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Best Afghan War Biographies

Craig & Fred: A Marine, A Stray Dog, and How They Rescued Each Other
The uplifting and unforgettable true story of a US Marine, the stray dog he met on an Afghan battlefield, and how they saved each other and now travel America together, "spreading the message of stubborn positivity." A poignant and inspiring tale of hope, resilience, and optimism, with a timeless message at its heart—"it is not what happens to us that matters, but how we respond to it"— Craig & Fred is a shining example of the power of love to transform our hearts and our lives. Fred not only stole Craig’s heart; he won over the RECON fighters, who helped Craig smuggle the dog into heavily fort-ified Camp Leatherneck.
Reviews
"I went to high school with Craig Grossi."
"Read the book then gave it to a co-worker in the National Guard who recently returned from Afghanistan who is also a dog lover."
"What a great book."
"loved the book and the story I know several ex military that have PTSD and for them it is hard to let anyone know happy to see how Craig was able to cope because of the love he had for Fred."
"Highly, highly recommend."
"Bought this as a gift for my father, he's not a huge dog liver but i figured the story was one he'd enjoy."
"Another great read, this marine had a lot to worry about yet he made time for the dog."
"Very moving story."
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The Operator: Firing the Shots that Killed Osama bin Laden and My Years as a SEAL Team Warrior
New York Times Bestseller A stirringly evocative, thought-provoking, and often jaw-dropping account, The Operator ranges across SEAL Team Operator Robert O’Neill’s awe-inspiring four-hundred-mission career, which included his involvement in attempts to rescue “Lone Survivor” Marcus Luttrell and abducted-by-Somali-pirates Captain Richard Phillips and which culminated in those famous three shots that dispatched the world’s most wanted terrorist, Osama bin Laden. An interesting and insightful book about some of the most historic moments in modern American military history." "Enlightening about military special forces, especially the SEAL component . “Intensely moving and awe-inspiring, The Operator captures as few other books have the essence of being a frogman: utterly unimaginable fatigue followed by intense exhilaration followed by a weary emptiness—and then back for more. O’Neill wrote himself into American history with the three shots he fired into Osama bin Laden, but if you think that operation was intense wait till you read about the ones that preceded it. There is a saying, ‘Great battles are only given to great warriors.’ Rob was repeatedly given great battles, and he represented accordingly.” —Marcus Luttrell, New York Times bestselling coauthor of Lone Survivor and Service. What O’Neill has written is unique, surprising, a kind of counternarrative, and certainly the other half of the story of one of the world’s most famous military operations . In the larger sense, this book is about how to be alive—how to be human while in the very same moment dealing with death, destruction, combat.” —Doug Stanton, New York Times bestselling author of In Harm’s Way and Horse Soldiers.
Reviews
"This book regards the experiences of the author in serving as a U.S. Navy SEAL member on some 400+ "missions", with his account of being the person who actually shot and killed Osama Bin Laden -- the Islamist who coordinated the hijacked airplane, suicidal Islamikazi attacks on 9/11/2001 that destroyed several skyscrapers in NYC and damaged the Pentagon. I'm not going to recount the author's entire 25-page raid of rappelling from a helicopter into Osama's high-walled "fortress", but will quote the author as claiming that as he climbed up a stairwell to Osama's third floor: "Osama bin Laden stood near the entrance at the foot of the bed, taller and thinner than I'd expected, his beard shorter and hair whiter....In less than a second, I aimed above the woman's right shoulder [who was standing in front of Osama] and pulled the trigger twice. Even if the author hadn't been the SEAL who downed Osama, his recounting of his other combat experiences would still make this book an interesting read."
"He vividly describes his childhood with emphasis on his competitive relationship with his Father; the process to become a SEAL (80% failure rate): the mindset and missions he was on as he developed into a team leader and the most secret of all mission where the author killed Osama Bin laden."
"Author and Navy SEAL Robert O'Neill has written a compelling story of his experiences in training to become a Navy SEAL which pushes an individual beyond what they ever thought themselves capable of doing. This training in addition to a number of special missions such as the one involving the Somali pirates off the coast of Africa take up most of the book."
"I love seeing Rob on TV talking about the "bad guys." Lots of college degree guys can't do anything he can do anyway."
"The Operator: Firing the Shots that Killed Osama bin Laden and My Years as a SEAL Team WarriorI heard Rob O'Neil speak at a private event (hosted by Senator Dan Brown of the Missouri Senate.). He was not at all boastful, in fact he was mighty modest and impressed me as the boy next door, I mean, just a really a nice guy."
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Lone Survivor: The Eyewitness Account of Operation Redwing and the Lost Heroes of SEAL Team 10
A born and raised Texan, Marcus Luttrell takes us from the rigors of SEAL training, where he and his fellow SEALs discovered what it took to join the most elite of the American special forces, to a fight in the desolate hills of Afghanistan for which they never could have been prepared.
Reviews
"And like the greatest true stories, it pulls you in and makes you feel like you are involved in the action, from an understanding of the decisions made, whether you agree or not, to knowing how and why each person reacts the way they do."
"Quite a few people complained about the political byline, but as most of them have not nor never will face the decisions the military has to face every day, it's like complaining about the weather. Marcus painted a very good picture what it's like to face people with hatred in their eyes, and not blink."
"Puts us into the minds of soldiers and the brotherhood they adhere to in order to survive and in a sense are addicted. (Spoiler alert) Marcus blames the 'liberal' media for making them decide to let the goat herders go instead of killing them. and yes, maybe what they see as abusive power by the military and no we haven't put the Navy Seals into jail for killing Osama Bin Laden - (and yes we had a 'liberal 'President in charge when it happened). I am a patriot too, because I know what our Constitution says - once we sink to the enemies level of 'hatred' and disregard for life - we loose the moral battle."
"After seeing the movie and interviews with the real Marcus Luttrell, I knew I had to check out his best-selling work of literature."
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Best Dog Care

