Araba Let's Separate: The Story of the Nigerian Civil War

The title, a word meaning "Araba" Let's Separate "or" Let's Dissolve, "refers to the Nigerian Civil War which began in 1966 and continued for nearly four years. The word was first used by rioters at a demonstration in the early stages of the civil war, in an attempt to signal their dissatisfaction with attempts to unify Nigeria under what was known as the "Decree Number 34."

Professor Mshelia has fashioned the events of that period into a something of a historical novel, mixing fictional characters in, and in some cases battles and confrontations, with the historical characters and actions that were a part of that war. In the book, Professor Preface.doc One to Mshelia states that they took this approach as "an attempt to present history in a fictional form for an easy and interesting reading for the general public."

However, it is frequently difficult to determine what is not historical fact and what is fiction. Given his statement that the book contains fictional elements, this would normally not appear to be a problem, however, in this instance, it sometimes results in confusing the reader. This is not helped by the fact that Professor Mshelia frequently addresses the reader with sentences beginning with "readers" or "my dear readers," leading one to feel they are being lectured on the subject, rather than reading a somewhat fictional recounting of the events of the Nigerian Civil War.

That's not to say that Araba doesn't make for an interesting read. Prior to reading this book, I was completely unaware of the events recounted in the book. And as someone who enjoys history, I'm somewhat ashamed to say that, although I'm certainly not alone among Westerners in that regard.

So Professor Mshelia is due praise for attempting to bring these events to light, although I wish they had decided to avoid adding any fictional elements in an attempt to make the book more accessible and readable.

The book might have been further helped with tighter editing and the elimination of the occasional typo. Among such problems is this statement in Preface.doc One: "[T] his book Araba limits its scope to one single but important event in the life of the nation (that occurred in the 1960s)."

The problem with that line? The event he is referring to occurred in 1966, not in the 1960s, when the January 22nd of that year, an attempted coup d ' ?tat led to the situation of a number of prominent northern political leaders, including the then-Prime Minister Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa of Nigeria,.

Those assignations were the catalyst for the civil war, and the thousands of deaths that resulted, as the civil war turned into an attempt at secession and to carve out a separate "Republic of Biafra" from the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

Araba is packed with detail, as well as informative commentary, again confusing the issue of whether this is a work of fiction or fact. Regardless, it is a worthwhile read, particularly for the history buffs, who, like me, you probably need to know more about these important events in the history of Nigeria.

Reviewed by: Gary r. Sorkin

Gary r. Sorkin is the Senior Editor for Pacific Book Review. Please visit the Pacific Book Review at: http://www.pacificbookreview.com/

Lost in Shangri-La by Mitchell Zuchoff

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I usually find nonfiction history to be so dry as to lose my attention. Lost in Shangri-La though is a non-fiction accounting of a plane crash that occurred in the last days of WWII with all of the elements of a fiction adventure thriller and author Mitchell Zuckoff has the spirited talent to paint the vivid scenes needed to seize your attention and not let go.

On May 13, 1945 twenty-four officers, enlisted men and WACs boarded a flight at the military base in Hollandia New Guinea for a sightseeing excursion over the inland jungle of the island. Before ever seeing what later became known as the Shangri-La Valley their plane crashed and burst into flames leaving only three survivors. With the aid of journals kept by survivors and rescuers, military data and long lost photos, Mitchell Zuckoff has recreated this larger-than-life story for us.

As Mr. Zuckoff points out, the Gremlin Special crash landed in a world that time hadn't forgotten. Time didn't even know it existed. He quotes Albert Einstein as once saying, "I do not know with what weapons WWIII will be fought, but WWIV will be fought with sticks and stones" and declaring that, viewed in that light, the people of Shangri-La had the most advanced warriors on earth.

