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Thunder Run: The Armored Strike to Capture Baghdad Kindle Edition

4.6 4.6 out of 5 stars 380 ratings

“A Pulitzer Prize–winning reporter provides a brilliant account of the harrowing drive into Baghdad by an American armor brigade.” —Seattle Post-Intelligencer
 
Based on reporting that was a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize,
Thunder Run chronicles one of the boldest gambles in modern military history: the surprise assault on Baghdad by the Spartan Brigade, the Second Brigade of the Third Infantry Division (Mechanized). Three battalions and fewer than a thousand men launched a violent thrust of tanks and Bradley Fighting Vehicles into the heart of a city of five million people—and in three days of bloody combat ended the Iraqi war.
 
More than just a rendering of a single battle,
Thunder Run candidly recounts how soldiers respond under fire and stress and how human frailties are magnified in a war zone. The product of over a hundred interviews with commanders and men from the Second Brigade, it is a riveting firsthand account of how a single armored brigade was able to capture an Arab capital defended by one of the world’s largest armies.
 
“The best account of combat since
Black Hawk Down.” —Men’s Journal

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Even a very short, victorious shooting war against a disorganized, dispirited, vastly outnumbered and underequipped enemy is hell. That is the central message that Los Angeles Times correspondent Zucchino brings home startlingly well in this riveting account of the American military's lightning capture of Baghdad in April 2003. Zucchino (The Myth of the Welfare Queen) is an experienced, Pulitzer Prize–winning reporter, and he shows off his reportorial skills in this reconstruction of the "lightning armored strike" in Iraq that the military refers to as a "thunder run." The narrative focuses on the men who commanded and battled in the tank battles as the Americans fought their way to Iraq's capital city. It is often not a pretty picture, nor one for the faint of heart, because Zucchino unhesitatingly and graphically describes the violent and grisly fates that befell hundreds, if not thousands, of Iraqi Republican Guard troops and fedayeen militiamen, their Syrian allies (at the border) and the unfortunate civilians who were killed or wounded by the deadly high-tech American armored vehicles and their well-trained crews. He also does not shy away from intimately describing the deaths and injuries of American troops. The Americans who fought their way into Baghdad engaged in, according to Zucchino's account, a vicious, if short-lived, war. While the Americans overwhelmed the Iraqis on the road to Baghdad, U.S. troops faced periodic stiff resistance; rocket-propelled grenades caused death and destruction among the crews in the Bradley fighting vehicles. Zucchino tells his story primarily from the American troops' point of view, but does include a section describing the experiences of a Baath Party militia leader and some Republican Guard officers in this high-quality example of in-depth and evocative war reporting. First serial to Men's Journal.
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

From Booklist

It is a popular misconception that the city of Baghdad fell painlessly, like a ripe plum, into the hands of U.S. forces. True, the feared scenario of a protracted, Stalingrad-like siege did not emerge. However, as this intense and thrilling account makes clear, the capture of the city was no walkover. Zucchino is a foreign correspondent for the Los Angeles Times with extensive experience in war coverage. His account is a fast-paced, gritty, and frequently surprising story of men and women in combat, and he expertly interweaves the drama of individual human experiences with the broader strategic and tactical objectives. There are gut-wrenching, deeply disturbing accounts of slaughter, and Zucchino captures the sheer savagery of the early stages of the battle as Iraqi regular and irregular troops sought to parry the initial U.S. armored thrust into the city. Of course, inspiring examples of individual heroism are cited, but there is also a consistent, almost chilling, aura of cool professionalism--these men are superbly trained warriors, after all. Despite the relative inexperience of many of them, they display expertise in the art of high-tech killing. Zucchino's assertion that the conquest of Baghdad could revolutionize concepts of urban warfare is likely to be hotly debated, but this is an outstanding chronicle of an underreported battle of the war, and the buzz is likely to be loud. Jay Freeman
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B0051QM4O8
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Grove Press (December 1, 2007)
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ December 1, 2007
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 9112 KB
  • Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 362 pages
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.6 4.6 out of 5 stars 380 ratings

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David Zucchino
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Customer reviews

4.6 out of 5 stars
380 global ratings

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Customers say

Customers find the book an interesting and well-written read. They appreciate the suspenseful pacing and details of the battles that take place. The writing style is described as fast, easy, and comfortable to understand. Readers find the book provides an excellent overview of the troubles and successes of the war with great insight into technology, training, and human effort.

AI-generated from the text of customer reviews

28 customers mention "Readability"28 positive0 negative

Customers find the book engaging and well-written. They say it's a must-read for armor enthusiasts and war buffs. The story is well-researched and keeps readers hooked for hours.

"...took place in Baghdad, into the flow of the story creating an interesting read...." Read more

"...It is quickly paced and will keep you reading for hours. An excellent book, I highly recommend it." Read more

"...Run: The Armored Strike to Capture Baghdad seems to be one of teh best accounts of the 3rd IDs "Thunder Run" into Baghdad...." Read more

"Great book. This is history. Not the media painted picture that lead the American people to believe the road to Baghdad was a cakewalk...." Read more

22 customers mention "Pacing"22 positive0 negative

Customers find the book's pacing suspenseful and realistic. They say it provides an insight into the events leading to the downfall of Saddam. The account opens their eyes to the tragedies of war while offering an intimate portrait of what goes on in battle. Readers describe it as a good book on horrible events that brings the horrors of battle right into your living room with very descriptive writing.

"...One gets the feeling of being there and absorbing details of the battles that took place...." Read more

"...It brings the horrors of battle right into your living room with very descriptive passages of battle and the emotions of the men who fought in this..." Read more

"...It shows leadership and heroism...." Read more

"...I could not put this book down. The heroism, leadership and duty of these U.S. soldiers amazes me, yet I guess it really doesn't, as it seems the..." Read more

13 customers mention "Writing style"13 positive0 negative

Customers find the writing style easy to read and well-written. They say it reads like a novel and is written in an understandable way.

"...Unlike some non-fiction works, this one reads almost like a novel. It is quickly paced and will keep you reading for hours...." Read more

"...Well written, and decently written. This book belongs in any library on the second Iraq war, and it will read well even in two hundred years...." Read more

"...eventually led to the final defeat of the Iraqi regime, the author's writing style and the composition of the book makes for an interesting and..." Read more

"This is a fast easy read written in a comfortable understandable manner...." Read more

4 customers mention "Depth"4 positive0 negative

Customers appreciate the book's depth. They find it provides an excellent overview of the troubles and successes of the war, with great insight into events leading to it. The book is well-researched and written, providing details on technology, training, and human effort.

"...Nonetheless, Zuccino's book is an excellent overview of the troubles and successes of the Spartan Brigades experiences in Baghdad, the ferocity of..." Read more

"Well researched and provides an insight into what the events leading to the downfall of Saddam's regime...." Read more

"...I really good read, disturbing and terrifying at times with a great deal of insight, but a great read." Read more

"Well written with great detail of the technology, training and human effort that went into this accomplishment." Read more

Top reviews from the United States

  • Reviewed in the United States on August 30, 2004
    The author weaves personal stories of 3rd ID participants in Thunder Run, which took place in Baghdad, into the flow of the story creating an interesting read. One gets the feeling of being there and absorbing details of the battles that took place. Especially interesting was the bareing of strengths and weaknesses of the Abrams tank, Bradley Fighting Vehicle, and the thin-skinned resupply vehicles. Having watched what took place on TV, my original impression was that the forays into Baghdad were not difficult. After reading Thunder Run, I now have a completely different view of what took place, and applaud all of the 3rd ID for their tenacious fighting. I now realize that heavy armor units carried much more of the war rather than the view of air superiority doing it all. I also absorbed the point that personal body armor prevented lots of casualties.
    4 people found this helpful
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  • Reviewed in the United States on July 10, 2004
    There are currently many books out about the Iraqi war. This one focuses on the 3rd division and their "thunder run" up hiway 8 and eventually into downtown Baghdad. It brings the horrors of battle right into your living room with very descriptive passages of battle and the emotions of the men who fought in this untried military strategy. There are vivid descriptions of the firefights and through the narrative you get to see the war from the soldier's point of view. Unlike some non-fiction works, this one reads almost like a novel. It is quickly paced and will keep you reading for hours. An excellent book, I highly recommend it.
    11 people found this helpful
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  • Reviewed in the United States on October 28, 2006
    Zucchino's book Thunder Run: The Armored Strike to Capture Baghdad seems to be one of teh best accounts of the 3rd IDs "Thunder Run" into Baghdad. I've recelently read a lot of literature on the invasion of Iraq, including excellent books such as One Bullet Away by Nathaniel Fick and Generation Kill by Evan Wright which highlight the Marine advance and feign that helped contribute to the fall of Saddam, as well as other books about the Army's advance, to include Rick Atkinson's excellent account on the 101st Airborne. However, there have been relatively few books out there that have been able to concentrate on a specific battle. That's not to say that its such a bad thing. Many of the books listed above provide incredible insight into the commander's thoughts and the experiences of the troops through the 23 day advance and even the pre-invasion deployments of the 3rd ID to camp Doha, then Yankee, etc.

