Unbecoming: A Memoir of Disobedience
Anuradha Bhagwati. New York: Atria Books, 2019. 321 pp. $27.
Reviewed by Captain David G. Smith, U.S. Navy (Retired)
Compelling and candid, Anuradha Bhagwati provides a glimpse of the real-world experiences faced by women and others who do not fit the mold of the traditional white, heterosexual, male military. While many readers who are not intimately familiar with the military may find this story unbelievable, readers who have served or have someone close to them who has served will find themselves connecting with the author’s account.
The author made choices about which stories and how much of them to include, but in the end, this is her story. Unbecoming is not necessarily representative of every military woman’s experience, nor does the author suggest that it is. Readers should appreciate her humility and courage in revealing the whole story, as raw and ugly as it is in instances, because it explains the complicated relationship that service members have as individuals with the culture in which they serve.
People choose to serve in the military for a variety of reasons and motivations that are personal and deeply intertwined with other identities, which is why the military often is referred to as more than just a job. Because of this, service members confronted with institutional inequalities and biases such as misogyny and sexism, hearing messages such as they don’t belong and their service is not valued are harmed psychologically. The author recounts her personal experiences with sexism and sexual harassment as well as the experiences of other women and the effects on them—self-hatred, shame, and lifetimes of dealing with post-traumatic stress.
With her experiences in uniform, one might expect Anuradha Bhagwati would move as far away from the military as possible after completing her service. Instead, she set out on a journey to help her sisters in arms serve with honor by developing a public awareness of the harmful and often criminal behavior of people in uniform who too often are not held accountable. She faced myriad challenges with a small group of women veterans in creating the Service Women’s Action Network (SWAN) as a nonprofit advocacy organization.
In addition to getting the largest bureaucracies in the world (the Pentagon and Department of Veterans Affairs) to listen and act, she also had to coordinate with the growing number of veteran service organizations, feminist political groups, Congress, and finally the U.S. public. Many of the leaders and stakeholders of these groups and the public have little personal understanding of the military, military service, and women’s military experiences. In particular, the author points out repeatedly that military sexual trauma is a serious problem that needs more attention and resources for both active-duty service members and veterans, yet is one of the more challenging issues in creating policy change.
She provides several important actions and best practices for people who have not served, as well as for men in uniform and veteran men in terms of how they can be allies to military women and veterans. First, bring your humility and learning orientation to the conversation—ask questions and listen to women’s experiences. Second, start by believing women. Don’t make assumptions and rush to conclusions. The author reminds allies to let women tell own their stories and remain in control of the narrative. Finally, she throws down the gauntlet for men currently serving, which should give them reason to consider how they treat their female colleagues and what they can do to be better allies. Bhagwati reminds readers, women don’t need rescuing; they need men to hold themselves accountable for their role in perpetuating institutional inequalities and act as leaders to make real change. This is a leadership issue, not a women’s issue.
■ Captain Smith, Ph.D, is a professor of sociology in the Department of National Security Affairs at the U.S. Naval War College. He is the coauthor of Athena Rising: How and Why Men Should Mentor Women (Routledge, 2018).
Leaders: Myth and Reality
General Stanley McChrystal, U.S. Army (Retired), Jeff Eggers, and Jason Mangone. New York: Portfolio/Penguin, 2018. 480 pp. $30.
Reviewed by Lieutenant Commander Ryan Hilger, U.S. Navy
What can military leaders learn from fashion icon Coco Chanel? Quite a bit, according to General Stanley McChrystal. In Leaders: Myth and Reality, McChrystal, Jeff Eggers, and Jason Mangone put forward a bold thesis that the traits of a good leader defy definition. Many leadership books attempt to define a single set of traits ideal for all leaders. This book deftly shows that this claim is false. It draws inspiration from one of history’s greatest leadership books, though one rarely seen today, Lives by Plutarch. Plutarch’s work spans two volumes and considers 50 leaders in ancient Greece and Rome, often doing a comparative study of two leaders. It does not profile leaders as individuals, but in the context of their times and their relationships, as McChrystal, Eggers, and Mangone have done in their similar comparative study in Leaders.
The book considers the lives of 13 people, beginning with “The Marble Man,” Robert E. Lee, widely considered one of the best leaders in the modern era, despite his affiliation with the Confederacy. Six pairwise comparisons of different types of leaders follow: founders, geniuses, zealots, heroes, power brokers, and reformers.
