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Whistles from the Graveyard: My Time Behind the Camera on War, Rage, and Restless Youth in Afghanistan
“The most bracingly honest, refreshing account of the Afghan war” (Sebastian Junger, New York Times bestselling author) from a Marine Corps Combat Cameraman and director of the acclaimed documentary Combat Obscura .
At just eighteen years old, Miles Lagoze joined the Marine Corps a decade after the war began and found himself surrounded by people not unlike those he’d left behind at home—aimless youth searching for stability, community, and economic security.
Deployed to Afghanistan as a Combat Cameraman—an active-duty videographer and photographer—Lagoze produced slick images of glory and heroism for public consumption. But his government-approved footage concealed a grim reality. Here, Lagoze pulls back the curtain and illustrates the grisly truth of the longest war in American history. As these young men and women were deployed to an unfamiliar country half a world away—history’s “graveyard of empires”—they carried the scars of the fractured homeland that sent them. Lagoze shows us Marines straddling the edge of chaos. We see forces desensitized to gore and suffering by the darkest reaches of the internet, unsure of their places in an unraveling world and set further adrift by the uncertain mission to which they had been assigned abroad.
Whistles from the Graveyard shows the parts of the Afghanistan War we were never meant to see—Afghan locals and American infantry drawn together by their fears of the ghostly, ever-present terror of the Taliban; moments of dark resignation as the devastating toll of years in war’s crossfire reveals itself between bouts of adrenaline-laced violence; and nights of reckless, drug-fueled abandon to dull the pain.
In full, vivid color, Miles Lagoze shows us an oft-overlooked generation of young Americans we cast out into the desert, steeped in nihilism, and shipped back home with firsthand training in extremism, misanthropy, and insurrection.
At just eighteen years old, Miles Lagoze joined the Marine Corps a decade after the war began and found himself surrounded by people not unlike those he’d left behind at home—aimless youth searching for stability, community, and economic security.
Deployed to Afghanistan as a Combat Cameraman—an active-duty videographer and photographer—Lagoze produced slick images of glory and heroism for public consumption. But his government-approved footage concealed a grim reality. Here, Lagoze pulls back the curtain and illustrates the grisly truth of the longest war in American history. As these young men and women were deployed to an unfamiliar country half a world away—history’s “graveyard of empires”—they carried the scars of the fractured homeland that sent them. Lagoze shows us Marines straddling the edge of chaos. We see forces desensitized to gore and suffering by the darkest reaches of the internet, unsure of their places in an unraveling world and set further adrift by the uncertain mission to which they had been assigned abroad.
Whistles from the Graveyard shows the parts of the Afghanistan War we were never meant to see—Afghan locals and American infantry drawn together by their fears of the ghostly, ever-present terror of the Taliban; moments of dark resignation as the devastating toll of years in war’s crossfire reveals itself between bouts of adrenaline-laced violence; and nights of reckless, drug-fueled abandon to dull the pain.
In full, vivid color, Miles Lagoze shows us an oft-overlooked generation of young Americans we cast out into the desert, steeped in nihilism, and shipped back home with firsthand training in extremism, misanthropy, and insurrection.
272 pages, Hardcover
Published November 7, 2023
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Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews
August 2, 2023
Whistles From The Graveyard is a raw and powerful memoir following Miles Lagoze’s career as a Marine combat cameraman. It takes us behind the scenes and paints a grisly picture of the war in Afghanistan. It was an eye opener to learn how the US government tasked Lagoze with portraying images that fit their “hero” agenda and only told part of the narrative. If ever you wanted to have boots on the ground, this is your book! Miles Lagoze does not hold back as he writes about the good, the bad and the ugly. If you enjoy reading about politics and historical wars, you’ll enjoy this book!
Thank you to Atria books for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Thank you to Atria books for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
October 12, 2024
This is an account of a Marine Corps veteran of Afghanistan name Miles Lagoze who was a combat cameraman. What is it about Combat Camera Marine that have the self-reflection of the ugly side of humanity of the men in uniform? As I was reading this I thought about the character in the movie Full Metal Jacket name “Joker” who was a Combat Camerman, and how this author seems to be the Millennial version of that character; is this another characteristic of modern warfare, where reality mimic what we have seen in film? Like Full metal Jacket there are accounts of observations of Marine basic training, brutality, cruelty, war and killing.
