Generation Kill

What really went down!

Generation Kill is a daunting and eye opening account of the invasion of Iraq in 2003. I as well as most people in America I'm sure, thought of the invasion to be an easy sweep across the desert country. It was compared to other military invasions, but when you get down to the nitty gritty of it and experience what the individual soldiers experienced you see just how special these men and women are. This book details the atrocities a group of special marines had to go through on their way to Baghdad. The buildup of the characters in important in portraying the events as real. You don't want to see them get hurt. You want to relate to them or put yourselves in their shoes. I have never seen the HBO series, but I don't need to. This book does enough to illustrate the strong will of these men and what it took to take over Iraq and occupy it. A good read would be an understatement.

2 out of 2 people found this review helpful.

Generation Kill - Evan Wright SIA review : MC

This book i thought was every good. This is a great book about the early war in Iraq. This book that Evan Write wrote and expericed gave so many details. It was one of the best books I've ever read. Honestly I don't know how he did this I would not be able to do this. This book helped me relize how serious the war is in Iraq and who the people are dying for no reason at all just being at the wrong place and the wrong time. This book makes me relize these guys are not friends strangers or bestfriends they become brothers. They have to count on eachother to stay alive. Evan Wright is a brave man. He put his life on the line to go to Iraq to report it and wright this book and show Americans war is no game it's the real deal, inocent people die. It's not like ok evacuate this town so we can bomb the terrorists, no it's if your there you dead. Well i would recommend this book to anyone one of the greastest war books ever!

1 out of 3 people found this review helpful.

A Great book

I found it very hard to put this book down once I started reading it. Actually I have not yet finished with it, I'm stretching it out to last as long as possible. If you want a realistic and accurate impression of the start of the current war in Iraq, this tome is for you. Sometimes happy, sometimes sad and tragic, many times funny. The dialogue is very catchy, for instance you don't say fire when you want to engage the enemy, you say 'light em up'. Also included are many good photos of the cast of characters. It gives you the feeling you almost know these Marines, most just out of their teens. So if you like reading about the Military and Military conflict as I do, I recommend that you buy, beg, borrow or steal this book.

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

Must Read, you will not put it down!

I've been trying to read first hand accounts of the Iraq War, as many of you have, to experience (through reading only) what the enlisted man went through as a soldier in this war. Politics has totally corrupted the current events genre, and the politics of this war are particulary disrupting. This author, Evan Wright, has NO BONES TO PICK. (the most important thing right now). The reviewer before who gave this book one star is completely incorrect, the platoon never does anything more than complain about the grooming standard, or the commander of first Recon who administors it. The author states they respect him (Ferrando) although they think is going to get them killed through his aggresiveness. However, they do rebel against their company commander (Captain America). I suggest the previous reviewer did not find the book supportive enough of his/her opinions of the war and he/she should stick to accounts of the war by partisans who parade as military historians/reporters such as Ollie North, and not a real non-fiction novel. A real telling of the war would have to include plenty of ammunition against the war, because after all, we do not live in a black and white world, and war is one hell of a policy. The best thing about this book is it's depiction of the soldiers who fight in it. You will not find more vivid and real characters. With those characters, tells the story of a new generation who bring new dimensions to the battlefield such as 'gameboys', rap music, and digital video cameras. MUST READ. I PROMISE.

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

Difficult

Since I am not of the military, the jargon could bog me down at times. As a mother of two men, I am saddened at what our young men appear to be turned into: cold hearted killers who are just doing their jobs. Theysound so young, so immature and then I remember that is what they are: kids put into unthinkable positions. This story pretty much helped me realize that there never has been anything noble about war. What was our mission in this country? I dont think I know any more than these young men knew: nothing From the Vietnam books I have read on the ineptness and waste in that useless war, to the awful March 2005 rape and murder
of an entire innocent family by an out ofcontrol unit, I simply cannot fathom why we send anyone into war when many of our own commanders are inept, egotistical, narcissists who simply play a game of gotcha. I am appalled at the likez of Capt America and that he was allowed to continue. My heart aches for every kid and I mean that literally called upon to be killers in a world that leaves them with what? PTSD as well as questions about their own humanity.

