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The Fighting 69th: From Ground Zero to Baghdad
One of the most celebrated units in the military for more than a century, by 1990, New York City's Fighting 69th Infantry Regiment of the Army National Guard was scarcely fit for duty. Its equipment was derelict, its discipline nonexistent, many of its leaders inept, and its ranks filled with kids barely out of high school who had little intention of serving their country for any longer than it took to get their paycheck, college credit, or job training. Then came the attacks of September 11 and the invasion of Iraq. In The Fighting 69th , Sean Michael Flynn, himself a member of the unit, chronicles the extraordinary transformation of this band of amateur soldiers into a battle-hardened troop at one of the most lethal sites of war.
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306 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2007
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Displaying 1 - 28 of 28 reviews
November 9, 2019
There's a great story in here somewhere, about Irish-Catholic officers leading black and Latino troops into battle in a regiment that goes all the way back to the Civil War. But Sean Michael Flynn has a tin ear and can't describe anything but lowlife troops hooking up with hookers in the alleyway behind the armory.
February 26, 2011
I had hear a bit about this National Guard Unit and wanted to know more since I thought the guard was only used to protect here at home and were not sent into the heat of the battle. These "soldiers", many of whom did not have much formal training and at the beginning lacked any decent equipment were called up and served with honor. They made the ultimate sacrifice and suffered as they saw their brothers blown apart and killed. The book did a good job of explaining what was happening behind the scenes and in the minds of those people involved without being too graphic. Some strong language to be expected but the book left you with a good feeling that there are still Americans who are willing to step up when needed and care more about others than themselves.
July 2, 2017
Sean Michael Flynn tells an important story, and tells it well. Yes, as it promises, it lets the reader walk with New York men who grow from restlessness and discontent into courageous purpose after witnessing the deliberate act of savagery against the people of their city on September 11, 2001. The men belong to the New York National Guard unit descended from the famous 69th New York Militia of Irish immigrants who had fought with astonishing bravery under the leadership of Union General Thomas Francis Meagher in the American Civil War. But the 69th Infantry Regiment no longer looks "Irish." Its members are of an ethnic diversity that probably only New York City could provide, and their reasons for having joined the National Guard are not all altruistic.
This is the inspiring story of how they found their personal and collective resolve to do their military duty to the very best of their capability. They were men of grit and courage whose heroism sprang from their innate sense of integrity. And heroes they were, pitted against a malignant barbarism that civilized people cannot—and do not want to—imagine.
But there is also here a disheartening background story about the seeming unpreparedness—and at times bureaucratic morass—of the US Army as well as its civilian leadership. The book demonstrates a lot of "learning on the job," not just by our New York sixty-niners, but by the officers at the top of the chain of command who are also being asked to quickly adapt to a new 21st-century mode of international warfare. After many, many months of sending relays of soldiers first to Afghanistan and then to Iraq, the 69th NY National Guard Unit is called to active duty in Iraq. Despite limited war training and inadequate supporting equipment and vehicles, these militiamen live up to the heroic reputation of their Fighting Irish forebears, and make us very proud. The author makes a point at the end of his story that the fighting soldier must not publicly criticize the civilian leadership who directs US military operations—and he does not do that. But since 2005 when the survivors of the 69th Regiment returned home from Iraq (and the book ends), a reader should be forgiven for judging that the civilian leadership may be betraying them—and their fallen comrades—by failing to build upon the security in Iraq that these men accomplished at great cost.
This is the inspiring story of how they found their personal and collective resolve to do their military duty to the very best of their capability. They were men of grit and courage whose heroism sprang from their innate sense of integrity. And heroes they were, pitted against a malignant barbarism that civilized people cannot—and do not want to—imagine.
