They Fought for Each Other
The Triumph and Tragedy of the Hardest Hit Unit in Iraq
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4.6 • 57 Ratings
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- $11.99
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- $11.99
Publisher Description
They Fought for Each Other presents a searing chronicle of the soldiers of Battalion 1-26 who confronted the worst neighborhood in Baghdad and lost more men than any battalion since the Vietnam War.
Based on "Blood Brothers," the award-nominated series that ran in Army Times, this is the remarkable story of a courageous military unit that sacrificed their lives to change Adhamiya, Iraq from a lawless town where insurgents roamed freely, to a safe and secure neighborhood.
Army Times writer Kelly Kennedy was embedded with Charlie Company in 2007, went on patrol with the soldiers and spent hours in combat support hospitals, leading to this riveting chronicle of an Army battalion that lost 31 soldiers in Iraq. During that period, one soldier threw himself on a grenade to save his friends, a well-liked first sergeant shot himself to death in front of his troops, and a platoon staged a mutiny. The men of Charlie 1-26 would earn at least 95 combat awards, including one soldier who would go home with three Purple Hearts and a lost dream. This is a timeless story of men at war and a heartbreaking account of American sacrifice in Iraq.
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
Journalist and former soldier Kennedy makes a solid contribution to a growing body of frontline reportage from Iraq in this account based on her series of articles in Army Times. The book tells the story of a rifle company's fight against long odds in a Baghdad neighborhood. Adhamiya was No One's Land, a place of random violence dominated by insurgents and criminals. The 1/26th Infantry did 15 months there, took more casualties than any U.S. battalion since Vietnam, and completed its tour with at least a simulacrum of civil order restored. Kennedy's account of Adhamiya's costs to Charlie Company is shaped by her own military service in Desert Storm. Urban combat, counterinsurgency, and civic action combined in a toxic brew that made mental health injuries more prevalent than physical ones. But to endure the fears, nightmares and grief, men had to look out for each other. That mutual caring brought Charlie Company through. It gives Kennedy her title, informs her work, and above all reaffirms the scars war leaves on those who fight. 8 pages of b&w photos.
Customer Reviews
A great tribute to extraordinary soldiers
Having been in Iraq myself and knowing the areas that are discussed, this is quite a detailed book that sent me on a trail of memories of my own experiences. Veteran and civilians alike need to read this, as I feel it is a great tribute to those who have given their all.
Proud
My cousin is in this book and not all is accurate but without a doubt I thank everyone for their service. Disappointed that no photos were included like the actual hard copy. I had to purchase it from amazon to see the photos.
This was a little hard to follow (kinda badly written) and disappointed that the author did not list or thank each and every soldier in this unit. However I gave 4 stars because it got the story out even if it was not all the way it exactly happened.
Good concept, a difficult story line to follow
Very good at taking you there, to understand the conditions of battle... the limitations imposed on the troops. Very hard to follow the sequence of events and the aftermath effects.