Kindley, an American ace who deserves to be numbered in that honored company. . . . Jack Stokes Ballard has revived Kindleys record and breathed life into his memory. War Bird Ace will be appreciated by aviation aficionados, and by those interested in the rise of airpower and the U. S. Air Service during the Great War."—Roger G. Miller

Using arduously gathered primary materials, as well as drawing from other accounts of Great War aces, Jack Ballard has told at last the story of this little-known hero from the glory days of aerial warfare. Through this tale, an era, as well as a daring flyer, live again.

For more information:
http://www.tamu.edu/upress/BOOKS/2007/ballard.htm