Author: C.J. Skamarakas
Publisher: Rowman & Littlefield
ISBN: 0811772098
Category : History
Languages : en
Pages : 259
Book Description
PT boats loom large in the popular imagination of World War II. In March 1942, a PT boat evacuated Gen. Douglas MacArthur, his family, and top staff from the Philippines, which inspired the war movie They Were Expendable, directed by John Ford and starring John Wayne. John F. Kennedy became a war hero while commanding PT-109, which collided with a Japanese destroyer and was sunk in August 1943. But the story of PT boats has never been told in the depth and detail that their exemplary service deserves. Naval historian C. J. Skamarakas uses one Pacific PT boat squadron to tell the story of PT boats in action in World War II. Eighty feet long, PT boats were designed to launch torpedoes against enemy ships five and ten times their own size. But defects in the torpedoes and the boats’ speed and maneuverability ultimately shifted the boats’ mission to patrolling and breaking up Japanese shipping and reinforcements. In the waters of the Southwest Pacific as part of MacArthur’s offensives in New Guinea and the Philippines, Motor Torpedo Boat Squadron 25 completed these missions and also executed other operations for which they weren’t specifically trained, including inserting commandos behind enemy lines, air-sea rescue, raids on enemy positions, reconnaissance of potential sites for amphibious landings, coordination of air strikes in support of ground forces, meetings with guerrilla leaders, recovery of prisoners of war, diversionary activities, and psychological operations. Today we would call many of their missions “special ops.” The Japanese called PT boats “mosquitoes” and “devil boats.” The Devil Boats recounts the unique contributions of one motor torpedo boat squadron and through it tells the story of PT boats in the Pacific War. With drama and excitement, as well as careful attention to detail, the book fills a void in the history of the U.S. Navy in World War II.
The Devil Boats
Author: C.J. Skamarakas
Publisher: Rowman & Littlefield
ISBN: 0811772098
Category : History
Languages : en
Pages : 259
Book Description
PT boats loom large in the popular imagination of World War II. In March 1942, a PT boat evacuated Gen. Douglas MacArthur, his family, and top staff from the Philippines, which inspired the war movie They Were Expendable, directed by John Ford and starring John Wayne. John F. Kennedy became a war hero while commanding PT-109, which collided with a Japanese destroyer and was sunk in August 1943. But the story of PT boats has never been told in the depth and detail that their exemplary service deserves. Naval historian C. J. Skamarakas uses one Pacific PT boat squadron to tell the story of PT boats in action in World War II. Eighty feet long, PT boats were designed to launch torpedoes against enemy ships five and ten times their own size. But defects in the torpedoes and the boats’ speed and maneuverability ultimately shifted the boats’ mission to patrolling and breaking up Japanese shipping and reinforcements. In the waters of the Southwest Pacific as part of MacArthur’s offensives in New Guinea and the Philippines, Motor Torpedo Boat Squadron 25 completed these missions and also executed other operations for which they weren’t specifically trained, including inserting commandos behind enemy lines, air-sea rescue, raids on enemy positions, reconnaissance of potential sites for amphibious landings, coordination of air strikes in support of ground forces, meetings with guerrilla leaders, recovery of prisoners of war, diversionary activities, and psychological operations. Today we would call many of their missions “special ops.” The Japanese called PT boats “mosquitoes” and “devil boats.” The Devil Boats recounts the unique contributions of one motor torpedo boat squadron and through it tells the story of PT boats in the Pacific War. With drama and excitement, as well as careful attention to detail, the book fills a void in the history of the U.S. Navy in World War II.
Publisher: Rowman & Littlefield
ISBN: 0811772098
Category : History
Languages : en
Pages : 259
Book Description
PT boats loom large in the popular imagination of World War II. In March 1942, a PT boat evacuated Gen. Douglas MacArthur, his family, and top staff from the Philippines, which inspired the war movie They Were Expendable, directed by John Ford and starring John Wayne. John F. Kennedy became a war hero while commanding PT-109, which collided with a Japanese destroyer and was sunk in August 1943. But the story of PT boats has never been told in the depth and detail that their exemplary service deserves. Naval historian C. J. Skamarakas uses one Pacific PT boat squadron to tell the story of PT boats in action in World War II. Eighty feet long, PT boats were designed to launch torpedoes against enemy ships five and ten times their own size. But defects in the torpedoes and the boats’ speed and maneuverability ultimately shifted the boats’ mission to patrolling and breaking up Japanese shipping and reinforcements. In the waters of the Southwest Pacific as part of MacArthur’s offensives in New Guinea and the Philippines, Motor Torpedo Boat Squadron 25 completed these missions and also executed other operations for which they weren’t specifically trained, including inserting commandos behind enemy lines, air-sea rescue, raids on enemy positions, reconnaissance of potential sites for amphibious landings, coordination of air strikes in support of ground forces, meetings with guerrilla leaders, recovery of prisoners of war, diversionary activities, and psychological operations. Today we would call many of their missions “special ops.” The Japanese called PT boats “mosquitoes” and “devil boats.” The Devil Boats recounts the unique contributions of one motor torpedo boat squadron and through it tells the story of PT boats in the Pacific War. With drama and excitement, as well as careful attention to detail, the book fills a void in the history of the U.S. Navy in World War II.
