This review is strictly about the kindle version--not the book itself or its merits. The typography is the worst I've seen. Download a sample and see for yourself. I didn't buy a Kindle so I could squint at crappy typography. I'll have to get the hardcopy on this one.

I had a very personal interest in buying this book ... a close friend of mine is Willy Buhl, the Thundering Third Herd's commanding officer during the fight for Fallujah. He and I served together in the 1st Battalion, 4th Marines in the early 1990s. In keeping with the 'It's a small Corps' mantra, I also served with Sgt. Maj. Brad Kasal when we were squad leaders in 1/4 during Desert Storm.

The book came as close one could get to telling it like it was, showing readers what life in 3/1 was like in the days and weeks leading up to November '04. I remember sitting in the Green Zone poring over what news we could get and watching Sea Knight choppers heading for the CSH knowing the house-by-house fighting in Fallujah was exacting a high toll among the Marines.

O'Donnell fills in the gaps that wasn't in any network news report, telling a solid story of small unit action and how hard close quarters combat in Fallujah was on the friendships and cameraderie among the Teufelhunden.

It's hard to imagine the magnitude and hard fighting that these Marines experienced and went through, but Patrick O'Donnell does his best to help you understand.

So many heroes and so little time to get it right, but the author does yeoman's work to bring the story of a courageous Band of Brothers together in the mazes and labyrinths of Fallujah. The battle's high cost is reflected in these pages. I'm even more saddened to know of Sean Stokes's death in Iraq in July, 2007 after he returned for a third combat tour when he didn't have to. His posthumous Silver Star only scratches the surface of how much this brave young Marine gave to his nation.

I've always had great respect for the Marine Corps and their legacy throughout American history. Although I chose a different branch of service, several of my closest friends are Marines, and I'll always be grateful for their contributions to the fight over here in Iraq. I'll never forget the camaraderie and friendship of Marine Majors Martinez, Neidigh, Roberts and Hill, all of whom I got to know in the Armor Officer Basic and Advanced Courses at Fort Knox in the 1990s. In the pages of this book, I see the same professionalism and fighting spirit that I saw firsthand from my Marine Corps tanker brethren.

This is a good book- well worth reading. In my opinion, not quite as powerful as David Bellavia's "House to House", nor as sweeping as Bing West's "No True Glory", but close and a worthy addition to any military historian's library. Read the trio of books and you'll only begin to see the epic battle from the various warriors who fought it, but "Fallujah With Honor" is a superb tactical snapshot of one platoon's close-quarters fight, and the disproportionate price they paid for our Freedom.

Semper Fidelis, Marines. You honor us all with your actions.

Baghdad
02-08-2008

I am a retired Marine Master Seargeant.
It can't be written any better than the way it has been. For those that never went anywhere, never joined the armed services here is a book to tell you what the armed forces do for you. take some time and read the book, you may learn something.

Read this the week after I received it as a Christmas present. If you enjoy books about the military, battles and specifically the Marines you can't go wrong. I prefer historical accounts primarily (not first person shooter) this did a reasonable job of blending both styles without being preachy.

As I haven't even received this product it is difficult to review. I ordered this book on 11/27/07 and it was due for delivery on 12/24/07. It was not delivered. My contact with Amazon since then has been an appalling experience with mistake after mistake. Mistakes were made on the original delivery. I was then told that a part shipment had been made ( 3 books in total). Mistakes were made on costs and on refunds and I also have 2/3 different delivery dates. In fact they made mistakes on just about everything and I will never use Amazon again

Publisher's weekly, the anti-military idiots who write the blurbs for Amazon, has no understanding of honor and sacrifice for their country. Having served 6 years in the USMC Infantry, I give this book my highest recommendation.

Amazon should re-consider having Publisher's Weekly give these reviews. They give EVERY military book that has a positive slant a bad review.

I have a special place in my heart for this book. It is probably the closest thing I can have to an account of my nephew's death. Today, as I write this review, I am remembering the death of my nephew, LCpl Nathan R. Wood of the 3/1 Lima who died exactly 3 years ago today (November 9, 2004).

Nathan was killed by enemy fire on that first day in the battle for Fallujah. I can remember so vividly the telephone call I received shortly after 11:00 p.m. that cold, autumn night. That moment has changed my life forever.

