The Warriors of Anbar

The Marines Who Crushed Al Qaeda--the Greatest Untold Story of the Iraq War

By: Ed Darack, James E. Donnellan - introduction USMC (Ret.) USMC (Ret.)

Narrated by: James Edward Thomas

A riveting, edge-of-your seat account of how a battalion of Marines faced off against the most brutal of Al Qaeda at its most desperate and vicious moment--and how the Marines decisively crushed the terroristsWhen the 2nd Battalion of the 3rd Marine Regiment ("2/3") arrived in the little-known "Haditha Triad" region of western Iraq's Al Anbar Province in September of 2006, the region exploded in a storm of terrorist violence. The most battle-hardened of Al Qaeda had fled to the Triad, and, taking their last, desperate gasps for survival after years of bloody war, lashed out at the battalion with everything they could muster. The Marines sent into this firestorm of violence immediately lunged into a complex, double-edged mission: crush Al Qaeda and help the locals rebuild their terrorist-smashed lives and homes. After months of grueling, fearsome battle--and the loss of twenty-three of their ranks--the warriors of 2/3 stood tall in victory. This is their incredible story.Warriors of Anbar is one of the greatest untold stories of modern war, one of grit, incredible courage, and utmost sacrifice. It is a story that illustrates the U.S. Marine Corps at its very finest.

Critic reviews

"Darack succeeds in putting together a coherent military history of a crucial conflict with al-Qaeda, passing along important lessons learned....Students of military history and military servicemembers looking for lessons in asymmetrical warfare will find this account illuminating and informative."—Publishers Weekly

"The Warriors of Anbar is a classic story of perseverance, deceit, frustration, ambition, loss and the search for meaning. By laying bare the tough truths, Ed Darack details how it really was in Iraq. Every time the battalion was hit, someone found a way to strike back. These thousand Marines refused to quit or to strike out in blind anger. Even when some at the top failed, the battalion improvised, absorbed punishment, adapted from beatings and hammered forward by unexpected means. This is a classic story of grit, loss and redemption."—Bing West, former assistant secretary of defense, and an award-winning, New York Times bestselling author

"Ed Darack earned the right to tell this riveting tale the hard way, by embedding with the Marines. The Warriors of Anbar puts you right in the middle of one of the toughest, bloodiest and most vicious fights of the Iraq war."—Sean Naylor, New York Times bestselling author of Relentless Strike and award-winning reporter for Foreign Policy

"The Warriors of Anbar is one of those intimate stories that is often lost when the sacrifices of the military are overshadowed by bad decisions and politics. Ed Darack skillfully reports the story of everyday Marines trying to complete an impossible mission."—Kevin Maurer, award-winning journalist and the bestselling co-author of No Easy Day

"From his two previous books, Victory Point to The Final Mission of Extortion 17, Ed Darack has emerged as one the best, and most meticulous, reporters about the military in the country. Anything he writes is a must read."—R.M. Schneiderman, former deputy editor of Newsweek

"One of the U.S. Marine Corps' finest-yet largely untold-stories.... A very human story of 'bravery, sacrifice, incredible hardship, horror, and ultimate victory.'"—Kirkus Reviews

Great book

This was a great read. I enjoyed the information in the book. Thanks to all those that pay the ultimate sacrifice!

Great story telling

A tough story told through a point of view lost by most authors. Honest and poignant even when it may not flatter the subject. Well done.

Poor Performance

The narration is terribly annoying with sound effects and tone changes. Better to read the hard copy of this one.

The military experience

I have tried to join the marines for the longest time, but was denied due to medical issues. This book has allowed me to partly experience life as an infantryman. Laughing and crying with the marines in their stressful daily lives.

For Ryan Yurchison

This is an awesome recording of Combat in Iraq. We lost a nephew who was injured twice by suicide bombs. Once with a suicide vest attack. The second attack was a truck bomb which seriously injured Ryan killing three others.
Ryan never recovered from his injuries. This book honors all who served. Thank you…