Customer Reviews

Warrior King: The Triumph and Betrayal of an American Commander in Iraq

5 star:		(18)
4 star:		(6)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(5)

 

 

Based on the book alone, I think Lt. Col. (ret.) Sassaman has created a compelling story of his Army career and experiences as a mechanized infantry battalion commander in Iraq. However, when reading "tell all" autobiographies, I am always leery of how much the ego and self-interest plays into it. Sassaman blisters his brigade commander relentlessly, but this is all the word of one man and his own POV.

The reviews are telling, though. Several of his former officers/soldiers have praised him and his leadership, so you can make the case that much of what he says in the book is true, and that he believes in his heart that he did the right things.

What military professionals are going through these days is a far cry from the peacetime armed forces of the 80's and 90's, and the kinds of moral and ethical dilemmas Sassaman faced have proven to be the undoing of others across the various services. It's always easy to play armchair general, so I respect the colonel's service and his attempt to tell his story. Not having served in his unit, I can only take him at his word.

I found the book to flow well and it certainly kept my attention throughout. His descriptions and images are pretty accurate given that I served in the same part of Iraq a little more than a year after he returned to the States.

The bottom line for me is that while I think it is a good book and interesting read, I would caution those unfamiliar with the military/army and the war in Iraq to not take this as an absolute rendering of what has happened. For those in opposition to the war, this is something to latch onto as proof of failed foreign policy, but every single battalion and brigade AO is different, and all meet with different results. Painting his account as the definitive Iraqi war story is a mistake- this is just part of the mosaic, and you should also read Tom Ricks's "Fiasco", David Bellavia's "House To House", Jim Lacey's "Takedown" and Michael Yon's Moment of Truth in Iraq" to gain a different perspective.

My fear is that someone reads "Warrior King" and decides in his or her own mind that this is the way it is all around the Army in Iraq and Afghanistan and that is simply not so. I have served under some amazing brigade and battalion commanders, and there are a lot of good stories coming out of Iraq as well. Knowledge is power.

Sassaman's book is a worthy read, but he clearly has an agenda, and the way he goes after his superiors is something to be noted. How much of it is absolute honesty, and how much of it is self-serving revisionist history is a question only the author can answer.

In 2002/03, I had the honor of serving under LTC Sassaman along with many of the other soldiers whose names I have recognized in this review section. From a viewpoint of a soldier who put boots on the ground on 2 different occasions, I can honestly say that LTC Sassaman was the greatest man I have ever had the priveledge of serving with. Although not to be identified by name, F. Blake who has also posted a review here was a close comrade as well who served with the unparalleled 1/8th Inf Battalion Commander. LTC Sassaman in his book tells the story of us and what we endured during that stressful deployment. His motives and actions may not be considered right by many, but his leadership could never be matched. In that year, I am proud to say that I was able to serve with these fine gentlemen and will forever hold them close to my heart. Their impression will last a lifetime and will never be forgotten.

I was informed of this book by a soldier mentioned in the book, the master gunner who was in that unit. But the book corealates closly to how this 11B on the ground described the combat he experienced in that Batallion. This is an outstanding look at what guys and leaders have to go through on the ground. I spoke with my BC one of Sassaman's peers and knows some of the people named in the book.

This is an intersting look at army politics and realistic look at lets App Now. When you go to war the best laid plans fall apart. I think his fustraion and sutuation colored his whole view of the army and the whole operation. I am writing this review from an LSA mentioned in the book and it is true if you don't go out side of the wire it is like being back in the states but you just can't go home. There are those who are doing a tought job dealing with insurgents.

It is sad that a really good book and a very intersting looks and a compelling story but the swipes at national policy and judging the whole war from one perspective feeds into the groupthink of trashing the war. But it is an intersting look at how Sassaman sees the promotion proscess for sienior ranks and it is not pretty and I am not privy to that level of politics. It is sad that one of the most successful leaders of the war is forced out because of the events in this book.

For non-military readers, it is still a good read but take into other perspectives. We did get a handle on the situation and we did not loose. The army learned from mistakes.

When I was deployed to Iraq as a medic we had a Battalion Commander that did not have the respect of his soldiers for numerous reasons, then Ltc.Nate Sassaman took his place. Before he even arrived you heard about him and his "achievements", then we (1-8 Inf) saw it for ourselves.
This man was on the missions, as a Ltc.Col, he was ON THE MISSIONS. He didnt just give the order and stayed in the rear, he was going face to face with the enemy. He made decisions that upset his superiors and sometimes the local goverment, but he brought positive change. He was so effective that the "locals" had a bounty on him. Nevertheless, knowing that he was a marked man he continue to go out and conduct missions with his soldiers.
He also spoke to his soldiers, knew their names, joke and laugh with them. I seen him as one of us and as a leader. He was in arms reach and really cared for his men.
The only other person I can compare with him is the depiction of Lt.Col Harold Moore(1/7 Cav, "We Were Soldiers...") in Vietnam.
I will definitely buy this book.

btw, in no way am I pushing this book nor am I still in the military (police officer), im just giving my personal account of this soldier.
- Donald Scott 1-8inf Iraq 03

I had the great honor of serving with LTC Sassaman from 2003-2004. Obviously several of the posters on these reviews have not had the opportunity to serve with LTC Sassaman or possibly even served in combat. As with most Soldier that have served under LTC Sassman; I would follow him to hell, heck we have already been there once.

Warrior King tells a lot about what went on in Iraq at the time. It also demonstrates the perils of total dedication to one's job. In some ways, Nathan Sassaman reminds me of the late David Hackworth, another brave officer who put the lives of his men first. Such men are effective warriors, and they are not careerists. This is a cautionary tale for those wanting to grow with the organization through dedication and sacrifice.

