I have been using, studying, and analyzing U.S. individual equipment since 1950. I have been publishing articles since the 1960s on the development and evolution of individual equipment, especially the load bearing equipment (LBE) (i.e. , packs, bags, and cases ) used to carry items used for living (surviving) in the field and remaining fit to fight until the objective is taken.
It is easy to determine what was done by studying the item, when by historical research and looking at the object's markings, who by the same, where by looking at images and reading memoirs, but it is very often difficult to determine why a certain thing was done just by looking at it. This book is extremely valuable for the researcher and developer; it explains just why certain things were done, what was tried, and what was best to do the job.
But of course, troops do not live only in jungles, they need training and special items for field living in every clime. This book covers only that for tropical living and fighting. Nonetheless, many of its principles are of world wide application. And in space as well.
There were two parallel threads of development of equipment for field living during WWII. The first is described by the author, the development of special equipment not only for "jungle living", but also for jungle fighting. This is a more difficult task, as the items developed are not for one time or occasional use in an emergency, but must also be of enduring and robust construction for long use in extremely difficult conditions.
The other thread had two strands, the first, was the world wide need for downed aviators to survive in extreme weather conditions world wide. The development of this kind of materiel ended up in the hands of the U.S. Army Air Forces and the Naval Aviation branch. Not only was training needed, the equipment, being intended only for living in the jungle or desert or arctic until rescue, did not need to be robust but it did need to be useful, and small enough in bulk to be worn as part of the individual's flying gear, or able to be quickly attached thereto. So robustness was sacrificed for compactness.
The other major development in the Pacific and Asian operational areas, was training intended for members of ground units, not necessarily cut off from their own side, who, might or might not be, equipped with special jungle fighting materiel, who, first, needed to be convinced that not every creature in the jungle wanted them for lunch, and, second, how to make themselves as comfortable as possible under given conditions for as long a time as possible, with or without enemy activity in the vicinity.
This latter required training in the safe use of commonly available cutting tools such as sheath knives and machetes, and the recognition of edible plants and wild life. This training in "jungle living" was given in many theaters. One of the leading lights was Dr. Kenneth Emory of the Bishop Museum in Hawaii. He had spent many years living and studying among the natives of the SW Pacific islands. His story is covered in the book entitled "Keneti".
Related to jungle living were courses in "Getting Along With the Locals". On many islands, the Japanese occupiers had brutalized the inhabitants to the point where they were happy to rescue downed aviators and to help the ground troops when possible.
The great value of this book is that it puts in a readily available place, the distilled knowledge of the useful equipment needed to live, work, and fight in the jungles of the world. Ever since 1949, the U.S. Army was set up, trained, and equipped for the "Big One"-- the invasion of Western Europe by the Red Hordes of the East. Jungle warfare was a sideshow, abandoned as a matter of consideration just after the defeat of Japan. In fact, even in Vietnam, we persisted in using heavily armed mechanized units against lightly equipped guerillas.
The most widely used individual piece of LBE in Vietnam, the Lightweight Rucksack, had not been designed for the jungle at all, but for use in the Arctic winter, and constantly clashed with the items carried on the individual's belt.
These are the lessons detailed in this book. When the time comes when we are again seriously interested in jungle equipment again, the powers that be can turn to this work. (They will certainly not seek out obscure articles written by myself and my fellow historians and well-buried reports writen by designers and analysts.) Those who served as platoon and company commanders in Vietnam were the generals who ran the Gulf War. They won the "Big One". Same kind of war, just a thousand miles to the south.
Colin Powell and his cohorts are now retired. The institutional memory of Vietnam and its jungle setting is now gone from our forces.

Jungle SNAFUs is the highly readable account of the hard-won development of numerous items of jungle warfare equipment. The author tells both his personal experiences of the testing and procurement difficulties as well as makes specific recommendations for the most useful and lifesaving items every soldier should have. Anyone interested in the military - both at its best and at its worst - and anyone interested in saving the lives of men and women who bear arms for our country should read this book. Fascinating, with many rare photographs. I highly recommend it!

