Combat and Other Shenanigans

by Piers Platt

War is hell…but sometimes it’s also funny as hell. Combat and Other Shenanigans is Lieutenant Piers Platt’s firsthand account of his year as a cavalry platoon leader in Iraq. Wry, action-packed, and poignant, Combat and Other Shenanigans is the absurd-but-true story of the antics the world’s finest soldiers get up to when no one high-ranking is watching.

Genres: Military Fiction, Nonfiction, History, War, Humor, Memoir

114 pages, Kindle Edition

First published February 25, 2014

About the author

I grew up in Boston, but spent most of my childhood in various boarding schools, including getting trained as a classical singer at a choir school for boys. I joined the Army in 2002, and spent four years on active duty, including a year-long deployment to Iraq in 2004 as a tank and scout platoon leader.

When I’m not spending time with my lovely wife and daughter, I’m frantically working on my next book.

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Reviews

[James · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great read! One of the best military memoirs - one of the best memoirs, period - I've read in a long time. The author served as a UI.S. Army tank platoon commander in Iraq throughout 2004 and the beginning of 2005, including playing a role in overseeing the first free election after the fall of Saddam Hussein.
He's an excellent writer, and from the sound of his account, a pretty good leader (and world-class smartass.) Something I could relate to strongly was his view that a big part of his mission was to act as a BS umbrella for his men; he also readily asked for their input and advice when he needed it and made sure they got credit for his platoon's achievements, not to mention arranging for his family and friends back home to send frequent care packages of good food and other items for his whole platoon throughout their 13 months in Iraq.
I'd make this recommended reading in the training of NCOs and junior officers, but then, the Powers That Be haven't asked me for my recommendations - so I'm recommending it here, for those groups and others wanting a taste of the flavor of life in a combat arms unit.

[D.E. · Rating 4 out of 5]

I choose to review this book because I was curious to see if it’s possible to portray to civilians what it’s like to be in the military and/or to go to war for a soldier. Platt did a great job of portraying a soldier’s life while at war. He explained enough background to allow readers to understand the gist of what was going on without becoming entrenched in military terminology and/or technology. His anecdotes were funny and, for those of us former military men/women, very recognizable. I admire Platt’s honesty. There are few veterans that are so honest and humble.

I recommend this book to readers and non-readers alike who are interested in finding out what day-to-day life is like in war.

[Mal Warwick · Rating 4 out of 5]

Here’s a memoir of one soldier’s year of service in Iraq that masquerades as a light-weight tale, crammed with humor. Though the book is funny at times, hilarious even, and the author’s voice reflects little of the tragic reality of that misbegotten conflict, it’s revealing nonetheless. Read between the lines, and put the anecdotes in this book together with what you’ve learned from the news, and you’ll gain at least a little more understanding of what modern war in general, and the US occupation of Iraq in particular, are really like.

Not that Combat and Other Shenanigans is the best available book about the Iraq war. Two other books I’ve read and reviewed supply more insight about the effect of the conflict on those who suffered on its front lines. A novel, Billy Lynn’s Long Half-Time Walk, by Ben Fountain, is a terrific satire of the experience from the point of view of enlisted soldiers. And a portrait of a remarkable Iraqi family, Nabeel’s Song: A Family Story of Survival in Iraq, by Jo Tatchell, offers perspective of the impact on the civilian population.

What stands out in Platt’s book is the lopsidedness of the conflict between US forces and Iraqi fighters. The astonishing firepower, the high-tech capabilities, the pinpoint accuracy of American rifles and artillery — it’s enough to take your breath away. If you set out to read the book, get ready for scenes in which insurgents are virtually vaporized by US weaponry. This book — well, any book about the reality of war — is not for anyone with a weak stomach.

In fact, it’s hard to come away from reading any of these books, much less all three of them, feeling good about the tragedy that was — and still is — Iraq. Nobody has yet written the Slaughterhouse-5 or Catch 22 of either Iraq or Afghanistan. But do we really need a masterpiece to drive home the lesson that war is almost always the worst of all possible options?