Who better qualifed to write such accounts?

Just a question for the reviewer who does not like books written by vets about their expierences or by reporters writing about them. Just who do you think should write such accounts if not the people who lived them or those who observed them? Who is better qualified?

Great book!

Very entertaining and well written. I throughly enjoyed reading every single page in this book. It offers an interesting perspective on the war in Iraq.

Highly recommended

As a former Marine NCO, this book reveals alot about the basic day to day facts of life that Marines endure when deployed over seas. This is one of the few books that actually protrays life in a line unit. Both the good and the bad.

An eyeopening novel that is a must read!

As someone who knew little to nothing about the war in Iraq, I can honestly say that this book was such an eye-opener. Even Wright, a columnist for Rolling Stone, takes us on his journey with the First Recon Battalion Marines to invade Iraq in 2003. These Marines are well trained and highly motivated and, through Wright, we have the opportunity to not only get a first-hand insight to the war, but we get to learn about the men under the uniform.

What's so great about this book is that the majority of it is fairly unbiased. Wright sticks to the facts and uses his writing skills to paint a picture for the reader. His use of allusions was specifically helpful to me so that I could relate to the events in the book as best as I possibly can.

I did a little research on the book after reading it and found that some of the soldiers mentioned in the book were outraged, saying Wright's account on what happened was warped and insulting. But after a little more research, I found that most of the soldiers mentioned found the book to be a fairly good account of what happened. They mentioned that Wright may have embellished some parts of the book and taken some things out of context but overall, this book is accurate. But even so, that's something to keep in mind while reading it.

I think anyone should read this book. Even if you know nothing about the war or have to interest in it, this book is enlightening and it's worth knowing what our citizens our doing overseas. You may not like this book if you don't like to hear the truth. There is brutality in this book, there is friendship, there adventure, there is sorrow. This book will take a toll on your emotions. But every American should know the facts.

Like I said before, I didn't know much about the war so I hadn't read any other novels to recommend but I did watch some of the HBO mini-series "Generation Kill". It's 7 episodes and based on this book and stays, for the most part, very true to the book. It's a good series and I would highly recommend it - especially if you don't want to read the book!

Excellent book

I am not one who is usually interested books about the military at all, but my cousin, a marine, told me that this book is a great depiction of what went down in the first soldiers Humvees' as they swept through Iraq looking for weapons of mass destruction and Osama. While my cousin wasn't in First Reconnaissance battalion, he said he encourages anyone and everyone to read it, so that they can maybe begin to realize what it was like over there. First Recon is what Evan Wright called the first disposable youth, the generation that was raised on Marilyn Manson and Grand Theft Auto, there was no hesitation for shooting people from these soldiers. They are pretty much left in the dark as to what their assignment is the entire time, but they soon figure out that they are led, more or less, on a suicide mission, but it has to be done, their success is essential to winning the war. As soon as they realize this they craft a nick name for themselves, "First suicide battalion". Evan wrights about all of this very well, adding commentary from the soldiers, and vivid descriptions of everything that is happening at once. Very seldom i find books that i enjoy so much that i read in 3 days, but this was one of them, and i will for sure read it again. 5 out of 5 stars, for sure.

Did two tours

Great book, but its still missing something.

The book Generation Kill is the story of a group of guys in a battalion nicknamed 'First Suicide Battalion.' They are the group that goes in there and stirrs up the bees nest. The book is good in that it captures the reality of the situation and the different soldiers, fromt the trailer park trahs, to the drug addicts, to the Highbrow Harvard and MIT graduates. The book is all about how the soldiers cope and deal with the battles and struggles they go through. It's funny, good humor and Wright goes into good depth the different aspects of war and its not just another fluff piece, but I guess I am just biased against vets writing about their experiences and journalist writing about the vets and their experiences, something becomes lost in translation. But for a journalist, Wright does do a good job, and a good book for a soldiers perspective is also,"Mass Casualties: A Young Medic's True Story of Death, Deception, and Dishonor in Iraq"; maybe like a medical, Army version of.

But wars are all different. I went there in 2003ish and again in 2006. Both times it felt like different wars and i think it probably changes between people, deployments and bases. Wright's book was good for his time during war and for being a journalist.

good book

i'm not a book reader but am now. easy to read and very absorbing. i couldn't put it down.