The Devil's Boat
Author: Giuseppe Bufalari
Publisher: Knopf Books for Young Readers
ISBN: 9780394922898
Category : Juvenile Fiction
Languages : en
Pages : 162
Book Description
From the day that they buy their own boat, a coral diver and his son sense it is cursed by the devil.
Publisher: Knopf Books for Young Readers
ISBN: 9780394922898
Category : Juvenile Fiction
Languages : en
Pages : 162
Book Description
From the day that they buy their own boat, a coral diver and his son sense it is cursed by the devil.
Devil Boats
Author: William Breuer
Publisher:
ISBN: 9780891415862
Category : Torpedo-boats
Languages : en
Pages : 0
Book Description
Mark Rupert traces the relationship between American global power and the rise of mass production. The United States was propelled to the apex of the global division of labor, ensuring victory in World War II and enabling postwar reconstruction under American leadership. Through a study of Ford Motor Company between 1914 and 1952, he examines the political and ideological struggles through which industrial labor was incorporated into the coalition of statesmen and capitalists that constructed the postwar world order.
Publisher:
ISBN: 9780891415862
Category : Torpedo-boats
Languages : en
Pages : 0
Book Description
Mark Rupert traces the relationship between American global power and the rise of mass production. The United States was propelled to the apex of the global division of labor, ensuring victory in World War II and enabling postwar reconstruction under American leadership. Through a study of Ford Motor Company between 1914 and 1952, he examines the political and ideological struggles through which industrial labor was incorporated into the coalition of statesmen and capitalists that constructed the postwar world order.
Clive Cussler's The Devil's Sea
Author: Dirk Cussler
Publisher: Penguin
ISBN: 0593419669
Category : Fiction
Languages : en
Pages : 481
Book Description
Fearless adventurer Dirk Pitt must unravel a historical mystery of epic importance in the latest novel in the beloved New York Times bestselling series created by the “grand master of adventure” Clive Cussler. When NUMA director Dirk Pitt discovers a forgotten plane crash in the Philippine Sea, he unearths clues pointing to an invaluable Buddhist artifact that has been lost for decades. But soon, he will learn that he’s not the only one making earthshattering discoveries. During a mission to recover a failed hypersonic missile from Luzon Strait, Pitt finds himself racing against a rogue Chinese military team…who have hijacked a ship strong enough to stir the ocean into a veritable Devil’s Sea. From the cold depths of the Pacific to the dizzying heights of the Himalayas, only Pitt and his children can unravel the mysteries that will preserve a religion, save a nation…and save the world from war.
Publisher: Penguin
ISBN: 0593419669
Category : Fiction
Languages : en
Pages : 481
Book Description
Fearless adventurer Dirk Pitt must unravel a historical mystery of epic importance in the latest novel in the beloved New York Times bestselling series created by the “grand master of adventure” Clive Cussler. When NUMA director Dirk Pitt discovers a forgotten plane crash in the Philippine Sea, he unearths clues pointing to an invaluable Buddhist artifact that has been lost for decades. But soon, he will learn that he’s not the only one making earthshattering discoveries. During a mission to recover a failed hypersonic missile from Luzon Strait, Pitt finds himself racing against a rogue Chinese military team…who have hijacked a ship strong enough to stir the ocean into a veritable Devil’s Sea. From the cold depths of the Pacific to the dizzying heights of the Himalayas, only Pitt and his children can unravel the mysteries that will preserve a religion, save a nation…and save the world from war.
