Left Hook - by William Reeder (Hardcover)

Book Synopsis

The largest armored assault since the Second World War took place on the desert sands of the Middle East in early 1991. The campaign was named Operation Desert Storm. The mission was to oust Iraqi forces from their illegal military takeover of their neighbor, Kuwait. Left Hook is the story of the 24th Mechanized Infantry Division in that fight.

Even though the 24th Division was but a slice of the massive American-led international coalition unleashed on the enemy, it filled a key and decisive role. The 24th spearheaded an audacious attack to crash through the enemy's far western flank, cut off his retreat, and destroy his most elite forces.

Major General Barry McCaffrey, perhaps America's best fighting general since World War II's George Patton, led the division. McCaffrey and his senior commanders had been shaped by their service in Vietnam, years earlier. They vowed such a tragedy would not happen again. Left Hook is their story. Just as importantly, it is the story of the junior officers that grabbed hold of awesome responsibility, the sergeants who took soldiers through grueling combat under treacherous conditions, and most especially, it is the story of the brave soldiers who fought that fight.

The author devoted over two years to research, exploring archives and examining troves of untapped primary source materials. He spent hours conducting in-depth interviews with thirty-five key battle participants, including most of the 24th Division's senior leaders. The result is a riveting account of the decisive Left Hook that spearheaded victory in the Gulf War. More than pure history, it is also an engaging human interest story. The narrative is written in a style that will appeal to a broad reading audience.

Review Quotes

"Left Hook is a riveting account of one of the defining operations of Desert Storm. Bill Reeder brings to life the 24th Infantry Division's decisive role in the Gulf War with rigorous research, narrative force, and a deep understanding of combat and command. At the center of the story is General Barry McCaffrey, the kind of battlefield leader history rarely produces-- disciplined, courageous, and utterly focused on mission and soldiers. This is both a highly readable work of military history and a fitting tribute to the soldiers and leaders who shaped a pivotal moment in modern warfare." --Jen Easterly, Former Director, U.S. Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency

"Don't think America produces any more combat generals? Meet General Barry McCaffrey. This smart, tough commander led from the front during our country's smashing victory against Iraq in the 1990-1991 war--that would be the one we won, and won big. In Left Hook, Vietnam War combat veteran and acclaimed author Bill Reeder explains how and why McCaffrey and his soldiers triumphed. It's a gripping story of bravery, grit, and above all leadership under fire."--Daniel P. Bolger, Lieutenant General (U.S. Army, Retired), author of The Panzer Killers

"General Barry McCaffrey is a true American hero, from his combat tours in Vietnam as a junior officer to his cabinet-level service as our nation's drug czar. But in many ways, his pinnacle military moment was command of the storied 24th Division in Desert Storm. This is a book full of combat experience at the highest level and deserves to be studied by our nation's warriors."--Admiral James Stavridis, 16th Supreme Allied Commander of NATO and author of 2084: A Novel of Future War

"This is not just the real-life story of one of the bravest soldiers in American history. It is also a look at how General McCaffrey's expert combat leadership produced the most stunning battlefield victory since the Second World War." --Colonel Jack Jacobs (U.S. Army, retired), Medal of Honor Recipient

"A gripping, superbly researched, and masterfully crafted account of the 24th Infantry Division (Mechanized) in Operation Desert Storm. Left Hook captures one of the most decisive and rapid armored thrusts in modern warfare. Under the exceptional leadership of then-Major General Barry McCaffrey, one of his generation's most gifted and highly decorated war fighters, the division demonstrated how disciplined preparation, operational clarity, and relentless momentum can translate doctrine into battlefield dominance. This is not only the story of a remarkable unit in combat, but also of command at its finest--where leadership, training, and trust forged victory in the harshest of environments." --General David Petraeus (US Army, Ret.), former Commander of the Surge in Iraq, US Central Command, and Coalition Forces in Afghanistan; former Director of the CIA; and co-author of New York Times' best-selling book Conflict: The Evolution of Warfare from 1945 to Gaza

About the Author

William Reeder is a retired U.S. Army colonel, highly decorated with extensive combat experience (Silver Star for gallantry, Valorous Unit Award, two Distinguished Flying Crosses for heroism, three Purple Hearts for wounds received in combat). In Vietnam, he was an AH-1 Cobra attack helicopter pilot. Later in his career, he flew the AH-64 Apache attack helicopter. He is also a former prisoner of war (POW) in Vietnam. After military retirement, Reeder earned a PhD in history and led training and leader development initiatives with the United States Army and NATO Special Operations forces for over twenty years. He lives in Seabeck, Washington.