Music is the great equalizer around the world. No matter where it originates or what form it takes, it has had a profound role in shaping the human experience and preserving the history of that experience for centuries. African American music originated out of a heritage shaped by the Transatlantic Slave Trade and forced enslavement. The music born out of this shared identity was a means of survival, a treatise on the struggle for freedom, and an agent of social change, and generated a vast array of musical styles and performance traditions that have defined American music. Musical Crossroads explores how objects can expand our understanding of the ways African American music-making continues to shape and influence society. Five thematic chapters are introduced with an essay by Dwandalyn R. Reece, and accompanied by shorter features written by museum staff. Striking images include Johnny Mathis on stage; Bo Diddley’s Gretsch Guitar; Nina Simone recording "Don't Let Me Be Misunderstood" to name just a few. Featured objects include Radio Raheem’s original boombox used in Spike Lee’s 1989 film, Do the Right Thing; the original Public Enemy logo necklace alongside a story from rapper Chuck D about where the group’s name comes from; and photos of Queen Latifah taken by Hip-hop photographer Al Pereira while she was filming the music video for “Fly Girl”. Numerous illustrated profiles and stories relating to a host of DJs, producers, Black-owned record labels, Black music press, and artists, include magazines like Defender, Blacks Stars, and Vibe; record labels like Vee-Jay, Stax, Motown and Sussex Records; promoters and producers including Berry Gordy Jr, Isaac Hayes, and Ernie Freeman; as well as artists Otis Redding, Nina Simone, Luther Vandross, Little Richard, Bill Withers, Billie Holiday, Whitney Houston, and Janet Jackson, to name a few – they’re all here.

With the invasion of Ukraine, Vladimir Putin’s Russia seems to have stepped out of time, reverting to an imperial era of conquest and expansion. But as Roger Reese points out in this comprehensive new history, Russia’s way of war has changed little from one century to the next, one regime to another, from the army of the tsar to the army of today. Russia’s Army reveals how the Imperial Russian Army and its successors, the Soviet Army and the army of the Russian Federation, confronted the state’s foreign policy challenges—projecting power and defending the empire—and the domestic challenge of containing internal unrest generated by nationalism, competing ethnic and religious identities, and political discontent. These twin challenges, in turn, drove defense policy and the planning and conduct of war. From the beginning of the nineteenth century, the development of the army was driven by shifts in the European balance of power and changes in global diplomacy, politics, economics, and society. Reese identifies themes that weave their way through this military history: the adoption of a strategy to maintain a defensive posture in the West, an offensive strategy in the Balkans, and an expansionist policy in the East; maintenance of a large standing army; and a consistent unease about the army’s and non-Russian minorities’ loyalty to the state. These themes, he shows, have emerged in times of peace and war, as heads of state have made operational and strategic military decisions while managing civil-military relations—from the times of tsarist Russia through the collapse of the Soviet empire, when Putin sought to restore authoritarian rule and hegemony over the former Soviet states of the USSR. A comprehensive account of the history of the Russian army from 1801 to 2022, Reese’s is the first book to link Russian military history across three distinct eras and to situate this history within the context of military strategy and doctrine, as reflected in specific campaigns, issues of manning and maintaining an army, and relations between army and society, at home and in the “near abroad.”

There have been many famous inventors over the years, such as Benjamin Franklin and Thomas Edison. Then there is that other guy... People often wonder who invented the famous REESE's Peanut Butter Cups. This book is written by the Grandson of H.B. Reese, founder of the REESE'S Peanut Butter Cups. No other document contains the amount of detail and accurate accounting of H.B. Reese's entire life than this historical book. Do you want to know how the famous REESE'S Peanut Butter Cups were really invented? H.B. Reese's family legacy has been uniquely captured in this book.

Under Joseph Stalin's iron-fisted rule, the Soviet state tried to forge an army that would be both a shining example of proletarian power and an indomitable deterrent against fascist aggression. In reality, Roger Reese reveals, Stalin's grand military experiment failed miserably on both counts before it was finally rescued within the crucible of war.

Reese greatly expands our understanding of the Red Army's evolution during the 1930s and its near decimation at the beginning of World War II. Counter to conventional views, he argues that the Stalinist state largely failed in its attempt to use military service as a means to indoctrinate its citizens, especially the peasantry. After 1928, the regime's recruits became increasingly disenchanted with Stalin's socialist enterprise--primarily due to the disheartening changes brought on by collectivization and dekulakization. In effect, these reluctant soldiers turned their backs on both the army and Communist Party leadership, neither of which regained credibility until after World War II.

The soldiers' alienation and hostility, Reese demonstrates, was most clearly manifested in the highly volatile tensions between officers and peasant recruits following the military's chaotic expansion during the 1930s. Those tensions and numerous internal conflicts greatly undermined the regime's effort to create a well-trained, cohesive, and politically indoctrinated army. In place of this ideal, the regime stumbled along with a disunited and ineffective fighting force guided by outdated doctrines and led by an undeveloped officer corps. All of those elements made the Soviet Union particularly vulnerable to the devastating military disasters of 1941.

