Clinton Romesha

Instead of reading this battle memoir I listened to the audio version which brought the noise of battle and blood to my ears on each morning I listened to it.

I am not a frequent reader of such books. But this one really had me hanging on every chapter.

In addition to the raw drama memorialized here, I found myself quaking at the sheer enormity of the machines of death that found their way into these pages: the high caliber guns, rocket-propelled grenades, drone bombers and reconnaissance, show more helicopter gun ships, F-15 fighter jets, even B1 bombers enlisted to scrub the hiding places where Taliban launched their deadly assault on a remote outpost in Afghanistan.

The author gave his enemies their due: they were well led, pretty well armed, and attacked as they had been trained. But once word of the attack got out and the rest of the American military complex enjoined the battle the only question was how many of the original defenders would survive.

Presumably, the Taliban’s objective was to rid themselves of these meddlesome Americans. Ironically, if they had waited another week the Americans had concluded that the base was almost completely indefensible and were planning to leave on their own.

The battle was really, completely, unnecessary. So much pain and suffering and gruesome murder for nothing. show less

If anyone wonders what it is like to truly be in a battle for one’s life, this is the book for you. Medal of Honor recipient Clinton Romesha brings the reader into what it was like when Command Outpost Keating in Afghanistan came under attack where they were both outnumbered and outgunned by Taliban fighters in one of the most organized attacks ever put into play by our enemy. Romesha brings the reader right into actual combat describing almost by the minute what everyone involved was show more thinking and doing as the battle progressed. The courage and skills that these young men brought out in themselves and each other is a testament to what is right with our country. However, the simple fact that can’t be ignored is the sheer stupidity of building this outpost where it was. It was in a valley surrounded by high mountains on all sides. It was accessible by only one road deemed too dangerous to navigate so all deliveries had to be done by air. Making these air deliveries almost impossible were the mountains hiding offensive weapons that could easily bring down helicopters when properly placed and the other fact that the landing zone was across a river, making it had to defend from attacks from above. Even I know that the advantage in a military attack goes to the ones on higher ground, so why the “brilliant” strategists thought to build a post in such a virtually indefensible and remote place would result in anything but a bloodbath is beyond my comprehension. Therefore, while I admire and respect the men who fought so valiantly that day against almost insurmountable odds, especially those who gave up their lives in defense of COP Keating, I am also both amazed and horrified by those military leaders who put them in the position of having to do so. show less

Absolutely outstanding on all levels - as a military study, as a depiction of the humor, boredom, horror, and exultation of the combat soldier, as a human face to suffering and loss, as a snapshot of the successes and failures of the GWOT as it was instantiated by a small fire base in Afghanistan in late 2009. Highest recommendation. It’s just an excellent book.

The author is a Medal of Honor recipient for a battle to hold a useless outpost in Afghanistan. He is not experienced author but he has put together one of the most penetrating books on battle that I've ever read. He starts out by describing the principle players in everyday language. and then he doesn't just describe the battle, he actually puts the reader into the action He allows the reader to cry out against incompetence, missed opportunities and just plain bad luck. A certain fatalism show more seems to pervade the whole narrative yet it is also clear no one wants to die. Without articulating it, he clearly would support the idea that soldiers do not die for liberty, country or patriotism; rather he makes it clear they are devoted first to each other and then all the other things for which human beings fight in battles. In that regard, this is almost a text book. Still, there is also the blood and gore of savaged bodies. show less