CANR
WORK TITLE: Man of War
WORK NOTES:
PSEUDONYM(S):
BIRTHDATE:
WEBSITE: https://officialseanparnell.co/
CITY: Pittsburgh
STATE: PA
COUNTRY: United States
NATIONALITY:
LAST VOLUME:
RESEARCHER NOTES:
PERSONAL
Married; children: three.
EDUCATION:Duquesne University, Ph.D. candidate.
ADDRESS
CAREER
Writer, speaker, and nonprofit executive. Cofounder of the American Warrior Initiative (nonprofit organization); ambassador for Boot Campaign.
MIILITARY:U.S. Army, 10th Mountain Division, earned rank of Captain (retired); awarded two Bronze Stars, one Purple Heart.
WRITINGS
SIDELIGHTS
Sean Parnell is a writer, speaker, nonprofit executive, and military veteran based in Pittsburgh, PA. He cofounded a charity organization called the American Warrior Initiative and has served as an ambassador for the Boot Campaign. During his time in the U.S. Army, Parnell served in Afghanistan. He retired from the military with the rank of captain, having been awarded a Purple Heart and two Bronze Stars.
Parnell describes his experience as a soldier abroad in Outlaw Platoon: Heroes, Renegades, Infidels, and the Brotherhood of War in Afghanistan. His coauthor is John Bruning. Parnell recalls taking part in battles against the enemy, and discusses the complex relationships between the American, Pakistani, and Afghan militaries. He also tells of his personal relationships with fellow soldiers and recounts the grief he felt after losing some of those friends.
In a lengthy assessment of the book in Army Lawyer, Mark W. Malcolm suggested: “Sean Parnell, with the assistance of renowned author John R. Bruning, crafts a riveting and remarkably detailed first-hand account of one infantry platoon’s experience during Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF). Notwithstanding its slight imperfections, this tale is must-read material for anyone who seeks to understand the bonds forged by combat and the incalculable human cost of war.” Malcolm concluded: “Outlaw Platoon is equal parts inspiring and tragic. The reader comes away from the book buoyed by the forceful reminder that within America and its Army is a self-selected cadre of disciplined, dedicated, close-knit professionals who stand ready to defend our nation’s interests—often at the expense of these individuals’ own, more immediate personal interests. The reader may also come away from the story struggling to discern whether our country has asked too much of the Outlaws and others like them, and whether their heroism has been properly appropriated by their government. By giving rise to weighty questions such as this, Parnell’s eloquent and engaging book has perhaps achieved more than he ever envisioned.” A writer in the Bookwatch described the book as “a powerful memoir.” “Parnell balances sentimentality with sincerity and crisp prose to produce one of the Afghan war’s most moving … narratives,” asserted a Publishers Weekly critic. Martha Bauder, contributor to Library Journal, remarked: “This book will be of interest to military historians and those looking for a kick-in-the-gut picture of the … war.”
Man of War: An Eric Steele Novel is Parnell’s first work of fiction and the first book in a proposed series starring Steele, a Special Forces operative. In this volume, he is pitted against his former mentor, Nathaniel West. West has stolen a nuclear warhead and is threatening to use it on U.S. soil. Meanwhile, Steele deals with a complicated political situation and a crush on a woman named Meg Harden, who works for the C.I.A. In an interview with Lenny Picker, contributor to the Publishers Weekly website, Parnell discussed the development of the Steele character. He stated: “I wanted to make an action hero who embodies what makes the American warrior so special. Our nation’s warfighters are lethal but also compassionate. … Those two traits make Eric Steele who he is. … To me, the thriller genre desperately needed a hero like that.”
A reviewer on the Real Book Spy website asserted: “Falling somewhere between Brad Thor’s Scot Harvath and Brad Taylor’s Pike Logan, Eric Steel is a formidable new protagonist whom readers will love following around and watching as he leaves a trail of dead bad guys in his wake. Man of War hits fast, hard, and never lets up for a second. … Sean Parnell really knows his stuff, and this thriller is not to be missed.” “The authenticity and intensity of the battles scenes more than compensate for the familiar plot,” commented a Publishers Weekly critic.
BIOCRIT
PERIODICALS
Army Lawyer, April, 2014, Mark W. Malcolm, review of Outlaw Platoon: Heroes, Renegades, Infidels, and the Brotherhood of War in Afghanistan, p. 44.
Bookwatch, June, 2012, “The Military Shelf,” review of Outlaw Platoon.
Library Journal, February 1, 2012, Martha Bauder, review of Outlaw Platoon, p. 79.
Publishers Weekly, January 9, 2012, review of Outlaw Platoon, p. 45; July 2, 2018, review of Man of War: An Eric Steele Novel, p. 49.
Reference & Research Book News, June, 2012, review of Outlaw Platoon.
ONLINE
Hornfischer Literary Management website, http://www.hornfischerlit.com/ (September 18, 2018), author profile.
Publishers Weekly Online, https://www.publishersweekly.com/ (July 20, 2018), Lenny Picker, author interview.
Real Book Spy, https://therealbookspy.com/ (April 23, 2018), review of Man on War.
Sean Parnell website, https://officialseanparnell.co/ (September 18, 2018).
Sean Parnell is the New York Times Bestselling author of the critically acclaimed book, Outlaw Platoon, a U.S. Army combat veteran, Infantry Officer, and co-founder of a charity called The American Warrior Initiative. He retired from service as a highly decorated Captain, receiving 2 Bronze Stars (one for valor), and the Purple Heart.
When he is not traveling with the American Warrior Initiative, he speaks all over the nation on leadership, advises Congress on policy that will better serve our veterans and is a frequent contributor for Fox News. Sean is also the author of the highly anticipated thriller, Man of War, set to publish on Patriot's Day in 2018. He lives in Pittsburgh with his wife and three children.
Sean Parnell is a former U.S. Army airborne ranger who served in the legendary 10th Mountain Division for six years, retiring as a captain. He received two Bronze Stars (one for valor) and the Purple Heart. He is a passionate supporter of America's military and is currently serving as an ambassador for the Boot Campaign, a national veteran's charity. He lives with his wife and three children in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
Sean Parnell
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Sean Parnell
10th Governor of Alaska
In office
July 26, 2009 – December 1, 2014
Lieutenant
Craig Campbell
Mead Treadwell
Preceded by
Sarah Palin
Succeeded by
Bill Walker
9th Lieutenant Governor of Alaska
In office
December 4, 2006 – July 26, 2009
Governor
Sarah Palin
Preceded by
Loren Leman
Succeeded by
Craig Campbell
Member of the Alaska Senate
from the 1st district
In office
January 13, 1997 – January 13, 2001
Preceded by
Steve Rieger
Succeeded by
John Cowdery
Member of the Alaska House of Representatives
from the 17th district
In office
January 11, 1993 – January 12, 1997
Preceded by
Constituency established
Succeeded by
John Cowdery
Personal details
Born
November 19, 1962 (age 55)
Hanford, California, U.S.
Nationality
American
Political party
Republican
Spouse(s)
Sandra Scebold (1987–present)
Children
2
Education
Pacific Lutheran University (BA)
University of Puget Sound (JD)
Signature
Sean R. Parnell (born November 19, 1962) is an American politician of the Republican Party. He succeeded Sarah Palin on 26 July 2009 to become the tenth Governor of Alaska[1][2] and served until 2014. Parnell was elected Governor in his own right in 2010 by 59.06% of the vote, as the largest percentage margin of any Alaska Governor since statehood.[3] In 2014, he narrowly lost his bid for re-election and has since returned to work in the private sector.[4]
Born in Hanford, California, Parnell is a graduate from the University of Puget Sound's School of Law (now known as Seattle University School of Law). He practiced law before being elected to the Alaska House of Representatives in 1992 and he continued to work in private legal practice while he was a member of the Alaska House and later, the Alaska Senate. He served two terms in the Alaska House from 1993 to 1997 before he was elected to one term in the Alaska Senate from 1997 to 2001. Parnell continued his legal career in the private sector, working as an attorney and as the state government relations director for Phillips Petroleum (Alaska), now known as ConocoPhillips Alaska, and an attorney at the law firm Patton Boggs.