The leaders run the gamut from Leonard Bernstein to Albert Einstein to Abu Musab Al-Zarqawi to Margaret Thatcher to Martin Luther and several more. Those profiled seemingly are opposites across time and character, but they still manage to revolutionize industries, science, religion, politics, and nations. In that way, Leaders: Myth and Reality is unlike any leadership book on the market today.
Toward the end, the authors consider the entire work and the lessons that can be drawn from such disparate personalities. Perhaps some fundamental truths will reveal themselves? Why is the Great Man theory so compelling? They found, despite what they initially sought to debunk, that myths matter. They conclude, “There are obvious reasons that Great Man thinking is so sticky. As we learn from Shakespeare, our attention for narrative drama is renowned and familiar. As authors, we know all too well that the pages of a good tale turn faster than those of analytical theory.” The common thread, the authors find, reduces to narrative, rhetoric, and communication—all the tools needed to influence people, whether you want them to follow you or not. Leaders simply provide people with individual and collective meaning in their lives.
For military readers, this will be an enthralling read that forces them to reconsider the definitions and qualities of leadership that have been drummed into them over the course of a career. It proves that leaders do not have to be at the pinnacle of command to influence people or spark a change in their organizations. Leaders come in all forms, and their dedication to a cause and ability to influence others form the basis of their leadership. The book will reassure those in seemingly hopeless situations that anyone with determination can work to change the outcome for themselves and those around them.
All military leaders and followers will benefit from Leaders: Myth and Reality.
■ Lieutenant Commander Hilger is an engineering duty officer and former submariner with Strategic Systems Programs in Washington, DC.
Soldier, Sailor, Frogman, Spy, Airman, Gangster, Kill or Die: How the Allies Won D-Day
Giles Milton. New York: Henry Holt, 2019. 487 pp. Maps. Photos. Notes. Biblio. Index. $30.
Reviewed by Lieutenant Anthony LIchi, U.S. Navy
This year marks the 75th anniversary of the D-Day landings at Normandy, presenting a timely occasion to read about the men and women whose valor, conviction, and heroism ensured the success of history’s greatest military invasion.
Many historical accounts of D-Day focus on capturing the what and the how of Operation Overlord—the 7,000 ships, 20,000 vehicles, and 156,000 Allied troops that crossed the English Channel, the military deception campaign that enabled the invasion to surprise the German defenders, and the battles to seize key highways, causeways, bridges, and towns along Normandy’s coast.
Other histories emphasize the who and the why of those involved—their personal experiences, emotions, and stories. Into this genre of narrative history comes British author Giles Milton’s poignant and engaging new book, Soldier, Sailor, Frogman, Spy, Airman, Gangster, Kill or Die. Drawing from personal testimonies, transcripts, interviews, unpublished diaries, and letters, Milton provides a moving account of raw, firsthand, human experience in war.
Over the course of 419 pages, Milton takes readers through D-Day’s initial 24 hours, starting with pre-invasion preparations and airborne operations late on 5 June and ending with exhausted soldiers nursing wounds and finding respite on the night of the 6th. Each chapter depicts scenes that capture the day’s events as they unfolded from the vantage point of a few individuals. Milton introduces us to the German radio operator sitting at her desk as a sudden flood of reports portend momentous events; the French resistance fighter pedaling through the darkness to sabotage a key railway line; the American paratrooper drifting perilously close to the church tower of Sainte-Mère-Église; the Navy captain guiding his landing craft to the correct location on Utah Beach while mines erupt around him; the German gunner in his pillbox rationalizing the right to kill as he prepares to pull the trigger; and the U.S. colonel—with his arm in a sling and his faced pierced with shrapnel—inspiring his men to press the fight. These and many other vignettes paint portraits of courage, exhilaration, terror, violence, bravado, suffering, resilience, and resolve.
Military professionals will take special interest in the book’s profiles of combat leadership. “To win a war,” wrote Simon Fraser, the 15th Lord Lovat, “you needed to understand the psychology of those who were fighting it.” For some battlefield leaders, this meant firing up their subordinates and inspiring confidence with energy and showmanship. At other times, it meant preventing those exposed to combat from becoming numb, intoxicated, or reckless. Frequently, it meant decisive thinking, daring, and improvisation in the face of confusion and chaos. Invariably, it meant overcoming fear. The Canadian Charles Dalton, who fought alongside his brother in Normandy, admitted to being scared but knew that he could not allow fear to affect his ability to lead.
When even the most thorough planning was confounded by weather, when the very best intelligence failed to identify threats, when the most rigorous training couldn’t prepare soldiers for the traumatizing exposure to violence, combat leaders moved to the front and found the way to victory.