    Nonetheless, Zuccino's book is an excellent overview of the troubles and successes of the Spartan Brigades experiences in Baghdad, the ferocity of the battle, the trepidation and elation of the soldiers, and the brutality that goes with war and the loss of comrades. Immediatley the author is shot en-media-rez into the action during the night that the brigade receives the WARNO and then the hasty OPORD to go to battle. Zuccino then takes the reader on a harrowing adventure of the first Thunder Run which killed or wounded an estimated 1,200 enemy and then the brave decision to move the brigade to the center of the city and hold it.

    But the adventure isn't as easy as it seems and the reader begins to understand the complexities of keeping this force alive, supplied, and preventing it from being isolated. Zuccino takes you to the brutal intersections of Larry, Moe, and Curly, Saddam's palace, and the staging point of BIAP, then Saddam International Airport. Zuccino's task, like Mark Bowden with the Battle of Mogadishu, was immense: to study and disseminate the pivitol battle of the war, and he succeeds magnificiently.
    4 people found this helpful
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  • Reviewed in the United States on March 22, 2024
    Product was delivered on time and was in great condition
  • Reviewed in the United States on January 16, 2022
    Great book. This is history. Not the media painted picture that lead the American people to believe the road to Baghdad was a cakewalk. Highly recommend.
  • Reviewed in the United States on April 6, 2005
    How Baghdad was taken two years ago in April 2003 (at least the side West of the Tigris; the Marines took the East side). Well written, and decently written. This book belongs in any library on the second Iraq war, and it will read well even in two hundred years. This is how modern war is; it shows the abilities of the Abrams tank, the Bradley fighting vehicle; and how confusion can reign even in a well organized force. It shows leadership and heroism. It is a total contrast in style to "Generation Kill: Devil Dogs, Iceman, Captain America, and the New Face of American War" by Evan Wright - the other one of two books I read within three days on the same phase of the same war. Thunder Run is a book I recommend strongly - and your 13-year old daughter can read it.
    2 people found this helpful
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  • Reviewed in the United States on April 12, 2005
    The first night I began this book I had trouble sleeping. The sheer force of violence of these few days in Baghdad was overwhelming. I could not put this book down. The heroism, leadership and duty of these U.S. soldiers amazes me, yet I guess it really doesn't, as it seems the U.S. continues to produce folks from places like Ames, Iowa, Racine Wisconsin and Albany Georgia that are willing to risk it all. There is an element of comfort reading about the men and women of our military who stand in "harm's way" while the rest of us sleep at night.

    The other element of the book that stuck me was the willingness of the enemy to "risk it all" as well, especially given the extreme disparity of equipment and training.

    If you enjoy military history this is a must read. It is also a "must read" if you have an interest in what "harm's way" really represents.
    7 people found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

Translate all reviews to English
  • Manuel Jesus Caro Avalos
    5.0 out of 5 stars TODO CORRECTO
    Reviewed in Spain on November 24, 2018
    AUN SIENDO DE SEGUNDA MANO ME LLEGO EN PERFECTAS CONDICIONES
  • myskydiver
    4.0 out of 5 stars Okay
    Reviewed in Germany on December 9, 2013
    hatte mich interessiert, deswegen hatte ich es bestellt; sonst hätte es keine Möglichkeit gegeben.
    Ich habe auch nur Teile gelesen, wurde mir empfohlen
  • gunnerpotter246
    5.0 out of 5 stars Awsome!
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on January 12, 2013
    Could not put this down! Just the right mix of history and human interest and incredibly well written, the author was there which helps. No wonder they are making this into a movie in 2013, if you cant wait for that catch the original news footage on you tube....
  • Niclas Grabowski
    3.0 out of 5 stars Wie man heutzutage ein Land (nicht) erobert
    Reviewed in Germany on April 6, 2008
    Das Buch ist das bisher beste Beispiel für "Embedded Journalism", das ich bisher gelesen habe. Spannend und dramatisch wie ein Roman geschrieben, aber dennoch genau und sorgfaltig recherchiert, erzählt es von der Eroberung Bagdads im letzten Golfkrieg. Kern des Buches ist dabei die Eroberung des Zentrums und des Regierungsviertels durch eine Brigade aus gepanzerten Einheiten praktisch ohne Unterstützung von Infanterie. Auf der Gegenseite standen unkoordinierte, teilweise irreguläre Einheiten, deren Waffen allerdings den gepanzerten Fahrzeugen der Amerikaner kaum Schaden zufügen konnten. So gerät die Heldengeschichte, die hier auch erzählt werden soll, etwas merkwürdig, denn Verluste auf amerikanischer Seite gibt es eher aufgrund von Zufällen, übersteigertem Selbstvertrauen, eigenem Feuer oder wenn sich mal wieder zwei Tanks gegenseitig in die Quere kommen - es gibt gleich mehrere Auffahrunfälle im Buch. So hat man den Eindruck, dass die Amerikaner oft mehr mit der eigenen Organisation zu kämpfen hatten als mit dem Feind. Und das wurde dann auch noch einigen Reportern zum Verhängnis, deren Hotel von einer amerikanischen Granate getroffen wurde.

    "Raids" nannte man im Zweiten Weltkrieg isolierte, schnelle Vorstöße hinter die feindlichen Linien durch gepanzerte Fahrzeuge. Neu dagegen ist die Taktik, Raids auch in geschlossenen Städten durchzuführen. Ob es allerdings wirklich eine so gute Idee ist, sich in einer Stadt auf seine Panzerung zu verlassen, kann man auch hinterfragen, da die amerikanische Brigade letztendlich doch über eine nicht blockierte Autobahn direkt ins Stadtzentrum fahren konnte. Insofern erscheint mir der Verlauf dieser Aktion doch eher ein Sonderfall zu sein. Daher bin ich immer etwas skeptisch, wenn im Buch die Leistungen der Brigade als taktisches Meisterstück und als Neuerung in der Militärstrategie gefeiert werden.

    Ohnehin ist das Buch spannender, wenn man es als politisches Buch liest. Die Form der Eroberung von Bagdad war nicht so geplant. Nach einem ersten, erfolgreichen Vorstoß in die Stadt wurde auf operativer Ebene vor Ort entschieden, das Stadtzentrum zu besetzen. Nicht ohne Grund spricht einer der leitenden Offiziere von einer "Putschstrategie", in der man ein Regime stürzt, indem man die wichtigsten Gebäude einer Hauptstadt besetzt. So entstand das Konzept für die Beendigung des Krieges nicht durch Politiker sondern durch die Militärs. Durch den überraschenden Vorstoß ins Zentrum sollte das Regime mit einem Schlag zusammenbrechen. Und damit löste sich natürlich auch jede öffentliche Ordnung sofort auf. Wie inzwischen bekannt ist, ist sie seitdem auch nicht wieder hergestellt worden.

    Man ist deshalb versucht zu sagen, dass die Eroberung trotz des scheinbar so sichtbaren Erfolges (amerikanische Panzer vor Saddams Palast) eben doch irgendwie gescheitert ist. Aber diese Geschichte erzählt das Buch leider nicht. Denn der Epilog, der über die Weiterführung der Kämpfe bis heute erzählt, bleibt leider ohne Erklärung. Auch irritierend wirkt die ständige Schilderung, wie fest doch viele der amerikanischen Soldaten im christlichen Glauben verwurzelt sind. Und als dann der Militärkaplan das Töten der bösen Feinde rechtfertigt, kommt man sich als Europäer wie in einer Satire vor.

    Aber Humor kennt dieses sonst sehr flüssig und spannend geschriebene Buch leider nicht wirklich.
  • Brian Van Norman
    4.0 out of 5 stars Fascinating read.
    Reviewed in Canada on January 21, 2024
    A fascinating look at how USA military tends to uinderestimate its foes. This is not the first time I've read or watched multiple examples of military commanders send in their men and machines. In this case, the belief that tanks would clear the way into Baghdad with minimal support. It's a great read, though at times the mulitiple battles that errupted as a result become a trifle confusing as the author flits from one to the next. Still, for military enthusiasts it's a great look at how US forces stormed Baghdad.

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