| |  | Books War Stories: Operation Iraqi Freedom |  | | | | | | | | | | Rating:  - War Stories: Operation Iraqi Freedom
I received the book on time. Although I bought the book used, it looked brand-new. I was very satisfied with my purchase experience.
Rating: - How things have changed
Being a combat veteran of an earlier era I found Col. North's book a fascinating read on how warfare is waged in this new age of high tech and high media exposure. Unlike steril fact books, this gives you the perspective of the infantrymen who are on the ground, dealing with it every day. I have handed this book off to several of my buddies, who have also been "out of the loop" for a number of years, telling them it's good look at how things REALLY were in Iraq vs. the tainted picture portrayed by the media.
I have not always been a big fan of Col. North's but know first-hand that he will tell it like it is, regardless of how unpopular his message may be. That, in my view, makes him a credible and valuable author, and this, a valuable testament to the men and women serving us in Iraq.
Rating: - A Soldier's Story
Oliver North's "War Stories: Operation Iraqi Freedom" is a straightforward and compelling view into the Iraqi war as told through the eyes and voices of the young American's who were fighting it.This is as refreshingly-far from the armchair generals and TV talking-head analysts as one can get, providing unique insight into what was happening as seen by North while embedded with the Marines as they fought their way from Kuwait to Baghdad to Tikrit in March-April, 2003.Told in a series of vignettes - "sitreps" in mil-speak" - Retired Marine Colonel North relates the story as he sees it, depending more on the perspective of the enlisted men than of the senior officers of his unit. North captures the details of day-to-day life in desert, where sacrifices are routine and acts of heroism common and mostly unsung.He delivers these tales with straight prose and clinical precision, resisting any temptation to sensationalize or to evoke pity.It is an honest and unvarnished view of the Iraq war, at least as seen through the rather narrow sights of the unit with which North traveled.(In fact, as North notes frequently, he and he troops on the ground had scant insight to the progress of the war in the "big picture".An occasional opportunity to catch a Fox News transmission were their best sources of intelligence).
It is unfortunate that some will dismiss or disparage this fine documentary simply because they disagree with Oliver North's political views.I happen to believe that Colonel North is an inspiration and a great American, but notwithstanding, "War Stories" is a powerful first-hand portrayal of one of the most important historical events of our time.If not for North, then read it as a tribute to our young volunteer armed forces who have sacrificed so much.
Rating: - Great Book from a Great Man
Colonel North recently visited my hometown to complete a segment of War Stories. I did not get to meet him but everyone who did felt he was the nicest and humblest person they had met. I look forward to reading the book but feel I should give it five stars just based on his personal merit.
Rating: - A good, balanced read
For those who think that Oliver North is simply a cheering section for our nation's military, read the book.Certainly retired Marine Lt. Col. North would be predisposed to like the armed services (not, in my view, a bad thing), but he does not hesitate to point out the flaws that the organization has.Check out the section on the pause during the war.Here and in other reports, North provides criticism of how things were being handled.
As a friend of Lt. Col. Jerry Driscoll, I was interested to see him featured repeatedly in "War Stories."I knew that North was imbedded with HMM-268 and that my friend and he interacted a lot.What I didn't know was what close scrapes my friend had been involved in, and this after talking with him shortly after his return from Iraq.So, Jerry, thank you for your service, and I expect that there are many families in America who owe the lives of their sons and daughters solely to the bravery of your and your Red Dragons.
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