But there is also here a disheartening background story about the seeming unpreparedness—and at times bureaucratic morass—of the US Army as well as its civilian leadership. The book demonstrates a lot of "learning on the job," not just by our New York sixty-niners, but by the officers at the top of the chain of command who are also being asked to quickly adapt to a new 21st-century mode of international warfare. After many, many months of sending relays of soldiers first to Afghanistan and then to Iraq, the 69th NY National Guard Unit is called to active duty in Iraq. Despite limited war training and inadequate supporting equipment and vehicles, these militiamen live up to the heroic reputation of their Fighting Irish forebears, and make us very proud. The author makes a point at the end of his story that the fighting soldier must not publicly criticize the civilian leadership who directs US military operations—and he does not do that. But since 2005 when the survivors of the 69th Regiment returned home from Iraq (and the book ends), a reader should be forgiven for judging that the civilian leadership may be betraying them—and their fallen comrades—by failing to build upon the security in Iraq that these men accomplished at great cost.
September 26, 2025
Sep 2025- “The 69th wasn’t fighting an insurgency; they were fighting a gang war. The fact was now obvious to all the battalion’s cops and all its kids from the projects. It was obvious to the tight-knit Blacksheep clan out of Houma. When the 69th hit them, the Iraqis hit back. You take one of ours; we’ll take seven of yours. The soldiers didn’t have to do a lot of soul-searching on their next course of action. They would escalate. The Iraqis of Taji had given the Wolfhounds a reason to fight, and the 69th was going to give them a bellyful.”
Being a reservist myself(though in the Marine Corps), this is the first book I’ve read that focuses solely on the experiences of a National Guard/reserve unit in combat. It was fascinating to read about the Fighting 69th and their proud history, and the state of disrepair the unit was in come 2001. Reading about their response to Ground Zero on 9/11, their stateside mission at West Point, and their deadly tour in Iraq was highly interesting.
This is a book any military personnel, active or reserve, needs to read. It highlights the unique assets and liabilities that part-time military units bring to the table in hostile environments, and I learned a lot from reading this book.
Overall, it’s an interesting read. I would have preferred there to be pictures of the unit and soldiers from each mission the book covers, but it’s a small detail.
Being a reservist myself(though in the Marine Corps), this is the first book I’ve read that focuses solely on the experiences of a National Guard/reserve unit in combat. It was fascinating to read about the Fighting 69th and their proud history, and the state of disrepair the unit was in come 2001. Reading about their response to Ground Zero on 9/11, their stateside mission at West Point, and their deadly tour in Iraq was highly interesting.
This is a book any military personnel, active or reserve, needs to read. It highlights the unique assets and liabilities that part-time military units bring to the table in hostile environments, and I learned a lot from reading this book.
Overall, it’s an interesting read. I would have preferred there to be pictures of the unit and soldiers from each mission the book covers, but it’s a small detail.
October 19, 2017
Fascinating look at Manhattan's once feckless National Guard unit, and how it gets itself in order to fight in the Middle East after Sept. 11. Author Flynn tells the story through a small group of soldiers, including the intrepid Lt. Colonel Geoffrey Slack, and cantankerous Jay Olmo, as they struggle to shift Rte. Irish in Baghdad away from its "most dangerous road in the world" perch.
Flynn also takes a look at the unit's Irish background, and how it pushed to keep its culture in place as the group shifted with a large number of Hispanic and African-American soldiers. A really compelling look at an exceedingly dark chapter in New York history, and how a band of New Yorkers rose to the challenge.
Flynn also takes a look at the unit's Irish background, and how it pushed to keep its culture in place as the group shifted with a large number of Hispanic and African-American soldiers. A really compelling look at an exceedingly dark chapter in New York history, and how a band of New Yorkers rose to the challenge.
March 27, 2021
This book has a special meaning for me. I served in the 69th infantry regiment in my early twenties. While I did not serve with the 69th in Iraq and Afghanistan, I had the privilege and honor of working with some of the people and famous people mentioned in this book or who played a pivotal role in this book. The author was the Battalion Commander at the time of my enlistment and I also had the honor of meeting him and serving with him. Biggest thing that stands out to me were my squad leaders (staff sergeants) I had, who were privates, specialist’s, and corporals when this book was written and when the 69th went to Iraq. Some are still serving today!