The three survivors crawled out of the wreckage to find themselves in an unknown world. Even though Lt. McCollum was unhurt, Sargent Kenneth Decker and Corporal Margaret Hastings had received severe injuries and serious burns. The survivors knew that any rescue planes that might fly over looking for their plane would not be able to see them if they stayed at the scene of the crash. To reach a jungle clearing several miles away they first spent several days gathering their strength and then the three hiked, crept on their hands and knees and even scooted on their fannies several miles through the tangled jungle to reach what they found out later was a sweet potato patch. On reaching the clearing they fell to the ground exhausted, too tired even to be concerned about the natives who had been depicted as war-like cannibals.

Once the survivors were sighted by rescue planes at the inaccessible clearing, supplies were dropped to them while one rescue plan after another was desperately conceived and then abandoned. A walkie-talkie was included in one of the supply drops allowing the survivors to communicate with the outside world for the first time since the crash. When word of the severity of their injuries was received a group of paratroopers, including two medics, volunteered to parachute to the aide of the survivors. These heroic medics were later credited with saving Corporal Hastings' gangrenous legs.

What follows this daring jump is a true story of heroism, courage, determination, fortitude, limitless bravery, inspiration and danger. This narrative is sometimes comic, often terrifying but always entertaining. It is a thrill-a-minute true life adventure you won't be able to put down.

Author Bio:

Mitchell Zuckoff is a journalism professor at Boston University and author of Robert Altman: The Oral Biography, Ponzi's Scheme: The True Story of a Financial Legend and Choosing Naia: A Family's Journey. He lives outside Boston with his photographer wife and two daughters.

As the Avid Reader Book Reviews Blogger, Lynnette Phillips's book reviews and blog are widely read and followed by literary enthusiasts. Her newest launch entails book doctor (book critique) services. She is also author of Confessions & Secrets of the Avid Book Reviews Blogger serial which offers invaluable book marketing and promotional tips, available resources, how-to information and more. She will also be cohosting a BlogTalkRadio show soon which she is very excited (and apprehensive) about.

http://avidbookreviews.blogspot.com/

(c) Copyright 2011 by Lynnette Phillips All Rights Reserved
Article may be reprinted freely as long as the author bylines and info box are included. The article itself may not be altered.

Patriot Heart

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After the demise of Henry Cobham, George Ashworth Cobham remained in Lancashire to comfort the grieving family, assisting in the funeral of his brother, and supporting the family business. Historians forget that the second son was merely nineteen. At the time of Henry's death, Aunts Alice and Ellen Cobham held most of the controlling interests in the extensive properties still owned by the Cobhams. For several years after the tragedy, George Ashworth Cobham would travel through England sometimes working, visiting, and writing about architecture, living quite the life and enjoying the ladies, one in particular named Mary Nottage. He spoke of her in loving terms, and about the delightful times that they spent together, but finally realized it was not to be.

His work consisted of being educated as a Barrister also managing the properties of the Cobhams and Hargreaves. On many occasions, he returned to Liverpool visiting with Aunt Alice, Aunt Ellen and other family members. Finally in 1828, he returned and proposed to the widow of his brother, Catherine, who was some ten years his senior. They were married October the 27th 1828, in Prestwick Church near Manchester in Lancashire England with duly noted publication of Banns. Aunt Alice upon the marriage of Henry Cobhams widow Catherine Curry Cobham to George Ashworth Cobham would transfer some of her properties to George. Upon her death, she left much of her estate to her great nephews the sons of Henry...Henry and George Ashworth Cobham, which in later years would become a litigious and contentious situation, creating lawsuits in England, and America.

George Ashworth Cobham Sr was confined in a debtor prison when he ran afoul of the law. Upon being declared bankrupt and much of his properties sold to pay his creditors, he was released, only to be confronted by the Ecclesiastical Court who planned to have his marriage to Catherine Curry Cobham dissolved. According to English Canon law, it was illegal to marry your brother's wife. George Sr fled to France to avoid further troubles with the law and soon after his wife Catherine joined him along with sons Henry, George, and Frederick Fearns Cobham who had been born September 7th 1831. They resided in France for nearly two years, and while residing in France, Catherine gave birth on March 20th 1834 to their daughter Georgina.

