This is the story of a small group of soldiers from the 101st Airborne Division’s fabled 502nd Infantry Regiment—a unit known as &ldquo...
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Apr 14, 2011
Terri
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This was a terrific book. Initially, I thought this book was going to be, start to finish, all about an atrocious war crime that took place in March 2006 near Yusufiyah, Iraq. But it was only the opening prelude and the closing chapters that dealt directly with that war crime. The rest of the book detailed the theatre, the Battalion, the chain of command, individuals, the platoons (mostly 1st Platoon) and the world around them. The war crime itself was a very small part of the overall read.
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Sep 04, 2011
Ensiform
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The author, a reporter, chronicles the slow degradation of the First Platoon of the 101st Airborne (in a tragically apt quirk that would be too outlandish for fiction, their brigade really is nicknamed the Black Hearts) as, in the ultra-high stress environment of Mahmudiyah 24/7, reeling from the killings of popular leaders, suffering under ineffective and bullying leadership from upper levels and critically understaffed, the soldiers’ morale and discipline deteriorates. The shocking nadir come
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Mar 26, 2011
Jessica
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This is an exhaustively researched and truly terrifying book; although I gave it four stars, I really would hesitate to recommend this book to anyone, I found it so horrible. It focuses on the experiences of 1st Platoon, 1st Battalion, 502nd Infantry Regiment, 101st Airborne Division during the grittiest, dirtiest part of the Iraq War, in the most dangerous place in Iraq: the "Triangle of Death." Jim Frederick wanted to find out how the horrifying events of March 16, 2006, in which fou
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Nov 02, 2010
Alex
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This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers.
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Jan 14, 2012
Stephen
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I wanted to read a truthful book about what its like to be in the modern deployed military. While the experience of my deployments didn't come ANYWHERE near to what was experienced by this platoon, there are several factors at play in this book that are at play across the entire military. Factors such as poor command climate, leadership by fear, ignorance of the region, limited to no planning, and unstructured decision making do run rampant in our military. Please note, I am being critical he
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Jan 25, 2012
Daniel
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Harrowing but at times quite dense. The central thread of the book, the the rape of an Iraqi girl followed by her murder and that of her entire family by a group of rogue US soldiers, is gripping and disturbing.
The beginning of the book sets this up masterfully, then goes on to describe the background and the events that led immediately up to the murder. A brief epilogue tops it all off.
I have to admit it was hard going at times, especially keeping track of all the names More...
The beginning of the book sets this up masterfully, then goes on to describe the background and the events that led immediately up to the murder. A brief epilogue tops it all off.
I have to admit it was hard going at times, especially keeping track of all the names More...
Sep 28, 2010
Shelley
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As difficult as it is to face the truths in this story I had a hard time putting this book down. It was compelling.
The book is about more than just the rape-murder of the al-Janabi family. It covers the deployment of the 1-502nd, specifically Bravo Company, during one of the worst periods of the Iraq war and in one of the most violent parts of the country. The author does an excellent job of telling the story and all the circumstances that led up to the crime. This book puts you insi More...
The book is about more than just the rape-murder of the al-Janabi family. It covers the deployment of the 1-502nd, specifically Bravo Company, during one of the worst periods of the Iraq war and in one of the most violent parts of the country. The author does an excellent job of telling the story and all the circumstances that led up to the crime. This book puts you insi More...
Apr 10, 2011
Matt
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Black Hearts documents the story of 1-502nd Infantry Regiment, Bravo Company, 1st Platoon during their year-long deployment in Iraq in 2005-2006. The platoon became more than notable not only because two of the soldiers were taken prisoner by insurgents, but also because several soldiers were convicted of a murder-rape of an entire Iraqi civilian family during their time in the so-called "Triangle of Death" south of Baghdad.
Though I'm a bit of a news junkie, and I've fol More...
Though I'm a bit of a news junkie, and I've fol More...