During 2013-14 — less than a year and a half, since it’s just May 2014 as I write — Piers Platt has had five novels and a book of short stories published. I can find no explanation for how he’s managed to pull this off, since he claims not to write full-time. (Platt has a job as a marketing consultant.)

Here’s the sum total of his biography on Goodreads: “I grew up in Boston, but spent most of my childhood in various boarding schools, including getting trained as a classical singer at a choir school for boys. I joined the Army in 2002, and spent four years on active duty, including a year-long deployment to Iraq in 2004 as a tank and scout platoon leader. I now work as a marketing strategy consultant in New York City, when I’m not spending time with my lovely wife and daughter.”

[Sharon Moonbeam · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting to get a small idea of what our servicemen and women might experience in Iraq. This doesn't holdback on language, so be prepared to have a glimpse of what a bunch of guys away from home would be talking about. Some of it was really comical. I was most surprised at how much the equipment was breaking down... and of the living conditions and the food. I salute and thank everyone of them!

[Jack · Rating 5 out of 5]

Interesting account of the war in Iraq

Interesting account of the war in Iraq

Not as intense as say, the story of Jason Dunham, this one is more humorous. But it serves as a good account of a typical tank commanders experience in the desert.

I always appreciate insights of what our soldiers, marines, sailors and airmen go through, no matter which war.

Good read if you want to find out a bit about this LT.'s experience.

[Jason · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fast paced and easy to read, the author takes the reader through his experiences during his tour in Iraq. If you are looking for something that goes into great depth about the combat theater, this is not the book. However, if you want to get a sense of what went on in Iraq and the bonds developed among the soldiers, this is worth the read.

[Vikas Datta · Rating 4 out of 5]

Quite an interesting and captivating account of a tour of duty in an ultimately dishonourable and manufactured war which did more to make the world a more dangerous place then anything place. But the author performed his patriotic duty - and shared his impressions and experiences with us which are most readable.

[Chaplain Stanley Chapin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Outstanding

It would be difficult to any better explain the workings of the military effort. Each of us who served well know the frustrating experience of what has and is still happening and wondering why the world is not a better place

[Jim A · Rating 3 out of 5]

Decent diary from a tank platoon leader during the Iraq war. Anyone who has served will recognize the dark humor as well as the seriousness of combat.

[Eric Johnson · Rating 5 out of 5]

They say that the military is a small world, and more or less this book proves that. The author who I'm sure goes by a pseudonym rather than his real name, was in 1-4 Cav. While he was in B Troop, I was in A Troop doing my thing during that tour in Iraq. The book is pretty good, but I'm scratching my head while he used different names for real-world people. Since I was in that squadron I knew the A Troop commander (as I served under him) and vaguely remember B Troop. I knew the FIST team since we were attached to our Troops, but overall I think it's kinda weird. I can't say he's wrong, a little anonymity doesn't hurt for those bent on revenge, but I found it odd when the Iraqis knew most of them anyway, especially Troop commanders. Anyway, it's a good reminder of the deployment from another perspective than my own, in which I never wrote my own combat tour in any of my books, as I preferred Afghanistan over Iraq any day. Overall, the book is good and shows what it was like back then during GWOT. It's kinda short, but an easy read for those trying to see what happened during that year.

[Rob Krumeich · Rating 3 out of 5]

Uneventful mostly. Absurd, not really...

A well written adventure sharing a typical soldier experience through a tour in Iraq. I’m sure the authors story that he experienced was to him a wild, dangerous and absurd year in combat and he is right to be proud of his service. If your looking for a nice soldier story surviving the tedious year away from home it’s a well written book and record of this soldiers experience. If your looking for exciting war stories your probably going to be disappointed like a was waiting for the big battles and life and death moments in many of the great books available today. Absurd, not at all.

[Mandy Wultsch · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the story of a deployment to Iraq during the early to mid days of the Forever War (aka the War on Terror) as seen through the eyes of a lieutenant in a cavalry unit (he is in a tank), warts and all. I really enjoyed it. I felt as if I rode along on several patrols and missions, since they were described in such detail.

I'd recommend this book to older teens and adults, since there is crude humor and sexual references. (These are soldiers on deployment, what do you expect? Angels? Ha!) There is also some violence, but that should also be expected, as this is war.

[John Foote · Rating 5 out of 5]

Funny and honest.

This was a nice read, not too serious but serious when it needed to be. I can understand his feelings of not having "experienced" as much or as deeply as others doing the same job. I think we do TBE best that we can and we all see things differently. What happened during this you may have been considered difficult by another. I think the author has a keen sense of humor and that helped with his ability to make it through his tour relatively unscathed. Good story teller. I enjoyed reading this book.

[Andee · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great book! I enjoyed this book, I thought it was well written. This book particularly excelled at pointing out the tremendous redundancies, unnecessary and asinine rules and regulations for so very many things, in any large bureaucratic maze. All of the aforementioned debacles, mixed with bored, and stressed, mischievous young men crammed together for years at a time, make for one hell of a mental image and some good laughs.

As always, many thanks to the men and women of our armed forces.

[Richard Croner · Rating 4 out of 5]

I served in the old days so I really enjoyed reading about what soldiers are experiencing in today's military engagements. There are definitely a lot of similarities between old and new and the feelings as expressed by Platt are interesting. Politicians , the vast majority of which, have no skin in the game send troops to god awful places to do things that no sane person would do. Each and every soldier is at risk of losing their life. This country does it on a daily basis. This is a good book that is quite realistic. If the topic interests you, read it.

[Zane Cray · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great read! Platt's firsthand account of his year as a cavalry platoon leader in Iraq was action-packed, funny, and well written. Platt's writing style made it an easy book to pick up and forget the passage of time; rather than bog the reader down with the minutia of military protocol and politics, Platt concentrated on the missions, men, and day-to-day situations that he and his men found themselves in.

[ED Anthony · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent read. As a Vietnam combat infantry veteran I chose this book so that I could get a feel what combat in Iraq was like. Well, I don't think a got a full feel for all the action but I certainly enjoyed a perspective from a tanker's view. Very interesting and very humorous, as well as dangerous. Made me glad that I was never was in an armored unit. Will follow up by reading a good book about infantry in Iraq.

[Ronnie Rohn · Rating 4 out of 5]

An easy almost relaxing read.

Ron Rohn
Filled with the boring mundane, that is.military life, punctuated with the sudden violance and lifethreatinng actionof all battlefields. A good read. I was always waiting for the other shoe to drop .the syle of writingwas engaging and painted the picture of one mans experiance of his first time in the modern feld of battle. May we send no more young men and women into harms way to satisfy old mens ambitions!

[Fiona McCusker · Rating 4 out of 5]

A real insight into the everyday life of the US military during the Iraq war, including humorous anecdotes and fascinating information about how operations are run. It was a very enjoyable read, as well as broadening my general knowledge.

[Carl Nurick · Rating 4 out of 5]

An Exceptional review of Iraqi militarization

An adventure with Army humor intersperced. For a better understanding of Islam, read LIVING TO DIE by Carl Nurick...Amazon Books or KINDLE

[Marilyn Pettigrove · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is kind of a funny book. It is the story of a combat leader in the Iraq war and the tricks the soldiers play on each other to stay sane. It is an interesting read. It is probably 3.5 stars.

[John Podlaski · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thoroughly enjoyed, "Combat and Other Shenanigans" by Piers Platt. The story follows the author's year-long deployment to Iraq in 2004 - 3 years after the second invasion.

Readers follow the author, an Armor Lieutenant in charge of a tank platoon, as his group finishes training in Germany and deploy to Iraq in relief of another unit which is returning home. There are snipers, skirmishes, incoming mortars, IED's, hunger, thirst, heat, cold and boredom to contend with almost daily. The 'hurry up and wait' mentality of the military has not changed over the decades and much of their time is idle and waiting for the green machine to make decisions. When there is plenty of downtimes, soldiers will play to relieve the boredom, hence the other half of the book's title.

Shenanigans are nothing more than pranks and well received by the troops. It's a way to blow off steam and share the fun with those serving beside them. Lt. Platt was good to his men, took care of them and shared many of his special packages from home. The Lt. is soon reassigned to the Scouts, who operate in Bradley and get into the thick of things. Here, he has to learn everything from scratch. But when an officer treats his men well, they reciprocate and help him get through the rough spots. NCO's have a knack for managing the military for the most part and make deserving officers look good.

Platt was part of the big change in Iraq when the people had an opportunity to vote in their first ever election. It was also the first time that the soldiers felt a sense of satisfaction for being there during this historical moment to observe people celebrating because of what the U.S. had achieved for them.

Some reviewers comment that the fraternization displayed between the line officers and their men was out of line. Behavior like this has been going on for some time during wartime as a special bond develops between the men, no matter their rank, and will continue through the rest of their lives. In Vietnam, lieutenants were on a first name basis with men in their platoons - at least, out in the field. There was a level of respect offered when other officers were present. It's just the way it is!

Nevertheless, readers of this story will see how this relationship between officers, NCO's and their men develops and grows over time. They will also witness the sacrifices and difficulties that soldiers experience in a foreign country and during a war. I highly recommend this tale to all veterans and others who want an inside look at how the war went in Iraq.

John Podlaski, author
Cherries - A Vietnam War Novel

[Viviane Crystal · Rating 4 out of 5]

Few war stories are both comical and serious, but this one year memoir is unique in both respects. Lieutenant Piers Platt as a cavalry platoon officer attends enough schooling to sink a ship while in Kentucky and then Germany, but he has to receive even more training after he is deployed to Iraq. It’s a soldiers world with gutsy language, pranks for all newcomers, a place where rules are made to be broken, where punishments are handed out and then rescinded hours later, and where one lives fluctuating between constant boredom or ever-looming life-death situations.
Platt’s writing includes a lot of acronyms for military weapons and procedures that are incomprehensible to the average reader and could have had more explanation for non-military readers, but those who have served in Iraq will definitely relate to all of it. The reader isn’t quite sure whether one should be amused or horrified by the deplorable state of the equipment these soldiers rely on for travel, defense and attack while out on missions. Add to that the realistic scenes of killing and coming close to being killed, and the reader realizes how stressed out these men are and their almost desperate need to have plenty of humor to cope with the realities of everyday war.
This story actually takes place at the end of the Iraq war when American soldiers were cleaning up after the major battles and dealing with leftover insurgents who must have missed the memo about the end of the war and were still dropping IEDs and shooting at soldiers, all designed to perpetuate the war that was over but really wasn’t over quite yet.
Platt writes in a uniquely light tone about the idiotic decisions made by “higher-ups” in sending soldiers into deadly areas such as Samarra. Yet he also describes the Iraqi people’s joy and determination when they finally got the opportunity to vote. All in all, what is conveyed most is the unity and powerful friendships that developed between these men who truly “cared” for each other in such an admirable way. That alone is worth the great read provided by Lieutenant Piers Platt! Thank you and all who served with you!

[Kingsley · Rating 4 out of 5]

Early on in the book the author, Platt, mentioned that people would often ask him "what it was like in Iraq?" and giving answers was often difficult. He hoped this book would provide a better answer and a better idea of what it was like. Does it reach this difficult goal? Yes and no. Mostly yes.

Platt gives a wonderful, detailed explanation of what he and his platoon did over in Iraq, Through this you get an understanding of what it was like and what he and his fellow US Army guys went through. He shows the excitement when things go well, the anxiety when things do not. The boredom when not much is going on. The pride of having helped with and been involved in ensuring the democratic election in Iraq.

Platt doesn't delve into the politics of the war, which is good - that's not what this book is for, but gives a straight up account of "the man on the ground'. Only in his quick reflections post-war is the politics slightly mentioned and even then it seems a mix of pride for what he was involved in and confusion/annoyance at the US having been involved at all.

The book is humourous at times. It reminded me in places of Catch-22 in terms of the absurdity (order spare parts but moving base all the time thus you part are always one base behind you) although, thankfully, not quite so insane. There is a disconnect between the 'ideal' as expected by the military superiors at base and the reality of those on the ground. It is not just with the military this disconnect exists, but with the military it is so much scarier as it is a high risk environment.

[Charlie Sherpa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Much of military-themed contemporary non-fiction targets the horrors and chaos and policies of war, or dwells in the psychological mine fields of coming home, or blows up real heroes into caricatures of themselves. In his Iraq War memoir "Combat and Other Shenanigans," however, former U.S. Army Armor officer Piers Platt delivers a light-hearted but heartfelt depiction of what it means to go to war with your friends.

To pile onto Maj. Gen. William Tecumseh Sherman's well-known quote: War may be hell, but it can also be fun.

Seriously. I say this as a comedy geek, an enthusiast of modern military memoirs, and a fellow veteran: This book made me laugh out loud. Repeatedly.

(And, of course, it also validates Sherpatude No. 26).

Platt's writing style is conversational, affable, and fresh. Civilians with little familiarity with the military will easily understand his breezy explanations of, say, arcane military procedures and unit configurations. Veterans, however, will appreciate the skill with which he describes old traditions and pranks, such as dispatching privates to search for soft spots in tank armor, or for cans of radio squelch. Even if you think you've heard it all before (and you haven't), you'll still be entertained. [...]

[For a full review, visit: http://www.redbullrising.com/2015/10/...]

[Elaine Dimopoulos · Rating 5 out of 5]

Do you want to know what it's really like to kiss your loved ones goodbye and board a plane for the sweltering desert of Iraq? To serve a tour of duty with a bunch of courageous and lewd-as-hell fellow officers? To participate in an attack on an insurgent-controlled city where your mettle is tested? Then pick up this memoir. Intended for a wide range of readers -- those familiar with the armed forces and those, like me, who are outside this world but curious about it -- COMBAT is funny, intense, raw, and realistic. Using an episodic structure, Platt writes honestly about his often unglamorous experiences as a soldier and the friendships (and rivalries) that emerge. One highlight for me was the practical jokes played on new soldiers, such as sending a private on a six-hour wild goose chase to get a "can of squelch," which doesn't exist. If you're looking for a war memoir that tells it like it is, COMBAT is your book.

[Marshall Clowers · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm a vet myself, parts of the job stick with you for a long time. One of the things I miss most is the camaraderie; and the knowledge of some of the truly silly things that I've seen, heard about or taken part in.
This is a serious story; the tale of a deployment to the sand that (sadly) many still can't find on a map. The combat sequence is just intense enough to keep engaged, you can tell that Lt. Platt has "been there". Intermixed with that are several anecdotes that had me holding my sides with concerned coworkers wondering why I was having trouble breathing.
I really enjoyed this, it reminds me that while we servicemen may be (or have been) called upon to do some pretty scary tasks, we can do so while retaining out humanity.
These guys are welcome for a beer and BBQ at my place anytime the fire is lit.

[Sharon Phelps · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brutally honest, at times painful to read and not what I expected when I picked it up. As a mother of a young son who fought in Desert Storm on tanks but has never spoken of his experiences it is almost like being able to see and understand what he went through. As a grandmother with a grandson in Kuwait now it is like seeing through his eyes. This is a must read for anyone who has a loved one who has ever fought in any war. We need to understand just what our veterans go through to keep us safe. We don't just see them off at the air terminal and then life goes on as though they don't exit until we greet them again when they come home.

[Dee-Ann · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was interesting reading. There is a lot of detail about the weapons and tactics used for the Iraq secondment. I got a full sense of how uncomfortable it was there, especially in relation to heat, dirt, food and living conditions. I found it unsettling the ease in which the killing of others and intrusion takes place.

[Alan Parker · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you Platt

I experienced my own deployment to Iraq in 04-05 in and around Bagdad while reading this book by Piers Platt. All the good and bad. He made me remember things forgotten, both good and bad. If you have never experienced the brotherhood forged in combat, Platt will give you a glimpse of how strong our ties to each other are to each other. Scouts out.