March 2008 will mark the 5th anniversary of the war in Iraq. This historical landmark of our generation’s war is a great time to reflect on what has happened in the past five years. Unlike past wars, soldiers have been able to keep elaborate diaries and first hand accounts to what is happening in the Persian Gulf. With technology abroad, they have also been able to keep blogs and send more letters home than ever before. Because so many soldiers are recording their actions in Iraq, many have returned to give first hand stories to even writing their own books about the war. No matter the stance on the war, these books are an important history lesson for Americans back home. They are the best way to understand what fighting is like for the men and women currently serving. Here are a few that have become staples in telling the soldier’s story in Iraq.

“Generation Kill”
By Evan Wright
While the rest of the country watched a large invading force on live television, Rolling Stone reporter Evan Wright was imbedded with a group of Task Force Recon Marines. Trained in stealth recon missions, these men were instead barreling down old Iraq highways in broad daylight taking fire from all sides as they moved from city to city. Wright’s novel is an account of battles never seen by the U.S. media, who was at the time portraying the enemy as weak. Wright’s adaptation focuses on many problems the soldiers faced during the invasion, such as confusing civilian from combatant. He also jabs at several media pundits for their sensational take on the invasion.

“One Bullet Away”
By Nathaniel Fick
“One Bullet Away” and “Generation Kill” could be considered companion pieces. ‘Bullet’ is the account of Lt. Fick, the commander of the platoon Evan Wright documented. Fick tells the story of his Marine training, his service in Afghanistan, and finally his time in Iraq. Fick gives a personal account of how it feels to lead in combat. He expresses his fears of losing men, and the constant reminder that he is “one bullet away” from moving up a rank.

“The Last True Story I’ll Ever Tell”
By John Crawford
Crawford’s account isn’t much like the others. He joined the National Guard for the tuition money and never wanted to ever fight in a war. On the day of his honeymoon, his unit is called up and he is shipped off to Kuwait to begin the invasion. He is more negative in his telling of the war. He cares little about what is going on around him and more about getting home as soon as possible. He is blatant about his feelings toward Iraqis and the nation’s itself. It is worth reading for the different point of view.

“Band of Sisters”
By Kirsten Holmstedt
Iraq has created a war with no frontline and safe zone. The initial plan to keep women away from combat has become obsolete. Because of this, many women are coming back from Iraq with combat stories just as brutal as any combat marine could tell. “Band of Sisters” is a series of twelve stories from women who have served in Iraq. It also includes the detailed account of the first female pilot to get shot down in a war.

“Just Another Soldier”
By Jason Hartley
When blogs began hitting the web, Jason Hartley was the first soldier to start one. After five months of blogging, the Army shut him down. He still continued to write his blog through a private email list. Upon his return to the U.S., he published his blog along with additional accounts after his return. His stories are candid and told with little censorship. He is crude, emotional, and descriptive. His book is considered by many to be the most accurate portrayal of urban combat in Baghdad.

“Rule Number Two”
By Dr. Heidi Kraft
The title of the book comes from a line in an old episode of MASH “Rule number 1, young men die. Rule number 2: doctors can’t change rule number one.” Dr. Kraft was a Navy psychologist deployed in Iraq to speak with soldiers about what was happening around them. Her emotionally charged stories talk how emotionally damaging war was for so many soldiers. It is a first account of someone whose job it is to provide comfort while surrounded by hell.

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