| Category: | Books |
| Genre: | Nonfiction |
| Author: | Jeremiah Workman w/ John Bruning |
I believe the best way to start this review is tell you what this book isn't. What you won't find in this book is a Marine whining about how much he hates the Corps and how bad everything is all the time. Swofford covered that in his cry-baby book "Jarhead". No bitching and moaning here.
You also will not find a Marine who talks about how great he is and how he is a one-man insurgent killing machine. Martinez took care of that in his self-celebrating rag "Hard Corps". No, none of that tripe in this book.
You also will not find a Marine who talks about how great he is and how he is a one-man insurgent killing machine. Martinez took care of that in his self-celebrating rag "Hard Corps". No, none of that tripe in this book.
What you will get in this book is an honest look at war, up close, personal, and very dirty. Much like "House To House", the excellent account of Fallujah by David Bellavia, this book tells it like it is. No glory, no enhancements. And anyone who has been in harms way will tell you, there is no need to embellish because the raw truth is enough.
The battlefield action in this book takes place over the course of three hours on 23 DEC 2004. On that day, during mop-up operations in the city of Fallujah, Workman and his squad, literally, walked into the wrong house at the wrong time. What followed is three hours of hell, plain and simple. I will not give away any of the story, but suffice it to say that the action will keep you turning the pages.
But the best part of this book takes place 8000 miles from the battlefields of Iraq. Make no mistake, it is a battlefield none the less. What Workman has done is to bring light on a subject that is far too often ignored or dismissed; Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. Workman lays bare his soul and details his own battle with PTSD, from flashbacks to self-medicating, marital stress and career issues, to final acceptance of his condition and his drive to heal. Workman makes no attempt to gloss things over or even make the reader feel sorry for him. He does not want your pity. What he wants is people to realize PTSD is real, and if untreated, it can kill you just like an Iraqi sniper or an IED.
The book does a wonderful job of alternating between Iraq and the states. Just when you get to a point were you can't wait to see what happens next, you are ripped away to another time, another place, another battle. And in many ways, this mirrors Workman's own struggle with PTSD. One minute home, stateside, safe. Then without warning, some small trigger, as small as a blade of grass, will send his mind half way around the globe into a world of violence, pain, and death.
As mentioned in a previous article, Workman was awarded the Navy Cross for his actions that day. He has taken that award and the status (baggage?) that goes with it and attempted to use that to bring attention to the issue of PTSD. What he basically says is "Hey, look at me. The Marines Corps say's I am a hero, and I need help. I'm no better than you". Thousands of miles and years removed from battle, and Workman is still trying to help his fellow Warriors.
I have already mentioned what this book isn't. But one of the things this book is may surprise you. It is,
among other things, a love story. It is a story about a young man who loves his wife and son. The story of a Marine who loves his country and Corps. And it is the story of a grunt who loves his fellow grunts. And there is no stronger, deeper love than grunt love.
This book will be released on 25 AUG 2009. I was privileged enough to be sent an advanced copy as I happen to be lucky enough to be a close friend of the author. You can pre-order this title on amazon.com by following this link.
The battlefield action in this book takes place over the course of three hours on 23 DEC 2004. On that day, during mop-up operations in the city of Fallujah, Workman and his squad, literally, walked into the wrong house at the wrong time. What followed is three hours of hell, plain and simple. I will not give away any of the story, but suffice it to say that the action will keep you turning the pages.
But the best part of this book takes place 8000 miles from the battlefields of Iraq. Make no mistake, it is a battlefield none the less. What Workman has done is to bring light on a subject that is far too often ignored or dismissed; Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. Workman lays bare his soul and details his own battle with PTSD, from flashbacks to self-medicating, marital stress and career issues, to final acceptance of his condition and his drive to heal. Workman makes no attempt to gloss things over or even make the reader feel sorry for him. He does not want your pity. What he wants is people to realize PTSD is real, and if untreated, it can kill you just like an Iraqi sniper or an IED.
The book does a wonderful job of alternating between Iraq and the states. Just when you get to a point were you can't wait to see what happens next, you are ripped away to another time, another place, another battle. And in many ways, this mirrors Workman's own struggle with PTSD. One minute home, stateside, safe. Then without warning, some small trigger, as small as a blade of grass, will send his mind half way around the globe into a world of violence, pain, and death.
As mentioned in a previous article, Workman was awarded the Navy Cross for his actions that day. He has taken that award and the status (baggage?) that goes with it and attempted to use that to bring attention to the issue of PTSD. What he basically says is "Hey, look at me. The Marines Corps say's I am a hero, and I need help. I'm no better than you". Thousands of miles and years removed from battle, and Workman is still trying to help his fellow Warriors.
I have already mentioned what this book isn't. But one of the things this book is may surprise you. It is,
This book will be released on 25 AUG 2009. I was privileged enough to be sent an advanced copy as I happen to be lucky enough to be a close friend of the author. You can pre-order this title on amazon.com by following this link.
More about SSgt Workman here and his actions: http://waronterrornews.typepad.com/home/2008/12/ssgt-jeremiah-workman-navy-cross-usmc-iraq-marion-oh.html
Stumble It!
