This is the personal side of battle, where emotion, courage, and strength are stretched to the limits.
Bringing to searing life the terrifying intimacy of hand-to-hand infantry combat, House to House is far more than just another war story—it is one of the most compelling combat narratives ever written. Populated by an indelibly drawn cast of characters, it develops the intensely close relationships that form between soldiers under fire. Their friendships, tested in brutal combat, would never be quite the same. What happened to them in their bloody embrace with America’s most implacable enemy is a harrowing, unforgettable story of triumph, tragedy, and the resiliency of the human spirit.
Staff Sergeant David Bellavia, army infantry platoon leader, gives a teeth-rattling, first-hand account of eleven straight days of heavy house-to-house fighting during the climactic second battle of Fallujah. His actions in the firefight, which included killing five insurgents in hand-to-hand combat, earned Bellavia the Bronze Star, the Silver Star, and New York state’s highest military honor, the Conspicuous Service Cross. He has been nominated for the Medal of Honor and for the army’s second highest combat medal, the Distinguished Service Cross.
Download and start listening now!
"This was a really difficult book to get through - first because I am not a military person, so struggling to understand the acronyms, the jargon and the general military mindset was such a foreign experience. Secondly, this was a graphic book, and the content itself was difficult to wade through. But it was worth it. There is so much out now about the Iraq war and the soldiers, and the politics, and the foreign policy matters....that it's certainly easy to tune out. But this book is so gritty and earthy that you are forced to confront all of the stuff that we generally would rather not. It's horrific what soldiers do/are asked to do for their country (on both sides) and what they have to tell themselves in order to do it. This book will make you think and hopefully will provoke some thoughtful discussions among friends and family."
—
Jennifer (4 out of 5 stars)