Marines in the Garden of Eden: The True Story of Seven Bloody Days in Iraq (Paperback)

by Richard S. Lowry (Author) "DEEP in the heart of Central Command's forward command center in Doha, Qatar, American military staff officers started filling the auditorium..." (more)
Key Phrases: reserve tankers, mortar track, mired vehicles, Task Force Tarawa, Charlie Company, Alpha Company (more...)

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly
This account of "the bloodiest battle in the campaign to oust Saddam Hussein" in An Nasiriyah announces its overblown style in the first lines: "This is a story of heroism and sacrifice—of life and death. This is a story of today's Marine Corps." According to Lowry (The Gulf War Chronicles), the Marines and Special Forces "snatched victory from the jaws of defeat" and rescued Private Jessica Lynch through compassionate heroism, despite the loss of 34 Americans, nearly half of whom died through accidents and friendly fire. An essential target in the first days of the Iraq war, An Nasiriyah held two bridges over the Euphrates. Fighting inside the city was not part of the plan, but became inevitable when communications faltered and after Lynch's supply unit blundered into Iraqi positions. With admirable courage, U.S. forces fought through the streets, captured the bridges and rescued Lynch. Lowry's nuts-and-bolts description of the fight represents his strongest writing. Following the genre's convention of portraying individual soldiers, Lowry includes virtually everyone he interviewed; there are dozens of names, always followed by a flattering sketch (alternately "tough, yet fair" or "fair yet strict"). As additional evidence that these soldiers are America's finest, he quotes their patriotic statements, affectionate letters to their children, and their spouses' always favorable opinions. It took immense research to produce such detail, but Lowry's gushing account may not extend far beyond the Marines involved and their families. (June)
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From Booklist
An embedded reporter with the First Marine Division provides this excellent monograph on the Battle of An Nasiriyah. The first major ground engagement of the second Iraq War, the battle began with the ambush of the 5307th Maintenance Company amid poor visibility and, one suspects, faulty intelligence. The marines quickly recovered their balance and tactical proficiency, and in close--quarters, combined-arms combat liberated the city from its own defenders' reign of terror. They also freed POW Private Jessica Lynch, about whom Lowry offers no sensational revelations. What he does offer is an excellent battle narrative, which, thanks to extensive interviewing, shifts from one unit to another, depending on which was most closely engaged. The result may not please antiwar readers, but probably neither Lowry nor the marines had the slightest intention of doing that. A book that adds considerably to knowledge of the state of the U.S. Marines and the variety of human beings who "are proud to bear the title." Roland Green
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 448 pages
• Publisher: Berkley Trade (June 5, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0425215296
• ISBN-13: 978-0425215296
• Product Dimensions: 8.8 x 5.8 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 13.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars See all reviews (18 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #399,283 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Another page..., June 20, 2006

By	Kevin (Medford Lakes, NJ) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Marines in the Garden of Eden: The Battle for An Nasiriyah (Hardcover)

Richard Lowry has penned another important page in the history of the Corps. As one of the many Marines that took part in the Battle of An Nasiriyah I have read every book to date about the battle. Marines in the Garden of Eden is without a doubt the most accurate account of those seven days. Many questions about the battle have been answered for me.
I couldn't put it down. I had to go out and buy my wife her own copy, working on reading it for the third time.

Richard,
Thank you for telling our story.

Semper Fidelis

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Marines in the Garden of Eden gets it right!, June 21, 2006

By	Joseph A. Muccia - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This review is from: Marines in the Garden of Eden: The Battle for An Nasiriyah (Hardcover)

This is probably the best researched and most detailed account of the Battle of Nasiriyah I have read yet. It is well written and the text flows, never bogging down even when describing complex situations or military tactics and jargon.
I can attest to Richard's desire to present the most complete work as possible on this important battle as I was one of the many Marines interviewed.
Well done Richard. You have done our Marines, Sailors and Soldiers proud.
Semper Fidelis,
Joe

11 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Marine Corps Spirit, July 16, 2006

By	William Schaefer "SSgt William Schaefer" (29 Palms, CA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Marines in the Garden of Eden: The Battle for An Nasiriyah (Hardcover)

Richard, thank you for finally getting our story right. I know that it has taken you a few years now to research and write this book. There have been other authors who have tried to tell our story, but have fallen short. Thank you for taking your time and not trying to be the first to make a buck off of someone else's misery. This story that you have told shows the world what U.S. Marines are about and how we will always prevail no matter how bad the situation is and what the odds are. Every Marine from Private through General knows that the people of the United States depends on them to do their jobs no matter what the cost. These Marines will sacrifice their lives to make sure their brothers survive to complete the mission so the people of the United States are safe and that the American way of life is preserved. Again, thank you Mr. Lowry for telling our story and the story of the Marine Corps spirit. The spirit is alive and strong. Every Marine that gives his life for our country makes the spirit stronger. That spirit is in every Marine past and present and getting stronger every day. That is why we will never fail.

Always Faithful
SSgt William Schaefer
1/2 Cco