American War Correspondent's Firsthand Account of the Iraq War

Author: (USA) Evan Wright
Translator: Qi Aihong, Liang Jun
Country: United States
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2006-07-01
Features: This book depicts a vivid picture of young soldiers in modern warfare using a documentary style similar to Black Hawk Down and Jarhead. A Marine's Iraq War Diary is a thought-provoking non-fiction work that follows the combat actions of 23 Marines from the sharpshooter platoon of the U.S. Marine Corps Reconnaissance Battalion during the lightning strike on Iraq. The author, Evan Wright, lived with this group for two months, witnessing frequent battles and never leaving their forefront. For 30 consecutive days, they participated in intense combat almost every day. Wright was warmly welcomed by them—even receiving a gun from them. From a higher perspective, he narrates an unsettling story: these young men were trained by their own country to become ruthless killers. He describes the physical, moral, emotional, and spiritual trials of these Marines, including their experiences of victory and fear. Wright's book, much like Michael Herr's Dispatches and Stephen Ambrose's Band of Brothers, captures a generation: there is the professional soldier Corporal Colbert, who upholds the bond of camaraderie; Trambull, who transforms from a timid man to one who tastes the thrill of killing; Fick, a college-educated lieutenant who challenges the company commander but deeply trusts his subordinates; and the company commander, "Captain America," who is arrogant, uncontrollable, and later faces war crimes charges. This is a brilliant piece of journalistic writing, richer in content than many reports from the front lines we have read, making us feel as if we are there—strong realism. Every page of this book radiates the intense atmosphere of war—uncertainty, excitement, exhaustion, fear, and the omnipresent death. A Marine's Iraq War Diary undoubtedly becomes a classic, taking its place among the most moving and authentic works of war literature.