What do you think?
Rate this book
Rough War: The Combat Story of Lt. Paul J. Eastman, a Burma Banshee P-40 and P-47 Pilot
Battle fatigue...shell shock...PTSD... Terminology changes. The pain remains.
Paul Eastman, a small-town Wisconsin boy turned P-40 fighter pilot, lands in the jungles of Assam and Burma in 1943. Lt. Eastman's compelling story, gleaned from his diary and letters home and illustrated with his personal photos, provides unique insights into the realities of combat life and death, punctuated by love and concern for the wife he left behind. Author Walt Shiel skillfully interleaves an informative history of the broader war into Eastman's personal accounts.
Eastman evolves from an innocent abroad to a fatalistic combat veteran -- through missions that careen from mundane to adrenalin-fueled in a single heartbeat and through the humor, revelry, camaraderie, fatigue, and death that surround daily life. And through the "soul-numbing terror" of being shot down behind enemy lines. Like warriors before and after him, Eastman's war does not end after his 20 months of combat. After a decade of struggling to adapt, he finally takes his own life in a poignant episode that could be lifted from today's headlines.
Paul Eastman's war is, indeed, a Rough War .
Read Eastman's story, then give thanks to the veterans, past and present, who fight and die to preserve our freedoms.
Rough War : Finalist, 2012 USA Best Book Awards and 2012 Next Generation Indie Book Awards!
++++++++++++
"In the annals of WWII aerial warfare Rough War is a jewel that has been missing for far too long."
--Jim Hooper, Author of A Hundred Feet over Hell
" Rough War is an important story that makes an equally important connection to the effects of war on the members of the US military today. A rare achievement that offers a rewarding, creative approach to history that should be a model for more writers."
--Ed Rasimus, Author of Palace Cobra and When Thunder Rolled
"A story of the war generation, of the forgotten theater, and of the terrible things just being in a war does to people."
--Eric Hammel, Author of The Road to Big Week
" Rough War presents a unique history of the making of a combat fighter pilot...While aviation technology changed for America's next war in SE Asia, the threats of the jungle, monsoon, and a determined enemy created similar issues during my own fighter-pilot experiences in Vietnam."
--William H. Lawson, Brig. Gen, US Air Force, Retired
" Rough War presents a highly personal view of air combat and daily life in the WW II jungles of Burma. Walt Shiel skillfully blends a history of that war with young fighter pilot Paul Eastman's personal diary, letters, and photographs. An engaging history of a small part of a global war."
--Robert F. Dorr, Author of Mission to Berlin
Paul Eastman, a small-town Wisconsin boy turned P-40 fighter pilot, lands in the jungles of Assam and Burma in 1943. Lt. Eastman's compelling story, gleaned from his diary and letters home and illustrated with his personal photos, provides unique insights into the realities of combat life and death, punctuated by love and concern for the wife he left behind. Author Walt Shiel skillfully interleaves an informative history of the broader war into Eastman's personal accounts.
Eastman evolves from an innocent abroad to a fatalistic combat veteran -- through missions that careen from mundane to adrenalin-fueled in a single heartbeat and through the humor, revelry, camaraderie, fatigue, and death that surround daily life. And through the "soul-numbing terror" of being shot down behind enemy lines. Like warriors before and after him, Eastman's war does not end after his 20 months of combat. After a decade of struggling to adapt, he finally takes his own life in a poignant episode that could be lifted from today's headlines.
Paul Eastman's war is, indeed, a Rough War .
Read Eastman's story, then give thanks to the veterans, past and present, who fight and die to preserve our freedoms.
Rough War : Finalist, 2012 USA Best Book Awards and 2012 Next Generation Indie Book Awards!
++++++++++++
"In the annals of WWII aerial warfare Rough War is a jewel that has been missing for far too long."
--Jim Hooper, Author of A Hundred Feet over Hell
" Rough War is an important story that makes an equally important connection to the effects of war on the members of the US military today. A rare achievement that offers a rewarding, creative approach to history that should be a model for more writers."
--Ed Rasimus, Author of Palace Cobra and When Thunder Rolled
"A story of the war generation, of the forgotten theater, and of the terrible things just being in a war does to people."
