This book grabs you right from the start and does not let go until the end. I litterly let go a sigh of relief, when I finished the book.

These men know how to fight and had a willingness to carry the fight to the enemy. Being a disabled combat "Nam" vet, I was so proud of them.

The story was factual all the way. The insight into how combat really is, was of great importance to me. No john Wayne heroics, just in your face, guts and glory, with the attitude of getting it done. It was not about officiers, but the real reason a war is won. The man behind the weapon, ready, experienced and willing to use it. I would give this book six (6) stars if I could.

The men in the story are tough, focused, dedicated, and a rare breed of soldiers. Their human side comes through in so many different ways that you fell as if you know them somehow.

The best book I have read in years.

TDAnderson

This memoir is a graphic reminder of just how personal modern warfare can still be in an urban environment. The book does a good job at portraying the battle for Fallujah from the combatant's perspective, not from a journalist or a historian's perspective. His thoughts, struggles and personal issues are all wrapped up into this narrative of combat like no other book I've read on the subject. Although the author is a bit "too eloquent" at times with his portrayals, this book is still definately a must read for anyone interested in combat in general or the modern War on Terror.

Best read this year. I could not put the book down. It is a war memoir not a literary masterpiece.

I already had a high view of infintry soldiers as I have a former Army warrior who is my partner and manages the business. My appreciaion of the training, commitment and sacrifice of the FEMF,to modify an acronym from the book, increased ten fold. Thanks David, thank you Deanna, Evan and Aiden. Exodus 15:3

This book was truly a great way to see what sacrifices our armed forces make to keep Freedom Free. I would recommend this book to anyone with an interest in the war we have been in for the last 8 years. After reading this you will truly appreciate our military and the sacrifices they make so that we don't have to make them. Thanks again to all of our men and women of the armed forces.

Thank you SSG Bellavia for putting into words the story of the great sacrifices being made by our military in Iraq. Reading this made me appreciate those in uniform even more. This memoir was so real and so compelling, I could not put it down. For those wondering what it's like to be in combat in Iraq, this book nails it. It will make you feel like you are there. What a great book. God bless our troops and their families.

One of the most interesting and inspiring books I've read in years. It should be required reading for all Americans who have not had an opportunity to serve in the military. It makes you think about the difficult and sometimes fatal consequences our political decisions have on the men and women who wear the uniform of freedom.

I have been reading history all my life concerning The American revolution, War between the States, WWI and WWII. I am a combat Vietnam veteran and have finally starting to read some excellent books of that era.
I read my first book on the War in Iraq "Monent of Truth In Iraq" by Michael Yon. His book really gave me a jump start. I am so proud of our soldiers and now I'm finally proud that I servered in Vietnam.

House to House was by far the best book on war that I've read. I felt like I was with those soldiers. This book was so well written and exciting. I have bought more copies and gave them as gifts !
Thank you for a job well Done! This book should be read by all.

I have been reading history all my life concerning The American revolution, War between the States, WWI and WWII. I am a combat Vietnam veteran and have finally starting to read some excellent books of that era.
I read my first book on the War in Iraq "Monent of Truth In Iraq" by Michael Yon. His book really gave me a jump start. I am so proud of our soldiers and now I'm finally proud that I servered in Vietnam.

Housue to House was by far the best book on war that I've read. I felt like I new was with those soldiers. This book was so well written and i have bought more copies and gave them as gifts ! Job well Done !!!

One of the best books I have read in many years about the realties and randomness of the war on terror. This book brings you into to the life or death struggle for Fallujah.

I thought this was a Great read - I'm so Proud of our Infantry . I didn't like All the Foul Language But i was able to get by that. Really a Great story of Brave men at War .

Fast read, hard to put the book down, nonstop pace. The author's description of his inner struggle to "finish the job" he began in the midst of the siege was quite moving. Even more moving was the author's return back to Fallujah to honor the dead . Great book, highly recommended.

I thought this book was a fantastic read and account of what took place during this squads fight in Fallujah. Thank You and God bless the men and women who bear arms for our country and who have lost their life doing so. The dedication, commitment, caring, and sacrifice that each solider has for one another is something we as common people will never understand.

The buying experience was a breeze. I still have yet to read all of the book though.

