Customer Reviews

Always Faithful: A Memoir of the Gulf War

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The author presents a touching account of his own story. Overall, it is neither a swashbuckling story of fighting nor is it a detailed account of war operations, even though both adventure and some military detail are included. Rather, the author presents himself, an intelligent, philosophical American who struggles with the everyday issues of life. Some parts could have used more detail, but it's brevity does not detract from the overall impact of the book. One gains understanding of military reserve officers who out of their loyalty, sacrifice their lives but out of their humanity, struggle with moral issues of war. The book is a very human story that includes humor, sadness, fear, and wonder.

Always Faithful: A Memoir Of The Gulf War is the profound and moving testimony of John Hartnett, a U.S. Marine who survived the ground assault during the 1991 Gulf War. A very illuminating, vividly written account, Always Faithful tells of a deadly test of skill and courage where survival is the ultimate success. Always Faithful is very strongly recommended for Military History collections in general, and Gulf War Studies in particular.

The author takes us through his personal inner struggle versus professional duty. He pulls no punches in facing his human-ness, sins, fears, and conquests of each. This highly readable memoir is written with honesty, humor, bitterness, and forgiveness. It represents Mr. Average Joe in his daily struggles. John Hartnett's daughter is one lucky girl to have a father who is not afraid to share his feelings.

This is a wonderful story of real conflict that one marine faced in the First Gulf War. The reader is struck at once by the realization that soldiers are found and mobilized at a precise moment in their private lives and delivered to the battlefield with all that they have gained, lost, or struggled for at home. In "Always Faithful" the stark landscape of the desert and the critical job at hand compels the author to contemplate conflicting commitments he has made to his family, his men, and his country.

"Always Faithful" is a timely book that helped me understand what every soldier must indeed face in times of war.