The Unexpected Storm was extraordinarily written. Filled with emotion, this book gives an honest perspective of a citizen soldier serving our country with dignity. The author, Steven Manchester showed how courageous he is by sharing his innermost thoughts and feelings. And he did an outstanding job specifically describing the physical environment in the Gulf region. His ability to help the reader visualize and feel what he experienced is remarkable. Veterans, or not - people of all ages should read this book!

This new author's writing style keeps you interested and entertained from the very first page to the last. This book provides an accurate as well as enlightening account of the Gulf experience for those of us safe at home. While reading The Unexpected Storm, I experienced emotions ranging from grief and laughter, to fear and disgust. The story explains the physical and emotional changes these men went through during the war. Most left as boys, and returned as men, with much more respect for those who went before them. This is a book I would recommend everyone to read -- it makes you think about the many things we take for granted.

It's not often that I pick up a book about something other than the Vietnam War but I'm so glad I did. The Unexpected Storm: The Gulf War Legacy by Steven Manchester is amazing! It's not that the war was amazing but rather the way the author has depicted it and perhaps amazing is still not the right word to use.

As I opened Chapter One for the first time Steve was talking about being onboard the C-5A Galaxy plane that was taking his National Guard unit off to the Middle East. He wrote candidly of his feelings toward the war and his fellow soldiers. He was open and honest throughout the entire book.

This was the first time the American public watched as members of the National Guard and various Reserve units around the United States were being deployed along with their active duty counterpart troops to serve their country. No it's not the first time units of that nature were deployed but this time was different. Everything was aired on television and the country quickly became aware of the sacrifices our men and women in uniform were making. Many were leaving spouses, children and jobs behind. In some instances both parents of children were being deployed and their children were being left with grandparents or other family members.

Steven's group was no different. Many members of his Military Police (MP) Company from Massachusetts were married and had families. Throughout the chapters he reflected on some of them. He spoke of how he and "his comrades have come to heal their nation from a ghost that has haunted them for two decades: the poltergeist of Vietnam." He wrote of seeing "the after-effects of 41 days of uninterrupted bombing." AND how "The Arabian Desert has been used as a testing ground for every new weapon in the American arsenal." He held nothing back including his feelings and emotions.

The war itself ended on 28 February 1991 but that's when Steve's group was really put to work. However, Steve's war began earlier when he was first injected with the many shots required of the soldiers before they could deploy. They were already getting ill from those shots and the pills they were forced to swallow frequently that were supposed to protect them from various known nerve agents. Now "Steve's body is invaded with its own ghost of torment." He and his fellow soldier's have been "brutally introduced to 'The Mystery Illness'" better known to the American public as Persian Gulf Syndrome.

As Steve sat onboard that C-5A he reflected on his life, family, friends, and how he got to that point in his life. He realized he was 23 years old and now responsible for ten other lives in his squad. His wife was being left behind, out of work due to a back injury, to handle everything that he normally did.

He wrote about growing up in a loving household in New England-an area that I'm very familiar with-of his school years, and his best friend. Steve spoke of their very special friendship. His friend wanted to go in the Marine Corps but Steve thought that joining the Army and being trained as an MP would help him in his ultimate goal of working in Law Enforcement. They chose the Army National Guard. He wrote about their Basic Training, the first MP Company they were assigned to, and the company that Steve transferred into that eventually went to Saudi Arabia.

Steve wrote of his parents and siblings. He spoke of his uncle who served in Vietnam and how that war affected him. This author readily shared the love of his life, his girlfriend who became his wife, with his readers. They had a story book romance which went bad in large part due to the after effects of the war.

Steve wrote about finally getting the word that his group was returning home. They attempted to smuggle some souvenirs out. They were on their way to the most glorious homecoming scene in decades in the US. Steve had seen and experienced so much. He wrote "the Army had broken him down....He was affected physically, mentally, emotionally and even spiritually."

The soldiers were whisked through out-processing-nothing like what they went through when they were in-processed. "The Army wasn't even pretending to care. Like their Vietnam War predecessors, Uncle Sam just wanted them off his menial payroll." They soon learned "It was going to be a long fight." This was going to effect his relationship with his wife too.

His book went onto explain what was done to him, how it effected his relationship with his wife, and what he ultimately did. When his wife became pregnant he worried the whole nine months that he would have passed on his illness to his son. Steve spoke of deciding to change jobs and how he came to realize what would make him feel better.