Returning to public service, Parnell won the Republican primary race for Lieutenant Governor in 2006 and became Palin's running mate in her 2006 gubernatorial campaign, where the Palin and Parnell ticket defeated former Democratic Governor Tony Knowles. Parnell was sworn in as Lieutenant Governor of Alaska in December 2006 and later assumed the governorship after Palin resigned in July 2009. Parnell was elected to a full term as Governor in 2010, defeating former State Representative Ethan Berkowitz in the general election. Parnell is the first unelected Alaska Governor to be elected in his own right.[5] He was narrowly defeated for a second term in 2014 by the "unity ticket" of Republican-turned-Independent Bill Walker and Democrat Byron Mallott.
Contents
1
Early life
2
Education
3
Family life
4
Legal career
5
Public service
5.1
Alaska Legislature
5.2
Lieutenant Governor
5.3
2008 congressional campaign
5.4
Governor of Alaska
5.4.1
Ascent to office
5.4.2
2010 campaign
5.4.3
2014 campaign
6
References
7
External links
Early life[edit]
Sean Parnell was born in Hanford, California, the elder of two sons of Thelma Carol (née Liebherr) and Kevin Patrick "Pat" Parnell.[6] As children, Parnell and his younger brother, Schoen (pronounced "Shane"), were raised in a close-knit family. Two of his paternal great-grandparents were Norwegian.[7]
Sean's father, Pat, was stationed at Fort Richardson, near Anchorage, Alaska, while he served in the U.S. Army during statehood years (1957 – 1959),[8] and returned to Alaska with his family in 1973, establishing residence in Anchorage. Sean Parnell was 10 years old at the time.
Parnell's mother worked as a high school teacher for more than twenty-five years. She taught at Bartlett High School and East Anchorage High School, the latter a short distance from their home. Both of Parnell's parents were entrepreneurs, owning a retail photocopy and office supply business together in Anchorage for more than twenty-five years. Parnell worked in the family business as a teenager and during his college years.
In 1980, Pat Parnell, a Democrat, ran against incumbent Don Young for Alaska's sole seat in the United States House of Representatives, taking 25.82% of the vote.[9]
Education[edit]
Parnell graduated from East Anchorage High School in 1980, earned a bachelor's degree in business administration, B.B.A., in 1984 from Pacific Lutheran University, and a juris doctorate (law degree) in 1987 from the University of Puget Sound School of Law (now known as Seattle University School of Law). He is admitted to the bar in both Alaska and Washington D.C.[10]
Family life[edit]
Parnell married his college sweetheart Sandy in 1987 and the couple returned to Anchorage, where Parnell began practicing law. The Parnells’ daughters, Grace and Rachel, were born and raised in Anchorage, Alaska.[11]
Former First Lady Sandy Parnell became known for her active involvement with the governor in his Choose Respect initiative — a campaign to raise awareness and educate communities around Alaska about domestic violence and sexual assault. As the First Lady, Mrs. Parnell, along with the governor, regularly visited domestic violence shelters and spoke with survivors of abuse and trafficking.[12]
The Parnells' oldest daughter, Grace Adams, is a professional photographer,[13] and Rachel is a university student, pursuing a history degree. The Parnells also have a yellow Labrador dog named Annie, who was known around Juneau as a part of the Parnell family and a frequent greeter of visiting children at the Governor’s House.[14] In November 2014, just after the election, the Parnells became grandparents for the first time when their daughter Grace and son-in-law Austin had their first child, Rowan.[15]
Legal career[edit]
Sean Parnell worked as an attorney in the private sector from 1987 through 2003, between 2005-2006, and again following his tenure as governor, beginning in 2015. For nine years of that time, he owned his own law practice. In the 1990s, he continued in private practice while he served in the Alaska House and the Alaska Senate. When Parnell left the Alaska Senate, he became director of government relations in Alaska for Phillips Petroleum Alaska, which later became ConocoPhillips Alaska.[16] In 2005, he joined the law firm Patton Boggs, where he exclusively practiced law.[17] Patton Boggs represented ExxonMobil in the Exxon Valdez oil spill litigation, though Parnell had no role in that representation or litigation.[18] Parnell left Patton Boggs less than two years later on December 3, 2006.
