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Ground Truth: 3 Para - Return to Afghanistan
Afghanistan, 2008. After their eighteen-month epic tour of Helmand Province, the troops of 3 Para are back. This time, the weight of experience weighs heavily on their shoulders.
In April 2006 the elite 3 Para Battle Group was despatched to Helmand Province, Afghanistan, on a tour that has become a legend. All that summer the Paras were subjected to relentless Taliban attacks in one of the most gruelling campaigns fought by British troops in modern times.
Two years later the Paras are back in the pounding heat of the Afghanistan front lines. The conflict has changed. The enemy has been forced to adopt new weaponry and tactics. But how much progress are we really making in the war against the insurgents? And is there an end in sight?
In this searing account of 3 Para’s return, bestselling author Patrick Bishop combines gripping, first-person accounts of front line action with an unflinching look at the hard realities of our involvement in Afghanistan. Writing from a position of exclusive access alongside the Paras, he reveals the ‘ground truth’ of the mission our soldiers have been given. It’s a sombre picture. But shining out from it are stories of courage, comradeship and humour, as well as a gripping account of an epic humanitarian operation through Taliban-infested country to deliver a vitally needed turbine to the Kajaki Dam.
Frank, action-packed and absorbing, “Ground Truth” is a timely and important book that will set the agenda for discussion of the Afghan conflict for years to come.
In April 2006 the elite 3 Para Battle Group was despatched to Helmand Province, Afghanistan, on a tour that has become a legend. All that summer the Paras were subjected to relentless Taliban attacks in one of the most gruelling campaigns fought by British troops in modern times.
Two years later the Paras are back in the pounding heat of the Afghanistan front lines. The conflict has changed. The enemy has been forced to adopt new weaponry and tactics. But how much progress are we really making in the war against the insurgents? And is there an end in sight?
In this searing account of 3 Para’s return, bestselling author Patrick Bishop combines gripping, first-person accounts of front line action with an unflinching look at the hard realities of our involvement in Afghanistan. Writing from a position of exclusive access alongside the Paras, he reveals the ‘ground truth’ of the mission our soldiers have been given. It’s a sombre picture. But shining out from it are stories of courage, comradeship and humour, as well as a gripping account of an epic humanitarian operation through Taliban-infested country to deliver a vitally needed turbine to the Kajaki Dam.
Frank, action-packed and absorbing, “Ground Truth” is a timely and important book that will set the agenda for discussion of the Afghan conflict for years to come.
324 pages, Hardcover
First published May 14, 2009
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128 people want to read
About the author
Patrick Bishop
73 books67 followersPatrick Bishop was born in London in 1952 and went to Wimbledon College and Corpus Christi College, Oxford. Before joining the Telegraph he worked on the Evening Standard, the Observer and the Sunday Times and in television as a reporter on Channel Four News. He is the author with John Witherow of a history of the Falkands War based on their own experiences and with Eamon Mallie of The Provisional IRA which was praised as the first authoritative account of the modern IRA. He also wrote a memoir the first Gulf War, Famous Victory and a history of the Irish diaspora The Irish Empire, based on the TV series which he devised.
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
December 27, 2016
A very enjoyable read -the author was embedded with 3 para for their tour in Afghanistan in 2009. Its a straight tic-toc of operations in Helmand Province. The constant Patrolling, the "shuras", the daily firefights are grist to that mill. The focus is on the professional and personal lives of the soldiers and the nature of their mission. I think there is something for every kind of reader- but the military enthusiast will be the happiest. Well worth the time.
November 2, 2025
This is not my general reading matter but I felt the need to take on something completely out of my comfort zone. Even more so, as I have no military background.
I do however have a son whose best friend through their school years joined the army and was on this 2008 tour.
I know for a fact that on his return he had become a different person. Not surprising if he witnessed some of the content of this book.
His mental health nose-dived and his behaviour became erratic. I know some soldiers who return to civvy street bang on about their exploits, but this guy just bottled everything up inside.