The Devil's Trap
Author: James W. Bancroft
Publisher: Pen and Sword
ISBN: 1526718030
Category : History
Languages : en
Pages : 237
Book Description
This history of the Siege of Cawnpore and the massacre of British noncombatants in Colonial India reveals the human side of the struggle. During the Indian Rebellion of 1857, the strategic garrison at Cawnpore was surprised by an extended siege. Many British noncombatants were holed up in a makeshift entrenchment, suffering from thirst, starvation and disease, all while being bombarded with cannon balls and bullets. After nearly two months, the company surrendered to the rebel leader Nana Sahib in exchange for safe passage out of the city. But when the survivors reached Sati Chaura Ghat, a landing on the River Ganges, they were massacred. Much has been written about the siege of Cawnpore and the political events which caused it, but there less known about the people who suffered the ordeal. In The Devil’s Trap, historian James Bancroft studies official documentation and primary sources from both sides to offer a more human understanding of events and shed light on the lives of the victims.
Publisher: Pen and Sword
ISBN: 1526718030
Category : History
Languages : en
Pages : 237
Book Description
This history of the Siege of Cawnpore and the massacre of British noncombatants in Colonial India reveals the human side of the struggle. During the Indian Rebellion of 1857, the strategic garrison at Cawnpore was surprised by an extended siege. Many British noncombatants were holed up in a makeshift entrenchment, suffering from thirst, starvation and disease, all while being bombarded with cannon balls and bullets. After nearly two months, the company surrendered to the rebel leader Nana Sahib in exchange for safe passage out of the city. But when the survivors reached Sati Chaura Ghat, a landing on the River Ganges, they were massacred. Much has been written about the siege of Cawnpore and the political events which caused it, but there less known about the people who suffered the ordeal. In The Devil’s Trap, historian James Bancroft studies official documentation and primary sources from both sides to offer a more human understanding of events and shed light on the lives of the victims.
The Devil’s Plan Versus God’s Mercy
Author: Vernon Goff
Publisher: WestBow Press
ISBN: 1664207066
Category : Biography & Autobiography
Languages : en
Pages : 116
Book Description
Known for his wild, rough, and Mafia-like ways, Vernon Goff from Everglades City Florida, was no stranger to the swamp, deep waters, or sawed off shotguns. He eventually found himself on the wrong side of the government and faced the cold hard truths of being an outlaw. In The Devil’s Plan versus God’s Mercy, he tells his story, sharing how despite the devil’s attempt to destroy him, God’s mercy prevailed time and again throughout his life. This memoir chronicles his growing up years, learning to fish and crab in the Everglades and finding a taste for alcohol. Goff tells how drugs and money tempted him and finally undid him. Sentenced to twenty-five years in prison, he had plenty of time to contemplate his past and future. The Devil’s Plan versus God’s Mercy chronicles how Goff fought to overcome his sin and temptation and became a born-again Christian, understanding anyone can serve the devil. It takes a real man to humble himself and serve the living God.
Publisher: WestBow Press
ISBN: 1664207066
Category : Biography & Autobiography
Languages : en
Pages : 116
Book Description
Known for his wild, rough, and Mafia-like ways, Vernon Goff from Everglades City Florida, was no stranger to the swamp, deep waters, or sawed off shotguns. He eventually found himself on the wrong side of the government and faced the cold hard truths of being an outlaw. In The Devil’s Plan versus God’s Mercy, he tells his story, sharing how despite the devil’s attempt to destroy him, God’s mercy prevailed time and again throughout his life. This memoir chronicles his growing up years, learning to fish and crab in the Everglades and finding a taste for alcohol. Goff tells how drugs and money tempted him and finally undid him. Sentenced to twenty-five years in prison, he had plenty of time to contemplate his past and future. The Devil’s Plan versus God’s Mercy chronicles how Goff fought to overcome his sin and temptation and became a born-again Christian, understanding anyone can serve the devil. It takes a real man to humble himself and serve the living God.
