Forum adverts like this one are shown to any user who is not logged in. Join us by filling out a tiny 3 field form and you will get your own, free, dakka user account which gives a good range of benefits to you: No adverts like this in the forums anymore. Times and dates in your local timezone. Full tracking of what you have read so you can skip to your first unread post, easily see what has changed since you last logged in, and easily see what is new at a glance. Email notifications for threads you want to watch closely. Being a part of the oldest wargaming community on the net. If you are already a member then feel free to login now.

Obviously, the above title speaks for itself.

Having ploughed through the early years of the American Republic ( I had no idea how much Andrew Jackson loathed Calhoun) I've now switched my attention back to military history, specifically, the recent Iraq invasion. Now, I know that some dakka members have served in Iraq, so your book recommendations will carry extra weight.

For my own part, the only book I've read on Iraq so far is Jim Fredrick's Black hearts. It's the story of a regiment of the 101st which served in 2005. Tragic tale, but a riveting read, which I would highly recommend.

Anyway, thanks for any replies.

 Do_I_Not_Like_That wrote:
Obviously, the above title speaks for itself.

Having ploughed through the early years of the American Republic ( I had no idea how much Andrew Jackson loathed Calhoun) I've now switched my attention back to military history, specifically, the recent Iraq invasion. Now, I know that some dakka members have served in Iraq, so your book recommendations will carry extra weight.

For my own part, the only book I've read on Iraq so far is Jim Fredrick's Black hearts. It's the story of a regiment of the 101st which served in 2005. Tragic tale, but a riveting read, which I would highly recommend.

Anyway, thanks for any replies.

Michael Yon is a great author (embedded with the troops):
http://www.amazon.com/gp/aag/main?ie=UTF8&seller=A14DFJ3Z1XS3GI

 whembly wrote:

 Do_I_Not_Like_That wrote:
Obviously, the above title speaks for itself.

Having ploughed through the early years of the American Republic ( I had no idea how much Andrew Jackson loathed Calhoun) I've now switched my attention back to military history, specifically, the recent Iraq invasion. Now, I know that some dakka members have served in Iraq, so your book recommendations will carry extra weight.

For my own part, the only book I've read on Iraq so far is Jim Fredrick's Black hearts. It's the story of a regiment of the 101st which served in 2005. Tragic tale, but a riveting read, which I would highly recommend.

Anyway, thanks for any replies.

Michael Yon is a great author (embedded with the troops):




http://www.amazon.com/gp/aag/main?ie=UTF8&seller=A14DFJ3Z1XS3GI

Added to the list.

Forgot to mention in OP. Is that drama series Generation Kill worth a look?

Men Who Stare At Goats

Not technically about the Iraq war, but they go to Iraq

 LordofHats wrote:
Men Who Stare At Goats

Not technically about the Iraq war, but they go to Iraq

It's comments like this that make me want to buy a rowing boat and head across the Atlantic to settle the score! Consider yourself lucky that your thousands of miles away and backed up by the world's most powerful military and grizzly bears and your right to carry firearms and the girl scouts of America...you get the idea!

Anyway, any recommendations? A student of history like yourself, has probably browsed through a few books on the subject.

Black Hearts depressed me greatly. I served two tours in Iraq and I'm a military historian, but so far I haven't read up much about it. Too soon for me perhaps.

 MWHistorian wrote:
Black Hearts depressed me greatly. I served two tours in Iraq and I'm a military historian, but so far I haven't read up much about it. Too soon for me perhaps.

Perfectly understandable.

My grandfather was the same. Never watched a war film for as long as I knew him and would always change channel if he came across one.

 Do_I_Not_Like_That wrote:
Anyway, any recommendations? A student of history like yourself, has probably browsed through a few books on the subject.

