Books: Bravo Two Zero vs. The one that got away

[Noraku81]

Without spoiling it (since I have both books coming in) what do you guys think for those who have read both?

B20 is McNab's Account of what happened. He was the commander of this particular mission.

The one that got away is Chris Ryan's account of what happened and he is also the only one who escaped out of Iraq. Some say that he thinks he should have been the commander with his tone in the book.


Discuss!!!

[Noraku81]

Oh...don't forget Soldier Five which is Coburn's account.

[404papa]

B20 is way more exciting

[trilogy]

I haven't read The One That Got Away but B20 was awesome!

--Matt

[corrupt]

Thanks for reminding me of all these awesome books I have. And to think that I was thinking about donating them...

[B Strong]

They're all worth reading.

Here's another war book, from completely the opposite side of soldiering

Firepower by Dave Tompkins and Chris Dempster:

http://www.amazon.com/Fire-Power-Chris-Dempster/dp/0312291159/ref=sr_1_1/188-3388001-7876355?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1265599428&sr=1-1

First person account of the CIA funded mercs in Angola - interesting note, the side we were supporting, Holden Roberto of the FNLA ordered his people to carry out a whole series of terror attacks across the northern area of Angola in 1961 - read The Fabric of Terror:

http://www.amazon.com/Bernardo-Teixeira-introduction-Afterword-Burnham/dp/B001KFXVX2

The photos included are not for the squeamish.

[Lazer]

I saw the movie first[B20] which made me get the book. Both good. Haven't read the other two books though.

[xrMike]

I just finished Lone Survivor, by Marcus Luttrell, who is the sole-surviving Navy SEAL in a 4-man team that was decimated in the Hindu Kush mountains of Afghanistan. If you remember it, this was the incident where another copter full of SEALs was also lost attempting to rescue them.

The book is slow to get going (the main battle doesn't start until pg. 180) but it is VERY good after that. Lots of action with good description of tactics, and explanations of the complicated relationship between the Taliban and the Pashtun villagers up there in those mountains. SEALs are truly some bad-*** mofos.

[kajvid]

I just finished Lone Survivor, by Marcus Luttrell, who is the sole-surviving Navy SEAL in a 4-man team that was decimated in the Hindu Kush mountains of Afghanistan..

http://sealofhonor.com/

Another book about Operation Red Wings. This one from the family of Medal Of Honor recipient LT. Michael Patrick Murphy. As Luttrell recounted in his book LT. Murphy, after a heck of a firefight, knowingly exposed himself to heavy & direct enemy fire in an attempt to make contact via cell phone to call in an airstrike and give his SEALS a chance to escape. By this point LT. Murphy had been shot several times including in the neck or face. The final words Marcus reports hearing were "Roger that, Sir. Thank you." A true Professional Operator until the end.

I can't wait to read this book!

[k1dude]

I read Lone Survivor when it first came out. As xrmike said, it's very slow in the beginning but stay with it. The firefight is almost unbelievable. If Hollywood made a movie like it we'd all say it was way too fake. But it really happened. The professionalism and heroism are incredible. It's definitely a must read. They were heros. All of them. We owe them a debt that can't be repaid.

[vormav]

I read lone survivor a while ago, and I thought the beginning of the book, while not as intense as the firefight and aftermath, was absolutely fascinating. It was amazing what they went through during their SEAL training

[TKM]

B20 was a good story, but it is believed that McNab (not his real name) planned poorly and got his team jacked up.

[corrupt]

I'm not making a joke about any of the events that happened...just the name: Operation Red Wings? Are you serious? Sure does sound like SEAL humor.

http://sealofhonor.com/

Another book about Operation Red Wings. This one from the family of Medal Of Honor recipient LT. Michael Patrick Murphy. As Luttrell recounted in his book LT. Murphy, after a heck of a firefight, knowingly exposed himself to heavy & direct enemy fire in an attempt to make contact via cell phone to call in an airstrike and give his SEALS a chance to escape. By this point LT. Murphy had been shot several times including in the neck or face. The final words Marcus reports hearing were "Roger that, Sir. Thank you." A true Professional Operator until the end.

I can't wait to read this book!

[kajvid]

I'm not making a joke about any of the events that happened...just the name: Operation Red Wings? Are you serious? Sure does sound like SEAL humor.

The Theater Commander was a hockey fan. Red Wings, Whalers, Blackhawks plus other team names were used.

[Grakken]

The movie (Bravo Two Zero) was good but the book was waay better. I haven't read the other ones.