The awe-inspiring true story of a US platoon's brutal struggle against a Taliban attack in 2009 as told by the man who fought to defend his men, Staff Sergeant Clinton Romesha
Former Staff Sergeant Clinton L. Romesha enlisted in the U.S. Army in 1999. He was deployed twice to Iraq in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom, and once to Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. At the time of the deadly attack on Combat Outpost (COP) Keating on 3 October 2009, Staff Sgt. Romesha was assigned as a section leader for Bravo Troop, 3-61st Cavalry, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division. He is the recipient of numerous awards and decorations, including the Medal of Honor, which has been received by only twelve others for the heroism they displayed while serving in Iraq or Afghanistan. Romesha separated from the Army in 2011. He lives with his family in North Dakota.
A brilliant, wrenching book about war … it’s more intense and
horrifying than you could imagine
*London Evening Standard*
Utterly gripping from start to finish … unflinchingly honest about
the realities of war.
*Bookbag*
Awe-inspiring … Utterly gripping from start to finish
*CGA Bookclub*
Brilliant, wrenching
*i*
I read the first half of Red Platoon in one sitting and that night
had such intense combat dreams that I actually thought twice about
picking the book up again. In addition to being a superb soldier,
Romesha is an utterly irresistible writer. I'm completely
overwhelmed by what he has done with this book. The assault on Camp
Keating is a vitally important story that needs to be understood by
the public, and I cannot imagine an account that does it better
justice that Romesha's.
*Sebastian Junger*
Rendered hour-by-hour and sometimes second by second, here is
battle narrative the way it's supposed to be written. Gritty,
plangent, and unflinching, Red Platoon is sure to become a classic
of the genre. Through his courageous and no doubt painful act of
remembrance, Romesha has done his comrades, indeed all of us, a
great service—leaving an epitaph that will live through the
ages.
*Hampton Sides, author of Ghost Soldiers and In the Kingdom of
Ice*
Red Platoon is riveting. Like many who were in either Iraq,
Afghanistan, or both, I often read books about the wars
reluctantly, because it is hard to capture the essence of the
experience. In my view Red Platoon is a brilliant book. Had Clint
Romesha depicted the soldiers at Keating as a collection of
steely-eyed warriors, their feat would have been impressive.
Because he captures the reality of a collection of personalities as
diverse as America itself, their courage is truly inspiring.
*General Stanley McChrystal, U.S. Army, Retired*
Red Platoon celebrates the most crucial aspect of military
operations: the team. Clinton Romesha and the men of Black Knight
Troop faced harrowing conditions and a determined enemy during the
Battle for COP Keating, and in the process discovered exactly who
they are. This account is an important tribute to everyone who
fought, and especially to the eight Americans who on that day made
the ultimate sacrifice for their country.
*Mark Owen, author of No Easy Day*
The book is riveting in its authentic detail, right down to the
determined attempts to recover American bodies before the Taliban
could. Romesha ably captures the daily dangers faced by these
courageous American soldiers in Afghanistan.
*Kirkus*
Red Platoon exemplifies the courage and resiliency our country was
founded on. Clint is a true brother and a man that I look up
to.
*Dakota Meyer, Medal of Honor Recipient and author of Into the
Fire*
A visceral, heart-pounding account of men in close-quarter combat
that is simply impossible to put down. Astonishingly intimate and
beautifully written. A word of advice: don't start this book if
you're planning on doing anything else for the next few hours.
*Scott Anderson, author of Lawrence in Arabia*
The men of Red Platoon and their actions at COP Keating deserve to
be known. Clint Romesha's story takes hold from page one and makes
you feel every inch of the battle, but it is the bond between
soldiers that will stick with you. Red Platoon is on my list of the
best books about the Afghan war.
*Kevin Maurer, bestselling co-author of No Easy Day*
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