Modern Warriors: Real Stories from Real Heroes

by Pete Hegseth

Collects real stories from American military heroes.

Genres: History, Military Fiction, Nonfiction, War, Military History, Biography, Audiobook

288 pages, Hardcover

First published November 24, 2020

About the author

U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth is the former co-host of Fox & Friends Weekend and a frequent guest co-host for the weekday edition of Fox & Friends. He is also a former Fox News Senior Political Analyst. Pete is an Army veteran of the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, and was also a guard at Guantanamo Bay. He holds two Bronze Stars and a Combat Infantryman’s Badge for his time in Iraq and Afghanistan. Pete graduated from Princeton University in 2003.

Reviews

[Kay · Rating 5 out of 5]

"stop sweating the small stuff"

When you think you have a shitty day, maybe pick up a book such as this one. Modern Warriors is a collection of stories during and after service by fifteen heroes. Truly inspirational. The audiobook performed by six narrators was excellent!

Listing names for reference. Order as featured in the book:

Part 1
- SFC (Ret.) John Wayne Walding, US Army
- SSgt (Ret.) Jeremiah Workman, US Marine Corp.
- SSgt (Ret.) Johnny "Joey" Jones, US Marine Corp.
- CPT (Ret.) Chad Fleming, US Army
Part 2
- SGM (Ret.) Eric Joseph Gerressy, US Army
- SGT Mat Best, US Army
- LTC (Ret.) Scott Mann, US Army
Part 3
- LCDR (Ret.) Dan Crenshaw, US Navy
- Lt Col Adam Kinzinger, US Air Force
- LT (Ret.) Morgan Luttrell, US Navy
- CPT (Ret.) Sean Parnell, US Army
Part 4
- LCDR John "Jocko" Willink, US Navy
- LCDR Caroline Johnson, US Navy
- SGT Nick "The Reaper" Irving, US Army
- SSG David Bellavia, US Army

[Caroline David · Rating 5 out of 5]

The stories of patriots don't often get the attention they deserve whether it's because of the lack of attention paid or the legions of humble military men and women who don't share their stories because it's private and often sad. No details were spared from these gladiators sharing their stories with us in "Modern Warriors" by Pete Hegseth. Some of the names and stories you read are somewhat familiar but others are not. This book is for everyone who loves their country and the people who serve it.

[William Kirchner · Rating 2 out of 5]

I thought it would be more like the history channel's "Against All Odds". Wanted the stories of heroism more than a pep talk.

[Lori · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really loved the first hand experiences/stories of the warriors included in this compilation. So glad that many of them are continuing to serve their country through political offices. This book is bi-partisan so I would encourage everyone to read it.

[Linda Galella · Rating 5 out of 5]

UP CLOSE AND PERSONAL, VERY PERSONAL...

There’s nothing very modern about “Modern Warrior”, by Pete Hegseth, other than the fact that these men and women are all young. Their collective acts of service, dedication to country, family, fellow soldiers, mission, God - well, it’s down right turn of the century; the 20th century and I LOVED IT !!!

Hegseth and his team at Fox News Books, chose this to be the first book for their publishing efforts and it should serve them well. For the most part, it’s devoid of politics and focuses on the contributions made by these extraordinary young people both during their time of service and what they are doing since. It’s not easy reading but it is well written and will thoroughly captivate. All the horrors these folks have experienced are related without gratuitous description or excessive foul language. With Harper Collins on board, the production value should be first rate; this type of book is their forte. I found no errors in my Kindle edition.

The book is broken down into four sections: Never Give Up, Bearing Witness, Continuing to Serve, Leadership in Life. Each of these has 3 - 5 biographies under them that fall into the heading. There’s a small section of photos at the end that includes a few of Pete as well as a summary of each participants accomplishments, awards, years of
service, etc. A short list of resources and Veteran organizations completes the book.

Every one of these unique characters has shared their love, hope, dedication to fighting for freedom and not just for our country but for others. It’s this spirit of cooperation, mission not me, whatever it takes to succeed, that rings loud and clear from warrior to warrior throughout its pages and makes this book a rare gift for everyone.

