The brave ones: a memoir of hope, pride, and military service

Description

"How does the US Army mold a video-game generation with its thumbs on the joystick into a proud fighting force with its fingers on the trigger--and lives on the line--in America's War on Terror? Michael J. MacLeod, already an accomplished professional photographer and journalist, decided to find out the hard way: by enlisting in the armed forces at age forty-one. What he observed and experienced as an embedded reporter and a serving soldier makes for an unflinching and inspiring portrait of endurance, sacrifice, discipline, and courage. From the trials of basic training on the home front to the ranks of the legendary 82nd Airborne Division to taking fire in the hot zones of Iraq and Afghanistan, MacLeod chronicles the soldier's evolution as only one who's been in those boots can. Candid, wise, and powerful, his memoir takes readers on an unforgettable journey through war and allows them to witness bravery firsthand."--Page 4 of cover. Boot up : training the Xbox Generation to fight the War on Terror. Scratch 'n' sniff -- Heroes and effing re-res -- Strike hold, all the way, airborne! -- Iraq : no more hajjis to kill. Dust to dust : the story of Anbar -- Getting dirty in Anbar -- Advise and assist -- GI Jane -- Violence returns to Anbar -- The clearing of Hit -- The garrison life. Time -- Training -- Pomp -- Garrison losses -- Preparing for war -- Warfare. Afghanistan -- Ghazni -- First contact -- ROB Arian and massive IEDs -- More IEDs -- The Police Chief's air assaults -- Giro Operation No Leaf Clover -- Death from above -- JSS Hasan -- Patrol -- Muqor -- On killing -- Schoolhouse reprise.