Drums of War is the second volume of the A Full Measure trilogy. Following a personal tragedy and their graduation from West Point, now 2nd Lieutenants Jake Jacobs and Patrick McSwain don the army blue to fulfill their obligation to the United States Army by serving in the combat arms. Jake goes to the Green Berets at a time when Special Forces are resented by conventional units and are near extinction. Patrick becomes a Huey Cobra helicopter pilot, risking his life to support troops on the ground with a weapon terrifyingly capable of tearing things up. Both young men are dedicated warriors, and the women who love them find that Duty-Honor-Country has also become their way of life.
This masterfully written book finds the Vietnam War in its final throes of agony for the American military. At the same time, another enemy, encouraged by the Cold War, forms a future threat that will test the resolve and adaptability of America to counter enemies foreign and domestic. As a Green Beret, Jake finds himself leading the last inland mission in South Vietnam and quickly thrust into combat with global terrorists and their death-dealing use of hijackings and chemical weapons on American soil. A demoralized military makes for uncertain careers, shifting internal politics at the highest levels of command, and finding military families suffering the indignities of honorable military service becoming out of public favor.
Like the first volume, West Point, Drums of War is a rollercoaster ride of emotions. It is heartrending. It is humorous. It is thrilling. Drums of War is a must-read for any reader interested in the great history of military life and the Armed Forces. This coming-of-age story is also enjoyed by readers of historical fiction, Christian fiction, and military fiction.