This book is a touching memorial to all of those who fought bravely in that horrible battle, and it reminds me why I am so proud to be an American. I keep a signed copy of it on my bookshelf next to Nathan's photo and have read it several times.

For those of you who have experienced a loss such as the one experienced by my sister, I thank you for your ultimate sacrifice. For those of you who have loved ones still fighting in Iraq, my prayers are with you. Thank you to Patrick for standing "shoulder to shoulder" with these true American heroes and for this incredibly moving memorial. I will cherish it forever. Godspeed, Nathan and "Semper Fi".

Uncle Bill

Whomever wrote the following review from the Publishers Weekly is biased: "O'Donnell appears to have fallen in love with his subjects, adding to the growing genre of worshipful, jingoistic battle narratives about Iraq." I doubt this person even read this book but who could blame any embedded writer for "cheerleading" the very troops who prevented his or her demise? Read the book, then form an opinion.

Thankyou to all the brave young men and women that have or are currently serving in Iraq. Rock on Marines and as always...Semper Fi!!!

Award winning author Patrick K. O'Donnell volunteered to go to Iraq to become one of the first historians to accompany American troops into combat. Of his own effort he got himself placed with 1st Platoon, Lima Company, 3rd Battalion, 1st Marine Regiment. It was a decision that could have cost him his life. His chosen platoon was a major participant in the infamous battle for Fallujah in 2004. The author details the fighting through the eyes of the combatants which makes the book memorable and not your typical history read.

The complex situation facing the American troops as they try to stabilize the region is enlightening and at times absolutely frightening. The battle for the city of Fallujah is door to door, up close and personal. The fighting to gain control of a city controlled by the Mujahideen, the Islamist opponents of the U.S.-led coalition's occupation of Iraq, is fierce and not without casualties. How the Marines complete their mission to clear some 39,000 buildings with roughly 400,000 rooms, is an emotional read made possible by the author, who comes to know the men personally.

Throughout the book important facts come to light that people need to know if they are to understand the ongoing war against world terrorism. What the Marines encountered in Fallujah were foreign fighters from more than 18 different countries. In spite of being heavily out numbered, the Marines hold true to tradition and prevail. The book leaves no doubt that the Marines fighting in Iraq today are as capable as any in history.

Patrick O'Donnell has put his heart and soul into the writing of "We Were One". The end result is a masterpiece. The author has done a remarkable job preserving the experiences of those he served with. The telling of their stories gives us all a much better understanding of the on going war in Iraq. I highly recommend this book.

Fantastic book. Not only were these men heroes, but they were professionals. The author wrote the book very well.

For the general public this lets you know what our troops are facing to help keep us free. For those who are thinking of joining the military this book gives you a glimpse into why we fight.

The author did a good job piecing together all of the understandably disjointed eye-witness accounts of combat into a story that can be followed be even those who have a very limited understanding of how the military works.

This story of Marines cuts across all branches and appeals to all of us who are or were in the military.

This is a great first hand accounting of the experiences of an embedded journalist with the marines in Fallujah. If you want the real deal, this is the one to read as the journalist was there. I've read others where the journalist uses after action reports as their primary source. Those are all fine, but if you want the feel of action like you were there. This is the one to get.

I know a Marine (in the 3/1) who was there in the fight for Fallujah. I wouldn't have considered reading this book if I thought for a moment that Patrick K. O'Donnell wasn't truly "Shoulder to Shoulder" with these brave Marines. My Marine friend had met the author and assured me that I would be reading the true story even though my friend hadn't yet read it himself. It was a difficult read for me as I currently have a son in Iraq. The feelings generated by Mr. O'Donnell's account of the fight for Fallujah were so intense at times that I had to put the book down from time to time. However, this is not criticism. He reported it the way it happened in real time, not after the fact. He made us get to know these brave, selfless Marines, humanizing them. I believe with all my heart and soul that if America (a half a world away from the Middle East) had any idea of what truly goes on "over there", it would be a humbling experience. My heart goes out to the families of the Marines who made the ultimate sacrifice. Semper Fi

As a mother of a Marine, who is currently deployed in Al Anbar province, I wanted to read this book to see if I could get some insight regarding what my son is going through everyday. Sadly Mr.O'Donnell did not disappoint me. I say sadly because it was very real and I could picture my son in every one of the Marines Mr. O'Donnell immortalized. He painted a very clear and honest picture of who these young men are, how they felt, and how the daily activities they faced impacted them. I must say that at times it was a little too honest for me; the language was little rough, remember I am a Marine Mom, not a Marine. After reading this book I felt as though I knew each of these young men and I said another prayer of thanksgiving for their bravery and sacrifices. Although it was a hard story to read I am glad I read it. I am very proud of these young men and even more committed to the job that needs to be finished. I am just sorry it is true.

WELL WRITTEN DESCRIPTION OF A DIFFERENT KIND OF WAR BY THE SAME TYPE OF PEOPLE AS WERE IN BOTH WORLD WARS KOREA AND VIETNAM.

SEMPER FI

We Were One is a true tribute to the US military's harrowing assault on Fallujah, and Pat O'Donnell's vivid account comes from his own willingness to sacrifice it all to capture this critical moment in history. This book is impossible to put down.

You can feel the friendships forming at the onset of the book, as though they are your own brothers, and then witness the first-hand account of the assault from the eyes of the Marine Corps. The book makes us ever proud to be an American and is a tribute to those Marines who served in some of the most fierce fighting since Vietnam. Fantastic reading!

For anyone wishing to understand what our Marines were up against in Fallujah, this book brings it home. Patrick O'Donnell paints a brilliant and realistic picture of how our fine Marines look after each other and how they are committed to getting the job done, no matter what the cost. The brotherhood and the courage that is the nature of Marines is shown clearly in "We Were One".
As a Marine mom, I appreciate seeing the Marines portayed as the Heroes they are, instead of the ruthless killers the mainstream media wants you to believe they are. I highly recommend "We Were One" to anyone who wants to know "what it's like in Iraq". And I praise Mr. O'Donnell for putting himself in harms way to get the real stories of what is now "the New Greatest Generation". These Marines need to be remembered and honored for the Heroes they are and Mr. O'Donnell has certainly paid them a fine tribute. Thank you, Mr. O'Donnell.

WE WERE ONE: SHOULDER TO SHOULDER WITH THE MARINES WHO TOOK FALLUJAH comes from a combat historian who here provides a first-hand account of the battle for Fallujah. Unlike most accounts of battle the author was with Lima Company's First Platoon as they experienced some of the most intense hand combat since the second world war five months after being deployed to Iraq: chapters capture vivid encounters between soldiers and civilians and re-create loss and combat conditions. Collections strong in military biography in general and Iraq in particular will find this an intense, revealing portrait with the power to attract a range of patrons.

Diane C. Donovan
California Bookwatch

I got this book to see what my cousin went through in the 2nd battle of Fallujah. It gave me the specific detail that I was looking for. I recommend this book who want to know about the battle and it's tactics.

The author put his life on the line to write this book, and he went at great expense, both financial and personal. That alone deserves five stars. His approach was history in "real time," recording memories of U.S. Marines during a fight for Fallujah, or soon after. Fighters in Fallujah had eight months to dig in, and U.S. Marines took them out one house at a time.

Knowing what U.S. troops are facing on the ground is vital to get a well-rounded picture of the war, and you'll see it all here, maybe more than you want.

You won't get a nuanced view of the political atmospherics, but that's not the story the author sets out to tell. In the end, whatever the politics, these guys were fighting for their buddy, which is what a lot of combat veterans often seem to say. It wasn't about high ideals, just fighting for their buddy and getting home. They were fighting as one. Words can probably never express combat--you just have to be there. But you get pretty close here.

There have been some tremendous sacrifices made in Iraq. It would be a shame if some of the black spots in the U.S. military's efforts in Iraq were to obscure the many acts of heroism and efforts to help build the foundations for a unified and stable Iraq.