Critical, combat proven life saving information needed for anyone's child in military service

This book is absolutely necessary for anyone with children in the military, especially Special Forces. Cresson includes detailed simple instructions on making/getting items that the military forgot to give or thrifted out of the budget. Proven methods for keeping the soldiers M-16 from jamming due to sand and snow. Proven methods for the prevention of drowning for combat laden soldiers (did you see the men drowing in Private Ryan?). Proven methods to mosquito proof clothing for months/years to prevent transmission of bug born diseases. If you have children in the military, get this book. Even though I am not in the military I learned and used many things from this book. Cressons life saving items have been used in all wars from WWII through Destert Storm and still today. The endorsements on the back cover do a better job than I ever could. I quote:

"....this book provides an amazing revelation of first hand stories and anecdotes that enable the reader to gain ideas and examples of how imaginative thinking by combat leaders can avoid disasters, save lives, and win battles. The book is a fun read and covers many areas unrelated to jungles. I strongly recommend that all leaders, especially those in infantry and Special Operations units, read this fascinating collection of combat wisdom." John K. Singlaub - Major General U.S. Army (Ret.)

"This book includes descriptions of much of the combat-proven equipment, ranging from lightweight breath-inflated boats and individual flotation devices to cool mosquito-protective uniforms, that again should be produced and issued to American soldiers. Teams from my Jungle Platoon needed such equipment when reconnoitering some 40 Japanese-held islands and destroying installations. Nor would all 11 Rangers of the team I commanded have been drowned off Omaha Beech had they had the breath-inflated bladders issued late in WWII to many thousands of our soldiers fighting Japanese invaders." Geroge C. Ferguson - Command Sergeant Major of CONARC (12 purple hearts awarded).

this book is: "Dedicated to American infantrymen, who in our future wars will continue to pay the greatest costs."

How to put it plainly, this book is an ABSOLUTELY MUST HAVE for anyone even remotely interested in empowering themselves in a Nuclear War. Though the book itself is a little out of date the facts it contains are emmensly important to know. It addresses myths & facts of Nuclear war, radiation, etc. You'd be surprised how well off you can actually be if you know what to do. SLEEP EASIER after reading this book & knowing what to do!

BUY IT! READ IT! READ IT AGAIN! The suggest it to everyone you know!

I have read more than a dozen books on surviving Nuclear War. This book is the absolute best. It is written by Cresson Kearney. He actually built and tested all of his equipment and shelter designs during nuclear tests. As a result , he arrived at the overall best designs and methods of constructing expedient shelters for an average American family using readily availabe tools and materials. Kearney explains the dangers of nuclear explosions and how to protect oneself from the effects. He also gives instructions for staying warm, how to provide adequate ventilation to your shelter. He also discusses water and food preparation ,nutritional needs , and even how to build an inexpensive fallout meter to measure radiation exposure. He also provides lists of other essential items for survival. You do not have to be wealthy to survive, just properly informed. This book provides the reader with everything he or she needs to know in order to survive a nuclear war. FEMA should provide a copy of this manual to every Citizen of the United States.

I've used this excellent guide to reorganize workplaces with clients and in my own firm., Its guidelines & checklists allow the readers to participate and architects & managers to apply organizational and psychological criteria with clients and working together.

As an ameteur western historian, and a great fan of Nebraska pioneer history, with an emphasis on Fort Kearny, I have found this book to incredible. I have written a historical fiction about the fort as a way to show my appreciation for the unfortunately neglected spot, and have found it to be most helpful with little details. Mr. Wilson's accounts are obviously well-researched, and he should be given credit for an extremely in-depth and informative story about a place in American history often neglected by many historians. Hopefully it will inspire others to get interested in Fort Kearny, one of the most important sites in all of Western America. Good job to Mr. Wilson on his wonderfully written history!

Citing from over 700 journals, diaries and letters, Merrill Mattes' "The Great Platte River Road" is a must read for history enthusiasts of the Oregon Trail. From the five main jumping off points along the Missouri River: Independence, Ft. Leavenworth, St. Joe, Nebraska City and Council Bluffs, we see how all emigrant roads lead to Ft. Kearny. From here the lengthy and laborious journey to the west followed the Platte River. Mattes incorporates the overlander's journals with his own effective style of writing to give vivid, down-to-earth, hard-nosed descriptions of past events in such places as Ft. Kearny, Ash Hollow, Court House Rock, Chimney Rock, Scottsbluff and culminating with Ft. Laramie. He not only communicates the difficulties endured by the emigrants themselves such as river crossings, cholera and survival, but also chronicles accounts of the Pony Express, military, Indians, stage lines, etc. and how they all played a part in Manifest Destiny. Not only was this book a pleasure to read, it was extremely insightful and deep-rooted of our Westward expansion.

