Customer Reviews

Two Wars: One Hero's Fight on Two Fronts--Abroad and Within

5 star:		(35)
4 star:		(7)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Just got through reading an advance copy of this book. Wow! It's the most vivid account yet of what this generation of soldiers goes through emotionally and spiritually to defend our country. The author bares his soul and his faith in a way seldom seen in a "military" book. And there is still plenty of action from the highest battle fought in U.S. military history -- 11,000-foot mountain.

First off as a Vietnam Vet my hat goes off not only to the Author but to his men on the mission he writes of in his book. I honor them and all the troops today, they are so much more professional than in my day. It is a good book, a great story and some great warriors. I am not critical of the story, the men or the Author. I just found it a little disjointed at times, I had trouble following the time line in his life but have no question of the Authors honesty and sincerity. He bared his soul in the book and was quite honest about his strength and weaknesses.

He writes surprisingly honestly about his Christian faith, but has a chapter about 'allegations' someone from the battle made about the day after his return about his use of Christ's name in vain during the battle. The Ranger in question just pointed out that he knew the battle was serious when he heard the Captain say what he said. the ensuing discussion with himself and considering confronting the soldier because in his life he said he never once swore I found a little self-serving and it took away some from the book for me. That doesn't take away from what he did or that he is a hero but it just seemed a little off for me.

His battle descriptions were real but fell short for me due to a lack of real language. I know from experience that when you get hit or a near miss 9 out of 10 will be swearing as they fire back. Now I don't doubt that they did but the Author's choice not to really include that to me made it lose some realism. I'm sure it is because of his beliefs, which I admire, but he lost a little from the realism of the story.

You'll also learn of the incredible lack of leadership that the Author and others I am sure suffer from. It is incredible to me that we have Colonel's, Generals and the like sitting way back from the rear and watching battles via Predator fed images live and trying to direct and make decisions. Unbelievable to say the least. Then they left these guys alone for hours before providing an extraction and then people dying before the birds came. Sad state of affairs at the top these days and the Author documents that well and honestly.

My last point is the last chapter by the former Chaplin, while a moving and touching tribute, surprised me because I hadn't heard of this particular Chaplain throughout the book so it had me wondering,'who is this guy'? I never really figured that out but it was a great ending.

The chapter by his wife I thought was excellent. I would have liked to know a little more about his battle with PTSD and his solution to get where he is today.

All that said, it is a book I will keep in my collection, glad I read it and my thanks to the subjects of the story.

I just finished this book that was hard to put down. It provides amazingly transparent insights into West Point, Rangers and the military in general. Thanks for helping me understand some of what my son (special forces) has not been able to verbalize. Stu Weber's afterward was excellent also.

Of the three books written about the so-called battle of Roberts Ridge, this one has the greatest sensitivity. It's personal! Ranger Capt. Nate Self got caught between the miscalculations of the Navy SEALS, and a fundamental flaw in senior command leadership. Sent on a mission to rescue the SEALS from a snowy 10,000-foot Afghanistan battleground, he lacked basic mission information. He was the uncertain leader on the ground and entering a desperate fight. But he made do. Despite the crash of his helicopter and the vulnerability of his small force, he led his Rangers smartly and with amazing courage and ingenuity Self's story details the circumstances of personal and professional truth and the equal courage and commitment of his Rangers. Destroying an enemy bunker and saving the lives of as many of his own men as he could, incluiding the SEALS, he nonethless became a victim of his circumstances--fear, death, responsibility for others and disregard for his own wounds--overtaken as he would subsequently become by Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. Honored by the President for his valor, he had to leave the Army to struggle with PTSD and the nation lost one its best young officers. Thus he writes a compelling story of his challenges as a soldier and the challenges of the debilitating stress of a bloody war, all underscored by his faith in himself, his troopers, and his God. A fabulous read.

I had the privilege of going to high school with Nate. I knew the man he grew up to be, the man that slowly seems to get lost throughout the course of this book. This made going through the book difficult, the vivid imagery immersing me and making me deny that the story was about this strong, loving and faithful person that I grew up with.

The first portion of the book provides a vivid account of Nate's progression through the military ranks and the Roberts Ridge Rescue mission. Later in the book, Nate describes dealing with PTSD. The descriptions of his emotional turmoil leap from the pages. It is this information, personal information, that should make us reflect on how war changes all of us, not just those directly involved.

I would suggest this book to anyone who wants to read a true account of our current occupation. This book is a well written, personal account of one man's struggles on and off the battlefield. In reality, it is not just about one man, but about all of the soldiers that return from war unable to deal with the aftermath.

***Nate, if you read this, I hope the picture I gave you at your book signing helps you to remember, if only briefly, that somewhere inside you is still the kid in the explorer outfit and pith helmet. God Bless!

A great book that I could relate to on a personal level. If there is anything good that comes from experiences like Nate's, it would be books like this that truly humble you and put a lot of things into perspective.

Two Wars by Nate Self is good reading, especially for those who have deployed to Afghanistan or Iraq. Tragic combat events leading to the deaths or severe injuries of comrades in arms is a life changing experience. In some cases, the question of "why them and not me" becomes the enduring.

The book reflects this... of lost brothers in arms on that fateful day atop Takur Ghar, Paktia Province, Afghanistan, March of 2002.

Having moved in and around Gardez some months after Operation Anaconda, the historical vibrations of Operation Anaconda were still very prevalent and on our collective minds. Driving down the road from Gardez into Zermat and looking up at those 10,000 to 12,000 foot mountains and knowing then the daunting challenge of working those mountains gave all of us pause.