We may not all have the call or capability to serve in the military but we do have the ability to find a place in our lives to be inspired by these 15 who did and look for our own unique opportunities to be “Modern Warriors”📚

[Jason · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is more a Chicken Soup for the Soul: Republican Soldiers' Edition than it is an understanding of the military mind or stories of the military. There's a lot of Survivorship Bias in here - many of the stories are picked from those who became very successful and are, or became, very conservative. There are people who would benefit from reading this book - but there are others who will feel alienated from reading a collection of stories that seem to be focused around ideas of 1) depression is real, but 2) there are people who have it worse off than you, so Embrace the Suck and start succeeding in a post-DD214 life.

[Karen Ettinger · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book can be picked up & put down since each story is Individual and personal. Makes you feel you are sitting down with each Warrior personally .. I kept looking at their photo as I read and re read in awe of their fearless service to Our Country and amazed they knew early in life they wanted to serve. Excellent Read, glad I own this Book!
#trueheros #actofvalor #againstallodds #puresacrfice

[Ford · Rating 3 out of 5]

While I liked each story, the stories were all very much the same.

[Joe Helmbrecht · Rating 3 out of 5]

I struggled to finish this book for many reasons. The first and foremost reason being I felt mislead as to what Modern Warriors was. The summary that lead me to read the book stated that it was war stories from the GWOT. I was told to be prepared for a unique look at the the Wars in Afghanistan, Iraq, and Syria. “It’s raw, and it’s real, it’s candid, it’s politically incorrect and it’s funny,” Hegseth said. At no point in this book did I find myself laughing or even emotionally invested with the stories being told.

While I take nothing away from the accomplishments and travesties of the individual story tellers, I feel that they were picked because of their already gained celebrity. Luttrel, Best, Crenshaw, Willink and others already have their own books. I was hoping to hear tales from little known heroes.

There is also to much current events of 2020 mentioned; the election, COVID19. Those topics will make it hard for this book to have a lasting legacy.

If you are looking for gripping war stories I suggest Violence of Action or even read the the books by the heroes highlighted in Modern Warriors. At the end of the day I don't think Hegseth accomplished his end goal. The individual chapters barely skim the surfaces of the heroes.

[Steve Bera · Rating 1 out of 5]

Each chapter is about an American military hero. Unfortunately, the author does not tell a story detailing their act of heroism, he just describes the man. This eliminates all the adventure from the story.

[William · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent. Inspiring stories and world views in their own words.

[Andrew Amarone · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent book which gives first hand accounts of American Patriots who served in the War on Terror. Well worth the read.

[R. L. Peterson · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book! Where do I start? This book is one I’m sure will be appearing on my 2021 Top 10 Books list next year! I’ve never read a military biography that made me feel like I was sitting down talking with a veteran! Mr. Hegseth took their interviews and just printed them mostly verbatim, only adjusting things or adding notes as needed for context. So, in essence, these veterans are sitting down and telling you what they wish they could say to your face if you gave them half the chance.

Themes like PTSD, finding your mission, helping the next guy, adjusting from military to civilian life, and prejudice was dealt with on a level that tugs at your heartstrings. But at the same time, it challenges you to make an effort to better yourself and lend a hand to those around you!

While this won’t make sense in some ways, I felt like I could understand exactly what they had/were going through. I’ve not been in their shoes; I’m a civilian. But when you really stop to listen, to actually try and understand what they have been through, you’ll find we have a lot more in common than we realize.

Among my favorite interviews were SGT1C John Wayne Walding, SSGT Jeremiah Workman, LT Morgan Luttrell (Brother to Marcus Luttrell, the Lone Survivor), Capt. Sean Parnell, and Rep. Dan Crenshaw. Though to be honest, there wasn’t one that I didn’t enjoy!

I did have to censor some language out of this book. It was less than I anticipated, but still a fair amount. So I would recommend a mature adult going through this book with a fine-toothed comb. It will be worth it, I assure you!

Recommended for Ages 21+, 16+ if censored.

[Forrest · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a compilation of mini memoirs by U.S. veteran soldiers of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. The author also includes his own details regarding each individual. These soldiers vary in rank, experience, and department throughout the armed forces. All of them contributed in some significant way to the war effort. The book is divided into segments, each one about 25 minutes long.