For anyone who grew up in Kearny, or who lives nearby, this is a wonderful 'picture' book filled with history. I never knew the history of my hometown until I was given this book. Its a great gift for any Kearny resident. The pictures are priceless!

This collection of General Philip Kearny's correspondence to his wife and closest friend/attorney, written during the final campaign of his life, reveals many thoughts and feelings of the man--once called the "bravest among the brave"--who is best remembered as being a flamboyant, well-traveled, one-armed soldier and aristocrat. Through this account, readers who are already acquainted with the general will come to better understand his motivations and personal struggles with superiors during the campaign, and those who are not familiar with Kearny will easily learn why he was so respected and beloved by his men and those closest to him. Edited by William B. Styple, with a foreward by Brian C. Pohanka, this satisfying collection includes much background information about Philip Kearny; insightful anecdotes from the battlefield which display his wit, humor, and passion; as well as numerous photographs and engravings of the general, his fellow officers, family, and personal artifacts. Also packed into this book are generous accounts of Kearny's death in battle; a copy of his will; correspondence by his widow, and famous personalities such as Abraham Lincoln and Robert E. Lee; and many other splendid surprises. A must read for all who want to learn more about this hero with a great heart who died nobly for his country.

Wheel Boats On The Missouri: The Journals And Documents Of The Atkinson-O'fallon Expedition 1824-1826 is an archival reference showcasing a specialized slice of early American frontier history - as reflected by the original words of the wheel boat men who were directed by President James Monroe to negotiate peace treaties with Native American tribes along the Missouri River. The resulting use of 475 infantry soldiers, "gunboat diplomacy," and man-powered wheel boats across a 3,000 mile expedition is meticulously detailed among numerous primary references. Journals dealing with daily life, navigation difficulties, American Indian cultures and political negotiations provide an amazing glimpse into army life in an America of almost two centuries past. Wheel Boats On The Missouri is an impressive work of scholarship and a strongly recommended addition to academic and community library American history reading lists and reference collections.

This book explores the world of gypsies, scamps and thieves and the offbeat group of Private Investigators who pursue them.

Always planning the next con, theft or bunko, a band of gypsies in San Francisco pull off a perfect crime. Using four branches of the same bank, slick tactics and phone banks, a group of gypsies manages to steal 32 cadillacs, all in the same day.
Facing a million dollar loss, the bank hires DKA, a local PI firm, to recover the stolen cars. Tipped off that a gang of gypsies was responsible, the DKA operatives, or repomen, start a chase that follows the cars across the US. Using very unconventional methods this quirky band of PIs, who are rejects and misfits, must use their wiles to "outcon the cons."

What makes this story really outstanding is the background tale of the gypsy life, description of how the cons are done and the plotting of the PIs to get the cars back. There is lots of action too including breakneck chases and escapes, including one where a DKA agent must leap into a car while his rear is filled with buckshot.

My favorite character is Ken Warren, a repoman with such a severe speech impediment that he barely communicates. But with extraordinary skills in hunting down and absconding with cars that no one else can get, he earns the respect of his fellow DKA agents.

A fun ride which I highly recommend.

Why Joe Gores isn't a better known author is a complete mystery to me. Ok, Ok, he's won 3 Edgar Awards and all, but still you don't hear his name mentioned too often when asking for recommendations. His DKA Files series are full of action, humour, cons and scams and in short are pure entertainment. Well, no matter, I've discovered him now and I'm here to tell you that the series, and 32 Cadillacs in particular, is one that's not to be missed.

For the first time, the DKA Agency is pitted in a head-to-head battle with San Francisco's Gypsy community following a Gypsy scam that had netted a grand total of 31 Cadillacs. This is a once-in-a-lifetime job, recover the 31 Caddys for a nicely negotiated fat fee. But the Gypsies are crafty specialists of the long con and are exceedingly difficult to track down, so the recovery process will require the DKA team to use every resource available as well as every underhanded trick in the book.

To give you a head start, I'll introduce you to the central DKA characters. They are, Dan Kearny, Giselle Marc, Patrick O'Bannon, Larry Ballard and Bart Heslip. And two new characters are added to the staff, Trin Morales, a sleazy Latino who failed on his own as a PI, and Ken Warren, the genius carhawk with a killer speech impediment. Both bring tremendous dimension and entertainment to the DKA team.

But the real stars of the book are the Gypsies, colourful in character as well as in their various ingenious scams. Although they're such big thieves that they'd make a kleptomaniac look like a saint, you can't help but like them and hope that every now and then they'll catch a break.

