On March 5, 1953, Soviet Union leader Joseph Vissarionovich Stalin (1878-1953) died at the age of seventy-four after suffering a massive stroke several days earlier. On March 1, he was found incapacitated on the floor of his dacha, unable to speak or move. The man who had sent thousands of people to their deaths, came face to face with father time but could not escape his fate. Upon hearing that Stalin had died, Soviet citizens felt relieved even if they could not publicly express their feelings. For thirty years Stalin served as the General Secretary of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union, and during that time, held the Soviet Union firmly in his grip. But as he advanced in age, his own mortality became a reality as a series of health events took place before the final emergency that left him at death’s door. But what really happened during the days Stalin clung to life? And what was the fallout from his death behind the scenes? Joshua Rubenstein re-examines the final days of the Soviet leader to assess what really did happen behind the Iron Curtain. And the result is a thorough and pleasing discussion of Stalin’s terror, his demise and the dysfunction left in his wake.

Physically, Stalin was not an imposing figure, standing between 5’5″ and 5’6″ in height. And cosmetically, he was not easy on the eyes. Yet he controlled the Soviet Union and struck fear in the hearts of those around him and those who stood in front of him.  Rubenstein goes deeper into Stalin’s menacing presence by revisiting the words of former First Secretary of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union Nikita Khrushchev (1894-1971) who worked directly under Stalin:

“As Khrushchev once admitted, after a meeting with Stalin no one ever knew if he would return home alive. To the public, they were his “comrades-in-arms.” In reality, they were potential victims as long as he remained in charge.” 

Make no mistake, Stalin struck fear in the hearts of everyone, regardless of position or even family relation. But to understand how his death changed history, the author revisits the dark side of the late leader, paying close attention to the rise in anti-Semitism within the Soviet Union that gave way to persecution and ugly acts of violence against Russian Jews. As I read the book, I had to conclude that Stalin and his henchmen were just as bad if not worse that the perpetrators of the Third Reich in Nazi Germany. The author does clear up an important question regarding any plans by Stalin to deport Soviet Jews.  If he did have any plans in mind, they went with him to the grave. There was no joy to be found within the Soviet Union, only suspicion and fear. Ironically that system of fear prevented him from being helped at the time he needed it the most with everyone afraid to enter his private room. But by the time someone did, it was too late.

After Stalin is pronounced dead, the Soviet Union found itself in a weird place. His death inevitably created a power vacuum, but the first step was to put forth a united front to the prying eyes of western nations. But the reality was that the removal of Stalin presented opportunities for subordinates to rise in the ranks. And that struggle is included in the story as well. As the story progresses, another villain emerges in the form of Lavrentiy Pavlovich Beria (1899-1953) the director of the Soviet secret police and the man who carried out Stalin’s darkest orders. Following Stalin’s death, officials saw an opportunity for the party to reform its image by reinstating personal freedoms and commuting prison sentences. The latter of the two had adverse effects that officials somehow failed to anticipate and correct. But they were willing to accept the minor losses to accomplish the main goal. Beria had the unfortunate luck of being unpopular and a relic of what had become the “Stalin era”. He meets his fate in the book and some would say rightfully so. But Rubenstein has another take on it which sums up the Soviet Union in the wake of the leader’s death:

“The party had carried out a political exorcism, offering up Beria as a sacrificial lamb to atone for the sins it refused to acknowledge.”

In Washington, there is confusion about how Stalin’s death will affect American and Soviet relations. But no one knew how to manage the situation. President Dwight D. Eisenhower (1890-1969) enters the story and his administration aided by former Secretary of State John Foster Dulles (1888-1959) is forced to confront the Soviet issue and the increasingly powerful People’s Republic of China and the Korean War. The White House eventually settled on a course of action, but the main action was taking place within the Soviet Union as Stalin’s former underlings were confronted with the reality that the party had to continue with new leadership. There were winners and losers and the Soviet Union kept moving forward until its dissolution in December 1991. When the hammer and sickle came down for the last time, it signaled the end of an era. But the ghost of Joseph Stalin will remain with us as a reminder of the dangers of tyranny and paranoia. The final curtain call in the life of Joseph Stalin was a sad affair but the comeuppance from years of deadly policy and brutality that knew no bounds. This is a fascinating and valuable look at his final days and the impact his death had across the world.

SIN: B01F5NGDIO

In the afternoon of August 16, 1977, legendary recording artist Elvis Aaron Presley (1935-1977) was found unconscious at his Graceland mansion in Memphis, Tennessee and later pronounced dead at a local hospital. Forty-five years have passed since his death, but his fans remain lol keeping the singer’s memory alive, and rightfully so. Presley changed history and gave credence to the genre known as Rock n’ Roll. His death at the age of forty-two is tragic and was featured in an episode of the Reelz television show ‘Autopsy‘ (S3.E2). Coverage of his death is extensive but the story of his origins in Tupelo, Mississippi and Memphis, Tennessee are stories to be known if we are to understand how Presley rose from obscurity to become the music legend. Author Peter Guralnick is an admitted Elvis fan and in this phenomenal look at Elvis’ rise to fame, he captures the essence of the Presley family story equally as significant as the triumphs that came later through the only son of Vernon (1916-1979) and Gladys Presley (1912-1958).

This book is the first part of a two-volume biography of the late singer and ends well before his final days in 1977. Here, the author focuses on Elvis’ early life and what he writes speaks volumes about the American dream, the South and how much society has changed since Elvis caught his big break. The story begins in Tupelo, Mississippi, a place I was unfamiliar with prior to reading this book. Presley and his parents reside there briefly in the book before making the move to Memphis for better pastures. In Tupelo, there are trials and tribulations including the story of Elvis’ twin brother Jesse who died in infancy. Further, the family’s financial situation touches on the difficulties faced by Americans in the wake of the Great Depression. Families were left with tough decisions heavily based on the best opportunity for financial success and security. Recalling the words of Vernon, the author explains that:

“There were times we had nothing to eat but corn bread and water,” recalled Vernon not long before he died, “but we always had compassion for people. Poor we were, I’ll never deny that. But trash we weren’t…. We never had any prejudice. We never put anybody down. Neither did Elvis.”

For the Presleys, Memphis was the next destination and this city proved to be more than they could have ever bargained for. And as we see in the book, by the time he reaches nineteen, Elvis has already caught the eye of people in the music business with an eye for talent. But what I also noticed in the book is that as he gains notoriety, he is still a “kid” in many ways. And this human side of the singer is what makes this such a good biography. We can witness a young Elvis as an aspiring singer but more importantly, as a young man coming of age at time when music was slowly changing.  But even he had to navigate complex social structures, in particular Jim Crow which separated Blacks and Whites. Presley remarks more than once in the book that the Black singers are where he drew his inspiration. But the laws were firmly in place, and it should come as no surprise that Memphis later became a hotbed of activity. However, Elvis is frank about his love of music and its origins. This remark by him in the book is telling for its honesty:

“The colored folks been singing it and playing it just like I’m doin’ now, man, for more years than I know. They played it like that in the shanties and in their juke joints, and nobody paid it no mind ’til I goosed it up. I got it from them. Down in Tupelo, Mississippi, I used to hear old Arthur Crudup bang his box the way I do now, and I said if I ever got to the place where I could feel all old Arthur felt, I’d be a music man like nobody ever saw.”

As the story progresses, Elvis grows before our eyes. But his mother Gladys is his guardian angel, and their bond is heartwarming. It is a well-known fact that Presley loved his parents deeply and always yearned to return home to see the family. Their son was becoming popular, and that meant talent agents, musicians and women coming around the family. Multiple figures enter the story as Elvis becomes an item and have their effect on his life to varying degrees. The entrance of Thomas Andrew “Colonel” Parker (1909-1997) changes the story significantly and it is not long before Elvis is on his way to stardom. The money started rolling in but not without its problems, which are covered in the book. It’s a familiar story of underpaid workers, jealousy and the seductions that come with a traveling show. There are romances and friendships, and it is telling that everyone had nothing but kind words for the Elvis they knew who remains true to his character throughout the book and displays a humbleness that stems from his family’s experiences. The scenes described regarding his performances are surreal but fact. And it is imperative to remember that Presley was also pushing the limits of censorship due to his dance movements on stage which caught the eye of local police departments on more than one occasion. He learns to move fast but despite his fame, there was one person he could not avoid, Uncle Sam.

Towards the end of the book, Elvis gives in and reports to the U.S. Army for duty. He fits in well and this part of the book is filled with interesting tidbits of information about his time in the military. But the book’s darkest moment comes when Gladys passes away while he is enlisted. The hurt and shock of his mother’s death is felt through the author’s words, and I began to feel as if Elvis was never the same after this event. He returns to the military, but he heads back heartbroken and in fragments. And with that the story concludes. I am eagerly anticipating the next part of the biography which unfortunately will include Elvis’ own demise. But before the story is over, I will continue to enjoy learning about the king of Rock n’ Roll and his shorty but extraordinary life. Highly recommended.

ASIN:‎ B006L8928G

After finishing the most recent book from my reading list, I was in search of something different to change gears. I came across this book while browsing recommendations and the cover instantly caught my attention. I vividly remember the legendary comedian Rodney Dangerfield (1921-2004) and the endless laughs he provided to households across America and abroad. But sadly, I knew very little of his personal life. I have heard that there is a dark side to comedy and behind the jokes there is often trauma and tragedy. I was not sure what to expect when I started this book but before it was over, I realized I did not want it to end. Dangerfield died on October 5, 2004, but the book was published after his death. His life was a roller coaster ride and anyone who remembers him will enjoy the book. The story is a mixed bag with the good, the bad and the ugly. But it is also full of laughs and moments of reflection by a man in his senior years aware that Father Time comes for everyone.

Dangerfield’s early life was not pleasant as he explains in the book. Born Jacob Cohen in Deer Park, New York, his parents could not have known their son would become one of the most popular comics in America. But as readers will learn, they had their own issues and young Jacob was not afforded the luxury of a “childhood” as one would expect. In fact, the story is surreal, and the level of dysfunction is shocking. As he matures, he finds his calling in comedy but did not instantly become a hit. Further, if fate had not intervened, the world may have never known Rodney Dangerfield. However, everything happens for a reason and his rise to fame is nothing short of inspiring. And as the title says, there was plenty of sex and drugs along the way, plus two wives and two children. The comic opens up about his family’s struggles and reveals the challenges that come with fame.

Throughout the book readers will find the comic’s jokes strategically placed as one chapter ends and begins. The snippets are hilarious and I had to restrain myself heavily while riding the subway. But I am sure that other passengers noticed the constant grinning as I read Dangerfield’s words. The material is edgy and gave me a sense of gloom when I realized that a comedian like Dangerfield could not perform his routine today without risk of heavy censorship. Times have changed significantly. As he revisits the past, he also tells stories regarding other comedians who struggled early in their careers before catching their big breaks. It is astonishing how influential Dangerfield was to scores of aspiring comics. Seasoned readers will recognize the names in the book but for younger readers, YouTube will provide a source of archival footage for the names mentioned. Personally, I had a ball reading this book and laughed out loud when possible.

Early in the book, Dangerfield explains that he is at the age of eighty-two and aware that time is short. Towards the end of the book, he discusses the health struggles he endured and recovered from. His health was an issue on more than one occasion as he explains but he kept pushing forward and would have lived forever if possible. I surmise that with this book and the memories he left behind, he will live forever.  And for a man who claimed to never get any respect in his routine on stage, he commands it here. If you need a good laugh, you will not be disappointed with this book.

ASIN ‏ : ‎ B002JB3EBK

Several weeks ago, during a phone call with an uncle on my father’s side, he opened up about his service in Vietnam, in particular, his return to the United States after his tour was over. He painfully recalled being confronted by mothers wanting to know why he returned, and their sons did not. He continued by describing the hostile environment soldiers returning from Vietnam faced due to the unpopularity of the war. Years would pass before Vietnam veterans finally received the attention and understanding they deserved regarding their experiences in Southeast Asia. The war is far in the past, but I know my uncle carries with him dark memories of what he saw and had to do in order to survive his tour. In 1988, the television show China Beach (1988-1991) premiered and became a hit with viewers. One of the producers, William Broyles, had served in Vietnam and served as a technical consultant. Viewers might not have been aware that before the show made its debut, Broyles had made a return trip to Vietnam to understand how and why the American mission failed and the effects of the war upon the Vietnamese people. This book is the story of his return trip and what he learned from the people he was once required to kill as a soldier. 

Readers may wonder why any soldier would return to the place where they once faced death. But as Broyles explains in the book, there were things he needed to understand that could explain his experiences. The war is considered a failure from a mission objective point of view. But the question still remains, what exactly was the mission in Vietnam? On April 30, 1975, after American troops were withdrawn, Saigon quickly fell to the North Vietnamese Army (“NVA”). Without the support of the United States, South Vietnam faced the reality that unification would take place but not exactly in the way that anti-communists had hoped. Broyles is under no illusions and bluntly states: 

“We had our own myths, of course, chief among them that we were helping the people of Vietnam as we bombed their villages, their crops, and their country into a bloody, soggy mess. And in our own history we have customarily gone to war as the protectors of virtue and morality, battling the evil empires of the Huns, the Nazis, the Communists. Our cause was just, therefore we were just. But in Vietnam we came to terms with history.” 

Early in the book, Broyles points out that he was not a supporter of the war but did honor his draft notice, reporting to duty for eventual service in Vietnam. He proved to be an adaptive commander and during the book, he shows how his men helped him become a better squad leader. However, it is also clear from his words, that Vietnam would be a loss if America continued the war with a disjointed approach. Upon his return to Vietnam, he finally had the chance to speak with former enemies who embraced him openly and without hostility. The Vietnamese had the uncanny ability to accept that the war was a different time and that life goes on. I cannot say the same would apply universally to other nations once at war with the United States. Broyles learns critical information about the North Vietnamese effort and the weaknesses they found and exploited on the American side. What they reveal will shock readers and cause them to wonder why American commanders did not understand these concepts. Broyles provides a clue: 

“The men who got us into these wars are my generation, but they didn’t serve in Vietnam. They avoided it, dodged it, found reasons not to serve, just as their children don’t serve in their wars today. Anyone who fought in Vietnam could have told them how this story turns out, but they never asked.”

The wealth of information provided by the former NVA commanders is unreal. While America had superior weapons, we lacked key fundamental principles that the Vietnamese understood and exploited. And after reading what they tell Broyles, the American failures throughout the war are easier to understand. The author also discusses the role of Ho Chih Minh (1890-1969) and how the United States lost an opportunity to develop a critical ally. And the drafting of the Vietnamese constitution might result in readers recoiling in disbelief. Readers familiar with the name Archimedes Patti (1913-1998) will quickly understand the missed opportunity with the North Vietnamese government in the wake of World War II. 

No story about Vietnam is complete without an understanding of the devastation caused to the Vietnamese people and their land. Broyles does not shy away from the topic and is fully aware of how much they suffered during the conflict. Further, he highlights the tragic results of the misunderstanding by American forces of the Vietnamese way of life. Frankly, it seemed as if no one had taken the time to understand how the Vietnamese viewed themselves. Due to either arrogance or reluctance, young men like Broyles and my uncle were sent to war in a conflict that claimed 58,000 American lives and resulted in over 1 million Vietnamese deaths. But if we are to prevent another Vietnam, Broyles’ account of his return to the country will be invaluable. Soldiers go when they are called sometimes without knowing why they are sent. But they understand they have a job to do even if it is not popular. For the veterans of the Vietnam War, acknowledgment and acceptance have taken a long time to come to fruition. There was once a time when veterans of the war would not tell people they had served. The reason is best explained by Broyles as he brings his story to a close: 

“We had been willing to give our lives for our country, no less than our fathers had been at Normandy and Iwo Jima. This war, however, was different. We lost. And the country that sent us did not take us back into its arms. It either hated the war or simply wanted to forget it.”

