The Gulf Between Us: Love and Terror in Desert Storm (Memories of War)

It is a fast-moving description of events in Southwest Asia and in the U.S. in 1991 by a pair of people who rose to the occasion--and prevailed over--the lightening-like and tumultous deveopments of that year. It is not a "kind and soft" sort of story.

Cindy--naive, but tough--in her role as founder of the "Liberty Alliance," had to learn quickly that the expressed concerns of the "bracelet sellers" on behalf of the well-being of Cliff and the other POWs was but one of a number of entreprenurial schemes to make a buck from the unquestioning support of thousands of Americans.

Cliff--dedicated and tough--learned the lesson of past POWs: If your captors really want the information, they can torture every POW in every war beyond his or her limit to resist. He is not the first--nor will he be the last--POW to be tortured beyond: "Name, Rank, Serial Number and Date of Birth," trust me!

Together, upon Cliff's "Return to Freedom," sadly, they both learned the lesson endemic to America, that within a family, the public and media identification of a member as a "hero" is often more difficult to deal with than the events that led to the identification.

Cindy,herself, describes her family as "ordinary people who found themselves in extraordinary circumstances." The joy in reading this book is in learning the limits--through Cindy and Cliff--of which we are all capable.


A Story For All Of Us -- For All Time   July 6, 2000
H.L. (Montana)
8 out of 9 found this review helpful

READ THIS BOOK! Cliff and Cindy's story is a gripping one; it is full of the events that can only be called "heroism under fire". Their situations could not have been seemingly more opposite, yet their approach was EXACTLY the same -- love and duty and honor in all things. It must have been hard to remember when was Cliff was being tortured that his main purpose was to survive and give no information. It must have been excrutiating for Cindy, when the cameras and reporters were crawling over each other and her for a story, that her main purpose was to get her husband and the other POWs home. And how does one deal with the pressing worship of a grateful nation, hungry for heroes? The tales are told in riveting fashion, as the reader is pulled along through every detail of their stories, as if standing in the room as the events unfold. The descriptions are vivid and captivating. You won't be able to put this book down!

Cliff and Cindy weathered "their dessert storm", and survived to tell their story because the seeds of their success were ALWAYS there! They BOTH knew that much might be expected of them; the DIFFERENCE is, they were WILLING -- not to be heroes (though heroes they TRULY are), but to do WHATEVER it took to accomplish the mission before them! Such a thing cannot just be "taught"... it must be LEARNED and LIVED!

Cliff and Cindy ARE heroes, but this book is not JUST about Dessert Storm. It has taken its place alongside those biographies and stories of GREAT men and women that we MUST study if we will ever be ready and willing to take our place in the fight for something bigger than ourselves! If I were a high school or college teacher/professor, I would make this book MANDATORY reading, to show my students that there ARE still heroes, and they come in many forms -- usually when THEY least expect it...

BZ, Cliff and Cindy! Semper Fidelis (the motto of the Marine Corps; it means "Always Faithful") -- for you were, and are true to that which has made the telling of your story possible!

THANK YOU for sharing it with us!


Patriotism At Its Best   June 9, 2000
7 out of 8 found this review helpful

If you'd like an incredible, dose of patriotism, this is the book to read. Sometimes, we become so complacent about the freedoms we practice in our great country. This book puts everything we take for granted into perspective. Let me share a brief story with you that summarizes my feelings concerning "The Gulf Between Us". As a teacher of fifth graders, I was becoming increasingly aware of a decline in patriotism as we would say our daily Pledge of Allegiance, this year. Even though I would demand standing straight and tall, right hands over hearts, and eyes on the flag, about halfway through,a shuffling of feet,slouching,and some grinning at each other would begin. After many of my Pledge lectures, I decided to try something else. I sat down with my students and shared some of the ordeals Col.Cliff Acree endured as a POW. I shared how his strong patriotism,his strength of character, and his faith in God, carried him through inhumane experiences most of us will never be able to comprehend. I also shared how his wife and other family members and friends took action through their strong commitments of love, faith, and patriotism. I ended my lesson that day by challenging my students, each time they said the Pledge, to think of Cliff Acree and all others who have so courageously enabled us to enjoy our many freedoms. From then on, my students took the challenge. I did not have to correct them another time. Hopefully, they will carry this renewed sense of patriotism throughout their lives. I know I will. Thank you so very much, Cliff and Cindy.


Heroes, Devotion and Class   May 1, 2000
6 out of 6 found this review helpful

Cliff and Cindy Acree are heroes in the truest definition of the term. They showed true allegiance to one another through the most trying of forced seperations, encouraged emotional restraint when tried by the media to the breaking point of most humans and have come out of the entire experience of captivity - for both of them - stronger than before and in tune with one another and their God. What better heroes could we ask for? A must read for all those with ties to the US military, and for anyone who wants a hopefull, up-lifting story of love, faith, courage and strength!