As I said at the beginning this was an amazing book. This is one book that needs to be read in its entirety by everyone. Go through his life with him, journey to a foreign land, and pray for him as he goes. This is truly an inspirational story even though the author has changed the names of the people and units to protect them and wrote it in third person. I highly recommend it.

Gardening In The Coastal South by Master Gardener, educator and journalist Marie Harrison (Director of District I of the Florida Federation of Garden Clubs) offers an impressive and practical collection of advice, tips, musings, and reflections written for the benefit of neophyte and seasoned gardeners alike. Tips and techniques for growing Popular Perennials, bulbs, tubers, herbs, shrubs, small trees, vines, and more, are discussed, as well as climate issues to be aware of along the coastal south, as well as regional environmental issues and personal insights from the author. A relaxing and engaging guide for those who love to garden, or who simply love to read about gardening, Gardening In The Coast South is a superb reference and a highly recommended regional gardening guide.

If you are a southern by birth, this book will delight you with memories of the old days. You will rejoice at the memories that surface while reading this conversational style presentation.
If you are new to the South, prepare yourself to encounter a friend and expert in the pleasures of gardening.

If more writing could be done by people like Marie, who have had their hands in the soil, we could more easily enjoy our flora and fauna. What a style!!!!

I have this book because I know this lady's passion for gardening! Even though I live outside the Zone 8, I find this book to be extremely useful for my Zone 7 garden. In building a new home, her book is a "book of choice" in giving information that will help me garden more successfully.

I loved Marie Harrison's story-telling style. I enjoyed the tales of her family and how these experiences influenced her outlook on gardening and life in general.

I give it a thumbs up!

No book has ever captivated me the way this one has. Cynthia Acree has written a fascinating book that highlights her experiences as a military wife when her husband, Marine Corps Colonel Cliff Acree was shot down in the early stages of the Gulf War and held prisoner of war by Saddam Hussein. Cliff was held captive for 48 days, and overcame brutal beatings, starvation, and torturous interrogations; he nearly died on more than one occasion.

Cindy was back home in America fighting her own battle. First of all, she never even knew if Cliff was alive until he was paraded by the Iraqi's, beaten, dazed and starved, in front of news cameras that broadcast their footage back to the rest of the world via CNN. Cindy rallied for the support of her fellow Americans to fight for the release of her husband and the other POW's. Both Cindy and Cliff tell the story in The Gulf Between Us-- it is one that stirs great emotion, and makes us proud to be an American!

Thank you, Cindy and Cliff, for not only having the courage to endure, but for finding the strength and courage to remember and share those moments with the rest of us!

Cliff and Cindy survived, alone and together, incredible challenges to life and love. This is a wonderful story of the human spirit and its ability to endure in the face of disaster.

I highly recommend this book to readers of war history as well as readers of human drama. It is a fascinating chronicle of the experiences of a Marine pilot who endures personal misery as a POW. Yet, his story is told in a very personal, sensitive way. Unforgettable.

Cindy's drama is just as compelling, and the reader witnesses the behind-the-scenes activity of her attempts to secure her husband's liberty. Once together again after the war's end, these two soulmates then turned to the tasks of recovering, rebuilding and healing.

Honor, courage, commitment, loyalty .... all words which spring to life within this book. Don't miss it!

READ THIS BOOK! Cliff and Cindy's story is a gripping one; it is full of the events that can only be called "heroism under fire". Their situations could not have been seemingly more opposite, yet their approach was EXACTLY the same -- love and duty and honor in all things. It must have been hard to remember when was Cliff was being tortured that his main purpose was to survive and give no information. It must have been excrutiating for Cindy, when the cameras and reporters were crawling over each other and her for a story, that her main purpose was to get her husband and the other POWs home. And how does one deal with the pressing worship of a grateful nation, hungry for heroes? The tales are told in riveting fashion, as the reader is pulled along through every detail of their stories, as if standing in the room as the events unfold. The descriptions are vivid and captivating. You won't be able to put this book down!

Cliff and Cindy weathered "their dessert storm", and survived to tell their story because the seeds of their success were ALWAYS there! They BOTH knew that much might be expected of them; the DIFFERENCE is, they were WILLING -- not to be heroes (though heroes they TRULY are), but to do WHATEVER it took to accomplish the mission before them! Such a thing cannot just be "taught"... it must be LEARNED and LIVED!

