Technology has changed the way we see wars forever. Updates from our troops in the Middle East can be sent to the rest of the world within minutes. Even with all this innovation, the individual stories of many of those fighting still get left behind in the desert. Col. (Ret.) Will G. Merrill Jr., US Army, has collected a series of stories about the valor of the men and women who protect our country from all threats. He interviewed thirty-three individuals to accurately tell the stories of the soldiers of the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq. Contemporary war history comes to life with chapters devoted to the evolution of Operation Anaconda, the capture of Saddam Hussein, the attack on the Intercontinental Hotel in Kabul, and other important battles and moments of the wars. His heroes include firefighters turned soldiers who did more than their duty, women who defied gender expectations to become ferocious fighters, wounded warriors who sacrificed everything to keep us safe, and many more of the bravest individuals America has to offer. Their stories keep the wars alive in our collective consciousness and drive us to think about the future of our country’s armed forces. Read Less