May 4, 2019
Honestly, I would have liked to finish this story, because I feel the people it was about deserve to have their story known, but I found it to be poorly written. I tried for over a year to get into it and it just failed to grab me. Maybe I've been spoiled by other authors who can suck you into the lives of their subjects. This work was stilted and cluttered with facts and figures that might well mean something to the initiated, but act as deadweight to the genuinely interested but uninformed.
June 6, 2021
Being in the New York Army National Guard makes this book more amazing knowing some of the key players in this book. I actually read this book a long time ago, but with Memorial Day approaching I had started reading this again a couple weeks ago. Well written by the now COL Flynn. Shows the amazing strides this unit has made from having almost nothing to the well trained group of professionals they became. Thank you for describing the personal stories of the Soldiers and substantially difficult sets of events. Well done documenting the 69th Infantry's difficult journey from 9/11/01 to returning home to march in the next St. Patrick's Day parade. Thoughts and prayers to the Soldiers that lost their lives, their families and to the unit. Congratulations COL Flynn.
June 9, 2021
This book covers a very interesting National Guard unit that were literally the first troops in the War Against Terrorism. It’s amazing how they were a motley crew of weekend soldiers who eventually tamed the most dangerous road in the world in Baghdad. Nothing but respect to all of our military.
September 11, 2018
Eye opening! I had no idea what it takes to be a soilder. Glad I read this.
July 31, 2019
Made me cry. Thank you for writing this.
December 17, 2021
Interesting account of NYC's historic Fighting 69th as they adapt to modern warfare
December 13, 2022
good book but a bit dry
January 14, 2025
I don’t believe this is a book
March 3, 2025
Great story of real life humans answering the call. Well told.
May 21, 2014
This book left me eternally grateful to have joined the Marine Corps. If you are going to do something as dangerous as invade/occupy a hostile foreign nation, do it with people who fight wars as their job. The Minuteman is a fine concept and a glorious last line of defense, but when people are trying to kill me, I’ll take my chances with the Marines.
This covers a once-proud National Guard unit, the fighting 69th- so named by none other than Robert E. Lee, the night before he faced them (again) in battle. They were New York’s Irish regiment in the Civil War and both World Wars. However, they were reduced to military penury during the post-Cold War drawdown. Having been in an active unit 8 years after we first started our most recent wars, I can only imagine the level of depredation in their equipment. Just reading about the actions of the men, even in training made me hurt. Their actions in country only hurt more. You knew, reading it, that because of the dearth of training and equipment men would die unnecessarily.
So they were trained the hard way, and men died for it. The story covered so much of the pre-deployment process that worried me, the standardized, inflexible, check-in-the-box training that had as little impact on their unit as it did on mine. In my little team’s case, the Marines did try to make things better. But the last month of ‘evaluative’ training was the least valuable of my seven or so months of training prior to deployment.
But that last month was all that this unit got- and it wasn’t nearly as good as the last month my unit got. And they deployed without armor, before every American knew what an IED was (I’d be willing to bet that most of them didn’t know). The story of them standing, crying around the flaming hulk of their first catastrophic kill would be heartrending if it didn’t leave them so horribly open to ambush. They learned, but they learned the hard way, and men died for it. The Army shipped an ill-equipped, barely-trained National Guard unit into a devolving war zone for a year (they patrolled the area the jihadis ran to when the Marines stormed Fallujah).
In the end, they held their standard, they did not run, and the Fighting 69th is the unit with the most combat ribbons in the history of the US Army. I’ve been to their armory, and their the tradition is to be lauded. They lost men, but they never broke, and they added another chapter to the great legacy of the Fighting 69th.
Owen Gardner Finnegan
This covers a once-proud National Guard unit, the fighting 69th- so named by none other than Robert E. Lee, the night before he faced them (again) in battle. They were New York’s Irish regiment in the Civil War and both World Wars. However, they were reduced to military penury during the post-Cold War drawdown. Having been in an active unit 8 years after we first started our most recent wars, I can only imagine the level of depredation in their equipment. Just reading about the actions of the men, even in training made me hurt. Their actions in country only hurt more. You knew, reading it, that because of the dearth of training and equipment men would die unnecessarily.