Cliff and Cindy ARE heroes, but this book is not JUST about Dessert Storm. It has taken its place alongside those biographies and stories of GREAT men and women that we MUST study if we will ever be ready and willing to take our place in the fight for something bigger than ourselves! If I were a high school or college teacher/professor, I would make this book MANDATORY reading, to show my students that there ARE still heroes, and they come in many forms -- usually when THEY least expect it...

BZ, Cliff and Cindy! Semper Fidelis (the motto of the Marine Corps; it means "Always Faithful") -- for you were, and are true to that which has made the telling of your story possible!

THANK YOU for sharing it with us!

I am an 11th grade history student who is very intellectual but has one problem- I cannot read nonfiction. However, when I read this book by Woodward for a class assignment, I found the book so readable that I was enthralled and even enjoyed reading through the engrossing decision-making and conversations. What's more, a reader feels like they get the real facts from the book and see the real reasons that decision makers act in certain ways; it is hardly a random action- these men take their jobs seriously and do it well. Cynicism I may have felt towards government has become more controlled and more muted after reading this book. I recommend it.

I found this book well worth the read. I quite honestly had forgotten many of the events surrounding the invasion of Panama and the Gulf War. This book brought it all back into perspective. Woodward's research and ability to tell the whole story gives you a "fly on the wall" status. He tries not to make any judgements either on the events themselves or the players involved. Woodward succeeds in laying it all out there for you.

I will admit Woodward does seem to have a bias toward Powell, but not enough so that you think he is forcing him on you. He doesn't paint an overly rosy picture of Bush, often leaving you wondering about Bush's decision-making skills or intentions. This may only be because he was not able to personally use Bush as a source.

I am a big fair of Woodward, so much so that I would even consider reading his shopping list. Overall this book gives the reader some very interesting stories about the military preparation and political decision making that led up to the Attack on Panama and the Gulf War. The book also gives you the details of the inner workings of the Pentagon and the Joint Chiefs of Staff. I do not think there is a current writer / investigative reporter that has the ability to get the inside information Woodward always does, at time I wonder if he does not pay people to take tape recorders with them to meetings. He provides so much detail and very useful explanations of the process that you really feel that you are there. He always puts together a great book and he has done it here again. I also have the book by the 1st Bush "A World Transformed", and in the book he states that for the most part everything in this Woodward book is correct, I do not think you can get a better recommendation then that. You will defiantly enjoy this book.

Ally to Adversary is a unique opportunity to be in on the planning and conduct of a military conflict that most of us only see "highlights" of on television. Rick Francona allows us to be the "fly on the wall" in high-level intelligence briefings, the multi-service coordination chain, and grass-roots level contact with real people. Francona's story-telling style takes the reader into an exotic world of danger and intrigue as smoothly as any best-selling fiction author. Occasionally, I found myself thinking, "Things like this only happen in the movies!" But this is his true story. His "characters" are real and sympathetic. The situations into which he takes us along are delicate and, at times, hair-raising.

As I read his book, I was enlightened about things I saw watching the war and its prelude from afar, as did so many other people. Francona lends understanding to that which is often misunderstood, such as the hows and whys of war. He doesn't whitewash the Gulf War; he gives it human faces and personal conflict.

Ally to Adversary is a candidate for everyone's "must-read" list, whether you are a veteran of the military, a military historian, or a civilian looking for a fascinating read.

Rick Francona, a retired USAF LtCol., has written an account of the Gulf War as no one else can. He is probably unique in that he served in Baghdad during the Iran/Iraq war (to include excursions into Iraqi frontline trenches during the fighting) and then on Gen. Norman Schwarzkopf's staff as an interpreter and intelligence officer. Francona's experiences and perspective make for an interesting memoir of the war. He was there for most of the key decisions and events of the war, and he is very frank in his description of working with the Coalition partners, particularly the Saudis. Likewise, he provides an honest account of the efficacy of the air war, summed up in the placard over the desk of one of the airpower planners in Riyadh: "We are not preparing the battlefield, we are destroying it."

Also, readers will learn how the politics of realism comes into play in the Middle East -- from US involvement in the Iran/Iraq war to the decision to end the Gulf War without moving into Baghdad.
Francona has written an extremely readable history. This book belongs on the shelves of historians, collectors, and military history buffs.

For those of us who have spent many years in the Middle East, or Southwest Asia in military geographic terms, it is quickly apparent that LtCol Francona has an insight into the Arab military mind which can only come from mastering the Arabic language, and living among the people. He worked with the Iraqi officer corps for years and developed relationships, moreover friendships, which last to this day. To be selected and assigned as the personal translator for the CinC, General Norman Schwartzkopf says it all. The General was well acquainted with the mindset and customs of the region, having lived in Iran as a youngster, and would demand only the best. Then a Major, Rick Francona served him well and came to know the General in ways different from his subordinate staff. No other book on the Gulf War will reveal the inner workings of the US and Coalition commanders as will 'Ally to Adversary'.

