We Were One: Shoulder to Shoulder with the Marines Who Took Fallujah

by Patrick K. O'Donnell

The platoon included four pairs of best friends. Each of the four would lose a best friend forever.Five months after being deployed to Iraq, Lima Company’s 1st Platoon found itself in Fallujah, embroiled in some of the most intense house-to-house, hand-to-hand combat since World War II. Civilians were used as human shields or as bait to lure soldiers into buildings rigged with explosives; suicide bombers approached from every corner hoping to die and take Americans with them; radical insurgents, high on adrenaline, fought to the death. The Marines of the 1st Platoon (part of 3rd Battalion, 1st Marine Regiment) were among the first to fight in Fallujah, and they bore the brunt of this epic battle. When it was over, the platoon had suffered thirty-five casualties, including four dead.This is their story.Award-winning author and historian Patrick O’Donnell stood shoulder-to-shoulder with this modern band of brothers as they marched and fought through the streets of Fallujah, and he stayed with them as the casualties mounted. O’Donnell captures not only the sights, sounds, and smells of the gritty street combat, but also the human drama of young men in a close-knit platoon fighting for their lives-and the lives of their buddies. We Were One chronicles the 1st Platoon’s story, from its formation at Camp Pendleton in California to its near destruction in the smoldering ruins of Fallujah.We Were One is an unforgettable portrait of the new “Greatest Generation.”With 16 pages of extraordinary photographs from the front lines of the Battle for Fallujah.

Genres: Military Fiction, History, War, Nonfiction, Military History, Audiobook, Memoir

280 pages, Hardcover

First published October 30, 2006

About the author

O’Donnell is a bestselling author, critically acclaimed military historian and an expert on elite units. The author of twelve books, including: Washington’s Immortals: The Untold Story of an Elite Regiment Who Changed the Course of the Revolution, The Unknowns, First SEALs, Give Me Tomorrow, The Brenner Assignment, We Were One, Beyond Valor, and Dog Company, he has also served as a combat historian in a Marine rifle platoon during the Battle of Fallujah and speaks often on espionage, special operations, and counterinsurgency. He has provided historical consulting for DreamWorks’ award-winning miniseries Band of Brothers and for scores of documentaries produced by the BBC, the History Channel, and Discovery and is the recipient of several national awards. He also regularly contributes to several national publications and shows.

Reviews

[Kay · Rating 5 out of 5]

I don't really know how to review a book like this. It was a great book...Is that even possible to say when you read about so many young men injured and the lives lost?

Patrick O'Donnell, a combat historian did a wonderful job shining light on the courage and sacrifices of these heroes in Battle of Fallujah. This book was chosen for the Commandant's Professional Reading List and is required reading for Marines.

[Samantha Salzgaber · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very good book. I think that everybody who has any doubts about the Wars in the Middle East should read this book. It is easy to disagree with the politics behind the conflicts but, when it comes down to "it" the book is very good about showing the humanitarian side of the wars.

The POV is kind of weird, since the author has to do a lot of quoting and it's hard to tell when he is narrating versus when he's accounting for someone else. Also, the military aspect might be hard to understand. (luckily as a military wife I had an advantage!)

Still, I think that this book is very pertinent to our generation. It's an easy, quick, yet emotional read. I finished it and started it in a day, but had to just set it down for a while a couple times.

[Arthur · Rating 2 out of 5]

A 6 hour and 40 minute unabridged audiobook.

Having had thoroughly enjoyed another of the authors books- Washington's Immortals- I wanted to try this one.

I'm sad to say that I was disappointed. It might just be me, of course. But being a Marine Veteran of OIF-1, I suppose I have a fairly high standard of what I was hoping to read, and perhaps - feel, from this book. And I didn't find it fulfilling, personally. Therefore my "it was okay" rating.

[Tegan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Always tough to hear about battles that are close to home- even after fifteen years. Strange to think about which stories get re-told over and over again and those that are never repeated.

Cpl Bill Sojda said it best when he responded to the officer asking about casualties, “Sir, everybody in my opinion was wounded whether you shed blood or not. Your memories are scarred for life.”

Makes me want to give a giant hug to every one of these Marines that made it home. With all the resources now available that weren’t ten years ago, I hope that they were able to transition to life after combat and continue to achieve amazing things.

[Fredrick Danysh · Rating 3 out of 5]

The author is a journalist who was embedded with a platoon of Marines who were engaged in the battle for Fallujah and follows these men through their combat tour. It reminds me of some of the World War II memoirs of enlisted Marines in the Pacific.

