We Were One

Shoulder-to-Shoulder with the Marines Who Took Fallujah

By: Patrick K. O'Donnell

Narrated by: Richard Powers

Length: 6 hrs and 41 mins

Publisher's summary

The platoon included four pairs of best friends. Each of the four would lose a best friend forever.

Five months after being deployed to Iraq, Lima Company's 1st Platoon became one of the first American forces to enter Fallujah, where they encountered some of the most intense hand-to-hand combat since World War II. Civilians were used as human shields or as bait to lure soldiers into buildings rigged with explosives; suicide bombers approached from every corner hoping to die and take Americans with them; radical insurgents, high on adrenaline, fought to the death.

Award-winning author and historian Patrick O'Donnell stood shoulder to shoulder with Lima Company's 1st Platoon as they fought through the streets of Fallujah, their casualties mounting. This is their story.

©2006 Patrick K. O'Donnell (P)2007 Blackstone Audio Inc.

Critic reviews

"Clearly reflects valor and courage." (Kirkus Reviews)

"This is, being real, a more than harrowing tale." (Roanoke Times)

"[O'Donnell's] most important accomplishment among many is to put a human face on the troops....[An] excellent book." (New York Post)

Great Read! Semper Fi

This book is an amazing depiction of what actually took place in Fallujah. John 15:13
"There is no greater sacrifice than for a man to lay down his life for a friend"

An excellent read put me in the battle for Falluja

Great story and narration. It put me there, in the midst of a Marine Platoon's squads and fireteams close quarters fighting to liberate Falluja. As a Viet Nam era Marine, this was a story to hear, and ODonnell is the best modern military historian in America.

An important story

At first I felt as though this was an overly long 'newsweek' article.

I soon grew attached to the men who were going through an expereince I can't even imagine.

This book has stuck with me and has reminded me of the importance of the fight these men are engaged in.

It has also reminded me of how lucky I am to live in the United States and how important it is to 'live well'.

Some of the accents the reader attempts are terrible. It would have been better if he had just read the words. It would have been great if Blackstone audio could have produced it with a full cast.

If you're interested in a first hand account (by an author who was actually with the soldiers he writes about) then I can't recommend this book highly enough.

I learned as much from this as I did from 'One Bullet Away'.

Awesome

really good. I am a Afghanistan combat veteran. And this book hit it to the point.

thank you thundering 3rd

story is very gripping will keep you on the edge of your seat the dedication of the marine serving was amazing

OORAH!!!

Such a great story and layout/dictation. Now I get it. I never realized what my buddy Sgt Wade went through. But now I do.

Throw away the one and two star reviews

It’s a story that few civilians would have made the effort to tell. To rate it one star, because the author made a mistake about the use of hollow points is a disservice to these Marines’ story. To rate it one or two stars, because you don’t like the narrator’s voice and claim he makes the Marines’ sound like five year olds is again a disservice. It is an outstanding telling of the hell the Marines went through and the failure of the US policy makers to do right by their sacrifice. Graphic, honest and compelling. Highly recommended.

Powerful

I want to thank this author for making great personal sacrifice in order to tell the story of these amazing you g Marines. Semper Fidelis

Excellent Book

I have read hundreds of books on combat and I rank this one in the top 10. Patrick O'Donnel is consistently good with his oral histories. He comes as close as a journalist can to capturing the essense of combat at the platoon and squad level. We owe it to our valiant, current combat veterens to listen to this book and understand the best we can their sacrifice. The reader of the book also did an outstanding job. Now if the new President would just take the time to read or listen to this book and honor our military by better understanding how outstanding is their performance in protecting us.

Incredible Courage!

A very heartfelt account of a battle by the toughest, most courageous US Marines ever!

How they did what they did is not easily put into words. Their story so accurately and emotionally told here borders on insanity! But it is held together by the honor and grit of the US Marines and their bond with each other. Uncommon Valour is a very common trait of these incredible Marines. They fight for each other, the Corp and thier Country in that order. This will leave you with your heart in your throat! Don McCall