So they were trained the hard way, and men died for it. The story covered so much of the pre-deployment process that worried me, the standardized, inflexible, check-in-the-box training that had as little impact on their unit as it did on mine. In my little team’s case, the Marines did try to make things better. But the last month of ‘evaluative’ training was the least valuable of my seven or so months of training prior to deployment.
But that last month was all that this unit got- and it wasn’t nearly as good as the last month my unit got. And they deployed without armor, before every American knew what an IED was (I’d be willing to bet that most of them didn’t know). The story of them standing, crying around the flaming hulk of their first catastrophic kill would be heartrending if it didn’t leave them so horribly open to ambush. They learned, but they learned the hard way, and men died for it. The Army shipped an ill-equipped, barely-trained National Guard unit into a devolving war zone for a year (they patrolled the area the jihadis ran to when the Marines stormed Fallujah).
In the end, they held their standard, they did not run, and the Fighting 69th is the unit with the most combat ribbons in the history of the US Army. I’ve been to their armory, and their the tradition is to be lauded. They lost men, but they never broke, and they added another chapter to the great legacy of the Fighting 69th.
Owen Gardner Finnegan
December 12, 2013
First National Guard related book. I did not know much about the National Guard until I read this and had some enlightenment.
The Fighting 69th is the story of a rag-tagged New York Army National Guard Unit that transformed from a laughing-stock of the army to a respected unit of full time soldiers. The finest hour of the 69th Infantry or repeatedly called as "Task Force Wolfhound (because of their mascot the Irish Wolfhound)" came on September 11,2001 and the baptism of fire in Iraq (notably in the Taji neighborhood and Route Irish). It also focused on the men that made the unit, their story on or off the battlefield, their heroism, their triumphs and their defeats.
Before they were deployed, the unit was just in "Waterboy status" and didn't have enough men and equipment to bolster a combat strength. That is after 9/11 happened. They were transformed to a green combat unit doing details such as security (which the men disliked very much) followed by the deployment in Iraq. They were untested in Iraq and experienced casualties but became aggressive in conducting operations.
I was drawn to reading this because from prior knowledge the 69th Inf. Reg. has an outstanding history (from the Irish founders to different major engagements the US Army fought). It has a good storytelling of events before, during and after the engagements in Iraq. Even though I found some the men quite annoying, I came to respect most of them especially the officers and the senior enlisted men. In retrospect, it's a typical story of underdog team turned dream team plus the earning of a reputation in the battlefield.
The Fighting 69th is the story of a rag-tagged New York Army National Guard Unit that transformed from a laughing-stock of the army to a respected unit of full time soldiers. The finest hour of the 69th Infantry or repeatedly called as "Task Force Wolfhound (because of their mascot the Irish Wolfhound)" came on September 11,2001 and the baptism of fire in Iraq (notably in the Taji neighborhood and Route Irish). It also focused on the men that made the unit, their story on or off the battlefield, their heroism, their triumphs and their defeats.
Before they were deployed, the unit was just in "Waterboy status" and didn't have enough men and equipment to bolster a combat strength. That is after 9/11 happened. They were transformed to a green combat unit doing details such as security (which the men disliked very much) followed by the deployment in Iraq. They were untested in Iraq and experienced casualties but became aggressive in conducting operations.
I was drawn to reading this because from prior knowledge the 69th Inf. Reg. has an outstanding history (from the Irish founders to different major engagements the US Army fought). It has a good storytelling of events before, during and after the engagements in Iraq. Even though I found some the men quite annoying, I came to respect most of them especially the officers and the senior enlisted men. In retrospect, it's a typical story of underdog team turned dream team plus the earning of a reputation in the battlefield.
