Marine Scouts

Retired U.S. Marine Johnston, who teaches in the Joint Military Intelligence Training Center for the Department of Defense, draws on his 28 years of service for his engrossing debut, a minutely detailed, realistic tale of one unit’s actions during Operation Desert Storm. In December 1990, 23 Scouts of 2nd Tank Battalion, 2nd Marine Division under the command of Capt. Joseph “Quarry” Samuels join coalition forces in Al-Jubayl, Saudi Arabia, where they’re assigned to the Surveillance, Reconnaissance and Intelligence Group in the Intelligence Company. On their first reconnaissance mission into enemy-occupied territory, Quarry and his men discover an entire Iraqi brigade and begin clandestine operations by kidnapping a high-level Iraqi officer. Eventually, the Scouts take up a position on Hill 224, where they remain to report on Iraqi movements and play an important role in the defeat of Iraqi forces in Kuwait. By incorporating such things as call signs and entire briefings, Johnston immerses the reader into the ongoing, swiftly moving military operations. Never mind some clichéd prose (“Quarry’s heart skipped a beat”). Military action fans will look forward to more from this talented author. (Oct.)