Dragons At War: 2-34 Infantry in the Mojave

by Daniel P. Bolger, Paul F. Gorman (Contributor)

New

Genres: Military Fiction, Military History

360 pages, Hardcover

First published August 1, 1986

About the author

Daniel P. Bolger of Aurora, Illinois is an author, historian, and retired Lieutenant General (promoted 21 May 2010) of the United States Army. He currently holds a special faculty appointment in the Department of History at North Carolina State University, where he teaches military history.

Lt. Gen. Bolger retired in 2013 from the Army. During his 35 years of service, he earned five Bronze Star Medals (one for valor) and the Combat Action Badge. His notable military commands included serving as Commanding General of the Combined Security Transition Command in Afghanistan and Commander of the NATO Training Mission in Afghanistan (2011-2013); Commanding General of the 1st Cavalry Division at Fort Hood, Texas (deployed to Baghdad, 2009-2010); the Coalition Military Assistance Training Team in Iraq (2005–06); and U.S. Army Assistant Chief of Staff for Operations. He is also the author of books, such as Why We Lost, Americans at War, The Battle for Hunger Hill, and Death Ground.

Reviews

[Douglas Meyer · Rating 2 out of 5]

Dated, dull, disappointing, and overly critical of everyone in the said unit save the author himself. I say all this understanding that 1. I have never spent the time and analysis to write an after-action review this in-depth (this is basically a long AAR) and 2. Then Capt. Bolger - now Retired General Bolger - is a very good writer. I just personally didn't find this book as engaging as I hope it would be and I found the lessons to be less timeless than I have anticipated. I personally wouldn't read this again if I had to do it all over.

[Gary Klein · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a great book for platoon through battalion-level leaders who want to read about the challenges of a BN/BDE training rotation at NTC. There are about ten vignettes (MILES and LFX) complete with AARs, each of which could be used separately if a unit wanted to use them as LPDs. The first four chapters are all introductory - covering NTC, the opposing force "enemy," the US Army battalion this book follows 2-34 IN, and 2-34 IN's experience prior to NTC - and could be skipped, especially by someone more experienced in the Army.

[Fred Dameron · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this years ago, see read date, but was reminded about it because of Soviet losses in Ukraine. There is a nifty section on 2/34's use of FASCAM (Family of Air Scatterable Mines) Where 2/34 got the OpFor, Opposing Force, stopped by a anti Tank Guided missile and then hammered the OpFore with FASCAM causing the whole colum to become Hores de Combat: Just like the Ukrainen's have done to the Russians around Arkum.

[Keith Beeson · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good read - especially for leaders headed to NTC. It's interesting to see (although not surprising)... That while systems and technology has changed, it is clear that much is still the same for people.

[James · Rating 5 out of 5]

A matter-of-fact record of an Army unit's training experience at the National Training Center in the Mojave Desert in the mid-80s; the experience was so stressful it's tiring just to read about. A very enlightening read for anyone who thinks ground combat or the life of a soldier is simple or easy.

[Christopher · Rating 3 out of 5]

Old school description of tactical actions at the National Training Center in the 1980s. Still a good primer for understanding battalion level operations. Clearly describes keys to succeed and fail at NTC with implications on how to fight in a hybrid environment.

[Granger44 · Rating 5 out of 5]

An interesting insight into one of the more advanced forms of training that the US Army puts its units through. The author also puts a personal spin on the various unit leaders within the battalion.