I read two books about troops in Afghanistan this week, one being
"Outlaw Platoon: Heroes, Renegades, Infidels, and the Brotherhood of War in Afghanistan", by Sean Parnell, and the other being "Billy Lynn's Long Halftime Walk", by Ben Fountain. While the two are not meant to be related, what they have in common is a story about bravery under fire by our troops in Afghanistan and Iraq and the close brotherhood developed by the men who depend so much on each other. Additionally, and the reason I mention both books together, I think both books also give us an appreciation as to how hard it is for the pubic to appreciate what they go through and do, in one case while deployed, and in the other case, even while home on leave.
"Outlaw Platoon focuses on one Special Forces platoon in Afghanistan, and in particular the platoon's leader, Lt. Sean Parnell. He tells a powerful story of what it's like being deployed in the war zone, and the intensity of several of the battles they experienced. It's a very power account of the hardship the troops endure. Short of actually being deployed, it gives the reader insights into the physical and mental stresses the frontline troops have to face, and it's a story too few in the public seem to appreciate.

The second book, "Billy Lynn's Long Halftime Walk, by Ben Fountain, is a fictional account of a similar platoon, but this story picks up after the battles are fought, and describes their story while on a brief home leave from the war. After reading the true account of the "Outlaw Platoon", and then "Billy Lynn's Long Halftime Walk", these before-and-after-the-battle stories really drove home the point of how remote the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq are from the lives of most Americans, and how little most of the public truly appreciate and understand the war effort. In this second book, Silver Star recipient Billy Lynn and his squad are home on a good will tour after their heroic efforts in the war, and are guests of the Dallas Cowboys for a football game. This story seems to drive home the point that the general public genuinely wants to appreciate the sacrifice of the servicemen, but these wars are just so far removed from our reality, it can just prevent the public and the troops from truly connecting.
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A good account of a platoon from 10th Mountain on the border between Afghanistan and Pakistan. There is an excellent narrative arc of the young and first-combat-tour Lieutenant and how he and his men learn about the reality of that area of operations. One striking detail was how different this deployment was vs. a previous deployment of one of his soldiers (where nothing happened); this deployment had a fair amount of action and less than ideal conditions and support. This isn't one of the absolute best memoirs of the war in Afghanistan, but was very good, and seemed to stick to facts without a lot of politicizing or angst, so it's going to be a solid historical source in the future. ( )

A special book. Once in a while I'd like to read/listen to a military memoir. It's hard to explain but these books lift my spirit - our brave men and women. Thank you for what you do. ( )

Outstanding ( )

A top-notch book on infantry operations in the Afghan War. Very intense, harrowing and very human. ( )