Commandant's Reading List

[GMCM Bill Wells (Ret)]

Not really the Commandant's reading list anymore but one for leadership competencies.

Anyway, the list will change in August. Has anyone suggested a book for it? If so, what would you recommend.

I'd like to see Torpedo Junction on it. I also believe there should be another list of journal articles. Not all good things come from between the covers of books.

[BMCM Wray Gillette (Ret)]

Bill,
I question how many people even looked at the "Commandant's Reading List", much less read anything from it... Reading seems to be something many choose not to do, even if it is on how to wear the proper ribbons... :p

Wray... :cool:

[MSTCS Dennis Noble (Ret.)]

I would like to see John A. Nagel, Learning to Eat Soup With A Knife: Counterinsurgency Lessons from Malaya and Vietnam[I] (really about how to change military institutions) and Thomas P.M. Barnett, [I]The Pentagon's New Map: War and Peace in the Twenty-first Century, plus the older Robert Timberg, The Nightingale's Song and for pure classic USCG books, John Waters, Bloody Winter and Robert E. Johnson, Bering Sea Escort

While the first three may not sound like they would be for USCG, they are, especially Nagel's.

[GMCM Bill Wells (Ret)]

This one is not about the Coast Guard but is one I would recommend.

James C. Gaston, Planning the American Air War: Four Men and Nine Days in 1941. National Defense University Press, (Washington, D. C., 1982).

It is about the planning for the air war in Europe. It is a short and remarkable history.

[MKCM Brett Ayer]

Just an FYI,

Brett

"R 051524Z FEB 07 ZUI ASN-A00036000010 ZYB
FM COMDT COGARD WASHINGTON DC//CG-00//
TO ALCOAST
BT
UNCLAS //N05351//
ALCOAST 063/07
COMDTNOTE 5351
SUBJ: COAST GUARD READING LIST AND POLICY ON BOOK PURCHASES
A. COMDT COGARD WASHINGTON DC 091730Z AUG 06/ALCOAST 417/06...

7. IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO RECOMMEND A BOOK FOR THE NEXT READING LIST,
CONTACT LYNNE DONAHUE, CG-133, LYNNE.M.DONAHUE(AT)USCG.MIL, TEL
202-475-5514."
8. INTERNET RELEASE AUTHORIZED.
9. ADM THAD ALLEN, COMMANDANT, SENDS.
BT
NNNN"

[BMCS Dave Considine]

Bill,
I question how many people even looked at the "Commandant's Reading List", much less read anything from it... Reading seems to be something many choose not to do, even if it is on how to wear the proper ribbons... :p

Wray... :cool:

Wow Wray, that's one hell of an assumption. I have most of the books here at the station and available to the crew. Believe it or not, I also have 7 people pursuing their college degrees. They, and others, read all the time. We even still have uniform inspections, so they do check their ribbons. But then again, all those ribbons are considered frivolous now, aren't they?

[BMCM Wray Gillette (Ret)]

Wow Wray, that's one hell of an assumption. I have most of the books here at the station and available to the crew. Believe it or not, I also have 7 people pursuing their college degrees. They, and others, read all the time. We even still have uniform inspections, so they do check their ribbons. But then again, all those ribbons are considered frivolous now, aren't they?

Dave that was not an assumption, it was a question. To have 7 people pursuing college degrees is great, but that had nothing to do with the question. While they may read all the time, why don't you ask them if they are aware of the Commandants reading list, and how many they have read from it.

I don't believe I said anything about inspections... My comments about the ribbons was made directly due to the number of questions on military.com concerning the "prior service" people that are still trying to wear unauthorized ribbons. By the way, there will be a new Medals & Awards manual out in a month. Hopefully it will have a listing of un-authorized ribbons, as it did in years past.

Oh, I don't believe I said anything about the ribbons being frivolous. It appears to me you are making up accusations in an attempt to start an arguement with me. Why is that? If you have something to say, say it, but don't make up $hit.

Wray... :cool:

[BMCS Dave Considine]

Not worth the effort :)

[BMCM Wray Gillette (Ret)]

Sorry Dave, I don't think that is a very good display of leadership..

I took the time to reply to your post, are you not willing to extend the same courtesy to me? Perhaps it is because you know I am correct, and I have backed you into a corner (actually you backed yourself there) and feel you have no way out, other than to admit you were wrong, which you refuse to do. It takes a big man to own up to his mistakes.

Perhaps next time you will "look before you leap"....


Wray... :cool:

[ETC Pat Kaschube]

Not again !!!

