American Heroes: In the Fight Against Radical Islam

American Heroes

by Oliver North

In American Heroes, New York Times bestselling author Oliver North offers an inspiring, first-hand account of the extraordinary young American volunteers defending us against radical Islamic terror. Since 9-11-01, North and his award-winning War Stories documentary team have made a dozen extended trips to Afghanistan, Iraq and the Philippines covering U.S. soldiers, sailors, airmen, Guardsmen and Marines for FOX News Channel. With extensive experience as a decorated military officer, a counter-terrorism expert and as a documentary filmmaker embedded with American combat units, he has a unique perspective on the enemy we face and the qualities of those who protect us.
American Heroes offers a close-up of this generationa (TM)s a oecitizen-soldiersa who have chosen the path of the patriot and gone into harma (TM)s way for their countrymen. Northa (TM)s unprecedented access, his grasp of history and his lucid reports from the crucible of combat make this a stirring chronicle of courage, commitment, compassion and faith.
Thank God for American heroes.
a oeReal heroes are selfless. Those who serve America in harma (TM)s way in the war against radical Islam have that quality in abundance. And so do their families and loved ones at home. Yet, they rarely get the attention or coverage they deserve.
a oeDespite the way they are too often presented, the men and women in uniform today are overwhelmingly good. I never cease to be amazed at the self-discipline of these brave young Americans. They can endure the adrenaline-pumping violence of an enemy engagement - and then, just minutes later, help children get safely to school. No nation - ours included - has ever had a militaryforce better than the one we have today.a - Oliver North

Genres: Military Fiction, Nonfiction, History, Military History, War, Politics

309 pages, Kindle Edition

First published May 1, 2008

Reviews

[Alok Mishra · Rating 3 out of 5]

Yes, Islamic terrorism is the truth of the day and one cannot deny it. The book also delivers quality content and it promotes what needs to be promoted. Oliver North has tried to bring into the limelight the heroes of the war against terror - the heroes who have lost their lives and the heroes who have lost many things serving in Iraq and fighting the radical Islamist terror. However, he could have avoided certain propaganda that he included in his narrative - that'd make the book amazing. Here is my full review of this book - American Heroes - Book Review

[Jason · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book. I have been to Iraq (2003-04) and to Afghanistan (2007-08). As people have asked me about my experience, and I try to explain something that foreign to Americans that have never seen anything other than their own towns, I struggle to put my experiences into terms that they can at least somewhat imagine a portion of what I saw/experienced. This is not a war story, but I understand his concepts on a more personal level. He puts into words that which I just haven't been able to describe. Mr. North does an excellent job of cutting through the combat and getting "into" the soldiers point of view. I really enjoyed this, and if there is anything you would like to ask a soldier (other than combat specifics) this is a great reference.

[Dave]

Here's a snippet: A young marine Lance Corporal had his right arm shattered by a bullet, but used his good arm to help load a seriously wounded companion on the medevac helicopter. At the aid station, he sat next to his wounded friend cradling his head. He asked an observer, "He's dying, isn't he, sir?" The observer choked up and said, "I think he is already gone, son."

Through his tears, the young lance corporal said, "He was my gunny, sir. He was a really good man. He was my hero- not just for the way he died, but for the way he lived." Pg. 148

[Ed · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fascinating history showing us how the military engaged the enemy during the gulf war. My son was a participant in the fighting, and I was able to see what he was up against during that war. It was well written by Oliver North, and he was open with truth about what took place. I am proud for all those who fought against the enemy.

[Allison · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Their stories provide a somewhat different perspective than that offered by the mainstream media." This would be the theme of the book. A very postive (sometimes overly so) book based on Ollie North's experience being an embedded journalist. If I had to guess, I'd say he was hanging out with mostly Marines. Lots of pictures.

There are a few endings to stories I would have liked to know (what caused the crash of Dash Two on 3/21/03, what happened to the 11 yr old Iraqi girl burned in a stove fire that we were able to treat)

The glossary of Military acronyms is 4 pages long. What is the deal with the military and acronyms?? They can't just say Protective Gear, it has to be Mission-Oriented Protective Posture or MOPP. Not Car Bomb, but Vehicle-Borne Improvised Explosive Devise or VBIED.