May 9, 2014
The author's purpose of writing this book was to inform the world about the transformation and hard work it took to become the best U.S Army unit. He wanted to tell his story about how it was the worst military unit and then became the most patriotic and well respected unit. The author was apart of this group and wanted to tell his story of incredible patriotism. He saw the unit's low morale change to the top military unit.
The theme of this book is truthfulness and hardship. The author told the true facts and told the real actual version what happen. There was no holding back. The team had to overcome many different hardships through out there career.
The style that the book was written in was both narraration and description. The book was a narration because it stared out with the unit's famous history, and then went on to explain how the unit changed. It was also descriptive because he gave lots of details of the events. This was effective. It made the reader actually felt like they were there. It gave an accurate description of how the National Guard really worked.
I liked this book because I also want to go into the military and this gave me a good understanding of how a unit works. I like the honesty of the the author. What I didn't like it was pretty complex and had to read at times. Overall i liked the book. I have also read similar books about war but noting compared to this one.
The theme of this book is truthfulness and hardship. The author told the true facts and told the real actual version what happen. There was no holding back. The team had to overcome many different hardships through out there career.
The style that the book was written in was both narraration and description. The book was a narration because it stared out with the unit's famous history, and then went on to explain how the unit changed. It was also descriptive because he gave lots of details of the events. This was effective. It made the reader actually felt like they were there. It gave an accurate description of how the National Guard really worked.
I liked this book because I also want to go into the military and this gave me a good understanding of how a unit works. I like the honesty of the the author. What I didn't like it was pretty complex and had to read at times. Overall i liked the book. I have also read similar books about war but noting compared to this one.
December 15, 2008
My niece Kristen gave me this book, Farley, her husband, had worked on some of the editing and promotion for the book
The fighting 69th Infantry regiment of the army national guard was first formed during the civil war composed primarily of Irish immigrants and lead by General Meagher who had escaped imprisonment in Aulstralia for leading a revolt against the english, to arrive in New York to lead the Irish in battle. This Regiment has served in every war since.
Fast forward to the 1990's.This national guard unit is headquartered in an armory in NYC across from a crack house. It still leads the St Patrick's day parade every year but Irish-Americans are now a distinct minority. This unit is now composed of various ethnic groups representative of the gritty working class of the New York metro area. The unit was understaffed, ill- disciplined, and poorly trained. Then came 9/11. The unit responded to the bombing and secured the site. They developed an esprit de corps and 2 years later were sent to Iraq where they served with distinction.
This book would make a great movie. From the mean streets of New York to the mean streets of Bagdad.
The fighting 69th Infantry regiment of the army national guard was first formed during the civil war composed primarily of Irish immigrants and lead by General Meagher who had escaped imprisonment in Aulstralia for leading a revolt against the english, to arrive in New York to lead the Irish in battle. This Regiment has served in every war since.
Fast forward to the 1990's.This national guard unit is headquartered in an armory in NYC across from a crack house. It still leads the St Patrick's day parade every year but Irish-Americans are now a distinct minority. This unit is now composed of various ethnic groups representative of the gritty working class of the New York metro area. The unit was understaffed, ill- disciplined, and poorly trained. Then came 9/11. The unit responded to the bombing and secured the site. They developed an esprit de corps and 2 years later were sent to Iraq where they served with distinction.
This book would make a great movie. From the mean streets of New York to the mean streets of Bagdad.
April 29, 2009
This book was great.
I can understand how someone that doesn't know how to read military history can get caught up in all of the names, but guess what? ... there were over 300 men in this unit, so expect a lot of names. Read past them, and concentrate on the story as a whole. And there are character developments, even though they are not heeded because it is a real story, not some made up fair tale. Remember the CO sitting in his backyard on the the shore chain smoking camels as he contemplated his fate the week before his unit deployed? Remember Sgt. Olmo participating being a witness in the trial of the insurgents that blew an IED next to his best friends' humvee?
It's a great story, and a real inside look at the 'bad news bears' of the National Guard transforming into one of the most respected units to serve in Iraq. Handing out cigarettes and chocolate and kicking a soccer ball with Iraqi children one minute, to dodging IED's on Route Irish the next.
