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[Lethal Warriors] [Author: Philipps, David] [April, 2012]
Pulitzer Prize finalist David Philipps brings to life the chilling story of how today's American heroes are slipping through the fingers of society—with multiple tours of duty and inadequate mental-health support creating a crisis of PTSD and a large-scale failure of veterans to reintegrate into society.Following the frightening narrative of the 506th Infantry Regiment—who had rebranded themselves as the Lethal Warriors after decades as the Band of Brothers—he reveals how the painful realities of war have multiplied in recent years, with tragic outcomes for America's soldiers, compounded by an indifferent government and a shrinking societal safety net.
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First published November 9, 2010
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About the author
David Philipps
6 books63 followersDavid Philipps is a Pulitzer Prize–winning national reporter for the New York Times. He is the author of Wild Horse Country and Lethal Warriors and a graduate of the Columbia School of Journalism. He lives in Colorado with his family.
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Displaying 1 - 26 of 26 reviews
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August 24, 2022Harrowing. What stupid ignorance is it that causes anyone to think they can require violence from a soldier in wartime and then require (and expect) its absence in peacetime?
No. This is not possible.
p.s. This book is about Colorado Springs.
No. This is not possible.
p.s. This book is about Colorado Springs.
October 28, 2010
I'm ambivalent.
Read my review for PBS here: http://www.pbs.org/pov/regardingwar/c...
Read my review for PBS here: http://www.pbs.org/pov/regardingwar/c...
July 1, 2019
Lethal Warriors is a prime example of very high-quality journalism. The author, David Philipps, didn’t stop at a headline or two. He went deep, did thorough research, interviewed dozens of people, stepped back and took a look at the big picture, and then tied all the strings together to make a whole story. What we get in this book is an insightful understanding about the impact that war has on people, and in particular, the “combat stress injuries” and PTSD suffered by U.S. soldiers in the Iraq and Afghanistan Wars.
Philipps follows a group of soldiers stationed together in South Korea. They call themselves the Band of Brothers after the WWII group of the same name. Unexpectedly, the Band is sent to Iraq. They are ordered to patrol a road in the Sunni Triangle that they rename Route Michigan. They are on patrol every day. Some days nothing happens on patrol. Other days, IEDs explode and kill one or more of them. They never know what will happen when they patrol. The stress is constant and increasing. Then things get even worse when they are ordered to Al Dora, a section of Baghdad where chaos and violence reign.
The insurgent attacks on them are so frequent and so violent in Al Dora that several in the group begin to fall into deep depression and psychosis. Several suffer traumatic brain injuries. Most become, as the author puts it, “nihilistic and erratic.” Several begin to engage in acts of arbitrary, meaningless violence against the civilian population. They commit war crimes. The author describes some of these crimes. Truly awful.
Then they are send home to Ft. Carson in Colorado Springs, Colorado. Rather than get help for their PTSD and combat stress injuries, the Army chooses to label them cowardly if they complain. They are “chaptered out,” meaning they are labeled as having a preexisting condition, that the war and PTSD isn’t the Army’s problem or responsibility. When they leave the Army, they are not eligible for benefits, including health and psychological care.
The Band of Brothers transforms into Lethal Warriors. They engage in burglaries, random drive-by shootings, domestic violence, and murder. Some of them have flashbacks so complete that they think they are back in Iraq fighting insurgents when actually they are in Colorado Springs killing local residents. Most of the Lethal Warriors are now in prison or dead.
The author pulls together all this data to show us what happened to these men. Even more frightening are indications that there are returned soldiers all over the U.S. who carry the same combat stress injuries within them. They are, in effect, ticking time bombs. They need help.
Reading this book is necessary to understanding the true impact of the Iraq and Afghanistan Wars on American soldiers. Highly recommended.
Philipps follows a group of soldiers stationed together in South Korea. They call themselves the Band of Brothers after the WWII group of the same name. Unexpectedly, the Band is sent to Iraq. They are ordered to patrol a road in the Sunni Triangle that they rename Route Michigan. They are on patrol every day. Some days nothing happens on patrol. Other days, IEDs explode and kill one or more of them. They never know what will happen when they patrol. The stress is constant and increasing. Then things get even worse when they are ordered to Al Dora, a section of Baghdad where chaos and violence reign.
The insurgent attacks on them are so frequent and so violent in Al Dora that several in the group begin to fall into deep depression and psychosis. Several suffer traumatic brain injuries. Most become, as the author puts it, “nihilistic and erratic.” Several begin to engage in acts of arbitrary, meaningless violence against the civilian population. They commit war crimes. The author describes some of these crimes. Truly awful.
