Marines in the Garden of Eden

Books Forum

http://www.inreview.com/attachment.php?s=&postid=658845

I'm up on this book, because it mentions my brother in it. I havn't bought it yet, will look for it at Wal-Mart.

It's a patriotic book, so if that aint your thing, then skip it. But if you are pro military, check it out. Like I said, I havn't read it yet, so I don't know what the guys writing style is like, but from the excerpts I read on the website, it seemed like it would be a good read. Supposed to be a very factual account of what happened in certain battles in Iraq.




http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/04...glance&n=283155

I wouldn't really be interested, I know this, won't talk about it...

But I am interested in you, mate, and wanna know: how is your bro mentioned?

I think he held some prisoners hostage with a gun, and made some crude remarks to them. And I'm not joking. Whatever it is, it won't be politically correct.


I'm the only halfway p.c. Whidden in the whole family.

Cool.

Un PC stuff is alright. When you're in the thick of it, and especially when you're not even in the USofA, you can't be expected to be nice all the time. 'slong as he didn't say "Hey, Habib bin ****-wad, bring me your women and your finest beer!" - 'cause you just don't go after another man's beer.

I think he told them he would be more than happy to send them to the 72 virgins if they got out of line. Or something like that.

I'm sure it will be something that I think is cooler than hell, like in a movie, but it will tork off the p.c. crowd. But that's life.

Speaking of un-PC, my dad was in line at the liquor store and asked the Arab clerk if he was going to Zarqawi's funeral. Snaps.

-HECK!

Reminds me of when the war first started, I was working at a little ho dunk shop, right next door to a cheap little Arab run restaurant.

Well, I'd go over there and eat, it was mostly white trash like myself, working men, from nearby factories. The war was on the t.v. there, and most people just didn't say nothing to the Arab dude running the place, they just made small talk like normal, were men about it,

then this royal *** **** comes in, and he is watching the screen, and then in a loud booming voice, asks the Arab dude what he thinks of the whole thing.

Everybody kind of cringed in their seats. It was like, leave the poor guy alone, he aint even Iraqi for all we know, might be Jordanian or Egyptian.

so uhhh what did he think of it?

You know, I don't find anything wrong with your bro telling them that he's happy to send them to the 72 virgins if they get out of line... I mean, its like saying to a Christian they'll have a tough time describing how they died to St. Peter if they cross you...

Err... right?

I had a joke somewhere, but I lost it. DAMMIT.


Something about a Cowboy a Hindu and a 3 headed elephant.

Is the punchline: "those aren't buoys?"

-HECK!

It might be.





I'm getting pumped about this book, the author, who joined Inreview today, found the thread in a google search. He emailed me and said Randy was in the book a few times, so that's cool.


I thought he might get one sentence or two.


Plus we know the Google is working again. That's good news.

Cool! Can I play a rude and pretentious liberal if he joins this thread?

Maybe we'll just crack out some beers...

You think he will join the thread? I know hes only really posted on the new members section ...

Sandy June bought it for me today at Borders, but she left it at work. I will start reading on it tomorrow.

Women ... can't live with 'em, cant live without 'em

I know, I get home, she gets home, she says "I got your book."

I go outside, haul a bunch of rocks over to her garden for her, spend about an hour out in the heat of the day, come back in, "Wheres my book?"



"Oh, left it at work."




I got played.

Then why tell me you do the book today? why not just tell me when you bring the book home


I bet she just wanted you to do the rocks and the gardening ans shes really going to buy it tommorw ... maybe even say she forgot it again ... and get you to redecorate the front of the house, or make a special birdhouse for her

She sits around at work all day thinking of all kinds of neato work I can do when she gets home.

Does this ever involve you on the couch watching Sports with a beer in your hand? I suspect not

I don't watch sports. I watch old spaghetti westerns, world war two movies, documentary's, Star Trek, LOST, 24, and BattleStar Galactica.


But the BEER part is dead on.


I'm getting hyped about this book, can't wait to read it. I may wait till Saturday and get all rested up.

WAR IS MURDER!! FUR IS MURDER!!! THEREFORE, WAR IS FUR!!!

I think this just might involve an Academy Award nomination. It was just that good.

Alright, my bro was in it quite a bit, little blurbs and stuff. (they have an index at the back that tells which page the person is on)


He made quite a few pages. I am still on chapter one, but I cheated and went and read all his stuff. Mostly about him working on tanks and being a "McGuyver".

