The Ragged Edge: A US Marine's Account of Leading the Iraqi Army Fifth Battalion

A Marine's gripping account of leading an Iraqi Army battalion and the perils of cultural ignorance in a war zone.

Deployed to Iraq in 2004, Lt. Col. Michael Zacchea was tasked with building and leading the first Iraqi Army battalion trained by the US military. He quickly faced impossible odds: outdated training, language barriers, and deep cultural divides. To succeed, he immersed himself in Iraqi culture, learning the language and customs, and forging bonds with his men.

The Ragged Edge is ...