He is now in a much better place, both physically and mentally but
I do wonder whether actually reading this account would help him.....or do the complete opposite and reopen old wounds.
Back to the book, I exist in the 'belief camp' that politics and religion cause far more bad than good. Therefore the most disappointing.....though not surprising.....thing for me is this summary of the whole episode from Lieutenant Colonel Huw Williams near the end of the book:
"The Taliban have shown growing political skill, presenting themselves as the champions of the people, against a puppet government of traitors and crooks. In the absence of change, the plausibility of the claim is likely to grow".
I do however have a son whose best friend through their school years joined the army and was on this 2008 tour.
I know for a fact that on his return he had become a different person. Not surprising if he witnessed some of the content of this book.
His mental health nose-dived and his behaviour became erratic. I know some soldiers who return to civvy street bang on about their exploits, but this guy just bottled everything up inside.
He is now in a much better place, both physically and mentally but
I do wonder whether actually reading this account would help him.....or do the complete opposite and reopen old wounds.
Back to the book, I exist in the 'belief camp' that politics and religion cause far more bad than good. Therefore the most disappointing.....though not surprising.....thing for me is this summary of the whole episode from Lieutenant Colonel Huw Williams near the end of the book:
"The Taliban have shown growing political skill, presenting themselves as the champions of the people, against a puppet government of traitors and crooks. In the absence of change, the plausibility of the claim is likely to grow".
April 16, 2019
A book that follows the story where the 1st one left off. It is an intense story as told by the British troops ,although there could have been a little more details
December 16, 2022
DNF half way though
August 4, 2016
I knew it was going to be a brit propaganda after reading two pages. The Taliban are obviously devils incarnate hell bent on murderous rampage & ISAF Soldiers are Altruistic Saints zealously undertaking the noble task of guiding the lost sheep of Afghanistan. Generally such "non-fiction" (if you can call it that) doesn't actually deceive you, it just contains plausible half-truths & little white-lies, plus some very creative unverifiable claims, outlined with a highly polarized narrative. But not this time, this "military saga" has no qualms whatsoever about being brutally dishonest with you. Most distasteful to me personally were the fabricated references to Pakistan (my Country). Implying that Pakistan is some sort of larger North Korea is absolute nonsense...!! Believe it or not Pakistan is America's oldest regional ally, just like Turkey or Indonesia. Pakistan's diplomatic relations with America started way back in the glory days of John F. Kennedy. In the JFK era U2 Aircraft Spied on the USSR from Badaber Air-Force Base in Peshawar (Capital of Khyber-Pakhtun-Khwa Province bordering Afghanistan). During the Soviet-Afghan war Pakistan played a major supportive role in logistics, intelligence gathering & humanitarian relief work. Even to this day Pakistan is supporting three million Afghan refugees. In recent years Pakistan has lost forty-seven thousand people to terrorism, two years ago Pakistan's Army launched the ongoing Operation Zarb-e-Azb to tackle terror imported from Afghanistan. We are not perpetrators of terrorism, we are the biggest victims of terrorism...!! Ignoring or discrediting Pakistan's sacrifices is not just unfair it's downright despicable...!! Lastly I remember reading somewhere that "the best propaganda is highly entertaining propaganda." Therefore I suggest if Mr. Patrick Bishop wants to make a name for himself as a british propagandist, he should start writing something at least remotely entertaining...
March 28, 2013
I have read a couple of this authors books before, Fighter Boys and 3 Para and really enjoyed them so when i saw this book i thought i would give it a go. This book follows on from 3 Para which i loved so i was hoping this book was as good.
It tells the story of 3 Para Battle Group who are deployed to Afghanistan during the war. Although most of the heavy fighting is over with they still have a duty to flush out the Taliban and protect the people of Afghanistan while fighting against the newest weapons against them, IEDs.
I thought the writing of this book was really good. Although the war in Afghanistan is sometimes in the news mostly when a young serviceman or woman is killed you dont tend to think about the fighting going on on a day to day basis. I have had friends who are in the RAF and Army go out there and they say of the horrors that are out there and it always upsets me to think of all the people that are loosing there lives out there. In this book people are unfortunatly killed and as this is a true account its sometimes hard to realise that these are real people and the young people that were killed were under the age of 25-30.
