Books with author Patricia Blake

"This book has its place with other great books about war from soldier’s perspective, Das Boot (Buchheim), All Quiet on the Western Front (Remarque)." "What shines through magnificently is the love of the brotherhood of the Marines who never lost faith in each other." The Cross of Gallantry is a story about Vietnam that is told at two levels – a personal journey for two young Americans, and a portrayal of the gross mistakes made by politicians and the Pentagon’s civilian leadership.The personal story is about Frank O’Brian and Mike Morgan, two middle class Americans who join the Marine Corps in 1967 and go to Vietnam where they are thrown into the middle of bloody combat operations on the DMZ. Their story begins when they meet on a Greyhound bus, headed to Marine Corps boot camp at Parris Island. It continues through Marine Infantry Training Regiment (ITR) and their visits home to say goodbye to family and friends, finally entering the pipeline of replacement with thousands of other young Americans headed for Vietnam. They are assigned to 2nd Platoon, Charlie Company, 1st Battalion, 3rd Marines, the Battalion Landing Team (BLT) for the 3rd Marine Division. They join the battle-hardened Marines of Charlie Company, a brotherhood of veterans where most have earned at least one Purple Heart for combat wounds. Their story continues through a landing, search and destroy operations, building bunkers along the DMZ, crossing minefields, being hit with friendly fire, and engaging in close combat firefights.Their personal experience reflects on the overarching story of every troop involved in the Vietnam War. Four major military planning mistakes made in Washington and implemented in Vietnam had a deadly impact on American troops. First, the original strategy of the generals of the Joint Chiefs of Staff was offensive -- to win the war -- was ignored by President Johnson when he chose to adopt the political-military strategy promoted by Defense Secretary McNamara and his team of “whiz kids.” They devised a defensive strategy, a “war of attrition”, based on obtaining a “10-to 1 kill ratio.” Second, the Pentagon orders the construction “McNamara’s Wall” – across the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ), an “impenetrable” bunker system built across the entire DMZ.The third fatal mistake was the initiation of Operation Ranch Hand, the defoliation of the DMZ with Agent Orange. Air Force planes sprayed millions of gallons of the deadly poison on the vegetation across the DMZ.Finally, the M-16 rifles provided to combat units in Vietnam by the Pentagon jammed repeatedly. Gene Stoner, the designer of the M-16 and its manufacturer, Colt Manufacturing Company, warned the Pentagon that the Improved Military Rifle (IMR) propellant or gunpowder should be used in the ammunition for the M-16. The “whiz-kids” and Army Ordnance over-ruled Stoner and Colt, which caused the cause weapons to jam. Frank, Mike, Charlie Company, and the entire 3rd Marine Division struggled, fought, suffered, survived, and died in the hell created by these mistakes imposed by Washington. The Cross of Gallantry takes you into the combat units, on the ground in search and destroy operations, the futility of building bunkers, the tragedy of friendly fire casualties, and the insanity behind a foreign war of attrition.The political-military strategy was never designed to “win” the war in Vietnam, but combat troops still won countless battles. The Cross of Gallantry tells the stories of Marines who struggled, fought and died as brothers on the DMZ in Vietnam in 1967-68.For a longer description please visit www.thecrossofgallantry.com

If you love the movie “Frozen,” you definitely need to get your hands on this cookbook. All of the recipes in the pages of this book are inspired by the movie. They are perfect for a Frozen themed party, to make for a Frozen fan or just to enjoy while you cuddle up on the couch to watch the movie. Of course, all of the recipes are also delicious, and you will find both savory treats, sweet desserts, and delicious drink recipes—there is something for everyone! So, grab this book today so that you can start creating some amazing Frozen-inspired recipes that will have you signing all of the popular movie songs as you cook.

"This book has its place with other great books about war from soldier’s perspective, Das Boot (Buchheim), All Quiet on the Western Front (Remarque).""What shines through magnificently is the love of the brotherhood of the Marines who never lost faith in each other."The Cross of Gallantry is a story about Vietnam that is told at two levels – a personal journey for two young Americans, and a portrayal of the gross mistakes made by politicians and the Pentagon’s civilian leadership.The personal story is about Frank O’Brian and Mike Morgan, two middle class Americans who join the Marine Corps in 1967 and go to Vietnam where they are thrown into the middle of bloody combat operations on the DMZ. Their story begins when they meet on a Greyhound bus, headed to Marine Corps boot camp at Parris Island. It continues through Marine Infantry Training Regiment (ITR) and their visits home to say goodbye to family and friends, finally entering the pipeline of replacement with thousands of other young Americans headed for Vietnam. They are assigned to 2nd Platoon, Charlie Company, 1st Battalion, 3rd Marines, the Battalion Landing Team (BLT) for the 3rd Marine Division. They join the battle-hardened Marines of Charlie Company, a brotherhood of veterans where most have earned at least one Purple Heart for combat wounds. Their story continues through a landing, search and destroy operations, building bunkers along the DMZ, crossing minefields, being hit with friendly fire, and engaging in close combat firefights.Their personal experience reflects on the overarching story of every troop involved in the Vietnam War. Four major military planning mistakes made in Washington and implemented in Vietnam had a deadly impact on American troops. First, the original strategy of the generals of the Joint Chiefs of Staff was offensive -- to win the war -- was ignored by President Johnson when he chose to adopt the political-military strategy promoted by Defense Secretary McNamara and his team of “whiz kids.” They devised a defensive strategy, a “war of attrition”, based on obtaining a “10-to 1 kill ratio.” Second, the Pentagon orders the construction “McNamara’s Wall” – across the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ), an “impenetrable” bunker system built across the entire DMZ.The third fatal mistake was the initiation of Operation Ranch Hand, the defoliation of the DMZ with Agent Orange. Air Force planes sprayed millions of gallons of the deadly poison on the vegetation across the DMZ.Finally, the M-16 rifles provided to combat units in Vietnam by the Pentagon jammed repeatedly. Gene Stoner, the designer of the M-16 and its manufacturer, Colt Manufacturing Company, warned the Pentagon that the Improved Military Rifle (IMR) propellant or gunpowder should be used in the ammunition for the M-16. The “whiz-kids” and Army Ordnance over-ruled Stoner and Colt, which caused the cause weapons to jam. Frank, Mike, Charlie Company, and the entire 3rd Marine Division struggled, fought, suffered, survived, and died in the hell created by these mistakes imposed by Washington. The Cross of Gallantry takes you into the combat units, on the ground in search and destroy operations, the futility of building bunkers, the tragedy of friendly fire casualties, and the insanity behind a foreign war of attrition.The political-military strategy was never designed to “win” the war in Vietnam, but combat troops still won countless battles. The Cross of Gallantry tells the stories of Marines who struggled, fought and died as brothers on the DMZ in Vietnam in 1967-68.For a longer description please visit www.thecrossofgallantry.com

This book features recipes shown and mentioned in Disney movies. The recipes are simplified so that any home cook can recreate them at home. The ingredients are easy to find in local grocery stores as well. In this book, you can find a variety of recipes. Some of them are desserts and main dishes, so it is perfect for all occasions. For the dessert, you can choose from Rapunzel’s cookies to Monster Inc.s’ lemon snow cones. For the main dishes, you can make the iconic Lady and the Tramp meatball or Kung Fu Panda’s Chicken Dumplings.There are several snack options too. For example, Aladdin’s stolen baguette or Tiana’s deep-fried Beignet. If you want to let your kids join in cooking, you can make a fun afternoon activity with making Gingy from Shrek or the “Eat Me” cookies from Alice and Wonderland. If you are conscious of your health, there are some options for you as well, such as the Ratatouille from the movie Ratatouille and Snozzcumber from BFG. They are tasty with amazing textures. They are quick and easy to make too.Overall, this book has a recipe for everyone that anybody with little to no culinary skills and training can do in their own homes.

Stranger Things is not just a TV show; it is a phenomenon. And with some extraordinary characters and plots, it also features some staple food from the ‘80s that makes its viewers drool and nostalgic at the same time. Stranger Things is incomplete without these amazing recipes that we have included in this book.Just like Stranger Things went all guns blazing in their third season, we are also focused on doing the same with delicious recipes from the TV show. So, you can expect some mind-blowing recipes that are fairly easy to make but look like a million bucks. The recipes will transfer you to the much simpler times of the 1980s and also to the thrilling ride to the upside-down the parallel dimension of the Demogorgon.

This book features recipes shown and mentioned in Disney movies. The recipes are simplified so that any home cook can recreate them at home. The ingredients are easy to find in local grocery stores as well. In this book, you can find a variety of recipes. Some of them are desserts and main dishes, so it is perfect for all occasions. For the dessert, you can choose from Rapunzel’s cookies to Monster Inc.s’ lemon snow cones. For the main dishes, you can make the iconic Lady and the Tramp meatball or Kung Fu Panda’s Chicken Dumplings.There are several snack options too. For example, Aladdin’s stolen baguette or Tiana’s deep-fried Beignet. If you want to let your kids join in cooking, you can make a fun afternoon activity with making Gingy from Shrek or the “Eat Me” cookies from Alice and Wonderland. If you are conscious of your health, there are some options for you as well, such as the Ratatouille from the movie Ratatouille and Snozzcumber from BFG. They are tasty with amazing textures. They are quick and easy to make too.Overall, this book has a recipe for everyone that anybody with little to no culinary skills and training can do in their own homes.

If you or your children enjoyed reading the Little Women, this Celebrate Life with the Little Women’s Cookbook would allow you to relive and re-experience the joy and tears of the March family. Food was frequently rare during those harsh times and became an important part of sharing for the March sisters. We have been careful to use only ingredients available in mid-19th century England. All the recipes in the Celebrate Life with the Little Women’s Cookbook are made with fresh ingredients and without the addition of modern canned ingredients. Not only are they fun but they are healthy, as well! In some instances, we have suggested a more modern and easier means of preparation.Preparing these recipes with your children is a wonderful way to teach them about love and togetherness. Discuss the ideas in this book with them. It’s the perfect way to engage with your kids and share the importance of food with them.

Excerpt from Dissonant Voices in Soviet LiteratureEsenin, Sergei. My hour is at hand, I fear not the scourge. I spit out of my mouth the Host, the body of Christ. I will not accept salvation through his torment and the Cross: I know another teaching which pierces the eternal stars. I behold another Coming In which death doesn't dance on truth.About the PublisherForgotten Books publishes hundreds of thousands of rare and classic books. Find more at www.forgottenbooks.comThis book is a reproduction of an important historical work. Forgotten Books uses state-of-the-art technology to digitally reconstruct the work, preserving the original format whilst repairing imperfections present in the aged copy. In rare cases, an imperfection in the original, such as a blemish or missing page, may be replicated in our edition. We do, however, repair the vast majority of imperfections successfully; any imperfections that remain are intentionally left to preserve the state of such historical works.

Stranger Things is not just a TV show; it is a phenomenon. And with some extraordinary characters and plots, it also features some staple food from the ‘80s that makes its viewers drool and nostalgic at the same time. Stranger Things is incomplete without these amazing recipes that we have included in this book.Just like Stranger Things went all guns blazing in their third season, we are also focused on doing the same with delicious recipes from the TV show. So, you can expect some mind-blowing recipes that are fairly easy to make but look like a million bucks. The recipes will transfer you to the much simpler times of the 1980s and also to the thrilling ride to the upside-down the parallel dimension of the Demogorgon.

Have you ever thought of getting out of the “rat race” and just leaving everything behind?Are you tied to a mortgage, chained to a career, or just feel stuck, but find it difficult to walk away? If you are unhappy and stuck in a life that you feel is getting you nowhere, except more sick and more tired, then this book is for you.After 30 years of raising children, working to pay a mortgage and trying to keep up with societal “norms”, I decided to leave the chaos behind. In a search for adventure and a more peaceful life, I gave up everything, except what would fit in a 6’x12’ trailer. Now I live in the wilderness, in the mountains of British Columbia, Canada. This book is an account of my personal experience. It is written to encourage you to re-evaluate your life. My hope is that it inspires you to embrace your passion, whatever that might be, and gives you the courage to jump, take that leap into a life of freedom, purpose and living your dream.