Milton’s history of D-Day is an excellent companion to other well-known treatments by authors such as Stephen Ambrose (Pegasus Bridge, D-Day), Rick Atkinson (The Guns at Last Light), and Cornelius Ryan (The Longest Day). It is a vivid retelling of a defining episode in the story of Western freedom and a fitting tribute to those who, 75 years ago, fought to liberate a continent and end the war.
■ Lieutenant Lichi is a naval intelligence officer, serving as speechwriter and special assistant to the Supreme Allied Commander Europe and Commander, U.S. European Command.
China’s Vision of Victory
Jonathan D. T. Ward. Fayetteville, NC: Atlas Publishing and Media, 2019. 279 pp. Maps. Illus. Notes. Index. $25.
Reviewed by Commander Eric Johnson, U.S. Coast Guard, and Hannah Johnson
Jonathan Ward’s new book examines China’s pursuit of its grand strategy in the form of its centenary goals. He leads readers through the evolution of modern China, while also imparting his interpretation of what the country hopes to achieve in the coming decades. His interpretation warrants serious consideration. A scholar who immersed himself in Chinese studies, he brings to the table more than an academic understanding of Chinese thought, culture, strategy, and language.
The book is well-written, thoroughly researched, and extensively documented, with nearly 30 pages of notes and many maps, illustrations, and photos. It flows logically, broken into five main parts that deal with China’s outlook on the world. It is easy to read and comprehend, providing a solid foundation in Chinese history and strategic thought even for those unfamiliar with the topic. One of the more important conclusions to emerge is that China, while focused on ascension, also is concerned with maintaining its global elasticity (i.e., preserving its ability to ascend rather than plateauing), while the United States is somewhat more static globally.
While the book proceeds chronologically, Ward successfully intertwines a systematic topical examination of China’s objectives and contemporary events with a comparison to the United States (and other nations) throughout. His detailed explanation of Xi Jinping’s Belt and Road Initiative is thorough yet easily understood.
But this book is much more than a simple examination of what China is doing and why. It also is more than a binary comparison of where China stands in relation to the United States. Ward embarks on a deeper analysis of why China holds its current position in the world and where this is leading. Indeed, he explains in his conclusion that there are more comprehensive ways to analyze the China issue than merely determining how it threatens the preeminence of the United States on the world stage.
Ward comprehensively evaluates China’s national power instruments. Devoting time to China’s diplomatic, informational, military, and economic goals and strategies, he paints a complete picture not only of where China was, but also where it is and what it sees as the future. Through this discussion, he imparts a sense of China as a pragmatic and deliberate nation, determined to advance its interests to shape the world to its vision.
He provides an encouraging strategic analysis of why the United States still retains an advantage, as well as sound, logical, and reasoned strategies for maintaining this advantage. Ward also provides some valuable food for thought on what the United States must do to ensure China does not realize its ultimate goals. This book is a wakeup call for U.S. strategists and a must-read for anyone interested in a contemporary and comprehensive analysis of China.
■ Commander Johnson, Ph.D, has been on active duty with the Coast Guard for more than 32 years and holds a BA in Russian. His daughter, Hannah, is a sophomore at the University of Maine studying international relations. They read and reviewed this book together.
The Deadly Deep: The Definitive History of Submarine Warfare
Iain Ballantyne. New York: Pegasus, 2018. 752 pp. Photos. Notes. Biblio. Index. $28.95.
Reviewed by Norman Polmar
The author has attempted to provide a comprehensive history of submarine development and undersea warfare in this massive tome. But the reader always should be apprehensive of a book that claims to be “the definitive” work—it usually falls short, as does this book.
About the first third of the text describes the development of undersea craft and submarines through World War I. This historical review is well done. The book is written from the British perspective with, naturally, emphasis on British submarine developments and operations, but with ample attention to the U-boat campaign of 1914–18.
However, the subsequent pages are marred by omissions and factual errors that detract from the book’s efficacy and value. Japanese submarine achievements are largely ignored. While British midget submarines—X-craft—receive many pages of coverage, there is no mention of Japanese midgets, which were in action at Pearl Harbor and in other operations.
Omissions and errors abound in the lengthy Cold War discussion: there is no mention of the USS Thresher (SSN-593), being the world’s first nuclear-powered submarine to be lost (although other nuclear losses are mentioned); the Soviet research submarine Beluga is discussed, but not the equally revolutionary and earlier USS Albacore (AGSS-569); and there is no mention of Admiral H. G. Rickover, often labeled “the father of the nuclear submarine.”
Good books on submarines and submarine warfare abound. This one is not in that category.