The stories are candid, very introspective, and some are deeply personal. Since most of these soldiers are long retired, they write more about what they learned from the war and following their service, words of wisdom, and a couple even addressed the chaos at home in the U.S. in 2020 such as all the civil unrest and covid.

A few of the soldiers included had already written their own books following their retirement, most of which I have read.

Quotes
"Our culture needs to accept vulnerability a little bit better. I always say they teach you how to deal death, but not to deal with it" John Wayne Walding, U.S. Army

" Opportunity is often overlooked because it's dressed in overalls and looks like work" Johnny Jones, USMC

" It is just as important to be a good father as it is to be a good Warrior. Otherwise, what are you fighting for?" Johnny Jones, USMC

" Not every day is a good day, but every day has some good." Chad Flemming U.S. Army

" You often hear people put limits on free speech because someone else's speech is harmful to me. How is it possible then to have a civil discussion that keeps us free?" Mat Best U.S. Army

[Kay Oestmann · Rating 5 out of 5]

The author, and Fox news host, has compiled stories of military heroes of our current time. All have resumes that máke you truly grateful for their service. The chapters are told by these men and women and enhanced by information gathered in interviews by Hegseth ( himself a combat veteran and current Major in the National Guard) These explanations are in another typeset than the rest of the chapter.
Derived from the FOX series Modern Warriors, this book should be read by
every American. I, for one, am extremely grateful for not only their service but for all of our troops who sacrifice for us daily so we can live comfortably.
God bless and watch over them, and God bless the USA.

[Catherine Wierz · Rating 2 out of 5]

It pains me to give low reviews to any war account book. However, these heroes were painted one dimensionally. I don’t fault these heroes, rather the editor. The stories felt more like recruitment testimonials rather than personal accounts capturing the complexity of service. I’m in awe of and grateful to all who serve!

[Steve · Rating 3 out of 5]

I acquired this book with emphasis on Texas Congressman Dan Crenshaw, a wounded warrior who is currently under medical care for his right eye injury. I wish him the best and a speedy recovery.

[Will · Rating 4 out of 5]

SUBJECTIVE READER REVIEW WITH PLOT SPOILERS FOLLOWS:

'Modern Warriors' is a non-fiction book about Pete Hegseth's heroes. The book summarizes major contributions of 15 military men and women, the most interesting of which made major sacrifices in terms of long term disabilities, like having no legs when they came home. The book does drive home the point that combat is a life-changing experience whether you're physically intact or not.

After finishing the stories of the 15 people, the last half of whom were in leadership or became leadership roles, I saw what I was missing. The individual accounts usually begin with the person's intimate involvement with combat, the first four of which get badly wounded. Then the story shifts to the recovery and how the individual assimilated back into civilized life. Several of the latter stories included expansive accounts of the individual's entry and participation in combat. If this book had the potential for improvement, it would be expanding the sensory aspects of the first four guys, the Never Giving Up four guys.

Their four windows into the savagery of combat was to me somewhat truncated compared to some of the four described in Leadership In Life. It almost seemed like the further you were from the 'forward edge of the battle area' the more sensory perceptions you were able to recall. For some of those leaders, their windows into combat could be easily adapted into a screenplay. I'd like to have had that kind of insight from the grunts, the platoon sergeants, corporals and privates, although they may well have been so afraid or freaked that they just dulled out everything around them but survival. I sure as shit woulda.

I know this book is a compendium of stories Hegseth covered on his Fox show by the same name, but I never watched any of them. So this book was a good read. I gotta tell ya, my niece is married to a Marine who was in Al Anbar Province, and the Marines always get the shittiest area of operation. In Vietnam it was the Central Highlands, in Iraq it was Al Anbar. The holy hell they went through clearing Fallujah house by house is nothing less than a horror nightmare. I think the movie 'American Sniper' helped us all be there, with death awaiting around every corner or gate. Apparently the early guys into Iraq, like 2004, mostly fought an enemy force. The guys who had later tours, like 2008, mostly tried to survive a hell hole mined with a million IEDs. It was all hell, and I salute 'em for serving. Read the book, it'll give you a closer look at helplessness, and then the opportunity to succumb or move ahead.

