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The incredible true story of a fallen American hero who was instrumental in turning the tide of violence in the Iraq War.
Travis Patriquin, a young Special Forces officer, had already won a Bronze Star in Afghanistan before being transferred to Iraq. An Arabic linguist, Patriquin set out to establish a crucial network with tribal leaders built on mutual trust and respect.
In 2006, Patriquin unleashed a diplomatic and cultural charm offensive upon the Sunni Arab sheiks of Anbar province, the heart of darkness of the Iraqi insurgency. He galvanized American support for the Sunni Awakening, the tribal revolt against Al Qaeda that spread through Anbar and eventually across the country-a turning point which led to dramatically lower levels of violence starting in mid-2007.
Before his tragic death from an IED explosion, Travis Patriquin was so beloved by Iraqis that they adopted him into their tribes and loved him as a brother. A Soldier's Dream is a tribute to a man who loved Iraq-and a devoted soldier who made a crucial impact on the Iraq War.
"A truly inspirational story about an American soldier who epitomized our country's values."
“Compelling… carefully reported and briskly written … a tale of how even in modern warfare, with all its cultural intricacies and geopolitical considerations, two men can play a decisive role through dint of personality, adept maneuvering and, yes, a fair amount of individual ambition.”
The inspiring story of one soldier in Iraq in 2006 determined to make peace with warring tribal factions.
Doyle energetically spotlights the daring, risky work of Cpt. Travis Patriquin, a U.S. Army commander from Missouri trained in Special Forces whose gift with foreign languages and genuine interest in Arab culture allowed him to win over Iraqi tribes in their mutual struggles against al-Qaeda. Posted in 2006 to Ramadi, the capital of Iraq's Anbar province (and "de facto capital of the al-Qaeda caliphate in Iraq"), Patriquin was at the deadly epicenter of violence against the resented U.S. coalition forces, in the form of IEDs, grenades, snipers, etc., which killed Americans daily. Al-Qaeda had terrorized the local sheiks by kidnappings, intimidation of family members and torture, and used bribes of young fighters to set bombs for the U.S. troops. Patriquin and his commander, Col. Sean MacFarland, believed that the key in turning the tide was to befriend the local tribal bosses and try to build a loyal police force. One important leader proved to be Sheik Sattar abu Risha, "the Tony Soprano of western Iraq," suspected smuggler and bandit, whom Patriquin advocated backing, despite the Army's suspicions about him. Courting him with hours of "man-kissing" and tea drinking, Patriquin convinced him of the value of building a police recruiting effort, and the word spread from sheik to sheik: "It was time to switch sides and join the Iraqi police." American forces sweetened the deal by offering security and cash rewards. This groundswell among the Iraqis is termed the Awakening, and Patriquin and his Arab-friendly skills were instrumental in bringing it about. With his death by IED in December 2006, the U.S. Army lost its own Lawrence of Arabia.
Impressive feats from an important soldier, but the book has the ring of an official military account.
Author's Note ix
Prologue The Banks of the Euphrates 1
Chapter 1 The Gate of the Himalayas 17
Chapter 2 The Edge of the Arabian Desert 45
Chapter 3 The City of Death 61
Chapter 4 The Earth Was on Fire 87
Chapter 5 A Time to Strike 103
Chapter 6 Before the Dawn 119
Chapter 7 A Baptism in Blood 137
Chapter 8 The Awakening of Iraq 149
Chapter 9 The Men on the Wall 167
Chapter 10 A Cocky Son of a Bitch 189
Chapter 11 The Turning Point 21J
Chapter 12 A Soldier's Dream 239
Epilogue A Soldier's Legacy 263
Source Notes 287
Acknowledgments 308
Index 309
sunshineCN
Posted December 12, 2011
I do not read war stories/books. After seeing the author on TV and talking about this book, I knew I had to read it. This book told the true story of the Iraq war and what the soldiers were up against. Travis Patriquin was an amazing soldier with so much common sense. I hope they make this into a movie.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Bagman8
Posted December 11, 2011
This book gives better story of the war than ANY news article or political blog any where.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Anonymous
Posted June 7, 2011
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Overview
The incredible true story of a fallen American hero who was instrumental in turning the tide of violence in the Iraq War.
Travis Patriquin, a young Special Forces officer, had already won a Bronze Star in Afghanistan before being transferred to Iraq. An Arabic linguist, Patriquin set out to establish a crucial network with tribal leaders built on mutual trust and respect.
In 2006, Patriquin unleashed a diplomatic and cultural charm offensive ...