Jun 03, 2011
Melanie
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Terrific book. It's harrowing, but I think Frederick does an amazing job of helping the reader understand what it was like to be in this platoon in Iraq at this time. As a reader, I approached this book with a number of questions, among them, how or why do US troops still commit atrocities again civilians during wartime? Especially after MyLai, 40 years ago, has the military learned so little? Frederick's careful, thorough account, while not in any way excusing the perpetrators from their actio
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Mar 11, 2011
Karen & Gerard
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"Black Hearts" by Jim Frederick is an outstanding read! I loved it! It is the story of a platoon of men known as the “Black Heart” brigade and what led up to the horrific murder of an Iraqi family and the rape and subsequent burning to death of their daughter by members of this group. However, there are lots of other true stories too. The writing is so good I felt like I was right there with them! I really got to know better what our soldiers and the people who lead them go throug
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Oct 14, 2010
Zoila
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I couldn't put this book down. The accounts from the soldiers themeselves told the story so vividly I felt as if I was there. I felt their frustrations and reflected on how courageously these men followed orders and did their jobs. Was very upsetting how their lives were disregarded and they were repeatedly asked to go on what really amounted to pointless suicide missions. In the end, violence finally subsided b/c in essence the country had been ethnically cleansed of sunnis. Scary to think how
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Apr 01, 2010
Meg
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Exhaustively reported book that resists making heroes and villians out of any of the soldiers. Frederick certainly doesn't pull any punches and some come out smelling rosier than the others, but the narrative does not try to persuade. It simply tells one hell of a compelling story.
And Frederick did a commendable job in telling the entire story. The Army is a complicated beast, and he rightfully gave the perspective of the entire deployment. Because to even begin to understand a horrific i More...
And Frederick did a commendable job in telling the entire story. The Army is a complicated beast, and he rightfully gave the perspective of the entire deployment. Because to even begin to understand a horrific i More...
Jun 14, 2011
Jon
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Tough and harrowing war material throughout, this book has great lessons on leadership - the consequences of failed leadership and the potential fruit of good leadership. It is a must-read for any American civilian who wants to understand more about the war in Iraq and in the unvarnished words from our soldiers on the ground.
The books builds up to a brutal war crime by showing events that allowed the crime to be conceived and take place. Many events are difficult to imagine as I sit h More...
The books builds up to a brutal war crime by showing events that allowed the crime to be conceived and take place. Many events are difficult to imagine as I sit h More...
Jun 16, 2011
Cameron
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Meticulously researched and expertly assembled and told, compelling, sobering, and ultimately tragic. One of the best military books I've read, though not always easy to get through. Well-written to the point that I finished it in just a few days.
The author's description of the area in and around the south of Baghdad known as the Triangle of Death is photographic and tangible; anyone who has spent any time in the area will recognize it immediately. Ripe material for studies in mili More...
The author's description of the area in and around the south of Baghdad known as the Triangle of Death is photographic and tangible; anyone who has spent any time in the area will recognize it immediately. Ripe material for studies in mili More...
Jan 24, 2011
Simon
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This most definitely isn’t a hoo-ah tale of military adventure, nor is it a thorough overview of the strategy and politics of the Iraq War. Instead, it tells the awful story of one platoon of US infantrymen stationed in the so-called ‘Triangle of Death’ to the south of Baghdad in 2005/6 and the grim, relentless, everyday carnage that drew the very worst out of some of those soldiers, culminating in the gang rape and murder by four GIs of a 14 year old Iraqi girl and the execution of her mother,
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Feb 17, 2012
Rich
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Absolutely terrific book. Well-written, meticulously researched, and Mr, Frederick maintains objectivity throughout, presenting both sides of every key event he explores. This book is a must-read for Not just military leaders but anyone who leads teams in multi-echelon organizations that deal with stressful situations. This book provides plenty of food for thought about what you think you know about leadership, followership, esprit de corps, and service.
May 05, 2010
Shawn
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Black Hearts is a must-read nonfiction book for everyone in the country. I sort of wish they would show stuff like this on the news, about the kinds of things that happen in war. The book takes place in modern times (copyright 2010), in Iraq, so it's a book about us guys, Americans, mostly younger folks in the service, some older guys, commanders and such. Many people get killed in this book.
