Alpha

Eddie Gallagher and the War for the Soul of the Navy SEALs

By: David Philipps

Narrated by: Andrew Eiden

Length: 15 hrs and 25 mins

Publisher's summary

An epic account of the Navy SEALs of Alpha platoon, the startling accusations against their chief, Eddie Gallagher, and the courtroom battle that exposed the dark underbelly of America’s special forces—from a Pulitzer Prize–winning reporter

“An infuriating, fast-paced thriller.”—The Washington Post

By official accounts, the Navy SEALs of Alpha platoon returned as heroes after their 2017 deployment to Mosul, following a vicious, bloody, and successful campaign to drive ISIS from the city. But within the platoon a different war raged. Even as Alpha’s chief, Eddie Gallagher, was being honored by the Navy for his leadership, several of his men were preparing to report him for war crimes, alleging that he’d stabbed a prisoner in cold blood and taken lethal sniper shots at unarmed civilians.

Many young SEALs regarded Gallagher as the ideal special operations commando. Trained as a sniper, a medic, and an explosives expert, he was considered a battle-tested leader. But in the heat of combat, some in his platoon saw a darker figure—a man who appeared to be coming unhinged after multiple deployments in America’s forever wars. Their excitement to work with a tough, experienced chief soon gave way to a grim suspicion that his thirst for blood seemed to know no bounds and a belief that his unpredictability was as dangerous as the enemy.

In riveting detail, Pulitzer Prize–winning New York Times correspondent David Philipps reveals the story of a group of special operators caught in a moral crucible—should they uphold their oath and turn in their chief, or honor the SEALs’ unwritten code of silence? It is also a larger story of how the SEAL Teams drifted off course after 9/11, and of the “pirate” subculture that festered within their ranks—a secret brotherhood that, in a time of endless war with few clear victories, made the act of killing itself the paramount goal. The investigation and trial following Alpha’s deployment—and Gallagher’s ultimate acquittal on the most serious charges—would pit SEAL against SEAL, set the Navy brass on a collision course with President Donald Trump, and turn Gallagher into a political litmus test in a hotly polarized America.

A compelling tale of battle, honor, and betrayal, Alpha is a remarkable exposé of the fault lines fracturing a country that has been at war for a generation and counting.

©2021 David Philipps (P)2021 Random House Audio

Critic reviews

"Meticulously assembled and brilliantly written . . . [a] remarkable and engrossing book.”—The New York Times

“A dogged researcher and gifted writer, Philipps turns the story of Gallagher’s rise, his alleged war crimes and the botched Navy prosecution into an infuriating, fast-paced thriller.”—The Washington Post

“Shakespearean . . . An excellent read from a seasoned reporter who covered the entire saga [of] Eddie Gallagher.”—The San Diego Union-Tribune

very good book

I spent a lot of time listening to this book. I normally try to stretch them out so I don't run out of books to listen to, but I found myself wanting to hear more and chose it over my daily radio shows. it gave me a clear understanding of the NAVY SEALS culture and a better understanding of what really happened that was not in the news. i follow politics closely and didn't know of all the details in this book. I normally listen to political history and undercover agent stories. this was very interesting.

Well told

Great read. The moral struggle and the courage to do the right thing. Reminds me of Lone Survivor

Should be Required Reading

A manual for why doing the right thing is important, even in small things. I learned a lot.

A MUST READ FOR EVERY AMERICAN

An incredible feat of story telling to make a true story read like fiction. Lessons on all manner of serious topics. A ‘must read’ for all americans to dispel the myths and shed light on what real toll of war.

amazing!

I really did love it. had a problem putting it down. it was a true page turner.

Great Story to Hear Other Side

This was a great book. Where you get to hear both side of the story. To make your judgements. But the courts have the final say. I Highly Recommend.

Great book

This was a great book and I highly recommend it to anyone either in the military or not.

Amazing story of Seals

Amazing how the media Fox News can really screw things up… No wonder they just settle case for $780mm for lying…. This book is v good and seems well researched. I just never knew the Seals were that type of coward…. Guys like Gallagher and the Seals who lied for him would never make it the business world.

Insightful history of pirates

After listening to this book and Eddie’s version of events, “man in the arena,” there are quite a few incongruent details. This book vilifies Eddie Gallagher. I’ll just say Eddie had his day in court and was found not guilty. I appreciate the man’s service to our country but pirates should never be tolerated. The truth of events lies somewhere in between both accounts. The book would’ve been better without the author chiming in with his own political slant.

so well-researched

the author both collected an incredible amount of detailed information and also wove it together into a real page-turner of a story. anytime I can learn some really interesting things about the world while being so entertained, I am happy. Just a great book. and a very impressive narration performance.