There aren't a lot of books by former naval avaitors about flying and fighting during Desert Storm. This book is also rarer since the platform he flew, the A-6 Intruder, has been retired despite several advantages over its replacement, the F/A-18. The book describes the working up period prior to deploying to the Arabian Gulf, shipboard life, as well as the buildup and actual fighting done during Desert Storm from his carrier. The wrting isn't as gripping as a professional writer would do, but nonetheless is an authentic account from a unique source. Overall, I was gald to have had the opportunity to learn more about what makes combat and naval aviation so much more different than what land-based forces go through. As a book to throw in your bag for a weekend reading source, this will be fine.

Angles of Attack: An A-6 Intruder Pilot's War; Peter Hunt; Ballantine Books, New York, N.Y., 2002; softcover, 368 pages, illustrated. ....
This newest Gulf War memoir is excellent; it really does put the reader in the cockpit. Like the A-7 Corsair, its stablemate in the Navy's attack community, the A-6 Intruder flew its final combat sorties in the six-week action that ousted the invading Iraqis from Kuwait. Intruder squadrons flew from all six carriers deployed during Desert Storm (as well as two Marine Corps shore-based squadrons), and one A-6 aviator tells a story that covers the buildup of Desert Shield and the nightly launches that devastated Iraqi naval and land assets.
Peter Hunt's enthusiastic account is one of the best of the type this reviewer has read in recent years. The focal point of the book is, of course, his experience flying 45 combat missions with VA-145 and the close bond with his bombardier-navigator (BN). The descriptions of the prewar activities as the squadron, air wing and carrier prepare to deploy give a fine insider's view of carrier aviation. The work ups are described in detail that might at times slow the story, but Hunt carries the story well with the result that these portions are well worth the reader's time. Hunt tells what it was like flying combat from one of the Navy's oldest carriers, USS Ranger (CV-61).
Peripheral areas like a port call in the Philippines, the loneliness of Christmas Eve at sea ' he decides to sort out his personal survival items ' and thoughts of family so far away are some of the most appealing aspects of Hunt's work..
The author and his BN participated in the Battle of Bubiyan, which saw the destruction of several Iraqi navy PT boats that eliminated that threat. They also flew during the last major attack on Iraqi units along the so-called 'highway of death' as the invaders torched the Kuwaiti capital and tried to flee.
Though a rather large paperback, the writing flows well and the author has a nice, personal style. Unfortunately, the book concludes on a sour note because of his dissatisfaction with the post-war Navy, the impact of the Tailhook scandal and the resulting 'rot from within.' Family separation also plays a hand in his decision to leave, as does the demise of the A-6 community, with no replacement after the A-12 debacle. Nonetheless, Angles of Attack is a fine effort that tells the story of one of the Navy's stalwart aviation communities during its last combat deployment.
Peter Mersky

Title of this review says it all. The only reason I wanted to post another review of this book is to just add another 5 stars-it's that good.

This book should become a classic-alas, I fear it will be overlooked by most, and that will definately be their loss.

I kid you not-I've read most of the first person accounts of aerial combat, from all periods, and this one is right at the top of the list.

I first came across the book in the fall of '99. It was at a critical time in my air force career. Soon, the mandate to submit to the anthrax vaccine would require a decision that would obviously affect the rest of my life. Take a vaccine that has been proven to cause terrible reactions and has been whispered to be a root cause of Gulf War Illness or refuse and be subject to military justice and the end of my career.

In my squadron, the most asked question to management was "If we become ill following the vaccine, will the Air Force take care of us?" As I saw in this book, the answer to the question is NO.

As pilots, our most treasured asset is our health. Without it, we can no longer perform the mission that we love. The manner in which Michael and Denise describe the physical and mental anguish he endured was truly overwhelming. I could imagine myself in his position and the way I would react; how I would feel.

In my months of research, this book proved to be one of the many determining factors in my decsion. When I talked to former commanders who reminded me of their experiences with Agent Orange or when I spoke with members at my own base that had testified to Congress about their illnesses following the anthrax vaccine, in the back of my mind was Michael Donnelly.

I ultimately made my decision to resign in lieu of taking the vaccine which has led to the end of my aviation career. The only salvation I have is the knowledge that I will never need to worry about unexplained illness in the future.

