Ghosts of War: The True Story of a 19-Year-Old GI

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Ghosts of War: The True Story of a 19-Year-Old GI

3.87 of 5 stars 3.87 · rating details · 499 ratings · 148 reviews

Ryan Smithson joined the Army Reserve when he was seventeen. Two years later, he was deployed to Iraq as an Army engineer. In this extraordinary and harrowing memoir, readers march along one GI's tour of duty. It will change the way you feel about what it means to be an American.

Hardcover, 336 pages

Published April 21st 2009 by Collins (first published April 9th 2009)

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Jan 22, 2013 Halkovic's-Classroom rated it 4 of 5 stars

Ryan Smithson was a junior in high school when 9/11 happened in 2001. At the age of nineteen, Ryan joined the Army Reserves and was deployed as an engineer in Iraq a month later. Ryan and his platoon’s job in Iraq is not very exciting. He, like most days, is to move concrete barriers, to make mortar cover, haul lumber, etc. But, he does see a lot of action on the battlefield. My favorite part of the book is the middle of he has a flashback of when he was in boot camp and he is getting yelled at...more

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Jan 21, 2013 Anthony Fowlkes rated it 4 of 5 stars

Recommended to Anthony by: A buddy on the Raider team.

Ghosts of War written by Ryan Smithson tells the story of a 19 year old that enlists in the United States Army during the 911 crisis and desert storm, a Middle Eastern conflict where U.S forces fought against Saddam Hussein’s tyranny. In the book Ryan is living a normal life in high school, an average joe like everyone else. He’s not thinking about anything, but graduation and getting out of school entirely. Later we find out something different. The author’s purpose for writing this book is a...more Ghosts of War written by Ryan Smithson tells the story of a 19 year old that enlists in the United States Army during the 911 crisis and desert storm, a Middle Eastern conflict where U.S forces fought against Saddam Hussein’s tyranny. In the book Ryan is living a normal life in high school, an average joe like everyone else. He’s not thinking about anything, but graduation and getting out of school entirely. Later we find out something different. The author’s purpose for writing this book is a combination of entertainment and informing. The reason why is because it contains funny parts, but overall it’s the story of what happened from a firsthand perspective.
The audience may be affected differently from the book; some may feel compelled to find out more, or join the service to give back something. Some may feel extreme emotion and get angry. This book might have an impact, but the lasting effect won‘t last long. Just like watching a movie like James Cameron’s: Avatar, when Ryan is sitting in school and the world trade centers are being attacked there is sure to be emotion, but it won’t last forever, because eventually everyone calms down. The book is well-written because it is from a first-hand perspective. There is no better teacher than experience.
The book was captivating, it certainly kept my attention. I especially liked the chapter 2 when Ryan is at basic training, it made me laugh. Not every chapter kept my attention, some were just boring as is common in good book, there has to be the fillers otherwise questions would be raised as to why this is the way it is. I can relate a little to Ryan, I’ve been yelled at by drill sergeants when getting off of a vehicle, it not fun, but the Mississippi kid in the book, I don’t know what was wrong with him. Overall I didn’t find the book boring for the most part. It was a great read.
The book was a combination of genres, it was funny, just some of the things that Ryan did with his lieutenant and the others in equipment platoon. A good example would be farting on his lieutenant while he was in deep thought and his LT saying, “there are a lot things that we’re taught about being an officer, none of which prepares you for when a private farts on you” and he says it while sitting and in turn farting on Ryan. The book was serious in some parts like in the beginning, when Ryan and Heather, his girlfriend, go to see the twin towers and find body bags and people covered in sheets being laid down on the street. That part of the story does spark some thought, like how did a plane cause so much damage? I think the greatest strength of this book is the author’s ability to mix the experiences together to make the story more captivating.
This book was so good, especially because it included pictures of Ryan’s platoon, part of it a least. I would recommend this book to other people, it’s a good read. I know this because when I showed people the book, they would gasp and say things like, “you’re reading that, it’s a good book”, or, “what do you think of it?” I would recommend this book because it just gets you going with a nice story, not suitable for bed-time, but a good time-waster and by time-waster I mean it keeps you mesmorized.
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Sep 17, 2012 Krista rated it 4 of 5 stars

Smithson’s account of his time spent in the army was surprisingly educational. He brought to light a part of the Iraq war that is not often mentioned. One usually hears about the violence and bombs, not the everyday tasks also occurring. I learned a lot, not only about the structure of the military, but also about the issues affecting regular GIs in and out of combat. He is honest with the reader about the activities of himself and his platoon. He does not sensationalize what happened or emotio...more

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Jul 21, 2012 Goldie rated it 4 of 5 stars

I read this book because I thought it would give me insight into the Army life mine own son experienced in Afghanistan. Like the young man in the book, Ryan Smithson, my son had been very careful about what he shared upon his return from war. Through this book I learned much more about terms and procedures and heard echoes of conversations I have had with my son.

But the strength of this book wasn't those types of things. The strength was the showing the progression of a young man who chose to se...more

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Mar 25, 2012 Erica Almerico rated it 5 of 5 stars

Never has a book given me chills in my lifetime the way Ghosts of War: The True Story of a 19 Year Old GI gave me. (view spoiler)...more

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Oct 13, 2011 Derek rated it 5 of 5 stars

The author's purpose of Ghost's of war is to entertain and inform. I think the author's purpose is to entertain because Ryan Smithson is the main character and the author. Since he is the author he is sharing his own life experences and entertaining the readers who read this book because he was there and no one can explain it to the reader better than the person that was there. I think another one of the authors purposes was to inform because he is letting all the young readers of this book know...more The author's purpose of Ghost's of war is to entertain and inform. I think the author's purpose is to entertain because Ryan Smithson is the main character and the author. Since he is the author he is sharing his own life experences and entertaining the readers who read this book because he was there and no one can explain it to the reader better than the person that was there. I think another one of the authors purposes was to inform because he is letting all the young readers of this book know what the army is like and what it is like to go in combat. So overall the author's purposes were to inform and entertain.

The theme of this book is about the army and how a man can go through hard times on the opposite side of the world as his family. I know one of the themes of this book is about the army because he is a soldier and he is in war on the other side of the world and he goes through basic training and has stugles but pulls through all of it and ends up being an amazing soldier and representing the USA.

The style of the book was written in third person and the main setting is in Iraq in the two-thousands after 9/11. Since this book was written in third person I think it made it very descriptive and added some of the entertainment to the book. The author writing this book in third person made it more entertaining because writing it in third person made it more realistic and action packed, it make it more realistic because if the author who wrote the story about himself would've wrote this book in first person it would've made me feel like it didn't really happen. Since the story of this book took place in the two-thousands after 9/11 we can all relate to when it took place because we are here at this time and we always heard it on the news so since we all have heard about the Iraq war we can all relate to it.

My opinion on this book overall i would probably give it a ten out of ten if not a one-hundred out of one-hundred because I am really interested in the war and what happens during it. I think overall this book was really entertaining and very informing on the war because he talked about basic training and how you're taught and what you do when you enroll into the army. I disliked how there were so many abbreviations for code talk in the army because I see the abbreviations a lot and I can't ever remember what they mean and every time I see one multiple times in a row I have to go to the back of my book to see what it means. But other than that i think the book was an amazing read and I would recommend it to any of my friends who like the army and want to read a good book about it.(less)

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Sep 10, 2011 Karin rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: nonfiction, autobiography-memoir, biography, war, war-in-iraq, violence, children, freedom, soldiers, ptsd, 2012-abe-lincoln-nominees, borrowed-from-the-library

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. Ryan Smithson wasn’t sure what he wanted to do after high school, but after seeing ground zero in Manhattan, he decided to join the US Army Reserves and protect the freedoms that so many Americans take for granted. When Ryan returned home after spending a year in Iraq, he suffered symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder (night terrors, in particular). To work through his feelings about the war, he started writing about his experiences in the army - basic training, Iraq, and his homecoming. Re...more Ryan Smithson wasn’t sure what he wanted to do after high school, but after seeing ground zero in Manhattan, he decided to join the US Army Reserves and protect the freedoms that so many Americans take for granted. When Ryan returned home after spending a year in Iraq, he suffered symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder (night terrors, in particular). To work through his feelings about the war, he started writing about his experiences in the army - basic training, Iraq, and his homecoming. Readers will likely be familiar with the tropes of basic training – the crazy drill sergeants, the exercises that beat you down and then rebuild you army-style. But modern warfare is something a lot of people haven’t experienced and Ryan’s insights are down to earth and don’t tend to over-glorify the dangers or the violence. He has compassion and feeling for the people he’s trying to protect and liberate – the Iraqi citizens who are just trying to live their lives, as well as his fellow countrymen – and develops a real camaraderie with others in his unit and those he meets through various missions.

Looking at the photos of Ryan, one is immediately struck by how very young he is. And depending on how old *you* are you might think, “Wow, he’s my age,” or “He’s just a kid.” You may even feel something like embarrassment because you’re letting a 19-year-old fight for your freedom. Ryan’s reasons for choosing the army have nothing to do with a love of violence or the military life. Becoming a soldier and going to war change him in ways he couldn’t have imagined, but they also reinforce his determination to make a difference in peoples’ lives and his belief that he is doing the right thing. You may not support the war in Iraq, or violence of any kind, but after reading Ryan’s account you will understand his motivation to do something – to be the change that he wants to see in the world. A moving account of a young man’s loss of innocence.(less)

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Jul 31, 2011 Jay Patel rated it 5 of 5 stars

A definitely 5/5 from me. A really eye opener.

I always thought army was for shitty people, for people that had no future, but reading this. It really opened my eyes, now, whenever I look at an army guy. I walk to him/her proudly and shake their hands and thank them for serving my country.

Here are some links that you might want to visit for your further research on this memoir. I am not advertising this memoir, I am just a fan. I am putting this links that help you research further about Ryan Sm...more

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Apr 25, 2010 Julia rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: non-fiction, upstate-ny-setting-moment-idea

Who should read this memoir of a young man’s first tour in Iraq? Young men and women who are contemplating joining the military. People who are in the military, military families and Americans who think they have no connection to the military.

Smithson was a junior in high school on 9/11 in East Greenbush, NY. He’d never even been to New York City, three hours away, until just before he goes to Basic, but he joins the Reserves, an engineering unit. His unit is responsible for driving convoys, fo...more

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Feb 06, 2010 Halei rated it 5 of 5 stars

Wow... I just finished "Ghosts of War [My tour of duty:]" and am stunned at how it ambushed my emotions!

I picked this up in the YA section of the library. My husband is a Army Infanty Vet with 2 Iraq tours under his belt, and he hardly ever speaks of his experiences, so I read anything I can get my hands on.

At first I didn't expect too much out of it. The writing isn't profound, but as the story progressed, so does the style. Before I knew it I found myself swept into the dry deserts and laughin...more

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Dec 20, 2009 Leeanna rated it 5 of 5 stars

Ghosts of War: The True Story of a 19-Year-Old GI, by Ryan Smithson

Not often does a book leave me speechless, but the difficult subject and beautiful writing in "Ghosts of War" did. Ryan Smithson was 19 when he was deployed to Iraq as a member of the Army Reserves. He tells the story of his platoon and so many like it overseas, the ones who are working to rebuild the country and make it safe for other troops and citizens, the ones who interact with villagers and the poorer people of Iraq. Not th...more Ghosts of War: The True Story of a 19-Year-Old GI, by Ryan Smithson

Not often does a book leave me speechless, but the difficult subject and beautiful writing in "Ghosts of War" did. Ryan Smithson was 19 when he was deployed to Iraq as a member of the Army Reserves. He tells the story of his platoon and so many like it overseas, the ones who are working to rebuild the country and make it safe for other troops and citizens, the ones who interact with villagers and the poorer people of Iraq. Not the ones who are busting down doors, searching for weapons caches or other types of activities that make the news. Smithson and his fellow soldiers are the unsung heroes of the war.

Smithson writes a moving memoir, that starts with his reaction to September 11, 2001, and his decision to join the Army Reserves, to his year long deployment overseas. The book ends with his return home and the difficulty in adjusting to life again, after living in a combat zone, and how he used writing as therapy for PTSD. The bulk of the book is about his year in Iraq, a year in which he saw the human side of war. Many of the most moving parts of the book are when he describes encounters with Iraqi children, who were almost pathetically grateful for something as simple as clean water. "Ghosts of War" is also a power emotional and mental journey for both the author and the reader, as Smithson ponders what freedom really means, what is faith - questions that are answered during training, missions, and reflection.

I just can't say enough about this book. I've always been against the war, but it was a general feeling. Reading "Ghosts of War" made me think about the individual soldiers, people who joined the armed forces because they want to do something, they want to protect American freedom. A particularly enlightening part for me came near the end, when Smithson went to a high school with another recruiter. On the way to the high school, the other recruiter told Smithson that the kids they were about to see wouldn't really care to hear them, wouldn't listen - they'd think he was just one more brainwashed grunt. I know I felt that way when I listened to recruiters in high school; but as I said, now my opinion is very different. I will now appreciate and thank the soldiers I see. Thank you for opening my eyes.

"Ghosts of War" is an excellent book for adults or young adults, especially teenagers who are considering joining the armed forces. Smithson's memoir gives an accurate picture of army life, from basic training to deployment and back, that may answer questions they didn't know they had. It's also a great book to open discussion between parents and their children, about the war, about the army. I had my own father look at it, as he had been in the Reserves during Vietnam, and the book prompted many questions for me to ask him.

The writing is moving and will suck you in; I didn't want to put it down once I started. Some of the experiences related left me tearing up, and some had me cracking up with laughter. Overall, a wonderful book.

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Oct 04, 2009 Aaron rated it 5 of 5 stars

Using simple prose, Ryan Smithson shares with readers his experience of serving a one-year tour as an engineer in the Army in Iraq in 2005. He starts by recounting his experience of 9/11 as a 14-year-old in Albany New York, and how that persuaded him to join the army reserves years later upon finishing high school. He continues through the ups and downs of boot camp before bringing readers along as he traveled through Iraq.

Smithson didn't serve on the front lines, and he is clear in the fact tha...more Using simple prose, Ryan Smithson shares with readers his experience of serving a one-year tour as an engineer in the Army in Iraq in 2005. He starts by recounting his experience of 9/11 as a 14-year-old in Albany New York, and how that persuaded him to join the army reserves years later upon finishing high school. He continues through the ups and downs of boot camp before bringing readers along as he traveled through Iraq.

Smithson didn't serve on the front lines, and he is clear in the fact that he spent most of his time using large equipment to move landscape. At the same time, that did not mean that he was out of danger. He shares the heartbreaking experience of dealing with the loss of a colleague he served with but can barely remember when his platoon is reassigned elsewhere in Iraq. He talks about the edge of his seat experiences in avoiding IEDs, some real and some fake. He also talks of the difficult living conditions.

The real strength of the book is in the personal details. He talks about how he and the guys he served with changed through their experiences. Not only did they grow up, but they became brothers as a result of their shared fears, boredom, and weariness.

He talks of seeing the poor Iraqi children and their families and not being able to follow the rules about not giving food to them. He also talks about the kind words and gestures he received from many Iraqis in the course of his travels throughout the country.

It is a story of war, and the horrors men can cause each other. But it is also the story of the little touches of kindness he receives in care packages from homes and cards and letters from children he never had or will meet.

I was really reminded about my own brother as I read the book. He is a Marine who served two tours in Iraq. He is not really one to talk about his experiences, though he did receive a Purple Heart for an injury he received. He used to send us pictures of some of the most beautiful scenes in Iraq, and would describe how if it wasn't for the reminders of the war, it would be a really beautiful place to visit.(less)

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Feb 16, 2011 Jason Han rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: war, nonfiction, love

War. What is war? War is thought to be violence, death, blood. When the word “War” is brought up, it usually comes with the image of people screaming, people dying, blood shattered everywhere… but is that all there is to war?
Ghosts of War is the memoir of a 19 year old soldier in Iraq named Ryan Smithson. It wasn’t that easy of a read for me. At times I wished to put the book down and abandon it, but when I thought about it, Smithson lived through his hard experiences, and if he could do it, t...more War. What is war? War is thought to be violence, death, blood. When the word “War” is brought up, it usually comes with the image of people screaming, people dying, blood shattered everywhere… but is that all there is to war?
Ghosts of War is the memoir of a 19 year old soldier in Iraq named Ryan Smithson. It wasn’t that easy of a read for me. At times I wished to put the book down and abandon it, but when I thought about it, Smithson lived through his hard experiences, and if he could do it, then I certainly could do it in the safety of my own room.
In the beginning, of this story Ryan Smithson writes about when he was still in high school. He was in his junior year when something really struck him and changed the way he thought about the army, and the US government. It was 9/11 that changed him forever “The Twin Towers didn’t fall in Manhattan. They fell on me,” Ryan Smithson says. Shortly after Smithson joined the army, he started to regret his decision. It was hard, obviously. And when he and his fellow soldiers where enlisted to go to Iraq, they had no choice.
Ryan Smithson goes on describing relentless everyday violence. He risks his doing everyday tasks. Even going to dinner can be a danger.
This book is for anyone who has ever wondered why someone would ever sign up to the army during time of war, for those people who think that it would just be crazy because your life as you know it could be taken away from you in a single gunshot.
The way Smithson describes his experiences take the reader beyond what we see on the six o’clock news, to something more solid and concrete. This book is tells the honest truth about war, looking at the good and bad aspects of it.
What this book does the most is it teaches the readers not just to pay attention to the violence and destruction that is going on in Iraq. As much as there is fighting and killing, there is also hope, and faith, and love.
If you are an American, I strongly suggest you reading this book. That is Ghosts of War by Ryan Smithson
ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Ryan Smithson joined the Army Reserve when he was seventeen and was deployed to Iraq at the age of nineteen as an Army engineer. He is still a reservist. He earned an AAS degree in criminal justice. Specialist Smithson doesn’t know if he’ll be sent back to Iraq or not. He currently works for the American Red Cross as a mobile unit assistant. Smithson lives in upstate New York with his wife.

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Dec 15, 2011 Donny Combs rated it 5 of 5 stars

Ghosts of War is a very good book it gives a look into the real life of being a real GI in Iraq. After the attack on the twin towers on Sept. 11, 2001, Ryan Smithson decided to join the military. He chose the branch of Army and was deployed at the age of nineteen to Iraq. Ryan is beaten down and built back up only to be beaten down once more by numerous drill sergeants during basic training. All this was done during what is call red phase. There are 3 phases all categorized in colors: red, white...more

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Feb 11, 2010 Deanna rated it 4 of 5 stars

Realistic fiction, Iraq war.

If I was a High school English or history teacher I definitely would have students read this memoir--of 19 year old Ryan Smithson, who shares his one year deployment in Iraq. Some of the chapters are short stories and could also be used/read alone. For example, A Town that Achmed Built (p. 96) shares the realities of war. A teacher could photocopy this chapter and have students use a number of strategies to read it and discuss in small groups. Actually I think every c...more Realistic fiction, Iraq war.

If I was a High school English or history teacher I definitely would have students read this memoir--of 19 year old Ryan Smithson, who shares his one year deployment in Iraq. Some of the chapters are short stories and could also be used/read alone. For example, A Town that Achmed Built (p. 96) shares the realities of war. A teacher could photocopy this chapter and have students use a number of strategies to read it and discuss in small groups. Actually I think every college student should read this book too (for ages 14-22).

This is a book that will cause students to really think about war/peace; freedom; America; etc, and ask many questions. After I finished reading this book I needed someone to talk to about it, so I made my husband read it.

I have new respect for men and women who enlist in the Army, Navy, etc. I do not like war and I avoided reading this book because for some odd reason I thought my reading it would show that I was in favor of war (sounds crazy). After reading what servicemen/women do--they are definitely heroes and I am ashamed to admit that I haven't done anything for any servicemen during this war. I haven't sent a letter or a care package, nothing. I have ignored them because I didn't believe in the war.

There were many places in the book where I wanted to skip or stop reading--such as when Ryan described driving along a road and seeing an IED (land mine) and how he kept his foot to the floor and drove by it (p. 185). Another chapter titled Satan's clothes dryer is about the horrible dust storms and heat in Iraq (p. 173). The conditions of the farming children in rural Iraq (p. 201). When one of his colleagues is killed by an IED (p. 210).

One of my favorite sections of the book is on p. 295 when he shares that literature is what set him free while he was in Iraq. Books were his escape. He read most nights in Iraq to get away from the war. "Every book was alive as I read it, lying in my sleeping bag. I wasn't in the godforsaken Middle East fighting a war. I was in my own country: a country of the mind. I wasn't a soldier...I was the words on paper." He goes on to share how certain novels helped him.

Ryan admits that the "innocence of his childhood" was lost in Iraq. Only the soldiers he was with truly understand what he went through. This is a novel that I am thankful I read.(less)

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Mar 03, 2012 Huong rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: age-level-young-adult-high-school, teach-text-to-self, theme-identity, theme-overcoming-hardships, theme-importance-of-books, theme-survival, theme-understanding-life, theme-youth, topic-concerns-of-youth, topic-discovery, topic-mourning, type-memoir, genre-young-adult, teach-compare-and-contrast, teach-history, topic-war, topic-iraq-war

I enjoyed this book in the beginning, but started to become bored with it later on as the author doesn't have many exciting events to talk about during the Iraq war (since his job mainly involves engineering). Towards the end, the book picks up, rounding off the reasons to why the author decided to tell his story to readers.

-A good book for teenage boys interested in war/becoming a soldier/joining the military(since it starts with the author in high school and follows him into his early twentie...more

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Nov 20, 2012 Suzanne rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: young-adult

I read a lot more fiction than non-fiction. I love a story that grabs me and wont let me go. I also like to learn, but somehow non-fiction that mostly presents information is not as riviting to me. When I find a story that is also non-fiction that holds me, I am pleasantly surprised. Ryan Smithson's story, Ghosts of War, was such a story.

I am a woman who never expects to participate in any form of armed forces and hopefully,I will not see or participate in a war. I am not a huge fan of war books...more I read a lot more fiction than non-fiction. I love a story that grabs me and wont let me go. I also like to learn, but somehow non-fiction that mostly presents information is not as riviting to me. When I find a story that is also non-fiction that holds me, I am pleasantly surprised. Ryan Smithson's story, Ghosts of War, was such a story.

I am a woman who never expects to participate in any form of armed forces and hopefully,I will not see or participate in a war. I am not a huge fan of war books or war movies. But as I said, I am a huge fan of stories.

Ryan Smithson tells his story of joining the U.S. Army and growing up. Thankfully, he tells the story in such a way that people like me can understand: he uses lots of acronyms that he constantly defines and even gives a glossary at the end of the book. This information was really interesting to me because many of the acronyms I have heard used a lot and never knew. He also carefully explains army ranks, which I have never understood.

And interspersed with the information is the story of a normal guy who joined the Army because he wanted to help after the 9-11 attacks. This guy grows from a scared unsure guy to a learning guy to be a man who understands and when he does not, he learns more. The meat of the story is all about life on bases and in the feild in Iraq. He strives to show not just the killing (he is a heavy equipment operator and was not in regular combat, though he saw combat time)but the way the U.S. military helped on a daily basis the people they encountered. Those people touched him and changed him.

Throughout the story, it is obvious Ryan is a sensitive guy. But my favorite part of the book is the end where he shows how this whole book was part of his healing process. He had trouble talking about his experiences, so he wrote about them. The comments he makes about writing and its power are wonderful: "Little do I know literature is what will set me free..." Page 295. and "See I've always read books as an escape... Every book was alive as I read it, lying in my sleeping bag. I wasn't in the godforsaken Middle East fighting a war. I was in my own country: a country of the mind." page 295 "The smell of a book is the best part of reading, because it makes the escape tangible. Each has a different aroma, and the smell always seems to reflect the story. 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea by Jules Verne smells like cold metal and sea salt. A faint aroma of old cigarette smoke and playing cardsarises from teh pages of Hearts in Atlantis by Stephen King." pages 295-296 "Each book iprovided an escape. Each in its own way reminded me that there was much more to life that I had yet to experience. Each gave me hope and faith that I would experience more in my life. High school defines literature with terminology: metaphors, similes, imagery. But experience defines literature as more than words on paper. Not just escape, but more important, words that have the power to heal." page 296

What more can I say??

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Feb 20, 2010 Alicia rated it 4 of 5 stars

A YA lit memoir of a 19 year old in Iraq... while most wouldn't stop to appreciate the emotion behind his adventure, it is an eye-opening story, made more fascinating because I've been corresponding with the author since he lives in my area.

While Smithson tries hard to get you in the mindset with plenty of military jargon, the biggest mistake was waiting until the end of the book to get to the heart of his experience brought to light through italicized 'storytelling.' As his buddies travel back...more

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Aug 07, 2012 Anita rated it 5 of 5 stars

Ghosts of War [The True Story of A 19 –Year-Old GI]
Ryan Smithson
Nonfiction

17 year old Ryan Smithson is not ready for college. After watching the Twin Towers in New York City go down and then visiting the area in person, Ryan feels his call to duty.
“If I don’t do something, who will?” is Ryan’s reaction. He immediately joins the Army Reserve and is headed to Basic Training.
Along with Ryan, we go to basic training as he explains each of the 3 phases. In the Red Phase they tear you down, in the W...more Ghosts of War [The True Story of A 19 –Year-Old GI]
Ryan Smithson
Nonfiction

17 year old Ryan Smithson is not ready for college. After watching the Twin Towers in New York City go down and then visiting the area in person, Ryan feels his call to duty.
“If I don’t do something, who will?” is Ryan’s reaction. He immediately joins the Army Reserve and is headed to Basic Training.
Along with Ryan, we go to basic training as he explains each of the 3 phases. In the Red Phase they tear you down, in the White Phase they build you back up, and in the Blue Phase they learn no one is ever ready for war.
Initially, Ryan is trained as a heavy equipment driver. Then, at age 19 he is deployed to Iraq as an Army Engineer. We then experience war with him, firsthand.
We are horrified as Ryan must clean human tissue from the inside of a Humvee. Someone died inside that Humvee because it was unarmed. Ryan then spends one month on an engineering job at Abu Ghraib. Abu Ghraib prison is where the really bad are sent to be punished. We also feel Ryan’s sadness and guilt at his first GI funeral in Iraq. He can’t remember this GI even though they worked together for 2 weeks. Did he ever talk to him, did they have a conversation? He should not cry.
The hardest part of a combat tour is the coming home. Ryan is not able to discuss his time and experiences in Iraq with his wife or parents. They want to know, but he just can’t tell them what he has done and seen. Not until he is given a writing assignment in English Composition, in which he is to describe a time when we saw something destroyed. Only then does Ryan find his voice.
This was a hard book to read, hard to put down, and hard not to be angry about the war in Iraq. I learned more about the country, the people, and the war in Iraq from his story, than any news report on television or the newspaper. Everyone should read Ghosts of War. I hope it is in all high school libraries. Maybe then we will understand why our young men and women go to war for us. I hope Ryan Smithson continues to write.

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Mar 08, 2011 Paloma Maldonado rated it 5 of 5 stars

I feel like I have a connection with this book. When I first looked at the cover my intentions were to understand what my dad does better, but this book is so much more than that. It teaches you the value of freedom and what to look forward to when all other shreds of hope are lost. People don't truly understand their freedom until they've gone through and seen something just like Ryan did. In other places in the world, some people don't have free will. Reading this book made me appreciate what...more

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Aug 21, 2012 Jonathan D. rated it 5 of 5 stars

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Jun 13, 2010 Tim Snell rated it 5 of 5 stars

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Oct 10, 2012 Enrique rated it 5 of 5 stars

Ryan is a 17 year old guy in high school. His parents want him to go to college, but he wants to go to the army. Ryan went back home after the war, but he didn’t come back the same.

Ryan was like me because before I didn’t want to go to college and my parents told me and they still tell me that they want me to go.

I recommend this book to friends, or others who like to read because it is a interesting book and talks about people in the war, the way they live, their actions,and their survival.

I wo...more

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Oct 07, 2012 Griffin Brown rated it 3 of 5 stars

Ghosts of War is a biography of a 19 year old G.I. named Ryan Smithson. He enlists in the army at the age of 19 right after 9-11. Ryan managed to write the book in a way that the average reader could easily relate to. The book covers Ryan’s growth from a high school boy into a man, including memories of basic training, Iraq, dealing with family while away, death, and post traumatic stress to name a few. Upon being shipped off, Ryan and his unit become as close as family, they are the only ones...more

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Nov 12, 2010 Kyle Vilchuck rated it 5 of 5 stars

The autobiography a of a 19 year old GI was very interesting. Written by Ryan Smithson about his life in the military right after the 9/11 terrorists attack. The time Ryan had spent in Iraq was not what i would of thought. Walking through the city of Bagdad scouting for terrorist being amoung with the people that the american troops are here to protect. The way he described the people was that they were happy and were willing to give things away to the troops for thanking them for what they are...more

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Feb 19, 2013 Jeremiah Jensen rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: ghosts-of-war

What I have read so far i have enjoyed it. it is about a 19 year old kid who joined the army reserves as a construction worker. he joined the army after watching the planes crash into the twin towers. he felt it to be his duty as an american man to help defend his country.
the reason he joined the reserves and not the active duty is because he wants to be able to study and complete college. he deployed pretty much right after he completed basic training.

i rated it so high because i love learning...more

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Sep 28, 2012 Malcolm rated it 4 of 5 stars

Ghosts of War is a well-written memoir by Ryan Smithson, a young American GI who decides to join the military after learning about 9/11 and visiting ground zero with his girlfriend Heather. Appealing reading for teenagers and adults alike. Quite readable, but not too graphic, so it's a good choice for any readers age 13 or above. It includes all kinds of military terms like IED (explosive devices) and SOP (standard operating procedure). My 9th grade students, some of whom are reluctant readers,...more

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Oct 28, 2011 Brandon Berger rated it 4 of 5 stars

Has death ever looked you straight in the eyes? Have you ever watch someone get shot? Had bomb and motors going off like clockwork around you? Most people in this world we live have never experienced war like actions people make. Ryan Smithson's Ghost of Wars touched I with what war is actually like and how it affects a 19 year old man.
Ghost of War's theme was what you see in life impacts you even when you think it doesn’t. This book shows the readers that the military is a coming of age stage...more

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Apr 18, 2010 Mary rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: high-school-books, nonfiction

This is an interesting book with lots of information about what it is like to be in the Army, from basic training to deployment in Iraq. I'm not so sure I'd say it's "harrowing" but even the routine parts (PMCSing) reveal interesting information, the pacing is quick, and the voice seems mostly authentic - although in a couple of places the lack of polish makes it a bit irritating. I liked the parts where he talks about encountering children along the roads and sharing water or food, and I enjoye...more

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Sep 07, 2009 Katie Medill rated it 3 of 5 stars

Although I would not identify this book as well-written, and I did roll my eyes several times at the immature (and often disgusting) humor, I think there are a lot of young men (in particular) out there who would really like reading this.

It did answer many of my questions about why and how young men choose to go into the military and what it really is like at boot camp, in Iraq, and coming home to readjust to civilian life. I want to ask one of my best friends from home, Brian, to read it and t...more

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About Ryan Smithson

My parents were both originally from upstate New York, but my mom moved to Arizona when she was 15. My dad met her when he took a road trip at 19. They moved to Colorado, had me in 1985, and had my little sister, Regan, in 1987. The following year, we moved back to New York. After moving around a bit, we settled in the quiet suburban town of East Greenbush.

In high school, I dated a young woman, He...more My parents were both originally from upstate New York, but my mom moved to Arizona when she was 15. My dad met her when he took a road trip at 19. They moved to Colorado, had me in 1985, and had my little sister, Regan, in 1987. The following year, we moved back to New York. After moving around a bit, we settled in the quiet suburban town of East Greenbush.

In high school, I dated a young woman, Heather, who would change my life forever. We had our stereotypical make-up/breakup teenage relationship for awhile, but that rocky start would turn into a solid foundation.

Another decision in high school would likewise change the course of my life. During my freshman year, after telling a friend how sports had always been tough for me because I was smaller than my teammates, he suggested I try wrestling since I’d wrestle people my own size. The first day of practice, I fell in love with the oldest sport in the world and wrestled every year thereafter. Wrestling gave me confidence, discipline, and a desire to challenge myself. These attributes gave me both success on the mat and as a soldier.

I joined the military at age 17 in response to the September 11 terrorist attacks. Not wanting to completely devote myself to the military, I joined the army reserve as a heavy equipment operator. After completing basic training, I was soon shipped overseas to Iraq. The young woman who’d been by my side thus far became my wife, and our “honeymoon” was a year long, spent on opposite sides of the planet.

After coming home from Iraq, I majored in criminal justice at Hudson Valley Community College. During these two years, I held many part-time jobs. My favorite, hands down, was at a before- and after-school program for kids. It was great for college and full of the kind of humor you can only find with growing human beings.

While in college, mostly between semesters, I wrote my memoirs of Iraq, and sold them to HarperCollins near the end of my fourth semester. After graduating, Heather and I began looking for a house. Since I needed a job that could pay a mortgage, I said good-bye to the kids and found full-time work at the American Red Cross. I am currently enrolled part-time at Empire State College, working on my bachelor’s degree in history. Heather and I bought our first home in August 2008, and now life is filled with home-improvement projects. We couldn’t be happier! (less)

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“For me, the future was a complete paradox. One one hand [..] teachers were pushing that 'know what you want to do for the rest of your life' attitude. Yet, on the other hand I wanted to stay a kid. Parents and teachers were so intimidating when they talked about the 'real world' and taxes and mortgages and bills and insurance. With freedom comes responsibility and I wasn't sure if I was ready for all that.” — 3 people liked it

“High school was so typical and predictable. Everyone here was so occupied with discovering the definition of cool.

To some, cool was Abercrombie and popped collars. Some thought cool was playing sports. Some thought cool was drinking before the homecoming dance. And others swore that cool was not trying to be cool: nonconformists with black nail polish, leather boots, and oversized safety pins in their ears.

Our free expression was in so many ways just a restriction of our identities. All of us trying to be something we weren't. Even the nonconformists were conforming.

High school, I guessed, was just a chapter, something standing in the way of real freedom. High school didn't even seem real. It seemed so fake.” — 3 people liked it

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