The Last True Story I'll Ever Tell

[PudriK Profile]

Just finished reading The Last True Story I'll Ever Tell : An Accidental Soldier's Account of the War in Iraq. I highly recommend it. It's a quick read; each chapter is a different "so there I was..." kind of story, easily read in a few minutes, yet he stories are so compelling you'll find yourself reading just one more. I'm still stewing over all the different impressions I have, but I had to pass on the recommendation.

[Twister026 Profile Website]

sounds cool

[cavalierlwt Profile]

This one looks pretty funny
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0871138956/ref=pd_sbs_b_6/103-3714896-2549437?%5Fencoding=UTF8&v=glance

I recently started reading Jarhead by Anthony Swafford..I found it unbearably slow and boring. It seems like 90% of the book is about his time outside of Iraq, former bases, friends, girlfriends, etc.

There's a few really good books about the Vietnam war: Nam by Mark Baker, another one called 'ChickenHawk' is great if you're a fan of helicopters, it really gives the look life as a huey pilot in Vietnam.

[Sabres Profile ICQ]

Sounds really interesting

[cavalierlwt Profile]

The cover of this book cracks me up. He looks like a little kid whose mother bundled him up for a snowstorm.

[Sabres Profile ICQ]

v51! haha

[Rotoman Profile YIM]

Ok, I was at B&N last night and read the first few chapters of this book. Ugh! What a whiney little bitch. It made me what to hurl. I get it that war sucks, stupid things happen, blah blah blah, but it was really annoying to get the 'oh man we've been here forever and its hot and it sucks and I don't wanna be here and I was just married and was going to college' crying schtick.

I also loved how the book points out on the back cover, inside the dust flap and in the intro how this guy was in college just got married and got called up. Hello? You're in the National Guard...just like a hundred thousand other men and women. This guys' story isn't unique or even that 'traumatic' in my opinion. I've heard and seen more awful and compelling stories than these.

Then I caught this story in the news today: I'll paste the relevent text:

John Crawford, author of "The Last True Story I'll Ever Tell," (Riverhead) attributes the spate of Iraq books by soldiers to the Internet and a better educated military.

"There's also the change in gender roles, that men are more comfortable with telling how they feel and saying 'Oh, I was scared. This was terrible,' whereas 50 or 100 years ago you would never have got that," Crawford said.

Buzzell said going to Iraq was the best thing he had ever done. "I do believe we were doing a lot of good but ... I have a lot of questions about what we're doing," he said.

Some of the books reveal more bitterness.

"People are saying 'Why are these memoirs so angry and hostile?' Crawford said. "It's because they're right now. You can't write a pro-war book and you can't write a happy story."

"If you tell the truth and you're in the war, it's going to be a very bleak picture."

Obviously this guys' never read Red Badge of Courage or its ilk before. Try picking up anything written during the US Civil War about the conflict and you'll hear plenty of stories told by the troops about their fear in battle, how terrible the carnage was, etc. Better educated military? Not by the example Crawford sets.

I picked up Jarhead and started reading it. Its ok so far but I identify with it as a former Marine. If I were to recommend some good war story books they'd be:

The things they carried - Mark O' Brien
Red badge of Courage (fiction but good) - Stephen Crane
With the Old Breed -by E.B. Sledge
Black hawk down - Mark Bowen
Flags of Our Fathers by James Bradley
Goodbye Darkness by William Manchester
All Quiet on the Western Front by Erich Remarque
Armor - John Steakley (sci-fi)

[Mugzy Profile]

Another good book is War Letters.

In 1998, Andrew Carroll founded the Legacy Project with the goal of remembering Americans who have served this nation in wartime by seeking out and preserving their letters. Since then, more than 50,000 War Letters discovered in basements, attics, scrapbooks, and old trunks have poured in from around the country. The best of these letters are assembled in this extraordinary collection, offering unprecedented insight into the Civil War, World War I, World War II, Korea, the Cold War, Vietnam, the Persian Gulf, and even the fighting in Somalia and the Balkans.

Featured here are dramatic accounts of combat written immediately after the most ferocious battles American troops have faced; poignant expressions of love by homesick husbands and sweethearts; humorous anecdotes and gripes about insufferable conditions; thoughtful reflections on the nature of warfare; and perhaps most devastating, a startling number of last letters penned just hours or days before the sender was killed.

War Letters is a testament to the heroic contributions and astonishing literary voices of common soldiers, marines, airmen, and sailors, as well as war nurses, journalists, spies, and chaplains. There are also previously unpublished letters by such legendary figures as William T. Sherman, Clara Barton, Theodore Roosevelt, Ernie Pyle, Douglas MacArthur, Julia Child, Dwight Eisenhower, Norman Schwarzkopf, and our nation's first black general, Benjamin O. Davis Sr.

These historic letters capture the full fury and intensity of warfare, and they reveal in vivid detail what the servicemen and women of America have experienced and sacrificed on the front lines. War Letters is a lasting tribute to those who have fought for this country, and a celebration of the enduring power and lyricism of personal letters.

[=ender= Profile]

Originally posted by Rotoman
The things they carried - Mark O' Brien
Red badge of Courage (fiction but good) - Stephen Crane
With the Old Breed -by E.B. Sledge
Black hawk down - Mark Bowen
Flags of Our Fathers by James Bradley
Goodbye Darkness by William Manchester
All Quiet on the Western Front by Erich Remarque
Armor - John Steakley (sci-fi)

The Things They Carried is an absolute must read. Damn fine book there.

[PudriK Profile]

In reply to Rotoman,

Most of his stories were written in-country. You mentioned being a former Marine. I'm a current Coastie. I'm sure you know, since time immemorial, soldiers and sailors bitch. Often it's the only thing to do.

My sister is National Guard. She joined for similar reasons, and mostly expected to be used in classical National Guard roles: law-enforcement and disaster response. (If she'd have asked me first, I'd have pointed out the error of her thinking based just on the history of Gulf War I). Anyway, she spent a tour in Kosovo recently, and spent most of her emails bitching about not having anything to do, not being allowed off base (she's an intel analyist), and being bored. Her bitching had nothing to do with not believing in the mission, or not recognizing that she chose her fate.

In my experience, in much nicer circumstances than Iraq, even the most devoted, motivated, professional sailors still bitch a lot, whether it's about having the patrol extended a week, having to stand 1-in-4 inport duty instead of 1-in-5, flight ops getting in the way of maintenance, etc. Yeah, not everyone does it. There are always those stalwart types that grin and bear it. But most do, if for no other reason than to blow off steam and to prove to everyone else that they know better.

The circumstances of his call-up suck. Complaining about it doesn't mean he thinks he should have been given a break. He's just complaining because it sucks.

Nor is he claiming to have had a worse experience or a particularly notable experience. He's just telling his experience.

I admit I haven't read any of the other books you mentioned, so I can't tell how they compare. A couple aren't first-hand accounts.

The things they carried - Mark O' Brien
Although O'Brien served, many of the stories are fictional, based on his experiences.
Black hawk down - Mark Bowen
A journalist's telling.
Flags of Our Fathers by James Bradley
Also a journalist's account.
All Quiet on the Western Front by Erich Remarque
A novel based on experiences.
Armor - John Steakley (sci-fi)

That said, I wouldn't be surprised if some of Crawford's stories have been embelished in the tradition of all sea-stories.

[Rotoman Profile YIM]

Pudrik-
I referenced my list as good war story books, not first person accounts. I realize that some of these are not completely non-fiction or first person. But all of them, in my opinion give a better feel of war without all the 'woe is me' crap that Crawford expounded.

You're right, if you in the military and not bitching about something, you're probably dead or drunk or really really dumb. That being said, I just didn't find anything compelling about this book. YMMV.

Referencing my list:
O'Brien's book does have some fictional stories in there and I was remiss not to note that. My apologies. Still one of the best war story books ever and well deserving of its multiple book awards.

Bowen's book is required reading for Marines and is excellent reference material for Close Quarters Combat in an Urban Environment. From personal experience he nailed this one. Check out the DVD (movie) for some great documentary material. Also the Philadelphia Enquirer's website on the same.

James Bradley's father was one of the flag raisers on Iwo Jima. More than a 'journalists' telling IMO.

I referenced Armor as sci-fi so obviously not non-fiction or first person.

To be completely accurate Red Badge of Courage is also a novelization by ironically a person who never fought in any battle yet it remains a landmark story of combat.

Finally,
Mugzy, I skimmed the War Letters book last night as well (the cover caught my eye). Its going on my Christmas list.

[PudriK Profile]

I realize those are all very good books. I just think a first person account has a certain interest as well. I guess I took more away from Crawford's book than just woe is me.

For example, one story revolves around the iraqi man who ran a fuel station they were assigned to guard. They ended up befriending him, they would trade food and porn, and he kept an eye out for them. The chapter concludes telling how after another company took over the station watch, the iraqi man put up too much of a fight when asked to come outside, and had his head shoved through the window of his store. Just one of those things that happens in war.

Another story is about cleaning up after some guys in a car took some pot-shots at a humvee. Two 50 cal rounds brought the car to a halt, one passing through (and disintegrating) the shooter's hip, and the other through his head and into the driver. Crawford describes the shooter, with half his head blown away, looking from him, to the other soldiers, muttering something, before passing away. Later, flicking a piece of the guy's brain off his boot with the handle of his MRE spoon.

Anyway, I need to read Bowen's book sometime. I'm not surprised it has very good details, since a journalist is more likely to add that sort of material. But it's like the difference between reading "A Perfect Storm" and talking to one of the Coasties or ANG guys who performed the rescues.

I'm reminded now that the pilot who was prisoner, can't recall his name, has a book, too. Flying with Heroes, or something like that. Prob worth checking out.

[Rotoman Profile YIM]

In the Company of Heroes - By Michael Durant.

Black Hawk Down is better.