Customer Reviews

Street Fight in Iraq: What It's Really Like Over There (Valor in Combat Series)

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Leatherneck Publishing has rolled out a long anticipated book about the current war on terrorism called "Street Fight In Iraq." The book is written from diary notes taken from August 2004 through April 2005 by then GySgt Patrick Tracy, USMC. It brings the action to the reader as if you were right on patrol with the Marines. There is lots of emotion and many personal observations as the book lays it out as viewed from a combat soldier's perspective. This is not some story of strategies and battle plans written by some general or some imbedded reporter - this is a first hand accounting of the day to day life in a real combat zone.

Gunnery Sergeant Tracy captures the nuances as well as the harsh realities of life and death in his well crafted book. This book holds no punches back and could never be called "politically correct" in any sense. The author tells us without much emotional censorship what he went through, how he felt about the terrorists and about losing good men, and how much he missed his family. The author's words are not homogenized and fluffed over - the language is all Marine and very raw and salty at times.

There have been many books already written about the war going on in Iraq but none have the force and the power that Patrick Tracy's book has - this is the best book of this genre! It is a must read book for all those interested in understanding the current war in Iraq; however, it is an absolute necessity for all those troops being deployed there in the future. This book is real history and is destined to become a classic war memoir for this generation of Marines.

The book is neither recommended nor suitable for all family members, or for those who may be offended by some very raw "colorful" language at times throughout the book.

This book is about today's Marine Corps and reflects well on the men and women who proudly wear that uniform. It is given the MWSA's Top Rating of Five Stars!

This is an enjoyable, easy to read book. It is a journal of GySgt Tracy's time in Iraq, and it is definitely from a Gunny's point of view. It is real, and the reader should read it not for a view of the "war in Iraq" but for a view of one somewhat arrogant (but possibly justified) Gunny. He is judgemental of his senior officers, but doesn't realize his possible own limitations and ignorance. I state this just as a caveat to the book; it's full of a Gy's limited and very emotional view -- good because it shows how someone actually fighting the war thinks about the war, without thinking too much about it. It may, however, give a reader unfamiliar with the military the impression that most Marines are idiots. Entertaining, but definitely from a Gy who wasn't read-in to the bigger picture. It is more "enteraining" and "interesting" than educational or informative.

Like combat patrols in Iraq, 'Street Fight' shoots for effect with no concern about hurt feelings or diplomatic fallout, and it's authenticity makes it beautifully vulgar. Somewhere in this book I forgot I was reading a diary and felt like I was on patrol with Fox Company in Ramadi. Everyone who cares about America, Iraq, or the Marine Corps would benefit from sharing the Gunny's perspective,and we're lucky he wrote it down.

First Sergeant Pat Tracy wrote this book in 2004, but it doesn't lessen the battles being fought in Iraq one bit. He is a warrior and this, for now, is the only war he has to fight. This is a personal account, almost day to day, of how he copes with the real world, the world of guns, bullets, and IEDs with deadly effect. Pat is earthy, a Marine with Marine language. If you hate war, this is not your book unless you would like to know more about how the individual soldier or Marine feels about life on the edge of extinction. Battles with murderers, others call them insurgents, is no game to be played; these people are clearly trying to stop solutions to events which will improve the lives of millions of Iraqi people. However, these murderers would live in the middle-ages except for heros and heroines about which Pat Tracy writes. Earthy language and violence, so beware.

If I wanted to know how the Marines really operated in Iraq, I would read this book. If you read the book and then read recent newspaper stories on the slow respoinse of the Marines getting lasers to stop road block runners, you will know why it is so important to have them. The book lays the grounwork for the need for lasers. Gunny cares for his troops. I appreciate his candor. He is a solid family man and yet a real warrior. I would highly recommend this book.

This book is harsh and to the point, one can never doubt that. Tracy is brutally honest and at times seems cruel. He does write a harrowing account of his time in Iraq that is an easy read. What he does seem to do well in this book is show a total lack of respect and utter disregard for his superior officers. Anyone who knows anything about the Marine Corps knows that you just don't do this, then claim to be professional. But this is all from his perspective. Read this book if you want to read 396 pages of how nobody but him knows how to do anything right in Iraq.

I loved this book. If Hollywood had any guts they would make a movie based on THIS book. He and his men deserve it.

This book will forever be on my bookshelf.

Semper Fi

I don't feel those who have "not walked in the boots" of this Marine have the right to be critical of anything other than the author's writing style.

By my count, he "served his twenty".

If you did not......
1) have tears in your eyes
2) lump in your throat
3) anger in your stomach
4) talk to yourself and/or nod while reading

.... you have no heart or soul

You get a glimpse of what these Marines went through and hopefully learned a little more about your self.
I learned.....
1) don't feel sorry for yourself - there are others who face much greater hardships
2) What's important and Who's important
3) small/little things - don't take them for granted

I don't feel I or anyone who has not walked in the boots of anyone who has served should be writing a personal review.
But, I will just say to those who have......
1) experience is more important than rank
2) where did you read: "most Marines are idiots" ? ... he had trouble with one platoon

GySgt Tracy pulls no punches.
I would expect nothing less.

"Street Fight in Iraq" also added perspective to the other combat history lifes(... I don't like the term book) I've read about and will read about.
I'm biased in that, I hold all those who have served, are serving and will serve in the highest respect.

The only questions I have about "Street Fight in Iraq" are; Gunny ....
1) you still having fun
2) did the children like the flag
3) you keep your promise and stay away from Irish whiskey
4) how many hands have you crushed in the past few years

GySgt Patrick Tracy ... Thank You
Not only for your service to our country but for giving us a chance to "look at ourselves".
I not only got a better understanding about what the grunts in Iraq must face, but I learned more about myself in the process.

This transaction was super from begining to end. the book was number one... HARD to find...but was on Amazon... the seller was 100% from the discription to the packageing and the transport of the book. SUPER TRANSACTION!!!