In the later part of 1834, George Sr and family left France and made their way to America. They spent the winter of that year in New York where George Sr sought areas where he felt he could again become prosperous. While, in Jamestown New York, George Cobham Sr spent several more months looking for a suitable place for he and his family, and at long last decided on Warren Pennsylvania. The spring of 1835 The Cobhams finally made their way to Warren Pennsylvania via Albany, Buffalo, and Jamestown New York. So it was that "The Cobhams" became residents of Warren Pennsylvania, which leads us to Brigadier George Ashworth Cobham Jr. A civil war Hero and his travels through the battlefields.

Jacqueline F Hurlbut, Author, Patriot Heart: A story about Brigadier General George Ashworth Cobham Jr,who was killed at The Battle of Peachtree Creek, Atlanta Georgia. Over 100 personal letters,and documents written from the battlefields that would provide insight, glimpses of his personal life, his view of the war and the battles that he and his men fought. It is true they were from his perspective, a vision which came from a man of faith, an officer, gentleman, patriot, husband, father, son, and brother, who would in due course be called a Hero. See more information at http://libertyandvirtue.com/ ?

Elizabeth: The Struggle for the Throne, by David Starkey, a True Story of Royalty, Intrigue, Romance

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Elizabeth: The Struggle for the Throne, by David Starkey... Whether history class was your most or least favorite in school, you should find this book a fascinating read. David Starkey is not simply a renowned English historian, an expert on Tudor England, he's also a fine writer indeed. In this book, what could be dry-as-dust facts are instead lively stories of real people living real lives in the midst of turbulent times.

Regarding turbulent times, almost anyone who got through school knows about Henry VIII and his six wives, his elder daughter, Mary (also known as Bloody Mary), and his younger daughter, who became the first Queen Elizabeth. But my guess is that few of us, unless we're real history buffs, know much about the extraordinary times in which they lived.

Most books that I have read about Queen Elizabeth I deal with her years as a monarch. Starkey, however, takes us from her birth in 1533 to her accession to the throne in 1558. During those years she led a life that could well be the stuff of fiction. But it was real. In his introduction to Elizabeth, Starkey says that during that period "... she had experienced every vicissitude of fortune and every extreme of condition." As I read the book, I marveled that she survived those years and went on to be the most successful queen England has known.

Her mother was executed by her father, which must have been a terrible blow to the child, but she never spoke of it. She was both princess and intended successor to the throne, then disinherited, then reinstated. She was accused of treason and imprisoned in the Tower by her own sister, facing possible execution. She survived plots and counterplots, threats to her well-being by family as well as foe, during these years of religious persecution. Yet in the midst of all this turmoil, she kept her head-literally and figuratively-and lived to age 70.

And all this happened before she was 25 years old. Starkey has this to say, "But, above all, I never forget that the years of Elizabeth's apprenticeship are a wonderful adventure story. We know they had a happy ending and that she survived and became queen. Elizabeth herself, her friends and enemies, had no such foresight." An exceptional life, with its highs and lows, and little in between.

In reading this book, besides my admiration for her sheer grit and ability to adjust to both wonderful and dreadful circumstances, I learned a great deal more about her as a person than ever before. Most of my earlier reading about her life was about her as Queen Elizabeth. As a child, she was precocious, brilliant even, and throughout all these dangerous and difficult times, she showed a natural instinct for dealing with the type of political chicanery with which she was surrounded. Even her education, conducted of course by private tutors, is astonishing in its depth and breadth; among other subjects, she studied Latin and Greek and was fluent in French.

Starkey writes with humanity and a wry and engaging tone, even when discussing religious persecution or political skullduggery. In one place, he refers to "extravagant characters and madcap schemes."

This is a book to be read, then read again, and for me more times than that. Starkey brings those days to life. And the young queen-to-be is a person you will enjoy getting to know. I recommend it.