There are lots of technical aspects to this book like the weapons systems and the living conditions and to people that are interested in this sort of thing i think they would find it enjoyable.
I did enjoy this book and although it made me cry i think that it is a very good book that brings home the harsh reality of war.
It tells the story of 3 Para Battle Group who are deployed to Afghanistan during the war. Although most of the heavy fighting is over with they still have a duty to flush out the Taliban and protect the people of Afghanistan while fighting against the newest weapons against them, IEDs.
I thought the writing of this book was really good. Although the war in Afghanistan is sometimes in the news mostly when a young serviceman or woman is killed you dont tend to think about the fighting going on on a day to day basis. I have had friends who are in the RAF and Army go out there and they say of the horrors that are out there and it always upsets me to think of all the people that are loosing there lives out there. In this book people are unfortunatly killed and as this is a true account its sometimes hard to realise that these are real people and the young people that were killed were under the age of 25-30.
There are lots of technical aspects to this book like the weapons systems and the living conditions and to people that are interested in this sort of thing i think they would find it enjoyable.
I did enjoy this book and although it made me cry i think that it is a very good book that brings home the harsh reality of war.
January 2, 2011
This book is no Black Hawk Down: A Story of Modern War in that it is not a blow by blow account of a particular battle - it covers an entire 6 month tour that 3 Para undertook in Helmand province of Afghanistan. What it does do is provides a fantastic insight into what is actually going on in Afghanistan.
Due to the way the media reports what is going on across there, there is a dearth of information other than soldier deaths. This book not only fixes that but also changed my view - I was one of the group of people who supported the troops but wanted them brought home - the soldiers that are interviewed in this book want to go out there and see if they can help - they believe in what they are doing. I don't necessary believe that they can succeed out there but I do support their efforts and hope that they can. If this book can change my views maybe it can change someone elses...
Due to the way the media reports what is going on across there, there is a dearth of information other than soldier deaths. This book not only fixes that but also changed my view - I was one of the group of people who supported the troops but wanted them brought home - the soldiers that are interviewed in this book want to go out there and see if they can help - they believe in what they are doing. I don't necessary believe that they can succeed out there but I do support their efforts and hope that they can. If this book can change my views maybe it can change someone elses...
December 7, 2011
Another good book presenting a boots-on-the-ground perspective on ISAFs mission in Afghanistan. Apart from description of missions and incidents we also get to know the motivations and way of thinking of soldiers and commanders. Usually I would write a bit more in the review but this is the fourth book on the subject that I've read and, even if they are all good, I can just point towards my previous reviews.
July 7, 2013
This is a very intense account of some of the Para's time in Afghanistan, written by a journalist embedded with the regiment. The mix of historical information, first hand accounts and details provided by the soldiers themselves gives the book a depth that can sometimes be missing from personal memoirs. Definitely worth reading if you're looking to understand the conflict and life on the front line.
October 24, 2013
I read this to better understand the conflict and what it's like to actually be there. The author sympathises with the soldiers but is not afraid to ask the difficult questions. I have a greater appreciation of what it must be like to do a tour and have learned a lot about the recent history and motivations behind all sides of this complex war.
June 12, 2016
I must admit, it felt like a bit of a chore to read this book.
Reading the recommendations and plaudits received I was expecting an exciting journey of war by a soldier in battle, what this book really delivered was a lot of waffle and 2nd hand stories of battles passed on by other soldiers.
A tad disappointing really.
Reading the recommendations and plaudits received I was expecting an exciting journey of war by a soldier in battle, what this book really delivered was a lot of waffle and 2nd hand stories of battles passed on by other soldiers.
A tad disappointing really.
June 29, 2013
A bit to political in parts when describing the hearts and minds etc and not as much action as the synopsis says there is! However it's a good account of a difficult tour of duty! My actual score is 3.5 stars worth a read.
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews