Long time Scruby customers may remember the Literary Muster column authored by Newell Chamberlin in Table Top Talk and Miniature Parade; while I’ve written the occasional book review, we have not had a regular literature review feature here on TTT. In re-reading several of the old TTT issues I find myself drawn to Mr. Chamberlin’s mini reviews. They have proven to be a good source for finding those older, hidden gems. Books I might never have read or known about if not for the Literary Muster. If I find benefit in these old reviews, perhaps many of you will find them of interest as well. Our thought is to post not only the original review, but to add an updated look at the titles. Lets see how they have weathered the march of time, and lets discover how best to go about finding these books, some out of print, some with new publishers. Our Literary Muster feature will be somewhat irregular, but it is something we will continue to work on and will publish the reviews as they are completed. If you would like to help with this project (read a book and write a mini-review for TTT) let us know and we will share our living review document, you can pick a title and run with it. Our format will be: The ‘new’ review, followed by the original.
And now without further delay, the premier of our new Literary Muster feature:
Born at Reveille
Is the autobiography of Colonel Red Reeder, who was, in fact, born at reveille, just as the saluting gun boomed at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, March 4, 1902. His memories come alive and include many colourful characters from his youth (as an army brat, growing up on various military bases) and of the peacetime army. Of his preference for sports over textbooks as well as his struggles at West Point, his military/wartime service and his later career as Assistant Director of Athletics at West Point.
The best quote, I’ve seen, relating to this book comes from Omar N Bradley:
“… a fascinating story of the life of one of our outstanding leaders. Colonel Red Reeder’s frank and unfailing good-humored autobiography tells what it was like to grow up on Army posts from Hawaii to Maine. Born at Reveille above all shows how a man learns to lead and what forces shape the talent for command. I recommend his book to the attention of Americans young and old.”
A very readable style, with plenty of humor. I look forward to reading more of Colonel Red Reeder’s books. Most titles are now available for the Kindle and are priced at a very reasonable $2.99 each.
Born at Reveille – By Colonel Red Reeder
Kindle Edition, July 2011, $2.99
The original review from: TTT May 1966, by Newell Chamberlin
Colonel Red Reeder who has written many interesting books on early American military history, chiefly concerning Indian campaigns of the post Civil War era, has written his autobiography, Born at Reveille (NY, Duall, Sloan and Pearce, $5.95) which is an interesting and affectionate account by an ‘army brat’ of his early life, life at West Point and in the regular army between the wars, and his service in the Pacific and European theaters during WWII. Reeder commanded the 12th US Infantry in France until he lost a leg. He is now Assistant Director of Athletics at West Point. The book is written with style and humor and contains a great deal of information on the often neglected side of Regular Army life.