The Devil's Wind
Author: Patricia Wentworth
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category :
Languages : en
Pages : 198
Book Description
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category :
Languages : en
Pages : 198
Book Description
The Devil's Breath
Author: Dahn Alexander Batchelor
Publisher: iUniverse
ISBN: 1450283500
Category : Fiction
Languages : en
Pages : 216
Book Description
Andre Verlain is on top of the world. At the age of twenty-six, he is already a respected member of the medical field, in love with a beautiful woman, Rachel Hayot. But then, in 1902, he finds himself in France, where he learns how easy it is to fall from the highest height to the lowest low. While in Paris, Andre meets a mysterious fortune teller, and Madame Boulier has some bad news . According to Madame, Andre must soon make a choice. It is foretold that the woman he truly loves is doomed to die in the city of St. Pierre on the island of Martinique-killed by the eruption of the volcano, Pelee. Andre is suspicious-until he sets foot on the destined island and realizes he has eight days before Pelee is fated to explode. Andre is in love with Rachel; the soothsayer must be referring to her ... but what of the enchanting island woman known only as White Flower? Rachel is the daughter of a rich plantation owner; she is safety and comfort. White Flower is the sister of a voodoo cultist-a dangerous man, hell-bent on killing Andre. She is not a viable prospect for marriage, so why does Andre feel such strong connection to the island beauty? Time is running out. Andre can only save one woman-but which one? And will Andre survive long enough to love her?
Publisher: iUniverse
ISBN: 1450283500
Category : Fiction
Languages : en
Pages : 216
Book Description
Andre Verlain is on top of the world. At the age of twenty-six, he is already a respected member of the medical field, in love with a beautiful woman, Rachel Hayot. But then, in 1902, he finds himself in France, where he learns how easy it is to fall from the highest height to the lowest low. While in Paris, Andre meets a mysterious fortune teller, and Madame Boulier has some bad news . According to Madame, Andre must soon make a choice. It is foretold that the woman he truly loves is doomed to die in the city of St. Pierre on the island of Martinique-killed by the eruption of the volcano, Pelee. Andre is suspicious-until he sets foot on the destined island and realizes he has eight days before Pelee is fated to explode. Andre is in love with Rachel; the soothsayer must be referring to her ... but what of the enchanting island woman known only as White Flower? Rachel is the daughter of a rich plantation owner; she is safety and comfort. White Flower is the sister of a voodoo cultist-a dangerous man, hell-bent on killing Andre. She is not a viable prospect for marriage, so why does Andre feel such strong connection to the island beauty? Time is running out. Andre can only save one woman-but which one? And will Andre survive long enough to love her?
INTO THE DEVIL'S DEN: SNARED BY THEIR OWN LIES
Author: Ellen W. Martin
Publisher: BookLocker.com, Inc.
ISBN: 1647189896
Category : Fiction
Languages : en
Pages : 288
Book Description
For over twenty-years Sam Steele lived with a lie gnawing at his conscience — for twenty-years his only child believed her mother was dead. Without warning his ex-wife springs from the ashes of the past and reaches out to him in his capacity as a veteran Immigration Custom Enforcement agent. When Sam’s ex-wife dumps a father’s living nightmare into his lap, he must choose between doing his duty as a law enforcer and jeopardizing his cherished relationship with his daughter. Circumstances beyond his control leave him no choice. Before he can seek forgiveness, TERRI ANNE disappears. Sam neglects his duties as an ICE agent and becomes obsessed in finding her. In the wake of his search he discovers a trail of murder, illegal Green Card marriages, and unveils a jihadist’s plot to launch a terror attack on American soil. Truth and time are ICE agent SAM STEELE’S enemy. SYLVIA MAROUN, the ex-wife, is a self-absorbed middle-aged woman with an appetite for young foreign men. Money and her sexuality have always been the solution to her problems. Sylvia becomes mired in a predicament she can’t buy her way out of and is unprepared for the reality of her young husband’s latest love interest. She will face the sins of her past. TERRI ANNE is a young naïve college student with above average book smarts, but lacks a thimbleful of common sense. These characteristics combined with the desire to escape the confines of a smothering and overprotective father will land Terri in the middle of murder and into the arms of a terrorist sleeper cell. MAGGIE O’MALLEY is Sam’s spunky assistant and lover for twelve years who has a difficult time keeping her thoughts to herself. She harbors a secret past she hopes will help Sam unravel the disappearance of his daughter. In her zealous attempt to save the day she not only jeopardizes her relationship with Sam, but also her own life. RASHID MAROUN is an impulsive, charming, narcissist playboy who successfully arranges Green Card marriages. On the surface, his main motivations are money and a good time. Beneath that glitz lurks a cunning villain looking for an escape from his rich wife and fanatical cousin, Jaali. JAALI DIAAB is a renegade and impatient radical who is rejected by the inner circle of jihadists. He is determined to prove to the world that there are other warriors besides Al Qaida, Hamas, and Isis that can strike a blow in the heart of the Great Satan. When his foolish cousin, Rashid, becomes involved in murder, it jeopardizes the mission he has been planning for months. INTO THE DEVIL’S DEN weaves a tangled tale of suspense, murder, and treachery. Each twisted circumstance is triggered by the one (albeit well intentioned) lie Sam Steele told his daughter — a lie that erupts into more lies and leaves lives dangling by a single thread.
Publisher: BookLocker.com, Inc.
ISBN: 1647189896
Category : Fiction
Languages : en
Pages : 288
Book Description
For over twenty-years Sam Steele lived with a lie gnawing at his conscience — for twenty-years his only child believed her mother was dead. Without warning his ex-wife springs from the ashes of the past and reaches out to him in his capacity as a veteran Immigration Custom Enforcement agent. When Sam’s ex-wife dumps a father’s living nightmare into his lap, he must choose between doing his duty as a law enforcer and jeopardizing his cherished relationship with his daughter. Circumstances beyond his control leave him no choice. Before he can seek forgiveness, TERRI ANNE disappears. Sam neglects his duties as an ICE agent and becomes obsessed in finding her. In the wake of his search he discovers a trail of murder, illegal Green Card marriages, and unveils a jihadist’s plot to launch a terror attack on American soil. Truth and time are ICE agent SAM STEELE’S enemy. SYLVIA MAROUN, the ex-wife, is a self-absorbed middle-aged woman with an appetite for young foreign men. Money and her sexuality have always been the solution to her problems. Sylvia becomes mired in a predicament she can’t buy her way out of and is unprepared for the reality of her young husband’s latest love interest. She will face the sins of her past. TERRI ANNE is a young naïve college student with above average book smarts, but lacks a thimbleful of common sense. These characteristics combined with the desire to escape the confines of a smothering and overprotective father will land Terri in the middle of murder and into the arms of a terrorist sleeper cell. MAGGIE O’MALLEY is Sam’s spunky assistant and lover for twelve years who has a difficult time keeping her thoughts to herself. She harbors a secret past she hopes will help Sam unravel the disappearance of his daughter. In her zealous attempt to save the day she not only jeopardizes her relationship with Sam, but also her own life. RASHID MAROUN is an impulsive, charming, narcissist playboy who successfully arranges Green Card marriages. On the surface, his main motivations are money and a good time. Beneath that glitz lurks a cunning villain looking for an escape from his rich wife and fanatical cousin, Jaali. JAALI DIAAB is a renegade and impatient radical who is rejected by the inner circle of jihadists. He is determined to prove to the world that there are other warriors besides Al Qaida, Hamas, and Isis that can strike a blow in the heart of the Great Satan. When his foolish cousin, Rashid, becomes involved in murder, it jeopardizes the mission he has been planning for months. INTO THE DEVIL’S DEN weaves a tangled tale of suspense, murder, and treachery. Each twisted circumstance is triggered by the one (albeit well intentioned) lie Sam Steele told his daughter — a lie that erupts into more lies and leaves lives dangling by a single thread.
The Devil's Playground
Author: Gary L. Bloomfield
Publisher: Rowman & Littlefield
ISBN: 1493039032
Category : History
Languages : en
Pages : 229
Book Description
The Devil's Playground is a timely account of what it is like to serve along perhaps the most dangerous and sensitive strip of land in the world. In recent months two bullet-riddled attempted escapes from North to South brought worldwide headlines. And with Donald Trump and Kim Jong-un exchanging threats, the world hopes for a diplomatic solution, but watches with bated breath. Author Gary L. Bloomfield, a military journalist in what is called “the demilitarized” zone between North and South Korea in the 1970s, combines his personal experience with interviews and historical insights to present a fresh, up-to-date, account of what it is like to serve on perhaps the most contentious strip of land in the world today. The Devil’s Playground combines history with current events that today have the rest of the world watching, hoping there is no explosion, which could lead to a nuclear war. While world attention is focused on the Koreas, few people understand what is at stake and what happens there every day. Here is the unfiltered answer. Formed in 1953 after the Korean War ended in a stalemate, the demilitarized zone is anything but. It is in fact one of the most heavily-armed regions in the world--a powder keg just waiting for someone to light the fuse. There have been more than 40,000 truce violations ranging from minor fisticuffs to brutal killings, from moving heavy artillery into the zone to assassination attempts in downtown Seoul since the Armistice Agreement was signed. The demilitarized zone is also the focus of an intense propaganda war—with thousands of flyers sent across the border each year from both sides. Few people realize that over the years North Korea has trained 100,000 men for guerrilla warfare across the border, and it is unknown how many have already secreted themselves in South Korea. It is the duty of the American and South Korean soldiers there to stop them. Gary Bloomfield presents here the first unvarnished accounts of the