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Marines in the Garden of Eden: The True Story of Seven Bloody Days in Iraq
On March 23, 2003, in the city of An Nasiriyah, Iraq, members of the 507th Maintenance Company came under attack from Iraqi forces who killed or wounded twenty-one soldiers and took six prisoners, including Private Jessica Lynch. For the next week, An Nasiriyah rocked with battle as the marines of Task Force Tarawa fought Saddam's fanatical followers, street by street and building to building, ultimately rescuing Private Lynch.
912 pages, Kindle Edition
First published June 6, 2006
12 people are currently reading
125 people want to read
About the author
Richard S. Lowry
8 books13 followersRichard S. Lowry is an internationally recognized military historian and author. His last book, New Dawn, the battles for Fallujah, Savas Beatie LLC, May, 2010, was nominated for the 2011 Pulitzer Prize in History, the Military Writer’s Society of America’s 2010 History Award and the Marine Corps Heritage Foundation’s coveted Wallace M. Greene, Jr. award. Richard has previously published the award winning Marines in the Garden of Eden (Berkley Caliber, 2006), The Gulf War Chronicles (iUniverse, 2003 and iUniverse Star, 2008), and US Marine in Iraq: Operation Iraqi Freedom, 2003 (Osprey, 2006). Additionally, he contributed to Small Unit Actions (United States Marine Corps History Division, 2008).
He has been published in American Legion Magazine, Armchair General, Military Magazine and The Marine Corps Gazette. Richard was the military consultant to David C. Taylor for the award-winning documentary film, “Perfect Valor.” Richard frequently contributes to his own blog site: http://blog.richardslowry.com. He also writes a continuing military news column at http://www.examiner.com/x-30068-Orlan....
Richard has spoken to many community organizations to include the Military Officers Association, the American Legion, as well as the Marine Corps Association, Marine Corps League, Navy League, the Association of the US Army, Rotary and Kiwanis and recently spoke to Marines of the Marine Forces Command in Norfolk, Virginia. He has spoken on many different subjects relating to the current war in Iraq and Operation Desert Storm.
Richard is an award winning author. In 2006, Marines in the Garden of Eden won the Silver Medal for history from the Military Writers Society of America. The Gulf War Chronicles also received recognition from MWSA in 2006 and has achieved Editor’s Choice, Reader’s Choice and STAR distinction from iUniverse. In 2009, “Perfect Valor” received the best feature documentary award at the GI Film Festival and won the 2010 Norm Hatch award from the Marine Corps Heritage Foundation.
Richard has established himself as a contemporary expert on the war in Afghanistan and Iraq with a substantial radio, television and internet following. He is a writer, marketer and captivating public speaker.
He has been published in American Legion Magazine, Armchair General, Military Magazine and The Marine Corps Gazette. Richard was the military consultant to David C. Taylor for the award-winning documentary film, “Perfect Valor.” Richard frequently contributes to his own blog site: http://blog.richardslowry.com. He also writes a continuing military news column at http://www.examiner.com/x-30068-Orlan....
Richard has spoken to many community organizations to include the Military Officers Association, the American Legion, as well as the Marine Corps Association, Marine Corps League, Navy League, the Association of the US Army, Rotary and Kiwanis and recently spoke to Marines of the Marine Forces Command in Norfolk, Virginia. He has spoken on many different subjects relating to the current war in Iraq and Operation Desert Storm.
Richard is an award winning author. In 2006, Marines in the Garden of Eden won the Silver Medal for history from the Military Writers Society of America. The Gulf War Chronicles also received recognition from MWSA in 2006 and has achieved Editor’s Choice, Reader’s Choice and STAR distinction from iUniverse. In 2009, “Perfect Valor” received the best feature documentary award at the GI Film Festival and won the 2010 Norm Hatch award from the Marine Corps Heritage Foundation.
Richard has established himself as a contemporary expert on the war in Afghanistan and Iraq with a substantial radio, television and internet following. He is a writer, marketer and captivating public speaker.
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
February 27, 2017
This was my first time reading military non-fiction, so I don't really have much to compare it to. But it was clearly a thorough, well-researched account of the Battle of An Nasiriyah. The author was very dedicated in interviewing witnesses and getting all the information he could, and it shows.
Not all the details he included interested me, and it was often difficult to keep track of all the different characters and stories woven through the narrative. But, it was meant to be a historical account, not a fast-paced summer read, so I suppose it worked for its own purposes.
I may not have been its primary audience, but rather a sort of "secondary" audience that enjoyed the topic and general content but didn't prefer the format.
Still, glad to have taken my first step into the world of military nonfiction. I know I'll be reading more books in this genre in the future.
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P.S. I need to go on an angry rant. This is mostly just my opinion, but I was really bothered by two things in this book:
#1 The black and white way the war was portrayed.
The Iraqi soldiers were literally called "bad guys", and the Marines were elevated a bit too highly for my taste.
SERIOUSLY. There are two sides to every war. Yes, much evil was committed on the other side. But this is an overly simplistic, and almost dehumanizing, way to view an enemy.
