REVIEWS

A highly readable blow-by-blow account of the first Iraq War.

Lowry, a chip designer for an aerospace firm when the Gulf War began in 1991, was dissatisfied with the level of information available while Desert Storm raged and was equally disappointed with the first books released after the conflict ended. So he turned to the military itself
to gather information about the war, writing letters to the commanding generals of each unit who participated in the conflict. This approach netted a large amount of information, which Lowry distilled into The Gulf War Chronicles, a thorough account of the entire war from the initial aerial bombardment to the ground war to the Allies’ eventual victory.

Thanks to the reams of information at Lowry’s disposal, this book is striking in its level of detail, yet switches effortlessly from the dry data of troop placement and technical specs to firsthand accounts of covert action and engrossing personal narratives from the soldiers who took part in the conflict. Lowry frequently presents soldiers’ stories in their own words, which adds a personal layer missing from similar military histories—when necessary, Lowry masterfully shifts from broad overviews of the entire theater to the experiences of individuals.

Since this book is designed for general readers as well as military historians, the author includes a helpful appendix of military acronyms. The major impediment to this book’s readability is the one-sided nature of the conflict itself. This book is written strictly from the Coalition point of view, so readers interested in the Iraqi perspective are bound to be disappointed. But while the reader can certainly find accounts of more closely
contested military conflicts, this account is particularly relevant to the current situation in the Middle East. For those curious about Allied operations in Desert Storm, it is difficult to imagine a better resource.

Extraordinarily detailed and extremely engaging.


Kirkus Discoveries, Nielsen Business Media, 770 Broadway, New York, NY 10003
discoveries@kirkusreviews.com

 

A solidly presented historical account, April 12, 2004

Written by Richard S. Lowry (a veteran of the United States Nuclear Submarine Service during the Vietnam War), The Gulf War Chronicles: A Military History Of The First War With Iraq offers a minute-by-minute chronological description of Operation Desert Storm. Drawing upon information, interviews, and diversely informative resources ranging from Iraq's invasion of Kuwait in August of 1990 to the September 11th attacks upon the United States, The Gulf War Chronicles is a solidly presented historical account and offers great insight into the complex interplay of events upon a world stage -- events that continue to have a reverberating impact in the current global war against international fundamentalist Islamic terrorism.

Midwest Book Review Oregon, WI USA

 

The Gulf War Chronicles

Author: Richard S. Lowry

With U.S. forces still trying to solidify peace in Iraq, and the necessity for military spending being bantered around in the media, now might be an excellent time for readers to pick up Richard Lowry’s book, The Gulf War Chronicles. The book is a blow by blow description of what happened during the first Gulf War in 1991 as United Nations troops, led by U.S. forces, liberated Kuwait.

The Gulf War Chronicles opens with the first Tomahawk missile launches that began the war. From there, readers are walked through the myriad of events and battles that occurred between January and March of 1991. The book ends with the return home of the 34 POWs who were captured during combat.

Richard’s attention to detail will satisfy even the most curious military historians. He breaks down events as they unfolded in the air, on land, and via the sea. The stories provide not only high level information about different engagements, but also take readers right into the events that occurred with small special operations teams trying to fulfill their missions.

There are many interesting and insightful components to this book. The stories of the POWs, and the casualties caused by friendly fire are things that were not discussed in the mainstream media at the time of the war. Richard’s descriptions of these events, in particular the friendly fire incidents, where liberating troops accidentally fired upon and in some cases killed their fellow soldiers, are both sobering and thought provoking. The importance and complexity of a high tech military is another fascinating component to the book. In battle after battle, superiority of military equipment was a critical component that enabled coalition forces to keep their casualty rates so low. While they may not provide readers with justifications for military spending, the stories certainly shed light on the ways in which technical superiority impacts the results of a battle.

If you are intrigued by the specific details about military operations during the first Gulf War, pick up a copy of The Gulf War Chronicles. You will find it a fascinating and insightful read. Ask for the book at Barnes and Noble’s Sand Lake Road store or order it at all major online outlets, including www.iuniverse.com.

Metro West Lifestyles Magazine, March, 2004