Black Flag Journals: One Soldier's Experience in America's Longest War

by Dennis John Woods

Overview

The story of America’s longest war is complicated and difficult to convey, unless you were there. Dennis Woods was there. By following his stories in Iraq and Afghanistan, we can sense the enormity of his combat experiences. Originally written for his daughter, Black Flag Journals is taken from the author’s nine battle book journals. It covers his time from the fall of the Twin Towers through his last combat tour.

Black Flag Journals contains not just stories from the first war of the new century, but a day-by-day record of events that other veterans may use to relate their own experiences. All who enjoy real life stories, and followers of history will connect with this first person account of America’s longest war.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781633932999
Publisher:	DWOP
Publication date:	09/11/2016
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	360
File size:	5 MB

About the Author

Dennis Woods was deployed in combat for every President from Reagan to Obama, amassing over 57 months in battle. Black Flag Journals was written using a series of 9 battle journals that bore witness to his actions in America's longest war. His military career has taken him from the Island of Grenada to the Middle East. Woods is also an inventor of devices that are chronicled in Black Flag Journals. These included the use of training munitions in combat to reduce civilian death and collateral-damage, and the first use of thermal optics on artillery weapons to increase American crew safety. The author lives with his wife in Virginia, where he continues to innovate and invent new devices and techniques preparing for future wars.

Table of Contents

Introduction 23 Afghanistan 29 The New Guy 46 Cold Steel and Fuzzy Math 62 Green Zone Attack 83 Seven Days in Baghdad 91 An Najaf 126 Kuwait 170 Respite in Germany 172 Back Again 193 Ramadi 205 Logistics 217 Marines Support 225 Tumescent Clouds 232 Homeward Bound 243 It Begins Again 251 Principled Strategies 266 Water 296 Base Defense 311 Mind Bullets 322 Final Count 344 References 348

Editorial Reviews

"I found Black Flag Journals fascinating, captivating and intriguing. As a civilian physical therapist working with wounded warriors and wives of wounded warriors I'm curious about what actually goes on in our country's longest war. Anyone who has a loved one who served or is interested in the war our nation has participated in will find this book an interesting read. Thank you for sharing, to help our nation heal and make educated decisions going forward."
-Barbara McNally licensed physical therapist, author of Unbridled: member of San Diego
Writers Ink, and an active blog contributor to the Huffington Post.


"In his first foray into a full length manuscript, Dennis Woods, manages to pull off what many veteran writers cannot. War journals typically relay the myopic view of an individual from their singular perch. Woods manages to provide us with a holistic description that covers multiple domains, the cultural, the personal, as well as the interpersonal. Operations and engagements are described from the perspective of all three levels of war; the strategic, operational, and tactical, providing the reader a robust understanding of the environment and the conditions that are within the Soldier's control and those that are not. Every Service member should add this to their library of professional reading. Every American should read this to provide them an understanding of the commitment and dedication applied to fighting America's wars."
-Command Sergeant Major Edward Roderiques, Jr.

"Black Flag Journals brings a dedicated Soldier's story of war home for us all to experience. The author captures the true human emotion embedded in detailed descriptions of the tragedies of war. Dennis' anecdotes and eyewitness accounts of his time at war reminds us to be grateful to all those who have made the ultimate sacrifice for their country. He outlines scenes of chaos, countless memorial services, and the pain of leaving loved ones behind time and time again while also providing a glimpse into the bonds forged between solders during times of extreme stress and the camaraderie among brothers in arms."
-Dr. Uniszkiewicz,
Naval Officer and Physician who focuses on Public Health:
author of The Bucket List Chronicles.

From the Publisher