Bücher von Phil Ward

In this sequel to Book XV, The War That Never Was, Col. John Randal reflects on Leros.Leros was a catastrophe. The Germans invaded, overran and captured the island leaving Castelrozzo (ABC) as the last one still in Allied hands. The Luftwaffe now has air superiority over the entire Aegean Theatre of Operations. Neither the U.S. nor Royal Navy will risk capital ships in the AO due to the threat posed by enemy air. The Long Range Desert Group has been reduced to approximately fifty patrolmen. The fabled reconnaissance unit is now attached to Raiding Forces as is the Small Boat Service which also suffered heavy causalities. Middle East Headquarters is paralyzed by the extent of the debacle caused by their bad command decisions which resulted in a total defeat of British Forces in the theatre. On ABC, Col. John Randal sees opportunity. Raiding Forces goes over to the attack.

Book 15 in the Raiding Forces SeriesThe 575th Ranger Task Force, Raiding Forces are conducting a fighting withdrawal back to the Salerno Beachhead following their drop on Benevento, Italy. The jump was widely scattered with one plane load missing the drop zone by in excess of 100 miles. blocking roads by downing trees, cutting rail lines and blowing bridges, an element of Sea Raiders from the Brandenburger Regiment have raided Castelrozzo. Major the Lady Jane Seaborn is MIA. On his return to friendly lines Colonel John Randal takes the first men to arrive back and are immediately flown to Alexandria by Major General Sam Houston Blackwell in two of his Troop Transport Command's C-47s to marshal for a drop on Raiding Forces Advanced Base Castelrozzo (ABC). Meanwhile the Special Boat Squadron (SBS) and the Long Range Desert Group (LRDG) are attached to Raiding Forces. The problem is they are on Leros which is being invaded by a combined German amphibious/airborne force. Col. Randal decides to rescue the remnants of the two units even though he has no authority to do so. The mission continues.

The Transition is a powerful, true to life story of one man's metamorphosis from truancy to truth, honor, and duty. It is a tale of a life lived to its fullest, filled with anecdotes of adventure, and powerful moral lessons. Written entertainingly, The Transition is the rare autobiography that tells as much about the author as it does about its times and ourselves.About the AuthorPhil Ward, MSGT Combat Control Team, Ret,USAFSPECOPS, and a private investigator. He has a black belt in both Judo and Karate and is a 7th Day Adventist who enjoys time with the grandkids and family.

The siege of the RAF base at Habbaniya is lifted after the defenders launch a surprise counter attach followed up by an intense air campaign and assault on Bagdad by Habforce that force marched to their aid. Back in Cairo, Raiding Forces is ordered to interdict the Via Balbia, Rommel's 1500 mile supply route along the Mediterranean coast. Maj. Randal forms Raiding Forces Desert Squadron (RFDS) and Raiding Forces Sea Squadron (RFSS) to conduct gunjeep and amphibious pinprick raids against the Afrika Korps exposed line of communication.