Mass casualties : a young medic's true story of death, deception, and dishonor in Iraq

From the Introduction:"Look around," the drill sergeant said. "In a few years, or even a few months, several of you will be dead. Some of you will be severely wounded or so badly mutilated that your own mother can't stand the sight of you. And for the real unlucky ones, you will come home so emotionally disfigured that you wish you had died over there." It was Week 7 of Basic Training . . . 18 years old and I was preparing myself to die.They say the Army makes a man out of you - but for 18-year-old SPC Michael Anthony, that fabled rite of passage proved a very dark journey. After soliciting his parents' approval to enlist at only 17, Anthony began his journey with an unshakeable faith in the military born of his family's long tradition of service. But when thrust into a medical unit of misfits as lost as he was, SPC Anthony not only witnessed the unspeakable horror of war--but the undeniable misconduct of the military--firsthand. Everything he ever believed in dissolved, forcing Anthony to rethink his loyalties, and ultimately risk his career--and his freedom--to challenge the military he had so firmly believed in.This searing memoir chronicles the iconic experiences that changed one young soldier forever. A seasoned veteran before the age of twenty-one, he faced the truth about the war - and himself - in this shocking and unprecedented eyewitness account."Anthony's painful account of his time at war is at times difficult to read. This coming of age war memoir details the very gut wrenching journey he takes into manhood in the backdrop of grueling combat. His voice is unique and deserves to be heard. We may not all agree with why we fight, but I am proud to be of a generation with Warriors like Anthony, who are compelled to share these important life altering experiences."--David Bellavia, Iraq VeteranAuthor of: House to House: An Epic Memoir of War"Spc Michael Anthony channels Baghdad E.R., Catch-22, M*A*S*H and Lord of the Flies as he narrates his dark, entertaining and tragic journey through war. A thoughtful, candid and mesmerizing glimpse into the engimatic world of a U.S. Army combat support hospital."--David J Danelo, VeteranAuthor of: Blood Stripes: The Grunt's View Of The War In Iraq"There is a curious similarity between Michael Anthony's "Mass Casualties" diary of daily survival as a young medic in the Iraq war with one of my favorite books, Primo Levi's Survival in Auschwitz, as a holocaust prisoner in that death camp. Both of these remarkable works introduce us to an alien world that is unimaginable unless experienced- or witnessed through their eyes, and pain, and youthful, matter-of-fact everyday wisdom. It is hard to read about the unexpected casualties of war, among soldiers as well as prisoners, but Michael takes us on an unforgettable personal journey as filled with humor as it is with horror."--Philip G. Zimbardo, Ph.D.Lead researcher in the: Stanford Prison StudyNew York Times best selling author of: The Lucifer Effect: Understanding How Good People Turn Evil From the Introduction: "Look around," the drill sergeant said. "In a few years, or even a few months, several of you will be dead. Some of you will be severely wounded or so badly mutilated that your own mother can't stand the sight of you. And for the real unlucky ones, you will come home so emotionally disfigured that you wish you had died over there." It was Week 7 of Basic Training . . . 18 years old and I was preparing myself to die. They say the Army makes a man out of you - but for 18-year-old SPC Michael Anthony, that fabled rite of passage proved a very dark journey. After soliciting his parents{u2019} approval to enlist at only 17, Anthony began his journey with an unshakeable faith in the military born of his family's long tradition of service. But when thrust into a medical unit of misfits as lost as he was, SPC Anthony not only witnessed the unspeakable horror of war{u2014}but the undeniable misconduct of the military{u2014}firsthand. Everything he ever believed in dissolved, forcing Anthony to rethink his loyalties, and ultimately risk his career{u2014}and his freedom{u2014}to challenge the military he had so firmly believed in. This searing memoir chronicles the iconic experiences that changed one young soldier forever. A seasoned veteran before the age of twenty-one, he faced the truth about the war - and himself - in this shocking and unprecedented eyewitness account "Look around," the drill sergeant said. "In a few years, or even a few months, several of you will be dead. Some of you will be severely wounded or so badly mutilated that your own mother can't stand the sight of you. And for the real unlucky ones, you will come home so emotionally disfigured that you wish you had died over there." It was Week 7 of basic training . . . eighteen years old and I was preparing myself to die. They say the Army makes a man out of you - but for eighteen-year-old SPC Michael Anthony, that fabled rite of passage proves a very dark journey. After soliciting his parents' approval to enlist at only seventeen, Anthony begins this journey with an unshakeable faith in the military borne of his family's long tradition of service. But when thrust into a medical unit of misfits as lost as he was, Anthony not only witnesses firsthand the unspeakable horror of war-but also the undeniable misconduct of the military. Everything he's ever believed in dissolves, forcing Anthony to rethink his loyalties, and ultimately risk his career - and his freedom - to challenge the military that he had so firmly believed in. This searing memoir chronicles the iconic experiences that change one young soldier forever. A seasoned veteran before the age of twenty-one, he faces the truth about the war - and himself - in this shocking and unprecedented eyewitness account. SUMMARY: From the Introduction: ""Look around," the drill sergeant said. "In a few years, or even a few months, several of you will be dead. Some of you will be severely wounded or so badly mutilated that your own mother can't stand the sight of you. And for the real unlucky ones, you will come home so emotionally disfigured that you wish you had died over there."It was Week 7 of Basic Training . . . 18 years old and I was preparing myself to die."They say the Army makes a man out of you--but for 18-year-old SPC Michael Anthony, that fabled rite of passage proved a very dark journey. After soliciting his parents' approval to enlist at only 17, Anthony began his journey with an unshakeable faith in the military born of his family's long tradition of service. But when thrust into a medical unit of misfits as lost as he was, SPC Anthony not only witnessed the unspeakable horror of war--but the undeniable misconduct of the military--firsthand. Everything he ever believed in dissolved, forcing Anthony to rethink his loyalties, and ultimately risk his career--and his freedom--to challenge the military he had so firmly believed in.This searing memoir chronicles the iconic experiences that changed one young soldier forever. A seasoned veteran before the age of twenty-one, he faced the truth about the war--and himself--in this shocking and unprecedented eyewitness account. **From the Introduction:**__?Look around,? the drill sergeant said. ?In a few years, or even a few months, several of you will be dead. Some of you will be severely wounded or so badly mutilated that your own mother can?t stand the sight of you. And for the real unlucky ones, you will come home so emotionally disfigured that you wish you had died over there.?It was Week 7 of Basic Training . . . 18 years old and I was preparing myself to die.__They say the Army makes a man out of you?but for 18-year-old SPC Michael Anthony, that fabled rite of passage proved a very dark journey. After soliciting his parents? approval to enlist at only 17, Anthony began his journey with an unshakeable faith in the military born of his family?s long tradition of service. But when thrust into a medical unit of misfits as lost as he was, SPC Anthony not only witnessed the unspeakable horror of war?but the undeniable misconduct of the military?firsthand. Everything he ever believed in dissolved, forcing Anthony to rethink his loyalties, and ultimately risk his career?and his freedom?to challenge the military he had so firmly believed in. This searing memoir chronicles the iconic experiences that changed one young soldier forever. A seasoned veteran before the age of twenty-one, he faced the truth about the war?and himself?in this shocking and unprecedented eyewitness account. From the Introduction: Look around, the drill sergeant said. In a few years, or even a few months, several of you will be dead. Some of you will be severely wounded or so badly mutilated that your own mother can't stand the sight of you. And for the real unlucky ones, you will come home so emotionally disfigured that you wish you had died over there. It was Week 7 of Basic Training . . . 18 years old and I was preparing myself to die. They say the Army makes a man out of you but for 18-year-old SPC Michael Anthony, that fabled rite of passage proved a very dark journey. After soliciting his parents approval to enlist at only 17, Anthony began his journey with an unshakeable faith in the military born of his family's long tradition of service. But when thrust into a medical unit of misfits as lost as he was, SPC Anthony not only witnessed the unspeakable horror of war but the undeniable misconduct of the military firsthand. Everything he ever believed in dissolved, forcing Anthony to rethink his loyalties, and ultimately risk his career and his freedom to challenge the military he had so firmly believed in. This searing memoir chronicles the iconic experiences that changed one young soldier forever. A seasoned veteran before the age of twenty-one, he faced the truth about the war and himself in this shocking and unprecedented eyewitness account. Joining The Army At 17, The Author Went In With High Hopes And Sterling Ideals; Coming From A Family With A Proud Military Background. What He Discovered Was A Disenchanting Web Of Mundane Corruption And Self-serving Lies. Unlike Accounts Exposing The Military's Most Shameful Iniquities, The Author's Memoir Focuses On An Endless Parade Of Petty Offenses- The Cowardice, Drug Addiction, Thievery, Adultery And Rampant Hypocrisy- He Found While Working In A Base Hospital. Relentlessly Honest And Reflective, The Author Communicates Perfectly The Stranglehold Of Sadness, Fear And Disappointment That Came With His Lost Innocence; Just As Worse Is His Eventual Acceptance Of The Pointless, Dysfunctional Bureaucracy Maintaining The Status Quo. Michael Anthony. A gritty, no-holds-barred insider's expose of the Iraq War that speaks to an entire generation of young veterans and civilians alike