Generation Kill

[Matt]

This was a great book. It is the second book I have read about Operation Iraqi Freedom. This one is from the point of view of a reporter that rode with the Marine Corps' 1st Reconnaissance Battalion, Bravo Company, 2nd Platoon. The other is by Nathaniel Fick, 2nd platoon's Commanding Officer. This book gave me a very good idea of how the Marines felt about the war, which was indifferent. They were mostly just hoping they'd get something to shoot at. I loved all the jokes among the men that Wright included, though some were only funny if you were there. It gives a good image of the insanity of combat, and the split-second decisions that you make that could cost someone their life. Wright wrote about several instances in the invasion where civilians were hurt or killed, due to incompetence of command, enemy fighters hiding behind civilians, or confusion on the Rules of Engagement. This book paints a vivid picture of today's wars and their atrocities.