Customer Reviews

The Legionnaire (Casca, No. 11)

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Sadler brings to the reader the abuses and the bravo sierra of the military, as well as the Brotherhood of men who have survived combat together. This book hit the shelves some time before Col. David Hackworth's <<About Face; The Odyssey of an American Warrior>> followed.

<<The Legionnaire>> picks up where <<Panzer Soldier>> ended. Casca, going by the name Carl Langers, E&E's from Berlin to France, where he enlists in the Foreign Legion. After training, he ships out to Indochina, where he links up with his old buddy, the inimitable, unforgettable and eternally lovable Gustav Beidemann. Casca, Gus and a couple of newfound buddies face two enemies; the Viet Minh, and a murderous, self-serving petty criminal of a Sergent, who is a poster child for fragging.

Casca's analysis and condemnation of Communism is "iron on target." Gus' tormenting of the scumbag Sergent is highly amusing...and inspiring. Sergent Scumbag's gross maltreatment of his men typifies what Colonel Hackworth decries in real life.

There is plenty of action throughout. Sadler brings the War to life with the same virtuosity as Crane, Remarque and Guy Sajer. Most poignantly, he shares the Love felt between men who fight together.

Whether you look at this as entertainment, history, or the story of four buddies trying to survive the war, the opposition and their NCO, <<The Legionnaire>> is an excellent read!

This 11th classic of the late great Barry Sadler's Casca series actually starts out where the 4th novel, Panzer Soldier, ended. (Barry jumped around in time throughout the series.)

Adolph Hiler's reign is over, and the Russian takeover is brutal, forcing Casca, aka Carl Langers, to escape and evade capture. After a time of running and dodging the Russian machine, and changing his identity, Casca is finally taken prisoner and forced with a few others into the French Foreign Legion.

The eternal mercenary takes to this brutal regiment of becoming yet another type of elite soldier like a duck takes to water. And Gus Beidemann is back! This is one of Casca's oldest friends that he first met as a german panzer soldier, and has then had three other adventures throughout the 22 books. (Unfortunately, he meets his demise in the nest book, Casca: The African Mercenary.)

This is not one of the better edited of Casca's more modernized adventures. But it is chock full of action and adventure in the battle of Bien Dien Phu, where he actually loses another war. That's what I liked about sadler. He didn't always have Casca on the winning side.

Classic action/adventure this!