[Alvaro Francisco Hidalgo Rodriguez · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good book on the battle for Fallujah. The bravery and comradeship of these Marines is admirable.

[Carla JFCL · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a pretty powerful book. It's the story of a Marine platoon that was among the first wave that took Fallujah in the Irag war, written by an embedded "reporter" (really, an historian, I believe). At times it is quite disturbing, because it's pretty graphic. But, I would encourage anyone to read this; we all need to understand the work done and sacrifices made by our military in today's world. And I'm not just sayin' that cuz I'm a military brat, although that background is probably part of what piques my interest in historical novels and war history.

[Mark · Rating 3 out of 5]

O'Donnell was embedded with Lima Co. of the 3rd Battalion 1st Marines during Operation Phantom Fury to clean out Fallujah...great explanation of "unit cohesion" & its role in making a Marine a potent tip-of-the-spear warrior...straight forward account of those who sacrifice so much...I have even more respect for those who serve!

[Chuck · Rating 4 out of 5]

One of the best books I've read yet on the battle of Fallujah, a fight that will join Bellau Wood, Iwo Jima the Chosin and Hue in annals of Marine Corps lore.

This told from the view of the grunts at the pointy end of the sphere as they go house to house. A must addition to the reading list of those who want to see the war from the view point of our men on the ground.

[Steve Scott · Rating 3 out of 5]

I listened to the audiobook version of this work.

O'Donnell's books spare nothing in describing the gore and terror of combat. It's like "Saving Private Ryan" insofar as graphic detail. That's good...usually...as it robs the reader of any delusions he may have of the glory of combat. But in this work he bends over backwards in rationalizing the gore. Each chapter begins with a rousing quote, "Uncommon valor was a common virtue", "We few, we happy few, we band of brothers....", etc. O'Donnell rationalizes the cases belli of the Iraq invasion as having something to do with 9-11 (a canard long disproved), and for some inexplicable reason tries to tie the sectarian insurrection there as having something to do with the terrorism advocated by communist V.I. Lenin (which makes absolutely no sense. At the end of the work he quotes at least four veterans who say this generation of fighters "was the new 'Greatest Generation'." I didn't need to hear it more than once.

O'Donnell's books spare nothing in describing the gore and terror of combat. It's like "Saving Private Ryan" insofar as graphic detail. That's good...usually...as it robs the reader of any delusions he may have of the glory of combat. But in this work he bends over backwards in rationalizing the gore. Each chapter begins with a rousing quote, "Uncommon valor was a common virtue", "We few, we happy few, we band of brothers....", etc. O'Donnell rationalizes the cases belli of the Iraq invasion as having something to do with 9-11 (a canard long disproved), and for some inexplicable reason tries to tie the sectarian insurrection there as having something to do with the terrorism advocated by communist V.I. Lenin (which makes absolutely no sense. At the end of the work he quotes at least four veterans who say this generation of fighters "was the new 'Greatest Generation'." I didn't need to hear it more than once.

But for those caveats, as in "Give Me Tomorrow" the writing is powerful and the action sequences simply amazing.

But the audiobook lacks a great deal. The narrator is talented, but the editing is amateurish. I counted at least four times where lines were repeated word for word. Apparently the narrator was asked to re-deliver the line or did so because he felt he could do better, and the sound editor didn't excise the original phrase...and the sound editor didn't excise the original phrase. I never expected this to happen with an Audible book. I never expected this to happen with an Audible book.

See how irritating that can be?

Worth a listen...but note the above.

[Dee Miller · Rating 4 out of 5]

Audible 6 hours and 40 min. Narrated by Richard Powers (A)

Powerful story.

[Alex Shrugged · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is not a book for kids. Probably not for a 14 year-old, but likely a 17 year-old.

I found the story inspirational, but this book shows Marines in the raw. That includes vulgar language, crude sexual jokes, and, of course, violence.

I saw the author give a talk on CSPAN about this book. He impressed me with his dedication. His wife threatened to leave him if left to become embedded with the Marines taking Fallujah. She filed for divorce as he left.

The subject: Our impression from the news media and official statements gave the wrong impression of the battle for Fallujah. There are bad and good reasons for this, but whatever the reason we can now have a better idea of how the fight progressed and what it was like in the midst of that fight.


