Recipient of the 2025 International Book Awards Award Finalist, Nonfiction - Adventure Readers' Favorite Annual International Book Contest. “Although I left the fight in Iraq, the fight had not left me.” Colonel Burl Randolph, Jr., felt that way after returning home from each combat deployment to Iraq. It took him months to return to ‘ normal .’ In the series The Iraq I Knew… : From Saddam Hussein to Weapons of Mass Destruction to Al Qaeda in Iraq , Colonel Randolph chronicles his adventures on each operation using remarkably intense stories. In Book I : Into the Storm , newly promoted US Army Captain Randolph described in vivid detail his experiences from the unexpected alert notification and grueling deployment execution to Operation Desert Shield . Then, they learned how to live in the harsh deserts of Saudi Arabia with little rain, no shade, suspect living conditions, and vicious windstorms. The months slowly ticked by as their resolve to evade the SCUD and rocket attacks, and chemical agent alarms strengthened. Eventually, the diplomatic solutions failed, and before their eyes, the world changed. Randolph then explained the shift to the Operation Desert Storm Coalition campaign while serving in the famed 1st Cavalry Division. He recounted in explicit detail the dangerous but vital missions they were assigned to help liberate Kuwait from Saddam Hussein and the Iraqi Army. In The Iraq I Knew …, Book I : Into the Storm , you will learn: The enormity of deploying a 700+ man field artillery unit with thousands of pieces of equipment to Saudi Arabia in only 60 days. - How Soldier morale diminished while waiting months for a diplomatic solution. - What leaders and individuals did to maintain purpose, direction, and motivation. - How the Army survived in a barren desert that required using “burn barrels” and pee tubes. - Discovering years later about the toxic dangers from the “burn barrels.” - Describing the dangers of daily living and the harrowing transition to wartime operations. - Explaining how the rigors of deployment, fighting, and redeployment affected the lives of Soldiers and families, sometimes for years to come. You will become keenly interested in contemporary military history through a personal firsthand account. You will gain an understanding of some of the elusive Army jargon. You will become more conscious of the personal sacrifices of military personnel to ensure our freedoms. BUY, READ, AND USE THIS BOOK TO INCREASE YOUR KNOWLEDGE AND UNDERSTANDING OF OUR MILITARY’S COMMITMENT. "Overall, The Iraq I Knew is a powerful, firsthand account that underscores the complexity and dedication involved in military service. I'd certainly recommend it for fans of wartime memoirs . Author Colonel Burl Randolph Jr. offers a compelling insight into the life of a US Army Field Artillery Captain and a truly engaging, raw portrayal of what it's like to experience extreme hardships in the name of duty. The book not only deepened my understanding of contemporary military history but also fostered a greater appreciation for the personal sacrifices made by military personnel." - K.C. Finn, Readers' Favorite " The Iraq I Knew is a compelling, profound read on recent military history. With his firsthand experience, Randolph brings a unique perspective to many Americans on what war is really like. For lovers of military history and memoir, The Iraq I Knew is a solid addition to their library ." "We can watch documentaries or even fictionalized movies and TV series about war, but none of those are the same as actually living through the experience. Randolph's memoir cuts no corners and is brutally honest as he shares gritty details of his whole acquaintance with the events that unfolded between the summer of 1990 and the spring of 1991." - The Book Review Directory " As The Iraq I Knew is one of the most incredible memoirs I have ever read, I have no choice but to award this incredible book a dazzling five stars as it truly deserves it! The Iraq I Knew: From Saddam Hussein to Weapons of Mass Destruction to Al Qaeda in Iraq is a moving, poignant, and thought-provoking military memoir courtesy of the author Colonel Burl Randolph, Jr. who shares his journey. The journey the reader is taken on is an emotional, sometimes upsetting one, but an important story above all that will move and touch its readers from start to finish." - Aimee Ann , Red Headed Book Lover " The Iraq I Knew is especially and highly recommended for general-interest libraries, as well as military-oriented collections. Discussion groups, whether consisting of vets or civilians, will find it holds many insights and much material for debate and discussion. With its potential to prove eye-opening and educational to military people, their families, and civilians alike, The Iraq I Knew transcends any identification as a military autobiography, a story of PTSD, or an exploration of Iraq's many faces al