Customer Reviews

Proud Legions

5 star:		(39)
4 star:		(6)
3 star:		(6)
2 star:		(4)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Proud Legions offers the layman the unique opportunity to fight the Korean War from a very personal perspective ... that of an armored battalion. Presented with a series of serious combat situations, the commander of a stranded U.S. Army armor battalion examines his circumstances, develops a plan, and then executes his plan against a numerically superior force charged with all the elan the powerful propaganda machine of North Korea can generate. As either a study in leadership or in armored tactics, this novel offers the airman an opportunity to help the commander on the ground decided the next course of action. Worried about commander's intent and what it means? John Antal walks you through the thought process. How about developing objectives? They are there as well. Executing a maneuver to end run an opponent? Here's a blue-print. In short, here are the basics of armored warfare in a readable, enjoyable format that even an airman can understand. There are some aspects of the book that warrant criticism. It's hardly believable that the armored officer will get the girl. It is equally unbelieveable that airpower is generally unable to contribute during the early stages of a North Korean offensive. However, given that the book is written to articulate the vital importance of armored forces in combat such shortcomings can be easily forgiven. This is a fast paced, can't put it down once you've started it piece of art. I highly recommend its consumption.

Current headlines focus national attention on the grubby political messiness of Peace Operations in places U.S. troops have little to no history of being involved in. Because of this, many defense analysts observe that the future of the Armed Forces is executing "non-state" warfare. John Antal's entertaining PROUD LEGIONS is a strong antidote to that kind of view. His Harold Coyle/Tom Clancy style cannot completely divert attention from the terrifyingly plausible strategic background explaining how he sees another Korean War could possibly develop. It provides a powerful argument for the continued existence of conventional U.S. ground forces and combat training. As with most military techno-thriller fiction, ground combat grognards will find many nits to pick; yet the book does not suffer from these in the least. Like his brother Army tank officer author, Harold Coyle, Antal is admittedly selective in his depiction of armored combat with the lastest U.S. hardware and technology. But this is combat fiction at its best; engrossing, fun to read, and useful in showing civilian readers some of the non-stereotypical challenges modern military professionals would be called upon to handle. The narrative moves along briskly, building a degree of suspense towards the ultimate climax-and the ending contains an unexpected discovery. A great light read (especially for long trips and summer beach reading)--well done.

Proud Legions is the perfect book for old [and not so old] soldiers to update their perceptions of future combat. It is a novel about the next war in Korea, and it's also a technical tour de force of modern armor--its awesome combat power, defensive technology, and electronic wizardry. Antal approaches the story with an effective Tom Clancy methodology of character vignettes on both sides of the border and carefully weaves them together with a few surprises along the way. Proud Legions is well worth your time. It is informative, and the reader will not soon forget the importance of fielding the best soldiers with the best equipment.

Proud Legions is a well written thriller about a possible catastrophe in waiting on the Korean peninsula. Although it was somewhat self-congratulatory about the greatness of 2-72 armor, I believe it stated well the capabilities of US Army forces versus a determined foe. I have been all over the terrain discussed in the book, and it was almost like being there during this read. I felt that the Koreans on both sides were well developed. It is nice to find a novel that respects the true fighting ability of the South Korean armed forces. I also liked the KATUSA gunner, CPL Oh. Some of the finest soldiers I have ever worked with were KATUSAs. I did kind of miss the rest of the US effort in the conflict (How about 1-72 Armor, and the rest of 2nd ID?). I kept waiting for the 82nd Airborne Division to arrive on peninsula. One small note about finding the NK artillery; what about the Q-36 radar? This finds the enemy for counter-battery fire. It seems to me that the allies should have been able to locate such a large concentration of guns and rockets. It was a good read, though, and I appreciated the discussion of US Armor in the Persian gulf. I think this novel appropriately points out that if Kim Jong-Il gets froggy, US armored forces (And the South Korean K-1) will make short work of his outdated Soviet-era tanks.

My first introduction to Antal. Although not a big fan of tank fiction (a la Coyle), I just couldn't put this down - literally. It is a must read and you won't be disappointed.

John Antal knows soldiering and Proud Legions takes the reader on a journey into warfare that few authors are able to provide. Antal mixes well the human aspect of a life and death struggle being waged by individuals with the cold, random reality faced by armies on a modern, lethal, and unforgiving battleground. The technical descriptions of mechanized warfare are unmatched. If you want to know what it is like to fight an M1A2 Main Battle Tank, Antal puts you in the hatch. He also brings the enemy to life with a realism that should give pause to those who no longer see deamons in the world. Proud Legions clearly demonstrates how the relatively easy victory achieved on the flat Desert Storm terrain will be so difficult to replicate should major combat errupt on the restricted terrain battlefield of a Korean or Balkan conflict. Proud Legions is a novel for practitioners, policy wonks, or anyone who wants to feel a soldier's experience in combat. Highly recommended reading.

This is a must read for anyone even slightly entertained by the works of either Tom Clancy or Harold Coyle. I was mesmerized by the combination of a rapid story line and technical detail that made me feel like I was part of the action. The plot is alarmingly real and the author never lets up the pressure on his characters or the reader! More than just an action/war novel, however, this book made me sit back and think. The scenario presented in the book is so plausible that it makes me wonder whether today's military is following the right course. Without the heavy tank force John Antal so wonderfully describes, I wonder what the outcome would be if this book is not only a good read but also prescient?

As a former member of the "Dragon Force", I just want to take the opportunity to thank COL Antal for this great book. I was a platton leader in TF 2-72 during COL Antal's command, and it was exciting to read about the unit, as well as the many locations mentioned in the story that I am familiar with from my tour. Currently an Active-duty Army officer serving in HQ SFOR, the "Proud Legions" brought me back to those days as a young Lieutenant with my Bradley platoon. As the stereotypical "LT", I made my share of mistakes, but in the 2-72 Armor, I was allowed to learn from those mistakes, lead my soldiers, and feel I was part of something greater. Working as a staff officer, I forgot about those heady days as a platoon leader in Dragon Force, manning the "walls" in a real word situation. Proud Legions reminded me of why I wanted to be a soldier. Thank You.

"Proud Legions" is probably the best war novel I have ever read, and it is defenitely the best book about tank warfare. This is a must read for everyone.

This book does more than take me back to my serving in Korea, South. This book bring to life the soldiers of the NKPA whom I knew formerly, as just "the enemy". Though at one time I may have held hostile opinions of the North, through Antal's character development, I found myself identifying with the drive of the North just as easily as I did with the defensive stand of the South. I was fortunate enough to serve as a C.O.L.T chief in support of 2nd Tank and even more fortunate to witness Col. Antal's ferocity in battle situations. (unfortunately a bit of that ferocity was directed at me) After reading "Proud Legions" I feel better aquainted with the Korean battlefront from upper echelon perspective. Reading this book will give you the a good feel for what it is like to serve on freedom's last frontier and to carry out the primary objective which is "to crush the enemy and have them driven before you, and to hear the lamentations of their women and children." GREAT READ