Battle Scars

Twenty Years Later: 3d Battalion 5th Marines Looks Back at the Iraq War and How It Changed Their Lives

By: Chip Reid

Narrated by: Chip Reid

The most eye-opening, and terrifying, story in Chip Reid's career as a journalist was the six weeks he spent with 3d Battalion, 5th Marines, during the invasion of Iraq in 2003, as a correspondent for NBC News. Traveling shoulder-to-shoulder with the young Marines, he had unparalleled access, witnessing them in combat, and interviewing as many as he could persuade his bosses to put on air, allowing them to tell their war stories in their own words.

It took only twenty-two days for the Marines of 3/5 to fight their way to Baghdad, but the effects on those who fought have lasted a lifetime. They lost a number of their own in battle, and others suffered life-threatening injuries. Many have had to find their own way through survivor's guilt and the nightmare of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, with all its attendant miseries.

Twenty years on, Chip sat down with the Marines of 3/5 once more. They told Chip inspiring stories of heroism in battle, of camaraderie and comrades lost, of patriotism and belief in mission, of recovery and success in both military and civilian life, and of the new appreciation for life that results from Post-Traumatic Growth. Visceral and searingly honest, this book is a tribute to the Marines for their service, and for the many sacrifices they made then, and that many still make today.

This enhanced audiobook edition includes nearly two hours of raw and uncut interviews with Marines of 3/5 recorded in preparation for writing this book.

©2023 Chip Reid (P)2023 Tantor

Magnificent tribute to the Marines

I’m glad I listened to this as an audiobook. I think it is much better than reading the book. He was correct to hold out and not make it a page turning thriller and make it a tribute to the Marines. Even for our short attention span society, there is still plenty of page turning, but he make sure to make it a tribute to the Marines.

Excellent tribute

The bonus interviews on the audio version take this already superior book to another level.

Well damn...

Excellent story telling and accurate descriptions of what it was like during and after OIF. A clearly passionate work from experience and understanding.
Touches on some very important and hard pieces but not in a way that is undermining.
actual research and experience would be the selling points for me.

Semper Fi

An inspiring story. I love the part that talks about PTSD yes like you wrote not many service members want to be diagnose with it. The way I look it unlike the other wars this country has finally found a way to help veterans that might have it by providing a place like the VA to get treated if they want.