Letters from the Front Lines: Iraq and Afghanistan

by Stuart Franklin Platt

Letters From the Front Lines is a remarkable account of the lives and experiences of Americans at war in Iraq and Afghanistan. This collection of correspondence preserves for future generations the experiences of men and women in uniform and presents a unique perspective about what is actually going on day-to-day in the tents, on the road, and in the weeds in Iraq and Afghanistan. These letters were written from the heart, and tell the truth about life on the front lines (lonely, hot and dangerous), as well as life on the home front (lonely, anxious and supportive). Handwritten letters which, until the current conflict, were the only source of communication home from the front lines are being replaced by email and web logs or "blogs." This book reminds us how important it is to preserve these more ephemeral records of our nation's history.

Hardcover

First published September 1, 2006

Reviews

[Hila · Rating 3 out of 5]

Basically, this is a compilation of letters, emails, and blog posts from various servicemen (and women) who were deployed to Iraq and/or Afghanistan during Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom. Regardless of viewpoint on our involvement in those events, I think there is something really powerful about reading/hearing first-person accounts. I feel that's true for most anything. I found it especially interesting that several of those who wrote repeatedly stated that the media was not sharing the full story.

As a civilian, it is hard for me to comprehend what it would be like to be sent into a war zone (especially a desert war zone) with the intention of helping people have a better way of life, all while knowing there are those who would rather see me dead. I am so grateful for those who serve and those who have served in the United States Armed Forces.

I was set to give this one 4⭐, but the last third or fourth of the book got really technical with how the Navy and Marines were trying to change and work together for modern warfare, and I really had to force myself to read that. I didn't think it really fit the rest of the book, and it was really boring to me. But otherwise, I think this was a really worthwhile read and a look into the feelings and experiences of some of the soldiers and Marines who were on the ground in the early days of the war.