SUVs Suck In Combat

SUVs Suck In Combat by Kerry Kachejian

About The Book:

It was an unbelievable mission - to rebuild Iraq while the U.S. military was fighting a raging insurgency. In 2004, the soldiers and civilians of the Gulf Region Division (GRD) answered the call to duty and began the largest and most complex reconstruction project ever undertaken by our nation. They made great personal sacrifices that few of their fellow Americans would dare endure. This book tells the rest of the inspiring story - much of which was ignored by the mainstream media as "not newsworthy" or reduced to mere sound bytes. In the face of imminent danger, the GRD team braved daily car bombs, rocket attacks, improvised explosive devices (IEDs) and kidnappings to rebuild thousands of projects throughout a chaotic war zone. These projects spread throughout a hostile country included schools, hospitals, police stations, oil production, electrical power and water treatment plants. Despite the odds, GRD was able to complete its critical strategic mission, and its members were awarded the Meritorious Unit Commendation. A few of the amazing stories include: - A massive car bomb on the author's first day in Baghdad that leveled a nearby hotel. - High speed "Mad Max" drives through the streets of Baghdad in unarmored SUVs. - The dependence on security contractors who performed with great valor while protecting American civilians. - The perilous war waged on the reconstruction mission that was largely invisible to U.S. combat forces and the American public. - The accidental rescue of an American hostage. - Living and working in Saddam's great palaces. - A daring rescue mission in the Tigris River that ended in tragic loss. - The parade of Congressional Delegations that diverted precious combat resources from the war effort. - The unbelievable (but true) story of how a Yahoo email account is used to send an urgent message to the author to "PLEASE SAVE US".

My Thoughts:

This book is quite a long read, but it is broken up by photos that I looked at for so long with intensity. I got a glimpse into what life was like for my husband while he served in Iraq. There are military references and acronyms that not everyone would understand. Of course, I knew them, so I had no problems. But for those who would not easily understand, the author tries to explain things in layman's terms. I think that this book is a must read for every American, so we can all know what is really going on "over there". These are the details and things that your local nightly news and the national news do not talk about. There are many, many, many books out there that detail  WWI, WWII, Vietnam, etc. There are even other books about the Iraq war. But this is the book that will stand above all the other books about this war. This is thee book to take you into the action, and make you think. After this, you will definitely thank our troops and civilian volunteers, and think of them more often.

About The Author:

Kerry Kachejian is one of the nation's most qualified soldiers and engineers, having served in and supported reconstruction operations in both Iraq and Afghanistan as well as relief operations during Hurricane Katrina. A 1982 graduate of the US Military Academy (West Point), Kachejian also holds a Master's Degree in Systems Engineering from Virginia Polytechnic Institute. He is a Distinguished Graduate of the Industrial College of the Armed Forces earning a second Master's Degree in National Resource Strategy. Kachejian has numerous military decorations, awards and qualifications, including the Bronze Star Medal and the Combat Action Badge. He is Airborne and Ranger qualified. Kachejian currently serves as a Director of Homeland Security at Raytheon, a Fortune 500 Company. He has spoken at a number of major conferences and private events on topics, including the Reconstruction of Iraq and Afghanistan, the Psychology of Terrorism, Contractors on the Battlefield, and Critical Infrastructure Protection. Kerry lives with his wife, Alice, and three children near Springfield, Virginia.

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I received a complimentary review copy of this book from Smith Publicity. All thoughts and opinions are my own!