tension and the impact serving on the line can bring. Just one example: Though firefights are rare, US soldiers often hear North Korean soldiers and their laughter and the taunts, but they rarely see their tormentors. Life along the demilitarized zone is a war of nerves, a game of cat and mouse, though it’s hard to tell who’s chasing whom. Bloomfield covers it all in unsparing detail and offers fascinating previously little-known details. Life along the demilitarized zone is a war of nerves, a game of cat and mouse, though it’s hard to tell who’s chasing whom. Bloomfield covers it all in unsparing detail and offers fascinating details. Here is Guardpost Ouellette, which some American soldiers call the edge of the world; or Radar Site #4, overlooking the truce village of PanMunJom to the west, a hilltop where the tension is thick 24 hours a day; deadly minefields and miles of razor-sharp concertina wire and the desperate people who try of pass over them. Here also are the trigger-happy, shoot-to-kill sentries along the border on both sides; concrete bunkers with 24-hour guards armed with machine-guns, and spotlights, trip flares and other sensing devices concealed everywhere add to the heavily-fortified barrier against a North Korean attack. And of course the details of the Tree Incident in 1976, which nearly triggered World War III. The Devil's Playground is a living history with the spit of real life and a vivid look at brinksmanship in its most precarious state.
Publisher: Rowman & Littlefield
ISBN: 1493039032
Category : History
Languages : en
Pages : 229
Book Description
The Devil's Playground is a timely account of what it is like to serve along perhaps the most dangerous and sensitive strip of land in the world. In recent months two bullet-riddled attempted escapes from North to South brought worldwide headlines. And with Donald Trump and Kim Jong-un exchanging threats, the world hopes for a diplomatic solution, but watches with bated breath. Author Gary L. Bloomfield, a military journalist in what is called “the demilitarized” zone between North and South Korea in the 1970s, combines his personal experience with interviews and historical insights to present a fresh, up-to-date, account of what it is like to serve on perhaps the most contentious strip of land in the world today. The Devil’s Playground combines history with current events that today have the rest of the world watching, hoping there is no explosion, which could lead to a nuclear war. While world attention is focused on the Koreas, few people understand what is at stake and what happens there every day. Here is the unfiltered answer. Formed in 1953 after the Korean War ended in a stalemate, the demilitarized zone is anything but. It is in fact one of the most heavily-armed regions in the world--a powder keg just waiting for someone to light the fuse. There have been more than 40,000 truce violations ranging from minor fisticuffs to brutal killings, from moving heavy artillery into the zone to assassination attempts in downtown Seoul since the Armistice Agreement was signed. The demilitarized zone is also the focus of an intense propaganda war—with thousands of flyers sent across the border each year from both sides. Few people realize that over the years North Korea has trained 100,000 men for guerrilla warfare across the border, and it is unknown how many have already secreted themselves in South Korea. It is the duty of the American and South Korean soldiers there to stop them. Gary Bloomfield presents here the first unvarnished accounts of the tension and the impact serving on the line can bring. Just one example: Though firefights are rare, US soldiers often hear North Korean soldiers and their laughter and the taunts, but they rarely see their tormentors. Life along the demilitarized zone is a war of nerves, a game of cat and mouse, though it’s hard to tell who’s chasing whom. Bloomfield covers it all in unsparing detail and offers fascinating previously little-known details. Life along the demilitarized zone is a war of nerves, a game of cat and mouse, though it’s hard to tell who’s chasing whom. Bloomfield covers it all in unsparing detail and offers fascinating details. Here is Guardpost Ouellette, which some American soldiers call the edge of the world; or Radar Site #4, overlooking the truce village of PanMunJom to the west, a hilltop where the tension is thick 24 hours a day; deadly minefields and miles of razor-sharp concertina wire and the desperate people who try of pass over them. Here also are the trigger-happy, shoot-to-kill sentries along the border on both sides; concrete bunkers with 24-hour guards armed with machine-guns, and spotlights, trip flares and other sensing devices concealed everywhere add to the heavily-fortified barrier against a North Korean attack. And of course the details of the Tree Incident in 1976, which nearly triggered World War III. The Devil's Playground is a living history with the spit of real life and a vivid look at brinksmanship in its most precarious state.