Dear Sir,
I am a 17 year old aspiring US Marine Officer currently living in the UK. I recently read your book, We Were One - Shoulder to Shoulder with the Marines who took Fallujah and I must say I was moved. Beautifully written and with a clarity that my limited vocabulary can't express, We Were One has become one of my all-time favourite books. I expect you get this question a lot, but have you considered looking to create a film adaptation to this incredible story? In my opinion it would certainly be a risk; done well it could prove to be an absolutely fantastic piece, but done badly it could ruin the chances of those truly amazing men being honoured in the way they deserve.

Many thanks,

Sincerely



Alex

Sir,
As a Vietnam vet of two tours, I read your book 'We Where One" in a day. Riveting to say the least exhilarating at times an profound in many ways.
Today's young men and women have proven that they are up to the task. Yes the next "Great Generation" if the media is willing to tell it.
The part of the Veterans meeting the Soldiers, Marines, Airmen as they came through Bangor brought a lump to my throat. When I deplaned in California we where hustled into building and then out to the Civilian Airport. I was spit on and called a baby killer. That memory burns deeper than the fighting and loses I endured during my tours. I am ecstatic to see that today's returnees do not have to endure that burden.

Having served in the Marine Corps from 67-71 I am pround to state that according to Patrick O'Donnell Marines are still doing what Marines do....serving this country even though I'm not sure we deserve their sacrifice. We Were One by Patrick K. O'Donnell tells the story of the assault on Fallujah by the Marines of Lima Company, 3rd Battalion, 1st Marine Regiment. It is the story of personal sacrifice and personal heroism in the face of a crazy and determined enemy. America must never forget the sacrifice of these young Americans and so many more just like them serving in other branches of the military.

O'Donnell, as in all of his books tells the story in real time....as it is happening. He tells the story of individuals in insane situations, and also manages to convey the hopelessness of combat and war. The smells, sounds, and confusion of combat are presented to the reader in as real a manner as it is possible to do on a written page.

Marines from other generations need to read this story as do Americans in general.

The only reason I didn't give the book five stars is because of the sloppy editing. As another reviewer points out, who ever edited this book needs to spend about 12 weeks on Paris Island to get their head out of the dark.

Semper Fi

Having served in the Marine Corps from 67-71 I am pround to state that Marines are still doing what Marines do....serving this country even though I'm not sure we deserve their sacrifice. We Were One by Patrick K. O'Donnell tells the story of the assault on Fallujah by the Marines of Lima Company, 3rd Battalion, 1st Marine Regiment. It is the story of personal sacrifice and personal heroism in the face of a crazy and determined enemy. America must never forget the sacrifice of these young Americans and so many more just like them serving in other branches of the military.

O'Donnell, as in all of his books tells the story in real time....as it is happening. He tells the story of individuals in insane situations, and also manages to convey the hopelessness of combat and war. The smells, sounds, and confusion of combat are presented to the reader in as real a manner as it is possible to do on a written page.

Marines from other generations need to read this story as do Americans in general.

The only reason I didn't give the book five stars is because of the sloppy editing. As another reviewer points out, who ever edited this book needs to spend about 12 weeks on Paris Island to get their head out of the dark.

Semper Fi

One oorah for the author's participation in this battle, but his editor needs a thrashing. This book is rife with typos, grammer and syntax errors, repetitious telling of facts and details, and provides mostly short, stinted tellings of encounters that deserve greater depth. However, the battle for Fallujah is a thrilling and epic story, [grudgingly] making this book worth reading nonetheless. Unfortunately, the writing does not provide the full depth and emotion of the experience.

My deepest respect and appreciation for the Marines and sailors of 3/1, even if they are from the 3rd battalion.

Having a son who served under one of the people in this book made it so very personal to me. It is a well written account of the events our Marines went through and continue to. A book to sit down and get drawn into, it makes you feel as though you are there with the men. Even if I werent personally involved, it would still be a book I would read more than once.

Pat O'Donnell lived with Lima 3/1 and went house to house during the November-December 2004 battle called Fallujah II. He describes exactly what it was like to be a member of a rifle squad in urban combat. A superb book that reflects the pride and brotherhood of the grunts. Highly recommended.

