Beyond Duty: Life on the Frontline in Iraq

by Shannon Meehan, Roger Thompson (Primary Contributor)

Under the blazing Iraqi sun in the summer of 2007, Shannon Meehan, a lieutenant in the U.S. Army, ordered a strike that would take the lives of innocent Iraqi civilians. He thought he was doing the right thing. He thought he was protecting his men. He thought that he would only kill the enemy, but in the ruins of the strike, he discovers his mistake and uncovers a tragedy. For most of his deployment in Iraq, Lt. Meehan felt that he had been made for a life in the military. A tank commander, he worked in the violent Diyala Province, successfully fighting the insurgency by various Sunni and Shia factions. He was celebrated by his senior officers and decorated with medals. But when the U.S. surge to retake Iraq in 2006 and 2007 finally pushed into Baqubah, a town virtually entirely controlled by al Qaida, Meehan would make the decision that would change his life.

This is the true story of one soldier's attempt to reconcile what he has done with what he felt he had to do. Stark and devastating, it recounts first-hand the reality of a new type of warfare that remains largely unspoken and forgotten on the frontlines of Iraq.

Genres: Nonfiction, Military Fiction

260 pages, Hardcover

First published September 1, 2009

Reviews

[Lisa · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked this book. If I'm going to read a book about war, I absolutely feel most comfortable reading a book by a Lieutenant or at least by an officer who was a Lieutenant at the time of the story. I've read several from the Vietnam era, and so this was a wonderful addition from the Iraq war. My favorite, so far, has been Platoon Leader by James McDonough because it was great narrative, excellent historical perspective, great observations on leadership, and was just an overall very cohesive story. This book is a little more disturbing because of the way Lieutenant Meehan vascilates between striving for excellence in his military career and platoon leadership and feelings of guilt and self doubt. Yet it is uplifting in many ways and gives me some hope for the people of Iraq. I did find myself troubled in the end when I realized that because of the Lieutenant's injuries, he may never find the closure he needs. I wish Lieutenant Shannon Meehan the best. I hope his marriage can survive and thrive despite everything he's experienced. As a Christian, I would like him to know that there is forgiveness and that God loves him. He does not need to carry the weight of guilt he feels. There is freedom through Jesus Christ.

[Chris · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is a must read. It's not the greatest literary masterpiece and sometimes the narrative voice can become annoying, but it is still an unquestionably must-read book in my opinion. Personally, I identify with the author strongly and see myself in him. Lt Meehan is a soldier, a leader that is intent on becoming the best man he can be. But he finds out that despite his best intentions, bad things can and did happen. Bad things that he directly caused. And the reality and finality of those actions crushes him. The war shatters his deep convictions on who he is and his life's purpose. This is a heartbreaking glimpse into war. I want to make a point to thank Lt Meehan for writing his story. I do not know how he found the courage to do so. But I do know this book will make an impact on those who read it, as it has for me.

[NICHOLAS · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beyond Duty by Shannon Meehan is a very hard, but powerful story to read. As we follow the story through the eyes of Lt. Shannon Meehan we see the hard decisions made and the stress put on the shoulders of the Lieutenant as he calls for an airstrike that takes the lives of many innocent civilians. as remorse and guilt take over the mind of Lt. Shannon Meehan we see his hard journey to gain back the respect for himself as he learns the hard truth of war and that every action has a equal reaction that can cause catastrophic damage to others. I think the lesson that follow this book helps but it up in an higher spot of my favorite books I have ever read. learning that sometimes no matter how wrong the decisions you make are, sometimes the hardest decisions you have to make are the best ones for you and others around you. he knew the damage the airstrike was going to cause, but he did it in order to protect his country.

[Dr Tanzeel · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is written very professionally and in a very fluent English. The story told by a soldier fighting in Iraq and while there trying to do his job, he had some experiences which baffle him off and on. Overall the narration is good.
However I wanted to read more about the daily routine of soldiers in the war, how they spend so much time together , how the life in warhouse is and how their families feel while they are in the war.

[Matthew King · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book takes you behind the lines of war and what it does to a human being. Sometimes there is no answer to war as explained in the end but throughout this book you are taken on a journey, firsthand, of what our soldiers are going through. Doesn’t matter is you support or do not support the war, this book will open your eyes to what is really going on.

[Mary-Ellen · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was glued to this book in the first few pages, but the last 50 are seriously tiresome. I just cannot seem to get to the end. I appreciate the first-person voice, and Meehan's explanation of cultural and strategic insight. The story effectively demonstrates the sort of loop/warp that a soldier can suffer when dealing with war and PTSD. But as the reader, I just can't seem to get out of it, either. I wish the editor had experienced what I am.

[Cassandra · Rating 4 out of 5]

Difficult to read both in form and content. Meehan has a challenging narrative voice, a bit halting, but genuine, and powerfully coupled with the gravity of the events of war and a bald emotional journey: a narrative filled with struggle, isolation, pride and intensely personal revelations and perspective. Different from any other military narrative I've read. Worth the effort.

[Donna · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book gives a look into what the US is doing in Iraq and why we're there so long. The author deals with ordering a strike on a house that he believed held enemies, only there were no enemies just a civilian family.

[Angie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I don't know if my review is at all objective because this soldier was a student of my husband's and the co-author is a friend of ours. In any case, a fascinating and deeply moving story of one soldier's experiences in Iraq and what they have meant to his life.