Craig & Fred: A Marine, A Stray Dog, and How They Rescued Each Other
The uplifting and unforgettable true story of a US Marine, the stray dog he met on an Afghan battlefield, and how they saved each other and now travel America together, "spreading the message of stubborn positivity." A poignant and inspiring tale of hope, resilience, and optimism, with a timeless message at its heart—"it is not what happens to us that matters, but how we respond to it"— Craig & Fred is a shining example of the power of love to transform our hearts and our lives. Fred not only stole Craig’s heart; he won over the RECON fighters, who helped Craig smuggle the dog into heavily fort-ified Camp Leatherneck.
Reviews
"Another great read, this marine had a lot to worry about yet he made time for the dog."
"I had looked at it at a big named bookstore but, I ordered it from Amazon and saved $12."
"What a great book."
"loved the book and the story I know several ex military that have PTSD and for them it is hard to let anyone know happy to see how Craig was able to cope because of the love he had for Fred."
"Highly, highly recommend."
"Bought this as a gift for my father, he's not a huge dog liver but i figured the story was one he'd enjoy."
"A lovely story about a man and a dog in a very scary place."
"A well written book giving insight into the life of a Marine, on the battlefield and off, and the sustenance the Marine (Craig) found in an Afghan street dog (Fred)."
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Best Iraq War Biographies

The Operator: Firing the Shots that Killed Osama bin Laden and My Years as a SEAL Team Warrior
New York Times Bestseller A stirringly evocative, thought-provoking, and often jaw-dropping account, The Operator ranges across SEAL Team Operator Robert O’Neill’s awe-inspiring four-hundred-mission career, which included his involvement in attempts to rescue “Lone Survivor” Marcus Luttrell and abducted-by-Somali-pirates Captain Richard Phillips and which culminated in those famous three shots that dispatched the world’s most wanted terrorist, Osama bin Laden. In frank and vivid detail and blunt and plain language, Mr. O'Neill describes some of the 400 counterterrorism operations and close quarter combat he experienced in Iraq, Afghanistan and elsewhere through his career as a SEAL . Fans of battlefield narratives, such as Michael Golembesky's Level Zero Heroes , will relish this gripping perspective on 21st-century warfare." O’Neill wrote himself into American history with the three shots he fired into Osama bin Laden, but if you think that operation was intense wait till you read about the ones that preceded it. What O’Neill has written is unique, surprising, a kind of counternarrative, and certainly the other half of the story of one of the world’s most famous military operations . In the larger sense, this book is about how to be alive—how to be human while in the very same moment dealing with death, destruction, combat.” —Doug Stanton, New York Times bestselling author of In Harm’s Way and Horse Soldiers Robert O’Neill was born and raised in Butte, Montana, and lived there for nineteen years until he joined the Navy in 1996. O’Neill helped cofound Your Grateful Nation, an organization committed to transitioning Special Operations veterans into their next successful career.
Reviews
"This book regards the experiences of the author in serving as a U.S. Navy SEAL member on some 400+ "missions", with his account of being the person who actually shot and killed Osama Bin Laden -- the Islamist who coordinated the hijacked airplane, suicidal Islamikazi attacks on 9/11/2001 that destroyed several skyscrapers in NYC and damaged the Pentagon. I'm not going to recount the author's entire 25-page raid of rappelling from a helicopter into Osama's high-walled "fortress", but will quote the author as claiming that as he climbed up a stairwell to Osama's third floor: "Osama bin Laden stood near the entrance at the foot of the bed, taller and thinner than I'd expected, his beard shorter and hair whiter....In less than a second, I aimed above the woman's right shoulder [who was standing in front of Osama] and pulled the trigger twice. Even if the author hadn't been the SEAL who downed Osama, his recounting of his other combat experiences would still make this book an interesting read."
"The Operator: Firing the Shots that Killed Osama bin Laden and My Years as a SEAL Team WarriorI heard Rob O'Neil speak at a private event (hosted by Senator Dan Brown of the Missouri Senate.). He was not at all boastful, in fact he was mighty modest and impressed me as the boy next door, I mean, just a really a nice guy."
"If you've never read a SEAL memoir, then consider it a 5 star book and get this one."
"I enjoyed this book for details about the SEALs, their tactics and mindset."
"The events that led up to some historical events is great from O'Neill's prospective is spot on and humorous at times."
"Cannot imagine anyone, in less perilous situations e.g. including clubs, corporate, that would not enjoy a bit of this Amazing Story, history, and the highly trained voice of Experience and Leadership, in easy to understand manner."
"Very interesting insight into what Navy SEAL training is like and the lifestyle SEALS lead."
"Then I ran out and told all my friends about it because as far as I''m concerned, it's a must read."
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