In October 2015, Parnell and his wife Sandy, moved their residence to Palmer, Alaska, where he returned to working as an attorney in private practice and opened a law firm, specializing in business law, contracts and real estate.[19]
Public service[edit]
Alaska Legislature[edit]
Parnell was first elected to the Alaska House of Representatives, in 1992 at the age of twenty-nine. He represented a district in Anchorage that included at that time, Independence Park, Dimond Blvd., and the Southport/Bayshore areas of Anchorage. After his first year in the State House, Parnell was named the "Most Effective Freshman Legislator" by his colleagues and those who worked in the State Capitol.[20] This recognition arose because Parnell was known for taking the time to help other legislators hone and pass their legislation and in doing so, learned the legislative process and developed relationships with his colleagues. In 1994, Parnell was re-elected to represent South Anchorage in the Alaska House. Throughout his four years in the Alaska House of Representatives, Parnell was known for his work on the House Finance Committee and in the fight against domestic violence and sexual assault in Alaska. During those years he sponsored and passed seminal legislation known as the Domestic Violence Prevention Act of 1996 that was Alaska’s first consistent, comprehensive statewide policy on this issue.
In 1996, Parnell ran for and was elected to a seat in the Alaska Senate and became a member of the Energy Council and served on the powerful Senate Finance Committee.[21] In 1999 and 2000, he became a member of the Senate Republican Majority's Leadership when his Senate colleagues chose him to serve as the co-chair of the Senate Finance Committee.
In 2000, Parnell finished his first and only term in the State Senate, choosing not to seek re-election. He cited his commitment to his family as his reason and returned to work in the private sector.[22]
Six years later, in 2006, Parnell was elected Lieutenant Governor of Alaska, along with Alaska Governor Sarah Palin.[23] In July 2009, when Governor Palin resigned her position, Parnell became Governor and finished the term of office.[24] In 2010, Parnell won a four-year term as governor in his own right.[25]
Lieutenant Governor[edit]
Governor Sarah Palin with Lt. Governor Sean Parnell in 2006
In 2005, Parnell ran and won in the Republican primary to become lieutenant governor. Afterward, in the general election, he was paired with Sarah Palin as her running mate. In Alaska, the lieutenant governor candidates run separately from the governor candidates in the primary election race, but after the primaries, the nominees for governor and lieutenant governor run together as a slate. Palin and Parnell were elected with 48.33% of the vote over former Governor Tony Knowles and State Representative Ethan Berkowitz's 40.97% share of the vote.[26]
2008 congressional campaign[edit]
Main article: United States House of Representatives election in Alaska, 2008
On March 14, 2008, Parnell began his campaign to take on embattled 18-term member of Congress Don Young in the August 26 Republican primary.[27]
Parnell was endorsed by Sarah Palin,[28] National Review magazine,[29] and the fiscally conservative 501(c)4 organization Club for Growth.[30]
On July 31, 2008, Parnell told Roll Call he would not drop out of his race against Young to run against Senator Ted Stevens, who had been indicted.[31]
Parnell lost the primary for the U.S. House seat. The margin between incumbent Young and Parnell was narrow, and the winner was not immediately clear. The result released on September 18 showed Young winning by 304 votes. Parnell said he trusted the integrity of the work of the Division of Elections, an agency he oversaw as Alaska's lieutenant governor. He said in a statement, "While a recount could change the outcome of this exceedingly close election -- normal human error being what it is -- such a result is unlikely. As such, I do not believe it justifies an expenditure of taxpayer funds."[32]
Governor of Alaska[edit]
Ascent to office[edit]
Further information: Resignation of Sarah Palin
On July 26, 2009, halfway through her term as governor, Palin resigned. Parnell replaced her becoming Alaska's tenth governor in accordance with the Alaska Constitution.[1] Craig Campbell, commissioner of Alaska's Department of Military and Veterans Affairs, succeeded Parnell as lieutenant governor after Palin first named Joe Schmidt, commissioner of corrections as a replacement for Parnell and Schmidt resigned from the second-in-line position on July 6, 2009.[33][34]