ISBN-13: 9781480404335

Fifteen days from now, the fifty-eight anniversary of President John F. Kennedy’s (1917-1963) murder will be upon us. His death continues to remind America of a lost opportunity and leader taken before his time. His presidency inspires debate to this day with some believing that he brought the country dangerously close to nuclear war with the Soviet Union. Others feel that he had yet to reach his full potential as a leader. The truth is far more complicated and both sides often omit the difficulties Kennedy faced behind the scenes from those within his own administration. After the disastrous Bay of Pigs invasion which led to Kennedy firing top officials of the Central Intelligence Agency,  he then found himself under pressure to intervene in the nation of Laos. Again, Kennedy resisted, drawing the ire of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and Cold-War hawks in Washington. But the hawks were determined and saw Vietnam as the next battlefield to confront “Soviet influence”.  But the question that has always haunted this nation is why did we get involved in Vietnam? What threat did North Vietnam pose to the United States even though it is more than thirteen thousand miles away from American soil? My uncle who served in Vietnam has only spoken of his experiences a handful of times. He keeps the war suppressed in his memory and does his best to stay secluded during July 4th celebrations as the fireworks remind him of being in combat. I often wondered if he has asked himself why he was deployed thousands of miles away from home to a country some Americans did not know existed prior to the conflict. Michael Swanson asked himself about Vietnam and has explored the war  paying close attention to its origins and this book is the first of what will be a multi volume set about America’s involvement in Southeast Asia.

Swanson quickly establishes that the Vietnam War started sixteen years earlier than 1961. In fact, the war has its origins in the ascension of North Vietnam to power in the wake of World War II. The evacuation of Japanese military personnel created a power vacuum that allowed the North Vietnamese to take control and establish its headquarters in Hanoi. Washington was paying close attention to the developments and the rise of Ho Chih Minh (1890-1969).  He was known as Uncle Ho and proved to be a charismatic figure as well as an icon for millions of Vietnamese who strongly favored an independent Vietnam, free of French colonial rule. And this is what policy makers in Washington failed to realize. However, there were those on the ground who saw Ho Chih Minh’s potential and the futility of French attempts to reclaim Indochina. In the book, we learn the name of former Lieutenant Colonel Archimedes Patti (1913-1998), a former Office of Strategic Services officer who emerges as the voice of reason no one wanted to hear. Patti warned officials back in Washington of what he saw firsthand but sadly, his reports were shelved. And when reflecting back on the war, Patti stated:

“Ho Chi Minh was on a silver platter in 1945,” remembered Archimedes Patti, “we had him. He was willing to, to be a democratic republic, if nothing else. Socialist yes, but a democratic republican.

I recall a Vietnam veteran years ago telling me that he couldn’t understand why America got involved after seeing the French evacuate. He was drafted at 19 and has always maintained that Vietnam was one of the scariest experiences in his life. His question was valid. Why did we take the place of the French and why did we help them in the first place? The author pieces together the story to show Washington’s early involvement in French affairs and I could only shake my head at what he reveals. But there is always more than meets the eye. Swanson knows this and proceeds to explain what was taking place back in Washington that paved the way for such disastrous foreign policy. In fact, he bluntly states that after World War II:

“The United States, however, sought to control societies in order to improve them, in order to incorporate them into the modern capitalist world order through nation building. But becoming an empire changed the United States forever, and led it to fight a disastrous war in Vietnam.” 