Honestly I got nothing. I'm sure there's lots of books but I'm not much of a contemporary historian kind of fellow XD

For film there's Hurt Locker and Green Mile, but the quality is questionable. I really can't think of any about the Iraq War that I think are good... Armadillo and Restrepo are both interesting but about the war in Afghanistan. Hm. A curious void of nothing here. TV tropes backs it up too when I go looking for a list of stuff with Iraq War in them. Apparently it's just not that abundant right now.

But TV Tropes did remind me of Generation Kill which is about the Iraq Invasion but... I won't say its bad but it's got its bias plastered over its face and loves headbutting you with it (there is the book and the TV series based on it). It was entertaining enough if you can get past the "look how terrible these Marines are, they're awful!"

 LordofHats wrote:

 Do_I_Not_Like_That wrote:
Anyway, any recommendations? A student of history like yourself, has probably browsed through a few books on the subject.

Honestly I got nothing. I'm sure there's lots of books but I'm not much of a contemporary historian kind of fellow XD

For film there's Hurt Locker and Green Mile, but the quality is questionable. I really can't think of any about the Iraq War that I think are good... Armadillo and Restrepo are both interesting but about the war in Afghanistan. Hm. A curious void of nothing here. TV tropes backs it up too when I go looking for a list of stuff with Iraq War in them. Apparently it's just not that abundant right now.

But TV Tropes did remind me of Generation Kill which is about the Iraq Invasion but... I won't say its bad but it's got its bias plastered over its face and loves headbutting you with it (there is the book and the TV series based on it).

I've seen the hurt locker - pretty good film. Still miffed that Guy Pearce gets killed early!

Another good book:
http://www.amazon.com/Hunt-Baghdad-Michael-J-Totten-ebook/dp/B0060E496G/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1409325931&sr=8-3&keywords=Michael+J.+Totten

I've been meaning to read this of his:
http://www.amazon.com/Where-West-Ends-Michael-Totten-ebook/dp/B008TIDGC4/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1409326188&sr=8-1&keywords=Where+the+West+Ends

EDITED: copy&paste was derpping me.

 whembly wrote:
Another good book:
http://www.amazon.com/Hunt-Baghdad-Michael-J-Totten-ebook/dp/B0060E496G/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1409325931&sr=8-3&keywords=Michael+J.+Totten

I've been meaning to read this of his:
http://www.amazon.com/Where-West-Ends-Michael-Totten-ebook/dp/B008TIDGC4/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1409326188&sr=8-1&keywords=Where+the+West+Ends

EDITED: copy&paste was derpping me.

I'll look into these links, later. I've got to head down to the post office before it closes!!

Not really about the war itself, but I really liked this book:

http://www.amazon.com/Making-Killing-Explosive-Story-Hired-ebook/dp/B00593JNMY/ref=sr_1_7?ie=UTF8&qid=1409326459&sr=8-7

I'm still waiting for a chance to read this:

http://www.amazon.com/Escape-Baghdad-First-Money-Personal-ebook/dp/B0031RS66E/ref=pd_sim_kstore_1?ie=UTF8&refRID=1B8MQE2WQMCCG34YE91B

I served two tours in Iraq with the US Army. I highly recommend Generation Kill ( series or book) and a book called House to House... Can't remember the author.


Automatically Appended Next Post:
Avoid Green Zone and Hurt Locker like the plague.

'Dusty Warriors' by Richard Holmes is an excellent account of the Princess of Wales Royal Regiment when they carried out their first tour of Iraq. If you fancy a more personal account then 'Sniper One' by Dan Mills should do the trick - he was a sniper with the PWRR during the tour covered by Dusty Warriors.

 Inquisitor Gonzo wrote:
'Dusty Warriors' by Richard Holmes is an excellent account of the Princess of Wales Royal Regiment when they carried out their first tour of Iraq. If you fancy a more personal account then 'Sniper One' by Dan Mills should do the trick - he was a sniper with the PWRR during the tour covered by Dusty Warriors.

Didn't Richard Holmes die?

Don't get me wrong, he's a great author (his Wellington biography is good) but I'm pretty sure Holmes died before the Iraq invasion.

Different Richard Holmes. Yeah I know right? It's like the first one died and the new one rose to carry the mantle (Except apparently the other one is still alive XD)

 LordofHats wrote:
Different Richard Holmes. Yeah I know right? It's like the first one died and the new one rose to carry the mantle (Except apparently the other one is still alive XD)

Nobody likes a smart-ass!

Anyway, keep those recommendations rolling in, please.

 Musashi363 wrote:
I served two tours in Iraq with the US Army. I highly recommend Generation Kill ( series or book) and a book called House to House... Can't remember the author.

I'll back this up (on Generation Kill). The series is excellent. After Alexander Skarsgard's fantastic performance in it, it's clear why he was given a leading role again in True Blood.

 gunslingerpro wrote:

 Musashi363 wrote:
I served two tours in Iraq with the US Army. I highly recommend Generation Kill ( series or book) and a book called House to House... Can't remember the author.

I'll back this up (on Generation Kill). The series is excellent. After Alexander Skarsgard's fantastic performance in it, it's clear why he was given a leading role again in True Blood.

Yeah, I'm definitely snapping this up, especially as it's only 13 quid on Amazon with free delivery as well. Result!

Yes Generation Kill is excellent, though it does go a bit OTT on the officer bashing showing most to be completely out of their depth. The book is also worth a read.

However it represents how my officers were. They were that incompetent and over their heads, which is why Generation Kill hits home for me. Glad to hear yours weren't as bad.

The only one I have read is by an ex-marine sniper and I think it may have dealt with the first Gulf War anyway. I can't remember the name.

I enjoyed The Hurt Locker (film).

Three Kings (film) is well regarded -- it is set in the first Gulf War though.

Got a buddy who was in the sandbox at the outset and then went back when he got reactivated; asked him about it a few times and he eventually just told me to watch Generation Kill.

As per him it's the most realistic of the representations out there, he wasn't a Marine, but apparently there's not a whole lot of difference in how things were portrayed.

I watched Jarhead yesterday, the film of the above mentioned book by the ex marine sniper. It is the first Gulf War, but I think a great film, far better than anything else I've seen covering those events. Well, Three Kings is good, but I don't think it necessarily intersects with reality that much.

I also recommend the documentary Restrepo. It's about Afghanistan, but there are many similarities.

Aye, I too back Generation Kill (the TV series).

 LuciusAR wrote:
Yes Generation Kill is excellent, though it does go a bit OTT on the officer bashing showing most to be completely out of their depth. The book is also worth a read.

I would definitely recommend both the book and the series Generation Kill,but with that, I would also recommend the book One Bullet Away by Nathaniel Fick. He's one of the platoon commanders in Generation Kill, so it's very interesting and worthwhile to get a different perspective on some of the same events.

Another good book is Joker One, by Donovan Campbell. It's about a Marine rifle platoon in Ramadi around 2005, one of the most dangerous parts of Iraq at the time.

Someone else mentioned House to House by David Bellavia, I agree that it's worth a read.

Wag the Dog

Hurt Locker is pretty terrible. It's been a while since I saw it, but if I remember my problem is that it has people acting less like soldiers would actually act than any other war film I've ever seen. Top to bottom. As far as I recall I have never heard any real praise for it from anyone who was actually in. It's exceptionally Hollywood.
Generation Kill was pretty solid, and they aren't overselling the incompetent officers angle. Our company commander got us lost in downtown Baghdad in Julyish of '03 because she couldn't read a map, and just had us drive around in circles looking for roadsigns she'd recognize. After the fourth time we passed an MP checkpoint they finally pulled her over and asked why the hell she was trying to get her troops killed.

Go to youtube and check out all the fake 1991 invasion footage from CNN where they dodge scuds in Saudi Arabia in front of a blue screen in Atlanta. It led to the movie 'Wag the Dog' with Dustin Hoffman.

Edited to say

Blast you TheMeanDM for thinking of what I thought of hours before I did.