Embedded: A Marine Corps Adviser Inside the Iraqi Army

by Wesley R. Gray USMC (Ret.)

In his November 19, 2005 presidential address, President George W. Bush summarized U.S. military policy as, Our situation can be summed up this as the Iraqis stand up, we will stand down. EMBEDDED offers a firsthand account by a young Marine military advisor serving on the frontlines with the Iraqi Army of the effectiveness of America's efforts to help the Iraqis stand on their own. As a Division I track athlete and a magna cum laude graduate of the University of Pennsylvania's Wharton School, Wes Gray was given a full scholarship to the Ph.D. program in finance at the University of Chicago, the top ranked program in the world. However, after passing his comprehensive exams and while weighing offers from Wall Street, he had an the right thing to do before taking on the challenges of the business world was to serve his nation and fulfill a lifelong dream of becoming a United States Marine. In 2006, 1st. Lt. Gray was deployed as a Marine Corps military advisor to live and fight with an Iraqi Army battalion for two hundred and ten days in the Haditha Triad, a small population center in the dangerous and austere al-Anbar Province of western Iraq.What he encountered was an insurgent fire pit recently traumatized by the infamous “Haditha Massacre,” in which 24 Iraqi civilians - men, women and children - were shot at close range by U.S. Marines at close range in retaliation for the death of a Marine lance corporal in a roadside bombing. Despite the tensions triggered by the shootings, Gray was able to form a bond with the Iraqi soldiers because he had an edge that very few U.S. service members possess ¬æ the ability to communicate because of his proficiency in Iraqi Arabic. His language skills and deep understanding of Iraqi culture were quickly recognized by the Iraqi soldiers who considered him an Arab brother and fondly named him “Jamal.” By the end of his advisor tour, he was a legend within the Iraqi Army. During his time in Iraq, Wes kept a detailed record of his observations, experiences, and interviews with Iraqi citizens and soldiers in vivid and brutally honest detail. Ranging from tension filled skirmishes against the insurgents to insights into the dichotomy between American and Iraqi cultures, he offers a comprehensive portrait of Iraq and the struggles of its people and soldiers to stand up and make their country a nation once again. His book is a Marine intelligence officer's compelling report about the status and prospects of America's strategy for success in Iraq.

Genres: Military Fiction, Nonfiction

288 pages, Hardcover

First published April 1, 2009

Reviews

[Jack · Rating 4 out of 5]

Gray left his wife and graduate school to join the Marines and spent 7 months of that time in Iraq. He recounts his experiences and explains why the US mission is futile.

[Salsabrarian · Rating 3 out of 5]

The prose is perfunctory at times (there were times I felt like jumping up and yelling "Sir, yes, sir!") but the value of the book for me was the description of the cultural and historical differences in Iraq and how America's plans for establishing democracy in the area may just go awry because these differences are not fully taken into account. Bravo to Lt. Gray for making efforts to meet the Iraqis on their terms under very challenging circumstances. Heard about this title on NPR.

[Victor · Rating 5 out of 5]

this is a must read for anyone who wants to know why the US is hated in Iraq and all the blunders they made. the guy says as it is , also the author speak Arabic in some basic level so he knows and learned the Iraqi mindset. a very good read indeed. :))

[Kristie]

This is written by a member of my boyfriend's family. He's a great guy that has been through a lot for our country and I bought this to help support him and his efforts.