Outlaw Platoon: Heroes, Renegades, Infidels, And The Brotherhood Of War In Afghanistan (2012) - Plot & Excerpts
Wow... just wow. I'm kind of at a loss for words, but I will do my best for this review. First, Outlaw Platoon is going into my "6 star reads" shelf; a shelf reserved for those rare books that deserve 6 stars (I think I have 4 others in there). Outlaw Platoon is one of those books that will change your outlook and stay with you for awhile. Sean Parnell recounts his 16 months in Afghanistan while he was in charge of the Outlaw Platoons, a unit who was stationed on the border of Afghanistan and Pakistan. Now if you have read your history and followed the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, you will know that Pakistan is supposedly our ally. And you will also know that they let the Taliban and other networks cross their borders and attack our troops. What a bitter assignment, knowing your enemy is crossing the Pak border to kill you, and not being able to engage in Pak territory. Also, Sean's assignment took place in 2006 when the war in Afghanistan was starting to heat up and change course. Pakistan President Musharraf made a "deal with the devil" which increased the tempo on the Pak/Afghanistan border. So Outlaw Platoon takes you through their harrowing battles and interactions with the local Afghans. Sean's writing skills are exemplary. I have read a few soldier memoirs, and Sean just has a way with words. He makes you feel like you are there with the platoon. You can picture every scene like it is playing out before you. I kept returning to his prologue when he states this is non-fiction. It reads like a fiction... full of rich detail and unbearable twists and turns. Within the first 100 pages I had cried twice. And not just a stray tear streaking down my cheek. I felt heart-broken over the events they encountered. And angry. The story of Abdul (one of the platoons interpreters "terps"), just broke my heart. My son asked me why I was crying and my face was full of anguish. I looked at him (sweet and innocent at age 8, and wanting to join the army), and wanted to beg him never to grow up. Outlaw Platoon is an incredible story. I cannot recommend this book enough. I think everybody should read this so they can understand what our troops went through, and continue to go through. And through the story of Abdul and the Village of the Damned, you will also understand what the Afghans are going through. It is heart-pounding, emotional, and beautifully written. This is not a "tough guy" "macho bullshit" war novel. You will not be disappointed. A truly remarkable work. Poignant, revealing and inspiring. This book truly captured the powerful bond formed between men in combat. It most closely describes how one feels after participating in the intimacy of close quarter battle and the chaos of violence. This bond and the connection between the men was beautifully described by the author and gave the reader a true look into the experience of war. After reading this book, one cannot help but change and more fully appreciate the magnificent beauty and horror or war. In the end, war is not just a machine but comprised of unique and individual human beings. The human factor cannot be overlooked. Exemplifies the true meaning of heroism: ordinary people doing extraordinary things under extraordinary circumstances. Needless to say, this book is highly recommended.
What do You think about Outlaw Platoon: Heroes, Renegades, Infidels, And The Brotherhood Of War In Afghanistan (2012)?
Great book about great men as presented by one of them. US Army vs Taliban and Pakistan.
—jess
An extremely well-written depiction of a leader of an army squad in Afghanistan.
—Cozzirgurl