This is the best book i've read about Iraq. Fascinating and gripping book, i just couldnt stop reading it. A+

Written as only a Sgt. can write. Spot on descriptions of life in a combat zone and the hell that swirls around you minute by minute. This is the stuff of the real patriots that walk amongst us. David's description of his guilt and loneliness after he leaves the Army is exactly how it is. The feeling of being loss, separated from your troops. This book shows you exactly why NCO's are, have been, and always will be the backbone of the military. We don't fight for Mom, the flag, and apple pie. We fight for each other. David explains it as well as anyone has ever done. This should be mandatory reading in every NCO academy in the Army. 4 Silver Stars.

Bellavia's book is simply the best volume on infantry operations in the Iraq war. It fully illustrates the bonds formed between men in combat and the determination, professionalism and commitment of our troops. This is a book that draws intense adrenaline rushes from its readers and equivalent emotional responses when the charaters we have come to "know" are killed. I recommend this book to every young man that is considering a military career - especially those that are looking at the infantry.

A magnificent book. Bellavia offers a clear-eyed, gritty look at battle. I couldn't put it down. More than just a war story, Bellavia offers moving insights into the warrior's soul. Recommended for anyone interested in first person comabt accounts.

'House to House' should be mandatory reading for every single person in the United States. SSG David Bellavia has written a no-nonsense, kick-you in-the-gut memoir to recount his experiences in Iraq; a memoir that once you pick up, you won't be able to put down. I started reading it this morning, and just finished the last page about five minutes ago. Bellavia doesn't pull any punches, and recounts vividly and in detail, everything he and his men saw, said, and did in the battles for Muqdadiyah and Fallujah. He is a true American hero, and his love for his men, his country, and his family shine through in every page. I enthusiastically give this book five stars, and would give it even more if I could. God bless SSG Bellavia, and the rest of our troops that have fought and died for this great country!

The way that David Bellavia describes what was going on around him and what he was doing to survive is amazing! When you read it, it's almost as if you can picture everything as he had seen it while he was there. The pictures that are included in the book make it that much better. To see the soldiers, the men that were fighting along side of him the entire time is just captivating. A must-read for anyone that enjoys books about the history of wars and those that love the soldiers that give us our freedom!

My boyfriend is in the military. And until I had read this book it was hard to imagine exactly what he is going through. This book let me feel like I was side by side those soldiers and after reading it, I can only feel incrediably grateful and blessed that we have such amazing soldiers fighting for our freedom. Everyone should read this book, whether you are for Operation Iraqi Freedom or not, and afterwards appreciate everything that they go through for us.

I found it hard to keep reading this book. It was repetative. And I mean, come on..Is it really possible that every single word out of every soldiers mouth is an f*bomb? It felt like the author was emprovising the soldiers lanugage to try and help them sound "cool" That alone burned me out half way through the book.
I enjoy reading, but this particular book just didn't offer me anything 'new', refreshing or captivating

Wow what can you really say. This was a great story that made you feel like you were right there with him. Couldn't put it down until I finished it.

This book is a stunning account of the Battle of Fallujah in Iraq. You see a lot of the "aftermath" of military conflict on TV and in print media, but this book gives you phenomenal insight into what's going through a soldier's mind. The author puts a lot of military jargon in the book and does a good job of concisely explaining it and putting it in context. It's one thing to read an account from an "embedded" reporter of what's happening in Iraq, but to read a well written account from a soldier's perspective is amazing. This book definitely has its share of gore, unpleasant situations, and lots of "F" bombs thrown in for good measure. Get a box of Kleenex, as you're probably going to shed a few tears as you read this book.

David Bellavia brings us close to the military's experiences we need to appreciate events in Iraq.

After reading this book I decided to give it a rave review on SSG Bellavia for telling the TRUE Infantryman's story. When I searched the reviews I saw a 2-star & a 3-star review coming from what seems to be people that are not in the know. IGNORE THESE REVIEWS! SSG BELLAVIA IS SPOT ON!! One review talked about "overkill" because SSG B and his men call for fire on a sniper position blasting the building he was hiding in to peices. You say that this is a waste of resources...you choose...20 or so mortar rounds or the life of your comrade on your right or left. I choose mortar rounds!

If you read this book, know that it is definately the most accurate description of what an infantryman does in today's Army. It may not be Normandy, but there is also more technology in todays war (which we AND the enemy control) that can kill you or your buddy. Trust me, I too go House to House.

I commend SSG Bell for bringing our story to print!!! Fabulous book!

HOOAH!!!!

"Why is the sky blue?"
"BECAUSE GOD LOVES THE INFANTRY!"

When I first came across this book I was not expecting to become immersed as deeply as I did. Bellavia does an incredible job of fully describing the fighting that took place in fallujah. His ability to tell his story is solid. There were moments that I honestly wondered what was around the next corner. I must also give him credit by showing that liberals fight as strongly as conservatives (even if Sean Hannity wouldn't call one a great american!) Where he went wrong I believe is that he never honestly asked himself should we even be in the mess. to simply fall back on the good/bad guy stuff as much as he does is really pretty sad. If he saw things like he did when he noticed the eery similarity between his boys and two that he saw in combat this book would have easily gone down as a classic, a must read, but don't let this simple mistake deter you. This man can write and anyone who considers him/herself knowledgable about Iraq should most definately read this.

Very well written memoir. The book just got more intense as the pages went on. The author was capable of putting the reader in the face of battle right next to him. Very gripping and heartbreaking but the reality of what our brave soldiers are facing everyday in Iraq and Afghanistan. These is the grit you don't hear on the news. I highly recommend this book to anyone wanting to see the true face of the war in Iraq.

This is the first review I've written on any book since elementary school, but I had to write one.

I have read so many books on military history that I cannot even count them. I've read about everything from Agincourt to Iraq, but have mainly focussed on US military history. Mostly first person accounts. I'm also very close to MANY OIF vets. My twin brother as well as some of my best friends were there in the invasion on '03. Many other relatives and very, very dear friends either were there or are currently there right now. I'm the one that picks them up from the airport and also hears a lot of the stories they don't tell others. This book is their stories in print.

In fact, my cousin who was with 3/7 Kilo over in Husayba and Karibala about the same time as the book takes place recommended this book to me. If you know about those places then you'll know that it was pretty hot. He was in the same company as Cpl. Jason Dunham who received the Medal of Honor. For a Marine combat vet to recommend a book about soldiers says something I suppose.

It doesn't pull punches. It tells about the lives of grunts with all the filth, disease, camaraderie, terror, devotion, disdain for certain officers and POGs, macabre humor, sorrow and profanity that my friends and relatives tell me about. It also delves into living with survivors guilt, which I have seen many times now with my buddies. It's dark, desperate and sometimes bleak, but like the author mentions there are shining examples of bravery, devotion and brotherly sacrifice.

It is well written and very detailed. I feel it will stand the test of time, and that it stands on it's own. I also think at some point it should be made into a movie. I don't know who I'd trust to do it right though.

If you liked this book then you should read "Suddenly We Didn't Want to Die" by Elton Mackin, "With the Old Breed" by E.B. Sledge, and "Things They Carried" by Tim O'Brien. At certain points House to House sounds like all of those books. Funny how the lives of Grunts sound similar from the trenches in the Great War, to the islands of the Pacific, to the rice paddies of the I Corps area of Vietnam.

As someone who has never been there I would say that this book is very relevant. Some people might whine that this books doesn't try to make a political point or something like that, but I don't think it was meant to. I think it was meant for something totally different. It is a glimpse into the lives of the guys that do the dirty work day in and day out while I sit in my office working on bids or walk job sites.

David Bellavia has done a great job here, and I'd like to thank him. He give us that glimpse.

I appreciate all you guys that have done and are still doing the dirty work. God bless and protect all you guys.

C

I was stunned at the intensity of the combat examined in this book, but also uplifted that we still have Americans willing to but their "all" on the line in the name of duty to Country and their fellows. It was also instructive in terms of just what combat is and means, and it should be required reading for those who advocate military missions-- as it shows just what they are asking of our troops, and those opposed to our troops and/or their mission(s) as it will show them that men of honor are willing to give everything to protect others right to dissent. A stirring tale and one that I have and will continue to recommend and share.

This book should be required reading for all Americans. It will fill you with pride and compel you to try and understand what so many of our countrymen go through as armed service men and women. No book has painted such a vivid picture of combat and Bellavia shares all the details including the fear, adreneline, and fatigue. When he shares the satellite phone call he had with his 3 year old son I was crying as his son told him to 'kill bad guys'. That's exactly what my boy would say if I had half the courage to do what these brave men did in this book. My son will read this book when he's old enough and hopefully people will set politics aside to appreciate the bravery of this generation of soldiers. Marcus Lutrell (Lone Survivor) and David Bellavia, two men we should all know about.