2010 campaign[edit]
Main article: Alaska gubernatorial election, 2010
Parnell ran for a full term as governor in 2010. In the primary, he faced off against Bill Walker, a former mayor of Valdez, Alaska and aide to former governor Walter J. Hickel, and Ralph Samuels, a retiring member of the Alaska House of Representatives. Although Walker seemed to gain traction towards the end based on the issue of building a natural gas pipeline, Samuels and Walker split the anti-Parnell vote[citation needed] and Parnell won the nomination. He and Mead Treadwell, who had won the August primary for lieutenant governor, faced off against the Democratic ticket of former House majority leader and 2008 congressional nominee Ethan Berkowitz and Diane Benson.[35] Parnell-Treadwell eventually defeated Berkowitz-Benson by over ten points.[36]
2014 campaign[edit]
Main article: Alaska gubernatorial election, 2014
Parnell ran for reelection in 2014.[37] Former Republican Bill Walker challenged Parnell as an independent politician, and merged his campaign with Democratic Party gubernatorial nominee Byron Mallott, who became Walker's running mate as an independent.[38] He conceded the election to Bill Walker on November 15, 2014.
Parnell drew criticism during his reelection campaign over his support of billions in tax reductions for the petrochemical industry as well scandals regarding accusations of coverups of sexual abuse scandals, cronyism, corruption and whistleblower suppression, within the Alaska National Guard.[39][40][41]
Out of 19 incumbent Republican governors running for re-election, Parnell and Pennsylvania's Tom Corbett were the only ones who lost the 2014 elections.
Sean Parnell is a former U.S. Army Airborne Ranger who served in the legendary 10th Mountain Division for six years, retiring as a captain. He received two Bronze Stars (one for valor) and the Purple Heart. He is currently working on his Ph.D. in clinical psychology at Duquesne University. He lives with his wife and two children in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
QUOTED: "I wanted to make an action hero who embodies what makes the American warrior so special. Our nation’s warfighters are lethal but also compassionate. ... Those two traits make Eric Steele who he is. ... To me, the thriller genre desperately needed a hero like that."
Lethal and Compassionate: PW Talks with Sean Parnell
By Lenny Picker | Jul 20, 2018
Comments
Former Army Ranger Parnell, an Afghanistan War veteran, makes his fiction debut with a military thriller, Man of War (Morrow, Sept.).
Photo by Chandler Crowell
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Why did you create Eric Steele?
I wanted to make an action hero who embodies what makes the American warrior so special. Our nation’s warfighters are lethal but also compassionate. And even though those two things seem diametrically opposed to one another, they make up the core of why the U.S. military is the greatest the world has ever known. Those two traits make Eric Steele who he is. Yes, he destroys America’s enemies with extreme prejudice, but he will deviate from the mission if he thinks he can save even one innocent life, and to me the thriller genre desperately needed a hero like that.
What do you feel you can best convey through fiction?
Every battle can be a little bigger, every operation larger than life. On the surface, stories are about entertainment. But what I enjoy the most is creating something that speaks to the world we live in today. When this is done effectively, it can make a story more meaningful and emotionally resonant. There’s a moral argument in Man of War, and you’ll see hints of it in every choice Steele makes, but I’ll leave it up to readers to decide what it means to them.
Was writing Man of War easier or harder than writing your nonfiction account of your experiences in Afghanistan, Outlaw Platoon?
Writing Man of War was so much harder. Looking back, writing Outlaw Platoon was cathartic for me. It was as if I was taking the war out of my mind and putting it somewhere else outside of me. It seemed to flow easily for me. Fiction, on the other hand, is a whole new ballgame and style. It’s not just about strength of writing. It’s about learning how to tell a great story. And the learning curve on my first novel was steep.
What do you believe America’s Afghanistan policy should be?
There needs to be a drastic shift in strategy from counterinsurgency to counterterror. This would mean fewer troops, less nation-building, lower cost, and most importantly more surgical direct action strikes against High Value Targets. When I was in Afghanistan, this was the policy, and we implemented it to great effect. We built schools, district centers, government buildings. In essence, we were winning. And that’s what the mission needs to be focused on today—killing the enemy so their government can function properly.
A version of this article appeared in the 07/23/2018 issue of Publishers Weekly under the headline: Lethal and Compassionate
Sean Parnell
Combat Veteran
NYT Best-selling Author, OUTLAW PLATOON & MAN OF WAR.
Military Service
Army Ranger, combat infantryman with the elite 10th Mountain Division, and veteran of 485 days of fierce fighting along the Afghan-Pakistan border, Captain Sean Parnell’s unique leadership skills welded his platoon into one of the most fierce and effective American fighting units in modern military history. Repeatedly outnumbered and outgunned by a foe whose avowed purpose was to overrun his platoon and behead his Soldiers so that their torturous deaths could be filmed and posted on Al Qaida propaganda websites, Sean’s “Outlaws” battled furiously in the most rugged terrain on the planet—the towering Hindu Kush Mountains. Eighty-five percent of his platoon received Purple Hearts for wounds incurred in battle, but his men gave far more than they received. Outlaw Platoon killed over 350 enemy fighters in some of the biggest firefights of the Afghan War.
Not only did he lead his men against Taliban, Haqqanni and Al Qaida fighters, but his platoon was repeatedly attacked by uniformed members of the Pakistani military on the Afghanistan side of the border. In January, 2007, a Pakistani frontier corps force joined an Al Qaida-led mass assault on Sean’s platoon, then stationed in a remote and half-completed combat outpost scores of miles from the nearest friendly base. The ensuing battle created an international incident and led directly to a confrontation between U.S. State Department officials and the Pakistan government. Sean was wounded in action on June 10, 2006 when his platoon was nearly overrun for the first time by a force that outnumbered them almost ten to one. Refusing to leave his men as they battled the enemy at point-blank range, Sean was knocked unconscious and wounded two more times during the firefight. Each time, he returned to his feet to lead his men again. His selfless example prompted one of his Soldiers to remark later, “Sean Parnell saved us all.”
After the June 10, 2006 battle, Sean continued to suffer from untreated head and neurological wounds. For weeks after, cerebral-spinal fluid leaked from his ears and nose while he continued to patrol with his men. His dedication to his men came at great personal cost: when he returned home following the 06 deployment, his wounds forced him from the Army and he was medically discharged. His platoon remains one of the most decorated Army units since 9-11.
QUOTED: "The authenticity and intensity of the battles scenes more than compensate for the familiar plot."
Man of War: An Eric Steele Novel
Publishers Weekly. 265.27 (July 2, 2018): p49.
Copyright: COPYRIGHT 2018 PWxyz, LLC
http://www.publishersweekly.com/
Full Text:
Man of War: An Eric Steele Novel
Sean Parnell. Morrow, $27.99 (368p) ISBN 978-0-06-266878-3
Parnell brings his combat experience as a U.S. Army infantry officer in Afghanistan to his impressive first novel and series launch (after memoir Outlaw Platoon). Special Forces operative Eric Steele, who's as tough as his name, serves in a secret unit known as the Program that answers only to the president of the United States. Steele has succeeded in saving America on a number of occasions, but now he's facing a deadly adversary: Nathaniel West, his one-time mentor who has now gone rogue and stolen a suitcase nuke to exact revenge on the United States. The cast includes a traitor in the highest levels of the American government, a president dying of cancer, and a beautiful CIA agent, Meg Harden, to supply the sex and romance that Steele needs in his rare down time. The authenticity and intensity of the battles scenes more than compensate for the familiar plot and sometimes jingoistic prose. Thriller fans will be eager to see more of Steele. Agent: Scott Miller, Trident Media Group. (Sept.)
Source Citation (MLA 8th Edition)
"Man of War: An Eric Steele Novel." Publishers Weekly, 2 July 2018, p. 49. General OneFile, http://link.galegroup.com/apps/doc/A546187844/ITOF?u=schlager&sid=ITOF&xid=6c7f5736. Accessed 3 Sept. 2018.
Gale Document Number: GALE|A546187844
QUOTED: "This book will be of interest to military historians and those looking for a kick-in-the-gut picture of the ... war."
Parnell, Sean with John Bruning. Outlaw Platoon: Heroes, Renegades, Infidels, and the Brotherhood of War in Afghanistan
Martha Bauder
Library Journal. 137.2 (Feb. 1, 2012): p79.
Copyright: COPYRIGHT 2012 Library Journals, LLC. A wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
http://www.libraryjournal.com/
Full Text:
Parnell, Sean with John Bruning. Outlaw Platoon: Heroes, Renegades, Infidels, and the Brotherhood of War in Afghanistan. Morrow. Mar. 2012. c.384p. ISBN 9780062066398. $26.99. POL SCI/MEMOIR
This is the story of a brotherhood of soldiers whose bond was forged in the fire of battle during an intense year of fighting against insurgents in Afghanistan. Parnell, a highly decorated former U.S. Army Airborne ranger now working on his Ph.D. in clinical psychology, writes candidly about the struggles of leadership, the emotional toll of losing friends to war, and the fight against enemies known and unknown. He relives specific battles, and his retelling of the stories reads at times like an adventure novel, full of adrenaline. Parnell witnesses firsthand betrayals by so-called American allies--Afghan military leaders, interpreters, and Pakistani military and government representatives who share information and lend support to the Taliban--while also developing a deep trust in his own platoon. His description of the torture and mutilation of civilians, particularly children, by the enemy is brutal and not for the faint of heart. VERDICT A stark reminder of war's toll on honorable women and men, this book will be of interest to military historians and those looking for a kick-in-the-gut picture of the U.S. war in Afghanistan.--Lt. Col. Martha Bauder, U.S. Army Reserve, Mesa, AZ
Bauder, Martha
Source Citation (MLA 8th Edition)
Bauder, Martha. "Parnell, Sean with John Bruning. Outlaw Platoon: Heroes, Renegades, Infidels, and the Brotherhood of War in Afghanistan." Library Journal, 1 Feb. 2012, p. 79. General OneFile, http://link.galegroup.com/apps/doc/A331003470/ITOF?u=schlager&sid=ITOF&xid=04cd3f81. Accessed 3 Sept. 2018.
Gale Document Number: GALE|A331003470
QUOTED: "Parnell balances sentimentality with sincerity and crisp prose to produce one of the Afghan war's most moving ... narratives."
Outlaw Platoon: Heroes, Renegades, Infidels, and the Brotherhood of War in Afghanistan
Publishers Weekly. 259.2 (Jan. 9, 2012): p45+.
Copyright: COPYRIGHT 2012 PWxyz, LLC
http://www.publishersweekly.com/
Full Text:
Outlaw Platoon: Heroes, Renegades, Infidels, and the Brotherhood of War in Afghanistan
Sean Parnell, with John Bruning. Morrow, $26.99 (384p) ISBN 978-0-06-206639-8
Former Army officer Parnell and collaborator Bruning (Shadow of the Sword) reprise Parnell's 16 months as an infantry platoon leader in Afghanistan in this heartfelt memoir. In 2006, Parnell and his 10th Mountain Division platoon, the self-styled Outlaws, arrived in Afghanistan's Bermel Valley, which borders Pakistan. Their mission was "to stanch the flow of enemy troops and supplies into Afghanistan." Besides their 32 Purple Hearts, the platoon--which "usually patrolled with about 30 men ... loaded into six Humvees"--earned seven Bronze Stars and 12 Army Commendations for Valor, making it one of the most decorated units in the Afghan war. Parnell vividly captures the sounds, sights, and smells of combat, and proves most eloquent when describing the bond--"selflessness was our secret weapon"--that developed among his men. Studiously nonpartisan, Parnell still raises important questions about Afghan president Harold Karzai's integrity, the competence of the Afghan police, and the sincerity of our Pakistani "allies." Parnell balances sentimentality with sincerity and crisp prose to produce one of the Afghan war's most moving combat narratives. Agent: Jim Hornfischer, Hornfischer Literary Management. (Mar.)