0 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

FULL OF ACTION!!!

Derek Gruis Review

In the novel, generation kill, Evan Wright writes about a eye-opening, and brutal account on the war in Iraq. He writes about a group of guys and there actions and thoughts in the war.

The book Generation Kill in about the story of a group of guys in a battalion called First Recon or its nickname "First Suicide Battalion". There the highest most talented group in the military, there the first to go in, the tip of the spear and the last to go out. But in real life there a mixed group of people from white trash trailer park, drug addicted people, to even Harvard students. This book tells about all the battles there in but mostly how they coupe in the war, and try to stay together as a brother hood. Some of the problems they have are how to tell between civilian and from enemy fighters. Many people don't like looking past the fog of war, but Evan Wright leaves no details out of all the death and destruction.

The book is full of action, brutality and a lot of black humor. But Evan Wright did a good job describing the characters in the book, and how the coupe though to get though the war.

Generation Kill-SIA Review M.B

One of the most powerful books I have ever read. You can't get any closer to war unless you're in it. It leaves nothing out; every image, word, and action that happened is there. All their interactions with the Iraqi citizens, to the fightings, accidental killings, its all there. You can feel the bond these Marines have for each other, and how, whether they like it or not, they do their job. It surprised me how under-equipped the Marines were. Most impressions of the U.S military is that of an invincible giant, but these guys had to fight with weapons that constantly jammed, equipment that they didn't have batteries for, and leaders that were complete and utter morons. This book really doesn't have an opinion on the war; the only opinions voiced are that of the soldiers, and they varied. I highly recommend this book to everyone who wants to know warfare today.

Generation Kill- SIA Review: LF

This book was extremely interesting. The commaraderie between the men almost makes them seem like brothers, going through the good times and the bad together. It shows that Americans don't really know who they are fighting because most of the times in the book the enemy was in street clothes blending in with the civilians. The book also showed that even the United States' Armed Forces which to many seems invincible, has many flaws in the system including leadership and equipment. I believe Evan Wright is one of the best aithors of our time because of the fact that he went to the frontlines with theses men, trained with them, fought with them, and became one of them all to write a book. It is also amazing to see the changing relationship with the Fedayeen went from being on the same side to fighting and trying to kill eachother. Generation Kill was a very interesting book and showed Americans the harsh reality of war and the dangers faced by Americans in Iraq everyday.

Provides Great Insight for the Untold Story of the War in Iraq

This book can show any reader the true story of the War in Iraq. We are constantly told that the War in Iraq is going well and that it is very organized by our leaders when really, things are awfully falling apart. The soldiers are demoralized and totally brainwashed to be killing machines. This book can equally serve as a prequel to All Quiet on the Western Front. The soldiers in this book are the amped up and confident soliders who eventually become depressed and traumatic as the soldiers are portrayed in All Quiet on the Western Front. Several times in the book, the reader is shocked with the obscure and opposite viewpoint that is presented. At home, we watch this war on television and read about it on the news. That gives you the facts that may very well not be true. Reading this book gives you the pure experience of Iraq. Reading a New York Times article and watching Fox News will not give you the experience of being in Iraq during this war. Furthermore, this book shows how war crushes a person. The soldiers in this book will never be the same again. They are perverted, brainwashed, and have no sense of formality. This is because they are brainwashed by the United States Armed Forces. For anyone who is thinking about serving in the Armed Forces, reading this book will help you decide if you really want to go through what these men went through. They witnessed children's heads being blown off. They witnessed grown men being scared to the point of near tears from the terror of their fellow Iraqis. This book puts the reader in Iraq with the members of the First Recon Unit in the Marines. There is only one way to experience the War in Iraq more than the experience of this book, and that is going to Iraq and jumping right in the middle of battle.

War is life-transforming

Generation Kill, by Evan Wirght, is a war-novel that discusses the lives and tragedies of the soldiers that are fighting in the war in Iraq. Evan Wright was a journalist for the New York Times, who was sent out to Iraq during the War in Iraq, to see what the life of a soldier was like. He observed that the life of a soldier was not just fighting. He saw that most of the time a soldier would either travel in Humvees to reach their destination or to camp out and plan a strategy. Although Wright did not fight, he did get a feel for the war and how intense, stressful, and strategical it is to succeed. The book shows how all different types of men can come together and act as one, when they need each other the most. Their lives depend on one another, for if one man is on duty to protect a certain territory and to protect his fellow soldiers, and he drops his guard, then those mens' lives would have been lost due to him. It demonstrates how a man from a small, quiet hometown can turn into a shooting-obsesssed soldier who accidentally takes the innocent lives of children. Generation Kill demonstrates how war can totally transform the lives of men.

Great Book

Generation Kill is a book written by Evan Wright describing his experience being embedded with the First Recon marines pushing to Baghdad in the second Gulf War. Along the way he writes about the realities of officer-enlisted relations, the fog of war, and the imperfection in even modern equipment. The Iraqi army, Fadayeen, and their Syrian allies put up feeble resistance to the First Recon inflicting extremely light casualties. The book is about the realities the modern U.S. soldiers face.
Evan Wright rides in a Humvee with some of the First Recon marines. Throughout the book he writes about his reactions to getting shot at. He describes the unreal feeling and youthfull sense of invincibility which make it tolerable. He describes two officers hated by the enlisted persons. One acts like a soldier in a war movie who constantly screams on the radio. In one incident he bayonets a subdued prisoner. The other is an officer who seems completely unfit to lead. He constantly makes stupid decisions including calling in artillery to close to his unit.
"Culturally, these Marines would Be virtually unrecognizable to their forbears in the 'Greatest Generation'". In my opinion this is the most important line in the book. The thing that stands out most in this book is how different these soldiers seem to those from World War Two. They have been raised in a culture with hip-hop, movies, and violent video games.
This book provides excellent insight into what it's like for the soldiers in Iraq. Readers will get a better idea of what the media means when its reporting event in Iraq. Maybe next time you watch the news you will understand why estimates for enemy casualties are so imprecise and why civilian casualties are so high.

The front lines...

Amazing book about the beginning of the war in Iraq!

The book follows the Marine Corps 1st Recon company as they blindly enter war in Iraq, literally not knowing exactly what their mission is or what to really expect.

I served in the Marine Corps with an infantry battalion, I got out right before the invasion of Iraq. The author Evan Wright, captures what it is to be a Marine and the camaraderie of the Corps perfectly. Wright's descriptions and Marine terms are right on, he did an amazing job with this book.

1st Recon did an outstanding job over there on the frontlines, considering the chaos among the battalion and some poor leadership they were faced with. They rose to every occasion, admitted their mistakes when they happened and seemed to learn from them.

The book portrays several officers as buffoons and I don't doubt that, but the book also commends other officers. Having served in the Marine Corps, I saw my share of officers that didnt have a clue and but I knew many, many more that were the epitome of what a good Marine is and were highly respected and looked up to by all.

Every Marine, every rank should read this book. Just to get a feel of the level of stress they went through, the tough decisions they made at all different levels of rank. There is no training in the world that could have prepared these Marines for what they went through and saw over there.

Great book, great reading!

Highly recommended!

Incredible book on modern combat and the "fog of war."

This is an incredible book of combat and the "fog of war." The book reads like such great fiction that if he didn't mention it you wouldn't realize that the author was there for the whole thing. The narratives of combat are enthralling, sobering, and thought-provoking. Two of the most fascinating things about this book are: (1) the "fog of war" aspect, where even though these soldiers are incredibly eager to get into combat, when they do they seem disillusioned by the fact that, sometimes, the people that they kill are civilians and they aren't always sure if they killed good guys or bad guys. Wright, without ever trying to do some ham-handed psychoanalysis, shows how all the soldiers deal with the horrors of war. (2) Wright's afterword in the 2008 reprint and, specifically, Corporl Person's criticism of the comments that the actors of the HBO miniseries of the same title that no one, not even actors who are suppose to portray the rigors of battle to American audiences, can never truly understand what it is like to fight unless they've been there. Truly, this is one of the best accounts of war I've read since Black Hawk Down.