Red Platoon

A True Story of American Valour

By: Clinton Romesha

Narrated by: Will Damron, Clinton Romesha

Length: 12 hrs and 29 mins

Publisher's summary

The only comprehensive, firsthand account of the 13-hour firefight at the Battle of Keating, by Medal of Honor recipient Clinton Romesha, for listeners of Black Hawk Down by Mark Bowden and Lone Survivor by Marcus Luttrell.

"'It doesn't get better.' To us that phrase nailed one of the essential truths, maybe even the essential truth, about being stuck at an outpost whose strategic and tactical vulnerabilities were so glaringly obvious to every soldier who had ever set foot in that place that the name itself - Keating - had become a kind of backhanded joke."

In 2009 Clinton Romesha of Red Platoon and the rest of the Black Knight Troop were preparing to shut down Command Outpost Keating, the most remote and inaccessible in a string of bases built by the US military in Nuristan and Kunar in the hope of preventing Taliban insurgents from moving freely back and forth between Afghanistan and Pakistan. Three years after its construction, the army was finally ready to concede what the men on the ground had known immediately: it was simply too isolated and too dangerous to defend.

On October 3, 2009, after years of constant smaller attacks, the Taliban finally decided to throw everything they had at Keating. The ensuing 13-hour battle - and eventual victory - cost eight men their lives.

Red Platoon is the riveting firsthand account of the Battle of Keating, told by Romesha, who spearheaded both the defence of the outpost and the counterattack that drove the Taliban back beyond the wire and received the Medal of Honor for his actions.

©2016 Clint L. Romesha LLC (P)2016 Penguin Random House Audio Publishing Group

Amazing...

Would you listen to Red Platoon again? Why?

This is a tremendous story of courage, sacrifice and the will to survive. Though you see the theme occur in most war memoirs, it is nonetheless amazing what a a bunch of regular dudes from all over the place can do when they come together as a unit. The Army, their training and their commitment to each somehow create something that is truly unbreakable. They denied the enemy their prize and in the process once again proved that american soldiers rise to any challenge.

Who was your favorite character and why?

I look at a platoon as entity and the men that comprise it are just facets of its personality and capability. To me, this story is more about Red Platoon than any of the individuals that make it up. Their collective ability to embrace a horrible situation and find a way to keep fighting and survive is very uplifting.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

The Army has a way of making poor decisions that at the time seem like a reasonable decisions. It made me sad that these soldiers had to pay the price for something that started as finger pointed at a map in a briefing by a staff officer long before these guys came in country. Its upsetting that despite all the good reasons not to put COP Keating where they did, they did it anyway. Hindsight is 20 20 but I wish someone with courage in a high level position would have followed what that knew was right and close that COP long before they did. It was so obviously a disaster waiting to happen. The fact the battle did not need to happen and should not have happened does not take away from the valor of the soldiers and airman demonstrated.

Any additional comments?

Americans should do all they can thank and employ veterans. They gave us everything we have, they asked for nothing in return yet deserve our complete gratitude.

America needs to know

It amazes me how little we heard of such battles and bravery. Thank you veterans for all you do and have done.

Excellent listen!

Where does Red Platoon rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

Very compelling book. Ranks up there my favorites. Tough to turn off and wait for next line. No dull moments and over time you felt as if you were there.

If you were to make a film of this book, what would the tag line be?

Testimony of Valor

Great Rendition of a Story Unknown

well told story, formatted for ongoing tension and great use of foreshadowing.

I had not heard of the near destruction of COP Keating previously. This is a classic story of the incompetence of military leadership and the lives it costs, as well as the dependence of the military of heroic NCO's to limit the fallout of its incompetence.

Amazing read!

It was written so well you felt like you were there. Much respect for the guys that suffered that attack.

Our soldiers

Anyone who doesn't know about the military or the sacrifice our troops make this one will open your eyes. Even those like myself that are opposed to war this gives you even more reason to feel that way. At the same time id like to keep out active duty soldiers kept safer and supplied better so we don't loose one more life.

What a story! Well written book and great narrator

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

Yes, I would recommend this book. The book really helps to set the listener in each situation described in the book.

What about Will Damron and Clinton Romesha ’s performance did you like?

This book paints the true picture how these heroes worked so hard to defend their outpost and work together as a team to save their brothers.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

It's so hard to understand how the top military leaders could put our military in what was certainly a situation where the inevitable could occur and once it did, the support was not there as soon as it should have been.

Any additional comments?

This is a must read book for every American. This is another great Audible that will listen to again and again! God bless and watch over our military.

Brave men in a Bad Place!

Makes me question why we put good men in bad positions. At first site the men knew the location was all wrong and eight good men have all to protect their brothers. A very well written book of the events and the heartaches that took place! 🇺🇸

wow! incredible story

this was an amazing story of American courage and valor. a book everyone needs to read.

Absolute amazing!

Very few books, and I've read many, have told so well the true story of such heartbreak and courage. If there's not a time during this reading at which you feel the urge to weep over what these men endured, then something is wrong with you.