Great book. One of the best I've read on the "Long War".
I can understand how someone that doesn't know how to read military history can get caught up in all of the names, but guess what? ... there were over 300 men in this unit, so expect a lot of names. Read past them, and concentrate on the story as a whole. And there are character developments, even though they are not heeded because it is a real story, not some made up fair tale. Remember the CO sitting in his backyard on the the shore chain smoking camels as he contemplated his fate the week before his unit deployed? Remember Sgt. Olmo participating being a witness in the trial of the insurgents that blew an IED next to his best friends' humvee?
It's a great story, and a real inside look at the 'bad news bears' of the National Guard transforming into one of the most respected units to serve in Iraq. Handing out cigarettes and chocolate and kicking a soccer ball with Iraqi children one minute, to dodging IED's on Route Irish the next.
Great book. One of the best I've read on the "Long War".
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May 6, 2008Screw it, I'm done with this book. Can't finish it. It's just too poorly written. It's too bad, I picked it up because I heard an interview with the author that was interesting, but it's 300 pages of dull.
The writer repeats himself a lot, which is frustrating, and he's decided to focus on not three or four main characters, but dozens who wander in and out of the book at will, not doing much then coming back three chapters later.
I guess I can understand that he's trying to give readers a view of the unit as a whole. Problem is, he doesn't really establish these guys as individuals very well; it feels like he had been embedded with these guys so long that he sometimes forgets that the average reader doesn't know them as well. So when one comes back and the author starts throwing around his last name and you have to take a minute to think... wait, who was Mason again?
Also, it's nonfiction that says its subjects 'thought' and 'felt' things a lot, which always bugs me.
The writer repeats himself a lot, which is frustrating, and he's decided to focus on not three or four main characters, but dozens who wander in and out of the book at will, not doing much then coming back three chapters later.
I guess I can understand that he's trying to give readers a view of the unit as a whole. Problem is, he doesn't really establish these guys as individuals very well; it feels like he had been embedded with these guys so long that he sometimes forgets that the average reader doesn't know them as well. So when one comes back and the author starts throwing around his last name and you have to take a minute to think... wait, who was Mason again?
Also, it's nonfiction that says its subjects 'thought' and 'felt' things a lot, which always bugs me.
October 21, 2016
This book was sensational. I flew trough the history of the 69th and picked its deployment starting with 9/11 and taking it through the deployment to Iraq. The story was fast paced and to the point. It kept me spellbound through its entirety and I enjoyed it immensely. I had trained soldiers from the 69th in the 1980s when I was on active duty in the US Army. I remember deploying to their armory and working with the Intelligence staff to train them on fighting a war in Europe. If we had only know what was to happen in the Middle East. Yet, I don't suppose too many of the soldiers that I training were still there when 9/11 occurred, but that does not stop me from thinking about our soldierly kinship. Needless to say, I can highly recommend this book to anyone who needs a good read. Old soldiers will especially enjoy this book and even if they never had dealings with the National Guard, because this book speaks to all of us old soldiers.
April 19, 2012
My brother served with the National Guard in Iraq around the same time as the soldiers in this book, so it was really interesting for me to read. I also live a few blocks from the armory, which made it even more interesting and personal to me. I thought the book was well-written, conversational and journalistic.
February 20, 2009
a really interesting book about one particular unit's struggle to reclaim it's history and training. fairly interesting writing, although a bit hard to follow at times. overall a very good book and a remarkable group of people.
March 16, 2013
This is a difficult book to pull off and the author does pretty well with it. There's a rich history of the unit with which he prefaces the unit's Iraq war service. He's a little hit and miss on the personalities--some are richly drawn, others a tad sketchy.
January 6, 2013
Pretty technical in some areas, absolutely riveting in others. God Bless the Fighting 69th !
June 14, 2013
This book is exactly what it claims to be. The writing is good and the story is great.
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April 15, 2015this book was awsome
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