When John F. Kennedy took office, he had to have known the difficulties he faced from what his predecessor Dwight E. Eisenhower (1890-1969) called the military industrial complex. However, what Kennedy may not have known is that America’s involvement in Vietnam did not start with Eisenhower but with another president, Harry S. Truman (1884-1972). This part of the story came as a surprise because the focus on Truman’s actions in office are often related to World War II and the National Security Act of 1947. But it does make sense that his role is revisited as Vietnam began to draw Washington’s attention not long after the Japanese surrender. I could not help when reading the story that had Truman decided not to get involved in Vietnam, world history might have taken a different course. As the story moves forward, Eisenhower’s administration passes with Vietnam remaining a French issue. It remains dormant until, when the intelligence community and military found itself irate over the president’s refusal to support military intervention across the globe. And it is here that the Vietnam story heats up and Swanson takes us deep inside Kennedy’s administration to explain the true reasons for military engagement in Southeast Asia.

Kennedy had sought to prevent Americans from getting engulfed in a ground war in Vietnam. Swanson captures the essence of the story here and I strongly recommend John Newman’s JFK & Vietnam: Deception, Intrigue and the Struggle for Power which discusses JFK’s battles with his own cabinet and the Joint Chiefs over escalation. Newman leaves no doubt that Kennedy knew Vietnam was a deathtrap for American forces. But war hawks were not ready to admit it and as Swanson shows, a power struggle did in fact take place with a majority of people pushing Kennedy to approve troops and the president pushing back against them. Readers will express surprise at the actions of  those working “for” the president.  Kennedy was struggling to maintain control over his own administration.  Readers with an interest in his assassination will find this aspect of the story highly relevant.

Vietnam veterans known dark truths about the war that many would prefer not to know. Swanson’s job here was not to pacify anyone but to explain why Vietnam happened. And in order to understand the war, it is crucial to understand the importance to Washington of South Vietnam and its former leader Ngo Dinh Diem (1901-1963). Admittedly, there is much about his life I am still learning of, but I now have a better understanding of the truth in regard to South Vietnam and why personnel stationed in the country were sounding the alarm bells to those in power in Washington. And what I read resulted in anger at those who knew the issues in South Vietnam and the low chance of success. Frankly, Washington knew it could not win in Vietnam without a massive commitment of troops and the use of nuclear weapons. But the public backlash at those two concepts would have been political suicide so America had to operate in a limited capacity. But the pressure to invade never let up and as the story moves forward, the stage is set for a showdown between Kennedy and the military industrial complex. However, the book ends before the tragic fates of Diem and Kennedy play out. As Swanson explains, that will be the focus of the next part in the series. But he does summarize the story contained within with this statement that sent chills down my spine:

“The more hawkish members of the Joint Chiefs of Staff viewed Southeast Asia as simply part of a conflict with China over who would control the entire region. When they advocated intervention in Laos in 1961 their plans were for a regional conflict that carried with it a ladder of escalation, the final step of which was an atomic attack on China if they retaliated, one in which they thought they could break the back of Red China.” 

Kennedy himself said it best when he observed: “These brass hats have one great advantage, if we … do what they want us to do, none of us will be alive later to tell them that they were wrong.” We can only speculate as to what would have transpired had he lived.  I personally believe that the Vietnam War would have never happened. Kennedy was determined to resist the military and dismantle the Central Intelligence Agency but the events in Dallas, Texas on November 22, 1963, changed that permanently. His successor Lyndon B. Johnson (1908-1973) had different plans for Vietnam, and they included the flexing of American military muscle that claimed the lives of  fifty-eight thousand Americans and over one million Vietnamese. It remains the war that America did not win.  And there thousands of veterans alive today still carrying the scars from that war. If you want to know why the Vietnam War happened, this is a good place to start.

ASIN ‏ : ‎ B08FHBS17K

A friend whom I have known since elementary school recently finished twenty years with the New York City Police Department. Though eligible for retirement, he continues to serve the city where he was born. I and other friends have never failed to remind him to be careful on the dangerous streets of New York. Long hours, dangerous criminals and bureaucratic obstacles can sometimes make being a police officer a difficult and thankless job. And when I watch the hit show The First 48, I am  always amazed at the skills of homicide detectives as they solve crimes in cities across America. Danny R. Smith served as a homicide detective in the Los Angeles Sheriff’s Department for seven out of the twenty-years he reported for duty. This is his story as part of law enforcement in the City of Angels. 

