Customer Reviews

The Long Road Home: A Story of War and Family

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I found this book to be a very thorough and accurate description of the unrelenting bravery of our military, the hell our soldiers go through during combat, and the emotional strain that the families back home endure. The Long Road Home is very well written and should appeal to a variety of audiences, both male and female. It is important for the American public to fully understand what going to war means for our military and its families, and Martha Raddatz has captured this impeccably in her book.

If you are prepared to know firsthand what our troops and the people who love them are facing day in and day out while we go about our lives in the safety of our borders read this book. It'll break your heart and make you proud...yes, we have gotten ourselves in a mess but that does not minimize the sacrifice our soldiers are facing everyday...and their families...such courage in the face of overwhelming adversity. Thank you Martha for one of the most, if not THE most important book about the Iraq War/Civil War.

One of the problems in understanding what is happening in Iraq is in understanding what our soldiers are facing there. Too often, we forget that understanding of World War II and Korea came many years afterwards. It is always dangerous to think that news sound bytes or third hand analysis will provide for you what you need to know. Martha Raddatz had done some especially important reporting in this book that I believe everyone should read. At least everyone who cares about what is actually going on over there.

I want to emphasize the quality and style of the reporting. It is rare nowadays for a reporter to not also telegraph their own politics and opinions of the events they describe. Raddatz has higher standards. It is impossible for the reader to be sure about her thoughts about the events. Oh, you might project some onto her words, but if you carefully read what is on the page you cannot honestly infer her views. This is all one can ask of a reporter and Raddatz delivers.

The book centers on the battle that took place in Sadr City on April 4, 2004. A platoon that had newly arrived in Iraq was assigned the glorious daily detail of cleaning up the rivers of raw sewage the run in the streets. It isn't that the sewage runs because of wrecked sewers. There just are not any. This is normal life for these folks. One would think these folks would be grateful for the help. Instead, the Shia Muslims that made up the local population decided to declare their independence by attacking this maintenance detail. Hundreds of militia began firing at them.

The vehicles used for such work were not all armored and while they were armed they were not prepared for fighting on this scale. They quickly found an alleyway and commandeered a house and set up a defense. One of their number was killed and many were wounded before they set up the defense. They called for help and it was sent right away.

However, the help sent did not really understand the scope of the difficulty and brought humvees with canvas tops and opened backed troop carriers. They, too, suffered tremendous injury and death from the rooftops and doorways. It took a number of efforts over the next three hours to rescue the first platoon.

There are many scenes of heroism, loss, and horror. Many questions are raised. However, one should not play the awful bureaucratic political game of looking at what actually happened and then criticize the actions taken as if what happened could have actually been known beforehand. I will leave you to read about these incidents for yourself, but at the end of that day's battle eight soldiers had died and more than seventy were injured.

One of those who died in the efforts to pacify the city after the rescuer was Casey Sheehan. He was a humvee mechanic who was recruited to go out and help the wounded because he had some training in dealing with injuries. When all the random lead was flying he took a high powered round through his helmet and into his brain. I mention Specialist Sheehan because of the notoriety of his mother not because his sacrifice was any different than that offered by every other soldier on that day.

One of the most dramatic parts of the book is comparing Cindy Sheehan's reaction to hearing of her son's death (pg 261) with that of Diane Ibbotson when she heard about the death of her son, Forest (pg 262). I am not criticizing one over the other, but I am sure you will have a reaction to them. One moves me more with the quiet and selfless dignity, but you will have your own thoughts about these events.

Raddatz also shows us the families of these soldiers and what their support of their soldiers ON OUR BEHALF cost them. It is heart warming and heart breaking. The author achieves a great deal in making the soldiers real people with real wives, real children, parents, and siblings. The friendships among the soldiers also matter. However, in a fight you are comrades with the soldiers all around you whether you know them or not. Your survival depends on that trust and sacrifice.

This is a very moving book that I am glad I read and firmly recommend that you read.

As a military veteran (who served in the First Gulf War), I was absolutely riveted by Martha's book. She has risked her own life in at least 13 trips to Iraq in the last four years. I applaud and honor her for such bravery.

But the real bravery is told in this page-turner that she has produced. With the help of many, many people Ms Raddatz has given us a bone-chilling, unnerving look at how horrible this "war" really is. She has completely debunked the lies the American public was told in early 2003 about being "greeted as liberators." Whether it was from the viewpoint of General Chiarelli, Colonel Abrams, Colonel Volesky, or anyone else, the accounts of the battle of Sadr City will bring tears to the reader. Our brave military personnel did their best, and continue to do so.

Martha's accounts of the spouses and other people left behind at Fort Hood, Texas are also heart-wrenching. She hasn't pulled any punches in telling it like it is. That alone took alot of courage on the parts of both Martha Raddatz, and the military families involved. It was tremendously easily to envision all of the activities that were taking place, as well as the anxiety and heartaches that wouldn't go away.

I simply could not put this book down. I had to stop a few times and cry a while, and do some vicarious grieving over the tremendously sad deaths of brave personnel who were simply doing as they were told. I had to cry for those families back in Texas whose lives would be forever changed by the military officers who rang their doorbells.

Every American should read this book. Starting with those who live at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue.

Thank you, Martha.

Thanks go to Martha and her incredibly talented staff for producing a great book that really describes that day.

I commanded the Crusaders, a tank company from 1st Armored Division, that was literally in the very last hours of our tour in Iraq when this fight took place. In the aftermath, we would be extended 3 months and fight almost the whole time. Combat is very subjective and perceptions of it are dramatically different, even among soldiers in the same unit, given their age, level of experience, and most importantly, their level of responsibility. Keep in mind that almost all of the key leaders in this book were in their early 30s, or more often in their 20s.

I would encourage readers to try to envision the emotional impact of this battle on a battalion that had just arrived in Iraq, the Lancers (2d Battalion, 5th Cavalry Regiment). It has been painful for me to read criticism of the decisions made that affected the rescue of Commanche Red Platoon that day. Combat, especially close urban combat in the first day of an insurgency in which there is no precedent, requires very rapid decisions that will be life and death for all soldiers involved. Lancer Battalion proved that day that they were very capable fighters and very good at developing tactics very quickly that would help us achieve our objectives. As American soldiers, we never ever leave our fallen behind. This is a huge part of our identity. The Lancers fought very heroically and their leaders made the right decisions to get those boys out of there. I would challenge anyone to do better.

All of the soldiers I fought with that day fought like tigers. I was not disappointed by a single man. My association with these men and other men in three months of constant subsequent fighting will always be my highest honor. There is absolutely no greater generation of young Americans at any point in our history. My company lost one Killed In Action (KIA) that day, Sergeant Mike Mitchell, from California. That morning, he and I had run together around the Martyr's Monument in downtown Baghdad, just south of Sadr City. 2 other soldiers were wounded that day, First Lieutenant Chris Dean and Specialist Micheaux Sanders, both of whom received the Silver Star for their actions that day.

In subsequent combat in Najaf and Kufa, we would lose two more KIA, First Lieutenant Ken Ballard from California and PFC Nick Zimmer from Ohio. 3 more would be wounded. All of this from a company of 56 tankers. I must add that two of our mechanics were decorated for bravery as well, Sergeants Mitchell and Halverson. 1 out of every 7 earned the Purple Heart. I am in awe of their performances just as I am of the infantry we fought with on April 4th, 2004 from 2d Battalion, 5th Cavalry Regiment.

Most importantly, I want to thank Martha and her staff for relating what effect this had on our families. It is often unreported and it is so vitally important in understanding the nature of this war which is being fought by a very small minority of Americans, that go to Iraq tour after tour.

The wives had to endure "email blackouts" in which email was off limits after we had lost men KIA until the official notification process was complete. My wife Beatrix knew that no emails meant that we had lost a soldier. She only speaks German though and she would call other German wives and see what they knew and stay awake nights until the word came through who had fallen. The wives and families are heroes of the highest order and it is wonderful that they are depicted as such. God bless them all. You can read accounts of combat to try to understand bravery. I think you could also talk to an Army wife, and you would learn just as much about sacrifice, duty, love, compassion and commitment; all of the qualities that make a great soldier or hero.