Any problems with this story? The author was embedded with a platoon late in the process. He found a slot easily and unexpectedly because most other journalists had abandoned the job. They reported from a safe distance. The author really was shoulder-to-shoulder with the Marines, carrying ammo, wearing their uniform, so that he wouldn't get shot accidentally. I'm glad he did, but this leads to the APPEARANCE of deterioration of objectivity. In fact, it doesn't matter what uniform you are wearing. You either have journalistic integrity or you don't. I trust the author in his reporting.

Any modesty issues? Yes.

The Marines used the F-word. (Big surprise, eh?)

They made crude sexual jokes that are moderately funny in a sick sort of twisted way. I laughed.

Keep in mind that the standards of slang and what constitutes "funny" vs "offensive" is a moving target in any society. (Just pick up a joke book from 50 years ago. You will find that most of the jokes are either incomprehensible or so deeply offensive that you will be embarrassed to share them even with your closest friends.) Attitudes and cultures change over time, so if you are easily offended, skip this book.

This is my second reading of this book. I decided to revisit it after reading "War" by Sebastian Junger which looks at the war in Afghanistan. I recommend it. I also recommend "To Live or to Perish Forever: Two Tumultuous Years in Pakistan" by Nicholas Schmidle.

[Zack · Rating 5 out of 5]

I think this was one of the best books I’ve ever read. This isn’t an ordinary book, no this book shows the truth to war. That was one of the reason I like it, because O’Donnell brought the real story. He brought realism to the reader’s eye. There was a saying that that in a way gave the books its meaning. Shoulder to Shoulder with the Marines who took to Fallujah. The sentences mean that these brave and heroic marines took to war and had to fight with one another just to survive. These Marines went through a lot. They saw things that they will never forget. They saw and went through agonizing mental and physical scars from the battlefield. These Marines were strong people who will do anything they had to, to survive. There task was to go through Fallujah and go house to house, street by street to get rid of the enemy. They would go through houses, not knowing what they’re going into. There could be a shooter setup to be ready to shoot or a suicide boomer. That was there problem was trying to survive. They had to go through many things, together as a group to achieve the ultimate goal in surviving. I recommend people read this book. O’Donnell made sure he told the real thing. The unforgettable stuff that he went through and wanted people to know how horrific war can actually be. It’s an amazing book that shows the real hero’s on this planet. It shows the Marines.

[Rob · Rating 3 out of 5]

I think Mr. O'Donnell made a good effort here in his account of the battle for Fallujah, however
I think overall it lacked something. I suspect the "something" that I feel missing from this account is due to the fact, that while Mr. O'Donnell was with the Marines for much of their action, he writes with a somewhat detached point of view. Perhaps this is due to his perspective as a historian and not just as a reporter. Such books as "Shadow of the Sword" and "House to House" written as first hand accounts by Marines who also participated in the battle for Fallujah seem to have a vividness (or animation) to them that only one who has participated directly can communicate. While this may sound petty or picky, that's is how the recounting came across to me.

There was one other aspect to this book which made for a disappointing read. I came across a number of sentences where a word relevant to a phrase would be omitted. Sure, I could stop and add words like "to" or "for" but it became a big distraction after a while.

However, all that said, I think any Marine interested in this subject would be okay with the book.
And it did make for an interesting retelling of an important battle in the contemporary history of the Marine Corps.

[Forrest · Rating 5 out of 5]

"The next Greatest Generation"

The author, a historian, was embedded with a group of infantry marines who fought door to door through Fallujah. He experienced firsthand some of the bloodiest fighting that marines faced during the battle, the pain, struggle, death, loss, and the cold, bloody nature of close quarter urban combat. Acts of raw, selfless heroism, bravery, and incredible mental toughness abound.

The book concludes with the eulogies by the surviving soldiers of Lima Company for their fallen comrades. The story was better than I expected. It had a slow start, but I eventually couldn't put it down.

[x x x · Rating 5 out of 5]

I needed to understand

None of us who have not been in combat can understand everything emotionally , intellectually, or physically ; the combat soldier has inside.We Must open our hearts, wallets, and lives to help them regain the trust, pursue the happiness, adding to the sense of being an American in peace with the rest of us. This book illustrates these requirements of our citizenry to our veterans.

[Vern · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you are into military history or are interested in what our troops experienced in Iraq this is a must read. This is the 3rd book I have read about the battle for Fallujah. They have all been interesting and well written, but this is one of the best. Most Americans have no clue what sacrifices our troops make. This will help you understand.

