Jason Born's Reviews > The Pirate Coast: Thomas Jefferson, the First Marines & the Secret Mission of 1805

Excellent read. Provides a terrific insight into the First Barbary War - filled with so many firsts for the U.S. Our first foreign war. The first war declared on the U.S. The first time a U.S. flag was hoisted over foreign soil. The first covert military operation by the U.S. Our first war against what today would be called Islamist terrorism.

Many tragic heroes. Many villains. I have deep sympathy for the firebrand General Eaton and all the demons he failed to slaughter after his time in the desert. Loved Stephen Decatur Jr. Loved Presley O'Bannon. Commodore Preble was terrific. Tobias Lear - yuck, icky, can't stand.