Along the way, Reese persuasively dispels a number of myths. He shows, for example, that the Red Army's humiliating defeats at the start of the war were not, as many still believe, due to Stalin's bloody purges of the officer corps during the 1930s nor to overwhelming German military and economic superiority. Stalin, Reese argues, was only one of many key influences on the Soviet's disorganized effort to field an effective fighting force. And, while the Red Army was actually technologically superior to the Wehrmacht, the Germans made far better strategic and tactical use of their forces to overwhelm the poorly-led Soviets.

A fascinating portrait of an army at war with itself, Reese's study illuminates the daily lives of soldiers, officers, and civilians and forever changes the way we look at the relation between political motives and military needs in the early Soviet state.

Series Information:
Warfare and History

Series Information:
Warfare and History

Recognizing the importance of the nations residing on the continent of Africa in an interconnected world, the United States established the United States Africa Command (USAFRICOM) in October 2007. That development alone makes it imperative that American military leaders understand the problems facing many African states today and the conflicts that have ravaged them in the recent past. Often rich in resources, both human and economic, yet uneven in development of governmental institutions and infrastructure, the nations of this large continent represent both a challenge and an opportunity. The challenge can be as complex as the removal of a sanctuary for terrorists without excessive violence or the marshalling of resources to alleviate a massive humanitarian crisis. The opportunity is that constructive engagement at an early stage can perhaps forestall the expenditure of large sums of blood and treasure to ameliorate a seriously deteriorating situation. In all of these cases, military leaders must have an understanding of Africa's geography, its peoples, and its history. Only through this understanding can the military instrument be applied intelligently and humanely. This study by Larry J. Woods and Colonel Timothy R. Reese analyzes the massive turmoil afflicting the nation of Sierra Leone, 1995-2002, and the efforts by a variety of outside forces to bring lasting stability to that small country. The taxonomy of intervention ranged from private mercenary armies, through the Economic Community of West African States, to the United Nations and the United Kingdom. In every case, those who intervened encountered a common set of difficulties that had to be overcome. Unsurprisingly, they also discovered challenges unique to their own organizations and political circumstances. Serving soldiers can often profit vicariously from the mistakes of others as recounted in detailed case studies of historical events. This cogent analysis of recent interventions in Sierra Leone represents a cautionary tale that political leaders and military planners contemplating intervention in Africa ignore at their peril.

This is the story of the American Army and its Soldiers during a critical period of Operation IRAQI FREEDOM-the 18 months following the topping of the Saddam Hussein regime in April 2003. On Point II: Transition to the New Campaign provides a contemporary historical account of the United States Army in Operation IRAQI FREEDOM from May 2003 through the Iraqi elections of January 2005. As its title indicates, the book depicts the transition of the Army from conventional combat to full spectrum operations in support of building a new, free Iraq. One of the great, and least understood, qualities of the United States Army is its culture of introspection and self-examination. American Soldiers, whether it is the squad leader conducting a hasty after action review of a training event or the senior leader studying great campaigns from the past, are part of a vibrant, learning organization. The CSI motto-The Past is Prologue-neatly captures the need for this study. Publishing the recent history of the United States Army's operations is a key part of the TRADOC mission to develop adaptive, innovative leaders who are flexible, culturally astute experts in the art and science of the profession of arms, and who are able to quickly adapt to the contemporary operating environment. On Point II is a comprehensive, balanced, and honest account of the Army's role in this particularly significant period in Operation IRAQI FREEDOM. It is neither triumphant nor defeatist. On Point II provides Soldiers and other military professionals with a means to understand important and relevant lessons from the Army's recent operational experience. The story of the Army in this period of Operation IRAQI FREEDOM is one filled with many transitions, with many successes, and with significant challenges. On Point II is dedicated to the outstanding men and women of the United States Army who have sacrificed so much and who remain "on point for the Nation" in the defense of freedom at home and abroad.

Whether you are just beginning your Personal Walk with God or have been on this highly significant journey for years, there are always questions that may not be discernable due to the living, growing, complex nature of the message of God's Word; the Bible. Readers of this "God-breathed" Word often get distracted from its central theme; to know Jesus the Christ, by issues pertaining to the people, the situations, the rituals, the doctrines, and the stories they have heard, and maybe not read, which have been handed down for generations. This book is a collection of real questions asked by everyday people, Christians and those seeking to be Christians, on subjects ranging from "Jonah and the Whale" and "How to become a Christian," to the actual validity of the Bible itself. The answers were broadcast on a weekly radio show by Pastor James R. Reese Jr. who's Pastoral career spanned well over 60 years. It is an excellent source to accompany any Bible Study or just to pick up and begin reading. The first draft of this book was taken from the actual recordings of his broadcasts which took place in several different states over a time period of 50 years. The manuscript was first typed by Pastor James R. Reese Jr. himself on a now considered antique manual typewriter. It was then carried around in a box for many more years. At the urging of Pastor James R. Reese Jr.'s son, Pastor Scott Reese, the box was finally opened and its contents put on a computer file in 2003. The final editing began in 2010 and was completed in May of 2011 for presentation to the publisher. This book contains a wealth of information and knowledge inspired by a man who let his light shine ..".before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven" (Matthew 5:16). The completion of this book has been a labor of love for all of us involved and we pray that you will follow Pastor James R. Reese's light and let your own light shine.