Joe Gores is an author who has walked the walk, having been an agent in the real life DKA Agency. His first-hand knowledge and experience is apparent as his agents work through their cases. Rumour has it that the Larry Ballard could very well be modelled on Gores himself.

As a final word, if there are any Donald Westlake fans out there who have read and enjoyed his Dortmunder book Drowned Hopes, I would urge you to read this one too with a brilliant crossover of storylines. This book was an absolute pleasure to read and, I know it's a much-overused catch phrase but I would term it a "must read book".

This book is full of heroes on all sides as DKA agents and gypsies strive to outwit each other throughout a very funny story. 32 CADILLACS is the best entry in the entertaining DKA series.

There are a number of do-it-yourself guides to civil defense available, but most seem to be aimed at hard-core survivalists who have crack outdoor skills, and lots of specialized equipment. This book is very different and is written for the average citizen by a former U.S. Army officer, field geologist and civil engineer who built and field-tested the "expedient" shelters described within while still employed at the U.S. Department of Energy's Oak Ridge National Laboratory.

These shelters can be put togeather within a few hours by ordinary, untrained men and women. (It is a good idea to take a weekend and practice building them.) They provide good protection during the weeks it may take for fallout to decay to negligible levels of radioactivity. (Expedient blast shelters, which also protect against the shockwave from a nearby explosion, are also discussed.)

The author is clear and thorough throughout, supplying checklists for supplies, equipment and materials; detailed building instructions and descriptions of the genuine (as opposed to fanciful) effects of nuclear weapons. There is also a valuable discussion of the purchase and use of potassium iodide compounds for protection of the thyroid gland from absorption of radioiodine. Finally, detailed plans and instructions are provided for the construction and use of a homemade fallout meter(!) to indicate radiation levels. (It is a lot more accurate than many of the over-priced, defective-or-uncalibrated war-surplus "Geiger counters" on the market!)

The 2001 edition contains a new chapter on the hazards of trans-Pacific fallout, which could drift eastward to the U.S. mainland from a nuclear conflict in Asia. (Such as India vs. Pakistan, or a North Korean nuclear attack on the South or Japan.) There is also a new appendix detailing the persuasive medical and scientific evidence that low levels of ionizing radiation below a certain threshold do no harm to humans or other forms of life, or their descendants. In fact, it may make them healthier. (Far from being crackpot, this concept is known in Biology as "hormeisis" and is dicussed in a recent article in DISCOVER magazine; see "Is Radiation Good for You?", DISCOVER Vol. 23 No. 12, December 2002.) This should help to dispel the superstition that radiation is some sort of magic poison, and that any amount is deadly.

Anyone not living in a fool's paradise realizes that the chance of a nuclear detonation in an American city is probably higher now than it ever was when the United States and Soviet Union were locked in mutual standoff. Nuclear deterrance may have worked even on hardened Soviet or Chinese apparatchiks; but to to depend on it alone now against psychopaths and apocalyptic fanatics is to invite hideous disaster.

The READER FROM CHINA (review below) is the perfect example why all peoples of the free world must read NUCLEAR WAR SURVIVAL SKILLS! There is a very good reason why communist China doesn't want you to own this book. It is the very same reason why they oppose a missile defense for the U.S.!

This book gives a low-cost/no-cost solution to survive a nuclear attack ... and it IS survivable, and worth Surviving! You are better off having a copy on your bookshelf and not need it, than to need it and not have it.

Are you bothered when you read that the Russians are building a giant underground city in the Ural Mountains? Have you ever heard of Mount Weather?

The people who want the American people to cower in vulnerability to nuclear attack do not want anyone to read this book. Kearny addresses the things courageous individuals and families can do ON THEIR OWN, using the McGyver approach, to improve their chances of survival.

Drop the giant-cockroach nonsense and learn the effects of blast, radiation, and fallout. Learn to build your own fallout shelter in a day using shovels, axes, and saws. Learn to make a fallout radiation meter from a coffee can, a chunk of drywall, and a piece of aluminum foil. Make a shelter ventilation fan in hours from wood laths, plastic sheeting, cord, hinges, and staples. Make a mortar-and-pestle-style grain mill from a section of steel pipe and a coffee can.

The designs and procedures were developed and field tested on real-live Americans over many years at Oak Ridge National Laboratory.

Even if you have a merely-idle interest in technical subjects, you will enjoy this book, and it might even save your life. This is a great book that changes the way people see nuclear war and strategic military policy.