There are fifteen chapters in the book that follow generally a chronological order. I am part of his generation of Marine though I am a bit older and am an Iraq war veteran rather than a veteran of Afghanistan. Reading this book bought back memories of my time in the Marines including memories of certain things and certain angles that I have forgotten about. One thing that I appreciate from Miles is his brutal honesty; at first there were things that I was taken aback from his narrative and I was turned off by his focus and description of juvenile antics. But then it made me realized how there are things I have seen during my time in the Marines too, and that brought back critical reflection of how the world of “Lance Corporal and below” (the world of the lower ranking Marines) is a world made up largely of 18-21 year olds with the same problems as many their age in my generation plus the expectation of violence and trauma and peers saying we are the best and there’s a recipe for some risky behavior. It also result in a hierarchal world in the Marines between the grunts (infantry) versus the “POGs” (people other than grunts); this has got to be one of the realest sociological written account of 21st century Marines and the identity-conflict between POGs and grunts and their relationship and the POGs appeasement to the infantry to have a bit of respect for their acceptance. The author’s observation that in our society young men with trauma have social currency ends up being a social critique beyond just looking at the Marine Corps. The loss and identity-less of young men who have watched horrible videos on the internet and fear of being like everyone else in school is the pool of men we are recruiting today.
The account of the Afghanistan deployment slowly emerged and at first I thought it was going slow; but the honesty of the book also include the feeling one get of impatience waiting to get to the front that Marines feel. There’s stories of Marines under fire, and the account include brutally honest narrative that can be embarrassing to the Marines, things which many military books are willing to admit to (snipers missing their shot, leaders being less than respectable, etc). The author is self-reflective and he wonders about the effect of cameras in a warzone and how Marines behave differently because there’s a camera around and for all the understanding that cameramen are observers rather than participants of the war the author become aware he does have an impact on the grunts and their behavior. One of hardest part of the time in Afghanistan told in this book is the death of a Marine and the effect that left and also the struggle of men over time trying to make sense and interpreting the meaning of it all, including what’s the meaning of the war and the men’s time in the Marines. The Doc involved with trying to save the guy’s life wanted to see the footage right away and try to figure out what he could have done different; no doubt that would impact the rest of his life. The action of the other Marines are recorded and no doubt the capture of some of the details in video would shape one’s memory of that day; and the use of footages by different people for different purposes shows that we as observers and consumers of reality footage appropriate clips for different purposes (the Marine Corps, the mom of the killed Marine, the author with his desire to make a war documentary). The other part of the book that was hard to read is the account of the killing of a civilian.
Included in this narrative is that of the Marines’ postwar years. I thought it was interesting to read this and it made me self-reflective of the post-war years too and the different journey men took afterwards and how they aged and what they were doing in their lives.
I gave this a five out of five and it wasn’t easy reading; it is ugly than the typical war book because it captured the things that are uncomfortable and ugly and easily forgotten about war and the Marines that can be embarrassing. More than any other book I read the last few years it made me think about how often I tell stories of my time in the Marines that is complete with my own embarrassing moments and how guys I serve with can tell stories differently than that; and how there have been men who never served and heard my stories can misinterpret things for their own preunderstanding. I give this a five out of five for reminding about the juvenile world of enlisted Marines and also reflect on just how I often think the Marines played a part of who I am, nevertheless there’s many things after the Marines that impacted who I am today.
There are fifteen chapters in the book that follow generally a chronological order. I am part of his generation of Marine though I am a bit older and am an Iraq war veteran rather than a veteran of Afghanistan. Reading this book bought back memories of my time in the Marines including memories of certain things and certain angles that I have forgotten about. One thing that I appreciate from Miles is his brutal honesty; at first there were things that I was taken aback from his narrative and I was turned off by his focus and description of juvenile antics. But then it made me realized how there are things I have seen during my time in the Marines too, and that brought back critical reflection of how the world of “Lance Corporal and below” (the world of the lower ranking Marines) is a world made up largely of 18-21 year olds with the same problems as many their age in my generation plus the expectation of violence and trauma and peers saying we are the best and there’s a recipe for some risky behavior. It also result in a hierarchal world in the Marines between the grunts (infantry) versus the “POGs” (people other than grunts); this has got to be one of the realest sociological written account of 21st century Marines and the identity-conflict between POGs and grunts and their relationship and the POGs appeasement to the infantry to have a bit of respect for their acceptance. The author’s observation that in our society young men with trauma have social currency ends up being a social critique beyond just looking at the Marine Corps. The loss and identity-less of young men who have watched horrible videos on the internet and fear of being like everyone else in school is the pool of men we are recruiting today.
The account of the Afghanistan deployment slowly emerged and at first I thought it was going slow; but the honesty of the book also include the feeling one get of impatience waiting to get to the front that Marines feel. There’s stories of Marines under fire, and the account include brutally honest narrative that can be embarrassing to the Marines, things which many military books are willing to admit to (snipers missing their shot, leaders being less than respectable, etc). The author is self-reflective and he wonders about the effect of cameras in a warzone and how Marines behave differently because there’s a camera around and for all the understanding that cameramen are observers rather than participants of the war the author become aware he does have an impact on the grunts and their behavior. One of hardest part of the time in Afghanistan told in this book is the death of a Marine and the effect that left and also the struggle of men over time trying to make sense and interpreting the meaning of it all, including what’s the meaning of the war and the men’s time in the Marines. The Doc involved with trying to save the guy’s life wanted to see the footage right away and try to figure out what he could have done different; no doubt that would impact the rest of his life. The action of the other Marines are recorded and no doubt the capture of some of the details in video would shape one’s memory of that day; and the use of footages by different people for different purposes shows that we as observers and consumers of reality footage appropriate clips for different purposes (the Marine Corps, the mom of the killed Marine, the author with his desire to make a war documentary). The other part of the book that was hard to read is the account of the killing of a civilian.
Included in this narrative is that of the Marines’ postwar years. I thought it was interesting to read this and it made me self-reflective of the post-war years too and the different journey men took afterwards and how they aged and what they were doing in their lives.
I gave this a five out of five and it wasn’t easy reading; it is ugly than the typical war book because it captured the things that are uncomfortable and ugly and easily forgotten about war and the Marines that can be embarrassing. More than any other book I read the last few years it made me think about how often I tell stories of my time in the Marines that is complete with my own embarrassing moments and how guys I serve with can tell stories differently than that; and how there have been men who never served and heard my stories can misinterpret things for their own preunderstanding. I give this a five out of five for reminding about the juvenile world of enlisted Marines and also reflect on just how I often think the Marines played a part of who I am, nevertheless there’s many things after the Marines that impacted who I am today.
November 13, 2023
Whistles from the Graveyard: My Time Behind the Camera on War, Rage, and Restless Youth in Afghanistan by Miles Lagoze provides an unfiltered glimpse into the visceral realities of the Afghanistan War. Lagoze, an eighteen-year-old Marine Corps recruit turned Combat Cameraman, offers a poignant perspective that transcends the sanitized images of heroism typically presented to the public.
Lagoze's firsthand account pierces through the facade of military glory, exposing the raw underbelly of a conflict that has endured for over a decade. His lens captures not only the physical landscape of Afghanistan but also the mental and emotional terrain traversed by young soldiers, disoriented in a foreign land haunted by the specter of war.
The book explores the lives of these servicemen and women, grappling with the dissonance between the chaotic reality on the ground and the polished imagery crafted for public consumption. Lagoze unveils the toll exacted on these individuals, caught in the crossfire of a war that often seems inscrutable and an enemy that remains elusive.
Lagoze provides an unflinching exploration of the moral and psychological consequences of warfare. He confronts the desensitization bred by the constant exposure to violence, exacerbated by the desolation of a war-torn Afghanistan. The book also exposes the intricate dynamics between American troops and Afghan locals, bound together by shared fears in the relentless face of the Taliban.
