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It all started with Richard Tregaskis' Guadalcan'l Diary back in junior high. For a sobering read there is Blood On The Sea: American Destroyers Lost In World War Ii. Some lost with all hands. Some took reviewing IJN records to fill in the blanks. I cannot imagine what it took to be on the radar picket line around Okinawa. The Navy was down to partnering DD's with LST's and/or LCI's to rescue the crews after they were lost on the line. Service on the line must have felt like unending Hell. Harkened back to the bloody days of Guadalcan'l when the Navy was suffering more casualties than the Marines and Army ashore. Or escorting convoys to Arkangel or Murmansk. Your ship goes down and you have seconds to survive in the sub-freezing water. To my last days I will always believe the Navy never got the recognition they deserved.

And yes I do not hesitate to read about the land war as well. From Eisenhower's Lieutenants at the 50000 foot level on down. Also enjoy books from the German side. It helps complete your understanding of the results.

I just finished the book below. It was a good read and had excellent maps. It was written by one of the officers in the battle.

Seven Days in January with the 6th SS Mountain Division in Operation Nordwind

I've read many naval based books over the years. One I've always remembered is "H.M.S. Ulysses;" about a British AA cruiser on the Murmansk run during the winter (if I remember right). It started grimly, then went downhill. The book persuaded me to keep away from cold weather at all costs. I think it became a movie years ago.

Battleground: The Lessons of the Unfought Battles of the Cold War by Jim Storr. British perspective. Criticism of US perspectives sometimes driives from a lack of full understanding. Nevertheless, a good read and much good information.

Just finished Jason Marks’ “Into Oblivion - Kharkov to Stalingrad: the story of Pioneer Battalion 305”
Excellent and well researched book. Stalingrad was such a meat grinder, it was insane…

I just finished Desert Redleg on the plane home last night - my thanks to Roger H for making me aware of this book. I thought the author got a little too "cheer leaderish" at times, but overall it was a good read. Very cool to read about the artillery operations!

Now I'm going through this thread again to find my next book!

I’m close to finishing Brothers in Arms, by James Holland. It’s about the Sherwood Rangers Yeomanry from Normandy to V-E day. Very good so far.

On a long trip to Alaska for work, so I grabbed the easy but really well written Longest Day by Cornelius Ryan. It’s a re-read for me but he has a great writing style.

His source material is archived and online, I think it’s Ohio State University if I’m not mistaken, but you can look at the actual readers digest questionnaires that veterans sent back to him while he was researching the book. Really fascinating to see it in their own words, with their own handwriting, with their own map sketches…

I just got a new copy of this classic! I loaned a copy to someone at work and then switched jobs, so now I have a fresh, pristine copy to re-read!

I just started "Camp Colt to Desert Storm - The History of U.S. Armored Forces," edited by George F Hofman and Donn A Starry. It's started off well! Recommend it if you are interested in US Armor. Also "Images of War, The Patton Tank - Cold War Warrior," a thorough examination of the series on the Hunnicutt level, but more readable.

Just started reading, The Panzer Killers by Daniel P Bolger which came out last year which is about Gen. Maurice Rose and the 3rd armored division in WW2 and so far is a great read.

Von Mellenthin cited this book a lot in Panzer Battles, so I thought I'd read it next. Has anyone read Guderian's other books? I'm thinking about getting Achtung Panzer and Mit Den Panzern in Ost und West.

Now it's "From Camp Colt to Desert Storm - The History of the U.S. Armored Forces" edited by George F. Hoffman and Donn A. Starry.

I just started The Passing of the Armies, by J.L. Chamberlain. It’s Chamberlains memoirs of the final twelve days of the war in Virginia.

The Story of the Guards Armoured Division (Kindle) by the Earl of Rosse and E.R. Hill.