Having read (several times) Sean Naylor's book about of Operation Anaconda from the planning stages to execution..and Pete Blaber's (acting commander, Gardez-LTC/Delta) excellent book recently published provides another dimension to fully understand the operational planning and the tactical implications of what happened in the Shahikhot Valley during Operation Anaconda.

I was most anxious to read Self's book as he and the Rangers, Air Force controllers/PJ's-Medics and the Night Stalker crew were on the ground during what was nearly 12 hours of sustained combat. The book provides in great detail the events on the ground... .and gives tribute to those who died on top of that mountain.

With the combined readings, one cannot fully understand how several key and mission essential command planning/execution tasks were overlooked. For whatever reason, unity of effort, communication and command/control influence were components of the causation of events atop Takur Ghar.

Specifically:
1. After several days of units in contact in the valley; with knowledge the enemy had secured the high ground with full intent to engage, why did the command element at Bagram AB allow Razor A/C units to land on the top of Takur Ghar? By some accounts, the intelligence people at Bagram specifically stated the enemy would probably on top of Takur Ghar since that mountain top was key terrain. Historically, those who fought against the Russians always took the high ground and the battle against the Russians in this same valley was well documented.

2. Command and control from Gardez (location of Delta & SF teams, CIA) was transferred to either Bagram or Masirah Island off the coast of Oman; frequencies were changed without knowledge of some of those critical to the mission downrange.

3. And perhaps, the most revealing was the top of Takur Ghar was the enemy in full sight with built up fighting positions/bunkers, but also a 1000 lb donkey (check the photo portion reference this book). The donkey was used for hauling the enemy's gear up the mountain tied to the tree in front of the trench line about 70 meters from where MH-47 went down atop Takur Ghar . With all the technical and sophistical electronic gear, it would seem someone in command would have ordered the Predator for a close in "look" to validate what the AC-130 crew had indicated previously stated-NO ENEMY ATOP TAKUR GHAR.


Those who ask.."why them and not me" is also the endearing question of those who took Omaha and Utah beaches of June 6th... or the Rangers who climbed and fought at Pointe Du Hoc that same day, or at Bastogne with the 101st....or perhaps the faceless souls lost in the Ashau or Ira Drang Valley....those who fought in Fallujah..or those of the 173rd at Wanat. Simply said, there is no answer-it is just war.

Those who survived owe it to those who did not... to look forward. Let the tragedy of it all fade into history.

And for those who gave so much, we shall never forget for they all are in warrior heaven.

Haiti/Bosnia/HOA/Afghanistan/Iraq/HOA

Two Wars, by former Army Captain Nate Self is a hard hitting book on the battle of Takur Ghar aka Rescue on Roberts Ridge, and his fight against Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder.

As the wife of a career military man, I lost the battle to tears while reading this book. Many scenes, graphic in nature during the battle, had me so choked up I could barely keep reading. Knowing how Julie Self felt on her end made it all that real for me.

The book is also a huge look into the effects of PTSD on soldiers who have experienced combat where fellow soldiers and friends have died. But this time you get a look into the mind of the officer who commanded those men. A word of caution, language used in normal everyday military life was used in this book. Tyndale was kind enough to let the reader know beforehand.

If you've never understood, been in the midst of it, or never had someone tell you what it's like, then I recommend this book for you. As my husband has said before, Veterans will not open up to civilians because we don't understand, but they will open up to other Veterans because they've been there. Once you get them to talk, they won't stop, this is their life, their horrors. Nate Self has opened the door for one and all to glimpse this inside track, and I commend him for standing up and giving all Vets and Military men and women a voice.

I had the honor and privilege of serving with Captain Nate Self in 1/75 RGR RGT. I've seen my share of young officers who looked like they were 12 and you didn't know whether to salute them or burp them. The day Cpt. Self showed up at our door step I could tell he was going to be a good PL by the way he carried himself and the intensity in his eyes that thirsted for knowledge. It takes a lot for "imports" to impress those of us who grew up in the Ranger Battalion and Cpt. Self did more than impress us. Reading this book brought up a lot of wanted and unwanted emotions. Being a disabled vet of Iraq and Afghanistan, I too have dealt with PTSD and TBI myself, I could relate to his emotions and anger. I had to have brain surgery and relearn how to walk again due to injuries sustained from Iraq and it was the same intestinal fortitude that helped me overcome my obstacles and fight on, just as Nate did on that mountain top and at home. We all go through a blaming period and play the "what ifs" in our mind a thousand times when we loose the ones we love but in the end we hold our head high because we know that's what our fallen brothers would do for us. Nate displayed nothing but pure selfless leadership on that mountain top, only caring for the lives of his men. It's very rare to find that type of leadership anymore.

This book was gripping! I couldn't put it down. I applaud his will to share every detail with us...even his love for cows. Nate Self is a true Hero that rarely comes along in our lifetimes. Those of us who chose to operate in the shadows don't do it for the recognition or medals, we do it for the men on the left and right of us.

**Nate if you read this, I would love to get in touch with you. mrvegasjoe@yahoo.com. Take care, Rangers lead the way!

We all know, because we are constantly being told, how great are the military men and women who are fighting the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. The greatness thing had become a banality to me until I read this book, which explains the depth of the individual struggle of one very brave man, a struggle on the field of combat and off and between. I know that Nate Self is smart. I've met him and talked with him. But I had no idea of the introspection he bares in this wonderful book. His lucid analyses of where he stood and stands left me in admiration. He is better in touch with his feelings than one would imagine, and I only wonder if this comfort with feelings wasn't the cause of his PTSD or the result of climbing out of PTSD. That truly surprised me. After reading Two Wars, I have a much finer -- and far more concrete -- fix on what makes men like Self great. And he is. Thanks for getting this book done, and so beautifully. Malcolm MacPherson.