I am Patrick's ex-wife and would like to set the record straight. Patrick and I mutually decided to file for divorce right before he left for Iraq -- no job, no book deal, yet leaving behind his 4 year old daughter. This was a mutual decision, I did not throw him out of the house. I even drove him to the airport when he left. During his time in Iraq I kept him on my health insurance, found him an apartment to live in and even let him live in my house for 3 weeks when he returned from Iraq after vacationing in London, until his apartment was available. So when he has his pity party about how I divorced him, threw him out of the house, claiming he was homeless, to help sell books, let me tell you this is not the way it happened!
So don't feel bad for Patrick -- 6 months upon his return from his "tour of duty" he purchased a $400,000+ condo and a year later a brand new Mercedes -- not a bad jump for a homeless man!!

This book is incredible. And no, that isn't an overstatement.

O'Donnell isn't going to win any awards for his writing talents---his allegories are like stale Stephen King at best---but the story alone sells this book and made it (for me at least) the first read in a very long time that I just simply couldn't put down.

It made me
1. Proud to be an American
2. Sorrowful for the soldiers who experienced this battle
3. Reconfirm my hatred for Islamic extremists
4. Understand the petty manipulation of our media concerning the Iraq war

and quite possibly more than anything...

5. Ashamed for not serving my country.

God Bless America----and God Bless the Marines

"We Were One" Shoulder to shoulder with the Marines who took Fallujah is an objective, real time report on Lima Co. 3/1's assault on Fallujah. The author, through great personal sacrafice and danger, takes you into a battle so ferocious with house to house fighting that has not been witnessed since Stalingrad. Patrick O'Donnell keeps with his style of telling it from the veterans point of view as he did with his other books, Beyond Valor, Into the Rising Sun and Operatives, Spies and Saboteurs. In this book, he does it in real time witnessing the battle himself, then recording it each night in the "safe houses" he and the Marines hunkered down in while AC-130U gunships circled, firing cannon and minigun to keep the Islamofascists at bay all night long. I read his other books, I've lived WWII through the eyes, hearts and minds of the veterans of the European and Pacific theaters. Now I have lived it real time from the Marines on the front line of a battle that joins the ranks of Marine Corps historical lore. This is a book for those who appreciate small unit tactics and close personal combat. These Marines did not have much armor support and had to do it the old fashioned way, even using Bangalore Torpedoes. It is a must read for all us armchair warriors.

"We were One" is a clear and concise review of Lima Co, 3/1's heroic efforts in Fallujah. Fighting in one of the worst battles of the war in Iraq ( An-Nasiriyah being the other ), author Patrick O'Donnell vividly chronicles the efforts, thoughts, and actions of the surviving members of L Co. as they clear houses and kill muj during this Nov 2004 battle. O'Donnell does a superb job of personalizing these awesome young Marines as they fight, are wounded, and die during this horriffic battle. The Marines fought an opponent who was as motivated to succeed as themselves, and the author describes the sheer brutality of the battle accurately.

On the other hand, his plugs and comments on his own role are unnecessary; he is supposed to be recording Marine efforts, and not his. To claim that his is the only book where a reporter is embedded with a Marine combat unit is grossly incorrect; a stroll thru the shelves of any Barnes & Noble or Borders would introduce him to such excellent books as "Generation Kill" or "No True Glory", to say nothing of the books like "Blood Stripes" or "One Bullet Away" written by former Marine officers David Danelo and Nathaniel Fick. The effort here should best remain on the Marines who, as usual, did all the heavy lifting //

The Bing West book about the Battle of Fallujah was an excellent "big picture" book about what happened there, but WE WERE ONE describes the battle from the life-or-death point of view of a platoon of young Marines who fought their way through the city--a very intense job of real reporting (Ernie Pyle must surely be nodding down with approval)that should be read by every American. So get it and read it and buy dinner for the next Marines you run into. And say thanks to the author for putting his life on the line to bring it to you.

"We Were One: Shoulder-to-shoulder with the Marines who took Fallujah" is the story of Lima Company, a close-knit squad of Marines who saw the toughest fighting in the November 2004 battle to take Fallujah in Iraq. (This is a different squad than the Columbus, Ohio based Lima company.)

The book touches on Lima company's training and early patrols as they are deployed to Camp Abu Ghraib (yes, the famous prison). What comes through is the close friendships the Marines form with each other as they go through the grueling training regimen, and the difficult task they face in Iraq as they try to build a rapport with the local population. They are asked to build trust, but it is dangerous for Iraqis to be seen as too close to the Americans - they are likely to get killed for it. They must also deal with cultural barriers as well as the fog of war. In one case, the neighborhood where the Marines have ingratiated themselves is fired upon by a separate Army unit. The frustration of having the trust you've built up destroyed by errors on your own side is palpable.

The heart of the book, though, is its on-the-frontlines report of the battle for Fallujah. By November 2004, Fallujah had become the locus of the insurgency in Iraq. An estimated 7,500 - 10,000 hardcore jihadis - known as the mujihadeen or "muj" for short to the Marines - were entrenched in the city. From it, Abu Musab al-Zarqawi directed the insurgents all over Iraq, established bomb-making factories that supplied the IEDs put to devastating use throughout the country, and set up torture facilities for the muj's captured victims. The jihadists are a motley crew of Islamists, criminals, and former Saddam regime elements. The Marines would later find out that jihadis in Fallujah came from 18 different countries. The most deadly enemies were highly trained veteran fighters of the Chechen civil war. All of them would have to be cleared out of Fallujah in dreadful urban, close-quarters combat.

Lima company's 1st platoon, which is the focus of the action, fought in Fallujah for 10 days, and at the end only 14 of the unit's 46 soldiers were unharmed. They saw the heaviest fighting of the battle. Their mission was to "clear" every house between their starting point and their objective - ranging from several hundred meters to nearly a mile away. "Clearing" a house consists of kicking down the doors of every room in it and verifying that it's empty or killing its occupants. Entering the room is the most dangerous part - the door is a killzone for any enemy inside. They know the Marines are protected by body armor and have been instructed to aim for their exposed heads. Every jihadist's hope is to take a Marine with them before they themselves die.

The survivors of Lima company tell their stories first hand, while we also get the recollections of military historian and author Patrick O'Donnell, who encountered the 1st platoon during the battle for Fallujah and asked to go along with them. The reader experiences the intensity of battle and the fatigue of a long combat operation, the frustration of fighting under political constraints and the despair of seeing comrades-in-arms fall. The dedication of the Marines is astounding, as is their willingness to sacrifice themselves for their buddies. When a Marine unit is in combat, they are not fighting for country, God, or honor, but for the fellow soldiers at their sides. They know the objective and they will achieve it, and every Marine wants to be the first in line. Every one would rather take a bullet himself than see his friend get hurt.

The striking thing about the book is its portrayal of individuals and their loyalty to each other, but the big picture comes through in subtle ways as well. It is clear that the Marines feel that politicians back home have unfairly constrained them. They have established rules of engagement that give a marked advantage to the enemy. The soldiers are frustrated with fighting an enemy who breaks every law of war, and who will never be held to anything like the standards the Marines themselves are. Muj can use a mosque or hospital as a weapons cache and the Marines can't do anything about it, because if they do the media will portray it as a war crime. The rules for holding an Iraqi prisoner are so lenient that roughly half of the 2,500 enemy combatants taken prisoner during the battle for Fallujah are set free again within 72 hours. This kinder, gentler way of war results in more American lives lost.

Fallujah was the worst urban combat the Marine corps has seen since the battle of Hue City in Vietnam. The men who fought there belong in the annals of American history as some of the toughest, bravest warriors who have ever served their country, under some of the worst conditions and restraints imaginable. "We Were One" reports that some of the World War II and Korean War veterans who greet the soldiers when they come home from Iraq have taken to calling them the "next Greatest Generation". We are lucky to have them, and we should all be grateful.

This book is simply outstanding. One of the main characters has been a friend of mine for over six years. The Author describes him perfectly. His accuracy and attention to detail are outstanding. Mr. O'Donnell depicts these Grunts for what they truly are, heroes plain and simple. This book is highly graphic, but it is reality. I have read most of the books about Marines in Iraq, and this is the best by far. Extremely focused on the small unit level. This book made me proud to have been a Marine, and exemplifies what is to be a Marine Grunt; Honor. Not letting your friends down, and no matter how hard things get, mission and your brothers come first.

I read this book in less than 24 hours.

Semper Fidelis

P.Ballenger

I just finished reading your book, "We Were One" and wanted to share my thoughts with you. Being a female in my mid twenties who had a hard time sitting through the war scenes in "Forest Gump", I NEVER would have read a book of this nature. The only reason that I picked it up is because one of my truly dearest friends, Corporal "Jack Rabbit" Roberts is in it. Corporal Roberts once told me that he was in Fallujah. Being the naive and sometimes ignorant person that I am, I had no idea what that meant. In fact, I hadn't even followed the war because I didn't agree with it. All I knew about the war was what I heard on the news.

This past summer, Justin and I became very close friends. When he told me he was in a book, of course I felt compelled to read it. I put it off for a while but finally last week I picked up a copy. I read through it in 3 days. It brought me to tears while opening my eyes. How could I have been so ignorant about the war and what my very good friend had gone through (he never talked to me about what he had done)? Men my own age (at the time) were fighting and experiencing things that never in my wildest nightmares could I imagine. I want to thank every Marine for what he has done. You have made me proud.

I want to thank Pat O'Donnell for writing this book. Right now, having just closed the back cover, I feel like it has changed my view of the world- my world in particular. I have this sudden urge to do everything I can to support our troops and to let them know that they are appreciated and honored. I also want to thank Pat for giving me the opportunity to understand what my dear friend had to endure and still struggles with today. Marines, you truly have moved and inspired me. From the bottom of my heart, thank you.

One of the best things that the military has been able to do is the embedded journalist program. Instead of the reporters sitting back in the equivalent of Saigon listening to PR types talk about body counts, we have writers actually seeing what our troops are going through.

As a result, we are not seeing the kinds of comments being made about our people at the sharp end of the stick. Instead newsmen, commentators, letter writers to the paper are praising the troops even while they are attacking the administration for not having a realistic plan to put a government in place and get out of there.

The overall story here is a lot like the stories of small units in combat everywhere, and in every time. Here the troops are marines, the battle was Fallujah, the time was just a couple of years ago. The battle was vicious. The small units suffered huge losses. This is how it is.

My own experiences were Army rather than Marines, and occurred long before these kids were born. I'm glad to see that our country still produces troops like these.

As an American and an active duty Marine, I believe that this book should be read by all who claim to care about the outcome of the war and the day to day rigors of actual combat. Especially those who have never experienced a combat zone who engage in "monday morning quarterbacking". To criticize actions made by young Marines or soldiers who are out there making snap decisions with life or death consequences is irresponsible and damaging.

I was profoundly affected by the service, sacrifice, and loss of these great Marines. Particularly troubling to me was reading the inside jacket where it described how four sets of best friends would be torn apart by combat deaths. I felt as though I knew these Marines and it was difficult to read about their daily battles and the casualties. I was so drawn to the individuals and their personal stories that I found myself constantly looking at the faces of the Marines in the pages of photos. If there can be a case of survivor's guilt by reading a book, I have it.

Lastly, there has to enormous credit and praise to the author who made a life changing decision to accompany our American Marines into battle. The closeness, respect, and loss that he experienced easily comes through in his writing. He has done a great service by honoring these Marines with his words.

I was a member of 3/1 in the late 70's and was discharged from the Marine Corps in 1990 after recovering from injuries incurred in Beirut. I have spent most of my life reading military history and first hand accounts of combat and have experienced it myself. This book is one of the best I have ever read. All Marines, historians and those who want to know what Marines are like in combat and what combat is like in Iraq should read this book. Kudos to the author for going through what so few else would do to get t he story first hand. My only regret is that as in Vietnam these men were misused by politicians who themselves would never make the ultimate sacrifice for others.

This book is a compelling, excellent narrative of the sacrifice and courage displayed by the Marines of Lima 3/1 during the battle for Fallujah. The challenges and perils faced by these Marines during each moment of the assault makes for gripping, and often harrowing reading. I recommend "We Were One" whole-heartedly. This book chronicles an important moment in American military history, and is a stirring addition to the historical record of the men who fought and died there.

I would also like to mention the "Publisher's Weekly" review for this book, shown above. This review absolutely misses the point, and causes me to wonder if the reviewer finished the book at all? Perhaps Mr. O'Donell portrays these valorous young warriors in such positive, glowing terms because he witnessed their courage and indefatigability from extreme close quarters, placing his life in jeopardy so their story could be told. The only "jingoistic...narratives" apparent to me is the one that came from Publisher's Weekly, which reeks of ideological contempt for the warriors fighting and dying to win an unpopular war. What would the reviewer have the author do? Balance the story of these fine young men with human interest pieces about the vicious Mujahadeen against whom they fought? Who injected themselves with stimulants, and prepared ambushes from schools and mosques, flaunting every civilized notion of war? The truth is, there is no shortage of mouthpieces eager to parrot the propaganda of the Islamist enemy in Iraq. Presumably, such works find themselves on the receiving end of a more positive review at the hands of Publisher's Weekly.

This is a valuable, compelling historical work that deserves a place of honor on the bookshelves of all serious students of history. America needs more men like the Marines of Lima 3/1. And America needs more men like author Patrick O'Donnell, who risked his life to tell a story that the some media outlets arrogantly, and incorrectly, dismiss as "worshipful, jingoistic battle narratives about Iraq".

From a recent email to the author:

My reason for writing is 2-fold. First, I must give you the highest praises for writing what is in my mind the best 1st hand account of the war in Iraq so far from the point of view of the infantry. thank you for going the extra mile and putting your life on the line to get the real story from the brave marines of 3/1. (Something that most authors and reporters who were not in the military would do of their own free will.)

Secondly, I served in 2/1 Fox company with Sgt Conner (then LCPL) in 2001/2002. He was one of the finest Marines I have ever had the privilege of serving with. Your description of him was to a T. He was a mediocre at best garrison marine, but in the field he was a true warrior and professional. This showed in his actions and leadership in Falluja from the account you gave. Thank you for taking care of these guys and getting "shoulder to shoulder" with them when as a civillian and author you didnt have to.

Pat O'Donnell tells the most graphic story of our men who fight on today's modern battle field. "We Were One", in true detail describes what our men endure on a daily basis in the fight against the "Global War on Terrorism" in foreign countries around the world. The only thing that counts on the ground is the man to your left and right. These Band of Brothers are thrown together to fight and save the lives of their comrade in an attempt to bring peace in a torn land. I first met Pat in Iraq and his hunger for truth lead him into some of the most dangerous battles our Armed Forces has every seen. He is fearless and daring. He has patrolled some of the worst streets in the war and came away with a story that needs to be shared with people around the world. Pat, you are one of my hero's; keep-up the good work. Keep writing your stories from the eyes of the men and women in the trenches. " CPT Jerord Wilson, Attack Company 1st BN ( ABN ), 509th IN"

My heart hurt reading the experiences of the young ment of the 3/1 in Fallujah.
Thank you to the author for capturing & sharing the emotions, deep bonding, comradery and selflessness of these Marines. I salute and thank the men of the 3/1. Semper Fi!

After reading the above book review I am compelled to respond:

How unfortunate that Honor, Sprit de Corp., and idealism isn't to be incorporated into the annals of history. Have we learned noting? What was the overriding factor in the US withdrawing in Vietnam? What ideals were the initial US combatants motivated by? What were the ideals of those that fought just prior to the pullout? Entirely different, why? How did that affect the overall campaign?

Not only is there a lot of history in the book but also a glimpse into a very near future of Iraq. When a force is well trained, equipped and psychology prepared for a "cause" and that "cause" is in keeping with the forces host countries precepts and synergy then there is produced units similar to those found in Mr. O'Donnell's book.

Inversely, if this same force, over time, is not operating in a manner both military effective to the type of situation at hand, not following the voiced precepts of their homeland then the both the effectiveness and world perception deteriorates to only the very real mentality of fighting to keep you and yours alive.

History is not only facts, figures, and format but also the mental and emotional age and stability of both its fighters and their country. We were forced to withdraw from a very similar situation not so long ago because no one paid attention to the emotional and mental foundation of the troops and their motivation. The motivations provided to them by politicians, the public and world opinion.

These men's story is a very important part of history and a barometer to be viewed if we chose to reduce our blind spots in dealing with insurgents and terrorists today.

Former USMC counterinsurgency unit member (CAPS)