SKU: 44240791748

Baghdad Express: A Gulf War Memoir

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Baghdad Express: A Gulf War MemoirIn early summer of 1990, Joel Turnipseed was homeless kicked out of his college's philosophy program, dumped by his girlfriend. He had been AWOL from his Marine Corps Reserve unit for more than three months, spending his days hanging out in coffee shops reading Plato and Thoreau. Then Saddam Hussein invaded Kuwait. Turnipseed's unit was activated for service in Operation Desert Shield. By January of '91, he was in Saudi Arabia driving tractor trailers

In early summer of 1990, Joel Turnipseed was homeless--kicked out of his college's philosophy program, dumped by his girlfriend. He had been AWOL from his Marine Corps Reserve unit for more than three months, spending his days hanging out in coffee shops reading Plato and Thoreau.

Then Saddam Hussein invaded Kuwait.

Turnipseed's unit was activated for service in Operation Desert Shield. By January of '91, he was in Saudi Arabia driving tractor-trailers for the Sixth Motor Transport Battalion--the legendary "Baghdad Express." The greatest logistical operation in Marine Corps history, the Baghdad Express hauled truckloads of explosives and ammunition across hundreds of miles of desert. But on the brink of war, Turnipseed's greatest struggles are still within. Armed with an M-16 and a seabag full of philosophy books, he is a wise-ass misfit, an ironic observer with a keen eye for vivid detail, a rebellious Marine alive to the moral ambiguity of his life and his situation.

Developed from Turnipseed's 1997 feature article for GQ Magazine, this innovative memoir--simultaneously terrifying and hilarious, equal parts Catch-22 and Catcher in the Rye--explores both the absurdities of war and the necessity of accepting our flawed world of shadows. With expansive humanity and profane grace, Turnipseed finds the real-world answers to his philosophical questions and reaches the hardest peace for any young man to achieve--with himself.

Binding Type: Hardcover
Publisher: Borealis Books
Published: 04/03/2003
ISBN: 9780873514507
Pages: 203
Weight: 0.81lbs
Size: 8.23h x 5.75w x 0.91d

Review Citations: Newsweek 03/03/2003 pg. 59
Kirkus Reviews 03/01/2003 pg. 370
USA Today 04/23/2003 pg. 1
Library Journal 05/01/2003 pg. 136
Publishers Weekly 06/01/2003
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SKU: 44240791748

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Brittany Jones
Port Orchard, US
★★★★★ 5
Showstopper
Color: Gold, Size: Medium, Color: Gold, Size: Medium
Theme was Hollywood. It was a real showstopper 10 out of 10 we ordered a medium. He weighs 155 pounds.
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This jacket is a head-turner.
Color: Red, Size: X-Large, Color: Red, Size: X-Large
This is a fantastic jacket for the price. I was very impressed by its appearance. I wore the jacket in Las Vegas and got so many compliments from both men and women. Pair this with a black turtleneck and you will be a superstar.
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Reviewed in the United States on March 13, 2026
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Bryan
Massapequa, US
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Crowd pleaser
Color: Gold, Size: Large, Color: Gold, Size: Large
Stand out in this jacket. Be warned it does have glitter on the jacket.
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Reviewed in the United States on March 22, 2026
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Kata S.
Cuba, US
★★★★★ 5
Beautiful jacket!
Color: Gold, Size: Medium
Amazing quality for the price! Bought it for a Halloween costume, it looks beautiful and shiny, got so many compliments on it!!! True to size!
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Reviewed in the United States on November 4, 2025
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No Scent Pro deSTINKed
Port Orchard, US
★★★★★ 5
it caused a fight
Color: Gold, Size: X-Large
I completely mis-read the room.... I got this jacket as a White Elephant gag gift for our Christmas party. I thought it would be funny to see some 50-60 year old conservative dude open this up. There is nothing subtle about this jacket. It's bright. It's flashy. It's bold. The guys fought over it. It was the most stolen gift of the night. When the first guy opened it, the whole party stopped for a minute while he proudly tried it on and everyone took pictures. And each time it was stolen, the same thing happened. The loser moped. The winner boasted. It was not at all the reaction I expected from this group - it was awesome! And to top it off, a couple months later another guy in the group "borrowed" the jacket and wore it for his wedding. His wife - also part of our group - absolutely loved it! He has no plans to return the jacket to any of the previous owners. Don't be surprised if you see a sparkling flash of light in the stands at a Vanderbilt basketball game! Their colors are black/gold, so he's going to make full use of the blazer! Aside from making a great story for all of us, this jacket is very well made. The sequins are firmly attached. The sleeves are the right length, etc. It's comfortable to wear and the sizing feels accurate. I was expecting a "costume" piece, but actually got a quality blazer.
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Reviewed in the United States on May 13, 2026

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