Written By Randall Peffer Seahawk Burning

(A) A good Civil War naval story as the ships from the north try to track confederate ships, both trying to destroy the other and all ships they find while searching. The locales stretch from the coast, the inland waters of the United States, South America, Africa, Europe, and points in between. You have to remember in those days there was no way to search for a ship except by word of mouth or accidentally finding that ship while transcending the globe. Also in those days the sailors, as well as their captain, were very rough and crude men that were very likely to kill captured crews from ships, burn the ships after looting all the goods aboard, and turn the few of the captured crew members over to the first possible place on land or sea.

Raphael Semmes was captain of the confederate ship, The USS Alabama. The Alabama was a strong and powerful ship. Semmes would take no quarter from any opposing ship and would kill and/or destroy almost any other ship along with its crew, just to get a "worse" reputation. Seahawk Burning takes you mostly by sea to many areas of the earth to fight others, get provisions, have repairs made, unload the ship crew members who's time was up and find new crew members, while making those stops. Most of all the ships ' officers and crews in those days were not very healthy, some from not eating correctly, drinking far too much alcohol, associating with wild women that gave them more than they bargained for, and of course the normal sailors brawls.

The many areas traversed by the USS Alabama took them through many a bad storm that damaged ships and their crews quite bad. Weather; another item they knew little about and had no idea of what lies ahead. Meanwhile back in Washington, DC, President Lincoln, the various government leaders including the Secretary of the Navy, the Yankee leaders, and all of their cohorts, schemed as to how to capture and destroy this Confederate ship that was wreaking havoc on their ships. Semmes has So far eluded them but the word of mouth was starting to narrow his travel path. The ship that was closest is his trail now was the USS Kearsarge Captained by an ex-shipmate of Semmes, John Winslow, who wanted his former friend and opponent very much. Winslow was not in good health, having only one eye and it pained him much of the time. Semmes had his gal, Maude, constantly has his mind. The Yankee government to obtain information about Semmes was also tracking her. Maude had two babies with her, one white and one black. She loved them both, as did Semmes. She had to keep on the run throughout the eastern United States and through Canada to avoid capture.

The action is great as are the characters, some of which were actually involved in the war and in the leading of our nation. You will learn the history and some facts about some of these men and women as the author brings them in and out of the story. If you like sea of adventure stories intertwined with history, you will love this book, as I did.

Reader review by Cy Hilterman of a book supplied by The Amazon Vine Program

Author Interview With Richard C Geschke and Robert a. Toto

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Today we have the pleasure of speaking with the two authors of the new book, In Our Duffel Bags, Robert Toto and Richard Geschke. Thank you gentlemen for taking your time to join us.

RT: Thank you for allowing us to share our stories

RG: Thank you Mr. Sorkin for giving us the opportunity of this interview.

PBR: Your book, In Our Duffel Bags, is filled with stories of your past Vietnam War experiences. For each of you, writing this book had to dredge up some dramatic memories. Tell us please, how were you able to deal with those strong emotions that were evoked by remembering and bringing to life once again so many thoughts?

RT: My memories about that time were suppressed by me for a long time. I did not realize that I had PTSD, until I started to cry while I was out walking near my home. This book became part of my therapy.

RG: These memories lay dormant in my mind for over forty years. It wasn't until I had a vivid dream of reality about a trip down the Hai Van Pass which occurred forty years ago that the thoughts of not only Vietnam but of my entire army experience came to my foremost thoughts. I immediately put them on paper, starting with the chapter titled "Going My Way" and followed by the chapter titled "Was That Forty-One or Forty-two Rockets?." It was at this point I asked Bob to help me with my memory and he joined in the writing.

PBR: As young men that were drafted into a highly opposed and controversial war what emotions did you each experience the moment you knew you had been drafted?

RG: First of all as officers, we were not drafted, we were appointed commissions by the President of the United States. It was our choice to join ROTC in college knowing full well that during this time period that once we graduated without an ROTC commission, we would have been drafted. So in effect it was our choice to be officers in the army.

