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Book Review: The Airborne Mafia: The Paratroopers Who Shaped America’s Cold War Army
Jason A. Yanda
Author: Robert F. Williams
Reviewed by: Jason A. Yanda, assistant professor, US Army Heritage and Education Center, US Army War College
In this gripping organizational history, Robert F. Williams reveals how a tight-knit group of World War II paratroopers rose to dominate the US Army’s leadership and reshape its doctrine during the Cold War. Through bold innovation and a fiercely held airborne culture, figures like Ridgway, Taylor, and Gavin transformed civil-military relations, atomic warfare planning, and airmobile strategy. The Airborne Mafia uncovers how subcultures can wield extraordinary influence, leaving a legacy that still echoes through today’s military institutions.
©2026 Jason A. Yanda
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Book Review: The Ageless Call to Serve: Rethinking Military Service for A Changing World
Richard M. Yates
Author: Lieutenant Colonel Lanny Snodgrass, MD, PhD
Reviewed by: Commander Richard M. Yates, faculty instructor, Department of Command, Leadership, and Management, US Army War College
At age 63, psychiatrist Lanny Snodgrass defied convention by joining the Army, challenging long-held beliefs about age and military readiness. Drawing on decades of clinical experience with veterans and young soldiers, he exposes the psychological toll of sending teenagers to war while advocating for the wisdom and resilience older recruits can bring. This provocative and inspiring book reimagines military service for a modern world, urging a shift from age-based limits to capability-based inclusion.
©2026 Richard M. Yates
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Book Review: Betting Against America: The Axis Powers’ Views of the United States
Thomas Bruscino
Author: Harry Yeide
Reviewed by: Thomas Bruscino, professor, operational art and theater planning, Department of Military Strategy, Planning, and Operations, US Army War College
What if the Axis powers had seen America clearly before launching into war? Betting Against America dives into the flawed intelligence, cultural biases, and strategic miscalculations that led Germany, Japan, and Italy to underestimate the United States. Through intercepted communications and insider reports, Harry Yeide reveals how these fatal errors shaped the course of World War II.
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Book Review: Cassino ’44: The Brutal Battle for Rome
Wylie W. Johnson
Author: James Holland
Reviewed by: Wylie W. Johnson, chaplain, US Army War College class of 2010
In this masterful retelling of the Italian Campaign’s final months, James Holland captures the harrowing struggle to break through the German Gustav Line and liberate Rome. Drawing from 20 years of research and firsthand accounts, he brings to life the chaos of Monte Cassino and Anzio through the eyes of soldiers, nurses, and civilians caught in the maelstrom. Cassino ’44 redefines our understanding of World War II’s most grueling campaign, revealing its strategic importance and human cost just days before the D-Day landings.
©2026 Wylie W. Johnson
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