Citizen Soldier

From the Land of Lincoln to Iraq and Back

By: Robert Elliott

Narrated by: Michael J. Downey

In Dr. Robert Elliott’s Citizen Soldier: From the Land of Lincoln to Iraq and Back, listeners learn what it is like to say goodbye to a wife and three children and then travel across Iraq by convoy and helicopters. You’ll learn about the stressors, the dangers, and the risks taken and retaken.

The author gives vivid accounts of:

• Walking the ancient ruins of Babylon
• Transporting detainees to Abu Ghraib Prison
• Meeting with Ukrainian soldiers near the Iranian border
• Calling in a medevac after a roadside bomb attack
• Sustaining a mortar attack

Citizen Soldier: From the Land of Lincoln to Iraq and Back is written from a soldier's perspective, inviting you to experience the emotional roller coaster that service members and their families voluntarily endure to support and defend the Constitution of the United States.

©2023 Robert L. Elliott (P)2023 Robert L. Elliott

Compelling story and excellent narration

I’ve tried audio books in the past but never made it through an entire one. Citizen Soldier was different. For me, the subject matter, our soldiers going to war in Iraq and the long-term effects on them and their families, is something I’m passionate about. What made this book one I couldn’t put down, though, was the narration. Michael Downey’s high energy and enthusiasm for the words he was reading engaged me in Dr. Robert Elliott’s story. Mr. Downey’s voice conveyed not just the text but also the mood of the author. Each time I listened, it was easy to join Mr. Downey and become part of the book, not just be an observer.

A great story that gives insight to life of National Guard members, their sacrifices, and their commitment to duty.

I enjoyed this book. Not only did it give a very accurate account of the day to day life of an Illinois National Guard member’s tour of duty in Iraq, but also the struggles of life away from home in the Land of Lincoln.

Dr. Robert Elliott’s detailed telling of events, scenery, and emotions were well constructed and engaging. Not having served in the military myself, but having many friends who have, it gave me a deeper understanding of the commitment to country, mission, and duty that our National Guard members have.

The narration by Michael J. Downey was performed exceptionally well. Mr. Downey was able to seamlessly convey the wide range of emotions that the author experienced before, during, and after his tour in Iraq.

Citizen Soldier- Amazing Book and Narration

Just finished listening to Citizen soldier, Michael Downey’s voice and Dr Elliott’s words transported me right into Robert Elliott’s experiences as a reservist soldier in Iraq. The impact on his personal family and all of his wartime experiences with his military family are very personalized. Michael Downey was great with the various voices required to embrace the story. Citizen Soldier is an amazing book and narration, I am looking forward to listening to your future collaborative projects! Bravo

A terrific listen!

I loved this book. It's a Great story that keeps you engaged. I highly recommend this one.

Great story with Excellent Voice Acting

My son is a Marine from Illinois. I picked up this book because I was hoping to understand the situations he has lived through on his deployments. I found the story to be compelling and the voice acting a perfect for the subject matter. Sometimes the 'voice' of the story doesn't really fit, but this was not the case for Citizen Soldier!

A Better Understanding

The narrator of Citizen Soldier, Michael Downey, does an outstanding job throughout this audio book! The manner in which Dr. Robert Elliott shares his experiences certainly helped me to better understand the complexity of conflicts and wars.

war story

reading was great. occasional difference in sound quality between takes/chapters. solid real telling of one experience during war.

Fantastic story and narration

Well told story about service, duty and family and the balance between the three. Thank you for your service

Hard to stop listening

I listened to this to and from work. I was almost late a couple of times because I was so

Gripping and heartfelt

Really enjoyed this audiobook, Elliot recounts his experiences vividly and they’re further brought to life by his heartfelt introspections. As an IL native, I also enjoyed his included details about his home territory. Bonus, narrator Michael Downey has a great voice and flow as well, one of the best I’ve heard and I listen to audiobooks frequently.