[.ca] Apocalypse Dawn: The Earth's Last Days, The Battle Begins (ISBN 0842384189)

needs more research into comand structure:
While I like the concept of the Military view of the Tribulation. I would like a little more accuracy in the command structure. ie 1st SGT Gander should be CSM Gander as it apears the he is a ranking battalion sargent. plus 1stSGT's are not referred to as "sarge" it is "!st SGT" or "TOP" CPT Remmington should be a LTC or MAJ at Minimum as he appears to be a Battalion commander. here is the basic command structure troop: individual soldier Enlisted pvt - spc team: 5 to 20 troops size may very lead by CPL or SGT squad: generally 2 teams could be more depending on unit lead SGT-SSGT Platoon: 7 to 8 squads size varies depending on unit type and mission lead by platoon sgt SSGT - SFC and Platoon leader 1st or 2nd leutenet Company: 3 to 4 platoons lead by 1st SGT and Company commander CPT Batallion: 3 to 4 companies lead by CSM and Batallion commander LTC, Majors generally hold the position of batallion XO Brigade:3 to 4 Battallions commanded by a COL and a CSM Division: 3 to 4 Brigades generally commanded by a Major (2 star) General and a CSM. Corp: three or more Divisions and supporting commands. Lt(3 star)General. Just venting for those of us former Army guys. other wise a good story

great read:
Apocalypse Dawn makes a great edition to the Left Behind series. There are a lot of similarities in the struggle to grasp what has happened. Left Behind covers a vast period of time and briefly goes over the major events whereas Apocalypse Dawn covers roughly 48 hours and only a few events. The shorter time period and less events creates a deeper and darker focus on the rapture. Also with the short time period, there is less turning to God. You do get a better feel of the questions those left behind are asking themselves and how they are dealing with the shock.

W.E.B. Griffin at the Rapture?:
This is a very good military-style thriller tied to the LEFT-BEHIND series. Odom writes very convincingly about the U. S. military, and his heroic protagonist, Ranger First Sergeant Sam Adams "Goose" Gander, is an outstanding character. There are several other characters introduced, along with separate sub-plots, and these show lots of potential for the series. The one about the doubt-filled Navy Chaplain plagued by demons as he tried to spread the word about the Rapture is especially intense. The one about Goose's wife, a Fort Benning social worker, has potential, but is not well-realized -- every child in the world is raptured away, and they're pressing kidnapping charges about one kid? Come on. To me, one of the weaknesses of the LEFT BEHIND series is that not enough attention was paid to the Rapture. And they we see most of it through the eyes of an airline pilot and a newspaper reporter. The best thing about APOCALYPSE DAWN is that is shows the responses from many different types of ordinary people to this extraordinary event.

Great Read for Soldiers, and their Families.:
I found this book a wonderful read for Soldiers, or any military person, whom is also a Believer. Its thrilling chapters, involving 3 seperate, but connected characters, seemed as if you were almost reading different stories, intertwined within 1 book. I found a truly awesome array of emotions when reading that books rarely give me. Today's Soldiers and yesterday's veterans will be able to smell the gunpowder and hear the voices of the hurt and dying. You will be able to remember a 1st Sergeant just like "Goose" who led you during your tour of duty. Military wives will be able to find themselves in the shoes of Goose's wife Maggie as she struggles with the deployment of her husband and the daily challenges of raising 2 boys, of very different ages. I HIGHLY recommend this book as the Gospel message is clear and concise and will both touch and break your heart. Makes you want to stand up and cheer, and fall to your knees and rejoice the Saviour.

Eccellent book!:
I just want to say, I am sick of people comparing this to the left behind series.If you want it to be the same then go read the Left Behind books and stop complaining about this one! Anyway,I must say this is shaping up to be a great series.I loved this book;It has great action that is vividly detailed so you can easily picture it.I know the jargon is hard to understand but believe it or not it makes the book easier to read.Mel Odom spends just the right amount of time developing characters so you can picture them more clearly.Like one of the other reveiwers said,some of the subplots aren't really that interesting but I realized they are nessesary to develop those characters so in later books the author doesn't have to waste time explaining them.I am about halfway through Apocalypse Crucible and can't wait for the next book in the series!