[Chad · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow such powerful stories! Thank you to Pete Hegseth for having the guts to bring forward true life stories from warriors in their own words during a time when some of the country is down on the country and the military. Unfortunately they won’t be the ones reading these emotional stories. Hearing why men and women in uniform risk their lives should be a duty of all Americans who haven’t themselves served others in one capacity or another.

[Cindy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Overall, I found the stories to be very inspiring. We so often hear the negative stories, the PTSD stories, that it was nice to read the stories of those who have used their experiences to accomplish good things in their post-military life. I liked how many of them started businesses or charities focused on veterans' needs.

[Dave B · Rating 3 out of 5]

Several short stories of real ordinary veterans. Some of the stories offered life advice.

[RICK "SHAQ" GOLDSTEIN · Rating 5 out of 5]

RICK “SHAQ” GOLDSTEIN SAYS: ** PROUD TO BE A WARRIOR!! **
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
As an **HONORABLY*DISCHARGED*VIET*NAM*ERA*VETERAN**…
Perhaps the thing that constantly irritates me more than anything else of the last fifty years is the overuse… and disrespectful use of the terms… “Warrior”… “Hero”… “I’d go to war with him”… and those terms are more frequently disrespected… and devalued… by pro athletes. It’s disingenuous… and disrespectful… when these athletes think making a free throw with no time on the clock… or kicking a field goal with time running out… or being up with two outs in the bottom of the ninth… constitutes being a “warrior”… and thus raises the value of a person to be capable of heroic action in war!

Thank goodness… and it’s so long overdue… that someone who truly knows the value of… and what it takes to be considered a **TRUE-WARRIOR” the author Pete Hegseth… has taken the time… the effort… and the patriotism to put this UNBELIEVABLY CLASSIC OVERDUE BOOK TOGETHER! This book is a masterpiece!

Every Veteran who has ever served Honorably… even if they were then disrespected by their own country upon their return… and every non-serving person who is blessed because of the aforementioned Veterans… service and sacrifice… and thus have been blessed to be able to draw a breath in the most beautiful country in the history of the world… The United States of America… should read this book.
Peter defines very simply… and very powerfully… and every Honorable Veteran will feel a combination of the deepest thank you… and a miraculous combination of warm pride… and cold chills… before you even get to the table of contents. The author immediately makes an earth-shaking *RED-WHITE-AND-BLUE-DEDICATION… With the strength and impact of a 50 Megaton nuclear bomb…

***THIS BOOK IS DEDICATED TO THE REAL 1 PERCENT: THE WARRIORS-PAST, PRESENT, AND FUTURE-WHO ANSWERED FREEDOM’S CALL.”

Thank you Peter… and from there the book gets even better. He interviews (It’s really much more than an interview.) It’s really having fifteen of our GREATEST CURRENT MALE AND FEMALE WARRIOR… HERO’S… talk to you… exactly as if a bunch of old/young military veterans were sitting around a bar… or in someone’s private residence… and from not only their heart… but from that deep… dark… hole… of real-life experience… they share their upbringing… what led them to joining the military… what their worst experience was… and perhaps their best experience… which many times are one and the same. They hold nothing back. Heroically they share things… after the battles are over… which in many cases… are as bad or worse than the actual battles they heroically performed in. There is the anguish of fitting back into society… there is PTSD… there is SURVIVOR’S GUILT… and man oh man… there is the missing of their teammates… the dearly departed… as well as the survivors.

There are so many common threads… which doesn’t make things easier. Where many civilians wouldn’t even realize… that with your teammates and brothers… killed right next to you… the battle doesn’t immediately stop so you can mourn like in a movie. The battles may go on for months… so it becomes months and sometimes years… before you can really truly grieve. As Sergeant First Class (RET.) John Wayne Walding so eloquently states: “OUR CULTURE NEEDS TO ACCEPT VULNERABILITY A LITTLE BIT BETTER. I ALWAYS SAY”, “THEY TEACH YOU HOW TO DEAL DEATH, BUT NOT DEAL WITH IT.”

I personally was extremely touched by how these Modern (and I mean right now) Heroic Warriors have not forgotten how disgustingly our Viet Nam Veterans were treated when they returned home: Staff Sergeant (RET.) Jeremiah Workman said… “WHAT ELSE BREAKS MY HEART IS WHAT WE DID AS A COUNTRY TO OUR VIET NAM VETERANS. I HAVE SEVERAL FRIENDS WHO SERVED IN VIET NAM. WHAT THEY EXPERIENCED WHEN THEY RETURNED IS JUST CRIMINAL. I WOULDN’T WISH THAT ON ANYBODY.”

Sergeant Nick “The Reaper” Irving (while serving as a sniper with the 3rd Ranger Battalion, in a period of three months he established a record by accounting for the confirmed deaths of thirty-three enemy combatants.) emphatically stated: “I’M GLAD I SERVED, BUT IN A WAY WITH WHAT’S GOING ON NOW IN THIS COUNTRY AND HOW DIVIDED WE ALL ARE, IT’S ALMOST LIKE WHAT OUR VIET NAM VETERANS FACED IN COMING HOME. WE AREN’T PHYSICALLY BEING SPIT ON AND DEGRADED, BUT IT IS AN ENORMOUS SIGN OF DISRESPECT FOR OUR EFFORTS TO COME BACK HOME FROM WAR TO HAVE ANOTHER ONE GOING ON HERE. ESPECIALLY SINCE WE CAN FIX THIS”.

I’ve heard of “playing it forward”… but these Warriors have touched my heart and very soul… by showing they were touched and never forgotten about what we went through…. THEY ARE TRULY PLAYING IT “BACKWARD”! Amen and thank you My Brothers!

Because of *THE WARRIORS” in this book… it’s the first time in over fifty-years that I thought back to one specific life changing moment… when I was the typical nineteen year old “kid”… who thought he was a hot shot… and my sports accomplishments meant something… and I was a tough guy… and then at 4:30 AM at the induction center… as the “lifers” were starting to tear down all of us… so unbeknownst to all of us punks… they could rebuild us into a team of brothers… they also had us RAISE OUR HAND TO SWEAR TO DEFEND THE CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED STATES… until one of the WARRIORS in this book mentioned that… I had never thought of that moment again. I’m so proud that I did… and that countless other HEROES AND WARRIORS… way better than I… who are documented in this glorious book still are!

If you’re really looking for **WARRIORS”… read this book… and stop wasting your time listening to prima- donna athletes pretending to be something they’re not. **G-D BLESS AMERICA… AND THANK THE GOOD L-RD FOR OUR AMERICAN WARRIORS!

[Madeline · Rating 5 out of 5]

❤️❤️❤️LOVE THIS BOOK!!
Not only because it was personally dedicated to me by one of my modern warriors and Patriot but because This book made me so grateful to every single man and woman who put their lives on the line to protect my beloved freedom. I sobbed so hard in book at every story told— these men, their stories— 😭🇺🇸 It helps put into perspective— the little things that drive us crazy, they mean nothing compared to what these warriors had to endure. I wish so many more people realized how fragile Freedom is, how sacred our flag is, and how the there are political movements right now trying to destroy everything this men fought, bled, and some died for!! 🇺🇸🇺🇸

[John · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good book about some very patriotic individuals. A quick and easy read.

One of the things that struck me is the number of individuals that stated they are treated differently now than the vets that served in Viet Nam. Having served in Viet Nam, that is a good thing! We should always be thankful for the individuals that have, are , or will serve for this country.

[Page · Rating 1 out of 5]

Seditious supporter of modern fascism writes fables of toxic masculinity and white supremacy masquerading as “pep talks” for the sequacious and mentally enfeebled.

[LAG · Rating 1 out of 5]

A drunken yes man for Trump

[JJ Cylk · Rating 4 out of 5]

These are the type of books that I read from the time I was around 10 to maybe late teens. I really was enamored with what the soldiers went through. Back then I was reading about World War II soldiers, Korean war soldiers, and early Vietnam era soldiers. I always took that from them all that I would probably be the kid that got shot on the first day of going in the battle. when I got drafted, let me be the first to admit that I was scared. Turned out that God had different plans for me and never let me leave the state.

