Fallujah. Few names conjure up as many images of blood, sacrifice, and valor as does this ancient city in Al Anbar province forty miles west of Baghdad. This sprawling concrete jungle was the scene of two major U.S. combat operations in 2004. The first was Operation Vigilant Resolve, an aborted effort that April by U.S. Marines intent on punishing the city's insurgents. The second, Operation Phantom Fury, was launched seven months later. Richard Lowry's 'New Dawn: The Battles for Fallujah' is the first comprehensive history of this fighting.Also known as the Second Battle for Fallujah, Operation Phantom Fury was a protracted house-to-house and street-to-street combat that began on November 7 and continued unabated for seven bloody and exhausting weeks. It was the largest fight of Operation Iraqi Freedom and the heaviest urban combat since the Battle of Hue City, Vietnam in 1968. Death and redemption were found everywhere, from narrow streets to courtyards, kitchens, bedrooms, and rooftops. By the time the fighting ended, more than 1,400 insurgents were dead, compared to ninety-five Americans (and another 1,000 wounded).Lowry (Marines in the Garden of Eden) spent years researching and writing his new campaign history. In addition to archival research, New Dawn is based upon the personal recollections of nearly 200 soldiers and Marines who participated in the battles for Fallujah, from the commanding generals who planned the operations to the privates who kicked in the doors. The result is a gripping, page-turning narrative of individual sacrifice and valor that also documents the battles for future military historians.The struggle against a determined enemy at the crossroads of civilization is the story of American kids who grew up down the block from you only to fly halfway around the world to fight in the largest battle of the war. 'New Dawn' is about their courage, their sacrifice, and their commitment to freedom. And it is a story you will never forget.
Twenty-First Century Historian
Modern-Day Storyteller
Richard S. Lowry is an internationally recognized military historian and author. His latest book, New Dawn, the battles for Fallujah (Savas Beatie LLC, 2010), has been nominated for the 2011 Pulitzer Prize in History and the Marine Corps Heritage Foundation's coveted Wallace M. Greene, Jr. award. Richard has previously published the award winning Marines in the Garden of Eden (Berkley Caliber, 2006), The Gulf War Chronicles (iUniverse, 2003 and iUniverse Star, 2008), and US Marine in Iraq: Operation Iraqi Freedom, 2003 (Osprey, 2006). Additionally, he contributed to Small Unit Actions (United States Marine Corps History Division, 2008).
He has been published in Armchair General, Military Magazine, Soldier of Fortune and The Marine Corps Gazette. Richard was the military consultant to David C. Taylor for the award-winning documentary film, "Perfect Valor." Richard frequently contributes to several internet news and blog sites i.e., www.op-for.com, www.theweeklystandard.com, and www.blackfive.com and now has his own site; http://blog.richardslowry.com. He also has a continuing military news column at http://www.examiner.com/x-30068-Orlando-Military-Headlines-Examiner.
Richard has spoken to many community organizations to include the Military Officers Association, the Daughters of the American Revolution, as well as the Florida Retired Chief Petty Officers Association, Marine Corps Association, Marine Corps League, Navy League, the Association of the US Army, the Military Officers Association, Rotary and Kiwanis. He has spoken on many different subjects relating to the current war in Iraq and Operation Desert Storm.
Richard has appeared on Book TV and Veterans Chronicles and is regularly featured on the Andrea Shea King internet radio program. He is a military contributor to WFLA news radio in Orlando and has appeared on many regional television and radio programs.
Richard is an award winning author. In 2006, Marines in the Garden of Eden won the Silver Medal for history and in 2010, New Dawn won the Gold Medal for history from the Military Writers Society of America. The Gulf War Chronicles also received recognition from MWSA in 2006 and has achieved Editor's Choice, Reader's Choice and STAR distinctions from iUniverse. In 2009, "Perfect Valor" received the best feature documentary award at the GI Film Festival.
Richard has established himself as an expert on the war in Afghanistan and Iraq with a substantial radio, television and internet following. He is a distinguished historian, captivating writer and engaging public speaker.
