"My War: Killing Time in Iraq" by Colby Buzzell

[underpants]

I read this over the weekend. I would suggest this as a great -from the ground- book about the day to day life of a grunt (11B infantry) in Iraq.

The book takes you from Colby's pre-Army days through his enlistment and all the way through his tour in Iraq. Unlike what I had heard in interviews and what he has in the book (?) he was not an accidental warrior but joined to go to Afghanistan or where ever the war on terror would take him-to get his life together as well. I have to say that his life before the Army and his decision to join (including the Marine experience) was very familiar to me.

The book winds through basic training and to his first duty station in Ft.Lewis Washington.

Buzzell, politically, would best be described as being of neither party (Republican father-wanted to vote for Nader in '04 but didn't)and not all that interested in it though he does always vote. There are bits in here for both sides of the war debate and the standing political sides.

Aside from that I found it to be a pretty quick read. Sometimes a bit too loaded with information about the Stryker vehicle but for military info-fans and for general information it does very well. BTW- the Stryker vehicle appears to distinguished itself as THE vehicle of choice in Iraq.

The middle of the book appears to be his "blog" posts directly from what was a very popular mil-blog. Very interesting day to day account with the August 4, 2004 "Men in Black" post being the most famous. Once again you see battle (ambush) as a frighteningly dizzying mixture of chaos and slow motion. Buzzell very clearly takes you along for a ride of incredible luck and a horrible situation that luckily has the human element which allows for his survival.

I was surprised by the lack of a sense of humor in the book. War doesn't sound like something that is in any way funny but you have to remember that the US Army is involved so that automatically means that hilarity and mayhem will follow.

All in all I would recommend it but I thought that John Crawford's "The last true story I will ever tell" was better constructed, contemplated (blog vs. book here), and told. But that is just me.


http://us.penguingroup.com/nf/Book/BookDisplay/0,,9781573223140,00.html

[bananas]

1. Didn't he have a blog called "FTW" (f--- the war)? nt

[underpants]

2. CBFTW

His initials plus "F**k the World" from his punk rock days.



http://cbftw.blogspot.com/