Christopher (seadragontampa) -
Helpful Score: 1
When I first saw this book years ago it was after I had left military service. I spent eight years in the US Army infantry: 1 1/2 years mechanized, 6 months long-range surveillance, 2 years air assault with the 101st including Desert Shield/Storm, 3 1/2 with the 82nd and 4 years with USAFR forward airfield defense security forces squadron. In the Army my specialty was heavy anti-armor missile (i.e. the TOW). I had served in every crew position, squad leader, section leader, NBC NCO and air assault instructor. So I know a thing or two about infantry operations.
I looked forward to reading this book to see how I would do in what decisions I would make as envisioned by an officer. I liked how the book was laid out with the reader being able to make certain decisions and other points being left up to chance with the roll of the dice. I was a little hesitant in how the premise of the book was laid out. I light infantry platoon put in a location with little support facing an enemy heavy task force. The deck appeared stacked.
In the first run I died. In the second run I died. In the third run I was captured and so and so on. It got to the point where I started skipping ahead to various points and pretty much everyone of them ended with the reader dying, being captured or severely wounded needed evacuation and the platoon being wiped out. A couple of the outcomes were so unrealistic as to be a complete farce. Basically the reader will come away from this book believing that being in the infantry is akin to committing suicide.
I understand that Antal was an armor officer and that there has always been professional rivalry between armor and infantry but this was ridiculous in how it was played out. Communications failed early on and were never restored, a company in defense was somehow overwhelmed by a small enemy air assault even after being warned.
Anyone who thinks this book is a realistic portrayal of the US Army Infantry is delusional. Anyone who thinks this book would be a great training tool for future officers should have his head examined. I fully understand that this is a work of fiction but Antal presented this book as being a "realistic" examination of decision-making when the only thing realistic about it was that's hot in the desert.
I had already ordered "Armor Platoon" when I started reading this. We'll see if I get beat up as bad there or if as I suspect the tankers will win the day.
I looked forward to reading this book to see how I would do in what decisions I would make as envisioned by an officer. I liked how the book was laid out with the reader being able to make certain decisions and other points being left up to chance with the roll of the dice. I was a little hesitant in how the premise of the book was laid out. I light infantry platoon put in a location with little support facing an enemy heavy task force. The deck appeared stacked.
In the first run I died. In the second run I died. In the third run I was captured and so and so on. It got to the point where I started skipping ahead to various points and pretty much everyone of them ended with the reader dying, being captured or severely wounded needed evacuation and the platoon being wiped out. A couple of the outcomes were so unrealistic as to be a complete farce. Basically the reader will come away from this book believing that being in the infantry is akin to committing suicide.
I understand that Antal was an armor officer and that there has always been professional rivalry between armor and infantry but this was ridiculous in how it was played out. Communications failed early on and were never restored, a company in defense was somehow overwhelmed by a small enemy air assault even after being warned.
Anyone who thinks this book is a realistic portrayal of the US Army Infantry is delusional. Anyone who thinks this book would be a great training tool for future officers should have his head examined. I fully understand that this is a work of fiction but Antal presented this book as being a "realistic" examination of decision-making when the only thing realistic about it was that's hot in the desert.
I had already ordered "Armor Platoon" when I started reading this. We'll see if I get beat up as bad there or if as I suspect the tankers will win the day.
