Title: Operation Wappen: A War That Never Was
Author: Robert Maddock
Publisher: XlibrisUS
ASIN: B079Z3732V
Pages: 84
Genre: Biography
Reviewed by: Dan MacIntosh

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Robert Maddock expresses his love of history all through his book, Operation Wappen: A War That Never Was. Although this book’s title focuses on one specific operation, the work spans an overview of American military activity, all the way from the Fifties until nearly modern times. So, although Maddock writes about Operation Wappen, which was a 1957 attempt at a coup in Syria and one of the lesser known adventures in the Cold War, this book also gives a widely varying history lesson, beginning with the mystery surrounding General George Patton’s death, through to the Arab Israeli War on up to the contemporary terrorism.

While Maddock spends time recalling his own military activities, much of this work explores various activities that were related to the Cold War. Yes, he writes about the Russian and American role in this serious conflict, but he also gives a bit of a personal, particularly religious perspective on why various individuals and governments behaved the way they did. He doesn’t just write about the Marines; he also explores some of the Marines’ history. Furthermore, he writes about what it means to be a Marine, and this is one place where Maddock works spirituality into his narrative. “It is no accident that Christ and later Paul found Roman Centurions humble, believing and helpful,” he tells us. After siting a list of key scriptures, he then writes, “As for most who have served in this illustrious Corps [the Marines, of course], it is a mark of accomplishment that stays with those who have experienced it for the rest of their lives and gives rise to the saying, “Once a Marine; always a Marine.” He then reminds us how there have always been Marines, as long as there have been battles at sea. He reaches all the way back to Horatio Nelson (1785-1805) to prove his point.

In addition to exploring history, Maddock also writes about his personal life. His active military duty ended in 1958, which coincides with when he met the love of his life, Jane Leonard Helm. It was then that he transitioned to medical school. Nevertheless, he continued to serve as a reserve until he was honorably discharged in 1965. He then concentrated on studying metabolism and endocrinology. He also involved himself in investigating residents that suffered from thyroid cancer, which allegedly resulted from the above ground nuclear testing in Nevada in the 1950s. It just seemed like he couldn’t ever get completely away from military-related activities.

The only criticism one can level at Maddock’s book is that it can be a little too ambitious. That’s not such a bad characteristic, though, especially when there are so many books written with so much less ambition. However, this book is laid out in such a way that it sometimes feels as though Maddock is jumping around a bit, from subject to subject. It would have helped if the different chapters connected a little better. This is a small gripe, though, as what Maddock has to say is always interesting.

The longer we get away from the Cold War, the more stories like this one will be revealed. Now that this tense period in world history is – for the most part — behind us, those that were involved in its key movements are more and more comfortable writing and talking about what they experienced. Maddock got into the thick of it right at the right time. When he first joined the Marines, Cold War activities were just getting into full swing. This book is a small, but information-packed view from one integral man’s perspective. Wars, even ones like the Cold War – which was one where its key combatants were, at times, more manipulators than action figures – help shape the world we live in. Knowing about this pivotal period in world history is essential to knowing why the modern world is the way it is, and Robert Maddock helps us see this all much more clearly.