The Guts to Try: The Untold Story of the Iran Hostage Rescue Mission by the On-Scene Desert Commander

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Summary: An incredibly detailed description of a mission.
Review: This exhaustive description of the planning and execution of Operation Eagle Claw, the attempt to rescue the Iranian hostages, gives the reader a sense of how complex the mission was. There is an old aphorism about the military that says, "The amateur talks about tactics and strategy while the professional talks logistics." This is one of the few military books I have read that provides enough (almost too much depending on your taste) detail about what it takes to carry out a mission deep in enemy territory. At the beginning, after realizing the problems they faced, I could not see how they could succeed. That they came as close as they did is what is truly amazing. It also speaks to the decrepit state of the military seven years after the end of the Viet Nam War. They had the men but lacked adequate resources. Fortunately changes were coming. This story helped to lead the way.

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Summary: Desert One from the Air Force Perspective
Review: This is the story of the April 1980 hostage rescue mission into Iran written by the USAF MC-130 commander. There are many interesting insight into the mission planning, including intelligence gaps and Kyle follows the development of the plan from conception to execution. One particularly odd item is the overconfidence that Desert One was a deserted area, when even the pre-raid reconnaissance mission saw signs of activity. COL Beckwith, Delta commander, appears as an inflexible jackass who can't back off by even one man from his 130-man force for an embassy takedown. The plan always appeared flawed and attempting to do too much with helicopters. Even if the force had gotten to Tehran it is apparent that the extraction plan was overly-optimistic and likely to turn into a debacle. Maps adequate.

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Summary: Great book on the Iranian Hostage Rescue Mission!
Review: Very accurate account of Operation Eagle Claw, Iranian Hostage Attempted Rescue. I also recommend reading Delta Force by Col. Charlie Beckwith.