I decided to pick up this book after reading Campbell's article in Guideposts magazine. I wanted to see how his faith fared while he was immersed in the military/combat life. In the book, the faith/Christian themes are pretty low-key; however, the insightful observations Campbell draws about the human spirit and LOVE in particular were - for me - a clear expression of his spirituality.

This is the most balanced war memoir I've read. It's not about politics and it's not dripping with military ego/pride. Campbell's ability to be straightforward and honest about his own shortcomings, regrets and emotional state is truly compelling. It's about his personal journey and how he is changed by what he experiences - and he's not afraid to tell it like it is. He's obviously driven, and he's hard on himself, which only served to make me admire him more (not unlike the fictional military officer in my second novel).

On top of that, he's either got a natural knack for writing or he's got an incredible editor, because this book pulls everything together in a way that other Iraq memoirs haven't (and I've read a number of them). And that makes the book even more powerful. Well done!

Joker One: A Marine Platoon's Story of Courage, Leadership and Brotherhood is by far the best military memoir I have ever read. I am a Veteran of the First Gulf War with the First Marine Division, just like the story of G/2/4 in Joker One. I have to say that these Marines are carrying on the finest traditions of the USMC and have made me so proud.

The book is fantastic in it's tale of a transition of a young Lieutenant in command of a platoon for the first time in combat. Lt. Campbell changes from a nervous, naive, inexperienced leader (as every leader starts out as, whether he admits it or not) into a battle weary, strong, competent leader. The details of the day-to-day living bring the lives of these Marines to the reader in a way that very few writers have accomplished.

I am truly humbled by the service of Lt. Campbell and his Marines. I will tell you that as I finished the book, I openly wept with the pain that Lt. Campbell felt.

Obviously, I recommend this book for every American. Semper Fi Marines.

It is amazing that soldiers can fight under these conditions. Less a daily log, more of a highlighted trip to hell. This one allows those at home to sample the life. Now you know why they didn't follow the Olympics that summer.

Been there done that. United States Army Special Forces. He voices the unspoken thoughts of the soldier in combat. The world and the politically correct do not want anybody to know what it is really like. He tells it all. Eloquently. I always kept track of the location of the Marine units. If I needed help I wanted good help. I did Viet Nam Inc, Grenada, recovering Jim Jones congregation, the Beriut Lebanon Marine barracks, the Practice Gulf War and the real Gulf War. War is Hell.

I didn't go looking for this book. It showed up on Amazon's "pick's for you," and I needed a book so I purchased it. This book is so well written that upon finishing you feel as if you know the men of Joker One and One Actual. You feel the pain, joy, and fear right along with the men. There is some comic relief provided by the men of Joker One that made me laugh out loud several times. I personally know several Iraq veterans, and though they tell stories, they seem to keep their true feelings to themselves. Campbell, "for his men" he says, lets everything out. He tells about his depressions, his men's fear and his all encompassing need to shoulder the weight of every missions choices by himself. Best read if you want to know the true going on's of the Iraq War.

I found Campbell's story a compelling read, a realistic description of close combat and its
fog-of-war, and an accurate account of the struggle within combat leaders trying to balance
the need to complete missions while doing the best possible to look out for the welfare of
their men. In that regard, it was interesting to see that not much has changed since I led
an Army Combat Engineer Platoon and later Company in the highlands of Vietnam in 1967
and 1968. Joke One is the real deal.

This is a well done narative of a Marine platoon's mission in Ramadi, during an unsettled period. The author vividly describes the day in and day out consequenses of that mission, resulting in frightening fire fights, exploding IEDs, battle tactics, personal heroism of his platoon, and sometimes the personal horrors as seen through the eyes of a professional soldier. The book is a tribute to the quality, and inter strength of our young men who shoulder arms and go willingly into hazardous, horrific places. This reader was moved to tears at times, from compassion and pride in the gripping story being told in this "can't put it down" book.