Then they are send home to Ft. Carson in Colorado Springs, Colorado. Rather than get help for their PTSD and combat stress injuries, the Army chooses to label them cowardly if they complain. They are “chaptered out,” meaning they are labeled as having a preexisting condition, that the war and PTSD isn’t the Army’s problem or responsibility. When they leave the Army, they are not eligible for benefits, including health and psychological care.
The Band of Brothers transforms into Lethal Warriors. They engage in burglaries, random drive-by shootings, domestic violence, and murder. Some of them have flashbacks so complete that they think they are back in Iraq fighting insurgents when actually they are in Colorado Springs killing local residents. Most of the Lethal Warriors are now in prison or dead.
The author pulls together all this data to show us what happened to these men. Even more frightening are indications that there are returned soldiers all over the U.S. who carry the same combat stress injuries within them. They are, in effect, ticking time bombs. They need help.
Reading this book is necessary to understanding the true impact of the Iraq and Afghanistan Wars on American soldiers. Highly recommended.
December 18, 2011
This is a tough book to read, but every politician should have it on his/her nightstand. It's chilling to think of the human "time bombs" that are being sent home with very little attention given to their psychological wounds. Improvements have been made, but much damage has been done.
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July 29, 2012This is a brutal read, particularly for those living in Colorado Springs.
July 13, 2018
This is a book about how screwed-up war is, especially for soldiers in the infantry. The book follows a bunch of soldiers through enlistment, fighting, and return to civilization, where a relatively large percentage of them went on to commit violent crimes. The book addresses the question of how this came to be -- were the recruiters too desperate and accepted people they shouldn't? was it because of all the violence these guys saw in the Mideast? was it because the Army trained them to be killers? was it because they were afraid to ask for treatment for their PTSD because they thought it would make them look weak or they thought it would jeopardize their careers? was it because though they did ask for help, there was none available? It probably had a little to do with all of those things, appears to be the answer.
The book was set about 10 years ago, so hopefully today there is a better understanding of the effects war can have on soldiers, and less of a stigma surrounding their post-combat mental health treatment.
The book was set about 10 years ago, so hopefully today there is a better understanding of the effects war can have on soldiers, and less of a stigma surrounding their post-combat mental health treatment.
December 7, 2021
The true cost of war
Helps to understand the true cost of war. What these troops went through was unbelievable toxic. Excellent reporting and well written. An important read. We create not just warriors, we destroy human beings.
Helps to understand the true cost of war. What these troops went through was unbelievable toxic. Excellent reporting and well written. An important read. We create not just warriors, we destroy human beings.
March 26, 2025
Started Sad Boy Spring with this tough read about the psychological toll of combat and how we so often neglect it in the soldiers we send out to protect our way of life. Very stark contrast from my last book I read that glorified war.
June 5, 2012
I have decided I need to start this review by saying upfront that I have never supported the involvement of Americans and Canadian military in the war in Iraq. I am proudly Canadian, and while I do not support the war, I do support our men and women who have taken part in the war. I believe these people join the military to support their country and that is why I support them. And I feel the same about the American military personnel. That being said, I will also say that I was in two minds about reading and reviewing this book. I didn't particularly want to read about the war in Iraq, but I did want to see what the author had to say about PTSD.
My papa was a boy in Finland in World War II. He and his family hid in the hills when the German army came through, and then again a few long years later, when the Russians came through chasing the remaining Germans back. He only spoke of it infrequently and usually only after something had caused him to be reminded of that time, some sound, some sight or some smell that would cause him to think back. I still get tears in my eyes thinking about the things he saw as a young boy, things he could do nothing about. Even writing this short amount brings to mind the look he would have on his face. That is actually why I decided to read this book, his look. I know that he suffered mental trauma because of what he went through, and I know that to deal with it, he drank. I believe that he suffered from PTSD and that is why i decided to read this.
David Philipps takes us on a journey through the lives of several young men who volunteered to serve their country and served in the American Army. They served their country, were given several weeks, sometimes months of training in weaponry, tactics, fighting, shooting and physical endurance and then were returned to their own country broken, sad, struggling to cope in the aftermath of all they had witnessed and been involved in. With most receiving little to no help with their mental issues (I hate how that sounds, but I'm not sure how else to word it), they were sent home to their families and friends different people than when they had started in the military.