[Brody Foss · Rating 4 out of 5]

The book We Were One by Patrick K. O'Donnell was a collection of the marines stories from the fighting in the city of Fallujah during the Iraq war. The main characters were the marine soldiers from Lima Company’s 1st platoon (part of the third battalion, first marines) [3/1]. During the story the soldiers fought their way through the city of Fallujah by clearing the houses out of terrorists also called the mujahideen. The biggest problem was how dangerous it was to clear a house with just manpower so after too many marines died they started to use a SMAW or a bangolor rocket on every house. My favorite character in the story was Private Randell Marler because he was a combat engineer which is what I would be if i Joined the military and because he was a badass.
In a way I could never even think of how to relate to a marine fighting in the worst intercity war since Hue City but in a way they have they same feelings as a person during everyday life. The main thing I could relate to the marines was a loss of a friend, because I used to have a dog that I took care of for as long as I could remember but one day when I was in fifth grade he died. That day I was just in shock but the next day I realized that I would never see him and I felt so sad. One thing that the marines did was help out the locals and that was something I used to do in my church group. In my church group we would make care packages and send them to kids in need we also read books to the elderly in nursing homes.
The historical event happening in the book was the battle of Fallujah which was the largest intercity battle since Hue city during the vietnam war. During the battle the terrorists would use things to sneak around the city that the American forces could do nothing about because they went against the rules of war, such as using mosques as weapon caches and using women and kids as body shields when running from battle. What I learned from this book was how intercity battles are fought from the breaching and clearing of houses, to the the use of explosives to blow up spot where the enemies could be hiding it seems like the most grueling and mentally tough type of fighting in war. This book made me change my thoughts on how tough war actually would be, because it is not just physical strength to kill the enemy but also mental strength to be able to keep fighting after seeing your best friend die in your arms.
I liked this book a lot because it talked about actual warfare,and that it got into the details of the war on terror such as all the rules of war the terrorists break, and that one of the main characters was a combat engineer which is the job I would want to do if I joined the military. My favorite part of the book is when they were fighting in the queens, one of the parts in the city of Fallujah that is riddled with terrorists and where 3/1 started using a bangalore or smaw on every house before clearing it. My least favorite part of the book was the starting of it when they were training to clear houses, it was cool to learn how they did it but it was not as eventful as the fighting in Fallujah. The thing that the author did very well was how he actually wrote the book he went to the battle and got first hand experiences from the soldiers which made the book very truthful and it also made it very interesting. The main thing the author could of done better would of been to get more of a back story from the soldiers who served before the deployment to Fallujah.
I would recommend this book because people paint soldiers images as senseless killers, but this book shows how they are not just killing but fighting for their lives. Another reason would be because of how it is written, it is written exactly from soldiers stories during the battle. I would recommend this book to anyone who wants to become a soldier because of how detailed the battle is.

[Evan · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm always grateful for the authors who write about the lives, deaths and sacrifices our soldiers make. That holds true for this book, but I think it was too short. There wasn't enough detail. The introduction informs us the Lima Company is training to do house to house fighting - literally kicking down doors and sticking their heads into the awaiting guns. I honestly don't know how those Marines could stay sane preparing for that let alone actually doing it for 3 or 4 days in Fallujah. The company started with 42 men, and only 14 made it unharmed (non seriously wounded or killed) by the end of the battle. It was only after the 7th Marine died that the company commander gave them permission to start knocking down houses (explosives) rather than having Marines knock down doors.

This book and the last book I read about the Marines (Last Stand at Khe Sanh: The U.S. Marines' Finest Hour in Vietnam) both make the point the surviving Marines will not forget those that have fallen. I am thankful that Pat O'Donnell told these Marines story. I never knew what happened at Fallujah or what we asked the Marines to do there.

However, I wish there was more detail. Black Hawk Down: A Story of Modern War was an engrossing read that I did not want to put down. This story was more violent, longer lasting, and required more fortitude (I think), but it was more like rolling facts than a great story. I think of Practicing History: Selected Essays where Tuchman says that writing nonfiction is an art. I've read less compelling stories by Tuchman that I found more engrossing than this book.

