• Thunder Run

  • The Armored Strike to Capture Baghdad
  • By: David Zucchino
  • Narrated by: Richard M. Davidson
  • Length: 15 hrs and 37 mins
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars (228 ratings)

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Thunder Run  By  cover art

Thunder Run

By: David Zucchino
Narrated by: Richard M. Davidson
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Publisher's summary

Called “the best account of combat since Black Hawk Down” by Men’s Journal, Thunder Run is a no-holds-barred look at the sweep of Baghdad, Iraq in 2003 by U.S. armed forces. One of the boldest gambles in modern military history, the surprise attack on Baghdad by three battalions of tanks and APCs and less than 1,000 men total was the single stroke that is credited for ending the Iraqi war. The three days of fierce fighting that followed the initial attack are captured in stunning detail by Richard M. Davidson’s powerhouse narration.

©2004 David Zucchino (P)2004 Recorded Books, LLC
  • Unabridged Audiobook
  • Categories: History

What listeners say about Thunder Run

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  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    3 out of 5 stars

Good reporting, but not a great book

This book is competently written, but the author seems to be 'making the most' out of what he had to work with. This episode in the second Gulf War in interesting, but neither is it particularly compelling, nor particularly novel. It is not compelling because, in a reporter's effort to 'cover the event,' the story jumps from one subject to another, never hovering long enough to really become invested in the people who lived through this. There is no particular insight into either 'men and war' or 'the war itself'. It's just a competent reporting job.

One of the previous reviewers described the book as "better than Black Hawk Down" -- on the strength of which I bought the book. I don't see it myself. The Battle for Mogadishu was a far more compelling story. The battle described in Thunder Run never seemed on the verge of getting out of American control, despite the author's best attempts to inject some degree of drama. For sure it must have been terrifying for those involved, but the situation was completely different. In Baghdad the the 3rd ID had main battle tanks and Bradly fighting vehicles. They had a great deal of close air support, they had (big 120mm) mortars, they had paladin howitzers. They basically always had superior firepower and were never really in danger of loosing it. Mogadishu was completely differ (again, despite the author's attempt to draw a comparison). The rangers had only helicopter gun support, no mortars, no artillery, no CAS. They had no armor on their convoys, they were out gunned most of the time. There was a very real chance that they would lose the entire unit. Things never looked so desperate for the 3rd ID in Baghdad.

Thunder Run is probably worth a listen if you are a gulf war history buff. A far better book, IMHO, about combat soldiers in Iraq, is House to House, by David Bellavia. It's about mechanized infantry in Fallujia. It is a very powerful first person account of a far longer and, for those involved, intense period of fighting. Far more gripping, one feels far more invested in the people, and it is better narrated.

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6 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Thunder run is an epic win!

What made the experience of listening to Thunder Run the most enjoyable?

Yes, this is really and action packed read.

Who was your favorite character and why?

There really can't be one because you get little flashes of POV's

What about Richard M. Davidson???s performance did you like?

He did the voices really well and injected the right amount of emotion into everything.

If you were to make a film of this book, what would be the tag line be?

Better than Blackhawk down.

Any additional comments?

Get this book you wont be sorry.

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5 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Well worth the listening

Through it had many sad parts plus many exciting vivid happenings of war it is still well worth the listening!!

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2 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

So Intense!

I never thought a book written in 2003 about the dash to Baghdad could be so damn riveting. No matter what type of military books you read, this one is a stunner. Starts off a bit slow, but by the time it was over I was so enthralled!

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2 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Not What the Press Told Us!

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

Yes, It tells the real story about the Thunder Run!

What did you like best about this story?

That I found out waht REALLY Happened when we entered into the Iraqi Capital!

Which scene was your favorite?

The Fight on Route 8

If you were to make a film of this book, what would be the tag line be?

You Will NEVER look at a Highway Interchange the same way AGAIN!

Any additional comments?

It showed me How Little we can trust the US press and Network News companies like FOx and CNN!

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2 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars

A timely reminder that war is war, media be damned

Any additional comments?

For most of us, our memories of the two gulf wars are represented by little more than smartbomb camera footage. The awesome power that the USA was able to deploy in Iraq was overwhelming - to the defenders, as well as the global audience. There seemed no doubt that military might would win a clear victory. In this frontline account of the armoured column entering Baghdad, the author brings us a much more harrowing tail of personal bravery, fear and loss.

It rapidly becomes clear how far the US war machine was stretched, and how close they came to perhaps encountering their "bridge too far".

And I suspect quite unintentionally, it exposes an unsettling realisation of the degree to which religion - Christianity - plays in the minds of US troops. While no means universal, I was struck by the number of times which religion pops up in this book - or soldiers seeking guidance from Army Chaplains that "what they have to do is allowed by their god", of all the prayers that are offered to save the living or commemorate the dead. The message I took away from this is that the US - like virtually every other country that has ever gone to war - clearly exploited religion both explicitly and implicitly in order to exhort their troops to maximum effect on the battlefield. I do not think this is what the author intended, but the main thought in my head at the end of the book was the surprising similarity this realisation brings to our understanding of the people holding the line on both sides of the war.

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Awesome

Very humbling and telling. Put the news of the time out of your mind and put yourself in the shoes of the men doing their job.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Fantastic book

Had to read this book after I found out one of my NCO’s was actually part of this. It’s a good book. Narrator could brush up on pronunciation a bit, but it’s understandable

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    1 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    3 out of 5 stars

Learn your subject matter before a performance.

The book itself is decidedly mediocre, this is made worse by the scene chewing narration. The book sounds like it’s being read by Zapp Brannigan or some Phil Hartman character.

Add to that, the narrator incorrectly pronouncing a multitude of military words and terms - ANYONE OUT THERE IN CHARGE OF HIRING NARRATORS - A TANK ROUND IS PRONOUNCED “SAY-BO” - it’s not “SABIT”, it’s not “SUEBOT” - every single performance gets this wrong and it drives me up the wall.

That being said, I’m not even half way through the book and I’m not sure I’m going to finish it.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Thorough account

I’m a white suburban woman that hasn’t spent a day I service. However, several friends and family have served and I asked my cousin for a good book that recounted her experience. She suggested this. This account gives me such an appreciation for our service members and military. I highly recommend this book to anyone interested in learning more about the beginnings of Operation Iraq.

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