Surviving Iraq: Soldiers' Stories

By FAR the best of the Iraq books I've read recently. They are anecdotal accounts from various military members and their times in theater and when they got home. There was a definite anti-war slant to the overall book but there were many pro-war quotes too. While I think the interviews were definitely "led" in a way, there were a variety of opinions from the various service members. Obviously they conflicted between the various people, but were presented honestly. There was also a pretty good variety of soldiers, from barely 18 to late 50's I think, some educated, some straight from high school, etc. More later.

Ruff's War: A Navy Nurse On the Frontline of Iraq

The title is something of a misnomer. The book is less about the front lines of Iraq and more a biography of Ruff. Not to say it's a bad book. I learned interesting factoids about the Navy itself (about which I know next to nothing), and I appreciated this lady's very organized lifestyle. It is almost painfully optimistic; every hardship she has she sees the silver lining of. And her whole life seems very clear and purposeful. I really liked the image that came across from her. And the writing style, on the whole, was refreshing and light and clear. All good points.

However, once the lady actually deploys to Iraq, I find it a bit confusing. She doesn't, well, do a whole lot. She is there for something like two months before coming home, and from what it sounds like, most of that was spent without having much of a job to do. She had a few nursing duties but it seems like it was only sporadically.

I don't think she went too much into detail about the "hardships of Iraq" as one Amazon reviewer wrote. I don't think she was necessarily complaining, more like describing the conditions to someone who has never experienced it before. I think she did a commendable job overall with the book, despite those few sticking points.

Also, I found it odd how the lady mentions tons of friendships and family members but not ONE romantic interest in her entire life? Not even in passing? Hmm, how odd. It's an interesting thing to leave out altogether from a biography (of sorts).

Love My Rifle More Than You

Where to start with this one. I liked this book, and I didn't. First of all, of all the military books I've read to date, this is the one that I had the most in common with the author. Her pre-military story I could identify with to a great degree. Growing up on the fringe, domestic chaos, a little of this, a little of that. Having firsthand friendships with Arabic people. Literature major in college, even down to her choice of linguist as an MOS. When I went to the recruiter's office when I was 18 and again when I was 21, both times I went in with questions about becoming a linguist. So there was all that. And the personality of trying to "be one of the guys" but not quite getting it right. So I could identify with her a lot.

On the other hand, there was a lot that I couldn't identify with. I never had the anti-authoritarian streak, or a desire to prove superiors wrong. A large portion of the book she spends writing about how the people she worked with sucked. I probably would think similar things to myself but I don't know if I would write a book and name names like she did. I also was a little cynical that she kept referring to the one guy who bled out in front of her. Yes, it's terrible, and sad, but the number of times she referred back to it was just surprising. I know it's a different situation but - and let's take this out of a military setting altogether - emergency providers like nurses and doctors and ambulance drivers etc watch people die every day. So it's not altogether unusual or unheard of. It happens. I understand it affected her greatly and it's certainly worth mentioning, but for her to keep bringing it up, it kinda rubbed me the wrong way.

I suppose what I got out of this book for the most part was that she brought unique details into the book. Little things, like describing the various plants in Iraq, or how ugly the skirts were that locals tried to sell to her. The book was far from dry, and gave bits of insight into Iraq. It's not the only book to have those, sure, all those little poignant details that seem so significant and stay with you. It's not even war that has those moments. D always talks about how there's always that one stupid poster in the doctor's waiting room that you keep staring at while waiting for the doctor to return with your chart. Or I remember watching this little red ribbon tied to a lamp-post one day while I was waiting for the bus back in Buffalo. Little things that are strangely significant. This book has plenty of those.

And there were a few things that I really did get out of it. She praised the infantry a lot, which made me all the more proud of D. And then she talked about how angry she felt back in the States when people cut her off. D always gets upset (to put this mildly) when that happens, and I knew *why* it upset him, but this book helped me see it even better. A little detail about how you're not supposed to let people cut in front of you in convoys. I'm not sure how or why I feel I understand about that a bit more. But I do. Anyway. And the part about how emotional it was for her to "cross the berm" - I wish I could have known what it was like for D when he did. I never really thought about that part. I always thought it must have been emotional for him to get off the plane home, and I'm sure it was, but apparently crossing the berm is a big deal too. Anyway. Things like that. And I'm sure the one quote that will stay with me (paraphrased) is "I found it very strange that I fought and was willing to die for these people who wear sweatshirts with glittery kittens on them." Strangely poignant.

Rule Number Two: Lessons I Learned in a Combat Hospital

Despite the fact that this too is not quite the type of Army experience I was looking to read about, I really loved all the details put into the story. She is older (comparatively, mind) and higher-ranked, and works with medical teams, providing mental health services. I loved the part where she said she would really miss hearing "Hooah, Ma'am" every morning. She also had twins that were Minion's current age when she left. It's hard to imagine what it would be like to leave your babies behind, but she had a great support group at home who believed in her mission. Of course, her pain at leaving them is obvious. And as the book goes on, you get a great insight into how she became so emotionally numb to everything, as well as an interesting bit of anecdotes as to what happened once she was back home in the "real" world. This book, I guess, is another piece of the puzzle.

Band Of Sisters: American Women at War in Iraq

It's pretty inspiring. I think I was slightly disappointed because it talked about a lot of different women in a lot of different jobs and different branches of the military, when really I am more or less interested in Army experiences, and more so what happened on the ground vs up in the air. There were a few biographies that I was really starting to get into, only to have the author move on to another lady. But still, I think the women portrayed in the book are pretty awe-inspiring; the story that stood out to me the most was the piece on Marine Lance Corporal Chrissy DeCaprio.

DVD: Sniper School

I definitely wanted to see this considering it was filmed at Fort Benning. I didn't get to see too much of the base; most of it took place in the woods and such, but it was nonetheless interesting and informative. Even apart from the pure physical challenges of it, I know I could never be a sniper - way too complicated, math and such. I've got a lot of respect for whoever makes it through that school. My husband got a kick of watching the guys being put through the various flutter kicks and such.