Whistles from the Graveyard verbalizes the internal struggles faced by these young soldiers. He sheds light on the detachment cultivated through exposure to the darkest corners of the internet and the blurring of lines between the digital and the real. He captures moments of dark resignation, punctuated by bursts of adrenaline-fueled violence and nights of drug-induced escape.
Lagoze's use of vivid language and poignant imagery paints a haunting picture of a generation marred by war, illustrating the corrosive impact on their psyches and the profound challenge of reintegration into a society that sent them into the abyss. Whistles from the Graveyard is a stark and unapologetic examination of the Afghanistan War, leaving a remarkable impression on readers and challenging conventional narratives about the costs of conflict.
"A searing and unfiltered odyssey into the heart of the Afghanistan War."
"Miles Lagoze's raw lens exposes the hidden scars of a lost generation."
"A vivid portrayal of restless youth caught in the crossfire of history."
"An unapologetic exploration of the psychological toll of modern warfare."
"Lagoze's lens captures the haunting beauty amidst the chaos of conflict."
"A visceral and unflinching account of the Afghanistan War's true cost."
"Intricate storytelling that unveils the human side of America's longest war."
"A profound narrative that transcends the sanitized veneer of military heroism."
"Lagoze's lens pierces through the fog of war, revealing untold stories."
"Whistles from the Graveyard is a tribute to the resilience and despair of those sent to the desert's edge."
Lagoze's firsthand account pierces through the facade of military glory, exposing the raw underbelly of a conflict that has endured for over a decade. His lens captures not only the physical landscape of Afghanistan but also the mental and emotional terrain traversed by young soldiers, disoriented in a foreign land haunted by the specter of war.
The book explores the lives of these servicemen and women, grappling with the dissonance between the chaotic reality on the ground and the polished imagery crafted for public consumption. Lagoze unveils the toll exacted on these individuals, caught in the crossfire of a war that often seems inscrutable and an enemy that remains elusive.
Lagoze provides an unflinching exploration of the moral and psychological consequences of warfare. He confronts the desensitization bred by the constant exposure to violence, exacerbated by the desolation of a war-torn Afghanistan. The book also exposes the intricate dynamics between American troops and Afghan locals, bound together by shared fears in the relentless face of the Taliban.
Whistles from the Graveyard verbalizes the internal struggles faced by these young soldiers. He sheds light on the detachment cultivated through exposure to the darkest corners of the internet and the blurring of lines between the digital and the real. He captures moments of dark resignation, punctuated by bursts of adrenaline-fueled violence and nights of drug-induced escape.
Lagoze's use of vivid language and poignant imagery paints a haunting picture of a generation marred by war, illustrating the corrosive impact on their psyches and the profound challenge of reintegration into a society that sent them into the abyss. Whistles from the Graveyard is a stark and unapologetic examination of the Afghanistan War, leaving a remarkable impression on readers and challenging conventional narratives about the costs of conflict.
"A searing and unfiltered odyssey into the heart of the Afghanistan War."
"Miles Lagoze's raw lens exposes the hidden scars of a lost generation."
"A vivid portrayal of restless youth caught in the crossfire of history."
"An unapologetic exploration of the psychological toll of modern warfare."
"Lagoze's lens captures the haunting beauty amidst the chaos of conflict."
"A visceral and unflinching account of the Afghanistan War's true cost."
"Intricate storytelling that unveils the human side of America's longest war."
"A profound narrative that transcends the sanitized veneer of military heroism."
"Lagoze's lens pierces through the fog of war, revealing untold stories."
"Whistles from the Graveyard is a tribute to the resilience and despair of those sent to the desert's edge."