As I said in the title of this review, this book was imposible to put down. Non-stop action? Yes. Outstanding narrative style? Unquestionably. But for me, the real strength of this book was the extent to which Sgt. Bellavia lets you get inside his head. He has a phenomenal memory, and takes you through the mental side of combat like no other book I've read. I would respectfully suggest that the next time you pass an American serviceman, you step up and say "thank you." It is the least we can do for the great men and ladies who wear the uniform of our nation.

As I said in the title of this review, this book was imposible to put down. Non-stop action? Yes. Outstanding narrative style? Unquestionably. Sheds a new light on the sacrifices of the modern American soldier in combat? Absolutely. But for me, the real strength of this book was the extent to which Sgt. Bellavia lets you get inside his head. He has a phenomenal memory, and takes you through the mental side of combat like no other book I've read. I don't ever want to forget the cost that great men pay to preserve our freedom. I would respectfully suggest that the next time you pass an American serviceman, you step up and say "thank you." Believe me, that's the least we can do for the great men and ladies who wear the uniform of our nation.

I've read multiple war memoirs from 20th and 21st century wars, and can say without reservation that this is one of the best 2 or 3 that I've had the pleasure to read. As I said in the title of this review, this book was imposible to put down. Non-stop action? Yes. Outstanding narrative style? Unquestionably. Sheds a new light on the sacrifices of the modern American soldier in combat? Absolutely. For me, the real strength of this book was the extent to which Sgt. Bellavia lets you get inside his head. He has a phenomenal memory, and takes you through the mental side of combat like no other book I've read. I don't ever want to forget the cost that great men pay to preserve our freedom. I would respectfully suggest that the next time you pass an American serviceman, you step up and say "thank you." Believe me, that's the least we can do for the great men and ladies who wear the uniform of our nation.

I opened this book with a sympathetic perspective, but as I read I became more and more impressed by Bellavia's lack of reflection on some important points. The problems the book has stem from Bellavia's myopic view of operations with the infantry a world unto itself. He also has too much an inclination to ignore proportionality. One cannot help admiring him for his truthfulness about his own feelings and the hell he went through. However, if I were an officer in Iraq, I would think twice about having this NCO under my command. On the one hand, he self-consciously portrays himself as a demanding sergeant who will not tolerate hints of insubordination among his charges. On the other, he brags about disrespecting a major from another unit who happened upon him. (And he doesn't seem to notice the contradiction separated by only a few pages.) He knew nothing about this major apart from the officer's clean appearance, his vehicle, his unit, and his voice. He decided the major was a remf. He did not know if perhaps the day before the major had pulled a wounded soldier from a burning vehicle while under fire--he could not have known. Ballavia drew some conclusions and then stooped to the typical knuckle-dragger reaction of dismissing the officer's credibility out of hand, a hackneyed prop for self-elavation. "Look at me, I'm SSG ROCK," it says, "in contrast to this remf." But what about respecting the fact that the officer was THERE, in a vehicle, could easily bleed out in the next minute from an IED attack? Ballavia's attitude on this point is corrosive to the team spirit of those who have to share the burdens of the war. This attitude is amateurish and disrespectful to the service in which he himself fights so bravely. If he goes down that road, as many of us are tempted to do in SF and Ranger and other infantry units, where we get pumped full of nonsense about our superiority (the better to disdain, the better to kill), it is a self-defeating psychology. This attitude of dismissal of a fellow soldier, IN THE COMBAT ZONE, is a cheap-shot contradiction that undercuts this sergeant's otherwise obvious qualities. The other problem of proportionality is something he may not be able to relate to. In a counterinsurgency, restraint is a critically important issue. His inclination to overkill is symptomatic of poor preparation for phase IV (stability operations) of an insurgency. Lack of restraint erodes legitimacy and spawns new enemies, preventing the indiginous population from coming over to the counterinsurgent's side. One does not expect, in the heat of battle, for a soldier to hold back; but as a leader, SSG B should have tried to be a moderating influence. He should have been imbued with an attitude that excess breeds its own kharma that will have to be dealt with down the road; that in the form of more enemies for his brothers and sisters to fight. Three-stars for a gripping narative. H2H is too raw to rank five stars.