The book begins with Smith revisiting the day when he knew that the time had come for him to make his exit from the force. The scene he arrives upon is macabre, but we learn towards the end of the book when he explains the full details surrounding the discovery, that the reason for the find is far simpler and less sinister. However, Smith had reached his breaking point but in order for us to understand why, we have to go back in time to the beginning of the wild ride he took during two decades of service. Expectedly, he explains how he joined the Sheriff’s Department and the path he took to homicide. And it is at that part of the book that the story heats up. As we follow him from one case to the next, the dark side of Southern California comes into vivid focus. But the book is far more than just a former officer’s tales of war on the streets. In the mix of murders, burglaries and other crimes, Smith shows us his personal life and the struggles he endures due to injuries on the job and the mental challenges that come with daily exposure to the deadly side of humanity. It will be hard for any reader not to appreciate the enormous sacrifices made by the people in law enforcement. 

As expected, there are dark moments in the book, but Smith also adds the right amount of humor at times to take the edge off. And what he shows is that the life of a homicide detective is anything but orthodox.  His journeys took him across the United States in pursuit of fugitives who could not escape justice. And the stories he tells of transporting prisoners back across the country are both humorous and interesting. The lengths to which detectives go to capture a suspect are eye opening. But not all suspects are apprehended and crimes do remain unsolved as we see in the book. But it is not for lack of effort.  Smith was a first-class detective who was thoroughly committed to his job and the people of Los Angeles. 

The riots in Los Angeles after the acquittal of police officers charged with beating motorist Rodney King (1965-2012) remain fresh in the minds of all who remember them. I remember watching the aftermath play out on television as Los Angeles went up in flames.  Smith was on the ground and discusses the riots highlighting how dangerous the situation was. But during his career, he experienced the loss of fellow officers.  Each death hits home for Smith and he remembers his fallen officers with grace and how it affected those who continued to do the job. And the harsh reality that the show must go on is apparent as more calls come in for Los Angeles’ finest. The hours are long and the work is dangerous, and I can only imagine the number of stories that did not make it into the book.  Smith’s eyes have seen things that can haunt a person for a long time or make them smile on occasion. 

Smith was as seasoned as detectives come but even he could not avoid fate.  The physical and mental toll of being a police officer comes into focus as the job wears him down over time.  And as the book moves closer to the conclusion, the writing is on the wall. Smith was reaching his end, but I personally did not want the book to finish.  His memories had me glued to the screen and I hated to put the Kindle down.  I can now see why the book has a five-star rating on Amazon. This incredible memoir is perfect for anyone who is interested in the life of a police officer/homicide detective. Smith is now retired but he will forever be a part of Los Angeles history. 

“For those who haven’t been there, know that the great majority of cops are kind and caring souls, driven to the profession with the desire to help others, to protect the weak from bullies and predators, and to stand up for those who are unable to stand up for themselves. We sacrifice holidays and special occasions and sometimes much, much more, to make a difference in our communities. To make a difference in your communities.”

Danny R. Smith 

ASIN ‏ : ‎ B09FGWT2WV

A few years ago, I visited San Francisco and decided to take the boat ride around the bay under the Golden Gate Bridge.  As the vessel made its way back to the dock, it traveled around the eastern side of the defunct prison once known as Alcatraz.  The facility has long been closed but seeing it in person puts the stories about it into a new perspective.   To some, the prison was  simply known as “the rock”.  Regardless of what it was called, it was home to some of America’s most dangerous criminals. And make no mistake, a decision to send an inmate to Alcatraz was not made lightly.  Further, inmates knew that if you were sent to Alcatraz, you better be prepared to spend a lot of years there.  Alvin F. Karpis (1907-1979) spent three decades at Alcatraz and in the annals of American history, he remains one of the most prominent crime figures from the outlaw era that saw the rise of such as John Dillinger (1903-1934), George “Baby Face” Nelson (1908-1934) and the deadly duo of Bonny Parker (1910-1934) and Clyde Barrow (1909-1934).  Unlike many other outlaws, Karpis not only survived the 1930s but was eventually released from Alcatraz.  This is the story his time on the run, capture by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (“FBI”) and later years as a free man.

