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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. Buy it, you will love it. I also read Generation Kill which was also good but this was much better.
This book should be required reading in secondary schools. 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.
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. It would be interesting to talk with him about this. In fact the accumulation of day to day details becomes a bit repetitious and almost tedious at times. One Bullet Away is perhaps the most detailed and complete record of a combat tour in Iraq that I have yet read. I will recommend his memoir highly. Was Fick the exception.
They say there are no atheists in foxholes, but I wonder.
He is articulate and thoughtful throughout the book, a reflection of his education at Dartmouth, where he studied the Greeks and Romans.
This is a darn good book.
Fick must have kept daily notes or a diary.
But maybe that's just me.
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.
There is one mention of attending Mass, but otherwise nada.
I'm glad the author survived and made it back home to tell the tale.
- Tim Bazzett, author of SOLDIER BOY: AT PLAY IN THE ASA
I found the book authentic in the details, accurate in its descriptions of marine semper fi, and very well written. One will understand Iraq and Afghanistan far better after reading this book.
While there I ran into a Navy Corpsman who had served alongside Marines in Fallujah and we quickly became good friends. Imagine the CHANCES. I recently spent a year studying in Tokyo, Japan. 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. 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. As we talked, serving became more and more something I wanted to do. I got home, checked my email and had a recommendation for this book.
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. [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. 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. It was decided. I often found myself stopping at a chapters end and saying "Wow." His writing style is nothing less than superb. 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.
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