[Joseph · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a solid great book on the 3rd Battalion 1st Marines of the second invasion of Fallujah. His interviews are taken during or right after the fight, which are emotional and the stories the men share are real. The unit had the highest causality rate with 70% of their Marines injured or killed. He writes of how the Marines fought for one another and their reactions when their fellow Marine was wounded or killed. I thought he was with the unit the entire time, but at one point he does a side note saying this is where he first met the team. I was surprised because he wrote like he was right there, so the writing was exceptional.

It was great to read and try something new about some of the conflicts and wars that the US has been recently. I was a little hesitate in doing this because I wasn't sure where to start. One of my favorite authors gave it 5 stars and he is pretty tough on books, so I know this was a good start. But what I like the most about the book is that it really brought to light what the war and battle actually was. I remember only hearing negative things and how many servicemen were killed, how we were blowing up this schools, hospitals (not mentioning how these terrorist hid weapons all over the place) and nothing positive of what they were able to achieve or the stories of the solider life on the mainstream networks. They really did a horrible and disserviceable series to the men and women who were there and to the American people in reporting and covering this. Not once did I ever hear that the terrorists were usually doing heavy drug use so they could become numb in fighting.

Again another reason of what our US Flag and American stands for.

[Brian Miracle · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a “second person” account of Lima Company’s 1st Platoon, 3rd Battalion, 1st Marine Regiment, during the November-December, 2004 Battle of Fallujah. Patrick K. O’Donnell, the author embedded with the platoon after 6 days of combat and stayed with them for five more days, even dragging a wounded Marine to safety.

The author contends that the fighting men and women who have fought in the Afghan and Iraq wars constitute another Greatest Generation. This book provides support for that argument, as you see multiple Marines, all volunteers in the first place, who reenlisted to go back to Iraq. In fact, at the end of the book, the author lists where the Marines in this book currently are. Many of them are still serving.

The brutal battle of Fallujah, in which 1st Platoon, along with other platoons, cleared Fallujah of international terrorists from north to south, had them fighting in house to house fighting rivaling that seen in World War 2 or in Hue in Vietnam. The terrorists, many high on drugs, resisted to the death, requiring the Marines to either clear (and sometimes re-clear) houses, or destroy them using dozers, satchel charges, or Bangalore Torpedoes. In this brutal fighting, casualties were high. After the first 8 days of fighting, only 19 of the platoon’s 45 Marines remained standing. The battle brought the Marines together. As one man put it, “It was about the man to your left and right. We don’t do this for freedom or for apple pie, but for the man to the left and right. . . . We grew into a brotherhood.” Men hid their wounds so that they could stay with their buddies.

The author stated that he made a blood oath to tell the Marines’ story and he succeeded with this book.

[Chris · Rating 3 out of 5]

I listened to the audio book and it is very good. This book is a great way for a civilian to gain perspective of what combat is like for the men and women who wear our/a uniform experience in combat. Obviously nothing with ever replace actually being in combat.

This book does a great job of trying to describe what others that have lost a brother in arms (the man or woman standing to the left or right of one in combat) in combat experience and how they deal with it. This book also paints a pretty clear picture of how things can change in an instant in a combat situation, e.g. Hanks.

The description of the PTSD training both pre- and post- combat I believe is pretty accurate based on other books I have read and a family member I have in the Army. They just don't want to talk about the demons and nightmares they may have because they believe we (those that have never experienced combat) just won't understand and they are correct. Very much like how the Greatest Generation never talked much about their combat experiences.

I liked that O'Donnell covered the Veterans that showed up to great the 311 upon returning to Bangor, Maine from Iraq and that one of the Vietnam veterans shook the hand of a returning veteran and he told him he did so because nobody did this upon his and his fellow Vietnam veterans return to U.S. soil.

This is a very good book, it does not have quite the adrenaline rush feel of Outlaw Platoon, or a Navy SEAL book, and still a very good read or listen that I recommend.

[Herry · Rating 3 out of 5]

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[Kristen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Patrick O'Donnell's We Were One: Shoulder to Shoulder with the Marines Who Took Fallujah is one of the very best microhistories of combat during Second Fallujah. Unlike many other combat histories, the author writes from the front lines with 1st Platoon, Lima Company, 3rd Battalion, 1st Marines. We follow the unit through urban combat training as they prepared for their deployment to Iraq in 2004 and go door-to-door with them during the battle. O'Donnell also did a fine job at discussing the strategic and political importance of taking Fallujah, as well as the difficulties Coalition forces had with fighting in a populated urban environment.