Lt. Col. Sassaman did not have the benefit of leading his battalion during the Sunni Awakening. There weren't reliable Sunni allies, and the local Sunni population didn't think the U.S. was going to last in Iraq. Occupation was too costly over the long run. In such an environment, force protection was an incredible challenge.

When mortar rounds came into base camps, Sassaman ordered counter battery fire. The insurgents responded by using less mortar fire and probed for a weak spot somewhere else. This is how Sassaman had set the tone of rebellion against his commanding officer, who did not approve counter battery because it risked grievous "collateral damage" (killing and wounding innocent Iraqi citizens). Sassaman continued to put the lives of his men before the mission as time went on and his battalion was sent from one hot spot to another. Of course, at that time the U.S. was in between war strategies, and the mission was often confused. It seems logical that a dedicated, sacrificing officer would put the safety of his men first.

It's easy for people that weren't fighting in Iraq to condemn Sassaman's approach to counterinsurgency. He was determined to earn the respect of the insurgents rather than their contempt. Despite being in the most dangerous areas for prolonged periods and being part of the real action, his battalion suffered relatively light casualties. But he wasn't making his commanding officer look good. He went with his heart, the men under his command, rather than with his career.

Too much time at the front and too much stress took a toll on the men sent to Iraq. Many survivors, especially those having been in infantry positions, will psychologically live the war the rest of their lives. Who is to say whether Sassaman deserved to have his career cut short when the nation put him in such a situation? In other words, why should we put Sassaman on the spot? Our country made him responsible for the lives of so many teenagers and men of twenty years in a hellish situation.

Warrior King tells all of us that dedication and sacrifice will not always be rewarded. There will always be politically astute individuals, members of the power structure, who will set the rules and come out on top. Hard working, upwardly mobile people like Sassaman can be sacrificed without compunction. Some of those sacrificed after giving everything will find a little relief in writing a memoir. Nothing wrong with that.

I served under LTC Sassaman Nate. He was by far the best Battalion commander that anyone could ask for and he was a very honorable man and I was there in the unit when this tragic betrayal happened. He was in my mind the best man I came in contact with in the military and I hope he may one day read this and see that he has a place in all his soldiers hearts for bringing us home alive and feeling like we did some thin worth while over there. My second trip was nothing like my first. I would pray for his return every day. The US Army needs more men like him in it.

D/1/8 Infantry Fighting Eagles!!!

This is a very frustrating book. Honest, yes. Representative of the soldier in the foxhole/behind the berm, yes. But as a memoir of a battalion commander, it is appallingly limited in vision and understanding of the bigger picture.

I feel for LTC Sassaman - everything I've read about him from other reviewers and heard about him from those who know him points to a good, honest, American patriot. Nevertheless, I can't see this book as anything more than his attempt to come to terms with his Iraq experience. I guess as therapy it works, but as something "bigger," it just doesn't work - too much self-justification, too many contradictions both blatant and subtle, and way too much primal rage (directed at senior officers/political leaders who saw the war differently than he did) to see this book as a memoir worthy of a spot in a (commissioned officer's professional) library.

The Bush administration's decision to invade Iraq and its appalling lack of a post-military operations stability plan are events to be discussed elsewhere, not in this book. In the context of this book, LTC Sassaman was simply not in the position to make an informed comment and nothing I read leads me to believe he is any better informed 5+ years on.

This is not to justify the way events played out in Iraq during LTC Sassaman's tour of duty. Rather, the point is made to highlight LTC Sassaman's failure/reluctance to appreciate the bigger picture and to place his role as shepherd of his battalion within this larger context (however screwed up it might have been). Frankly, his opinion of the "big picture" was irrelevant at the time and irrelevant for the purposes of the book. His job was to understand his commanders' intent and to command his battalion. Nothing more and nothing less. And as a battalion commander, he exercised the same prerogatives of leadership those above him and I'm sure there was at least one decision he made that was considered ill-informed by the men and women serving under him. He would not have brooked their open dissension, why should we applaud his? I get the sense that LTC Sassaman doesn't see the irony.

But it is the undercurrent of the "pouting spoiled child" and all-too-frequently occurring "I knew/know better" that really disturbed me. One cannot get around this unpleasant fact - the LTC Sassaman of "Warrior King" is one arrogant animal. This can't be what he was hoping for...?

Thus, in the end, we have a book that is emotionally raw, but fraught with so much baggage and inconsistency that it is hard to figure out what LTC Sassaman hoped to accomplish. I just can't see this as a noble effort. At the end of the day, he has turned on anyone he felt had betrayed him or had done him a disservice. And in the end, he showed himself to be disloyal to anything but his own cause. He may have been the "warrior" of the book's title, but he comes across more the "knave" than the title's "king" (the title itself comes across as a bit of hubris, but I digress).

So I'm back to the point where this review started - wondering what to do with this book. I don't know. I guess I'm left with wishing LTC Sassaman well, suggesting that his dad may have been on to something, and hoping he finds the healing/reconciliation his story clearly suggests he needs.

Please exscuse my spelling first of all, but he was an outstanding commander. I should know, I was in Attack Company under his command. He was and will always be for all of us, the be all end all of commanders. His level of care for Soldiers and dedication to the mission was unparalleled. His book is pretty good too, except for the first chapter which is a bit dry.

This came recommended by my son, an officer in our Army and I bought it for my other son, also an officer in our Army. They recommend it highly. So, I'm reading it next.