The story is undoubtedly focused on Karpis, but the book is not a standard biography.  Instead, the focus is on the mission to apprehend him and his life after being convicted.  Thompson does provide a fair amount of background information on Karpis, but it is not long before the story progresses to the time when Karpis becomes fully engulfed in the criminal underworld.  And once he did, there was no turning back.  However, in comparison to well-known killers from that time, Karpis comes off the complete opposite.  But behind the quiet demeanor was a highly intelligent and crafty individual.  And I believe that aspect of his character is what makes the story is so interesting.  Karpis is not the typical outlaw and in some cases, he was certainly in the wrong place at the wrong time.  That is not to say that he was completely innocent.  In fact, he was far from it. But Thompson does show that he was not the person that came to mind when people thought of America’s most wanted.  But eventually, he caught the attention of FBI Director J. Edgar Hoover (1895-1972) who had committed himself to purging the outlaw from American society and capturing Karpis at all costs.

As readers will see in the story, there is no love lost between Karpis and Hoover.  The outlaw once remarked that when it came to Hoover, he “made that son a bitch”.   I can still feel the venom in Karpis’ words so many years later.  The statement seems outlandish, but is it?  His arrest by the FBI and Hoover’s role in it is explored in the book and I believe that the author addresses it as fairly and accurately as possible.   Was Hoover there? Yes, he was.  Did he personally walk up to Karpis and arrest him?  We may never know for sure.  But what is clear is that Hoover added more prestige to his reputation and was finally able to fend off criticism that he lacked actual field experience.  For Karpis, his ordeal with the law was only beginning. And after a stint at United States Penitentiary Leavenworth, Karpis is moved to Alcatraz where he remained incarcerated for the next twenty-six years.

Karpis’ time at Alcatraz is discussed and we also see the entrance into the story of other famous prisoners there such as Alphonse “Al” Capone (1899-1947).   Also discussed is the reason behind Karpis’ nickname of “creepy”.  I did not expect this part of the book but considering he was in prison, I guess I should not have been too surprised at what is alleged.  And I am sure that other readers will have a similar reaction.  Overall, Karpis’ stint at Alcatraz is quiet compared to his time on the run.  While far from a model prisoner, he was not a problem inmate.  But I have no doubt that Karpis most likely had his hands in some things common in a penitentiary.  In 1962,  Karpis finally left the prison for the last time. and ironically, it was Hoover’s boss, Attorney General Robert F. Kennedy (1925-1968) who finally closed Alcatraz for good.  Karpis spent several more years behind bars before finally being paroled in 1968.  But the conditions of his release may surprise some readers. Personally, I shook my head at what transpired.  But, that chain of events led Karpis to his final residence in Torremolinos, Spain.   On August 26, 1979, he died there at the age of seventy-one, outliving his nemesis Hoover and nearly every major gangster from the depression era.

The story Alvin Karpis is one of violence, politics, love, and disappointment.  Author Julie Thompson did a wonderful job of capturing the essence of Karpis’ chaotic life and the outlaw era.  As he moved through life, Karpis left a trail of destruction that affected two former wives, a son and family members trying to understand where he went wrong.  But to Washington, his life story did not matter because of all intents and purposes, Karpis had become the last public enemy.  The book has all of the elements that are part of the American way.   For those who are interested in American history and a time when the outlaw was also a pop culture icon, this book will satisfy that hunger.

“In the end, can we trust the words of an admitted thief ? Can Karpis’s words stack up against the official records of the FBI and the testimony of J. Edgar Hoover? There is no final jeopardy here. What has been stated with certainty is that Bill Trent, Karpis’s first coauthor, never once in all his fact checking found a Karpis story to be in error.”  – Julie Thompson 

ASIN: B08L9Q2964