Hesitation Kills

A Female Marine Officer's Combat Experience in Iraq

Biography & Memoir, Historical, Nonfiction, History, Military
Cover of the book Hesitation Kills by Jane Blair, Rowman & Littlefield Publishers
View on Amazon View on AbeBooks View on Kobo View on B.Depository View on eBay View on Walmart
Author: Jane Blair ISBN: 9781442208780
Publisher: Rowman & Littlefield Publishers Publication: June 16, 2011
Imprint: Rowman & Littlefield Publishers Language: English
Author: Jane Blair
ISBN: 9781442208780
Publisher: Rowman & Littlefield Publishers
Publication: June 16, 2011
Imprint: Rowman & Littlefield Publishers
Language: English

This riveting memoir is the first book written by a female Marine about the war in Iraq and one of the only books written by a woman who has experienced combat firsthand. Deploying to Iraq in 2003, Jane Blair's aerial reconnaissance unit was assigned to travel ahead of and alongside combat units throughout the initial phase of Operation Iraqi Freedom. Throughout her deployment, Jane kept a journal of her and her fellow lieutenants' combat experiences, which she draws on to convey the immediacy of life in the military, not just for a woman but for all Marines.

Jane's stories highlight the drama and chaos of wartime Iraq along with the day-to-day challenges every soldier faced: from spicing up a "pasta with alfredo sauce" MRE to keeping the insidious sand at bay. She also copes with a bullying superior officer while trying to connect with local civilians who have long been viewed as "the enemy." She recounts the struggles specific to women, including being respected as a Marine rather than dismissed as "the weaker sex" and battling the prejudices of male soldiers who don't believe women belong in uniform. And always, she fights the personal loneliness of being separated from her husband, balanced with the challenge and joy of stealing a private moment with him when his unit is close by.

Jane describes not only her experiences as a young lieutenant and as a woman but also those of her fellow Marines, whom she lauds as the true heroes of her story. Ultimately, she learns from her commanding officer, and her fellows in arms, what it truly means to be a leader, both in the military and in life. Weaving her story together with the experiences of the ordinary people of Iraq, this book offers compelling insights into the profound impact of the war on the lives of soldiers and civilians alike. Her unforgettable narrative bridges the gap between those who have experienced the Iraq War firsthand and those in America who could only follow its life-altering events from a distance.

View on Amazon View on AbeBooks View on Kobo View on B.Depository View on eBay View on Walmart

This riveting memoir is the first book written by a female Marine about the war in Iraq and one of the only books written by a woman who has experienced combat firsthand. Deploying to Iraq in 2003, Jane Blair's aerial reconnaissance unit was assigned to travel ahead of and alongside combat units throughout the initial phase of Operation Iraqi Freedom. Throughout her deployment, Jane kept a journal of her and her fellow lieutenants' combat experiences, which she draws on to convey the immediacy of life in the military, not just for a woman but for all Marines.

Jane's stories highlight the drama and chaos of wartime Iraq along with the day-to-day challenges every soldier faced: from spicing up a "pasta with alfredo sauce" MRE to keeping the insidious sand at bay. She also copes with a bullying superior officer while trying to connect with local civilians who have long been viewed as "the enemy." She recounts the struggles specific to women, including being respected as a Marine rather than dismissed as "the weaker sex" and battling the prejudices of male soldiers who don't believe women belong in uniform. And always, she fights the personal loneliness of being separated from her husband, balanced with the challenge and joy of stealing a private moment with him when his unit is close by.

Jane describes not only her experiences as a young lieutenant and as a woman but also those of her fellow Marines, whom she lauds as the true heroes of her story. Ultimately, she learns from her commanding officer, and her fellows in arms, what it truly means to be a leader, both in the military and in life. Weaving her story together with the experiences of the ordinary people of Iraq, this book offers compelling insights into the profound impact of the war on the lives of soldiers and civilians alike. Her unforgettable narrative bridges the gap between those who have experienced the Iraq War firsthand and those in America who could only follow its life-altering events from a distance.

More books from Rowman & Littlefield Publishers

Cover of the book An Empty Curriculum by Jane Blair
Cover of the book National Pastime by Jane Blair
Cover of the book Heidegger, Education, and Modernity by Jane Blair
Cover of the book A Regional Geography of the United States and Canada by Jane Blair
Cover of the book Child Identity Theft by Jane Blair
Cover of the book Five Generations of a Mexican American Family in Los Angeles by Jane Blair
Cover of the book Size Transitions in Congregations by Jane Blair
Cover of the book Cutting-Edge Research in Developing the Library of the Future by Jane Blair
Cover of the book Party Movements in the United States and Canada by Jane Blair
Cover of the book Little Known Facts about the U. S. Presidents by Jane Blair
Cover of the book Punishment for Sale by Jane Blair
Cover of the book Building the Bonds of Attachment by Jane Blair
Cover of the book American Indian Politics and the American Political System by Jane Blair
Cover of the book Grant Writing by Jane Blair
Cover of the book Becoming a Great School by Jane Blair
We use our own "cookies" and third party cookies to improve services and to see statistical information. By using this website, you agree to our Privacy Policy