Run to the Sound of the Guns: The True Story of an American Ranger at War in Afghanistan and Iraq

by Nicholas Moore, Mir Bahmanyar

Sweeping from frozen mountaintops to dusty city streets, and everything in between, this is the gripping and deeply personal account of an elite Ranger who nearly lost his life “leading the way” in America's longest war.

As part of an elite special operations unit at the fighting edge of the Global War on Terrorism, Nicholas Moore spent over a decade with the US Army's 75th Ranger Regiment on the battlefields of Afghanistan and Iraq. In this compelling biography now available in paperback, a detailed narrative of grueling life on the ground combines with accounts of some of the most dramatic search and rescue operations of the period to tell the true story of life on the line in the War on Terror.

Charting his rise from private to senior non-commissioned officer, this title follows Moore as he embarks on a series of dangerous deployments, engaging in brutal street combat and traversing inhospitable terrain in pursuit of Taliban fighters and Iraq's Most Wanted. Including revelatory first-hand accounts of high-profile special operations missions including the tense rescue of Private First Class Jessica Lynch and the search and rescue mission for US Navy Seal Marcus Luttrell, Moore recounts, in vivid detail, the realities of life on the front line.

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

304 pages, Paperback

First published November 13, 2018

Reviews

[JD · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good book detailing the service of the author in the 75th Ranger Regiment. He starts with his enlistment and training before 9/11 and the big blow it was to the men busy with training when they heard of the terror attack and how they were eager to join the fight. His description of his subsequent deployments to Iraq and Afghanistan over the next decade is great, and he served from a private to a platoon sergeant in the regiment and it is interesting to see how the Rangers grew from special operations support to being a stand alone special operations unit, and how the tactics and equipment evolved with what the battlefields demanded. This book is a grunts eye view of the War on Terror, from unknown everyday patrols to well known operations (the rescue of Jessica Lynch and the saving of Marcus Luttrell) that he and the Rangers were a part of. Highly recommended reading to see how life is on the frontlines of modern war and what it takes to be the tip of the spear.

[Gregg · Rating 3 out of 5]

This suffers from the common pitfalls of tactical-level war stories. These stories tend to portray higher headquarters as wholly incompetent, adjacent units as inferior, and the portrayed unit as the greatest to walk the earth. Most of these books try to form an emotional attachment to many of the characters—usually covering too many to be effective. This book does not have that problem. This book does not cover one mission, one deployment, or one unit. Instead, this is a memoir that covers a career. The reader does not form a connection to any of the characters. Additionally, this book bounces from deployment to deployment in different theaters with different missions so it is hard to follow and lacks continuity. I gave it one additional star because it calls out Marcus Luttrell’s version of Lone Survivor, both the decisions and the size of the force. There must have been some compelling evidence to put that in writing and I respect that. Otherwise, this is a tactical level book that is not particularly well done.

[Mike Kershaw · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a eyewitness account of one Ranger Non-Commissioned Officer's experiences in the Ranger Regiment during the Global War on Terror. He includes operations in both Afghanistan and Iraq -- both well-known and not. Through numerous vignettes, most of which he participated in, he recounts the development of the Rangers during the conflict, as they grew and adapted to meet the various challenges they faced. It's the book I'm putting in my "Ranger Stockings" for Christmas. Full disclosure: I read the manuscript after DoD Review at the request of one of the authors, a former machine gunner in 2d Ranger Battalion, circa 1987-88.

[tom hawe · Rating 1 out of 5]

Ok I get it that you really dislike the SEALS but your silly animosity at every opportunity is childish I'm out!

Recommended to SEAL TEAM HATERS. The continuous negative characterization of the SEALS IS NAUSEATING. I WOULD NOT WAIST my TIME.

[Steve Bera · Rating 3 out of 5]

This would be a good book to read for anyone thinking of joining the military as it seems to paint an accurate picture. The book follows a new recruit from grade private to Sargent first class, and his several deployments to the middle east. Only twice does he keep our attention in a gun battle. Most of the book is boring.

[Eric Johnson · Rating 5 out of 5]

I see a lot of negative reviews on this book and wonder what the hate is for. It's a good descriptive book about the war in Afghanistan and Iraq. While there is some descriptions of gunfights this is a good reference for me, for writing a Soldier and whatnot. So check it out sometime if you like reading about Rangers and the like.

[Patty Warkentine · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nicholas grew up in my neighborhood. Nick and his brother were always playing army when they were young. It’s amazing to see the mature adult he has become. This book at times was above my head ,but it helped open my eyes to what really goes on. Thank you for your service Nicholas.

[Thomas Callan · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed the book

I bought this book as I heard the author was involved in both Red Wings and the recovery of Extortion 1-7. I enjoyed his insight into both incidents and the rest of the book as well.

[Hud · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent

Thanks for sharing. I hope future Rangers are not deployed so much.. I'm grateful they are willing though to Lead the Way.

[jeff gilliland · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good stuff

Good info, great detail, a little to much of military organization stuff. It seemed to slow things down a bit. That may be just me.

[Sonny Schovanec · Rating 4 out of 5]

Informative

A great read for those interested in the war on terror and the role the Army Rangers played in it.

[Suraj · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have always loved the military and admired the people who serve in it. Finishing this book, i have a new found respect towards the rangers. A very good book to read.

[Sam Martin · Rating 3 out of 5]

I cannot get through this book. The last 100 pages have been very laborious. I need to put it down for a while.

But, I do appreciate everything he is writing about.

[Nick McCoy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very dry and slow, doesn't get good until the last 3 chapters or so

[Jamie Norris · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book on US Army Ranger's in the War on Terror.

[Dawn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Although I am the wife of a retired veteran, I couldn’t quite keep up with the “language barrier,” but I still was intrigued with Nicholas’ story of discipline and sacrifice.