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This book consists of a large section of first hand accounts from the First Gulf War and the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, linked together by a useful narrative, explaining both the overall conflicts and the background stories for each of the eyewitnesses.
The accounts come from a wide range of people. The American numerical dominance on the field is reflected in the text, but there are also quotes from British, French, Iraqi and Afghan participants in the conflicts. The section on the First Gulf War includes accounts from inside occupied Kuwait, and from allied prisoners of war. Statements come from front line soldiers, drivers, intelligence officers, members of the Royal Navy, gunners in the Royal Artillery and a wide range of other men and women, either taking part in or caught up in the fighting.
Although it is generally accepted that it isn't possible for someone who hasn't been in battle to really understand what it is like, this book certainly helps, and as such is a very valuable contribution to the literate on combat, as well as being for a very good cause, with part of the purchase price going to Help for Heroes.
Chapters
The First Gulf War (1990-91)
Iraq - an Introduction
Operation Desert Shield
Liberating Kuwait
Prisoners of War
Iraq: invasion and occupation (2003-2010)
Operation Iraqi Freedom
Fighting the Insurgency
The Battle of Fallujah
A long, hard slog
Afghanistan (2001-2010)
Afghanistan - an introduction
Operation Enduring Freedom
NATO's war
Helmand Province
Winning hearts and mind
Casualties of War
Author: Peter Darman
Edition: Paperback
Pages: 256
Publisher: New Holland
Year: 2010