What are the best books about operations since 9/11?

2015-03-21T16:17:27-04:00

I got out in 97, and I'm curious about how recent books like Stanley McChrystal's and others struck those who were there. Any particularly good ones? Bad ones?

Are any noteworthy books full of verifiable falsehoods?

How many books, or documentaries about the current conflict are total frauds?

Response by SSG Robert Burns made Mar 21 at 2015 4:19 PM

2015-03-21T16:19:13-04:00

I get disappointed because it seems that more folks are into making a quick buck than writing a good book.

Response by CPT Aaron Kletzing made Mar 21 at 2015 4:25 PM

2015-03-21T16:25:20-04:00

My favorite thus far has been "Kaboom: Embracing the Suck in a Savage Little War" written by an OIF veteran named Matt Gallagher. Worth a read for sure!

Here is one link to the book: http://www.amazon.com/Kaboom-Embracing-Suck-Savage-Little/dp/ [login to see]

Amazon.com: Kaboom: Embracing the Suck in a Savage Little War (9780306819674): Matt Gallagher:...

Amazon.com: Kaboom: Embracing the Suck in a Savage Little War (9780306819674): Matt Gallagher: Books

Response by MAJ Haris Balcinovic made Mar 21 at 2015 5:55 PM

2015-03-21T17:55:05-04:00

House to House - David Belavia

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 21 at 2015 7:08 PM

2015-03-21T19:08:21-04:00

I read a couple while deployed.

'Black Hearts': One Platoon's Descent Into Madness In Iraq's Triangle of Death
by Jim Frederick

'They Fought For Each Other: The Triumph And Tragedy of The Hardest Hit Unit In Iraq
by Kelly Kennedy

Are they the best books on the subject? I don't know. But they are very good reads in my opinion.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 21 at 2015 8:52 PM

2015-03-21T20:52:48-04:00

My men are my heros

Response by MAJ Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 22 at 2015 12:01 AM

2015-03-22T00:01:41-04:00

Biggest disappointment was General (ret) Sanchez's book, I read some of it. But when he too a group I was in, he seemed to be full of excuses and passing blame. He seemed not fully committed to his tasks. Which made me and some of my peers wonder if he was Service Member or Careerist interested in title?

Response by MAJ Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 22 at 2015 12:06 AM

2015-03-22T00:06:16-04:00

Thunder Run and Shooter where good books from the early part of the Iraq war.

Shooter was written by a former Marine Sniper. The book was about modern sniper tactics and sniper employment in Iraq. The author was not overly boastful but he is making a cause for more aggressive employment of snipers.

Response by MAJ Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 22 at 2015 12:19 AM

2015-03-22T00:19:15-04:00

Please remember, every book you read about any of those operations is from the perspective of the writer and can only account for their feelings, emotions and experiences.

The best way to find out is to read them all, and then look for information from the other perspectives. Every veteran of these wars has had a different experience. It is very personal and individualized. So, you won't truly be able to get an experience vicariously unless you are experiencing something the writer has led you to experience.

Response by MAJ Ron Peery made Mar 22 at 2015 1:03 AM

2015-03-22T01:03:27-04:00

"The Way of the Knife", by Mark Mazzetti is a good read about black ops during OIF/OEF.

"The Wrong War', by Bing West examines the strategy laid out by Washington, and the reality on the ground from the perspective of the troops who had to make the policy work.

"Victory Point", by Ed Darack is an account of Operation Red Wings and Operation Whalers. Read this after reading Lone Survivor, by Marcus Luttrell.

"Gentlemen Bastards", and "No Way Out" by Kevin Maurer, are good works on SF operations in Afghanistan.

"Afghan Journal" by Jeff Courter is a good work on ETT's in Afghanistan.

There are loads of books out now. Keep shopping.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 22 at 2015 3:03 PM

2015-03-22T15:03:18-04:00

"War" by Sebastian Junger.. A pretty insightful look into the Korengal Valley.. I know everyone saw Lone Survivor, but the book really does stand out. However, reading it in RC East gave a little more connection to the story.

Response by CPO Greg Frazho made Mar 22 at 2015 8:13 PM

2015-03-22T20:13:03-04:00

I read that long monograph in whatever magazine (Esquire?) about the shooter who allegedly put the kill shot in Bin Laden being royally screwed. It was an interesting read if nothing else.

Luttrell's Lone Survivor (Operation Red Wings) I read in 2007, right after it came out. I read that one pretty quickly. Don Mann's book, another frogman's memoir, was pretty good. It was more generally about operations including Iraq and not just OIF- or OEF-related chronologies. He does devote a chapter or two to what he and his buds called the Dirt Circle.

The one by Bissonnette about Operation Neptune's Spear, the name of which escapes me, I read an electronic copy of. I read that in Afghan in late 2012. I think that's the last of the "I was there" books I read, most of which seem to be written by recently-retired or recently-seperated Team guys.

I can't speak to the voracity or authenticity of these books due to the fact that I wasn't involved in those operations, and if I had been I wouldn't publicize it. I'd like to believe everything I read, but as I indicated a moment ago, I wasn't there when these things occurred.

I've taken an extended break from Iraq and Afghan books, video, movies, etc. I rarely mention my military service to non-veterans unless it's particularly relevant to a specific situation. It's something I'm putting behind me and trying not to dwell on, let alone dine out on.

Response by MAJ Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 23 at 2015 10:36 PM

2015-03-23T22:36:25-04:00

I can recommend Jawbreaker, The Art of Intelligence, and Horse Soldiers

Response by MAJ Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 24 at 2015 12:13 AM

2015-03-24T00:13:50-04:00

I enjoyed "Joker One." It's written by a Marine Platoon Commander about their experiences in Ramadi. That and "Blackhearts" are probably the only books I've read about the GWOT.

Response by Capt Richard I P. made Mar 26 at 2015 8:27 AM

2015-03-26T08:27:52-04:00

The Mission, The Men and Me by Pete Blaber is a fantastic set of lessons on leadership by a former Delta Leader.

Response by PV2 Matthew Dzemske made May 15 at 2015 3:25 AM

2015-05-15T03:25:26-04:00

'The Strongest Tribe: War, Politics, And The Endgame In Iraq' by Bing West is a good read; it's a history of the war in Iraq 2003-2008. 'Tip Of The Spear: US Army Small Unit Action In Iraq 2004-2007', general editor Jon T. Hoffman, Center of Military History isn't too bad either. I've also found that, while not on the GWOT topic, books about the Phillipine Insurrection are illuminating because they show exactly what can happen when an insurgency is fought half-heatedly; and books about Vietnam are good for showing what happens when we take near total control of another country's security needs, along with the effects of several programs the US had going, that produced nearly identical results. 'The Iraq Study Group Report' gives insight into the politics of the war as seeen by higher and politicians, and shows exactly what we (and the IA/IP) were meant to achieve during "The Surge."