Book Review- The Fighting 69th: From Ground Zero to Baghdad by Sean Michael Flynn

Wow! Two books in a row turned in to the library on time.


I just finished (well finished listening) to this book and pleased for having done so.  Beyond the obvious patriotic elements of the book there were a few things that stood out as a first-hand look at the Iraq War.

The first was the unit itself.  The Fighting 69th had been a part of every major conflict since the Civil War until Vietnam.  By the time of September 2001, the unit had transformed itself to a loose band of misfits who could barely muster for a parade, to a slightly less loose band of misfits who could barely muster for a parade. Security duty at West Point, and duty at Ground Zero moves the unit closer to its deployment, but not fully.  From there they train in the states, and ship to Iraq.  They serve with distinction the blood soaked town of Toji to Route Irish in Baghdad making a lasting mark on the Iraq War.  By the end of their tour of duty, the 69th was ranked by Army Brass as one of the best in country.  In a sense, the Fighting 69th is a feasible comparison to the Dirty Dozen of Hollywood.  It provides a interesting perspective which is the book's hook.  Flynn well documents the struggle of Colonel Jeff Slack to prepare the unit. This was particularly eye opening when you consider the lack of simple competency the unity processed before the war, to where it ended the war.



As well has the primary interest in the unit, the book offers a interesting look into the role of the Army National Guard in modern warfare.  Rather then serving one weekend a month and two week out of the year, the book discusses well how the unit was used (and abused) by the U.S military.  Far from fighting fires or prepping from a hurricane the unit spent in the neighborhood of three years on active duty training and service for the full time army. During this time was called on to preform duties that were well beyond its training or experience.  Flynn skirts the idea that the unit has no business in the war, but points out mercilessly the challenges set in place by the "Big Army" on the National Guard.  Such limitations are no more seen then when the unit arrives at the National Training Center for its pre-tour training. So bad was it's equipment that it was sent bad en mass and replaced.  Such a complete retrofitting is almost unheard of in the military.  

As a book, this was an easy read (our listen in my case) Normally when I listen to books, or read them for that matter, I can lose focus.  This rarely happened.  Flynn a big pictures summary laced with microcosmic looks at the troops, their stories, and loses.  As you read the book, you are peppered with soldier sayings.  This was a bit annoying at first but as the book goes on you seem to noticed them less. These are of course offset because Flynn served as such.  Had it been some smoe off the streets, I would have probably stopped reading the book on this account.

Normally, I put books down I don't like.  I made it through this one, and on time, so that shows you something.  I would recommend this book if you are interested in military matters only. It's not an all encompassing story of the war. Political it is not. A straight up and down shoot'em up is all this book is, and it was better for having to tried too hard to be something else.