Military Entertainment: Reading

War and the military have been favorite themes for books other forms of entertainment since the ancient Greeks. This page lists some unusual reading material related to the military. Be sure to check the books, movies, videos, and art listed in their own sections of Olive-Drab.com.

Reading war news aboard a streetcar, San Francisco, CA, December 1941
Reading war news aboard a streetcar, San Francisco, CA, December 1941.

Today in WW II: 30 Jun 1940 German forces land in Guernsey, the start of their five year Occupation of the Channel Islands.  More ↓
30 Jun 1943 Invasion of New Georgia, Central Solomons, with Munda as its objective.
Visit the Olive-Drab.com World War II Timeline for day-by-day events 1939-1945! See also WW2 Books.

Military Entertainment Reading Material

Aerospatiale HH-65A Dolphin Helicopter from U.S. Coast Guard Air Station Los Angeles flys past the famous Hollywood sign
Aerospatiale HH-65A Dolphin Helicopter from U.S. Coast Guard Air Station Los Angeles flys past the famous Hollywood sign.

Mail Call book cover

The excellent Mail Call book was inspired by Mail Call the award winiing show on The History Channel hosted by R. Lee Ermey, The show is full of military history and interesting facts. The book has all that plus many more small details of military equipment and a soldier's life, illuminated by Ermey's grit, wit and experience. Ermey is the real Marine Sarge who played a Marine D.I. in the movie Full Metal Jacket . The book has tons of photos to go along with the descriptions and lively discussion of the many topics.

Jack Hunter: G.I. Spy #1. This illustrated novel series is set in World War II with Albert Einstein as one of the main characters. The action is carried by All-American Boy Jack Hunter, combination of James Bond and Indiana Jones, and the ravishing Kaitlin Shepherd from British MI-6. Add in secret agents, Nazi UFOs, killer robots, and genetically enhanced super soldiers. How can you go wrong? Written by Andrew Cosby and illustrated by Matthew Haley.

War Movies and War Propaganda: A Bibliography of Materials in the UC Berkeley Library has a long list of materials on the subject including some reviews of the content on individual items.

Book review of Hollywood War Films: An Exhaustive Filmography of American Feature-Length Motion Pictures Relating to World War II.

War and Anti-War Films from the dawn of the film industry, through World War II and forward to the 21st century are discussed in this extensive essay.