Drawing comparisons to All Quiet on the Western Front, this novel presents a gripping narrative that captures the emotional intensity of war. It explores the harrowing experiences of soldiers, delving into themes of camaraderie, trauma, and the stark realities of conflict. The vivid portrayal of characters and their struggles invites readers to reflect on the profound impact of warfare on the human psyche, making it a compelling and thought-provoking read.
“Once an Eagle is simply the best work of fiction on leadership in print.” —General Martin E. Dempsey, 18th Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Required reading for West Point and Marine Corps cadets, Once An Eagle is the story of one special man, a soldier named Sam Damon, and his adversary over a lifetime, fellow officer Courtney Massengale. Damon is a professional who puts duty, honor, and the men he commands above self-interest. Massengale, however, brilliantly advances by making the right connections behind the lines and in Washington's corridors of power. Beginning in the French countryside during the Great War, the conflict between these adversaries solidifies in the isolated garrison life marking peacetime, intensifies in the deadly Pacific jungles of World War II, and reaches its treacherous conclusion in the last major battleground of the Cold War—Vietnam. Now reissued with a new foreword by acclaimed historian Carlo D'Este, here is an unforgettable story of a man who embodies the best in our nation—and in us all.
The story revolves around two brothers with contrasting paths—one leveraging charm and wealth to ascend into elite circles, while the other, grounded and principled, achieves success through hard work and integrity. Their divergent journeys highlight themes of ambition, family loyalty, and the impact of privilege versus perseverance.
Anton Myrer's beloved, bestselling novel of America's World War II generation is as powerful now as it was upon its publication. An immediate classic, it tells the story of five Harvard men, the women they loved -- and the elegant car that came to symbolize their romantic youth. It is also the story of their coming-of-age in the dark days of World War II, and of their unshakable loyalty to a lost dream of Camelot, of grace and style, in the decades that followed. "The Last Convertible is a gripping tribute to a way of living that immortalized the "Greatest Generation."
