Tucker, Mike. Among Warriors in Iraq: True Grit, Special Ops, and Raiding in Mosul and Fallujah.TUCKER, Mike. Among warriors in Iraq; true grit, special ops, and raiding in Mosul and Fallujah. Lyon Press. 234p. bibliog. c2005. 1-59228-732-8. $16.95. SA Any war looks very different depending on where you stand. Civilians see the destruction, the pain, and the frustrations. Generals see maps, troop concentrations, resources, and immense responsibilities. Young officers see tactics. However, it is the foot soldier who sees war at its most basic--the sand, the snipers, and the ominous objects by the side of the road. All of these viewpoints are part of the ultimate truth, but it is the grunt who feels it all the most. The trouble is, most of these young enlisted warriors are not writers. This is where author Mike Tucker Mike Tucker (born South Wales) is a special effects expert who worked for many years at the BBC Television Visual Effects Department, and now works as a freelance Effects Supervisor. comes in. Tucker is an ex-Marine, a combat veteran, and something of a soldier of fortune. His trade is visiting war zones around the globe, insinuating in·sin·u·at·ing adj. 1. Provoking gradual doubt or suspicion; suggestive: insinuating remarks. 2. Artfully contrived to gain favor or confidence; ingratiating. himself at the "point of the spear," and writing about what he sees. In this case, he somehow managed to become embedded in two different infantry units. In the course of combat strikes in Mosul and Fallujah, Iraq, he and his new comrades endured all of the discomfort, aching monotony, confusion and stark terror that have been the lot of every infantryman since Biblical times. Tucker is skillful skill·ful adj. 1. Possessing or exercising skill; expert. See Synonyms at proficient. 2. Characterized by, exhibiting, or requiring skill. at catching the enormously varied personalities of his soldiers and the bonds that sustain them. This is no infantile infantile /in·fan·tile/ (in´fin-til) pertaining to an infant or to infancy. in·fan·tile adj. 1. Of or relating to infants or infancy. 2. shoot-'em-up war book. Like combat anywhere, there is more moving around, waiting, eating, and horseplay horse·play n. Rowdy or rough play. horseplay Noun rough or rowdy play Noun 1. than shooting. Tucker deserves credit for carefully keeping the focus away from himself and on the American troops. That's appropriate, because this is a story of the ordinary heroics of ordinary young Americans. Raymond Puffer puffer, common name for some tropical marine fish of the family Tetraodontidae. The puffers and their allies, the boxfish, the porcupinefish, and the ocean sunfish or headfish, form an odd group (order Tetraodontiformes). , Ph.D., Historian, Edwards AFB AFB abbr. acid-fast bacillus AFB Acid-fast bacillus, also 1. Aflatoxin B 2. Aorto-femoral bypass , Lancaster, CA KLIATT uses the following codes to help readers determine if the material reviewed is appropriate for their needs: J--Recommended for junior high school students. The contents are of particular interest to young adolescents and their teachers. S--Recommended for senior high school students. A--Recommended for advanced students and adults. This code will help librarians and teachers working in high schools where there are honors and advanced placement students. This also will help extend KLIATT's usefulness in public libraries. * The asterisk highlights exceptional books. |
|
||||||||||||||||||
Printer friendly
Cite/link
Email
Feedback
Reader Opinion