In The Company of Soldiers, Rick Atkinson
In The Company of Soldiers, Rick Atkinson
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In The Company of Soldiers
A Chronicle of Combat in Iraq

Author: Rick Atkinson

Narrator: Rick Atkinson

Abridged: 6 hr 14 min

Format: Digital Audiobook Download

Published: 03/01/2004


Synopsis

For soldiers in the 101st Airborne Division, the road to Baghdad began with a midnight flight out of Fort Campbell, Kentucky, in late February 2003. For Rick Atkinson, who would spend nearly two months covering the division for The Washington Post, the war in Iraq provided a unique opportunity to observe today's U.S. Army in combat.
Granted complete access to the commanders and troops of the 101st, Atkinson saw their war from the preparations in Kuwait through the occupation of Baghdad. As the war unfolded, he witnessed the division's struggles to overcome a murderous attack by one of its own soldiers, a disastrous Apache helicopter raid, and fierce resistance from guerrilla diehards in Najaf, Karbala, and Hilla.
At the center of Atkinson's drama stands the compelling figure of Major General David H. Petraeus, described by one comrade as "the most competitive man on the planet." Atkinson observes Petraeus as he teaches, goads, and leads his troops and subordinate commanders in several intense battles. All around Petraeus, we watch the men and women of a storied division grapple with the challenges of waging war in an unspeakably harsh environment. But even as the military wins an overwhelming victory, we also see portents of the battles that would haunt the occupation in the long months ahead.
In the Company of Soldiers is a dramatic, utterly fresh view of the modern American soldier in action from the premier military historian of his generation.

About Rick Atkinson

Rick Atkinson was a staff writer and senior editor at The Washington Post for twenty years. He is the bestselling author of the Liberation Trilogy, which includes An Army at DawnThe Day of Battle, and The Guns at Last Light, as well as The British Are ComingThe Long Gray LineIn the Company of Soldiers, and Crusade. His many awards include Pulitzer Prizes for journalism and history. He lives in Washington, D.C.


Reviews

Goodreads review by Christopher on October 09, 2014

I loved the book. I was In D company 3/502INF 101st and I can tell you it is correct in every way. From those cold nights at Campbell loading trains to the hot hell of Karbala, it is those little details that civilians see as boring that saves our lives. Moving the 101st from Ft Campbell to Kuwait i......more

Goodreads review by Lucas on May 23, 2009

The author shadows David Petraeus during the invasion of Iraq, and after each recounted episode contrasts the competence and integrity of the soldiers with that of the Bush administration. Lots of minutiae about somewhat random things, like discussions over whether to tape or paint helicopter blades......more

Goodreads review by Erica on February 05, 2025

I could have read another five chapters worth and felt it ended a little preemptively, honestly. Easy to comprehend for someone with zero military knowledge, and I appreciate that it wasn't a celebration of gore and violence.......more

Goodreads review by Christopher on November 05, 2021

The invasion of Iraq at the Division level. Well-written but limited in scope and effect. Rick Atkinson's brief account of the 101st Airborne Division's role in the 2003 invasion of Iraq is a well written book that offers a General Officer-focused narrative. In this case, that GO is David Petraeus on......more

Goodreads review by Mark on January 21, 2025

Very interesting, thankful for our Armed Forces, takes intentionality or previous knowledge to keep up with his military lingo......more