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Packed for the Wrong Trip: A New Look inside Abu Ghraib and the Citizen-Soldiers Who Redeemed America's Honor
How an Unprepared, Undertrained Group of Maine National Guard Troops Went to Abu Ghraib to Fix the Irreparable
The prison at Abu Ghraib was still a relatively unknown part of America’s War on Terror when—with no special training and their gear lost somewhere between the United States and Baghdad—the 152nd Field Artillery Battalion of the Maine National Guard was sent there to serve as guards in February 2004. Just before their arrival, the now infamous photos of the abuses suffered by the prisoners hit the world stage. Abu Ghraib became the focal point not only for global condemnation but for the insurgents’ outrage.
Over the next year, the 152nd would come under attack by snipers, suicide bombers, vehicle-borne IEDs, and constant rocket and mortar fire. Yet at the same time, the Mainers would form close bonds with some of the prisoners, among them an Iraqi boy struck by a mortar in one of two mass casualty events, and Kamal, a community leader who acts as an envoy between the detainees and the soldiers and yet is assassinated after his release for helping the Americans.
The men of the 152nd were an eclectic group of citizen-soldiers caught in one of the darkest corners of the war in Iraq. Packed for the Wrong Trip tells the true story of how they relied on each other and their own ingenuity to survive and to transform one of the most inhumane detainee centers into a functioning, humane prison—or as close to one as you could get when tucked between Baghdad and the insurgent stronghold of Fallujah.
Skyhorse Publishing, as well as our Arcade imprint, are proud to publish a broad range of books for readers interested in history—books about World War II, the Third Reich, Hitler and his henchmen, the JFK assassination, conspiracies, the American Civil War, the American Revolution, gladiators, Vikings, ancient Rome, medieval times, the old West, and much more. While not every title we publish becomes a New York Times bestseller or a national bestseller, we are committed to books on subjects that are sometimes overlooked and to authors whose work might not otherwise find a home.
The prison at Abu Ghraib was still a relatively unknown part of America’s War on Terror when—with no special training and their gear lost somewhere between the United States and Baghdad—the 152nd Field Artillery Battalion of the Maine National Guard was sent there to serve as guards in February 2004. Just before their arrival, the now infamous photos of the abuses suffered by the prisoners hit the world stage. Abu Ghraib became the focal point not only for global condemnation but for the insurgents’ outrage.
Over the next year, the 152nd would come under attack by snipers, suicide bombers, vehicle-borne IEDs, and constant rocket and mortar fire. Yet at the same time, the Mainers would form close bonds with some of the prisoners, among them an Iraqi boy struck by a mortar in one of two mass casualty events, and Kamal, a community leader who acts as an envoy between the detainees and the soldiers and yet is assassinated after his release for helping the Americans.
The men of the 152nd were an eclectic group of citizen-soldiers caught in one of the darkest corners of the war in Iraq. Packed for the Wrong Trip tells the true story of how they relied on each other and their own ingenuity to survive and to transform one of the most inhumane detainee centers into a functioning, humane prison—or as close to one as you could get when tucked between Baghdad and the insurgent stronghold of Fallujah.
Skyhorse Publishing, as well as our Arcade imprint, are proud to publish a broad range of books for readers interested in history—books about World War II, the Third Reich, Hitler and his henchmen, the JFK assassination, conspiracies, the American Civil War, the American Revolution, gladiators, Vikings, ancient Rome, medieval times, the old West, and much more. While not every title we publish becomes a New York Times bestseller or a national bestseller, we are committed to books on subjects that are sometimes overlooked and to authors whose work might not otherwise find a home.
260 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 3, 2016
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322 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
May 22, 2016
This book packs a punch. From the inside cover: "The story of an unprepared, undertrained Maine National Guard unit sent to Abu Ghraib to fix the irreparable." This story is remarkably well written. Told in a straightforward manner with a keen sense of what humanity is, both good and bad. Many true stories can be dry reading but this one manages to relate the facts and history without boring the reader to tears. Though I admit there were some teary moments for me. I don't see how you can read this and not be affected. I admit being former military myself may however color how I see the story compared to the average person. I am now also a mother of a member of the military and I find myself touched by the worry that brings with it. This book articulates everything I am afraid of for my own son. The "how he could be changed" worry. War is hell and not just in the moment, but what it also does to a person's body long term as well as their psyche should they survive. No reasonable person wants that for any loved one. The author does a great job conveying how and why that happens.This story is about much more than one unit, one facility, or one person. So very much more. I highly recommend.
February 19, 2017
I mainly wanted to read this book because it dealt with the story of a Maine NG unit being deployed to Iraq, serving as prison guards. Although the prison was in friendly territory in Iraq, the reality was that it was in the middle of an ongoing military operation against imbedded terrorists. ( or maybe regular citizens who became terrorists)
The book created conflicting feelings in me. On one hand it presented an unvarnished account of the work performed over the course of the Guard's one year deployment. Humor, tragedy, and the tolls of war were all presented within the confines of a rambling biography of several of the NG's year in Iraq.
The downside for me was an anti-war and political administration bias on the part of the author. Although, thought provoking, I could feel this bias appearing in page after page of the narrative. War is hell and it is messy. However sprinkling little blips regarding incompetence, etc. throughout the pages of this book was sometimes disingenuous.
I am glad that I read this book and recommend it to others.
The book created conflicting feelings in me. On one hand it presented an unvarnished account of the work performed over the course of the Guard's one year deployment. Humor, tragedy, and the tolls of war were all presented within the confines of a rambling biography of several of the NG's year in Iraq.
The downside for me was an anti-war and political administration bias on the part of the author. Although, thought provoking, I could feel this bias appearing in page after page of the narrative. War is hell and it is messy. However sprinkling little blips regarding incompetence, etc. throughout the pages of this book was sometimes disingenuous.
I am glad that I read this book and recommend it to others.
August 14, 2018
I've spent some time trying to think of what to say about this book. 'Wow' and a deep breath is about what comes to mind. Highly recommend.
May 31, 2016
I received this book as a Goodreads giveaway.
I found this book written in an engrossing manner. It covered a somewhat controversial topic in a way that really made you see the human side of it. I recommend it.
I found this book written in an engrossing manner. It covered a somewhat controversial topic in a way that really made you see the human side of it. I recommend it.
December 29, 2016
A very interesting look at how a group of National Guardsman from Maine trained to go to Afghanistan and ended up instead in Iraq working in a prison in the middle of a war zone.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews