Good Read – Pogue’s War: Diaries of a WWII Combat Historian

Pogue’s War: Diaries of a WWII Combat Historian
by Forrest C. Pogue

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Product Description:

With a foreword by Stephen Ambrose and a preface by Franklin D. Anderson Forrest Pogue (1912-1996) was undoubtedly one of the greatest World War II combat historians. Born and educated in Kentucky, he is perhaps best known for his definitive four-volume biography of General George C. Marshall.  Pogue’s War is drawn from Forrest Pogue’s handwritten pocket notebooks, carried with him throughout the war, long regarded as unreadable because of his often atrocious handwriting. Supplemented with carefully deciphered and transcribed selections from his diaries, the heart of the book is straight from the field. He not only graphically – yet also often poetically­­ – recounts the extreme circumstances of battle, but he also notes his fellow soldiers’ innermost thoughts, feelings, opinions, and attitudes about the cruelty of war. Franklin D. Anderson, Forrest Pogue’s nephew by marriage, is a longtime educator. He lives in Princeton, Kentucky.

Todd Hill says:

From the war-time diary of combat historian Sgt. Forrest C. Pogue, long time Murray resident and professor at MSU. Incredible story of coming ashore at Normandy. Just after the June 1944 invasion… Highly recommended!

Check out our Good Reads page for more recommended books.

Datebook: July 21 – The First Battle of Bull Run 150 Years Ago

The First Battle of Bull Run, also known as the First Battle of Manassas (the name used by Confederate forces), was fought on July 21, 1861, in Prince William County, Virginia, near the City of Manassas. It was the first major land battle of the American Civil War. Just months after the start of the war at Fort Sumter, the Northern public clamored for a march against the Confederate capital of Richmond, Virginia, which could bring an early end to the war. Yielding to this political pressure, unseasoned Union Army troops under Brig. Gen. Irvin McDowell advanced across Bull Run against the equally unseasoned Confederate Army under Brig. Gen. P.G.T. Beauregard near Manassas Junction. Both sides were sobered by the violence and casualties of the battle, and they realized that the war would potentially be much longer and bloodier than they had originally anticipated.

It’s Thursday, July 21

Rangers from the New Orleans Jazz National Historical Park perform live at the Dover Hotel at Fort Donelson National Battlefield tomorrow at 1 p.m. Also enjoy excerpts from Dr. Nancy J. Dawson’s original production, Stories from da Dirt, during the program. Bring lawn chairs to enjoy period Civil war songs and short historic skits.

Tonight Paducah Parks Service shows the animated movie Megamind at dusk around 8:30 p.m. weather permitting. It’s free and suitable for the family. Concessions will be available for purchase. For comfort bring lawn chairs, blankets and insect repellent. This is the final summer Movie in the Park at the amphitheatre in Noble Park.

Next Monday there’s a free class helping children ages 2 to 9 to prepare for the arrival of a new brother or sister at Western Baptist Hospital in Paducah. This sibling class is 5 to 6 p.m. Monday in the atrium classroom of doctors office building 2. Register at 270-575-2229.

It’s time for you to explore wkms.org and use our interactive community events calendar. Welcome—and thanks!

the morning cram [end of an era edition]

The space shuttle Atlantis has landed at Kennedy Space center ending a 30-year era in travel beyond our world.

NPR gives a minute by minute breakdown of Atlantis’ journey back into the atmosphere and back to earth.

Kentucky~ Home invaders are not attempted murderers. An alleged war-hating, child-porn-loving soldier is AWOL. From a Jewish and Catholic hospital merger in Louisville arises concern. Parts of Nunn’s files will be made public.

Illinois~ The union is set to vote on a Honeywell agreement.