Any books about non combat soldiers?

[Major Tom]

Having read and enjoyed hundreds of books about our brave men in combat, I was wondering if there are any books out there about the guys in the rear areas? IE: cooks, drivers, HQ personel, armament repair, etc.

[gwp]

For this site I would start with Roy F Dunlap's Ordnance Went Up Front.

http://www.amazon.com/Ordnance-Went-.../dp/B000WYC92Q

[dave]

Here in a MI town there is a dispute going on having to do with a law involving veteran rights, the city consul is maintaining that if vet was not in combat he is not a veteran!
Does not involve me but I was sent into a 'combat zone for 5 months but was never 'in combat', so I must be in limbo!

[gwp]

Here in a MI town there is a dispute going on having to do with a law involving veteran rights, the city consul is maintaining that if vet was not in combat he is not a veteran!
Does not involve me but I was sent into a 'combat zone for 5 months but was never 'in combat', so I must be in limbo!

From: https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/38/101

38 U.S. Code § 101 - Definitions

(2)The term “veteran” means a person who served in the active military, naval, or air service, and who was discharged or released therefrom under conditions other than dishonorable.

[PhillipM]

Red Ball Express.

https://books.google.com/books?id=3j...s_similarbooks

[gpw_42]

Couple suggestions:

1) WW2 Ordnance; tank recovery and repair: http://www.amazon.com/Death-Traps-Su.../dp/0891418148
2) OIF women in the Army, from a female military intelligence sergeant's perspective: http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0393060985
3) Life in the US Army, 1898-1941, not focused on any particular branch/MOS: http://www.amazon.com/The-Regulars-A.../dp/0674024028

Surely there is more out there...
Steve

[M2Phil]

There is a fellow that posts on the CMP forums, Mr. Robert C. Lovell, who served as a radio operator in an armored artillery unit in the ETO toward the end of the war. He wrote a sizable memoir titled "Unlikely Warrior: A Small Town Boy's View of WWII" and it goes into great detail regarding his experiences as a kid before going into the army, his training period and of course, going to war. Very readable and quite enjoyable. According to the latest info, the book will be back in print shortly. Highly recommended, along with "Ordnance Went Up Front", and "The Regulars" mentioned above. The other suggestions are just as good, no doubt, I just haven't read them. Yet.

[gwp]

Couple suggestions:
3) Life in the US Army, 1898-1941, not focused on any particular branch/MOS: http://www.amazon.com/The-Regulars-A.../dp/0674024028

Surely there is more out there...
Steve

I purchased this as a used library book from Amazon for $4.56 shipped. It looks like a good read.

[civil defense]

Here is a book about the creation and training at Camp Hood. The Army Service Forces are featured. 180 photos.
http://www.amazon.com/Fort-Hood-Worl...1Y950BM627PF78
Above is the amazon link.

[retread12345]

Try. the Ghost Soldiers. Give a fine account of a clandestine US Army unit in the ETO who were assigned to delude and dupe enemy units with sound effects. Very good reading. As an aside the designer Bill Blass was a member and used inflatable vehicles to foil air observation