They Called Us ""Lucky""

The Life and Afterlife of the Iraq War's Hardest Hit Unit

By: Ruben Gallego, Jim DeFelice

Narrated by: Ruben Gallego, Stephen Graybill

Length: 8 hrs and 58 mins

Publisher's summary

From the Arizona Congressman, a 21st-century Band of Brothers chronicling the eternal bonds forged between the Marines of Lima Company, the hardest-hit unit of the Iraq War.

At first, they were “Lucky Lima”. Infantryman Ruben Gallego and his brothers in Lima Company—3rd Battalion, 25th Marines, young men drawn from blue-collar towns, immigrant households, Navajo reservations—returned unscathed on patrol after patrol through the increasingly violent al Anbar region of Iraq, looking for weapons caches and insurgents trying to destabilize the nascent Iraqi government. After two months in Iraq, Lima didn't have a casualty, not a single Purple Heart, no injury worse than a blister. Lucky Lima.

Then, in May 2005, Lima’s fortunes flipped. Unknown to Ruben and his fellow grunts, al Anbar had recently become a haven for al Qaeda in Mesopotamia. The bin Laden-sponsored group had recruited radicals from all over the world for jihad against the Americans. On one fateful day, they were lured into a death house; the ambush cost the lives of two men, including a platoon sergeant. Two days later, Ruben’s best friend, Jonathon Grant, died in an IED attack, along with several others. Events worsened from there. A disastrous operation in Haditha in August claimed the lives of 13 Marines when an IED destroyed their amphibious vehicle. It was the worst single-day loss for the Marines since the 1983 Beirut bombings. By the time 3/25 went home in November, it had lost more men than any other single unit in the war. Forty-six Marines and two Navy Corpsmen serving with the battalion in Iraq were killed in action during their roughly nine-month activation.

They Called Us “Lucky” details Ruben Gallego’s journey and includes harrowing accounts of some of the war’s most costly battles. It details the struggles and the successes of Ruben—now a member of Congress—and the rest of Lima Company following Iraq, examining the complicated matter of PTSD. And it serves as a tribute to Ruben’s fallen comrades, who made the ultimate sacrifice for their country.

©2021 Ruben Gallego and Jim DeFelice (P)2021 HarperCollins Publishers

Semper Fi

These were the days that forged young Americans in the crucible of fire. These men and women are the definition of what American patriotism is. Thank you to all who served and are currently serving. God bless you and the United States of America. Semper Fi do or die!

A heroic story humbly told!

I suspect Representative Gallego would most desire that we simply regard him a good Marine. I am happy to oblige, speaking for myself. That said, I would add good American at a time when our domestic politics are chaotic and frightening, even terrifying. Whether we collectively know it or not, the future of this great country rests on his shoulders and those who share his values and integrity.

Story grabs your attention

Listen to the whole book in a day. Wish there was more books written like this.

Lima 3/25

This subject, Lima Company 325 is held near to my heart. A young man that I know was apart of this unit. He came home to his loving family unlike many of his Marine brothers. He is my hero!! The story was told well, my heart breaks for all the families that lost a child, a husband, brother or grandchild. However, the story was spoiled by current issues in the past year, such as the election. I thought it was about Lima Company, not Biden and Trump, i.e. politics. Sorry you didn't stick to the subject.

Thank you!

They are humans who had to work for their country and do things that others don't dare. What I liked most was the end, they did what they had to do! his work!

Must Read for Veterans

This book is a must read for Veterans and particularly for anyone considering joining the service. The Congressman does an excellent job of relaying the chaos, terror, strength, and pride involved with combat service, and an incredible job of describing the symptoms many Veterans face with PTSD, many of which are little discussed. I feel anyone aspiring to join the military, especially in a combat arms capacity, would greatly benefit from reading this book, to better understand the reality of their decision and the potentially life long repercussions of that decision. Amazing book, read by the author. As a Veteran myself, it made me feel less alone

Intense Self Account Descriptions

A very intense account of combat operations in Iraq of Lima Company 3d Marines, 25th Batallion Marines. These Gentlemen are the epitome of fighting through the Pain of losing fellow Marines.

Narrator took away from the story

Good book, but terrible narration. Often hard to understand. I had to slow the speed to understand.

Very moving account of marines in Iraq

Gallego is so honest in this account. Loved the fact that he read it himself - raw emotion at certain points. Well worth listening to.

One of My Favorite Books

One of the best books I’ve ever read. Many years I saw the documentary about Lima Company in Netflix. I think that this company needs to go in Marine Corps History. I believe that this unit fought with the honor and ferocity of units that fought during World War II.

Rubén Gallegos perspective and sincerity about the event captivated my imagination. It was like I met the Marines in person; furthermore, this is one of the few books I’ve read that explain that there’s no such thing as “part time reservist!” They are Marines! And displayed the best of Marine Corps values.

Semper Fi