Some coped well and returned to mainstream living with little or no discernible changes. Others suffered from insomnia, nightmares and other troubles that they were helped with and then returned to living with some help and were able to barely cope. Still others returned, denying to themselves and others, that they were suffering from any problems and then couldn't cope. They received no help and ended up in jail, charged with various crimes including murder, rape and assault. And still, these people who had served their country, were denied help.
PTSD has been known by a variety of names including combat fatigue, and has existed as long as man has warred. It is a difficult disease to diagnose and treat, made harder by the stigma attached to mental illness and the don't ask, don't tell approach that is still seen today.
The author does not excuse what these men did, but he does try to help explain the WHY. And also what the government, the military and the people themselves need to do to change the system and to get help for people suffering from PTSD.
This book is not for the faint of heart, it goes through all the harrowing details of what these young men went through while they were serving in the army and the crimes they did when they returned home. It goes a long way to showing how PTSD changes lives and what can be done to combat PTSD in our military and in civilians as well.
A very well researched, well written book. It gives an objective look at the trauma war causes to our troops and what can be done to help them heal from their experiences.
The copy I have has an updated forward written in January 2012. It has a quote by journalist Tom Ricks that to me sums up the Iraqi War...'The Vietnam Memorial is a gash in the ground, like a grave, I think ideally, the Iraqi War memorial probably would ideally be a dead end.'
I received my copy of Lethal Warriors through LibraryThing and my review was unsolicited.
My papa was a boy in Finland in World War II. He and his family hid in the hills when the German army came through, and then again a few long years later, when the Russians came through chasing the remaining Germans back. He only spoke of it infrequently and usually only after something had caused him to be reminded of that time, some sound, some sight or some smell that would cause him to think back. I still get tears in my eyes thinking about the things he saw as a young boy, things he could do nothing about. Even writing this short amount brings to mind the look he would have on his face. That is actually why I decided to read this book, his look. I know that he suffered mental trauma because of what he went through, and I know that to deal with it, he drank. I believe that he suffered from PTSD and that is why i decided to read this.
David Philipps takes us on a journey through the lives of several young men who volunteered to serve their country and served in the American Army. They served their country, were given several weeks, sometimes months of training in weaponry, tactics, fighting, shooting and physical endurance and then were returned to their own country broken, sad, struggling to cope in the aftermath of all they had witnessed and been involved in. With most receiving little to no help with their mental issues (I hate how that sounds, but I'm not sure how else to word it), they were sent home to their families and friends different people than when they had started in the military.
Some coped well and returned to mainstream living with little or no discernible changes. Others suffered from insomnia, nightmares and other troubles that they were helped with and then returned to living with some help and were able to barely cope. Still others returned, denying to themselves and others, that they were suffering from any problems and then couldn't cope. They received no help and ended up in jail, charged with various crimes including murder, rape and assault. And still, these people who had served their country, were denied help.
PTSD has been known by a variety of names including combat fatigue, and has existed as long as man has warred. It is a difficult disease to diagnose and treat, made harder by the stigma attached to mental illness and the don't ask, don't tell approach that is still seen today.
The author does not excuse what these men did, but he does try to help explain the WHY. And also what the government, the military and the people themselves need to do to change the system and to get help for people suffering from PTSD.
This book is not for the faint of heart, it goes through all the harrowing details of what these young men went through while they were serving in the army and the crimes they did when they returned home. It goes a long way to showing how PTSD changes lives and what can be done to combat PTSD in our military and in civilians as well.
A very well researched, well written book. It gives an objective look at the trauma war causes to our troops and what can be done to help them heal from their experiences.
The copy I have has an updated forward written in January 2012. It has a quote by journalist Tom Ricks that to me sums up the Iraqi War...'The Vietnam Memorial is a gash in the ground, like a grave, I think ideally, the Iraqi War memorial probably would ideally be a dead end.'
I received my copy of Lethal Warriors through LibraryThing and my review was unsolicited.
August 9, 2012
Over the years, the psychological effects of war have gone by many names: battle fatigue, shell shock, and finally Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. It’s often viewed by fellow soldiers and superiors as an excuse to get out of battle. Those who claim to have it are shamed and made to perform menial tasks as punishment. Many end up not claiming it and try to deal with it on their own. The result can be disastrous.
Iraq created a perfect storm of stress. Soldiers often never saw the enemy directly, but still could be killed remotely through IEDs (Improvised Explosive Device). The constant uncertainty and no way to work out the stress and aggression takes a toll. The overexposure of this unique type of battle can lead to higher levels of PTSD. Phillips examines these factors in his book Lethal Warriors.