Very respectfully,

John C. Moore
Major, United States Army

My husband is one of the soldiers mentioned often in this book (see page 175/176 for an example); Seth was Captain Denomy's driver on that fateful day (BTW, the proper spelling of our last name is WEIBLEY). We received our copy last night, and after reading excerpts to my husband over the phone (on his way home from work), he stated everything I'd read was dead-on. When he came home, he was reading the book - and whenever he set it down, I picked it up. We're devouring it! It's an intense read, to say the least. My husband is very humble, and for the most part, I've only learned about his acts that day from the awards he's received, the word from his friends, and this book. After you read the story of Black Sunday, you'll understand why he doesn't speak about that day often. I guess the only issue I have (other than the misspelling of our last name) is that in the back of the book where the soldiers lives and families were followed up on, there is no mention of Seth. Not of his life after the Army, his continuation of protective federal service in the civilian sector, and nothing about his receiving The Valor Device award. Generally, the valor device is for specific heroic acts during or supporting direct combat with the enemy. The explanation for why Seth SPECIFICALLY won the award SHOULD be a part of this book, as well as his multiple nominations for The Bronze Star; if my husband was overlooked, others were as well. Every one of these amazing men and women should be recognized, it's IMPORTANT, it's HISTORY. Perhaps in the 2nd edition these corrections may be made, and the details that were overlooked and/or left out, included. In the end, I give credit to the author for not making this book a political soapbox. She wrote it about the soldiers, and that's where her focus remains throughout. Martha Raddatz showed these brave souls the respect that they, and their families (the silent ranks), deserve. And I, for one, thank her for this VERY well-written - and powerful - account!

This book is a non-stop read. Martha Raddatz makes ya' wanna find a military family to lend some support to, or maybe pick-up a paintbrush and head for Walter Reed...do something to show your appreciation. She makes it so clear that our 160-thousand, all-but-forgotten kids, are going through a meat-grinder over there so we can tune-into American Idol or grieve over Anne Nicole. She has provided a wake-up call, no matter how your feel about the political side of the war, that American kids are getting killed and chopped-up in Iraq and they deserve our time, support and attention.

I just finished this book and must say that it's as accurate a book can be on the subject without actually being in it for real. Some of the reviews have already complained that it's basically a re-write of "Black Hawk Down", I would very much have to disagree with these complaints. Coming from a soldier that was there, (with 2/5 Cav in Sadr City), this was no "Black Hawk Down". My one complaint would be that it only covers the first 24 hours of our conflict, not the 79 days that followed, or the other 60+ days after our short lived cease fire. Not to mention also the constant threat from incoming mortar fire which, by the time we had left in '05, left Camp War Eagle, according to the Pentagon, the 2nd most shelled camp in US military history. Other areas in Iraq received a great deal more coverage from the press than we did in Sadr City, but we weren't looking for any special recognition, we just wanted to do our jobs and return home to our families. It's nice that this book has come along as a valadation of our year and done in such a way that will maybe help our families and friends understand just a part of what we went through and the memories that we will all have the rest of our lives. Martha Raddatz has done a very good job in capturing the personalities of the soldiers involved and I can only hope that this book becomes as big as "Black Hawk Down". Thank you Martha, the Black Knights of 2/5 Cav are grateful...

Martha Raddatz puts the reader with our troops on the streets of Sadr City the day Muqtada al-Sadr decided to inform America that it wasn't a peace mission we were on in Iraq. It is a graphic story of sacrifice. Many of us don't even know anyone who knows anyone making a sacrifice for our interests in the Middle East. Almost all of us have gone on with our lives these past four years with no personal involvement other than anger reading the news of unaccountability and incompetence. We can't really feel it. This book will at least briefly get you in serious touch with Americans paying the price. I hope readers besides me will remember the blood and bravery and loyalty and all those left sobbing when we set our thermostats and our cruise controls. It is a beautifully written book.

Regardless of your personal opinion of the war in Iraq,I think all Americans should read this book to familiarize themselves with what's actually going on over there - and it ain't pretty. I've read many books on many different wars, and this one is right up there with the best of them. Not only does Ms. Raddatz do an amazing job of recreating "the haze of battle," she also reports on the families back home and how they cope. Very well written, and as another reviewer said, a real page-turner that's hard to put down... regardless of your opinion of the war. Bravo Martha!