US Marine Corps

  (out of 5 stars)

Rolling Stone journalist Evan Wright embedded with Bravo Company of the 1st Marine Reconnaissance Battalion just in time for the 2003 invasion of Iraq. Spending his time with 2nd Platoon, whose commander Nathaniel Fick published a memoir, One Bullet Away recounting his experiences a year after Generation Kill was published, Wright spent most of his time in the vehicle commanded by Sgt. Brad Colbert. Wright's narrative, which first appeared as a series of Rolling Stone articles, moves fast and presents a grunts-eye view of the first days of the Iraq War.

From crossing the berm and MOPP chemical protection suits, to rolling hot through sheets of gunfire, Wright's experiences are vividly conveyed to the reader in each chapter. I especially appreciated the way he frankly portrayed the men in the platoon. From raunchy jokes in the middle of gunfights to the daily highs and lows of the men, the narrative moves quickly through the whirlwind of battle and brotherhood.

Wright's book makes an excellent addition to the small but growing catalog of works on the Iraq War, and combined with Fick's memoir, the reader can gain a keen insight into small unit actions and the consequences of leadership decisions, superior training, and the frustrating necessity of the chain of command. Four stars. The HBO miniseries based on the book is also recommended and provides a very faithful depiction of Wright's narrative.

  (out of 5 stars)

US Marine Corps officer Nathaniel Fick's memoir describes his experiences in Marine Corps OCS, the War in Afghanistan, and the Iraq War. As a Lieutenant, Fick was a lower-grade officer who saw a great deal of front line action, especially while commanding a platoon in Bravo Company, First Force Recon as part of the tip of the spear during the invasion of Iraq in 2003. His memoir is very well written and provides a key insight into the positives and negatives of fighting wars within the Marine Corps command chain.

Fick decided to join the Marines in order to test himself, and enlists in OCS prior to his senior year at Columbia. After completing his training, he finished school before officially joining the Corps and heading off for training which included a variety of tough tests, including SERE training.

Fick was shipping off for his first international deployment when September 11 took place, and while at sea, his unit got orders to prepare for the invasion of Afghanistan. He took part in a few missions in that theater before being offered a chance to join the elite Recon Marines.

As part of First Force Recon, Fick led his platoon across the berms and into Iraq during the invasion, and was often involved in heavy firefights. Fick, an intelligent and tactically-aware commander, often chaffed under the rigid Marine Corps command structure and openly challenged his CO a couple of times when the orders were clearly wrongheaded. His attitude was not necessarily acceptable to his commanders, and once or twice nearly caused him to be punished, but his men knew they had a strong leader looking out for them and ensuring their ability to accomplish the mission was never compromised.

Fick's insights into the early days of the way, and especially the ways in which the strategies played out, open a unique view of the seeds planted which later turned into a full-blown insurgency. An easy read from start-to-finish, One Bullet Away is a solid addition to the shelves of any military reader, along with Generation Kill, journalist Evan Wright's book (and HBO miniseries) which saw Wright embedded in Fick's platoon. Four stars.

  (out of 5 stars)

Lewis "Chesty" Puller may well have been the baddest mutha to ever put on a United States uniform and go to war. A career soldier who saw action all over the globe, Puller is a legendary figure to today's Marines, much as I imagine El Cid was to the generations which followed. Here, in Burke Davis's biography of the ultimate soldier, Puller's experiences are drawn together into a swift and enjoyable narrative.

Puller's military career started as WWI came to a close, and he soon found himself serving in Haiti and Nicaragua, garnering praise from superiors and civilians alike. Puller was a natural leader of men, and those who fought for him in those parts of the world would not be the last to think of him as a tremendous warrior.

After spending time in Peking, China, Puller took part in the bloody battles in the Pacific Theater of WWII, including the Battle of Guadalacanal. Despite terrible and misleading orders from his superiors, and the ever-present problems of communications, supplies, and the fog of war, Puller maintained his cool, took responsibility for his men, and displayed enormous guts and tactical leadership during every battle. Later, in the Korean War, Puller oversaw the difficult and deadly rearguard action during the Chosin Reservoir withdrawal.

One of the great warriors of any age, Puller's story as presented by Burke is a fantastic tale of a dedicated and highly-intelligent military legend. Well recommended for any military fan, and especially for anyone with an interest in the US Marine Corps.