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I also read Generation Kill which was also good but this was much better. Buy it, you will love it. I loved this book, I could not put this book down. This was incredible, I don't mean to gush but when I finished this book I had this feeling of disappointment because it was done.
It provides a look at the brave endeavors of our nation'smilitary leaders and how they had the 'right stuff' to get themselves there and through their tough deployments inIraq and Afganistan. This book should be required reading in secondary schools.
They say there are no atheists in foxholes, but I wonder. One Bullet Away is perhaps the most detailed and complete record of a combat tour in Iraq that I have yet read. In fact the accumulation of day to day details becomes a bit repetitious and almost tedious at times. - Tim Bazzett, author of SOLDIER BOY: AT PLAY IN THE ASA
I'm glad the author survived and made it back home to tell the tale. I will recommend his memoir highly. This is a darn good book. But maybe that's just me.
He is articulate and thoughtful throughout the book, a reflection of his education at Dartmouth, where he studied the Greeks and Romans. It would be interesting to talk with him about this. Fick must have kept daily notes or a diary. Was Fick the exception.
There is one mention of attending Mass, but otherwise nada. Lt Fick's dedication to his trade and affection and concern for his men become obvious in the course of his narrative, and you cannot help but admire him for any number of reasons. The one thing that bothered me here was the fact that, although I understand Fick was raised Catholic and was, like me, an altar boy, there is almost no mention of God or of praying during these extremely stressful and often frightening days.
One will understand Iraq and Afghanistan far better after reading this book. I found the book authentic in the details, accurate in its descriptions of marine semper fi, and very well written.
I recently spent a year studying in Tokyo, Japan. It was decided. While there I ran into a Navy Corpsman who had served alongside Marines in Fallujah and we quickly became good friends. Being away from your home country must have a way of doing that.On my train ride home, I began to consider the Marines above all else.
I often found myself stopping at a chapters end and saying "Wow." His writing style is nothing less than superb. I got home, checked my email and had a recommendation for this book. [not really, in hindsight, since Id recently bought the book Generation Kill off amazon as well, but hey.].This book is truly an introspective look at what it takes, what you have to give, and everything else in between about being a Marine. From knowing when to give great detailed accounts, to also knowing when a simple 5 word sentence will do, the book is crafted in such a logical and meaningful way that I have to recommend this book to anyone considering serving, have served, or just want an amazing read. Nathanial Fick has an amazing ability to tell such personal stories. Amidst all the hustle and bustle I took off for a stay at a Buddhist temple out further West.
Imagine the CHANCES. Full of emotional accounts of issues with higher ups, camaraderie with fellow Marines, engagements with the enemy, and plenty of late night personal thoughts, there's no reason not to read this book as it surely has something for everybody.For me, it was the right book at the right time.This is my first book review, so I hope I gave some decent insight instead of rambling on and on. As we talked, serving became more and more something I wanted to do. Then I decided that since I was already going to graduate from college in a year, I might as well make use of my degree and apply for Officer Candidate School.
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