Possibly the only thing I've read about Iraq that isn't done from a political perspective - ie: no one has an agenda; they're there to tell honest stories. People interviewed include mid-level agents involved in reconstruction, mortuary affairs officers, doctors, marines, chaplains, and soldiers stationed at Abu Graib. The stories read very quickly, and are very worthwhile.

Found this book profound and moving - the fact that these are brief oral histories of soldiers who returned gave me some comfort, but their inside view of the Iraq war should be required reading for all citizens who pay taxes and vote. And it made me even more touched by these young soldiers lives.

Anyone with a "Support Our Troops" ribbon on their vehicle should read this book. It's neither anti-war nor pro-war, and while readers may well find their own opinions about the Iraq war unchallenged, it will surely deepen their understanding of what that war means for those who have been fighting it. Here in the words of about 35 soldiers, mostly men and mostly marines, are accounts of being under fire, taking casualties, witnessing bombings, dealing with loss, anxiety, and grief, while maintaining a perspective that allows them to continue from day to day - staying the course.

It is impossible not to be moved by some of these stories. In some soldiers the initial idealism remains tried but uncompromised. In others, there is anger and disillusionment. In still others there is the welcome intensity of fighting itself. Among even the ambivalent, there is often pride taken in jobs well done and difficult objectives achieved. A frequent theme in their stories is the varying ability to perceive the Iraqis as fellow human beings or as so utterly foreign as to be beyond empathy. The reader quickly learns that it is inappropriate to generalize about the fighting forces in Iraq. As one of them says, if you ask a hundred different soldiers why they are there, you'll get a hundred different answers.

What the book speaks to is the need for Americans - regardless of their feelings about the war itself - to understand the immense toll that it takes on the mental and emotional health of individual soldiers, and that many return in great need of healing. For a further understanding of post-traumatic stress syndrome among those who have served in the military during wartime, read the books of Jonathan Shay.

Unlike Fire and Forget: Short Stories from the Long War or Redeployment this book reads more like a series of brief reports on the missions these men and women served. It gives an entirely different perspective on life at war: how our soldiers are trained to process the things they go through, and how they are trained to communicate, and how that holds up when they are released back home.

If you read this one (and I recommend that you do), I also suggest picking up the more poetic essay collections listed above for comparison.

Wow. Such an impactful read. I appreciated reading the firsthand accounts of some who had been on the frontlines in Iraq from 2003-2006. It is so heartbreaking learning some of the things many have been through - what they've seen and experienced there, some tough decisions that were made, the loss and grief, and psychological effects they deal with...I could go on. Quite a thought-provoking read.

Cautionary note that due to the subject matter the language is graphic - may not be suitable for some readers.

A really powerful oral history told by the soldiers themselves of the war in Iraq. Tough stuff in places, as it should be. No agenda of its own, just to let these guys speak for themselves. Very well done.

Someone should read this to the president, god forbid he read anything himself. Too many have died; what a waste.

This is an important compilation of firsthand war accounts. Unfortunately, after reading "Generation Kill" and "Horse Soldiers," these raw interviews made for rough reading. They come across as unedited transcripts--not necessarily bad in itself--but many of the interviewees aren't exactly good storytellers or quick wits. God bless these men and women for their military service, but I think, to do them proper service, good storytelling and literary mastery are more in order.

Sometimes hyper-realism gets in the way of reality.

This book is a compelling, vivid and somber account by 29 soldiers and marines who served our nation by fighting in Iraq. Some of the words and descriptions given by these men and women are shockingly inconceivable and unthinkable. Other stories are simply too sad for any reader not to become emotionally stirred. The following are vivid excerpts that should cause serious contemplation of the end results by national leadership before committing human beings, especially the young, to partake in such a parody of events.

“It became clear that the enemy in Iraq would frequently look more like a civilian than a combatant (Wood, Muller, 2006, pp. 4).”

“I joined straight out of high school…you could see the explosions like a big thunderstorm without the clouds…I had to open fire on the bus to protect the people that we were taking care of…and everybody in the whole bus was killed (Smith, T.).”

“It was so close that marines were pulling out their pistols and knives, getting ready to defend themselves…we got sent into a city with thin-skinned armored vehicles and as a result we were meat-grinded in there…we really were (LeHew, J.).”

“The gunnery sergeant…ran up to us…almost incoherent and babbling, ‘Did you see what happened to us? Did you see what happened to us?’ It was friendly fire from the A-10s. We’re the best trained unit in the entire world. How did it come to the point where not only were we engaged by the enemy, which is totally acceptable, but we’re engaged by our own forces, not just once but making repeated attempts? How did it come to this madness and chaos (LeHew, J.)?”

“The Colonel came up and said, ‘I just got off the phone with headquarters, and they don’t have a security or reconstruction plan to implement.’ The Iraqi people had hope…so people came back to work, and then ORHA showed up, the Office of Reconstruction and Humanitarian Assistance…one night I said, look, here’s what we’ve done in your section…and the guy from ORHA said, ‘we want you to stop…we want you to let everyone go.’ I said, I don’t understand, we’re accomplishing things, and if you stop it, everything goes back to a minus…for godsakes, don’t do that (King, A.).”

“During the Falluja battle, one sheikh told me, ‘You told five hundred thousand men who were trained to kill people to go become productive members in a society that had 70-plus percent unemployment, and I’d say they’re being pretty productive right now (King, A.).”

“Our mission was at odds with itself because we can’t trust anybody, but we’re trying to trust the people (Quinones, T.).”

Review by SaM

Though this wasn’t my favorite book ever, I’m glad it’s a book that was written. These people deserve a chance to tell their story. Some of it is surprising, some not, but either way it’s nice to hear first hand accounts about the Iraq war.

I would recommend this to anyone interested in the topic. Note that it is not a cohesive narrative, but a collection of 29 individuals recounting their experiences in Iraq.

Thanks for the recommendation, Anita. Incredibly powerful & it provides an entire new perspective or lense from which to filter the daily news.

Starts slow but gets better, some really powerful pieces in here.