Phillips does a skillful job at identifying the problems that many soldiers face after returning from Iraq and Afghanistan. Those who suffered from PTSD had the strong desire to return to be with their brothers in battle. Furthermore, many didn’t have very much to come back to after going to war. He takes the murder of a soldier in the unit, Kevin Shields, and then works his way backward to find out what happened. He reveals a startling account of war crimes, neglect, and a perfect storm of events that led soldiers returning to Fort Carson from Iraq to a crime spree.
He examines military techniques, how soldiers are trained to kill, and how the brains natural aversion to killing is eroded. The training combined with self-managed PTSD (usually drugs and alcohol) result in soldiers using lethal force in any altercation, even minor ones. It goes from using it against Iraqi militants, to their wives, girlfriends, fellow soldiers, and eventually random strangers. It is startling to see soldiers going through hell, not receiving help, and seeing them take out that aggression on innocent civilians. In Fort Carson, there is a 300 percent increase in theft, rape, and murder in the small time period the brigade returns from Iraq.
It’s the Epicon report conducted by General Mark Graham that reveals the reasons behind all of this. This battalion was exposed to more intense battle more often that resulted in an increase in PTSD. Those claiming it were ostracized. Many make the military their career and claiming PTSD would be career suicide; instead of getting help that would turn to substance abuse and violent behavior to take out their aggression. The report details how the military needs to take steps to help the soldiers de-stress and make it easier to get help.
Phillips gets intimately involved in everyone’s life, weaving a narrative in such a compelling manner that it reads like fiction. Even though there are horrific crimes, he gives each person humanity. One can only feel sorrow for everyone involved, that with just some help, the events could have been avoided.
Iraq created a perfect storm of stress. Soldiers often never saw the enemy directly, but still could be killed remotely through IEDs (Improvised Explosive Device). The constant uncertainty and no way to work out the stress and aggression takes a toll. The overexposure of this unique type of battle can lead to higher levels of PTSD. Phillips examines these factors in his book Lethal Warriors.
Phillips does a skillful job at identifying the problems that many soldiers face after returning from Iraq and Afghanistan. Those who suffered from PTSD had the strong desire to return to be with their brothers in battle. Furthermore, many didn’t have very much to come back to after going to war. He takes the murder of a soldier in the unit, Kevin Shields, and then works his way backward to find out what happened. He reveals a startling account of war crimes, neglect, and a perfect storm of events that led soldiers returning to Fort Carson from Iraq to a crime spree.
He examines military techniques, how soldiers are trained to kill, and how the brains natural aversion to killing is eroded. The training combined with self-managed PTSD (usually drugs and alcohol) result in soldiers using lethal force in any altercation, even minor ones. It goes from using it against Iraqi militants, to their wives, girlfriends, fellow soldiers, and eventually random strangers. It is startling to see soldiers going through hell, not receiving help, and seeing them take out that aggression on innocent civilians. In Fort Carson, there is a 300 percent increase in theft, rape, and murder in the small time period the brigade returns from Iraq.
It’s the Epicon report conducted by General Mark Graham that reveals the reasons behind all of this. This battalion was exposed to more intense battle more often that resulted in an increase in PTSD. Those claiming it were ostracized. Many make the military their career and claiming PTSD would be career suicide; instead of getting help that would turn to substance abuse and violent behavior to take out their aggression. The report details how the military needs to take steps to help the soldiers de-stress and make it easier to get help.
Phillips gets intimately involved in everyone’s life, weaving a narrative in such a compelling manner that it reads like fiction. Even though there are horrific crimes, he gives each person humanity. One can only feel sorrow for everyone involved, that with just some help, the events could have been avoided.
August 7, 2016
An eye-opening investigation into the results of combat on soldiers who, for the most part, are inadequately trained for the mental stress of operating in a war zone. Moreover, the book details the lack of support given to many of these veterans, who, when returned home, are met with military bureaucracy that would rather claim that these problems were innate before these soldiers were deployed.
Philipps follows the path of a handful of soldiers with PTSD - but after awhile, it becomes harder and harder to differentiate between them. I found that to be the only drawback to the book, the difficulty by the end in remembering the difference between the soldiers. Probably this isn't surprising as the army's way is to eliminate individuality but I found by the final few chapters, I was relying more and more on the index in order to jog my memory of who was who. I don't know how to remedy this - the book needs to have a variety of soldiers who experienced the same consequences of action in Iraq so as not to be written off as a statistical outlier, but maybe more background on the soldiers, or perhaps dividing the stories into separate chapters rather than intertwining them would have been easier of my poor short-term memory.
Philipps follows the path of a handful of soldiers with PTSD - but after awhile, it becomes harder and harder to differentiate between them. I found that to be the only drawback to the book, the difficulty by the end in remembering the difference between the soldiers. Probably this isn't surprising as the army's way is to eliminate individuality but I found by the final few chapters, I was relying more and more on the index in order to jog my memory of who was who. I don't know how to remedy this - the book needs to have a variety of soldiers who experienced the same consequences of action in Iraq so as not to be written off as a statistical outlier, but maybe more background on the soldiers, or perhaps dividing the stories into separate chapters rather than intertwining them would have been easier of my poor short-term memory.
March 2, 2012
This book is about what happens when medicine heals, but the effects of war remain, especially brutally violent war. It was an absolutely eye-opening account of one group of soldiers who returned from valiantly serving out country, only to return to no help with their issues. The system is broken! I didn't agree with the author's views on some issues (such as those who had ruthlessly murdered innocent people, he essentially blamed it on the after effects of the war. I think that some personal responsibility and accountability needed to be taken in those situations. I am sympathetic to some of the things, but blaming everything on the war seems like a cop-out to me.) Overall, it was a very telling account and very sad indeed.
January 12, 2011
Lethal Warriors was an amazingly powerful story. It offers insight into a growing problem in the military, PTSD. Philipps, follows the stories of Iraqi war veterans and their struggles with physical and mental traumas of war. The author tells the story with details that help build relationships with the soldiers.
My own experience with trauma in the military and PTSD drew me into the story. Philipps, showed the lack of understanding of PTSD in the military and the need for more understanding of the affects of mental and physical trauma.
This is a must read! Anyone with a friend or family member that experienced military trauma should read this book.
My own experience with trauma in the military and PTSD drew me into the story. Philipps, showed the lack of understanding of PTSD in the military and the need for more understanding of the affects of mental and physical trauma.
This is a must read! Anyone with a friend or family member that experienced military trauma should read this book.
January 2, 2017
Can't say that I enjoyed reading this book, the content is disturbing. However, I think this should be required reading for Congress and for the President-Elect.
The US Army failed these soldiers, not just these, but countless others. These soldiers came home after multiple deployments wrecked human beings. They saw and did things that cannot be unseen and undone. Tragic. In most cases they were discharged without help or benefits to fend for themselves. Fortunately, things are being done now to assist transition back to civilian life. I hope for everyone's sake it is effective.
The US Army failed these soldiers, not just these, but countless others. These soldiers came home after multiple deployments wrecked human beings. They saw and did things that cannot be unseen and undone. Tragic. In most cases they were discharged without help or benefits to fend for themselves. Fortunately, things are being done now to assist transition back to civilian life. I hope for everyone's sake it is effective.
May 17, 2012
Sad, but true. Something we as American's need to remember when we are voting and spending our tax dollars. I don't know the answers, or what I myself can do to change this process, but more programs need to be developed to aid the returning soldiers if we are going to keep sending them off to fight wars for us.
May 30, 2012
This look into the dark place of the American involvement war is at best difficult. You will be angry, amazed, and so upset about the neglect of our government that you will want to send your copy of the book to your congressman when your done with it. If it is on your to read list go get and start today.
February 26, 2014
A very well-written overview of the US army's issues with PTSD. Philipps weaves a handful of cases together to paint a stark and obvious case for the potential causes of PTSD. The only thing that I really took exception to was that he didn't include any outside (read: outside of the army) research as to potential causes.
August 20, 2013
Very engaging book about PTSD and the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. Very good insight and well researched, all the information brought together by some very compelling and terrible stories. well done sir, well done.
December 29, 2010
personally, a difficult book to get through, but recommended.
March 18, 2011
Heres the truth about what we're doing in these stupid wars.
June 23, 2011
Must read for all of Americas Warriors. A true eye opener.
July 11, 2013
Excellent.
August 26, 2013
Incredibly sad book to read, but highlights what most people do not want to acknowledge about how war changes people.
November 9, 2014
Heartbreaking stuff.
June 10, 2015
This book has been monumental in terms of helping me understand more fully the journey of our soldiers, particularly those at Fort Carson.
October 9, 2022
Sad but all true.
Displaying 1 - 26 of 26 reviews