Welcome to Our Group’s Reading List
This is our shared space for recommendations: the books we’re excited about, what we’re reading next, and favorites from the past. Browse by category, add your picks, and cast a vote for the upcoming read.
Fiction ~ Non-Fiction ~ Light Reads ~ Member Picks ~ Leadership
The Panzer Killers and Spearhead
📖 Suggested Read
The Panzer Killers: The Untold Story of a Fighting General and His Spearhead Tank Division’s Charge into the Third Reich. The amazing, but ultimately tragic, story of Major General Maurice Rose and the 3rd Armor Division relentless push to the hearth of Nazi Germany.
Spearhead: An American Tank Gunner, His Enemy, and a Collision of Lives in World War II. The story of Corporal Clarence Smoyer a 3rd Armor Division gunner on a M4 Sherman and later of one of only 20 M26 Pershing tanks deployed in Europe. Cpl. Smoyer tank crew was immortalized by war correspondent Tech. Sgt. Jim Bates who filmed the famous “Tank Duel at the Cologne Cathedral” in March 1945.
In case anyone wonders why a Coastie like reading these books, I was a proud member of the 3rd Armor Division (Bravo Troop, 3/12 CAV) from 1983 – 1984. 😊
Very Respectfully,
José L. Vargas, MBA, CDFM
LCDR, USCG (Ret.)
The Admiral’s Bookshelf by ADM James Stavridis, USN (Ret.)
📖 Suggested Read
This is the third in a “trilogy” by a friend and prolific author. ADM Stavridis also authored The Sailor’s Bookshelf and The Leader’s Bookshelf. Of the three (all good) this one has more personal anecdotes of how each book influenced, instructed, and in some cases changed his outlook on life. This book covers twenty-five books, and what each means in the context of a reader’s approach to life. Some are fiction, some nonfiction, but most, if not all, will be familiar. ADM Stavridis offers advice on the importance of reading to developing life skills, how to read, how to build your personal library, and other practical ideas in regard to “lifetime learning”. He also gives the reader “permission” to “dump” a book if you get a third of the way through and the book just isn’t ringing the bell for you, it is OK to quit–this isn’t a High School reading assignment, after all.
📍Article suggested by Steven M.
No Average Day: The 24 Hours of October 24, 1944
by Rona Simmons
📖 Suggested Read
This is an easy to read book, with 25 short chapters and an Epilogue. Tuesday October 24 of 1944 was the day with the greatest number of American deaths in the World War II. All of the deaths were not in combat, and one was the tragic sinking of a Japanese “Hellship” filled with American and allied troops by a US Submarine. The book is well organized by time of day. As I read I kept going back to my collection of WWII history (and some Google look-ups) to get the context of what was happening in the particular theater. For example, the sea and land battles in the Pacific that would culminate with our retaking of the Philippines was ongoing that October. The book is replete with maps that showed where the casualties in that chapter took place. This is an essential book for fans of WWII history that shows the human cost of war.
📍Article suggested by Steven M.
📖 Suggested Read
Capt. Francis Martin: The Most Ancient of Ancient Mariners
With an incredible 63 years of Coast Guard service, Capt. Francis Martin embodies the true spirit of dedication and seamanship. This feature highlights his remarkable journey, from his first days in uniform to becoming the Coast Guard’s senior-most mariner. A must-read for anyone inspired by lifelong service, tradition, and leadership at sea.
📍Article suggested by Anita W.
Halifax Area Chapter MOAA 