iraq war, 2003-2011

"One of the very best books to come out of the war in Iraq," (Lt. Col. Dave Grossman, bestselling author of On Killing), The Last Punisher is a gripping and intimate on-the-ground memoir from a Navy SEAL who was part of SEAL Team THREE with American Sniper Chris Kyle. Experience his deployment, from his first mission to his first kill to his eventual successful return to the United States to play himself in the Oscar-nominated film directed by Clint Eastwood and starring Bradley Cooper. The Last Punisher is a "thoughtful, funny, and raw...always compelling" (Bing West, New York Times bestselling author of No True Glory) first-person account of the Iraq War. With wry humor and moving testimony, Kevin Lacz tells the bold story of his tour in Iraq with SEAL Team THREE, the warrior elite of the Navy. This legendary unit, known as "The Punishers," included Chris Kyle (American Sniper), Mike Monsoor, Ryan Job, and Marc Lee. These brave men were instrumental in securing the key locations in the pivotal 2006 Battle of Ramadi. Minute by minute, Lacz relays the edge-of-your-seat details of his team's missions in Ramadi, offering a firsthand glimpse into the heated combat, extreme conditions, and harrowing experiences they faced every day. Through it all, Lacz and his teammates formed unbreakable bonds and never lost sight of the cause: protecting America with their fight. "A rare glimpse into the mind of a Navy SEAL," (Clint Emerson, New York Times bestselling author of 100 Deadly Skills) Kevin Lacz brings you onto the battlefield and relays the tough realities of war. At the same time, Lacz shares how these experiences made him a better man and how proud he is of his contributions to one of this country's most difficult military campaigns. The Last Punisher is the story of a SEAL and an "honest-to-God American hero" (Mike Huckabee, #1 bestselling author) who was never afraid to answer the call.

The lives of two American Marines and an Iraqi translator are forever changed by an encounter with a quick-witted tiger who haunts the streets of war-torn Baghdad attempting to find meaning, forgiveness and redemption amidst the city's ruins. Rajiv Joseph's groundbreaking play explores both the power and the perils of human nature.

The author shares his experience of being in the United States Marine Corps, discussing how he came to be a Marine, his three deployments to Iraq, and more.

"Provides a...he said/she said perspective on coping with war in modern-day America with a brutally honest account of how a dedicated Marine and his equally committed spouse faced unfathomable challenges and achieved triumph"--Back cover.

"In the midst of an unfolding international crisis, renowned journalist Deborah Campbell finds herself swept up in the mysterious disappearance of Ahlam, her guide and friend in Damascus, Syria"--Provided by publisher.

In Al Tafar, Iraq, twenty-one-year old Private Bartle and eighteen-year-old Private Murphy's platoon battles for the city; they do everything to protect each other from insurgents, physical fatigue, and the mental stress that comes from constant danger.

Hispanic American Marco Martinez chronicles his journey from being a gang member to becoming a Marine and fighting in Iraq during the War on Terrorism and receiving the Navy Cross--second to the Medal of Honor.

Edmonds, a Special Forces captain and military advisor in Iraq, looks into torture and its effect on both the tortured and the torturer, and provides an account of the morally ambiguous choices faced when living with and fighting within a foreign religion and culture, as well as the resulting psychological and spiritual impacts on a soldier.

George W. Bush's War on Terror sent millions of US troops into battle in Afghanistan and Iraq.