As July gives way to August, we enter the dog days of summer. Whether at the beach, in the field, or even crossing a parking lot in between air-conditioned climes, the merciless sun brings to mind Lawrence of Arabia crossing the Nefud as we all struggle to deal with the oppressive heat.

Now imagine spending these days inside a working tank.

Cramped inside a sealed metal box with other soldiers and working machinery, tankers could face temperatures up to 130 degrees Fahrenheit. Metal hulls could get hot enough to blister skin, and crews constantly faced dehydration and the threat of heat stroke.

Modern tanks have air conditioning systems to help regulate temperatures and protect the crews (and the electronics), but even when functioning properly, things can get uncomfortable.

Having trouble imagining what it’s like? The AUSA Book Program includes many titles to bring you into the tanker’s world.

Tanks made their debut in the First World War, with George Patton leading the way for the US Tank Corps. This part of the famed general’s story is Blood, Guts, and Grease: George S. Patton in World War I by Jon B. Mikolashek. To widen the scope, editor Lawrence M. Kaplan collects the experiences of the first men inside the machines in Pershing’s Tankers: Personal Accounts of the AEF Tank Corps in World War I.

World War II is often regarded as the epitome of armored warfare in the public eye. 1,271 Days a Soldier: The Diaries and Letters of Colonel H.E. Gardiner as an Armored Officer in World War II provides a first-hand view of the US involvement in the war, while Patton’s Photographs: War as He Saw It by Kevin M. Hymel offers a visual take on the war.

The Book Program also offers other perspectives on the conflict. Titles such as Panzer Operations: Germany's Panzer Group 3 During the Invasion of Russia, 1941 and Panzer Tactics: Tank Operations in the East, 1941-42 show German experiences. The Soviet General Staff series includes a volume on the biggest tank battle in history with The Battle of Kursk: The Red Army’s Defensive Operations and Counter-Offensive, July-August 1943.

Vietnam is usually thought of as an infantryman’s war, but Don Snedeker shows how armored forces were an integral part of the conflict with The Blackhorse in Vietnam: The 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment in Vietnam and Cambodia, 1966–1972 and Blackhorse Tales: Stories of 11th Armored Cavalry Troopers at War.

Heavy Metal: A Tank Company's Battle to Baghdad brings the tanker story up to the Global War on Terror. Author Jason Conroy was a company commander in Task Force 1-64, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, at the tip of the U.S. Army’s spear and one of the first elements into Baghdad.

Finally, for readers seeking a comprehensive history of the American armored experience in a two-volume set, Steven Zaloga offers a fully illustrated overview with US Battle Tanks 1917-1945 and US Battle Tanks 1946-2025.

Please visit www.ausa.org/books to order these and other titles in the AUSA Book Program. Use the promo code SUM25AUSA for select member discounts when purchasing directly through the publisher links.