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. He is impressively reflective on a few things--the problems he has stem from his myopic view of the infantry and his inclination to ignore proportionality. No doubt he is and was highly courageous, and one cannot help admiring him for his qualities 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. He knew nothing about the 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 psychologically. 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. I salute Ballavia for his valor.

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 points. He is very reflective on some things--impressively so. No doubt he is and was highly courageous, and one cannot help admiring him for his qualities and the hell he went through. If I were an officer in Iraq, however, 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. He knew nothing about the major; he only made assumptions from the officer's clean appearance, his vehicle, and his voice. He decided the major was a rear-echelon type who he could not bring himself to respect--okay, fine. But what about respecting the rank, and by extension the service in which he himself fights so bravely. That attitude of dismissal of a fellow soldier is a hackneyed and cheap-shot contradiction that undercuts this sergeant's otherwise obvious valor. Three-stars for a gripping narative.

What an amazingly written book! SSG Bellavia writes about his experiences in the war zone so well it was hard to put this book down. My eyes could be weary from reading so many pages, my body could be telling me I need to go to sleep, but I just couldn't find a good place to put this book down. I wanted to turn the next page, I wanted to find out what happened next. Amazing book about sacrifice, honor and TONS of courage. A must read!!

I enjoyed this book. Bellavia did a very good job at recording the little things, like when they are clearing houses & they find a MIG 22 being used as a giant house born IED, and the insurgents line the inside walls with propane tanks so if you fire & miss the whole house will go up with you in it & also they use little shards of glass mounted on shelves around corners so they can see exactly when your gonna peak around the corner & take a chunk out of your shoulder.
Very informative.Dont wanna give too much away. Worth the purchase all the way.

Adrenalin pumping action. This author gives you a first hand look at the almost unbearable stress of door kicking combat. You have to ask yourself how these soldiers take it...............and wonder if you could take it. Faced every day with forcing your way into houses that might be an ambush and very well may hold madmen dedicated to killing you is an unending nightmare. To say these soldiers have guts is a gigantic understatement.

Read this outstanding book on my recent flight to DC and back. It is a great account of urban warfare. Recommended read for others.

the so-called "synopsis" posted for this book is really a slanted mini-review where the writer can barely hide his disdain for this book, the author and anyone who may find it interesting. Amazon needs to save this for the review section.

Fallujah, a city in Iraq's infamous Al Anbar province is located 40 miles west of Baghdad, and a hotbed of Wahabi Sunni extremists. In March, 2004, four Blackwater military contractors were removed from their vehicles, beaten, burned, dragged through the streets and hung over a bridge crossing the Euphrates river, culminating in the first attack of US forces on the city in April, 2004. As the civilian death toll mounted, the first battle of Fallujah ended with an agreement that members of the city's local population, the "Fallujah Brigade" would keep insurgents out. Upon the quick collapse of this group, the city was overtaken by insurgents yet again.

With the city in complete control of insurgents and laced with IEDs, booby traps, fortified sniper positions etc., in November 2004, the insurgents prepared to battle with U.S. forces in operation Phantom Fury, which was partially and magnificently captured by Army Staff Sergeant David Bellavia in House to House.

Bellavia's account captured the essence of what the U.S. military called "the heaviest urban combat since the Battle of Hue City in Vietnam."

SSG Bellavia takes the reader through a seemingly surreal experience of many days of urban fighting with detailed accounts of important battles, including one harrowing hand to hand combat similar to the one near the end of "Saving Private Ryan" involving Private Melish, albeit with a more desirable outcome.

Mr. Bellavia and his team faced just as formidable a foe in diarrhea and fatigue as the insurgents. How anyone can leave behind a wife and a young son over conditions such as this is beyond me, but Bellavia eventually left the military and committed himself to his family.

It is thanks to books such as House to House that everyone can catch a glimpse of and appreciate the sacrifices the U.S. military makes on a regular basis.

Great book to read. I just returned from Iraq and found this book accurately describes events over there and is very well written. Haven't read a good war novel like this since reading Black Hawk Down over ten years ago. More importantly from being an action novel it really tries to describe the brotherhood that is the combat arms in the military. Thankfully Anabar province has calmed down at the sacrifice of many in this book. Also shows the struggle that many in the combat arms go through with personal struggle with their loved ones and brothers in arms.

My husband was in 2/2 together with SSG Bellavia. I knew the battle for Fallujah was bloody and fierce, but thanks to SSG Bellavia I now fully understand what my husband and all the other brave men of Task Force 2/2 went through.
This book was very personal and emotional for me, but I have to say it is the best book I have ever read.

I have read several Iraq war testimonial biographical books and this one stands out for its inside look if what its like to fight for your life in the urban battlefield.

I bought this book for my husband, who was in Fallujah during the time this book takes place. He loves the book..even if it was written from an Army guys perspective (He is a Marine). He laughed out loud several times and said...You gotta listen to this. I recommend this to anyone looking for a great book on the battle of Fallujah.

Bellavia has written a gripping account of his platoon's ordeal and victory in Fallujah. He manages the difficult trick of explaining his personal emotions, the technical details of combat and modern weaponry, the complex interrelationships among squad members, the divide between field soldiers and REMFs, and the psychotic behavior of the jihadist enemy. Pulling this off is hard under any circumstances, but it is especially difficult to do so with such modesty and self-awareness.

"House to House" will rank with William Manchester's "Goodbye, Darkness" and E.B. Sledge's "With the Old Breed" as a timleless memoir of men in battle. I can pay no greater compliment than that.

Goodbye, Darkness
With The Old Breed At Peleliu and Okinawa

This book ought to be required reading for everyone in America. As long as America has men like Bellavia we will stand tall in the world. My only concern is that there are not enough of them around. David Bellavia is the true definition of U.S. manhood.

To quote those old "Sgt. Rock" and "Sgt. Fury and His Howling Commandoes" comic books, what you get here is undiluted "blazing battle action!" I'm not making fun of David Bellavia's intense and stirring memoir, just saying that- like those comics of old- it doesn't worry about politics, editorial-page controversy, or hand wringing about the morality of war. It just gives you an undiluted "put you in our midst" look at the U.S. Infantry in action, in this case during the Battle of Fallujah in 2004.

To be sure, there's some context. There are infantrymen here who are 100% behind the war. There are infrantrymen here who think it's all a sham. But, as we soon see, both views are moot once the battles start. When the bullets start flying or the dark, booby-trapped houses have to be searched one by one for hiding insurgents, every soldier at that moment is 100% solidly behind the mission. Because that mission is to protect himself and his buddy, get the bad guys (there's pretty much universal agreement among the men that, despite their diverging opinions about the war's justification, there ARE bad guys in Iraq) and get out alive. In other words, to do the uniform proud.

If you can take the intense violence and the intense profanity (unlike the war comics mentioned above, this book doesn't tone down the blood or the swearing), you'll gain a picture of our men in action that you won't soon forget. And it's a fair, moving picture that- no matter your personal feelings about the war in Iraq- will make you want to shake these guys' hands if you get a chance to meet them.

This first person account of the fighting in Fallujah was harrowing. While the story was mesmerizing, on a technical level, it appeared to be missing the kind of structure that would take a story and makes it timeless. The story is still well-worth reading and I would recommend the book to anyone who wants to understand the difference between a speech on foreign policy and what happens on the ground. It also did a great job at illustrating the camaraderie among the fighting men and the pointless deaths that are seen in combat zones.

The Publisher's weekly review at the top of this list, solidified my decision to purchase the book; it was written by just the type of ungrateful person here at home in the USA, Bellavia fought nobly and selflessly to defend. This is an articulate and well done book. Read it and wish you were half the man he and his troops are.

This book is simply un-put-down-able. The intensity of SSG Bellavia's story is non-stop. He has a real story to tell of the trenches of today's Iraq war and he does it in person, with heart-stopping and gripping prose. This is the best memoir I've read in a long time. This tells the tale of some of our wonderful service men and women, a story that needs to be told, and that America needs to hear. I wished that the book (not the war) would have just kept going and going ... The book to which I would most closely compare this one is Jon Krakauer's "Into Thin Air," an equally un-put-down-able memoir of a different kind of battle.

One thing I see from this book: our military service men and women and the best trained and equipped in the world. Good thing.

I salute our wonderful service men and women and thank them for their service.

At times my heart sped, my eyes misted, and my blood pressure must have blown high. Our finest Americans have been there, are there or are going. They will experience some of the same horrors as Mr. Bellavia discribes. They will have these with them the rest of their lives. Above all these are the heart and soul of our great country. Let us never forget it or them. This novel tells it all it should be made reading for all in our education system. Honor our heroes, everyone of them.

This is a great book and should be read by everybody. It presents the fog of war and the accompanying frustration with the high-echelon officer corps.

Besides being a first-rate combat story, this book is also a good primer about leadership and the character required of those we place in command.

I pondered over this review for a long time. I actually wrote one and then didn't post it. I usually don't dither so much about anything but this book was difficult for me. This guy is a hero no doubt in my mind and the book was great..............up to a point. It was the last encounter that Bellavia had with the terrorist that I struggled with. The entire book was stark and brutal in its portrayal of urban combat and I was rivited by it. I've read many military books but few offer this gritty, brutal yet heoric view. I just was uncomfortable with the way it was written and I don't know why. It was too long maybe, like some chase scenes in so many movies. It just seemed over written for something that must have happened lightening fast. But overall the book was awesome.

I've have read Dozens (hundreds) of War memoirs from World War One to Iraq war. This is the best infantry first person account I have ever read. When you are done, you are the closest to knowing what it was like in Fallujah without actually having been there. I would recommend this book to anyone who wants to know more.

Also I am now reading "We Were One: Shoulder to Shoulder With the Marines Who Took Fallujah ". It is very interesting to compare tactics and attitudes to the Army vs. Marines as they both roll into Fallujah to clear it, same battle. This book is better than "we were one", but would not discount reading the latter also, it is a 4 vs. a 5+.

Sgt. Bellavia brings the Battle of Fallujah to you in this amazing book. I couldn't put this book down when I started it and I've read many war memoirs and this is one of the best. The best line from this book and I think it gives a good preview of the book is "This is our war: we can't shoot at every target, we can't always tell who is a target; but we look out for one another and we don't mind doing the nation's dirty work. Air Force pilots and Army majors expert in Microsoft PowerPoint have a perfectly clean view of it. We won't get support if it makes a mess. Bring it. We're the infantry. War's a bitch, wear a helmet."

"House to House" arrived today - at my office - I ordered 2 copies. My brother, Scott Lawson (SSG), knew about this book prior to Bellavia writing it. He called me Saturday to let me know that the book is now shipping. Scott and his troops are still in contact with Bellavia - they have a tremendous bond. They are all excited that their story and experiences are now in writing. Scott and Bellavia were station in Iraq together and there are countless mentions of them together in this book. My brother doesn't mention these stories and events - I think they're too horriffic for him to recall and discuss...maybe it's just that he knows I'd never fully understand what he went through. I'd like to thank Bellavia for writing this book and giving me a small glimpse as to what they experienced - or should I say "endured" while in Iraq. This book lays it out there - and gives you an incredible sense as to what really happened - and is happening in Iraq. When the book arrived - one of my employees was sitting with me - he grabbed the second copy and started thumbing through it - as did I. Next thing I knew, 20 minutes had passed without us discussing anything other than a few incredible events that we were reading....This book is something that you won't want to put down! I strongly recommend it - however, if you have a weak stomach or aren't open to really seeing or understanding what war is - this isn't the book for you. Hats off to Bellavia, my brother (Scott Lawson), Fitts, Ruiz, Misa, Meno, Cantrell and the other soldiers that worked together.

Actually I'd give this one 6 STARS! Outstanding Book!

This is a true story about the war in Iraq. It grabs you from the first page and does not let go until the last page. You find yourself cheering for those soldiers and learn the real sacrifices these men and women are making over in Iraq. Every American should read this book. I salute you, David Bellavia, and all your fellow men. THANK YOU!

by Gerard Zemek, husband of author of "My Funny Dad, Harry"

This book should be required reading for all those who talk about our troops in any context yet have not served as such. Bellavia's account will twist your stomach, make you laugh out loud and possibly give you nightmares. The challenges to one's leadership ability, conscience, inner demons, and basic toughness are all there. This is the most visceral and vivid account of modern warfare I have ever encountered. The movie Black Hawk Down seems like light entertainment in comparison yet House to House does this with the ring of truth throughout

I read this in 2 days. The graphic depictions of scenarios our soldiers face is stunning.
The book is face paced and gives you the feel like you are behind them conducting their searches.
There is no biased political overtones just a naration of events by a the soldier and his men and their accounts.
You get a great understanding of the enemy, their determination and their fanatisicm.
Excellent read.
Semper Fi to those men and the men & women who serve.

One of the best books written about the assault on Fallujah. His ability to verbalize these encounters are incredible, a must read.

This is one of the more amazing books I've read. The low level detailed view of the war in Iraq from SSG David Bellavia reaches out and grabs you from the first page to the last. The details provided really give you a sense of what our guys have gone through in some of the toughest fights so far in the war against fundamentalist Islam. The writing is terrific and relentless. The stories are stunning. There's just nothing wrong with this book. I finished it a while ago, but bits and pieces keep leaping into my mind. I want to thank SSG Bellavia for his service, but I'm even more grateful to him for writing this book. Without it, I don't think it would be possible to understand just how wonderful, special and the guys in our armed forces are.

I've been to Iraq. Twice. Each time, I was scared out of my mind, for the entire time I was there. It took me months after my return home not to drop to the floor at the sound of a car backfiring, or to scream "Go, go, go!" at the driver of a vehicle I was riding in when they stopped at a stop sign.

The worst part, for me at least, was that I was rear-echelon. I've served with pride in my country's Air Force for almost a decade now as an F-16 crew chief, and I've only seen real combat twice (once in Kosovo, once in Iraq). But that was enough. Two weeks of convoy duty between Fallujah and Kuwait was enough for a lifetime. I can't even remember much of the horrors I've witnessed, mostly because I've intentionally tried to forget them. To have survived months of such horror is unimaginable to me, but SSgt Bellavia and his men did it, day in and day out.

One thing I knew on my return from combat: my brothers in infantry had one hell of a fight ahead of them, with little hope of winning. I could not imagine the choices they had to make in battle. I was just thankful that I had those brave men there to protect me when I needed it most. I began on my convoy to feel like one of them, and felt a camaraderie that combat instills in only the hardest of hearts. To this day I'm proud to say I served with the Army, and those brave men who taught me courage in the face of overwhelming odds, facing fanatics that wanted nothing more than to kill me.

SSgt Bellavia tells his story with a poignancy that befits a far more intelligent man, and defeats the stereotype of the "dumb grunt on the ground". In only a few pages, I've relived that terrible experience of his, and I'm reminded of those brave infantrymen I served with. To have been there, done that, and gotten the f***ing t-shirt, and lived to tell about it, tells me that this man is not one of a few, but many, and his story illustrates proudly his conscience in the face of evil. Through his story, the entire world should see the courage, fortitude, and tenacity that our boys "over there" have, and we should all be proud to count them in our number as Americans.

You don't have to agree with my politics, what God I pray to, or whether or not my food is kosher. What you should do, though, is support those few who have raised their hands and said, "I'll go." SSgt Bellavia is one of those men, and I'm proud to call myself an American, because of men like him.

This entire book may seem to be propaganda by many, but if you would only read it, with an open mind, an open heart, and a willingness to deal with the world's evil, you might be surprised to find out you have a little patriotism yourself.

For anyone that wants to know how tough these guys have had it over there, or ever wondered what it is they go through, House to House will certainly deepen your understanding and appreciation for the common soldier's sense of honour and duty.

Staff Sergeant David Bellavia takes us through his experiences of the battle of Fallujah in gritty detail. The techniques the army uses, the equipment and insights into how they operate as a force is all detailed. But what I loved about House to House was that Bellavia doesn't portrey everyone as a hero, he gives insights into the soldier's real feelings and emotions allowing us to connect with them and really identify with what they are experiencing. You gain a real insight into the terror that grips them, the euphoria and all the vast range of emotions they go through.

If you are interested to know what these guys are doing, what they're putting on the line every day then this book is for you. It is not a phylosophical discussion on the rights and wrongs of war and it is not in any way debating any such issues. It is simply "a day in the lives" account of what it means to be a front line infantryman in Iraq. Despite my feelings on the war, I hold tremendous respect for thes guys and everything they do and I salute them all.

I heard an interview of the author on public radio. They said it was a good book about the nitty-gritty of battle, which is the kind of war book I like. This has all that and lots of detail about the guns and armor used. It is also pretty well written. I think you will like it.

This is probably one of the most brutally honest and accurate pictures of the war I have ever read. This is life in the infantry man today with the literal truth exposed like a wound. The imagery the author brings alive on the page to the reader will stun you. You may not agree with this soldiers point of view, your may not care for his views on you as a civilian, but you have to respect that he has a point of view based on real experience. The only other book I have read that was really told me `something' about the War in Iraq is "Generation Kill" by Evan Wright. Reading "House to House: A Frontline Account of the Battle for Fallujah" was often painful, but it is also important that this story be heard.

The Publishers Weekly review says it very well. This is a personal story vs a strategic tome. In tellig his story, Bellavia takes the reader to the battle. It's a gripping tale that depicts the horror or war while showing a true warrior in action . Yes it's a shame "our boys " need to go through this, but we should all be thankful there are Americans willing to take this fight to those equally passionate in destroying our values. That heroism was needed in decades past and sadly, will be needed again.

It was amazing to me that he could recall the level of detail shared, but maybe brain never forgets these experiences.

I could not put this book down. When I first saw him speak on C-Span about the book and the battle in Fallujah I knew it would be an interesting book. He did not disappoint. He paints a vivid picture of the battlefield and shares his emotions with the readers. If you ever wanted to know what the infantry is like in combat.......read this book.

by Carolyn Ennis, The Bakersfield Independent, www.bakersfieldindependent.com

As an Operation Iraqi Freedom veteran, when I first picked up "House to House: an Epic Memoir of War," I was torn between wanting to feast my literary soul or running for the hills as fast as my legs would carry me. In the end, I bought the book--and let it sit on my nightstand for a good couple of months before I actually felt brave enough to read it.

You see, I was afraid to read this book by former Army Staff Sergeant David Bellavia because although I've been deployed and I'm relatively not any "worse-for-wear" because of it, I wasn't sure if I was ready to go back "over there." It's taken me well over a year to readjust to life as a Soldier in the States. Iraq is a very complicated place in a very precarious situation. Once you've been there, you're forever changed. As Bellavia recounted his experience in Fallujah, I was equally consumed with empathy and pride. In an unexpected way, his memoir was therapeutic for me.

Bellavia's writing style is clear and direct. No ten-dollar words for this guy--as a Non-Commissioned Officer in the United States Army and a Combat Infantryman, there isn't much use--or time--for anything less than candor. Yet he imparts a succinct kind of visual imagery unto the reader without going "Hollywood." He paints a picture of consummate professionalism infused with tender humanity as he shares the conversations and experiences of his team while they fought the Battle of Fallujah alongside the Marines in November 2004.

The "characters" in the book are real people--people any one of us might know. (Mind you, I use the term "characters" in a tongue-in-cheek fashion; it is a nonfiction work.) Bellavia's closest friend (and "battle buddy") is Staff Sergeant Colin Fitts--a proud father of three, an NCO with absolutely zero-tolerance for nonsense, and a fierce warrior who alternately cajoled and bullied his doctors into letting him return to the fight after being medically evacuated to Walter Reed Army Medical Center. His mentor is Command Sergeant Major Steve Faulkenburg--a man "larger than life" in Bellavia's eyes, despite his short, stocky stature. His Executive Officer is Lieutenant Edward Iwan--a college graduate, Army Chaplain, and incomparable leader. Bellavia welcomes readers into the "tough-guy" world of the Infantry and takes them on a life-and-death mission in Iraq. The author builds a relationship between readers and Bellavia's fellow Soldiers--an exclusive relationship that is ordinarily fiercely protected and seldom understood by people outside of the Infantry. Bellavia allows the reader into the "inner sanctum" of the Soldier--a privilege for the reader, be sure.

In short, Bellavia walks the reader through the preparation for battle, depicts the bonds formed between Soldiers not by words, rather, by actions, and the long journey home--home being a place of refuge and safety on an emotional level as opposed to a street address. It's unusual for me to say this about a military novel, but I would even recommend this book to my mother--yes, there are parts that are brutal. People are killed in war. Or worse. As Bellavia puts it, "War's a bitch, bring a helmet." Reading the book, though, is almost like Bellavia sitting next to you in his living room, telling you his story. I was completely engaged in the book from the first chapter to the last. I recommend this book to anyone who would like a candid insight into a Soldier's unflagging determination and selfless valor in battle.

This book is nothing short of amazing. Some of the stories that are in this book are the most sincere, heartfelt, and fearful stories that I have ever read. Its nice because the book allows you to get personal with SSGT. Bellavia and follow him as he grows as a leader and maturity. This book really captures your attention and you have to fight to let go. I literally, sat in study hall a few minutes past the bell because I got lost in the book and couldn't pull myself out. If you like "We Were One" or over the shoulder and very personal books dealing with this current conflict, this is definitely a book for you.

We live in a time where we have almost instant access to "history". Those who fought in WW2/Korea/Vietnam rarely were able to publish DURING the conflict in the same way that authors such as SSG Bellavia have been able to publish their story during the Iraq conflict.

There is much talk about the evolution of warfare and how technology rules the battlefield, but this book reinforces the point that no matter what, the infantryman with his rifle still has to go forward, seek out the enemy, engage them, kill them and take and hold ground.

The soldier doing this job is still dirty, tired, hungry, angry, scared as well as trying to protect himself and his team. I think people need to be reminded of this sometimes, it's not all laser designators and smart bombs, it still gets messy, bloody and in your face.

The last action sequence in the book reminded me a hell of a lot of the part in Saving Private Ryan where the American soldier and the German are fighting hand to hand in the top floor of a building near the bridge and the German kills the American with the knife (or bayonet - whatever). As I was reading about Bellavias encounter, with him swinging his own helmet as a weapon, I'm thinking, "Where's your knife, where's your knife?" He found it, and lived to tell the tale.

I highly recommend this book. Read it, enjoy it and appeciate the fact that it's not you. You don't have to agree with what is going on in Iraq, but you do have to acknowledge the guts of the grunts over there.

This is an amazing book of war. When you are reading you feel like you are there beside them fighting, and it is very personal for me because this book honors the true American hero's, one of which happens to be one of my dearest friends from school who lost his life defending our great country. Always remember "FREEDOM IS NOT FREE". We need to keep all our service men and women in our prayers each and every day and be greatful for what they give up to protect us. God bless

I started this book and could not put it down. It is a fantastic account of the battle for Fallujah written from one Army Staff Seargant's point of view. Just a few chapters in, you feel like you know SSG Bellavia and the other men in his platoon. This is no antiseptic view of battle, and paints the horrors as well as the triumphs in equally vivid ways. I heartily recommend it.

Not since Black Hawk Down has there been such an intense, sustained and gripping contemporary account of platoons and squads in the thick of urban combat. With this book, which is just absolutely unforgettable, Sergeant Bellavia and John Bruning bring you into battle against Fallujah's "insurgent all-star team." You feel it. At least, the book creates the illusion that you, while sitting in your arm chair, are in the midst of a do-or-die situation against a murderous, lethal opponent. Quite a few do-or-die situations, in fact. My kids play these games on their PlayStation. But no videogame can match a well-tuned literary narrative written with imaginative empathy. At least not this one. House to House is a breathtaking read that will make it impossible for you to see a combat infantryman the same way again.

Breathtaking! This book is hard to put down, the details are very fresh in the authors mind and because of that you feel like you are with those men in their fight. Just saying thank you to a soldier for their sacrifice surely doesn't seem to be enough, but thank you.