"On Point II" is the US Army's first historical study of Operation Iraqi Freedom between May 2003 and January 2005. The authors of this study, historians at the Army's Combat Studies Institute, have based their account on primary documents and hundreds of interviews with key participants in the campaign. On Point II tells the dramatic story of how, after May 2003, the US Army reinvented itself by transforming into an organization capable of conducting a broad array of diverse and complex full spectrum operations to create stability in Iraq. Critical chapters in this comprehensive book focus on detainee operations (including the Abu Ghraib incidents), reconstruction efforts, and the general response to the growing insurgency in Iraq. The study uses maps, charts, and photographs to help tell its story and includes appendices that document the units involved in the campaign and key events during this period of Operation Iraqi Freedom. Originally published by the U.S. Army Combined Arms Center, Combat Studies Institute in December 2008.

also contains domestic economy, by mark lemon; a phenomenon in a smock frock, by william brough; the obstinate family; sardanapalus, king of assyria, by lord byron; perfection, or the lady of munster, by thomas raynes bayly.

This study by Larry J. Woods and Colonel Timothy R. Reese analyzes the massive turmoil afflicting the nation of Sierra Leone, 1995-2002, and the efforts by a variety of outside forces to bring lasting stability to that small country. The taxonomy of intervention ranged from private mercenary armies, through the Economic Community of West African States, to the United Nations and the United Kingdom. In every case, those who intervened encountered a common set of difficulties that had to be overcome. Unsurprisingly, they also discovered challenges unique to their own organizations and political circumstances. This cogent analysis of recent interventions in Sierra Leone represents a cautionary tale that political leaders and military planners contemplating intervention in Africa ignore at their peril. (Originally published by the Combat Studies Institute)

Originally published by the United States Army Combat Studies Institute Press in 2009, this monograph is a wide-ranging historical survey of the theory, doctrine, organization, and employment of reconnaissance units since the era of mechanization in the early 20th century. This study examines the development, role, and employment of units in modern armies designed specifically to perform reconnaissance and security (counterreconnaissance) missions. The analysis discerns common threads from the past. Conclusions are drawn from historical trends that may apply to future force development planning and unit operational employment. In the past, dedicated reconnaissance units were unique in their organization and capabilities due to the presence of the horse. This provided cavalry with a marked mobility differential over infantry and artillery. In the mechanized age, this monopoly on mobility vanished. Nonreconnaissance mechanized and motorized forces were equipped with similar weapons and vehicles. Reconnaissance units then became distinctive primarily by their organizational structure and specialized mission rather than by their equipment. This conceptual transformation has created a great dichotomy for modern reconnaissance forces. Should such forces be light or heavy? A lighter force might be able to conduct reconnaissance operations, at least theoretically, in a more nimble fashion, while a heavier force could defend itself when conducting reconnaissance and security operations. An additional consideration is the question as to what organizational level should dedicated reconnaissance forces be provided and used. This work examines these two major threads from a historical perspective since World War I.

also contains domestic economy, by mark lemon; a phenomenon in a smock frock, by william brough; the obstinate family; sardanapalus, king of assyria, by lord byron; perfection, or the lady of munster, by thomas raynes bayly.

This is the story of the American Army and its Soldiers during a critical period of Operation IRAQI FREEDOM-the 18 months following the topping of the Saddam Hussein regime in April 2003. On Point II: Transition to the New Campaign provides a contemporary historical account of the United States Army in Operation IRAQI FREEDOM from May 2003 through the Iraqi elections of January 2005. As its title indicates, the book depicts the transition of the Army from conventional combat to full spectrum operations in support of building a new, free Iraq. One of the great, and least understood, qualities of the United States Army is its culture of introspection and self-examination. American Soldiers, whether it is the squad leader conducting a hasty after action review of a training event or the senior leader studying great campaigns from the past, are part of a vibrant, learning organization. The CSI motto-The Past is Prologue-neatly captures the need for this study. Publishing the recent history of the United States Army's operations is a key part of the TRADOC mission to develop adaptive, innovative leaders who are flexible, culturally astute experts in the art and science of the profession of arms, and who are able to quickly adapt to the contemporary operating environment. On Point II is a comprehensive, balanced, and honest account of the Army's role in this particularly significant period in Operation IRAQI FREEDOM. It is neither triumphant nor defeatist. On Point II provides Soldiers and other military professionals with a means to understand important and relevant lessons from the Army's recent operational experience. The story of the Army in this period of Operation IRAQI FREEDOM is one filled with many transitions, with many successes, and with significant challenges. On Point II is dedicated to the outstanding men and women of the United States Army who have sacrificed so much and who remain "on point for the Nation" in the defense of freedom at home and abroad.