Walk in My Combat Boots
True Stories from America's Bravest Warriors
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4.3 • 189 Ratings
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- $9.99
Publisher Description
Discover true stories of the silent heros that live among us with these moving and powerful recollections of war, told by the men and women who lived them.
“The stories America needs to hear” —Admiral William H. McRaven, US Navy (Ret.)
Walk in my Combat Boots is a powerful collection crafted from hundreds of original interviews by James Patterson, the world’s #1 bestselling writer, and First Sergeant US Army (Ret.) Matt Eversmann, part of the Ranger unit portrayed in the movie Black Hawk Down.
These are the brutally honest stories usually only shared amongst comrades in arms. Here, in the voices of the men and women who’ve fought overseas from Vietnam to Iraq and Afghanistan, is a rare eye-opening look into what wearing the uniform, fighting in combat, losing friends and coming home is really like. Readers who next thank a military member for their service will finally have a true understanding of what that thanks is for.
APPLE BOOKS REVIEW
If you haven’t served in the military, it can be hard to understand the experience. In this moving anthology, former Army Ranger Matt Eversmann (whose own story was turned into the war film Black Hawk Down) and best-selling author James Patterson collect the incredible first-person accounts of military members past and present. Through dozens of personal interviews, we get an eye-opening look at what it really means to serve your country, both before and after the bullets start flying. Some stories will inspire, like Lisa Bodenburg’s relentless quest to become a gunner in the marines. Others are downright jaw-dropping, like the high-ranking dentist who had a conversation with Saddam Hussein while working on the captured dictator’s broken tooth. Some are laugh-out-loud hilarious, while others are sobering reminders of the human costs of warfare. In another age, historians would piece together these stories through letters home. Walk in My Combat Boots makes it easy to appreciate the personal sacrifices and victories of service members.
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
Bestseller Patterson (Deadly Cross) and retired U.S. Army Ranger Eversmann gather firsthand accounts from veterans, most of whom served in Iraq or Afghanistan, to deliver a vivid and authentic portrait of life in the modern military. Many of the soldiers profiled are children of career military men and were spurred into action by the 9/11 terrorist attacks. Their specialties range from helicopter door gunner to dentist (Maj. Gen. Ron Silverman fixed Saddam Hussein's broken tooth after he was captured in 2003). Recurring themes include the shock of entering a war zone, the experience of losing a friend, and battles with alcohol, drugs, and PTSD. Contributors express mixed feelings about their Afghan and Iraqi allies, doubts about the prospects for long-term stability ("Iraqi culture isn't wired for democracy"), respect for their foes ("The enemy is smart, coming up with ingenious ways to blow us up"), and pride in their service. Some stories make clear that the technologies allowing for easier communications with the home front than in previous wars also bring immediate access to family dysfunctions. Though the loose structure and lack of transitions from one soldier's story to the next can be disorienting, the overall effect is powerful. This edifying collection captures the highs and lows of the military experience.
Customer Reviews
Perfect
Humbling, emotional reality of the sacrifices made by such brave men and women: God bless them all!
Walk in my Combat Boots
Makes me proud to have served!
Read
Very good book