Finished reading Thunder Run last night. Great book. If you enjoy books about combat then you you should definitely check this out. It completely changed my understanding about the battle for Baghdad in April 2003. I was under the impression that the U.S. military showed up, the statue of Saddam toppled, and it was basically all over. Not at all.
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Instead the Third Infantry Division (mechanized) launched an armored attack from Baghdad's airport into the heart of the city to capture Saddam's government and palace complex (the current Green Zone). This had immense psychological value in order to counter the rantings of Baghdad Bob and demonstrate that the U.S. had control of the city -- hopefully persuading the Iraqi military to give up and avoid a prolonged battle.
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This armored drive -- known as a "thunder run" -- reminded me somewhat of Operation Market-Garden. The drive up Highway 8 to the heart of the Iraqi government was brutal, with U.S. forces up against literally thousands of Fedayeen fighters, Republican Guard troops and foreign fighters. Once the column completed its objective and reached the government complex it still had to keep its supply lines open -- no easy task. To do so units were positioned at three key highway interchanges -- known as Larry, Curly and Moe -- on the road from the airport to the palaces.
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These forces came under such heavy attack that they soon were in danger of running out of fuel and ammunition -- setting up one of the book's most dramatic sequences when a supply column composed of thin-skinned fuel tankers and armored Humvees were forced to drive to the various positions to deliver critical munitions, all the while under heavy RPG and small-arms fire. A direct hit to one of these vehicles spelled almost certain death for the driver, and yet they had no choice but to complete the mission.
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A very compelling read.
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