Book Review : Man Against Fire

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BOOK REVIEW

1. Name of the book : MEN AGAINST FIRE

2. Author : SLA MARSHALL

3. Published by : NATRAJ PUBLISHERS

4. First Edition : year 1997

5. No. of pages : 211

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PART II:REVIEW

6. Introduction to the Theme of the Book. This book deals with a soldiers behavior while in combat, the emphasis of machine over men and the future warfare considering the implications on the ground soldier especially infantry. It aims at improving the basic infantryman's combat effectiveness, not only through more training but understanding the human behavior when under fire and emphasizing the need of human touch.

7. Subject. The subject of the book " Men against fire" is indeed one of the most touching and thrilling topics as it gives an insight into the feeling of a soldier during battle, the problem of combat isolation and most importantly the importance of men over machine as during world war II, prophets proclaimed the importance of machine to the supreme extent that no reserves were even catered for during various battles and the relative imp of trained manpower in the modern warfare (as various examples have cited in the book).

8. Relevance with Pro Studies. The book assumes a special significance in the light of professional studies as it is based on the various interviews conducted by SLA Marshall, immediately after WW II, when the memories were still fresh in the minds of the soldiers and he very successfully brought out the instances where the soldiers felt the importance of man to man control and also control over human emotions. The main highlights of the book in the wake of pro studies are as enlisted below.

(a) It brings out the fallacy in the tactics and gives out the imp of harmony between the tactics and human nature. It states that the training infantrymen receive is unrealistic in nature and he recommends that training concentrate more on the "truer traits" of battle; such as the ever present chaos, fear, and isolation present in the battlefield. The book also clearly distinguishes between a trained soldier (to do as and when ordered) and a thinking soldier (during emergency thinks and act correctly, although no general order is given).

(b) It lays emphasis