I have to wonder: What was the story from their perspective?
#2 Jessica Lynch
Probably the most famous prisoner of war story in recent American wars. I need to hear the story from her perspective, because... wow.
My complaint isn't against the author specifically, but against the overall way she was covered by the media at the time, and perceived by her fellow soldiers.
They heard rumors that she was raped and tortured, and they were angry that a female soldier was in the position to become a POW? Instead of, oh I don't know, being angry at her captors?
I can't be the only one who sees how infuriatingly backwards this is.
Also, the fact that she WASN'T the only female POW, but as a blond, blue-eyed woman, she somehow got more fame and coverage than the black and Native American female soldiers that were in similar situations.
HMMMM.
The male savior complex of her fellow soldiers as they came to rescue her was just... disgusting. The way everyone portrayed her as this delicate little victim. I read her own words recently, and she called herself a "survivor". Very different image.
Again, I need to hear the whole story from her perspective. This was more than a decade ago, so I know that sexism has certainly improved in the military since then, but it was still frustrating to read about it so blatantly.
Not all the details he included interested me, and it was often difficult to keep track of all the different characters and stories woven through the narrative. But, it was meant to be a historical account, not a fast-paced summer read, so I suppose it worked for its own purposes.
I may not have been its primary audience, but rather a sort of "secondary" audience that enjoyed the topic and general content but didn't prefer the format.
Still, glad to have taken my first step into the world of military nonfiction. I know I'll be reading more books in this genre in the future.
-----
P.S. I need to go on an angry rant. This is mostly just my opinion, but I was really bothered by two things in this book:
#1 The black and white way the war was portrayed.
The Iraqi soldiers were literally called "bad guys", and the Marines were elevated a bit too highly for my taste.
SERIOUSLY. There are two sides to every war. Yes, much evil was committed on the other side. But this is an overly simplistic, and almost dehumanizing, way to view an enemy.
I have to wonder: What was the story from their perspective?
#2 Jessica Lynch
Probably the most famous prisoner of war story in recent American wars. I need to hear the story from her perspective, because... wow.
My complaint isn't against the author specifically, but against the overall way she was covered by the media at the time, and perceived by her fellow soldiers.
They heard rumors that she was raped and tortured, and they were angry that a female soldier was in the position to become a POW? Instead of, oh I don't know, being angry at her captors?
I can't be the only one who sees how infuriatingly backwards this is.
Also, the fact that she WASN'T the only female POW, but as a blond, blue-eyed woman, she somehow got more fame and coverage than the black and Native American female soldiers that were in similar situations.
HMMMM.
The male savior complex of her fellow soldiers as they came to rescue her was just... disgusting. The way everyone portrayed her as this delicate little victim. I read her own words recently, and she called herself a "survivor". Very different image.
Again, I need to hear the whole story from her perspective. This was more than a decade ago, so I know that sexism has certainly improved in the military since then, but it was still frustrating to read about it so blatantly.
November 13, 2024
This book is a well written, moment by moment accounting of the first big battle of Operation Iraqi Freedom.
From preparation to deployment to final shots fired in the battle, Lowry takes the reader on a ride that only gets wilder as the pages are turned. I found myself reading late into the night not wanting to put the book down. So many of the descriptions he wrote brought back memories of my own experiences during Operation Desert Shield/Storm.
One thing Lowry does well, in my opinion, is create a connection with the various members of the unit. Each turn of a page has you wondering what happens to everyone. You grieve when one of them falls in battle even though you know it is coming.
Lowry also does not pull any punches. When things go wrong he does not sugar coat them.
This is one of those books that should be any unit leader's reading list.
From preparation to deployment to final shots fired in the battle, Lowry takes the reader on a ride that only gets wilder as the pages are turned. I found myself reading late into the night not wanting to put the book down. So many of the descriptions he wrote brought back memories of my own experiences during Operation Desert Shield/Storm.
One thing Lowry does well, in my opinion, is create a connection with the various members of the unit. Each turn of a page has you wondering what happens to everyone. You grieve when one of them falls in battle even though you know it is coming.
Lowry also does not pull any punches. When things go wrong he does not sugar coat them.
This is one of those books that should be any unit leader's reading list.
March 22, 2013
This was a really good book. It started off kind of slow, but once you get past the first few chapters and the combat starts it gets really interesting... I recommend it to anyone who is interested in more recent military operations.
January 24, 2016
I've had the pleasure of meeting Mr. Lowry. Very interesting gentleman.
His books are memorable, especially for a Marine mom like me. I hope to read all his books - once my boys are back on US soil for good.
His books are memorable, especially for a Marine mom like me. I hope to read all his books - once my boys are back on US soil for good.
September 20, 2014
Most of this book seems to be filled with military liturgy. Lots of acronyms to remember (or forget).
Once through all that a well reported rendition of yet another military miscommunication fiasco.
Glad I read it, but would have trouble doing it again.
Once through all that a well reported rendition of yet another military miscommunication fiasco.
Glad I read it, but would have trouble doing it again.
June 26, 2012
I'm probably bias since this book is technically about my husband and people he served with.
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews