The platoon included four pairs of best friends. Each of the four would lose a best friend forever.
Five months after being deployed to Iraq, Lima Company’s First Platoon became one of the first American forces to enter Fallujah, where they encountered some of the most intense hand-to-hand combat since World War II. Civilians were used as human shields or as bait to lure soldiers into buildings rigged with explosives; suicide bombers approached from every corner hoping to die and take Americans with them; radical insurgents, high on adrenaline, fought to the death. Award-winning author and historian Patrick O’Donnell stood shoulder to shoulder with Lima Company’s First Platoon as they fought through the streets of Fallujah, their casualties mounting. This is their story.
Download and start listening now!
"A gripping,no holds barred view of combat, sometimes face to face, and death in a combat zone. A friends death happens so fast and so unexpectedly. A great story of comaraderie and strength. Esprit de Corps!" — James (5 out of 5 stars)
"A gripping,no holds barred view of combat, sometimes face to face, and death in a combat zone. A friends death happens so fast and so unexpectedly. A great story of comaraderie and strength. Esprit de Corps!"
“[O’Donnell’s] most important accomplishment among many is to put a human face on the troopsRead O’Donnell’s excellent book and you will know that they are indeed, as were each preceding generation, ‘The Greatest.’”
“[O’Donnell] introduces the reader to the real world of combat…his fierce joy at a successful action and deep grief at the Marine casualties come through to the reader in vivid form. This is one of the finest accounts of infantry action that has been published in a very long time…Combat veterans have always known that civilian family and friends can never understand nor appreciate the experiences they have gone through. This unforgettable book, however, goes a long way toward helping.”
" One star because this book fucked me up. I couldn't finish it and since then I refuse to pick up a book like it. I think civilians should read this but having been to Iraq I can't do it. No way. Ya'll have fun but this book broke my heart and kicked me in the balls repeatedly. "
" This gave a good description of day to day urban combat and what the Marines went through. "
" this is a very good book it tells how just a few guys turn into a band of brothers "
" Interesting and thought provoking. Emotionally charged. Well worth the time to read. "
" This book was about 3/1 Lima Company. Although my son is with Kilo Company I know many of the Marines in this book and could follow along with what my son did also. Very well written. "
" an oral history by an historian who was embedded with the marines in the fight for fallujah. an interesting book and well-written. "
" It should be required reading for all Americans, especially politicians "
" A very intense, but insightful look at the battle for Fallujah, and the sacrifices by the Marines who fought it. Takes you where the TV coverage didn't. This is a VERY intense book, but worth the read. "
" Great account of what happened at Fallujah. After reading this one will find it hard to think less of any ground unit that served in Iraq and Afghanistan either Army or Marines. "
" Great story, follows Nathan Wood's company. Nathan is in chapter 4. Cried for 2 days after I finished reading this. Very powerful, and informative. "
" The challenge in the forward of this book is for the reader to decide if the Marines in the book are the next "Greatest Generation". They are. Without question. Semper fi. "
Patrick K. O’Donnell is a bestselling military historian and the critically acclaimed author of numerous books, including Beyond Valor, Dog Company, and First SEALs. He has provided historical consulting for DreamWorks’ award-winning miniseries Band of Brothers and for documentaries produced by the BBC, the History Channel, and Fox News. He lives in Arlington, Virginia.
Richard Powers has published thirteen novels. He is a MacArthur Fellow and received the National Book Award. His book, The Overstory, won the Pulitzer Prize in Fiction.
Audiobooks Were Restored to Your Cart
[ShoppingCartItemsAddedOnMerge] audiobook(s) were left in your cart from a previous visit, and saved to your account for your convenience. You may view or remove these audiobooks on the shopping cart page.