■ Mr. Polmar is the author of a score of books on submarines and undersea warfare. He also has directed submarine-related studies for the U.S. Navy, other U.S. government activities, and the Australian Navy.
New & Noteworthy
By Lieutenant Brendan Cordial, U.S. Navy
Life in Jefferson Davis’ Navy
Barbara Tomblin. Annapolis, MD: Naval Institute Press, 2019. 318 pp. Maps. Notes. Biblio. Index. $54.
Barbara Tomblin, a military historian and lecturer, presents a comprehensive survey of the Confederate Navy. Her book complements the much larger historiography of the Union Navy and presents the Confederate Navy in a broader scope than the existent coverage of notable persons and events. As a Civil War buff, I found this book both gratifying and informative.
Chapters include well-documented discussions of recruiting efforts, medical care, life afloat, and cooperation with the much larger Confederate armies. While including in detail some significant actions, such as the Confederate defender’s perspective of the Battle of Mobile Bay and the action between the CSS Alabama and USS Kearsarge, she largely excludes better known events such as the famous clash of the CSS Virginia and the USS Monitor. She instead chooses to focus on the unique contributions of the fledgling Confederate Navy to overall naval developments, particularly advances in submarine warfare, mine warfare, torpedoes, and the building of ironclads.
Minding the Helm: An Unlikely Career in the U.S. Coast Guard
Kevin Gilheany. Denton, TX: University of North Texas Press, 2019. 269 pp. Notes. Biblio. Index $24.95.
I read this book in a single sitting. The author presents an endearing tale of his journey escaping a broken home (a 500-square-foot Manhattan apartment filled with a single mother, two siblings, and four pets), overcoming alcoholism, and following his passions within the Coast Guard.
Kevin Gilheany’s prose is readable and relatable. I felt my own stomach churn, remembering a similar sense of unease, as he writes of jumping off the high dive for the first time, unable to swim at all, during Coast Guard boot camp. He shares, in vivid detail, both the positive and negative aspects of his career, and the wisdom gained through years at sea and ashore. I challenge readers not to laugh out loud in the chapters covering his time on board the construction tender USCGC Wedge (WLIC-75307). I am pleased to offer my very strong recommendation for this enjoyable autobiography.
Attack on Pearl Harbor: Japan Awakens a Sleeping Giant (Expanded Print Edition)
Bert Kinzey, art by Rock Roszak. Detail & Scale, 2018. 179 pp. Photos. Illus. $29.99.
Author Bert Kinzey is a former U.S. Army air defense officer and founder of the Detail & Scale series of books covering military aircraft in minute detail. He is joined by talented illustrator retired Air Force Colonel Richard “Rock” Roszak. Together, they have created an expanded edition of a book originally designed for the Arizona Memorial bookstore. The result is an all-inclusive and attractive guide to the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor.
The book opens with a brief history of the establishment of Pearl Harbor as the base for the U.S. Pacific Fleet and the circumstances leading to the Imperial Japanese Navy’s (IJN’s) attack. The heart of the book is its meticulous coverage of the “Day of Infamy” itself. Each aircraft and ship present on 7 December, on both the IJN and U.S. Navy sides, is detailed and accompanied by contemporary photographs and modern illustrations. An outstanding addition to a World War II history buff’s collection.
Winning a Future War: War Gaming and Victory in the Pacific War
Norman Friedman. Washington, DC: Naval History and Heritage Command, 2019. 262 pp. Notes. Biblio. Index. $63.
Noted naval authority Norman Friedman critically explores the true effect of interwar Naval War College (NWC) wargaming on U.S. naval victories in the Pacific. The book adds nuance and complexity to the standard telling represented by Admiral Chester Nimitz’s famous statement that all but Japanese kamikaze attacks had been practiced in NWC games. Friedman’s shrewd analysis provides both historical insight and practicable lessons for modern naval professionals.
The strongest aspect of the book is its detailing the methodology and philosophy of the NWC games. Further, the book gives organizational insight into the varying levels of cooperation and synchronization between the NWC, the General Board, and the Chief of Naval Operations War Plans Division during the interwar period. Competing interests, conflicting personalities, and political complications all influenced the impact NWC wargames would have on the Navy’s prewar strategic and operational planning. Overall, one of the most professionally rewarding books I have read this year. Strongly recommended.
■ Lieutenant Cordial has served as a division officer on board the USS Iwo Jima (LHD-7) and San Jacinto (CG-56). He currently is attending Surface Warfare Officers School and is slated to serve his first department head tour on board an Arleigh Burke–class destroyer.