A Semester in the Sandbox

Book excerpt: Dozens of books about the Iraq War have been written by politicians, generals, snipers and Special Forces operatives. This war journal of an enlisted U.S. Marine provides an un-glamorized narrative of a common reservist's deployment to Iraq, from notification of mobilization to final trip home. The visceral experiences of combat are all described in candid detail, along with hazards of homesickness, boredom and loss. In light of the rise of the Islamic State in the area described in the book, the author's story presents a timely account of the challenges of restoring peace in this restive area.