RT: Well, we were not drafted, however, at that time there was a draft lottery. My birth date was drawn #11, so I decided to continue ROTC and become an officer.

PBR: How did your family and friends initially react to your being drafted?

RT: Again, we were not drafted. However, my brother David consoled me on the luck of the draft lottery. Friends were in the same position. Most of them joined Reserve outfits, which at that time, had little chance of going to Vietnam.

RG: During this time in history family and friends knew the score. There was a war going on and everyone was subject to serve as citizen soldiers. It's not like today when we have a professional volunteer army where there is no draft. During our day there were protests, draft card burnings and a very lively debate about the merits of the war. Today, because we have an all volunteer army, the regular population is more or less mute on the war. Current debates about the wars are timid in comparison to the Vietnam era.

PBR: In the book you indicate that other civilians treated you rather crudely for your participation in the war due to the sentiments that you were participating in killing innocent women and babies. Did your family and friends treat you differently after returning home from participating in the war because of similar sentiments?

RT: It was difficult being in grad school once I was discharged. The undergraduate students really had no clue of what military life was. I remember that the only person, outside of friends/family, was a RMV official. Most people put Vietnam out of their minds.

RG: Vietnam was a different era altogether, with the protests and the divisive politics of the times. As I mustered out of the army at Fort Lewis, I truly wanted to go home in my civilian clothes. However if I did that, my plane trip would be full price. If I wore my uniform I would fly military standby and receive a huge discount. Once you got home and began to socialize, you didn't tell anyone you were in the army or Vietnam for that matter. My family on the other hand supported and comforted me. When I look back on this it really tells of a shameful time in our country's history. I didn't make military policy, all I did was to serve my country in an honorable way!

PBR: Many soldiers succumbed to the daily stresses of their military lives in the war by abusing drugs and or alcohol, how were you able to manage the stress and not give in to the escapism of drugs and alcohol?

RT: I never took drugs, and since most of my duties were at night, I slept during the day. I became more sensitive to my religious beliefs.

RG: I never took drugs but if you're an infantry officer of the line by-golly you did drink. That was a fact of life! However I wasn't an alcoholic.

PBR: Can you each define your worst moment while serving in the war?

RT: My worst moment was when I was talking to Dick, and told him I was leaving early...I wanted to bite off my arm. Other than that, it was a feeling of failure when I couldn't transform one of my troopers into stopping his drug use...you always remember the one that got away. We shipped him to Japan, paralyzed from the waist down, due to heroin use (he was 19).

RG: There were several things that I would define as worst such as the exploding deuce and a half truck blowing two enlisted men through the front windshield right in front of me. However the worst thing I saw was a sergeant literally kicking a Vietnamese Papa-son on the floor of an army orderly room in front of a senior first sergeant who did nothing to stop it. I had to stop the beating or he would have been killed. I was furious with both sergeants and I told them so in no uncertain terms!

PBR: Can you please explain your best moment while serving in the war?

RT: When I was able to reach seven of my platoon to attend drug amnesty, and stop their addiction. Other than that, it was a fourth grade class that wrote me a Christmas greeting from my home town...I thought of them often.

RG: About a week before Christmas of 1971 in Phu Bai, my unit completed its primary and very critical mission well ahead of schedule. The mission was long and grueling, executed during the heavy rains of the monsoon season in which I led my men with a fractured ankle and a bout of a contaminated water induced stomach virus. When completed, I never have had that sense of completion and satisfaction like that before or since. Through the efforts of my men, I was lucky to have been awarded a Bronze Star for my leadership abilities.

PBR: We all know the expression, hindsight is 20-20. Knowing what you now know about serving in the military during that time, what is there, if anything, that you wish you would have done differently?

RT: I would have pushed harder for a branch transfer. Infantry was not my true calling. However, I met some great people that made it all worthwhile.

RG: Well this is like being a Monday morning quarterback. When I think of myself entering the gates of Fort Benning Georgia as a naive young officer, I wish that I had more experience. In reality I wouldn't change anything, you live and you learn, all be it the hard way at times!

PBR: What advice would you give to any person thinking of enlisting in the military today?

RT: Choose your branch of service carefully, remember your roots, never underestimate your comrades or your enemies, and be prepared for some lonely times.

RG: In today's military if one commits to the service of the arms of the military one must always remember that you will no longer be just an individual, you will be a small part of a large organization in which your dreams and wants are secondary to the wants of the military. Life in the military is like no other life in existence. So when you join such an organization make sure you know the consequences!

PBR: Based on your past experiences with being involved in a war in a foreign country, what advice would you give to this nation's political leaders today about our military presence in foreign countries?

RT: We have to be smarter in whom we support. Today's fighting needs great intelligence, and leadership in small, focused groups. The threats to the USA are real...I saw that in Berlin, when the Wall was still standing, and in Vietnam. Power hungry tyrants still exist; look at the human tragedies in Korea, China, Africa, and South America. We must engage our partners in treaties; we cannot be the world's police force.

RG: You know my thoughts on this because you read our book. Today's political leaders continue to try to solve geo-political problems by using the military as they were used in the 19th and 20th centuries. The wars of the 21st century have to be fought using superior intelligence and a solid economy. In fact this was done without the sounds of guns in the forty-four year Cold War standoff. No Medals of Honor, Silver Stars or Bronze Stars were awarded in which the West was victorious and the celebrations on the streets of Europe were far greater than the end of WWII. We have to use our intelligence without firing the weapons.

PBR: This has all been very interesting, and we wish you the best of success with your new book. Thank you again for taking your time to be with us.

RT: Thank you for allowing us to share our story.

RG: Mr. Sorkin, it's been my pleasure.

Interviewed by: Lisa Brown-Gilbert, Pacific Book Review

http://www.pacificbookreview.com/

Spy and Anti-Spy

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Even Cold War is over, spy activities remain active nowadays. One of FBI's jobs is to detect spies among ordinary citizens to secure United States. As a matter of fact, spies are not only related to nations in a broad sense, they also refer to people or activities in our daily lives, like the detectives to follow our spouse in our marriages, the person to steal the company's financial report or the leak of new technology or product's information. As a result, people will find ways to fight back. We may call it anti-spy. Today we will mainly focus on spying.

Spying actually has a long history. Where there is war or competition, there is spy and anti-spy. The most famous movies for this activity are Mr. & Mrs. Smith which is acted by Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie and The Bourne Supremacy by Matt Damon and Brian Cox. We are crazy about the spies' intelligence, quick responses and confidentiality. Some of us may even dream of becoming a spy. This work is mysterious and enchanting. And the spies thus become a favorite topic among people.

Soviet Union has got a reputation for training and taking advantage of spies. The female spies are called Swallows. One of them even let Albert Einstein fell in love with her and as a result, revealed some important science information to her. Apart from this kind of spies, double agents are also belonged to spy rings. This usually makes things complicated and exciting because you will never know if the person you talk to or are familiar with to be your true friend or deadly enemy.

To accomplish the spying job, sure you shall be well-equipped. Spies actually use the most advanced technical equipment, such as interceptors, blasters and monitors. When comes to modern lives, spies of detecting state secrets are not well-known to the public. But we can also apply such kind of devices to prevent thieves or other bad things which may happen to us.

Stuff related to spy is quite hot in these days. You will find them on the online shops or actual entities. The most commonly used one is spy camera. You may find it on a pen, a clock, a glass and a watch and so on. Go to shop and get yourself a spy camera. You will be the next spy too.

If you would like more stories of spies, you can also Google those things happened in Germany and Soviet Union. You will get interested and shocked. As the world marches on, people will become more and more acquainted with spying. Anti-spy is hence kind of self-protection.

Life is difficult, and unfortunately is long!