What non- Civil War History or Literature Are You Reading or Have Most Recently Read?

[texascavcadet]

I just finished a book called "Custers Last Stand" , its always intriesting to read up on Custer

[gary]

Sniper on the Eastern Front. If I hadn't read so much about sniping, I would be suspicious of the book. Sepp Alleberger's knowledge of sniping would either had to be gotten by extensive book reading or by actual experience. What helps Alleberger's credibility is the photo of him with his rifle. It's all too real. For instance, everyone should have known after the American Civil War that trees as hides offer no protection and once detected, it's buh-bye. Alleberger doesn't use a tree himself but the Russians did and he describes how he took out his Russian counterparts. His describes patience and how it saved him when he met his equal (he hunkered down and refused to show himself until darkness allowed his escape). It's a very graphic book that pulls no punches when it describes the atrocities committed during the war.

[william42]

Gary, how about the sniper in the bell tower scene in 'Saving Private Ryan"? I'm talking about the scene where the GI makes his way toward the tower, to just almost right underneath the German sniper up in the tower. The German finally spots his nemesis through his scope just a tad too late, just in time to take the GI's round right through his scope, into his eye IIRC. Spielberg even put in the sound effects for the German snipers scope glass shattering on impact. Was that real or what? I thought it was, by I've never been in that position.

Terry

[ole]

Minor detail, Terry, but I thought it a touch of ironic realism that the sniper jacked his bolt with his left hand. His rifle? M03-A3. Probably with a star barrel and some extra bedding. The 30-06 is still in use, unless they've gone to the .308. Remington 70 action, a smith's loving attention and you have a tack-driver.
Ole

[william42]

Well, I'm not that familiar with those firearms, and I didn't notice the left hand bolt jack. That is pretty unique isn't it? Every bolt action I've every fired had the bolt on the right IIRC. It seems unusual that the GI used his left hand on it. Did you catch when the German has the GI in his sights, and the camera is using his scope as the point of view? He sights down on the GI but before he can fire his weapon, he sees the GI already has drawn a bead on him. Then you see an orange spark from the GIs rifle barrel, and a delayed bang, just a half second before the German was going to fire. And you see it all happen through the Germans scope. The German takes the bullet in his sight eye, right thru the glass.That was too cool. Spielberg really took care with the details. Of course, he had a lot of WWII vets who advised him on that film, and they knew of what they were speaking.

Terry

[ole]

Have memorized that scene. Putting a round in a 1" bull at 2 or 300 yards is expected of a sniper. Most can do better. Especially enjoyed the kraut's panning. Scope the scene slowly. What's that? Scoot back. Holy sh----.
Ole

[samgrant]

That was a memorable scene whatever the technicallities.

[lrd89]

I just finished "The Voyage of the Vizcaina: The Mystery of Christopher Columbus's last ship". It's about the discovery of an ancient shipwreck off the coast of Portobelo, Panama. The ship, thought to be the Vizcaina from Columbus' fourth voyage to the New World, is in 20 feet of water and appears to be from before 1509 due to a lack of lead sheathing.

[JWNathan]

I just got done with; Tom Horn, last of the bad men by Jay Monaghan, Crazy horse and Custer by Stephen Ambrose, and I'm currently reading Holy Road by Michael Blake. The last is the sequel to Dances With Wolves and no I never did read the book, but they are Commanchees not Sioux like in the movie! This kinda irked me at first but hopefully I'm over it now. Great thread!
-Jesse

[Miss Markie]

1776 by David McCullough