A riveting, edge-of-your seat account of how a battalion of Marines faced off against the most brutal of Al Qaeda at its most desperate and vicious moment--and how the Marines decisively crushed the terrorists
When the 2nd Battalion of the 3rd Marine Regiment ("2/3") arrived in the little-known "Haditha Triad" region of western Iraq's Al Anbar Province in September of 2006, the region exploded in a storm of terrorist violence. The most battle-hardened of Al Qaeda had fled to the Triad, and, taking their last, desperate gasps for survival after years of bloody war, lashed out at the battalion with everything they could muster. The Marines sent into this firestorm of violence immediately lunged into a complex, double-edged mission: crush Al Qaeda and help the locals rebuild their terrorist-smashed lives and homes. After months of grueling, fearsome battle--and the loss of twenty-three of their ranks--the warriors of 2/3 stood tall in victory. This is their incredible story.
Warriors of Anbar is one of the greatest untold stories of modern war, one of grit, incredible courage, and utmost sacrifice. It is a story that illustrates the U.S. Marine Corps at its very finest.
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"The Warriors of Anbar is a story of unmatched bravery and sacrifices and horrors which led to America's victory against AQI...This informed account of America's recent military history is meticulously researched and beautifully written. Ed Darack is veritably a superb military historian...The Warriors of Anbar is as engrossing as a war novel can be, although it is a true and scholarly story. Both students and experts of war on terror will find it full of new insights and perspectives."—TheWashington Book Review"
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Darack succeeds in putting together a coherent military history of a crucial conflict with al-Qaeda, passing along important lessons learned....Students of military history and military servicemembers looking for lessons in asymmetrical warfare will find this account illuminating and informative.
— Publishers WeeklyThe Warriors of Anbar is a classic story of perseverance, deceit, frustration, ambition, loss and the search for meaning. By laying bare the tough truths, Ed Darack details how it really was in Iraq. Every time the battalion was hit, someone found a way to strike back. These thousand Marines refused to quit or to strike out in blind anger. Even when some at the top failed, the battalion improvised, absorbed punishment, adapted from beatings and hammered forward by unexpected means. This is a classic story of grit, loss and redemption.
— Bing West, former assistant secretary of defense, and an award-winning, New York Times bestselling authorEd Darack earned the right to tell this riveting tale the hard way, by embedding with the Marines. The Warriors of Anbar puts you right in the middle of one of the toughest, bloodiest and most vicious fights of the Iraq war.
— Sean Naylor, New York Times bestselling author of Relentless Strike and award-winning reporter for Foreign PolicyThe Warriors of Anbar is one of those intimate stories that is often lost when the sacrifices of the military are overshadowed by bad decisions and politics. Ed Darack skillfully reports the story of everyday Marines trying to complete an impossible mission.
— Kevin Maurer, award-winning journalist and the bestselling co-author of No Easy DayFrom his two previous books, Victory Point to The Final Mission of Extortion 17, Ed Darack has emerged as one the best, and most meticulous, reporters about the military in the country. Anything he writes is a must read.
— R.M. Schneiderman, former deputy editor of NewsweekOne of the U.S. Marine Corps' finest-yet largely untold-stories.... A very human story of 'bravery, sacrifice, incredible hardship, horror, and ultimate victory.'
— Kirkus ReviewsBe the first to write a review about this audiobook!
Ed Darack has authored four previous books, including Victory Point, which documents two historically pivotal military operations in eastern Afghanistan. It was chosen as a Book of the Year by the United States Naval Institute. Darack is the author of numerous articles on military issues for such publications as Smithsonian Air and Space, the Marine Corps Gazette, and Proceedings of the Naval Institute Press, among others. His photography has been used by National Geographic, Outside, the London Sunday Times, the BBC, Time, ABC, NBC, IBM, Volkswagen, and Bank of America, among many other editorial and corporate clients.
James Edward Thomas is a voice talent and audiobook narrator.