My most heartfelt sympathy and gratitude go out to Michael and Denise's families. Michael's story is one that I will never forget. Thank you for helping me make my decision.

In this story there is a message for millions of Americans. In this story the reader will learn about the "wheels of justice."

Not too many books grab my heart as this one did. I felt like I was participating in the book myself! Both Denise and Michael did an excellent job bringing his story to life. I read the book when it first came out and I still continue to think about it often (two years later). Personally, I could see it made into a movie. At any rate, this is one book that is a must read in my opinion and well worth my money spent!

As the author points out, the series of naval battles fought in late October, 1945, collectively termed the Battle of Leyte Gulf, was the largest naval battle ever fought - in terms of men and ships involved. Although by that point in the war, the question was not if Japan was to be defeated but when and at what cost (the cost was high and would have been staggering if the atomic bomb attacks had not finally convinced Hirohito to accept the terms of the Potsdam ultimatum). From before Pearl Harbor, the Japanese Combined Fleet had been seeking the "decisive battle" at sea, where they would once and for all achieve naval superiority over the Allies (the U.S., actually, since Britain's naval efforts were quickly rendered inconsequential in the Pacific days into the war). At Leyte Gulf, the Japanese sallied forth - in their typically overly complex, arrogant, disconnected fashion - to destroy the American landing forces off Leyte - and turn back the flooding tide of the American advance. What actually happened, in a complex series of maneuvers and actions - involving tactical and strategic mistakes on both sides - resulted in a resounding American victory and the final destruction of the Japanese Combined Fleet. The Japanese would never again venture forth to meet American ships at sea - save the Yamato's desperate suicide run during the first week of the Battle of Okinawa. Cutler's account is well researched and is commendable in explaining complex events and evaluating tactical and strategic decisions - even if his writing style is not quite up to the dramatic content. Cutler rightly emphasizes the heroic actions of the Destroyers and Destroyer Escorts off Samar in attempting to fend off the vastly superior Japanese force under Kurita - which, through tactical and communications errors by "Bull" Halsey - had achieved position to destroy covering escort carrier task forces and the American landing fleet off Leyte (fortunately for the U.S., Kurita made the mistake of breaking off his attack on the verge of success). The Battle of Leyte Gulf is little known among the American public and the action by these "small Navy" sailors of "Taffy 3" should be memorialzed as a profile of courage. They exhibited the type of courage Japan - in their arrogance - was convinced the U. S. did not possess when they made their decision to precipitate a war with the "sleeping giant". What sweet revenge it must have been for USS West Virginia, survivor of the cowardly attack on Pearl Harbor, when her radar directed big guns rained destruction on the Japanese force under Kirishima at Surigao Strait. This is the definitive account of a decisive engagement of the war in the Pacific.and perhaps last great naval battle the world will ever see.

Cutler's account of the Battle of Leyte Gulf is a remarkable and detailed account of the greatest naval battle in history. What makes the book great is the details that Cutler provided for the reader to learn about what happened. The reader is given the background first of what led to the battle: the initial air strikes by Halsey, MacArthur's arguement to invade the Phillipines over Formosa, and the initial invasion. But he covers both sides as to why the Japanese committed the rest of their fleet and how the arrived at their plan.
The account of the battle is fully covered as well. From the Dace and Darter commencing the attack, to the smashing victory in Surigao Strait, Halsey's initial attacks and blunderous move north, and the herioc and desperate fight of Taffy 3 to protect themselves and the landing forces. Cutler doesn't just say wahy Halsey blundered, but he gives every reason why and what the consequences after the battle were.
Now I would be lying if I said I was totally satisfied though. I was a little disappointed in the pictures included, I have seen more in other books, but Cutler managed to get ones I have never seen before. That is minor though when compared to the satisfaction of getting the facts about the victory that guaranteed the US could win the war. The maps are helpful in seeing the Japanese plan of attack and the US plan of defense. I would recommend this to any historian or lover of war novels.

This is a fine work by Thomas Cutler that explains in great detail the Battle of Leyte Gulf. The explanation of Japanese and American ship positions and information from sailors who were actually in this battle make this a very special book. This book highlights the real strength of the U.S Navy at this point in time. That is, the core values of the U.S. Navy, honor, courage, and commitment. While the U.S. destroyers Hoel, Johnston, and Samuel B. Roberts were sinking many acts of bravery were witnissed. To a man, they never let their shipmates down. That is the highest compliment one navy man can give to another. Thomas Cutler also explains some of the reasoning for the japanese withdrawl when complete victory was at hand for them. A must book to read for anyone interested in the U.S Navy and to learn more about a very special type of bravery that is only present in the U.S. Navy.

