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Mike,

I command the current 11th ACR (OPFOR) and I wanted you to know you done good with your book Tin Soldiers. Of all the current and former military guys, your book gets at the authentic Army better than any to date. As an alum of 68th Armor, Fort Carson, and 4th ID (I commanded 1-10 Cav, was the Brigade S3 for 3rd Brigade, 4th ID in '95, and a Company Commander in the old 4-68 Armor you now know as 1-68 Armor) I appreciate your background. You did a super job weaving all that into the book.

I hope you are keeping CENTCOM straight during these interesting times. It must be a wild there. At Fort Irwin we are trying mightily to stay abreast of what we are learning in the Iraqi desert and cities. I am happy to say we may see a 200-building city here in our lifetime now. During my watch we added a whole new paramilitary training event with free play paramilitary types wandering the BLUFOR rear. It makes life very interesting for the Brigade Combat Teams’ rear echelon troops to put it mildly. We have also upped the ante on civilian play as well.

Let me know any insights you have learned that might be useful out here. And keep up the great work. How you find the time to be a major and an author is beyond me, but I appreciate your efforts.

If you have time to fly out for an OPD let me know. I might just foot the bill to get you out here and see what we are doing and give you a chance to pass along what you have learned lately. :)

Joe Moore
Colonel, Cavalry
Commanding

Sir,

I have to say that I was a little worried about how the professional guys would enjoy the book – I knew that you, like I, would pick it apart detail by detail. It means a great deal that you found it both authentic and enjoyable.

Interesting times at MacDill indeed. And yes, CENTCOM has kept me hopping lately. May be headed to Baghdad in the not too distant future. And time permitting I’d love to come out for a ride-along with you and the Blackhorse. I’ve damned sure been there enough on the other side of the OPFOR.

Blackhorse!

Mike

Hello Mr. Farmer,

Just wanted to say your book was well worth the wait. I have been hooked on armoured combat ever since reading Team Yankee by Harold Coyle and yours is better than that. I got it and read it in one day - it was that addictive. Hope you plan to write many more books like this one.

Sincerely,

Cameron Blair
Australia

Cameron,

Thanks for the kind words. Oddly enough Harold Coyle was my inspiration for a last minute request to go Armor rather than Light Infantry when I was a senior in college. Any comparison to his work is a compliment.

As to more books…TIN SOLDIERS’ sequel, THE BREACH, is complete and in the editor’s hands at Signet. Many of the same characters you’ve grown to love from the first book plus a couple of new ones I think you’ll like a lot.

Mike

Hey Major,

My name is Mike Boswell, and I just finished your book Tin Soldiers. I can honestly say it is one of The Best books I have read in a long time! Being a vet of Gulf War 1 and now an 11M, your book brought out some emotions and feelings long forgotten; the pain, stress and laughter only known to those who were or are there.

I am eagerly awaiting your next book and will be looking for it every chance I get! Again Major, damn good job. Maybe someday you can come to my part of Texas and visit with my National Guard unit and share some time with some TEAM MECH guys from the Panhandle of Texas.

Thanks and good luck!

Mike Boswell

Mike,

Thanks for the kind words -- they're much appreciated. I spent a lot of time trying to accurately capture the essence of our great soldiers and to make their lives real for those who haven't been there.

And I'd love to spend a little time with you Tex-Mechs (sorry, bad joke)...sounds like fun. I did three years in El Paso as a specialist and sergeant. Love the state. And thanks again for writing.

Scouts out!

Mike

Michael,

I just finished Tin Soldiers and wanted you to know I found it a terrific read. As a former airborne ranger infantry officer I had some limited exposure to tanks, but your novel really brought out what fighting one was all about. I loved the detail of an armor company in battle that you brought out. The personalities were first rate, both the heroism and the cowardice. The only thing I would have liked to have seen is an after action report on medals granted and more on Doc and his lady love! I will be an avid buyer of your next book!

All the Best!

George Hall

George,

First, thanks for writing and thanks for the kinds words. I was a little concerned about the infantry pieces of the book as my only exposure to dismounted tactics were during my ROTC advance camp training and the Scout Platoon Leader Course. If a Ranger dug the book, I'm pleased.

Sorry about lack of follow-up regarding the pieces mentioned, particularly Doc/Sam. I had written an Epilogue that covered their wedding in Colorado (to include her use of the warrant officers in her Kiowa platoon as "bridesmaids"), but the editor thought it better to end the story with Dillon deplaning. Now that we're officially a bestseller after one week on the stands I should have a little more pull with those guys on the next one ; )

Again, thanks for writing, George. Much appreciated.

Scouts out!

Mike

Dear Major Farmer,

My wife bought me a copy of your Tin Soldiers book at our local PX. I am about halfway through it and I am finding it difficult to lay it down to do other things that I must do! Congratulations and best wishes to you, on its success.

I notice it has received high marks from the critics. I certainly agree with that! Even though I am a retired non-combat-arms type, you have written it in a style that makes it easy to follow, regardless of your background. I have never served in an armored unit, but it is interesting to me nonetheless!

I put in twenty-six years (mostly in the Signal field except I switched over to Aviation Maintenance (Avionics) and then served as a Gunner in a CH-47 (in Pleiku, Vietnam as an additional, voluntary duty). They were critically short on qualified gunners when I was there on my first tour in Vietnam! On my second tour I was the First Sergeant of an Avionics Maintenance Company in Tan An. So I saw quite a bit of combat even though I was in a non-combat arms MOS! Anyway, I have had enough experience to appreciate your book and the stories you tell.

Best of luck to you! I'll be watching for your next book!

Keith Cress
Sergeant Major
US Army, Retired

Keith,

Hi praise coming from a retired sergeant major...thanks much. And thanks for your service, particularly Viet Nam. Door gunners are HIGHLY unappreciated people. My step-dad was there in 68-69 as an Army air traffic controller for the helo field strips. You guys have my undying admiration; particularly considering the national attitude concerning the military at the time...we ‘modern warriors’ have it easy by comparison. Know that you are appreciated by the new generation of soldiers.

Again, glad you're enjoying the book. Let me know your thoughts once you've finished it.

Scouts out!

Mike

Michael Farmer / TheTanker.Com

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WAR DOGS
A novel of armored warfare in the 21st Century

Another tour de armored force by bestselling author Michael Farmer. The Franks Combat System, or “Tommy Gun”, has been designed by the U.S. Army to be twice as light as the Abrams tank it will soon replace, and at the same time more lethal and survivable. But on the eve of the Tommy fielding, the prototypes have been stolen and spirited from the United States, along with the project’s military lead: Major Patrick Dillon. And now President Jonathan Drake has laid down the law…he wants his tanks, and Patrick Dillon, back. And Drake doesn’t care how his military and intelligence agencies accomplish the task.

From Iraq’s Sunni Triangle, to the American Southwest, and into the pine-covered forests of Fort Bragg, North Carolina, WAR DOGS showcases what Farmer knows best - America’s fighting men and women.

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