"A truly moving experience. Anyone who is considering making war, anyone who wants to prevent it, anyone who has gone to war or sent a father, husband, or child to war should read this book." -- Seymour Hersh, Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist and, author of Against All Enemies "Reveling in the great victory for the U.S. in Desert Storm should not let us overlook the need to recognize the tremendous sacrifices made by those who lost their lives or who may have been physically harmed by exposure to hazards in that war. [This] book is a fascinating and tragic portrayal told with clarity and pathos of the situation in which one hero of Desert Storm finds himself today. It is an excellent read; reminding us of the heroic sacrifices that go with war." -- E. R. Zumwalt, Jr., Admiral, USN (Ret.) "The Falcon's Cry! Have you ever heard one? It's a haunting sound that pierces your consciousness. This [book] does too because it is written emotionally and yet artfully by Michael and Denise Donnelly, brother and sister. It is one of thousands of dramas played out before, during and after the Persian Gulf War by soldiers...who lived through perhaps the dirtiest environmental battlefields ever...This tale, when you think long enough about it, will shock you." -- Thomas Dennie Williams, The Hartford Courant "Falcon's Cry is [Donnelly's] story, from his departure for the Mideast to his battle with ALS. It is riveting and heart rendering. This is the true story of Gulf War veterans. Everyone in the United States should read it." -- Bernard Sanders, (I-VT) U.S. Representative "Gulf War hero Major Michael Donnelly, USAF (Ret.), returned home with a deadly disease and to a nation indifferent to his illness. A courageous young American, his compelling story of government betrayal and denial, as told to Congress, is typical of over 100,000 Gulf War veterans who continue to suffer from a variety of unexplained illnesses. Major Donnelly and his fellow veterans are the delayed and forgotten casualties of Operation Desert Shield/Desert Storm. They deserve more than the thanks of a grateful nation." -- Christopher Shays, (R-CT) U.S. Representative and Chairman, Human Resources Subcommittee, Committee on Government Reform and Oversight "Falcon's Cry is a compelling, personal account that shows the untold human suffering due to the neglect of the government." -- Paul Sullivan, Executive Director, National Gulf War Resource Center
MAJOR MICHAEL DONNELLY retired from the U.S. Air Force in
October 1996 after 15 years of active duty. He serves on
Connecticut's Persian Gulf Veterans' Information Commission, formed
at the order of the legislature to assist Desert Storm veterans in
receiving the benefits and support they earned. He lives with his
wife Susan and their two young children in South Windsor,
Connecticut.
DENISE DONNELLY, a professional writer and the sister of Major
Donnelly, has been a fiction editor at the Missouri Review and has
taught English and creative writing at Tufts University and the
University of Missouri. She lives in Rockport, Massachusetts.
[I]n this remarkable, gripping book, [Donnelly] has embarked on one
last bombing run--a devastating attack against the Pentagon,
Veterans Affairs Department, and other repositories of dangerous
federal health policies….Falcon's Cry is also a heart-wrenching
examination of what it's like to have your body wither away while
your mind remains lively and sharp…. The book is a frightening,
inspiring tale of bravery and persistence.
*Gannett News Service*
Donnelly has become a powerful spokesman for his fellow veterans
and has helped persuade Washington lawmakers to look further into
the illnesses that vets believe were caused by exposure to chemical
weapons and Iraqi nerve agents. Told with the help of Donnelly's
sister, this gripping account could do much to unseat Pentagon
assertions that 'Gulf War Syndrome' is a myth constructed by
stressed-out veterans.
*Publishers Weekly*
A moving memoir of the author's experiences as an air force pilot
throughout the 1980s and the Persian Gulf War, that also confronts
his seeming postwar diagnosis of ALS (Lou Gehrig's disease) and his
subsequent realization that he did not have ALS, but rather, 'Gulf
War Syndrome.' While lacking the polish of an experienced writer,
Donnelly makes up for this with an impressive degree of candor….The
sections of Falcon's Cry dealing with the war are dramatic and
unlikely to disappoint anyone who watched the 'CNN War' on a TV
set….Donnelly's tale of his personal sacrifices of health,
mobility, and career quite naturally overshadow the victory in the
Gulf. An honest, deeply felt look at the human cost of war.
*Kirkus Reviews*
Donnelly…has done a remarkable job of documenting the onset and
causes of his fatal disease, while telling about his life….But it
is Donnelly's description of exposure to dangerous chemicals that
gives Falcon's Cry its punch….with [this book] Donnelly has done
his comrades and his country an invaluable service.
*Journal Inquirer*
This is a sad story. And a true one….In this limpid, often riveting
memoir, Donnelly and his sister Denise chronicle his brilliant
military career, his rapid demise, and, most of all, the
heartbreaking indifference with which his and other Gulf War
veterans' suffering was met….While unnerving, the writing is always
measured, rich with facts, and devoid of self-indulgence. Michael
Donnelly is both an officer and a gentleman.
*Boston Magazine*
Collaborating with his sister, the team reports with clarity and
passion on behalf of veterans who have insufficient medical or
disability benefits.
*WE Magazine*
The Donnellys do a wonderful job with this book. Read the official
memoirs and histories of the Gulf War, then read Falcon's Cry, the
real history of the Gulf War.
*Dead Trees Review*
Five stars (exceptional).
*Today's Books*
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