This being the first Mike Stewart book I've read, my goal will now be to read his previous Tom McInnes novels.

This time around McInnes gets hired by Sheri Baneberry. Sheri's mother was serving on a jury when she mysteriously died of what seemed to be salmonella poisoning. What Sheri wants to find out is whose fault it was. As McInnes and his partner, Joey, start researching the mother's death bad things start happening. Tom's life is now in danger. He gets blackmailed for murder and he also becomes disbarred. As he gets closer to the truth, death gets closer to him. With the help of an Asian-American doctor (psychology) who soon becomes a close female companion, and Joey, his trusting investigator, Tom works his magic and soon discovers the truth.

Stewart's way with words makes this novel one heck of a good read. A strong descriptive narrative invites one to visit Mobile, Alabama even in the dead of winter. A well plotted, fast moving story that I really enjoyed.

Highly Recommended.

Another great work by Mike Stewart!! I won't go into the plot, which has been summarized before. Unlike some other authors, Mike Stewart is sticking with the same basic formula that has made him successful with his previous books - the book is well written, interesting, and, full of action. Zybo is a character that you'll immediately become fascinated with.

Overall - GREAT book!! Highly recommended!

Mike Stewart fulfills the promise shown in "Sins of the Brothers" with this beautifully crafted thriller. He grabs you on page one and doesn't let loose until a few days after you have closed the book. Even then, his puzzling client and the multi-faceted contract criminal, Zybo, will stay with you.

What begins as a suspicion of highly imaginative jury tampering expands to include Mobile's judiciary, a blue ribbon law firm, and law enforcement. None of the characters are quite centered. There is not always a clear line between the good guys and the bad. We get answers that open new questions and drive this highly charged story from climax to climax.

Tom McInnes is a likeable protagonist, but contradictory enough to keep engaging us. It helps to keep in mind Tom is a member in sometimes not-so-good standing of an Alabama time honored and influential family. His daddy is a man to be reckoned with and is an important, if unseen, part of Tom's makeup. I liked the reality of Tom being a reluctant lover. In spite of psychologist Kai-Li Cantil's awesome perfections, Tom is understandably gun shy from a recent bruising romance. When plot considerations dictate Kai-Li's hiding out in his house for protection, Tom is faintly irritated at too much togetherness.

Mike Stewart brings to mind James Lee Burke's power of describing lush southern scenery. The tempers and moods of Mobile Bay are part and parcel of this fascinating yarn. "Clean Kill" is an excellent offbeat thriller sure to win Mr. Stewart many new fans.

I was a M1 tank platoon leader in Desert Storm so I was a little skeptical when I found out the author of this book was just an "Intell weenie". Well I was surprised at how well written this book was and how knowledgeable the author was on tank operations.

This book was totally OUTSTANDING! He does not bore the reader with endless speeches about how right or wrong the war was or trying to explain every facet of training and deployment. He writes just enough about the life of this battalion before, during and after the war to keep your interest.

His writing style is easy to read and understand and the few maps included in the book were easy to follow and added to my understanding of what was taking place.

I always wondered about the battle against the Iraqi Republican Guards divisions that took place in March and now I know. The author portrays a vivid picture of what went on and shows that it was more than just an "incident" like the news portrayed it.

This book was worth the wait and the money I paid for it!

WOW. I served with the 4-64 Anvil Company. I was with Fiorillo's boys. We were the Wrench. This book brought back alot of memories even ones that I had forgotten that were not mentioned. Thank you. I will cherish this book and pass it to my children. I have lost contact with everyone. I would love to get in touch with anyone who was there with Anvil. Even you Fiorillo, dispite the conflicts we had on board the M113. We had some good memories. Victory to all of the 4-64. .. God Bless and thank you Mr. Pierson.

SPC Leal 63E10
Wrench 1 (Driver)

A truly captivating account of one of the finest Tank battalions in the world. I served with 4/64 Armor as a Air defender from 1/5 ADA. I rode along side LTC Craddock 50-100 mtrs to his right rear flank. This book provides a great opportunity to regain memories lost. A honest an impartial look at modern warfare. Things done right as well as wrong by a Armor Bn are honestly portrayed for both civilian and military readers in a language easy to understand. A must get product.