The book is not a comedy by any means, it gets into the heroics of the men, how tired they were, all the fighting, the Iraqi military they captured.


The last entry with my bro in it was this:

yeah, that's my brother all right.


I have a pic of him with the saw, let me post it here, it really is a neato looking gun. And not to make light of this, I know it sounds like I'm treating this like some cool war movie, but now that he is back and out of harms way, I find the whole thing cool as hell.


Aight, the one on the left of the pic, is the SAW. The one on the right is a 50 caliper "I think". Not too up on the weaponry.


http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v460/Whidden/Whidden%202/Randysigtwo.jpg

Well, that totally sounds like Randy... esp after meeting him elsewhere, and e mailing with him. He's a wild guy... and I don't doubt that he said all of that, and much more, to his prisoners.

http://www.booktv.org/feature/index...197&schedID=436


this is a 45 minute deal on the book that aired on C-Span.

Reviews from Amazon.com



Customer Reviews
Average Customer Review: *****



Marine Corps Spirit, July 16, 2006
Reviewer: William Schaefer "SSgt William Schaefer" (29 Palms, CA) - See all my reviews
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




Review of Marines in The Garden of Eden, July 15, 2006
Reviewer: Samuel A. Bennett (Florida, USA) - See all my reviews

Mr. Lowry has done an outstanding job of capturing a few days of Marine involvement in the Iraq War. The first 100 pages keep your interest and draw you into the characters; the next 100 pages make the book difficult to put down; the remainder of the book makes it impossible to put down. Lowry tells the whole story of the battle, not pulling any punches, but adequately covering the good and the not so good...mistakes and mishaps made in the confusion of war are presented along with a description of our Marines in action that will make your chest swell with pride. Find a Marine, give him a hug, or maybe just shake his hand for being there for us.




More than mere patriotic words, July 8, 2006
Reviewer: Gerald L. Hall (Columbus, OH) - See all my reviews

I have recently read Richard Lowery's new book; Marines in the Garden of Eden. I also read William Endicott's review of it in the Sacramento Bee. Mr. Endicott quite simply has it wrong. Richard Lowery's book shows exhaustive research with numerous interviews with the participants of this battle. The book is an extraordinary account of heroism in the midst of the horror of a brutal battle. The depiction of the Marine's struggle to take the Iraqi city of An Nasiriyah and rescue the ambushed soldiers of the 507th Maintenance Company in spite of intense enemy fire and friendly fire incidents with US A-10 attack aircraft is utterly realistic and factual.

There is no mere flowery patriotism involved in what Richard Lowery has written. What his book shows is the struggle of a group of US Marines to fight fanatic Iraqi soldiers and paramilitaries and to save the lives of their fellow Marines under the most arduous of circumstances. These Americans in uniform were shown by Mr. Lowry to not merely fighting for our country, but also to save the lives of their fellow men and women in uniform, both Army soldiers and US Marines.

Richard also shows that the rescue of PFC Jessica Lynch was not staged for the benefit of the media. It is clear that the planning and execution of the rescue of the young private took no chances and assuming nothing but the worst case scenario.

If there is anything lacking, it is the information on what really happened to PFC Lynch and several American POWs from her unit. Richard assembles material that clearly shows that PFC was brutally abused during her captivity and strongly hints that the abuse continued even while she was held captive at Saddam Hospital. Richard was also unable to elaborate yet upon the murder of several American POWs as well. It is hoped that in a future paperback edition that the author will be able to supply additional information on the mistreatment of PFC Lynch and others....mistreatment not told to the public that prompted such attention and urgency by US Special Forces who came to her rescue."




An Awesome Story About Awesome Troops, June 22, 2006
Reviewer: Proud American (Illinois) - See all my reviews
When I received this book, I planned to read it over the next three to four weekends. It was so difficult to put down that I ended up spending the better part of the past weekend reading it. Neither I nor any member of my family has a military background, so I have no knowledge of the organization of the military, or of their weapons or vehicles. Still, I found this book enthralling because of the human interest the author was able to bring to it. This book brings new meaning to the words courage and dedication. Our troops are awesome indeed. I can only hope that this book gets the attention it deserves so we might be able to shift the focus from the very small number of our troops who do wrong to the tens of thousands who are sacrificing so much to do it right.





Marines in the Garden of Eden gets it right!, June 21, 2006
Reviewer: Joseph A. Muccia - See all my reviews

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




Another page..., June 20, 2006
Reviewer: Kevin (Medford Lakes, NJ) - See all my reviews
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