A good quote: "Americans don't fight for gold or oil or colonial conquest; we fight for an idea - liberty."
And a good quip: "The French have always been there when they needed us."
And some philosophy: "We love death - the Americans love life - that is the difference between us." Osama Bin Laden

Some interesting things I learned:
70% of Afgan registered voters showed up for their 1st election. In USA congressional elections, fewer than 45% of those eligible vote. 58% of registered Iraqis voted in the first election, 62% in the second election and 70% in the third.

It took 4 years for Germany and 7 years for Japan to assemble sovereign governments after WWII and there are 11 years in between our Declaration of Independance and the ratification of our Constitution.

The Iraqi January 2005 election marked the first time in the entire 5,000 year history of Mesopotamia that every man and woman, regardless of tribe, religion, or ethnic origin, was allowed to cast a ballot.

The main Terrorists in Iraq now are not Iraqis. They are fedayeen (paramilitary fighers from all over the Islamic world, mainly Saudi Arabia, Syria, Lebanon, Algeria, Moracco, Yemen & Jordan). And Iranian technology is showing up frequently in IEDs.

Altogether great antidote to the mainstream media's coverage of Iraq.

[Clay · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the true story of the War against Radical Islam. This book is for anyone who truly supports the troops because it tells their story. It is also a must read for anyone who wants to understand the war we are in. It is a war that won't end even if we quit and go home from Iraq.

[Deborah Boutwell · Rating 5 out of 5]

This starts with the 9/11 attacks and gives some history of the war in Iraq, but mainly deals with the life of the soldiers, not the war. Very moving. There is an on-line link to Oliver North's War Stories for viewing.

[booklady]

I'm thinking to purchase these mostly for Christmas and birthday gifts, but who knows, I might want to read them myself?!

[Linda Thompson · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was an excellent read. I would recommend it highly. The book is well written with so many human interest stories, facts about the war and wonderful photos.

[Rick · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'll probably add more to this later. There is a lot to unpack with this book considering it was written in 2008.

It brought back a lot of memories from my time as a Marine Infantryman in Iraq. Especially what I saw versus what the news was showing back home. Reminds me of the good we accomplished that was squandered by people thousands of miles away who were concerned more about ratings and votes than what was in the best interests of both countries. It really tells the front line stories that are so important to understanding what we were doing in the Global War On Terror.

He does gloss over the poor healthcare veterans received from the VA. He conflate the amazing skills of battlefield/emergency medicine from activley serving medical personnel, with VA care at home. One is top tier and the other is abysmal. He also conflates posttraumatic stress with the disorder PTSD. You can experience the stress without it becoming a disorder. It's an important distinction that should not be overlooked and gives combat veterans a bad reputation as psychological damaged. An obstacle I've had to overcome more times than I'd care to count.

[Ethan Stack · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book has been a spectacular read. The way that Oliver writes these stories about the “American Heroes,” is as if the soldiers are telling you their stories in person. North begins his story with the attacks on 9-11 and continues with stories throughout the War on Radical Islam. As a kid, I had always heard about our troops being in Afghanistan and Iraq, but I never really knew what the cause was. Reading this book enlightened me about those events, but the best part was that the events were from the perspective of a soldier, not a history book. Our soliders fight for our country and to let us enjoy the rights that we have. They are true “American Heroes.” I would recommend this book to anyone who has been in the military, who wants to learn more about the War on Radical Islam, or who just wants a good book to read. #d4magicreaders

[Paul · Rating 5 out of 5]

I recommend this book. Oliver North and his Fox News cast were embedded in various military units in the fight for Iraq. He had 9 deployments over the next four years into Iraq.

The book has many pictures and diagrams of Iraq and of our military in action, and is easy to read.

North has scathing comments about the negative press coming from the mainstream media, many of whom never left their armchairs in their media headquarters, or holed up in the best hotels in Baghdad and never got out with the troops, but were pontificating about the status of the war and the prospects for peace. He's equally scathing about the retired generals/admirals who were hired by the lamestream media to give their "expert" opinion on how the war was going. I share his contempt for these people.

[Stefanie Robinson · Rating 3 out of 5]

I put off reading my Afghanistan and Iraq books for a long time for a personal reason, so I finally got around to reading this one. It was a great book filled with personal stories of servicemembers lives and activities during war time. It is hard to imagine going through some of these events, especially if you have not been in similar ones. I can see why the brotherhood/sisterhood is very strong. When you go through everything together, or similar things, you have a connection that a lot of people do not get. I think this is a great book if you are looking for perspective on font lines life.

[Darrell · Rating 5 out of 5]

This should be required reading. Our younger generation is being saturated with superheroes - and yet, there are real life heroes living among us. These true life stories are expertly written and pay honor to those who have made the ultimate sacrifice for the freedoms that we take for granted.

[Aditya Shankar · Rating 4 out of 5]

I found the book interesting. It highlights the general issues that we generally forget too easily. An eye-opener for those who still deny the existence of black and white cases of religious terrorism.

[Chelsea Skinner · Rating 5 out of 5]

An honest look at what America's armed forces went through during the war in Iraq. From FOX News correspondent Oliver North, American Heroes details the daily actions of the men and women in uniform, and covers their trials when home.

[Mark · Rating 5 out of 5]

A good telling of the struggles of a war effort. Using a war veteran to tell it helped give the story validity and tried to give the story balance.

The best, I don't know. A very good book, yes.

[Abbie W · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a great reminder to be thankful for the brave men and women who sacrifice for their country and some who make the ultimate sacrifice defending our freedoms.

[Marcie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Oliver North's latest job is hosting a show on Fox called War Stories, interviewing WWII soldiers and capturing their stories, until 9/11 happens. Then he and his crew are sent 9 times to Iraq, to cover today's soldiers, war as we know it today. He is embedded, just like any other journalist covering the events, given the same parameters of operation, which reminds me...the Pentagon approved way too many journalists, wish I had the book in front of me so I could share the exact shocking number.

Sometimes the book reads very patriotic, rah-rah, over-the-top. Other times not, as North expends a lot of effort to provide facts and statistics to the readers, and remove himself from the analysis. Actually, I love it when he cannot remove his own experience and perspective from the action. An example: he is embedded with a helicopter unit whose job is to evacuate casualties. Obviously he's flying low into hot zones to get the injured out. He is given a headset, but not allowed to speak or be an active participant as a journalist...however, at one point, he yells out "RPG! 3 o'clock! Incoming!" The pilot pulls up, almost going vertical to dodge it, lands in an intersection where 10 soldiers are loaded in less than 4 minutes, and the pilot, calmly as ever, says "how much longer, this is a pretty sporty LZ." North ponders this adjective for the hottest LZ he's ever been in!

Those soldiers entering the helicopter...I teared up many times reading their stories, obviously. I am so glad I read this hard-to-read book, though, for many reasons. It reminded me of things I had forgotten. Time is our true enemy, as it makes us forget things. I had forgotten how Saddam Hussein was playing all those head games with the UN, bribing other countries to vote certain ways, only allowing "inspectors" to see certain areas at certain times. I had forgotten how Bush responded in critical times. Half my friends despise him, the other half adore him. But the truth is, he was an AWESOME war president. I WANT a president that the rest of the world hates. This is a good thing, people.

North carefully chronicles all the events that led us to each action. Osama bin Laden claims credit for 9/11 at the same time that Afghanistan says we can have access to him IF we can prove that he had something to do with it. WTF? Baghdad Bob is on tv yelling "Americans in Baghdad? Never!" while North is filming a captain of a tank division saying "tell him to stay there for 10 minutes and I'll come in and get him." I enjoyed reading about all the different countries over there and their exact "assistance" given to us to get troops in on the ground.

If I hadn't read this book, I wouldn't have seen the picture of the young Marine who lost his legs due to one of those chicken shit IEDs. He's wearing a t-shirt that says "Marine for Sale. 40% off. Some assembly required." He's now in law school, going to be a courtoom warrior. I wouldn't know about the Silver Star female soldier who cleared a trench, leaving 27 dead when she was done. Can you believe her name was Hester? (smile)

And North successfully puts the whole thing in perspective for me, when he writes: "Muslim women do not vote for their sons to be suicide bombers." YES. We may not have meant to be where we are now, but this is the deal. We have started a crazy experiment (there has never been democracy in thousands of years in Mesopotamia! what are we doing?). We have planted a seed of thought that threatens every societal structure, every ruling class, every male for that matter, in every country over there. And every country wants to stomp it out before it spreads and threatens their way of life. My brain says "get out now."

But there were those tens of thousands of Muslim women who stood in line all day to vote in their first free election...200 were killed with a car bomb, they did not step out of line. They are really sending their daughters to school that we set up.

The women are the key to the success of Iraq. The women are the key to future survival for the entire planet. The women are the key to progress and peace. WOMEN do not VOTE for their sons to be suicide bombers. I read recently that 4000 Iraqi women ran for offices in the last election.

[Rich Humes · Rating 2 out of 5]

I have no problem with books that promote ideologies, religions, and other deep held principles. That's not what this book is advertised as, but that's what it is.

North is correct, these stories of heroism are underreported and NEED to be told.

When he had the chance to do that very thing he used the stories to bookend his political opinions. A huge percentage of this book isn't about telling heroic stories, it's about promoting HIS political agenda, HIS religion, and HIS network.

North takes ample time puffing up George Bush, exalting him to nearly mythical status while blaming every problem in Iraq on "leftists" and the competitors of his company.

A popular target of his ire seems to be media pundits and retired officers. The obvious irony being that he is both.

If this was two different books I'd have no problem, but I can't stop thinking he's using the same tactics he decries from his opponents.

[Lauren · Rating 4 out of 5]

Funny thing, I've seen this book on my shelf for sometime, but I cannot remember how it got there. I don't recall buying it, nor do I remember someone giving it to me. It's actually an autographed copy, too. So finally in March 2016 I decide to take it off the shelf and read it. It really is a fascinating and insightful first-hand account of "boots on the ground" in Iraq. Oliver North wrote it based upon nine (9) different trips to Iraq between 2003 & 2007 in his role as host and reporter for War Stories on Fox News. Not surprisingly, Oliver North, shares his opinions about what he experienced and he brings his own biases to his writing and his conservative viewpoint. But I read the book knowing this would be the case. What I found of interest was the actual retelling of his experiences and those of soldiers with whom he and his crew were embedded.

[Philip · Rating 3 out of 5]

I had the pleasure of meeting the author and he is a charming man. I liked the honest realistic assessment of the threat to us all by fundamentalism of any kind. Here is also support for those doing their duty, no matter what you think of the justification of this war.

[Amy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very interesting -- I learned some things that I didn't know while at the same time had some other points confirmed.

[Rhonda · Rating 3 out of 5]

My husband stole this book from me, so I am no longer reading it! I was only a few chapters in, and I guess it was okay. I have a hard time reading war stuff, for obvious reasons.

[Jonathan Barlow · Rating 2 out of 5]

We will see... Broadening my range of thought so will let you know at the end of it. So far not impressed with where I think it might be going.

[Atalie]

boringgg i only read sum of it.

[Ronie · Rating 5 out of 5]

An eye-opening account. Very well written--I cried and laughed with these heroes! I can't wait for the next installment coming this fall.

[Wan Peter · Rating 5 out of 5]

A truly remarkable book. Don't have to be an American to read this book. Here lies the truth nothing but the whole truth. No make believed.

[Ben James · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was a great book telling about all of the latest hero's of America.

[Catrina · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a very good book, and it gave me a lot of insight into how much American soldiers and Afghanis alike, sacrificed in their fight against radical islam.