The most important thing to remember, however, is that this story of the Marines in Fallujah reminds us that freedom is never free and to never forget the troops, even in spite of the intense political debate over whether or not the US should have invaded Iraq in the first place. Each Marine in 1st Platoon had a story that O'Donnell clearly told, so you have a personal attachment to each one of them. Overall, it was a fantastic read and one I would easily recommend to anyone wanting to learn more about the Iraq War, the Battles for Fallujah, the United States Marine Corps, and the American infantryman.

[Joe Maikisch · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gritty no nonsense account of a defining battle in the WOT.

The author takes you alongside a group of men who would fight one of the defining battles of the war on terrorism. He brings the battle down to a human level by telling you about them men who fought it through the eyes of the others involved in the conflict. This is not a political or social rant, but a factual retelling of what these marines faced in battle. Their losses, emotions, victories and for some - survival. It is the story of a group a strangers that through US Marine training would become family, brothers and warriors. Men who would repeatedly face death and the horrors of war, not for glory or political belief but for the brothers standing next to them, the ones behind them and the ones who went before them. Pat is able to do this because for a short while, he was them, side by side.
This is how history should be told, thru first hand accounts of the participants themselves. Honest, open and not self lauding. There is no dishonor here....only courage, duty, respect and death.

[Luisa Fowler · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is by far one of the best books I've read about urban warfare in Fallujah. O'Donnell effectively captures the raw emotion, bravery, and the hardships of the Marines that the media often fails to cover. I am extremely impressed with the sense of duty, honor, and courage of the Marines. They are the greatest generation. The language is graphic and the words used make this a gripping read and tells the reader what it means to be a Marine grunt. I read a lot of books about war, from WWII to the Global War on Terror. But this book actually captures the recollections and the experiences of the Marines fighting on hostile territory in one of the deadliest house-to house fighting campaigns since WWII. And the courage, the brotherhood and heroism of every Marine remains unbroken, even during the shocking violence of an enemy engagement in IED-laden Fallujah. All of that is being described by O'Donnell in great detail. O'Donnell did such a wonderful job. Thank you for your service.

[Collin Fischer · Rating 4 out of 5]

The book We Were One by Patrick K. O'Donnell is exciting and heartbreaking at the same time. The book starts off in the states right before the platoon is leaving for Fallujah , after a intro to about 8 to 9 characters in the platoon they are shipped off. Once they get their, they have to defend a prison which is a key point in operation for the Armed forces in that area, after 2 month of sitting in the hot desert, the platoon is itching for a fight against the Mujaheddin, they finally get their chance when the U.S. invades the city of Fallujah. Once in the middle of fighting many from the platoon die, once the platoon exits Fallujah exits for the first time 5 of their brothers died during searches of countless houses in the city. I liked the way O'Donnell told the story of the men in the platoon and their struggles in and out of the battle.

[Jonathan · Rating 4 out of 5]

An eye opening look into the core of the battle of Fallujah. You learn about the reality of what was going on ground level. Gave me an even newer respect for what the Marines went through. Relatively unfiltered as far as language and actions, while unrelenting in the immense struggles encountered during the fight.

The author isn’t the most eloquent - it reads like a news article which is good most of the time but lacking at points. He does do a great job of sticking to facts and explaining procedures. Great for those unfamiliar with military operations and chain of command.

I highly recommend the book for the knowledge it imparts. The sacrifices these men made is incredible. It’s a quick read, but not an easy one.

[Tom Schulte · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really enjoyed the author's Give Me Tomorrow: The Korean War's Greatest Untold Story. This one did not move me as much. Like other Gulf War(s) books, maybe it feels too soon. The esteemed veterans and their experiences are so close it feels like the need to praise "the next greatest generation" occults a clear-eyed view. A few things were interesting to me here: the reliance on WWII tools and techniques (satchel charges, Bangalore torpedo, etc.), the death-defying drug loads in the enemies' veins (what is that animating cocktail?), and the skilled, uniformed Chechens.

[Gregg · Rating 3 out of 5]

I think this is a story that needs to be told but I also think it is too ambitious in the number of people it tries to chronicle. This format might have worked for a fire team but it doesn’t work for a squad. It is nearly impossible to follow what the Marines are trying to accomplish and how each skirmish plays into that greater picture. You also cannot grow an attachment to any of them because all you get is a superficial dusting on each. Each battle becomes wholly indistinguishable from the next. I wish this were a little better done and a little less ambitious. I applaud the author for the effort but it isn’t as good as some of the others I have read.