I couldn't put this book down, and when I did, I raced back to it. I am an infantry squad leader preparing to go to Iraq, and I bought the book as a lesson on leadership. Bravo SSG Bellavia

This is a MUST read for anyone interested in the street fighting in Iraq. Hat's off to the author and his comrads for going to bat for us. Hoowah!

"House To House: An Epic Memoir of War" is a riveting book. Bellavia offers insight into what U.S. soldiers face in combat. His descriptons are so superb that you can hear, smell, taste, each and every moment. In one chapter you feel like you are with him inside a dark room as he fights for his life, against an insurgent he calls "the boogey man." The things he writes about are at times, difficult to read. Yet, you will find you cannot put this book down. It is also packed with emotion...... We see the bond that soldiers have with one another....and you follow Bellavia's struggle to be a man and father. If you ask me, this should be required reading for every American. Bellavia and his men are true heroes. Thank You!

Army SSG David Bellavia, with the assistance of John Bruning, sets a high standard by claiming this to be an "epic memoir of war" in the book's title. Sorry, it doesn't come close to that.

This is a micro view of one soldier involved in several fierce and gut wrenching battles in Fallujah. While it is candid, vivid and sometimes horrifying as SSG Bellavia recounts his personal experiences, feelings and thoughts in conducting house to house clearings, it is hardly epic. SSG Bellavia doesn't recoil from telling his story but he strives too hard to plunge the reader into the hell he knew. Through his eyes we can grasp the "fog of war" at the individual and platoon level but he tends to over dramatize and sometimes glorify his own role, particularly incidents of foolishness and poor leadership. For instance, there are several times when his peer, SSG Fitts, has to remind the author of his responsibility as a team leader while SSG Bellavia howls at the moon or issues foolish orders to his men. This attempt at honesty fell flat with me. It made me wonder whether I would want my son serving under his orders, rather than admiring SSG Bellavia's attempt to demonstrate the base animal brutality of battle. SSG Fitts comes across as a far more capable team leader and more authentic hero after being shot 3 times, yet returning to the war after convalescence.

SSG Bellavia is a decorated infantryman, who performed well under fire and is deeply patriotic. His sacrifice and service should not be diminished by my comments regarding his book. I read his book because I wanted to know about the house to house combat in Iraq. SSG Bellavia delivered on that score. He also shows himself to be human. At the same time, however, he also tries to convince the reader he is a finely honed, military killing machine. The dichotomy is disconcerting, repetitive in some places and a little self-serving, if not self-glorifying.

It is an individual's story, not an epic.

i couldnt put this down, recommend this book for anyone interested in the iraq war, or the battle of falluja

Not always easy to read, especially for someone with loved ones in harm's way but it is such a blast of "in your face" reality that it made me flinch.

I started out in the Infantry in the 80's and transfered to the Air Force and completed a 22 year career. I can tell you without a doubt that this is the finest book I have ever read about the Infantry experience. God Bless these young people and those that currently serve. I feel that this should be mandatory reading for each American. I am thankful for folks like this that enable us to live our lives in peace. It is nice to go to bed at night and not have to worry..... Thank you each and every one!

MSgt (Ret) Guy Blevins, USAF

This book by David Bellavia puts you on his shoulder as he fights the jihadist Islamists in Fallujah Iraq circa late 2004. You won't find a more intense and consuming description of close combat anywhere in the annals of military literature. This man takes you into his mind and heart as he shares his raw emotions and intuitive reasoning, all overlaid with his superb combat training, while puting himself constantly at risk in the most arduous of circumstances. As he leads his squad of young soldiers on this mission from hell you can almost smell and feel the atmosphere of the instant. His writing is gripping and descriptive as it describes the minute by minute terror experienced by the foot soldier in this most difficult form of fighting - house to house. A quick read, it's hard to put down. It caused me to almost gasp for air on several occasions. For those of you who appreciate the sacrifices of "the best that America has to offer," this is a more than worthy read. I suggest a companion book, America Alone by Mark Steyn, as a precedent piece to read on why we're fighting in Iraq. There's a reason and it's a good one!