--Eric Hammel, Author of The Road to Big Week
" Rough War presents a unique history of the making of a combat fighter pilot...While aviation technology changed for America's next war in SE Asia, the threats of the jungle, monsoon, and a determined enemy created similar issues during my own fighter-pilot experiences in Vietnam."
--William H. Lawson, Brig. Gen, US Air Force, Retired
" Rough War presents a highly personal view of air combat and daily life in the WW II jungles of Burma. Walt Shiel skillfully blends a history of that war with young fighter pilot Paul Eastman's personal diary, letters, and photographs. An engaging history of a small part of a global war."
--Robert F. Dorr, Author of Mission to Berlin
266 pages, Paperback
First published May 31, 2011
1 person is currently reading
79 people want to read
About the author
Walt Shiel
12 books22 followersAlthough born in Michigan, I was raised across the US and around the world as an Air Force “brat.” I started school on the Pacific Island of Guam during the Korean War and finished high school in France during the Vietnam War. Shortly after graduation, Charles DeGaulle kicked all American forces out of the country, but hey, it wasn't my fault. Not completely, anyway.
In 1969, I talked Michigan State University our of a BSEE degree, the Air Force out of a commission and pilot wings, and Kerrie out of running away when I asked her to to marry me. I went on to log some 4,000 flying hours.
As a civilian, I have worked on the B-2 bomber program at Northrop and the F-16, F-35, and F-22 fighter programs at Lockheed Martin.
Since 1990, I've written articles for magazines in the US, England, and Australia, two monthly columns for aviation magazines, military aviation history books, historical novels, and several collections of short stories.
Kerrie and I now have two daughters and two grandchildren and live on a 40-acre farm in Michigan's Upper Peninsula populated with horses, cats, dogs, and an abundance of wildlife.
In 1969, I talked Michigan State University our of a BSEE degree, the Air Force out of a commission and pilot wings, and Kerrie out of running away when I asked her to to marry me. I went on to log some 4,000 flying hours.
As a civilian, I have worked on the B-2 bomber program at Northrop and the F-16, F-35, and F-22 fighter programs at Lockheed Martin.
Since 1990, I've written articles for magazines in the US, England, and Australia, two monthly columns for aviation magazines, military aviation history books, historical novels, and several collections of short stories.
Kerrie and I now have two daughters and two grandchildren and live on a 40-acre farm in Michigan's Upper Peninsula populated with horses, cats, dogs, and an abundance of wildlife.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
March 27, 2019
THE FALLS is a pleasant fantasy short story which has many entertaining twists and turns, and a nicely subtle sense of humor. I liked the fact that the romance aspect was presented in a muted form, leaving it up to the imagination as to whether the main characters ever link. All in all a highly readable, fun story.
June 25, 2011
ROUGH WAR is the story of Lt. Paul Eastman, a "Burma Banshee" fighter pilot during WWII. Shiel tells Eastman's story by combining excerpts from his wartime diaries with letters Paul wrote home to his wife Joyce and copies of his military records. Context for Eastman's wartime life is provided by short sections on what was going on in the larger war and the China-India-Burma theatre.
I found the book interesting, in part because Lt. Eastman's WWII experience was in many ways similar to my father's, another mid-western young man who found himself fighting in the air war of the CBI theatre, though my dad was a "Flying Tiger" not a "Burma Banshee". Many of the place names are familiar to me from my dad's stories. The many personal photos in this book are a great bonus, that give a face to the person that was Paul Eastman.
I would recommend this book to anyone wanting to learn more about the air war in the CBI theatre of WWII. It is a well done account of one man's experience, a unique story, yet one with which we can all identify because of the strong, truthful inner voice of Paul Eastman as revealed in his letters and diaries.
Thanks Goodreads for another First Reads win!
I found the book interesting, in part because Lt. Eastman's WWII experience was in many ways similar to my father's, another mid-western young man who found himself fighting in the air war of the CBI theatre, though my dad was a "Flying Tiger" not a "Burma Banshee". Many of the place names are familiar to me from my dad's stories. The many personal photos in this book are a great bonus, that give a face to the person that was Paul Eastman.
I would recommend this book to anyone wanting to learn more about the air war in the CBI theatre of WWII. It is a well done account of one man's experience, a unique story, yet one with which we can all identify because of the strong, truthful inner voice of Paul Eastman as revealed in his letters and diaries.
