Inside the Danger Zone: The U.S. Military in the Persian Gulf, 1987-1988 (Hardcover)

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Editorial Reviews

Product Description

In May 1987, an Iraqi plane fired two missiles into USS Stark, a lone U.S. Navy frigate on patrol in the Gulf. The missiles severely damaged the ship and killed thirty-seven sailors. This deadly attack, which Iraq claimed was accidental, brought heightened attention to the Persian Gulf and heralded the beginning of a new era in U.S. Middle Eastern policy. From then until the end of the Iran-Iraq War, American forces carried out an unprecedented series of military operations in the Gulf. A planned tanker protection mission evolved into a naval quasi-war with Iran and culminated in the largest sea-air battle since World War II.

Inside the Danger Zone is a history of U.S. military involvement in the Persian Gulf in 1987 and 1988--a time of burning ships, air strikes, and secret missions--the prelude to the Iraqi invasion of Kuwait, Desert Storm, and the most recent U.S. invasion of Iraq. Based largely on first-hand accounts from veterans of that era, it is an up-close, detailed report from the front lines of a guerrilla war at sea. Many of the dramatic incidents of this period are told in depth, with new information and details never before seen in print.

About the Author

Harold Lee Wise is an adjunct history professor at Elizabeth City State University in North Carolina. His thesis topic was the Iraqi attack on USS Stark. An early draft of the thesis won the Ben H. Powell writing award at Sam Houston State. He is a frequent contributor to military history encyclopedias.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 272 pages
• Publisher: US Naval Institute Press (May 8, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1591149703
• ISBN-13: 978-1591149705
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (14 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #525,507 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Informative, Well Researched, And a Good Read, July 4, 2007

By	Mark Haynes - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

I was there. I am former U.S. Navy Petty Officer Mark Haynes, and was aboard the USS Fox during the summer of 1987. After the attack on the USS Stark, the USS Acadia was dispatched to the Persian Gulf to begin repairs on the ship. The Acadia needed an armed escort, and that's how my ship, the Fox, found its way into the gulf. It was a very tense time for the sailors in the Persian Gulf, and a scary time for me, as it was my first deployment. I wrote a book about my own experiences aboard the Fox during that time, called Liberty Call - USS Fox (CG-33). Although that work was never published, the author of Inside the Danger Zone found it online and contacted me for permission to quote my work in his. I gladly gave him permission. Harold drew from a large number of personal accounts such as mine, and has written an all encompassing book about this important part of US Naval history. Harold's work is a page-turner. Based to a large extent on first-hand accounts from sailors and officers who were there, this book offers what the news stories of the time could not - an inside look at the actions and emotions of the military personnel that were in the heart of the conflict. Inside the Danger Zone is not just history, it is drama. Highly recommended.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Before the Persian Gulf was "cool"..., May 17, 2007

By	Jeremy A. Ward "The Shanghaied Marine" (Arlington, MA USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

As one who was there and in the middle of all of this, I can tell you that Harold Wise has done his homework. A great book, dutifully researched. He talked to the right guys in the interviews. Paul Evancoe and Chuck Angelo were and are the real deal. Highly recommend this book to anyone who wants to know some of the earlier history of our ongoing War with Islamic fascists.

8 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Outstanding Research, Compelling Story, May 23, 2007

By	Ben F. Small (Tucson, AZ, USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Someone who was involved in the hostilities with Iran during the 1987-88 period recommended this book to me, and I'm very glad he did. This well researched fairly handled story of the tensions, mistakes and victories of the largely unknown skirmishes between Iran and the United States during the Iraq-Iran War stands out as an early indicator of some of the problems we face yet today. It also serves as a warning that gutting our military, as has occurred during supposedly peaceful times, and as was done with our minesweepers and response teams after the Vietnam War, can come back to haunt us, as we are seeing again in the Iraq War today. Some peace dividend, huh? Thank God for the brave SEALS and Commanders who used creative ingenuity and sheer guts and skill to outfit and place an oil service barge named Hercules where it would do the most good - striking out of the darkness at the minelayers Iran had denied existed. This is not a pretty story; mistakes at the command level, errors at the presidential level. Ships sunk, Sailors dying. A commercial jet accidently shot down in flames. But this is a story which must be told. It showcases the fear of young soldiers and sailors in harm's way for the first time, the raw kids trained but inexperienced, who see firsthand the hatred of people they don't know. Then there's the grizzled pro, the hardened hero who understands duty, the guy who expects to earn his Hazardous Duty Pay and doesn't ask for reward -- just completion of mission.

INSIDE THE DANGER ZONE provides a useful and informative backdrop for the Persian Gulf conflicts of today. Harold Lee Wise has done an outstanding job preparing INSIDE THE DANGER ZONE. Hopefully, this country learned some lessons and will not repeat its mistakes.