Generation Kill by Evan Wright

  (out of 5 stars)

Rolling Stone journalist Evan Wright embedded with Bravo Company of the 1st Marine Reconnaissance Battalion just in time for the 2003 invasion of Iraq. Spending his time with 2nd Platoon, whose commander Nathaniel Fick published a memoir, One Bullet Away recounting his experiences a year after Generation Kill was published, Wright spent most of his time in the vehicle commanded by Sgt. Brad Colbert. Wright's narrative, which first appeared as a series of Rolling Stone articles, moves fast and presents a grunts-eye view of the first days of the Iraq War.

From crossing the berm and MOPP chemical protection suits, to rolling hot through sheets of gunfire, Wright's experiences are vividly conveyed to the reader in each chapter. I especially appreciated the way he frankly portrayed the men in the platoon. From raunchy jokes in the middle of gunfights to the daily highs and lows of the men, the narrative moves quickly through the whirlwind of battle and brotherhood.

Wright's book makes an excellent addition to the small but growing catalog of works on the Iraq War, and combined with Fick's memoir, the reader can gain a keen insight into small unit actions and the consequences of leadership decisions, superior training, and the frustrating necessity of the chain of command. Four stars. The HBO miniseries based on the book is also recommended and provides a very faithful depiction of Wright's narrative.