Review (PDF) Inside The Danger Zone: The U.S. Military In The Persian Gulf, 1987-1988
From the Iraqi attack on the USS Stark to Iranian mine fields to Revolutionary Guard gunboats, the 1987-88 Persian Gulf was a place of shadowy danger for U.S. Navy ships assigned to protect oil tankers during the Iran-Iraq War. A low-profile escort mission quickly became an international test of wills between the United States and Iran. The conflict escalated to involve secret missions and special operations until finally the United States and Iran engaged in open combat, most notably during Operation Praying Mantis in April 1988, the world's largest sea-air battle since World War II. It was the largest deployment of American forces between the Vietnam War and Desert Storm and one with dramatic implications for subsequent events. Yet, the story remained mostly untold and misunderstood for almost two decades. Inside the Danger Zone is the first book ever published to focus on this period, a fourteen-month span that saw an unprecedented series of American military action in this volatile region. Based on declassified documents and extensive interviews with veterans and government officials, many of which spoke out for the first time, Inside the Danger Zone is a fast moving narrative history that tells the story of this quasi-war with Iran from the White House to the front lines.
Hardcover: 272 pages
Publisher: Naval Institute Press; 1st edition (September 15, 2013)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1591149703
ISBN-13: 978-1591149705
Product Dimensions: 6.3 x 1 x 9 inches
Shipping Weight: 1.1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars See all reviews (25 customer reviews)
Best Sellers Rank: #535,486 in Books (See Top 100 in Books) #8 in Books > History > Middle East > Kuwait #68 in Books > History > Military > United States > Operation Desert Storm #224 in Books > History > Middle East > Iran
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.
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.
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.
Count me as another participant in Operation Earnest Will who strongly recommends this book. I served aboard the USS Hawes (FFG-53) as an electronic warfare operator in the summer and fall of 1987, between the Stark and Samuel B. Roberts attacks, and during the Iran Ajr capture and destruction.Despite the fact that my ship merits only a single mention, I found this book to be factually accurate and very, very well written. I've been waiting for this book for 20 years, and it was worth the wait.The only thing this book lacks is something that likely would only be verifiable by a select few that further mitigates the actions of the USS Vincennes' tragic engagement and destruction of the Iranian Airbus in 1988. I know from personal experience (via electronic intelligence) that the Iranians flew F-14 and F-4 jets out of Bandar Abbas in the radar shadow of civilian airliners. They no doubt sought to mask the presence of these military flights, but that subterfuge was undermined by the fact that these aircraft invariably used their radars, and the radar used on the F-14 was unique to the point that it could not possibly be misidentified as anything other than the AN/AWG-9 radar used on the F-14. Other than that, Mr. Wise does a fine job of describing this and all other events.Frankly, I'm grateful that Mr. Wise's description of events refreshed many forgotten memories I had of my participation in the Gulf in 1987. His fine account corrected many things I misremembered of that time, and put the importance of my ship's participation in a proper (i.e., objective) context.
I was safe aboard the USS Enterprise in the Gulf of Oman during OPM. My most vivid memory was pulling into Seattle Washington for fleet week, pick up Tigers and finally head home to Alameda. My most vivid recollection was seeing the USS Wainwright and USS McCormick (Sorry if it's misspelled.) tied up and meeting the actual crewmen in a bar. They didn't talk much about almost sharing the same fate as the Stark. In hindsight almost 30 years later I am certain their thoughts have fomented. I think they were awarded a Combat Action. If you served on the Wainwright I would love to hear your story. Please share.
Inside the Danger Zone: The U.S. Military in the Persian Gulf, 1987-1988 ZONE DIET: Zone Diet Cookbook (Includes 50 Zone Diet Recipes For Every Meal) (Antioxidants & Phytochemicals, Food Allergies, Macrobiotics, Food Allergies, ... Zone diet food, Zone diet for beginners 1) The Military Advantage, 2016 Edition: The Military.com Guide to Military and Veterans Benefits (Military Advantage: The Military.com Guide to Military and Veteran Benefits) ZONE DIET: Zone Diet For Weight Loss & Better Health (Includes a 7-Day Meal Plan to Lose Weight Now) (Antioxidants & Phytochemicals, Food Allergies, Macrobiotics, ... diet food, Zone diet for beginners Book 1) History of Gulf States, Persian people,: Persian people, Kuwait, Bahrain, Oman, Qatar, United Arab Emirate Persian Gulf War Encyclopedia: A Political, Social, and Military History War in the Persian Gulf: Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm, August 1990 - March 1991 (Center of Military History Publication) Danger Ready: Prepare to Survive Any Threat and Live to Tell the Tale: (Terrorist Attacks, Mass-Shootings, Earthquakes, Civil Unrest - Be Ready to Protect Your Family Whatever the Danger) Gassed in the Gulf: The Inside Story of the Pentagon-CIA Cover-up of Gulf War Syndrome What If There Is a Fire? (Danger Zone) Anorexia (Danger Zone: Dieting and Eating Disorders) Persian Food from the Non-persian Bride: And Other Sephardic Kosher Recipes You Will Love Selected Poems from the Divan-e Shams-e Tabrizi: Along With the Original Persian (Classics of Persian Literature, 5) The Feed Zone Cookbook: Fast and Flavorful Food for Athletes (The Feed Zone Series) Zone Diet: The Ultimate Beginners Guide To The Zone Diet (includes 75 recipes and a 2 week meal plan) (Antioxidants & Phytochemicals, Food Allegies, Macrobiotics) Zone Diet: The Ultimate Beginners Guide to the Zone Diet: Includes 75 Recipes and a 2 Week Meal Plan Histories of City and State in the Persian Gulf: Manama since 1800 (Cambridge Middle East Studies) The Eyes of Orion: Five Tank Lieutenants in the Persian Gulf War "Lucky War" Third Army in Desert Storm - Complete History of Persian Gulf War, Planning a Ground Offensive, General Norman Schwarzkopf, Air Power, Command and Control, Iraq and Kuwait, Yeosock Revolution in Warfare?: Air Power in the Persian Gulf