Thanks Goodreads for another First Reads win!
October 3, 2011
I really enjoyed this book. I found it to be a very good read. This is a true story of what happened to Paul Eastman during World War II and then tells what happened to him after the war as well.
This book was very well written and told a very good story. Paul Eastman was married right before he left for the war. He wrote letters to his wife as well as writing his diary. This is how the book was written. It used his own diaries and letters to tell about his war while also telling what was happening generally in the war in Europe and what was happening in the rest of the China-Burma-India sector of the war. This made for an interesting story because you can see how the whole war progressed as well as how Paul’s war was going.
I really enjoyed this book because I am very interested in World War II. I also love to read true stories about other people who have lived through things that I would never be able to live through. I won this book in a goodreads giveaway and thoroughly enjoyed it. I would recommend this book to anyone who loves war stories. It is very well written.
This book was very well written and told a very good story. Paul Eastman was married right before he left for the war. He wrote letters to his wife as well as writing his diary. This is how the book was written. It used his own diaries and letters to tell about his war while also telling what was happening generally in the war in Europe and what was happening in the rest of the China-Burma-India sector of the war. This made for an interesting story because you can see how the whole war progressed as well as how Paul’s war was going.
I really enjoyed this book because I am very interested in World War II. I also love to read true stories about other people who have lived through things that I would never be able to live through. I won this book in a goodreads giveaway and thoroughly enjoyed it. I would recommend this book to anyone who loves war stories. It is very well written.
July 17, 2011
I am writing this review for my 85 yr old Father who read this book. He is a retired Marine and WW2 vet who served in the Pacific during WW2 and was wounded in the battle of Okinowa. He also visited Burma in the 1980s. He LOVED this book. Can not count how any times he said "this is a really great book. I have enjoyed it so much." and it deserved more the a 5 star rating. He stated that Mr. Shiel's writing of the war and of Paul Eastman's life was very touching and accurate. He states he knew many young men in WW2 who felt like Lt. Eastman did. He now has passed this book onto another friend of his also a WW2 vet. This book is highly recommended for anyone interested in the affects of war or the history of WW2. Esp if you knew someone who served in the war.
October 19, 2011
i been tryin to write a review for this book for awhile (it is one my favorites)... This book draws you in the moment you start to read it, and is a real easy read with wonderful photos to add. I even liked the journal and diary entries!
November 11, 2015
The Falls is a Paranormal/ Fantasy / Romance story.
Lindsey accidently stumbles upon a Dead Body. When she sees a Gorgeous Naked Man running away she naturally follows him through a Waterfall straight into another World. Can this Day get any weirder.Nevan the Man she followed is Super Natural and he stirs passions in her that she never knew she had. But what ishe? As Lindsey searches for answers she soon realizes that the Paranormal is real! Faeries,and Elves do exist, and the Healing Vortex located behind the Rock shop where she works is also real Lindsey and Nevan soon discover the truth about the Vortex from a Grumpy Teenage Leprechaun who is at the center of the mystery! Should Lindsey rish her Heart for Nevan who lives in a magical Realm ? Or should she let him go forever?
Lindsey accidently stumbles upon a Dead Body. When she sees a Gorgeous Naked Man running away she naturally follows him through a Waterfall straight into another World. Can this Day get any weirder.Nevan the Man she followed is Super Natural and he stirs passions in her that she never knew she had. But what ishe? As Lindsey searches for answers she soon realizes that the Paranormal is real! Faeries,and Elves do exist, and the Healing Vortex located behind the Rock shop where she works is also real Lindsey and Nevan soon discover the truth about the Vortex from a Grumpy Teenage Leprechaun who is at the center of the mystery! Should Lindsey rish her Heart for Nevan who lives in a magical Realm ? Or should she let him go forever?
May 29, 2017
This would be a great book if it was longer. The book was so short with a lot going on you don't really get any romance. I liked this book I just wish there were more of it. I would suggest it to anyone looking for a quick listen.
July 20, 2017
If you are looking for a short entertaining read, The Falls is for you. The tale has a lot going on as Lindsey stumbles on a dead body, chases a naked man straight through a waterfall into a parallel world where magic reigns! If you want more of this parallel world, you check out The Mortal Falls.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews