Outlaw Platoon

Heroes, Renegades, Infidels, and the Brotherhood of War in Afghanistan

By: Sean Parnell, John Bruning

Narrated by: Ray Porter

Length: 10 hrs and 18 mins

Publisher's summary

In combat, men measure up. Or don't. There are no second chances.

In this vivid account of the U.S. Army's legendary 10th Mountain Division's heroic stand in the mountains of Afghanistan, Captain Sean Parnell shares an action-packed and highly emotional true story of triumph, tragedy, and the extraordinary bonds forged in battle.

At 24 years of age, U.S. Army Ranger Sean Parnell was named commander of a forty-man elite infantry platoon - a unit that came to be known as the Outlaws - and was tasked with rooting out Pakistan-based insurgents from a mountain valley along Afghanistan's eastern frontier. Parnell and his men assumed they would be facing a ragtag bunch of civilians, but in May 2006 what started out as a routine patrol through the lower mountains of the Hindu Kush became a brutal ambush. Barely surviving the attack, Parnell's men now realized that they faced the most professional and seasoned force of light infantry the U.S. Army had encountered since the end of World War II.

What followed was 16 months of close combat, over the course of which the platoon became Parnell's family: from Staff Sergeant Greg Greeson, the wise, chain-smoking veteran who never lost his cool; to Specialist Robert Pinholt, a buttoned-down conservative with the heart of a warrior and the mind of an economist; to Staff Sergeant Phil Baldwin, the platoon's voice of calm and reason, a man who sacrificed everything following the events of 9/11 - career, home, financial stability - to serve his country. But the cost of battle was high for these men: Over 80 percent were wounded in action, putting their casualty rate among the highest since Gettysburg, and not all of them made it home.

A searing and unforgettable story of friendship in battle, Outlaw Platoon brings to life the intensity and raw emotion of those 16 months, showing how the fight reshaped the lives of Parnell and his men and how the love and faith they found in one another ultimately kept them alive.

This audiobook is enhanced with a downloadable PDF containing photographs from the hardcover edition.

Download the accompanying reference guide.

©2012 Sean Parnell (P)2012 HarperCollinsPublishers

An absolute must!

This is an amazing story. Great job by Sean writing it. However, RAY PORTER steals the show. He is an absolute American Treasure. He brings this story to life with the amazing way he uses voices, that are very accurate to the regions from which the characters hale. One of the best WAR stories I have read (or had read to me!). Can't recommend enough. Dustin

eye opening

I could never TRUELY imagine what our soldiers endure. I'm glad the story will live on in this book. Everyone, should listen to or read this account of inspirational and shocking humanity, and develop a lot more respect for the strength and sacrifice

Great Listen! Well written and very well narrated

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

Yes. One of the best modern day non-fiction books I have had the pleasure to read or listen to.

What was the most compelling aspect of this narrative?

Very insightful into the military actions in Afghanistan.

What about Ray Porter’s performance did you like?

Mr. Porter nailed this one. He is one of the top narrators I have heard. This book was well written to begin with but I think this is one of the few books I can say I probably enjoyed listening to MORE than reading.

Yet another true account of the war in Afghanistan

Although a true story, and written/told with the heartfelt passions that can only be done by one who has been through it, I did not find this book as engaging, dramatic, and moving as those such as Lone Survivor or American Sniper. However, one major difference that this book stressed was the impact of the atrocities of war an the psyche of those that witness it; specifically the brutality of the Taliban on the Afghan children and elders.

As for the performance, the narrator does a good job, but the problem I ran into is that I have listened to Roy Porter reading Raymond Chandler's books and I kept hearing Philip Marlowe's "voice" throughout much of this reading.

Bottom line: I think there are better reads/listens in this genre out there (as stated above), but I did finish this book without any struggle and would recommend it to others; especially those that haven't read/listened to some of the other books on the war on terror.

Captivating moments, excellent reading, poor end.

The reader's performance was one of my strongest favours, and the story at least for the first three quarters holds up really nice. However the ending feels rushed, and while it tries to present relevant story concluding information, it ultimately feels lackluster and somewhat spoils the build up for me.

I understand the dark reality to the story and wasn't expecting a happy ending, but I was hoping to know more, not just have the epilogue come out of nowhere, making me feel like 4 chapters were snipped from the book.

A must listen

As an actual account, I wished that I could be there to help. I laughed, cried, and just felt an all around since of a slap of reality, and how good the people in this country really have it. I think that one would agree once they have heard this book. I only wish I could learn of where these people are now, what happened from the point of the end of the book forward.

Read By Seth MacFarlane?

Sean Parnell was on Jocko Willink's Pod Cast 192 discussing his book and experiences which lead me to purchase. The narration was good but to me he sounds a lot like Seth MacFarlane and at times I was expecting to hear a Peter Griffen or Stewie thrown in.

great story

amazing story of how young men come together and forge a family through their shared experiences in war. I would recomend this book to any young Military leaders and hopley they can take some lessons from it.

Own this book

Everything your looking for in military nonfiction. Well written and highly engaging. Wish it was longer.

Great Book

Enjoyed this book, he takes you into the battle and the real war... I recommend it if you are interested in what some of our warriors experience in Afghanistan.