Outlaw Platoon: Heroes, Renegades, Infidels, and the Brotherhood of War in Afghanistan

This is a narrative of an amazing Infantry unit and their courage to fight an invisible enemy. A real heroes.

Outlaw Platoon should be required reading for high school American history classes. Not only because it is such a riveting account of one platoon leader's experiences (and his platoon's), but because it is an example of what so many American fighting men have experienced. I have interviewed over 100 veterans of the 10th Mountain Division who served in the first battalion in Kunar Province and when I read Outlaw Platoon I felt like I was reading the interviews again. In one of their critical actions, LT Parnell had to make the decision to call for artillery (instead of helping his wounded friend) in order to save his platoon. That is exactly what happened to soldiers of the 2nd Platoon, A/1/32, when SGT Adam Gordon had to make the (same) decision to not help his friend, SGT Chase Gean (who had been shot and paralyzed) and call for 155 mm artillery. I imagine that has happened to hundreds of American fighting men. And the guilt Parnell spoke of is no different from the guilt Gordon has experienced and still suffers.There was a part when one of Outlaw Platoon's young soldiers was trying to fire a .50 caliber machinegun that had been loaded incorrectly during a firefight. It was basically a huge, .50 caliber bolt-action rifle. The exact same thing happened to Corporal Robert Duncan (2/A/1/32) during a firefight in the Korengal Valley.When I read the part about the dog's, which were such a huge morale boost to the U.S. troops, being euthanized, because higher thought it prudent, it reminded me of what Corporal Shane Wilkinson (2/A/1/32) and SGT Bill Wilkinson (no relation, mortars/A/1/32) and so many other soldiers said when they returned to the KOP and found that all the dogs (on orders from battalion) had been killed. The dogs that hated the Afghans and loved the U.S. troops; the dogs that warned them when there was anyone on a nearby ridgeline, and made them feel like they had a piece of home with them while in Afghanistan.Then there was a part in Outlaw Platoon where the soldier who kept everyone's morale up was killed in a HMMWV going out on mission. That reminded me of Doc Angelo Vaccaro (3/A/1/32) and was just as devastating to the morale of the entire Third Platoon, A/1/32.I read a review that expressed anger that Parnell didn't give enough credit to the rear echelon, or what the front line troops called "fobbit's". As true as that criticism may be, it was still very honest of Parnell. In fact, every combat vet has heard, and probably knows the lyrics to the song "fobbit". If you talk to any line infantry combat veterans, they all have a dislike and a distrust for men behind the line. That is the Afghanistan War, WWII, and probably any Legionnaire during Roman times. If you take offense to that, you must take offense to almost every combat vet, and that is simply not right.Outlaw platoon also talks about how Parnell was on leave and all he could think about was getting back to his men. That reminded me of SGT Dan Haff (3/A/1/32) and SPC Manuel Ferreira (and so many other soldiers) when they were wounded and evacuated to Jalalabad. All they could think about was getting back to their respective platoons--so much so that they hitched a ride back before they were healed. Haff had no use of his arm, which was in bandages from a PKM wound, and Ferreira couldn't sit without pain due to the bullet wound through his lower-back and buttocks.When Parnell gets home, the things that the average American finds important (going out partying, or even vacationing) just seems so trivial. That very thing has been stated by Brandon Camacho (1/B/1/32) and Jeff Levesque (1/B/1/32) and almost every other veteran I have spoken to. In fact, SGT Josh Lomen (2/A/1/32) simply could not understand many of his fellow students at the University of Washington when he got back after his deployment. He felt so much older, even though many were his same age.The book was so real: trouble communicating with the ANA (which every unit has); good Terps and bad Terps; animosity between platoons within a company; good officers and bad officers. There are so many more examples and what happened to Outlaw platoon has happened to a lot of American units. Read this book and be grateful for veterans who give so much. Like Parnell, each of them has suffered mental anguish almost daily after the war. I only hope they can find someone, like Parnell did, to help them put the war behind them, if that is possible.Excellent book!

As a multi-traumatized person needing to repair my own brain, I make this my third essential self-help book and especially for those who see elements of their own lives in these real-life stories. I read Outlaw Platoon by Sean Parnell and John Bruning in succession after Following Atticus by Tom Ryan and In An Instant by Lee & Bob Woodruff. As self help books, they all suffer from the absence of a sequel to demonstrate clearly how each succeeded in their own repair. You can only infer from subsequent actions which is enough.In my opinion, Ryan's Atticus prescribes for a loner to get off your butt, stop crying, accept love from other beings and set a nearly impossible challenge for yourself - and you will get better. In my opinion, from what I have seen, he appears to have succeeded with his recipe in his own cure. His personal courage is without question.In my opinion, the Woodruffs' In An Instant prescribes for those who have it all and nearly lose it all. It prescribes to accept love and help from all family, friends, rivals (who now admire you) and the resources of the Nation. The absence of the latter medecine for most of us rules it out as a resource for our complete cure. There will be some of the medecine for us vets for a little while before political demands elsewhere suck it away.It is already time to suck it up and help yourself with help from your family and buddies as it has been in every war. It is evan more so now with many vet's suffering literally from multiple wars - and I mean more than two in many cases. From what I see on TV, both Lee and Bob Woodruff appear to have succeeded. There influence to seek more affordable cures is needed Their personal courage is without question.In my opinion, Parnell and Bruning's Outlaw Platoon is the answer for many as it was for me. Both Parnell and Bruning are heros. Bruning's traumas are softer than Parnell's physical brain damage but clearly have effected him nearly as much. Many lament the absence of the draft so that we can understand the horror of war. Yet too large a number refuse to read this book necause they say it is so gruesome. We need to toughen up and learn to react to help as so many did in Boston on Patriot's Day. Absorbing Outlaw Platoon can sure help you there!Both Parnell and Bruning experienced and re-experienced Outlaw Platoon in its writing. Parnell is doing the courageous thing now. In my opinion, he is at a physical and mental plateau and struggling to stay there so that he can help his buddies. He is attending Duquesne University for his Phd in Clinical Psychology. As I understand it, that is essentially treating things as they are, not delving into deeper causes.In my opinion, Parnell wants to continue to be a buddy to those who have been through what he has. His potential help for fully PTSD patients (male, female, civilians, first responders, and vets) is awsome. He is a person to supply what you need to help yourself as Wounded Warrior amputees helped Boston's civilian amputees recently. Succinctly but kindly, get medically as squared away as this Nation will help to do. then get off your butt and help yourself. As such, he is truly a national resource. For those who need his help and can use it, take it and leave, unless you are mutually helping each other as did Bruning and Parnell.Many different types of examples of mutual help abound in this book. It is the typical result of the intensity of the 16 month experience rare in ordinary civilian life - now becoming less so.I thank the authors of all three books for their help in my own stormy voyage. I know it can help others. I would welcome any comment.

Amazing first hand account of brave men giving everything for the freedoms we enjoy. Excellent read by an amazing writer, soldier and leader!

An inspiring, honest account of leadership staring death down and inspiring those performing their country’s bidding. The complexities of leadership and responsibility are excellently described from one who lived it. Thank you for your service and leadership to bring the best out of your men. Thank you also for sharing your experience.

Enjoyed reading this book especially in its post war perspective of what the author went thought.

Great book very informative. Well written. Thi gs I did not know

One of the finest and most intimate accounts I've read of the Afghanistan conflict. What these guys, and all men serving outside the wire, had to endure is just incredible. Could not recommend this book enough.

This is just an amazing account of Austalian envolment in the last twenty years.