October 25, 2023
Whistles From The Graveyard is a interesting book by Miles Lagoze, who joined the Marine Corp as a combat cameraman. You get the inside scoop about boot camp and deployment in Afghanistan. He survived, while others had not. As his unit's official videographer, tasked with shooting and editing footage for the Corps’ recruiting purposes and historical archives. But upon discharging, Lagoze took all the footage he and his fellow cameramen shot, and he assembled a documentary called Combat Obscura. If you enjoy reading about historical wars and the politics behind them, you’ll enjoy this book. I'd like to thank Atria Books, Atria/One Signal Publishers, and NetGalley for the ARC of this novel.
August 25, 2023
From high school angst to USMC boot camp to the gritty reality of serving in the longest war: Afghanistan. This war was devastating to everyone there and it didn't help that those in charge were all about propaganda. While in country and afterward life was too hard to handle without self-medicating and the suicide hotlines. And then there was the mob mentality of January 6. A tough read, but enlightening.
I requested and received an EARC from Atria Books, Atria/One Signal Publishers via NetGalley. Thank you.
I requested and received an EARC from Atria Books, Atria/One Signal Publishers via NetGalley. Thank you.
October 13, 2024
In 2011, at age 18, Miles Lagoze joined the U. S. Marine Corp and was deployed to Afghanistan as a cameraman and videographer tasked with producing a visual account of U.S. acts of courage and heroism. After the end of the war, Lagoze tells the real story (much of it shameful) in his highly acclaimed documentary, Combat Obscurant. This book is the written account of that same story. Another horrifying war story. Another example of how to media manipulates the real story of just about everything. Hard to read. But worthy.
**Update: Thoughts of U.S.marines calling for camera coverage before brutalizing humans or animals still disturbs me.
**Update: Thoughts of U.S.marines calling for camera coverage before brutalizing humans or animals still disturbs me.
December 15, 2023
Fascinating memoir about a Marine struggling to understand everything about his youth, the war, the Marines, Afghanistan.
A great point of view on how we (the US) epically screwed up Afghanistan war and wasted so many precious lives and resources. I did not agree with all his view points but he makes valid statements.
A great point of view on how we (the US) epically screwed up Afghanistan war and wasted so many precious lives and resources. I did not agree with all his view points but he makes valid statements.
March 11, 2024
Good shit. Didn't put it down after I picked it up. If this book has a "point" then it went over my head, but if this book was meant to be jarringly, atonally pointless in a thought-provoking manner then it succeeded.
April 4, 2024
More horrible that I thought it could possibly be. Mostly because I got a glimpse at sociopathic soldiers who are out there "defending" us. Cruelty to animals, cruelty to children, cruelty to humans in general. The best-funded murder-corps on the planet.
June 20, 2024
I enjoyed the documentary this book is based on. But I have to say the book took away from the documentary. Whether this book is a cash grab, confessional or desperate justification I'm not sure. Whatever it is it comes off as glib, insincere with a holier than thou attitude.
May 14, 2025
Interesting but sort of peters out at the end. In my afghan war autobiography/ memoir kick this provided the greatest contrast to the typical American Sniper esc narrative. Finished the book w more questions than when I started.
November 25, 2023
A genuine look at what it is to be a videographer in the Marine Corps.
Read
January 14, 2024Defund the military.
March 27, 2024
Great story. Gives a raw, real account of the war and his becoming a Marine.
May 24, 2024
Difficult but important read.
July 3, 2024
Shocking. Raw. Heartbreaking. I've read a lot of military memories and history books. This one was the most brutally honest one yet. Absolutely recommend.
December 10, 2024
Well put together grouping of stories. Narrated well also which is a thing I find frustrating with a lot of history type books.
March 11, 2024
Gritty, ugly, spectacular, nihilistic. At least at first. How can someone so suffused with self-loathing and low self-esteem be so full of himself? It's also far too meta, droning on about the philosophy, implications, results, etc., etc., of filming violence itself. As shocking as the violence is, it still gets repetitive.
What’s particularly jarring is the author’s assertion that there’s a direct link between Afghanistan, these nihilistic warriors, the nonstop massacres that occur in America every day, the rise of Trump and MAGA.
What’s particularly jarring is the author’s assertion that there’s a direct link between Afghanistan, these nihilistic warriors, the nonstop massacres that occur in America every day, the rise of Trump and MAGA.
Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews