Customer Reviews

Grenada 1983 (Men-at-Arms)

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If you need a quick review of the U.S. lead invasion of Soviet communist-troubled Grenada in 1983, this is your book! Until Major Mark Adkin's book came out (Urgent Fury: the invasion of Grenada), this was THE best reference on a short battle that was the turning point in the Cold War. While the U.S. military likes to take its time going to war to set up neat, Clausewitzian set-piece battles, the world was being engulfed by wars of "revolution" backed by Soviet/Cuban communist advisors, funds and armaments--when Grenada began to collapse into anarchy, Presiden Reagen decided to go as we are and "jump and take our lumps". This fine little book depicts the hasty preparations needed to fight modern no-notice wars and the fantastic flexibility and resolve inherent in America's elite Airborne/Rangers to change from airlanding to parachute airdrop while in flight en route when the runway was discovered to be blocked. The USAF Combat Talon pilot in charge also thought quickly, saw that Cuban anti-aircraft guns could not depress far enough and led the other C-130 Hercules down to 500 feet or below so the Rangers and two 82d Airborne Combat Engineers could jump and secure the Point Salines runway/airfield. Its too bad Hollywood didn't pick up this book and READ before making such atrocious depictions like "Heartbreak Ridge" when U.S. Army Rangers lead the way, fighting, dying and rescuing the hostages not any marines who up north landed unopposed. Maybe someday a REAL film depiction of Urgent Fury will be produced, the men who performed the mission certainly deserve it.

The "center of gravity" was the 10,000 foot runway under construction at Point Salines which would be used to land Soviet transport planes loaded with armaments as a way station to latin America to arm the "revolution" there. The Cubans in charge of the defenses miscalculated as the authors showed and dug-in on the beaches awaiting a seaborne assault by marines, which never came as we wisely avoided a public confidence-defeating frontal attack bloodbath and dropped in from the sky by parachutes using Airborne forces. American audacity carried the day, as the runway was cleared and began to accept C-141B Starlifter transports full of ragtop-helmet camouflaged Paratroopers of the 82d Airborne who together with the Rangers rescued the American medical students, captured the Soviet arms and ammunition and swept north to link up with the marines, securing the island. The victory on Grenada signaled that the "Reagen doctrine" of rolling back communism had teeth and America had the will to put men on the ground to stop evil from over-running the planet. The victory we enjoy in the Cold War began those dark days of October in 1983.

The authors of this fine book have illustrated these events with numerous pictures and color plates by Paul Hannon showing the equipment and uniforms of the combatants. What's good for the military professional is that each illustration is scrutinized for important details--from the beret-clad Paratrooper scout who used tape patterns to camouflage his M16 rifle to the STABO extraction harness worm as load bearing gear on the SFOD-Delta trooper. You can pick up insights on how to bind prisoners all the way to gain an appreciation of tactics--don't attack gun positions with helicopters using TOW missiles that require steady guidance or else you might get shot down like the two marine Cobras were, always carry anti-tank weapons to incinerate not just deflate the tires of enemy armored cars (Rangers brought 90mm Recoilless rifles for this, SEAL Tm 6 didn't for the Sir Paul Scoon recovery mission).

This is a must-have reference book for the student of modern warfare.

Airborne!

I liked this book because it is fairly objective in its account of the US invasion in 1983 in Grenada. Though the book justifies the American invasion it does not cast Maurice Bishop in a totally negative light. It also shows the Cubans as reluctant adversaries: they were backers of Bishop but were forced into supporting the Junta that overthrew and assassinated him. Also, the US intervention is shown as not all that well executed: there were many fiascos and unecessary casualties in a relatively small war. The photos of the book are clear and the colour plates are also nicely done.

I happen to have been one of the medical students taken hostage in the Grenada war. I am writing a book myself about our incredible, untold story and look forward to reading this one.

I happen to have been one of the medical students taken hostage in the Grenada war. I am writing a book myself about our incredible, untold story and look forward to reading this one.