Book Review: ‘Into the Storm: On the Ground in Iraq’ (Commanders’ Series, Book #1)

Into the Storm: On the Ground in Iraq

By: Tom Clancy and Gen. Fred Franks. Jr. (Ret.)

Publisher: Penguin

Year of Publication: 2007 (Reissue)

Genre: Military History/Biography, Middle East Conflicts, U.S. Army History

📘 Into the Storm: A Dual Lens on Courage, Command, and Transformation

By Tom Clancy and Gen. Fred Franks

Tom Clancy, the bestselling author known for his gripping military thrillers, joins forces with retired U.S. Army General Fred Franks to deliver a compelling work of nonfiction in Into the Storm: On the Ground in Iraq. This inaugural volume in a series of military memoirs offers a rare dual perspective—part strategic analysis, part personal testimony—on the evolution of the modern American Army and the men who shaped it.

🔍 Rebuilding an Army, Reframing a Legacy

At its core, Into the Storm chronicles the post-Vietnam transformation of the U.S. Army. Clancy and Franks trace the journey from a dispirited force—marked by a mix of draftees and career soldiers (“lifers”)—to a leaner, professional military that executed a swift and decisive victory against Saddam Hussein’s elite Republican Guard during the Gulf War.

The book explores the Army’s tactical and technological evolution from the 1960s through the 1990s, shifting focus from Cold War standoffs in Europe to asymmetric threats in the Middle East. It’s a study in adaptation, resilience, and strategic recalibration.

🎖️ The Journey of a Gentleman-Warrior

Beyond the institutional narrative, Into the Storm is also a deeply personal account of Gen. Fred Franks’ military career. From his early days as a cavalry lieutenant in the Fulda Gap to his combat tour in Southeast Asia—where he lost a leg during the 1970 Cambodian campaign—Franks’ story is one of quiet determination and enduring service.

His rise to command the VII Corps, the armored spearhead of Operation Desert Storm’s 100-hour ground war, is told with humility and reverence. Franks emerges not just as a decorated officer, but as a man profoundly moved by the courage of the soldiers under his command.

🧠 Two Voices, One Mission

The narrative alternates between Clancy’s third-person strategic commentary and Franks’ first-person reflections, offering readers both macro and micro views of military life. This structure allows for a richer, more textured reading experience—balancing battlefield analysis with emotional insight.

While the text includes military terminology, Clancy and Franks take care to explain key concepts, making the book accessible to both seasoned readers of military history and newcomers alike.

💬 Final Thoughts

Into the Storm is more than a chronicle of war—it’s a meditation on leadership, sacrifice, and the quiet heroism of those who serve. Through Clancy’s analytical lens and Franks’ lived experience, readers gain a deeper understanding of what it means to rebuild not just an army, but a legacy of honor and resilience.