I was always ashamed of the fact that once when I was in high school at Osborn. In my English literature class, I had picked up the book: the Green Beret. It wasn’t so much a story about killing and fighting as a soldier as it was about what it took to become a green beret and earn the title or the ability to wear the green beret. What I was ashamed about was that in this class I was ridiculed by the English teacher for having chosen a book about the war. It was affecting all the young guys at that time. Many going into Vietnam. She mocked me because I thought it would be an honor to be able to wear theGreen Beret

It’s no wonder that nobody honored our returning veterans at that time. We had been indoctrinated since our early years in these public schools. We were nothing but egotistical, bullies. Killing harmless people in rice patties. The teachers were very vocal about indoctrinating us, and we were naïve in, allowing them to manipulate us so easily.

A couple years later, while working at Michigan Bell, I met a young marine, but just got back from duty in Vietnam as a point sniper. He influenced me and changed my mind about a lot. All I can remember was his name was Ricky..

[Wade Brokmeyer · Rating 3 out of 5]

Like another reviewer, I felt like I was misled with what this book was actually about. In Hegseth's own words, this book is a candid telling of stories on the GWOT. Instead, for every three pages of war stories, you get about five pages of each veteran pontificating on a variety of topics, from why they served in the military, to life, to current events like the COVID-19 pandemic and how to heal our partisan divide. This isn't necessarily a bad thing, it's just not at all what I was lead to expect.

In addition to this, these stories/pontifications, while interesting, are all very similar to each other: veteran talks about their experiences, then talks about their thoughts on life and leadership. Once you've read one chapter, you've pretty much read them all. The exceptions are the two chapters told by a woman and a Black man, both of which share how their gender/ethnicity affected their experiences in the military.

My final complaint is that Hegseth seemed to choose veterans that have already had their story told in other ways. If you follow politics, you already know about Dan Crenshaw and Adam Kinzinger. If you're on social media, you've probably heard of Mat Best and Black Rifle Coffee Company. Other veterans featured have already published their own memoirs and have appeared on TV. A collection of stories from "lesser known" veterans would have been a much welcome change of pace.

To summarize, if you're looking for brief stories on the war and thoughts on a variety of issues, this is a good and easy read. If you're looking for a detailed retelling of events from the war, look elsewhere.

[Lynn · Rating 4 out of 5]

War Stories Battlefield and Personal

This book was a gift to my husband who was career military. He couldn’t seem to stick with the book so I got him the audio version. For some reason, it never really grabbed my husband’s interest, so I read and listened to this book.

MODERN WARRIORS: REAL STORIES FROM REAL HEROES is individual stories from the individual warriors. Some of these stories, we’ve already heard if we read books about war. There are famous warriors like Marcus Luttrell featured among the stories. Johnny Joey Jones from Fox News fame told the story of the day he lost his legs and how he survived that horror.

This was a good book and it needed to be done, and all of the soldiers agreed that they were not the only ones who did important things or lost something in war. They discussed the brotherhood of the warrior, and what brought them to the battlefield. I confess that I was expecting all war stories, but these men talk about all of the battles of their lives, some fight in their own head or community. You don’t have to read it all at once because it’s partitioned off in each military story, but because of that sometimes it lost its flow.

If you are interested in what happened in the Global War on Terror and those who fought in it, this is a book for you. I gave it a solid four stars.

[Avbac23 · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was hoping the "real stories" mentioned in the subtitle of this book would be combat stories. I was not in the infantry nor in any special forces command myself, and would have liked to learn a lot more about 21st century combat from such stories that go into detail about the goals, planning, and execution of their missions.

I found a little of this detail in the stories in this book; in fact, it was just enough to keep me going to finish it, but not much more. There are lengthy philosophical musings and attempts at inspirational commentary, some of which contain an occasional nugget of profundity, but which in general are not more valuable than the stories of combat I had hoped to read.

The selection of troops to interview seems to be mostly, "friends or acquaintances of the author from his time working in media and commentary," which undoubtedly spared him the trouble of digging too deeply for interview subjects with more engrossing combat stories to tell. These are the low-hanging fruit: the loudest self-promoters, the writers already prolific in the industry, the ones with connections to cable news channels. Nonetheless, a few of them had stories that were new and fresh to me, so the book as a whole gets a rating of about average.