It is difficult to review this book. The text is written in a functional way and grants us the privilege to delve into the mind of a young Marine officer facing his own doubts, hesitations and mistakes in Iraq.
Do we review it for the style, the story, the information about the situation in Iraq, do we rate it for the work achieved by these men and their lieutenant?
I do not have a definitive answer to these questions however I learned something reading it and it will be the basis for my rating:
a) It is very clear that it is always the same story of teenagers commanded by one other teenager barely older to fight a war for older men and people going to the mall. They make the same mistakes and bear the same scars as those gone under the uniform before them.
b) These young men have to pay in blood the shortcomings of the leadership which appears clueless as how to manage the post invasion of Iraq. They basically stay around, get shot at, get blown to bits and shoot insurgents. That's what they are asked to do and they do it.
Is it a good book? I didn't find it thrilling, or elating, or even instructive from a military perspective. However, the self-sacrifice of these men can only call for a big thanks. Thanks to Lt. Campbell and his men, for their service, and a precious testimony of a story that needed to be told.
thank you
Get more detail about Joker One: A Marine Platoon's Story of Courage, Leadership, and Brotherhood.
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