[BMCS Dave Considine]

When you continue to argue with someone you are just as guilty as they are. You fuel the fire. Dennis said earlier yu have 2 choices... 1 Post 2. Don't post. Since I continually see people choosing #1, how can you bi+ch about things. You are part of the problem.

In my opinion, if you see a specific item to debate, debate it. It is the gereral things that people can't put their fingers on. They are open for endless debates & arguements and can never be solved.

The choice is yours... post, or read.

Wray..

Don't want to be "part of the problem or fuel the fire", so I am following your sage advice.:cool:

[BMCM Wray Gillette (Ret)]

Dave,
No problem, you did as I expected you to... Sometimes the easy way out is best... ;)

Wray... :cool:

[ETC Brian Strattard]

Technically, reading a book doesn't make you a better leader. Attending LAMS/CPO academy does not guarantee that either. Reading and attending various leadership courses provides you with more tools and maybe different perspectives to incorporate into your leadership. I personally think that the movie "Band of Brothers" has a lot of good and bad leadership examples in it, it isn't a book but is a good tool regardless. Even if the list were mandatory, and the entire CG read them all...we would still get different aspects from them since a lot of what we read is translated by our personal experiences. There are (counting on fingers and toes...) millions of good books other than what the reading list names that are out there as well that could be applied towards the same three personal development categories of leadership as noted in the reading list. It would be interesting to see the results if a bunch of us read the same book from the list and all wrote "book reports" on it...kind of like our own book club!!! Would anyone be interested...say a week or two deadline then all ante up our input???

Strat sends...

[MSTCS Dennis Noble (Ret.)]

Strat,

What might be interesting as an experiment is to compare the miniseries "Band of Brothers" with the book it was based upon by Stephen Ambrose, Band of brothers What are good points of leadership shown in the book, as opposed to the miniseries? Or vice versa.

The CO of Cape D used the miniseries for leadership training and, in fact, brought one of the main people in the story to the station.

One of the things I think would be good is to have a crew read one of the books and then invite the author to the station. Why not start with The Rescue of the Gale Runner: Death, Heroism, and the U.S. Coast Guard?

Just kidding about the book, but choose a book on the reading list and have the crew read it, and then invite the author to discuss the crew's feelings about the book.

[ETC Brian Strattard]

Dennis,

Both very good ideas...the 2nd one may take some logistic work but would be well worth it...

Strat sends...

[GMCM Bill Wells (Ret)]

From the responses about books for the reading list, it would appear most do not have suggestions nor have they read the lists of the past.

However, this will not deter me and I will continue to suggest books. Not all will be solely about the Coast Guard. I've noted in my historical research that the officers of the Revenue Cutter Service were well read on any number of topics. This is evident in their reports on Alaska and other places. Captain Godfrey Carden spent a year in Europe "observing" manufactory techniques for the Department of Commerce. He was, in reality, an industrial and military spy.

There is some great fiction that could be used for leadership training and example -- far better than some management wonk.

Michael Shaara's The Killer Angels.
All of Patrick O'Brian's books on the Napoleonic Wars.

These are just two examples.

[BMC John Phillips III]

Not again !!!

Yes again, sorry Pat, but I have to point this out, so others that don't spend as much time here might see it and realize that the thoughts and opinion of one person here do not reflect the thoughts of the rest of us.

This one is not about the Coast Guard but is one I would recommend.

James C. Gaston, Planning the American Air War: Four Men and Nine Days in 1941. National Defense University Press, (Washington, D. C., 1982).

It is about the planning for the air war in Europe. It is a short and remarkable history.

Really not as bad as you might think. I just wanted to point out that this is the first post by Bill that I have read yet that was not negative. The sad irony is that the post is not about the Coast Guard.

Are you starting to believe?

[GMCM Bill Wells (Ret)]

Really not as bad as you might think. I just wanted to point out that this is the first post by Bill that I have read yet that was not negative. The sad irony is that the post is not about the Coast Guard.


John, have you reread your posts. They are filled with negativity. This thread is about books. Why have you not suggested any? The answer seems to be clear by the lack of a suggestion.

[ETC Brian Strattard]

I know it's not CG...but IN HARM'S WAY, by Doug Stanton. There are many examples of both positive and negative leadership and many good lessons learned in the reading.

[MSTCS Dennis Noble (Ret.)]

Here are two older works, one fiction and one a biography.

Thomas B. Buell, Master of Sea Power: A Biography of Fleet Admiral Ernest J. King Note: All the military leaders of their services have had a biography published by a mainline publisher, except one. Guess who? This person has not had a book-length study done about him by any type of publisher.

Another older work, Hans Schmidt, Maverick Marine: General Smedley D. Butler and the Contradictions of American Military History (1987)

I am not sure this fictional work has been included, but should: Once an Eagle Not only does it show leadership, it shows military life from WW I through Vietnam. Probably one of the best books one can read about the military if you want both war and peace time experiences.

I have just reread All Quiet on the Western Front and then the first biography in English of the author. For those interested in books, All Quiet was first printed in 1929 and has never gone out of print! An amazing record.

I depart today on my first leg of a trip to Washington, D.C., maybe I will petition for these books while researching at HQ.

[SKC Raymond Kurtz]

Not really the Commandant's reading list anymore but one for leadership competencies.

Anyway, the list will change in August. Has anyone suggested a book for it? If so, what would you recommend.

I'd like to see Torpedo Junction on it. I also believe there should be another list of journal articles. Not all good things come from between the covers of books.

It cracks me up every time I watch Rocket Boys, how a rocket scientist like Homer Hickman could write an awesome book like Torpedo Junction. I love that book, very well written and accurate.

Someone mentioned Michael Shaara and the Killer Angels, his son, Jeff Shaara is an awesome writer as well, he wrote some good fiction books about the Revolutionary War, the Civil War, WWI and WWII.

[YNCM Doug Squires (Ret)]

I have just started Alexander Hamilton by Ron Chernow (Penguin Books, 2004)

I'll let you know what happens in about 600 more pages!

[SKC Raymond Kurtz]

I didn't mention what I'm reading right now.

Six Frigates by Ian W. Toll. Toll writes about the founding of the U.S. Navy, I love reading as a learning tool. For instance, the Wolf Trap shoal off the mouth of the Rappahannock River was named after the 300 ton merchant ship Wolf that had run aground in the 18th century.

[MSTC Shad Hudgins]

Just started The Founding Brothers. Interesting descritpion of the events surrounding the duel between Burr and Hamilton.

[CWO Dana Lewis (QMC) (Ret)]

I didn't mention what I'm reading right now.

Six Frigates by Ian W. Toll. Toll writes about the founding of the U.S. Navy, I love reading as a learning tool. For instance, the Wolf Trap shoal off the mouth of the Rappahannock River was named after the 300 ton merchant ship Wolf that had run aground in the 18th century.


Chief,

That tidbit of information made my day. In the piloting courses that are used for mariner licensing, quite a few of the navigation problems take place in the lower Chesapeake. Wolf Trap Light is one of the aids that is used in many of the problems. I now have a tidbit of info to pass on to the trainees about the lights that they are using to navigate with.

Thanx.

I just managed to pick up an old copy of The Sand Pebbles, just a good sailor story.

[SKC Raymond Kurtz]

Hey, no problem, who knows maybe it will show up on Jeopardy someday.

[MSTCS Dennis Noble (Ret.)]

CWO Lewis:

The Sand Pebbles was the inspiration for my dissertation on the U.S. military in China. In many respects, MMC Richard McKenna, USN (Ret.), the author of the book is even more interesting than his only novel. Anyone who has ever served in a sea service and wanted to write should read about McKenna's life. I was fortunate enough to have a short biography of Chief McKenna published in the Proceedings. The writing of it made me appreciate the man even more. It is too bad that more do not read his book.

Don't know if it should be on the Commandant's reading list, but anyone interested in the "hot button" issue of the PRC should read the book to see the early days of what historians call the Republican Era of modern China.

I am glad that McKenna lived long enough to see his hard work appreciated. He claimed he had something like $25.00 in his bank account when he finished the book.

[ASTC Mario Vittone]

If I could add a book to the list, it would be An Ordinary Man - by Paul Rusesabagina.

By the time I was halfway through the book I knew two things. 1. The Movie Hotel Rwanda tells a tiny fraction of his story, and 2. I have never done anything hard in my life.

Rusesabagina's 100 days in the Spring of 1994, when he cared for his Family and over 1200 refugees and employees during the Rwandan genocide, may be the single greatest leadership event of the 20th century. Now I know some of you just choked, but I'm sober and serious about that comment. There may have been events as difficult as his, but none more difficult. There may have been men under as much personal pressure, but none more so.

With much of the book dedicated to his life before and after the genocide, his insights to life make it obvious that Rusesabagina would be an extraordinary soul even if he hadn't been through the horror that was Rwanda in those days.

I thought that I was reading an account of one mans experience, but I found myself taking notes on life, leadership, communication, and the complexities of good and evil from a master teacher.

Most highly recommended.

v/r Mario

[EMC Travis Parks]

I'm not currently reading anything off of the Commandant's list but I am reading one from the CNO's list "The World is Flat: A Brief History of the 21st Century" by Thomas L. Friedmann.