May 2007 Mailbag

A J Summersgill | March 13, 2007  | 0 comments  | Print  | E-mail

Mailbag’s now on the Web, too!

So many letters, so little room! We receive many more letters to ACG than we can possibly publish in the magazine – so, beginning with the May 2007 issue, we’ll be publishing more letters to ACG here on our website.

Issue 20 Mailbag Web Submissions:

Dear Armchair General,

I enjoyed your list on top 10 Pacific war books (September, 2006). One that I think should be on it or highly recommended would be "Pacific Alamo the battle for Wake Island" by John Wukovits. It’s the story of a hand full of military (mainly Marines) personnel and civilian construction workers who gave the Japanese their first taste of defeat, plus the book goes into the lives of the men as POW’s. I hope you take a look at this book and let your readers know about this almost forgotten piece of Pacific war history. Thank you.

Sincerely,
Michael Keilty

* * *

Ed. Thanks, Michael, for passing along your recommendation for this outstanding history of one of the Pacific war’s most inspiring fight against the odds.

Hi ACG,

I’m a new subscriber, anxiously awaiting my first issue. I was wondering if there was anything in the works on a scenario for fighting a modern war with North Korea? What options the U.S. and Allies might have, what forces would be used etc. It would be timely and very relevant to today’s issues.

Tim Thomas,
Glendale, Az.

* * *

Ed. Tim, you must be psychic! Our next series of exciting, interactive ICS stories concerns just that – a hypothetical war in the near future between the US, its Allies and North Korea. ICS author, Col., ret. John Antal, draws upon his extensive experience serving in Korea and commanding US tactical units to present a chillingly authentic look at what MIGHT happen in such a conflict. As a bonus, we’re including a companion article, “How the North Korean Army Fights” by Col. Antal to accompany his first installment.

Gentlemen,

The name of the priest saying mass on Mt. Suribachi (Armchair General November 2006, page 85) is Father Charles Suver, a Jesuit and Marine Corps Chaplain. On the way to the Iwo Jima beach Father overheard an officer boast the he would “put a flag on top of that mountain.” To which Father replied “… you put a flag up there, and I will say mass under it!”

Some days later a Marine rushed into the mess tent where father was reading his Breviary and told him to look up at the mountain. When father saw the flag he grabbed his gear, climbed the mountain and said mass. (Later that day there was the second more famous flag raising.)

The essentials of this tory wer confirmed to me by Father Raymond Talbott, a Jesuit Army Chaplain in Europe. The episode was also mentioned in Father Suver’s obituary.

* * *

Ed. Thank you very much for passing along the moving story about Father Charles Sauver on Iwo Jima. Father Sauver is certainly an inspiration to all and was undoubtedly a comfort to the Marines who endured the hell of Iwo Jima. We greatly appreciate your sharing his story with us.

Dear Armchair General,

I love Armchair General! Like most of your readers, I am most interested in WW II. As every good student of WW II knows, by far the most “action” occurred with the fighting between the Nazis and the USSR.

Please could you create an "Eastern Front" issue? It would sell like hotcakes! There are endless possibilities for it. Both “regular” and interactive articles. I’m sure it would also increase your advertising revenue as well as your subscriptions.

Anxiously awaiting,
Victor Cantu

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