Since people are mentioning the invasion of Sicily, if anyone is interested in a unique perspective of the planning leading up to the invasion I would highly reccomend the book Operation: Mincemeat. It was a British covert exercise to try and convince the axis powers that we were going to bypass Sicily even though it was onvious we weren't.
Sorry Ive been away for awhile. It has been hectic.
One-against-one, they are as good as anyone in the world. But when they fight together, they are the best of all. For though they are free men, they are not entirely free. They accept the Law as their master. And they respect this master more than your subjects respect you. Whatever the Law commands, they do. And this command never changes: It forbids them to flee in battle, whatever the number of their foes. He requires them to stand firm – to conquer or die."
"Go tell the Spartans, thou who passest by,
That here, obedient to their laws, we lie"
memorial at the hot springs of thermopolea
GO SPARTA
No need to apologize. We all have lives outside this forum and the Internet. Or at least I hope so. 
I actually got away this weekend and went downstate to the area where we used to live. Got to visit with friends and spend the night and get away. Oh it was so nice... Always too short though.
Thanks for the recommendation. I will add that one to my ever-extending book wish list.
Nice to have ya back. 
Marion J Chard
Proud Daughter of Walter 'Monday' Poniedzialek
540th Combat Engineer - H&S Company
