Praise FOR Gerald Astor

"No one does oral history better than Gerald Astor. . . . Great reading."
-Stephen Ambrose on "The Mighty Eighth"

"Gerald Astor has proven himself a master. Here, World War II is brought to life through the hammer blows of their airborne triumphs and fears."
-J. Robert Moskin, author of "Mr. Truman's War, on The Mighty Eighth"

"Astor captures the fire and passion of those tens of thousands of U.S. airmen who flew through the inferno that was the bomber war over Europe."
-Stephen Coonts on "The Mighty Eighth"

"Oral history at its finest."
-"The Washington Post" on Operation Iceberg

"Quick and well-paced, this will please even the most jaded of readers."
-"Army" magazine on Battling Buzzards

"A stout volume by a distinguished historian of the modern military makes a major contribution on its subject."
-"Booklist" on The Right to Fight (starred Editor's Choice)

"Today, as we lose the veterans of World War II at an alarming rate, we must not lose sight of their sacrifices or of the leaders who took them into battle. Astor, an acclaimed military historian, provides an in-depth look at one of the war's most successful division combat commanders, Maj. Gen. Terry Allen. . . . This well-written portrait makes for enjoyable reading."
-"Library Journal" on Terrible Terry Allen

The Korean War, the Bay of Pigs, the Cuban Missile Crisis, Vietnam, Cambodia, Lebanon, El Salvador, Grenada, Iran-Contra, Nicaragua, Panama, the Gulf War, Somalia, Kosovo, Afghanistan, Iraq

What do these events and scores of others have in common? Each of these wars, incursions, invasions, and covert actions was undertaken by the United States without the benefit of a declaration of war. Where congressional sanction was sought, it usually took the form of a resolution, frequently issued after the fact.

Presidents at War is the first book to examine all of America's post-World War II military actions through the lens of the president's authority as commander in chief. Author Gerald Astor analyzes the various presidents' rationales for undeclared warfare, from Truman's citing of an international agreement (the United Nations) to Eisenhower's domino theory, to Kennedy's defense of the Monroe Doctrine, to bald assertions of authority by a commander in chief because of fears of communist expansion, threats to oil in the Middle East, humanitarian concerns in the Balkans, or provocations by terrorists. Each commander in chief served as a precedent for those who followed. Astor contends this cumulative process was accelerated by the September 11, 2001, attacks that led to the war on terrorism, the invasion of Iraq to oust the cruel regime of Saddam Hussein for his alleged possession of weapons of mass destruction, and the potential trampling of civil liberties in the United States.

Has the president become free to take military action on the slightest whim? Is it now true that, as Richard Nixon said, "If the president does it, then it is not illegal"? Is the Constitution obsolete?And does Congress have the tools with which to curb this seemingly unbridled power? Read Presidents at War and find out.

`Captures the drama of aerial combat in the Pacific as never before . . . A riveting account, by a master craftsman, of the exploits of the heroic Marine Corps airmen of World War II.' -Carlo D'Este, author of Eisenhower: A Soldier's Life `No one does oral history better than Gerald Astor,' -Stephen Ambrose, author of Band of Brothers *Superior history of Marine aviators during WWII *Told largely in their own words *Includes the daring exploits of the famous `Black Sheep' Squadron During World War II, the legions of Marine aviators grew rapidly, with assignment to assist the fleet landing forces. Semper Fi in the Air tells the story of these Marine aviators, largely in their own words, through use of oral histories and personal interviews by the author. Captain Henry`Baron' Elrod, while gallantly fighting the Japanese at Wake Island, was shot down. He joined the ground defenses and earned a posthumous Medal of Honor for his bravery in the futile, last ditch attempt to stave off the invaders. In the first stages of the Battle of Midway in June 1942, again in inferior planes, Marine pilots sought to repel attackers from the Japanese aircraft carriers. It was here that Marion Carl, a future ace, experienced combat for the first time. But it was at Guadalcanal that the Marine airmen really excelled. Outnumbered in the air, the Marines were shelled at night by Japanese warships. Surrounded by enemy snipers, beset by mud, ravaged by malaria and poor nutrition, they nevertheless battled the Japanese aircraft and struck at the Japanese ships. Here, Joe Foss who led the Corps, and Bob Galer, who was shot down three times; Marion Carl, John Smith, and Indian Joe Bauer, who scored an incredible total of fourteen kills in only four engagements, entered the pantheon of Marine heroes. From Guadalcanal, the Marine flyers would move island by island towards Japan, demolishing the enemy strongholds, furnishing tactical support to ground troops, even becoming a trusted weapon for the Army's Douglas MacArthur in the Philippines, before finally reaching Okinawa where they would battle the Kamikazes. Gerald Astor is the critically acclaimed military historian and author of Wings of Gold, Terrible Terry Allen, The Mighty Eighth, A Blood-Dimmed Tide, The Right to Fight, The Greatest War, and The Bloody Forest, among other titles. He lives near New York City.

THE GREATEST WAR
Volume III: The Battle of the Bulge to Hiroshima

From the thunderous battles in the Ardennes to the flight of the Enola Gay, this book recreates the triumphant return of MacArthur, Patton's irresistible drive into the German heartland, and the relentless kamikaze attacks off Okinawa.

THEIR WAR
THEIR WORDS

American fighting men engaged the enemy on land, at sea, and in the air. Now one of the nation's most acclaimed military historians presents an authoritative and dramatic three-volume oral history of World War II that is both richly sweeping and startlingly intimate. A gripping account of how American warriors, from buck privates to five-star generals, fought, bled, thought, and felt, THE GREATEST WAR is the ultimate tribute to the "greatest generation"—a saga of unparalleled courage, honor, and glory.

Look for Volumes I and II of
THE GREATEST WAR

THE GREATEST WAR
Volume I: From Pearl Harbor to the Kasserine Pass

THE GREATEST WAR
Volume II: D-Day and the Assault on Europe

THE GREATEST WAR
Volume II: D-Day and the Assault on Europe

From the invasion of Normandy to the advance of Allied forces across Europe, this book puts you in the ferocious battle for Omaha beach, the daring aerial strikes that shook Berlin, and the swift, momentous liberation of Paris.

THEIR WAR
THEIR WORDS

American fighting men engaged the enemy on land, at sea, and in the air. Now one of the nation's most acclaimed military historians presents an authoritative and dramatic three-volume oral history of World War II that is both richly sweeping and startlingly intimate. A gripping account of how American warriors, from buck privates to five-star generals, fought, bled, thought, and felt, THE GREATEST WAR is the ultimate tribute to the "greatest generation"—a saga of unparalleled courage, honor, and glory.

Look for Volumes I and III of
THE GREATEST WAR

THE GREATEST WAR
Volume I: From Pearl Harbor to the Kasserine Pass

THE GREATEST WAR
Volume III: The Battle of the Bulge to Hiroshima

From the sneak attack that ignited the war with Japan to the Tunisian campaign against Rommel, this book puts you in the torpedo duels of Midway, the desperate struggle for Guadalcanal, and the first airborne drop into North Africa. THEIR WAR THEIR WORDS American fighting men engaged the enemy on land, at sea, and in the air. Now one of the nation's most acclaimed military historians presents an authoritative and dramatic three-volume oral history of World War II that is both richly sweeping and startlingly intimate. A gripping account of how American warriors, from buck privates to five-star generals, fought, bled, thought, and felt, THE GREATEST WAR is the ultimate tribute to the greatest generation -- a saga of unparalleled courage, honor, and glory.

From the birth of the United States, African American men and women have fought and died in defense of a nation that has often denied them many fundamental rights of citizenship. Now Gerald Astor has chronicled their efforts and accomplishments in this critically acclaimed survey. From Crispus Attucks, the first casualty of the American Revolution, to fighters on both sides of the Civil War, Astor moves to the postwar Indian campaigns and the infamous Brownsville riot. He also documents the prejudices and grievous wrongs that have kept African Americans from service--and finally traces their ascent to the highest levels. "The Right to Fight" is a groundbreaking contribution to American history.

Told largely through the words of men who were there, "The Bloody Forest" evokes one of the deadliest and most ill-conceived campaigns of World War II. "No one does oral history better than Gerald Astor".--Stephen E. Ambrose. 36 photos. 1 map.