Bücher von Mark T. Martinez

Operation Enduring Freedom (The war in Afghanistan): Letters written home by a U.S. Army Officer deployed to Afghanistan in 2011-2012. It tells a story of the day-to-day frustrations of building infrastructure for the rule-of-law; the dismal failures of the U.S. State Department, and of a bird feeder that seemed to be the only sane thing in the whole country. It also gives tribute to a military wife who carried the burden of three wars. "Slowly, cut by cut, the Afghans bled us, and then smiled and called us their friend. This was all occurring while the folks back home were beaming at our accomplishments and our politicians were slowly binding our hands in order not to offend our new-found Afghan friends. We quickly became a willing victim of the Afghanistan Government's internal quagmire, where we naively rushed to squander our nation's youth and treasure on this undeserving nation. "2011 was one of the bloodiest years of the war with 415 U.S. Service Members killed and over 5,000 wounded. The letters in this book were written during this period and serve as a salute to those who sacrificed much to give the country of Afghanistan a fleeting chance at freedom and democracy. God bless all of them.

"Operation Iraqi Freedom." Letters written home about the greenest Brigade in the United States Army, deployed to the most violent district of Baghdad, and their fight to change the course of the war.In February of 2007, the 4th Brigade (Dragon Brigade) of the 1st Infantry Division was deployed to Baghdad, Iraq as part of the five U.S. "Surge" Brigades. The Dragon Brigade was assigned to the most violent sector of Baghdad known as the Rashid (Rasheed) District, a 68 square mile sector in Southern Baghdad. When the Dragon Brigade returned home after 15 months in combat, the ultimate cost of securing Rashid and re-establishing prosperity was 102 Soldiers KIA and over 700 WIA. This book and these letters written home are a testament to their sacrifices. God Bless everyone of them.