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The Flying Spoon Platoon: Iraq War Edition
#1 Amazon Bestseller in Iraq War History
#1 Amazon New Release in Iraq War History
#1 Best Seller in Biographies & Memoirs of Chefs
#1 New Release in Biographies & Memoirs of Chefs
#1 Amazon Bestseller in Iraq War Biographies
#1 Amazon New Release in Iraq War Biographies
Raw, funny, and brutally honest — *The Flying Spoon Platoon* captures the grit, laughter, and chaos of life as a cook in the Iraq War with the 82nd Airborne Division. Nate Peltier blends storytelling and Army recipes into a memoir that feeds both memory and morale.
I didn’t set out to become a soldier or a cook in a war zone — I was born into both worlds. My father was a chef, the kind of man who could turn a handful of ingredients into a memory. My grandfather was a soldier in World War II and a retired Colonel, a leader who carried discipline in his bones and stories in his silence. Between the two of them, I learned early that food and service were the same thing — one fed the body, the other fed the soul. When I joined the Army, I thought I’d just be flipping eggs and peeling potatoes. Instead, the 82nd Airborne Division taught me what it meant to lead under fire, laugh through fear, and keep moving no matter what burned around me. The kitchen became my battlefield; the spatula was my weapon. This book isn’t just about food. It’s about the people who shared it — the ones who kept me sane, kept me humble, and reminded me that even in war, there’s always room for flavor.
#1 Amazon New Release in Iraq War History
#1 Best Seller in Biographies & Memoirs of Chefs
#1 New Release in Biographies & Memoirs of Chefs
#1 Amazon Bestseller in Iraq War Biographies
#1 Amazon New Release in Iraq War Biographies
Raw, funny, and brutally honest — *The Flying Spoon Platoon* captures the grit, laughter, and chaos of life as a cook in the Iraq War with the 82nd Airborne Division. Nate Peltier blends storytelling and Army recipes into a memoir that feeds both memory and morale.
I didn’t set out to become a soldier or a cook in a war zone — I was born into both worlds. My father was a chef, the kind of man who could turn a handful of ingredients into a memory. My grandfather was a soldier in World War II and a retired Colonel, a leader who carried discipline in his bones and stories in his silence. Between the two of them, I learned early that food and service were the same thing — one fed the body, the other fed the soul. When I joined the Army, I thought I’d just be flipping eggs and peeling potatoes. Instead, the 82nd Airborne Division taught me what it meant to lead under fire, laugh through fear, and keep moving no matter what burned around me. The kitchen became my battlefield; the spatula was my weapon. This book isn’t just about food. It’s about the people who shared it — the ones who kept me sane, kept me humble, and reminded me that even in war, there’s always room for flavor.
94 pages, Kindle Edition
Published November 13, 2025
1 person is currently reading
462 people want to read
About the author
Nate Peltier
1 book6 followersBorn and raised in Michigan, Nate joined the Army at 18 and spent his early career feeding paratroopers in some of the most unpredictable environments imaginable. From chaotic DFAC lines in Kuwait to makeshift kitchens near the front lines in Iraq, he learned quickly that in a warzone, a hot meal could mean more than just food—it could mean morale, survival, and a moment of normal in a world that was anything but.
His memoir blends raw truth, dark humor, and the unfiltered reality of life as an Army cook during the early years of Operation Iraqi Freedom. Nate writes with the same honesty he lived through: messy, loud, and full of heart. His stories spotlight the soldiers who kept each other going—not just with grit, but with laughter, stubborn resilience, and a shared understanding that the smallest things often mattered the most.
After leaving the military, Nate pursued a career in culinary arts, earned his Culinary Management degree, and continued serving his community through veteran support, storytelling, and entrepreneurship. He is the founder of Peltier Publishing Works, where he plans to expand The Flying Spoon Platoon into a full series.
Nate currently lives in Kansas City, Missouri with his family and continues to write, cook, and share the stories that shaped him.
"Airborne, All the way!"
His memoir blends raw truth, dark humor, and the unfiltered reality of life as an Army cook during the early years of Operation Iraqi Freedom. Nate writes with the same honesty he lived through: messy, loud, and full of heart. His stories spotlight the soldiers who kept each other going—not just with grit, but with laughter, stubborn resilience, and a shared understanding that the smallest things often mattered the most.
After leaving the military, Nate pursued a career in culinary arts, earned his Culinary Management degree, and continued serving his community through veteran support, storytelling, and entrepreneurship. He is the founder of Peltier Publishing Works, where he plans to expand The Flying Spoon Platoon into a full series.
Nate currently lives in Kansas City, Missouri with his family and continues to write, cook, and share the stories that shaped him.
"Airborne, All the way!"
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Displaying 1 of 1 review
November 19, 2025
“As the author, I wanted to leave a quick note here for readers. The Flying Spoon Platoon is a very personal project — a mix of humor, chaos, DFAC memories, and the reality of serving in Iraq with the 82nd Airborne. My goal was to tell the story the way we actually lived it: raw, funny, uncomfortable at times, and full of the kind of moments soldiers never forget. I hope it gives readers a real look into our world and honors the people who were there. Thank you for checking it out.”
Displaying 1 of 1 review