The Brave Ones

A Memoir of Hope, Pride, and Military Service

By: Michael J. MacLeod

Narrated by: Patrick Lawlor

Length: 14 hrs and 35 mins

Publisher's summary

How does the US Army mold a video-game generation with its thumbs on the joystick into a proud fighting force with its fingers on the trigger - and lives on the line - in America's War on Terror? Michael J. MacLeod, already an accomplished professional photographer and journalist, decided to find out the hard way: by enlisting in the armed forces at age forty-one. What he observed and experienced as an embedded reporter and a serving soldier makes for an unflinching and inspiring portrait of endurance, sacrifice, discipline, and courage.

From the trials of basic training on the home front to the ranks of the legendary 82nd Airborne Division to taking fire in the hot zones of Iraq and Afghanistan, MacLeod chronicles the soldier's evolution as only one who's been in those boots can. Candid, wise, and powerful, his memoir takes listeners on an unforgettable journey through war and allows them to witness bravery firsthand.

©2015 Michael J. MacLeod (P)2015 Brilliance Audio, all rights reserved.

Airborne! All the way!

I served in Iraq in 2004-2005 at age 55 and I too was a paratrooper in the 82d. This guy got it right.

Great story teller of this time

One of my favorite books in quite some time Michael Nd
Macleod is a great story teller his narrative of war was very well crafted in the way he expressed his experiences.

Detailed

This audio book is lengthy and very detailed. The action in afaganinstan is seen through the eyes of a journalist who travels with all different parts of the 82nd he explains the action as detailed as he describes the boredom of an every day soldier. I enjoyed this audio book but believe it could have been shorter in length.

Being a Paratrooper

As a Paratrooper,a member of the 82nd and a older Enlistie I can relate so much to this book.

A real story of war.

enjoyed the narrator, story was well written I would find myself laughing at times then wanting to cry, I like how nothing seemed to be sugar coated it was real. As a veteran myself I salute you Michael McCloud.

SFC McDowell, Michael P Retired Combat Veteran and Damn Proud

I as a solider who served inOEF. I find this book thrilling sad and full of good/bad times of my deployment. I feel for the family, friends and soldiers who lost loved during this deployment. I hope the 99% of this country reads and realizes the sacrifices soldiers and families make.

Michael P McDowell
SFC, USA
RETIRED

Get the facts about what Soldiers do downrange

On a second career enlisting just under the wire near 40 years old, this former construction worker from Northwest US finds he has a skill as writer and photographer. This 82nd Airborne Div. sergeant assigned to Iraq and Afghanistan as a journalist tells of -- and participates in -- combat action. His contrast to the "video game" generation provides many unique observations of training at Basic Training, chow hall, keeping in touch with family, even firing his weapon at the enemy.

Excellent !

Events extremely well written and
Patrick Lawlor brings them to life.
Unable to put it down.

Never Forgotten

I purchased this book to get a little better understanding of what my unit did while we were down range, it brought back a lot of memories. I would definitely recommend this book to anyone looking to join the Army.

Enjoyed this book very much.

As always, Patrick Lawlor brought the book to life with his ability to involve himself ith the read and make you feel like he was telling you a story that he was enthusiastic about himself.

The story was interesting throughout, and I especially enjoyed the insights into the lives of combat jumpers at war. The broader concepts and information about the army and the soldiers was liberally supported with the appropriate anecdotes that added just the right amount of human interest and humor.