Apr 19, 2011
David
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This is a great read. It slowly builds up to why four men from one platoon committed the worst war crime by an American soldier during the Iraq war. The story is told with the words of them men of the unit. The author did an excellent job of setting a time line of events from interviews; and conveying the feelings of frustration, anger and detatchment that the men felt. The event does not take center stage, but what does is the situation and events that created the crime. Four men may have b
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Jul 11, 2011
Allen
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A compelling account of a failure in senior leadership and one platoon's inability to keep up with the high operational tempo of war and of high casualties. That is my official version, now the truth. This is a great book, a great read, and having been in that area myself, something that gave me chills after knowing the lay of the land and what they were up against.
Feb 15, 2010
Lenny
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The topic is depressing and it reads almost like an official report. I think Mr. Frederick included too much peripheral information and not enough flavor to go with his story. It was informative and pulled no punches. Poor leadership and supervision can lead to horrid consequences, but as is pointed out in this book, not all go down the worst possible path because of it.
Apr 03, 2010
Carol
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If you're into finding out how the worst type of leadership can bring a group down to the depths of madness, read this. It's about a platoon which spent a year of hell in the Sunni Triangle. Four of them ended up raping a 14 year old Iraqi girl, and murdering her and her family. I interviewed one of the platoon for a recent story on soldiers and TBI.
Mar 13, 2010
David
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Loved this book. Leadership especially kunk was very bad. Always seemed like he wanted to make a point of his instef of helping and comfoting his sodiers. Very well written and reported. Couldn't get over the janibis chapter and the Alamo chapter. One of the bettr war books I have read on Iraq war. Anyone recommend any other well written war books?
Jan 01, 2012
Bazbal666
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Interesting with all the Iraq war books starting to come out, what a terrible situation - it even makes viet nam look like it had some sort of strategy and direction. They all just seem to hang out in fire bases and drive around in humvees waiting to get attacked, takes some serious balls to do that stuff for sure - I can see why those dudes flipped out
Apr 20, 2010
Julie
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A difficult read - heartbreaking, really. Fall to one side of the tightrope and you're a soldier, trained to kill the enemy; fall to the other side, you're a murderer, killing innocent people. Meanwhile, the rope you're walking seems to fade in and out, becoming at times invisible. This book is about how the word "enemy" plays out in the heads of some very messed up soldiers in Iraq, and about failed leadership in that awful war. Try watching The Hurt Locker and/or Brothers while you r
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Jan 17, 2011
William
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An unflinching look at how our government failed its soldiers during the darkest days of the Iraq war, and exactly what the consequences of that failure were. Frederick doesn't excuse the actions of the soldiers, but does place them in context of the hellish situation they were forced to endure.
Apr 19, 2010
Millie
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A family member gave me this book after he spent time in Iraq with this platoon. He lived this book and claims it illustrates the situation accurately. It focuses on the leadership issues that have cost us success in Iraq and countless lives. Eye-opening and definitely worth a read.
Jun 15, 2011
Andrew
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Great study of institutional dysfunction and the results of poor leadership. Ethical decision making is an individual process; this book is a look into the combination of combat stress and leadership vacuum that resulted in a complete breakdown of ethical principles at the individual level.
Jun 13, 2011
Patrick
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A well-framed investigation of what happens when all goes wrong in modern warfare. Although it can be one-sided at times (fault of chain of command is rightfully accused throughout the book), the author presents the reality that influences such egregious acts. Taken through the episteme of a soon-to-be Army officer, this book provides an analysis on many different leadership styles and the real world reactions of soldiers to each of them. For more layman readers, I only hope this book elucidates
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Jan 22, 2012
Paul
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I don't normally read non-fiction but this is about as novelistic as non-fiction can get. It is an exhaustive and analytic trawl through the events leading up to a horrific war crime. It's true power is that you are left feeling upset for both the victims and the perpetators at the same time, and angry at the whole system that created them.
May 06, 2011
Erin
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Outstanding. I'm in awe of this author's journalistic chops. Both the writing and the investigation into why this incident took place blew my mind.
