Doonesbury.com's The Sandbox: Dispatches from Troops in Iraq and Afghanistan

by G.B. Trudeau

Launched as a military blog (or "milblog") by Doonesbury creator Garry Trudeau in October 2006, The Sandbox is an online forum through which service members in Afghanistan and Iraq share their stories with readers here at home. In hundreds of fascinating and compelling posts, soldiers write passionately, eloquently, and movingly of their day-to-day lives, of their mission, and of the drama that unfolds daily around them.

A dog adopts a unit on patrol in Baghdad and guards its flank; a soldier chronicles an epic day of close-call encounters with IEDs; an Afghan translator talks earnestly with his American friend about love and theology; a dad far from home meditates on time and history in the desert night under ancient stars; a Chuck Norris action figure witnesses surreal moments of humor in the cramped cab of a Humvee -- Doonesbury.com's The Dispatches from Troops in Iraq and Afghanistan presents a rich outpouring of stories, from the hilarious to the thrilling to the heartbreaking, and helps us understand what so many of our countrymen are going through and the sacrifices they are making on our behalf.

* I really feel like most people look at this war as little more than a television event. How many have ever taken the time to stop and think about what we go through every day over here? The bullets, rockets, and IEDs are not the hard part. The hard part is knowing that life goes on back at home. --FC1 (SW) Anthony McCloskey

* The man looks at me, his jaw working in anger. For a brief second, I get the impression that he is going to attack, and then suddenly, as if the energy has gone out of him, his shoulders slump slightly and he looks down at his brother's body. --1LT Adam Tiffen

* Out here in the desert, Time is King; the minutes are his minions and the months his sabers by which you are knighted. The King controls all that you do, when you come and go, and how long until you see your children. --Capt. Lee Kelley

Genres: Nonfiction, Military Fiction, History

336 pages, Paperback

First published October 1, 2007

About the author

Garretson Beekman "Garry" Trudeau is an American cartoonist, best known for the Doonesbury comic strip. In 1970, Trudeau's creation of Doonesbury was syndicated by the newly formed Universal Press Syndicate. Today Doonesbury is syndicated to almost 1,400 newspapers worldwide and is accessible online in association with Slate Magazine at doonesbury.com. In 1975, he became the first comic strip artist to win a Pulitzer, traditionally awarded to editorial-page cartoonists. He was also a Pulitzer finalist in 1990. He was nominated for an Oscar in 1977 in the category of Animated Short Film, for A Doonesbury Special, in collaboration with John Hubley and Faith Hubley. A Doonesbury Special eventually won the Cannes Film Festival Jury Special Prize in 1978. Other awards include the National Cartoonists Society (NCS) Newspaper Comic Strip Award in 1994, and the Reuben Award in 1995. He was made a fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences in 1993. Wiley Miller, fellow comic-strip artist responsible for Non Sequitur, called Trudeau "far and away the most influential editorial cartoonist in the last 25 years." In addition to his work on Doonesbury, Trudeau has teamed with Elizabeth Swados and written plays, such as Rap Master Ronnie and Doonesbury: A Musical Comedy. In 1988, Trudeau joined forces with director Robert Altman for the HBO miniseries Tanner '88 and the Sundance Channel miniseries sequel Tanner on Tanner in 2004. In 1996, Newsweek and The Washington Post speculated that Trudeau wrote the novel Primary Colors, which was later revealed to have been written by Joe Klein. Trudeau wrote the political sitcom Alpha House, starring John Goodman and Bill Murray. The pilot was produced by Amazon Studios and aired in early 2013. Due to positive response Amazon has picked up Alpha House to develop into a full series.

Reviews

[David · Rating 4 out of 5]

Full disclosure: I have a piece in this collection, so take my rating with a grain of salt.

[Charlotte · Rating 5 out of 5]

Tough, brutal, emotional, funny, sad at at the same time. Raw, honest writing from soldiers. This really is an excellent collection of very personal stories from men and women in battle.

[Kathy · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is made up of excerpts from the blogs of soldiers in Iraq & Afghanistan. Most of them were written while these men (and one woman) were in action, although a few were written after the author had returned to the US. They paint a very realistic picture of what is going on "over there." They are--by turns--funny, brutally descriptive, angry, bitter, endearing, sweet, loving, exquisitely honest and confused. Some of them support our government's position and some of them don't. Some will break your heart and some will make you laugh out loud. I highly recommend this book of you want to know exactly what it's like to be stationed in Iraq or Afghanistan.

[Greg · Rating 4 out of 5]

For over a year Slate.com hosted an online venue where those serving in Iraq & Afghanistan ("the Sandbox") shared, in short and unvarnished posts, their experiences & opinions. The cumulative effect is an astonishingly kaleidoscopic view of on-the-ground, day-to-day realities, by turns funny, mundane, horrific. Gathered here is a generous selection of these posts by over 40 of the soldier-contributors.

[Bill · Rating 4 out of 5]

Just as in past conflicts some of the most amazing writing comes from the field. This compilation effectively shows the diverse feelings the conflict generates for the Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen and Marines who are serving there. A must read for anyone who truly wants to understand on a personal level what it means to have "Boots on the Ground".

[Zechy · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a fantastic collection of blog entries from American soldiers serving in
Iraq and Afghanistan and their wives.

I would recommend this book to anyone who is interested in what is
happening over there, to anyone who is interested in war in general
or anyone who is just looking for a good read.

[Mark Fallon · Rating 5 out of 5]

An well-edited compilation of blogs by troops in Iraq and Afghanistan, including some spouses and others back home. Some great writing, some good writing - all true.

Dispels the myths that many people hold about the intelligence and education of soldiers.

[Donna · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this shortly before my S.O. returned from Iraq. If you want to read genuine voices of military personnel, this is a taste of their reality.
The Sandbox blog was one of my lifelines through the 2007-2008 deployment.

[Mike DaRonco · Rating 5 out of 5]

Some of the most honest writing coming out today.

[Maria]

Collected first-person accounts from soldier in Iraq. Some of the people we worked with on Aftermath of War (Jami Gibbs, Lee Kelley) are included in this collection. Certain to be fascinating.

[Stephanie]

Just started this. Fascinating so far. A variety of viewpoints and voices on many different experiences of troops in Iraq and Afghanistan. This war is a tragedy on every level.

[Casie · Rating 4 out of 5]

The compassion of our soldiers; The good, the gruesome and the freakish of life in Afghanistan and Iraq as a U.S. soldier

[Chris Cole · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good snippets.

[April Schulz · Rating 5 out of 5]

GREAT book!! would like to read more like it!

[Sharon · Rating 4 out of 5]

Easy read, enjoyable in parts, if anything written by someone fighting a war can be enjoyable.

[Tony · Rating 4 out of 5]

Revisiting "letters" home from Iraq and Afghanistan soldiers. A challenging read. Hard to hear that war has not changed.