They Were Soldiers: How the Wounded Return from America's Wars: The Untold Story (Dispatch Books)

Ann Jones shines a much-needed light on the dead, mutilated, brain-damaged, drug-addicted, suicidal, homicidal casualties of our distant wars, taking us on a stunning journey from the devastating moment an American soldier is first wounded in rural Afghanistan to the return home. Beautifully written by an empathetic and critical reporter who knows the price of war. “Unsparing, scathingly direct, and gut-wrenching . . . the war Washington doesn’t want you to see” (Andrew J. Bacevich, New York Times –bestselling author of Washington Rules ) This “uncompromisingly visceral” account ( Mother Jones ) of what combat does to American soldiers comes from a veteran journalist who was embedded with troops in Afghanistan and reveals the harrowing journeys of the wounded, from the battlefield to back home. Along the way, the author of the acclaimed Kabul in Winter shows us the dead, wounded, mutilated, brain-damaged, drug-addicted, suicidal, and homicidal casualties of our distant wars, exploring the devastating toll such conflicts have taken on us as a nation. “An indispensable book about America’s current wars and the multiple ways they continue to wound not only the soldiers but their families and indeed the country itself. Jones writes with passion and clarity about the tragedies other reporters avoid and evade.” —Marilyn Young, editor of Iraq and the Lessons of Vietnam "A reporter's firsthand, close-up-and-personal look at the impact of our recent wars on America's unlucky soldiers. Here the author shines a light on the dead, wounded, multilated, brain-damaged, drug-addicted, suicidal, homicidal casualties of our distant wars, taking us on a jourmey from the devastating moment an American soldier is first wounded in rural Afghanistan to the return home"-- From back cover "Ann Jones shows the dead, wounded, mutilated, brain-damaged, drug-addicted, suicidal, homicidal casualties of our distant wars, taking us on a stunning journey from the devastating moment an American soldier is first wounded in rural Afghanistan to the return home. Beautifully written by an empathetic and critical reporter who knows the price of war."--Provided by publisher A Reporter's Firsthand, Close-up-and-personal Look At The Impact Of Our Recent Wars On America's Unlucky Soldiers. Introduction: Secrets : The Dead -- Salvage : The Wounded -- The New Normal -- Stateside : The Warriors -- The Sacrificial Soldier. By Ann Jones. Includes Bibliographical References.