Source Citation (MLA 8th Edition)
"Outlaw Platoon: Heroes, Renegades, Infidels, and the Brotherhood of War in Afghanistan." Publishers Weekly, 9 Jan. 2012, p. 45+. General OneFile, http://link.galegroup.com/apps/doc/A277520638/ITOF?u=schlager&sid=ITOF&xid=30d2df7b. Accessed 3 Sept. 2018.
Gale Document Number: GALE|A277520638
QUOTED: "a powerful memoir."
The Military Shelf
The Bookwatch. (June 2012):
Copyright: COPYRIGHT 2012 Midwest Book Review
http://www.midwestbookreview.com/bw/index.htm
Full Text:
Outlaw Platoon
Sean Parnell with John R. Bruning
William Morrow & Company
c/o HarperCollins Publishers
10 East 53rd Street
New York, NY 10022-5299
www.williammorrow.com
9780062066398, $26.99, www.harpercollins.com
OUTLAW PLATOON: HEROES, RENEGADES, INFIDELS, AND THE BROTHERHOOD OF AR IN AFGHANISTAN offers a powerful portrait of conflict in the mountains of Afghanistan and provides Captain Parnell's gripping personal saga of the legendary U.S. Army's 10th Mountain Division's heroism. At the age of 24 Army Ranger Sean Parnell was named commander of a forty-man elite infantry platoon which was known as the Outlaws, confronting Pakistan-based insurgents in Afghanistan. They became one of the most feared American units in the war and the account of their battles over a sixteen month period is related here in a fine survey of military and political conflicts. Any collection strong in Afghanistan history and military confrontation will find this a powerful memoir.
At War With PTSD
Robert N. McLay, MD., PhD
Johns Hopkins University Press
2715 North Charles Street
Baltimore, MD 21218-4363
9781421405575, $24.95, www.press.jhu.edu
AT WAR WITH PTSD: BATTLING POST TRAUMATIC STRESS DISORDER WITH VIRTUAL REALITY comes from a practicing psychiatrist who worked with Veterans and civilians coping with PTSD, who became the primary investigator on treatment projects that used computer simulation to help veterans. The author and his team believed they had found a breakthrough treatment so in 2008 they took it to Iraq and worked with the First Marine Expeditionary Force. Their successes and failures are documented in a fine memoir of the psychological impact of war and its treatment, highly recommended for military and psychology holdings alike.
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Steven Zaloga's METZ 1944: PATTON'S FORTIFIED NEMESIS (9781849085915, $19.95) is illustrated by Steve Noon and documents General Patton's most controversial campaign: a series of battles in 1944 along the German frontier at the city of Metz. This title offers an in-depth view of these battles, considering the conflicts, German and Allied plans, air strikes and events that led to bloody confrontations for all sides. Color drawings and vintage black and white photos accompany maps and charts for an in-depth presentation perfect for any World War II collection. John Weal's HE 111 KAMPFGESCHWADER IN THE WEST (9781849086707, $22.95) joins others in Osprey's 'Combat Aircraft' series and discusses a plane originally designed in the mid-1930s as a fast airliner that could become a bomber. It saw action in Spain during the civil war and more than 700 were in service by the time Germany invaded Poland. By the fall of 1944, it had ceased production with over 7,000 planes in production. Chapters offer a fine history of the key German aircraft, offering a full story of its action during the war. The result is a fine addition to any serious military or aviation library. Dmitriy Khazanov and Aleksander Medved's MIG-3 ACES OF WORLD WAR 2 (9781849084420, $22.95) provides a fine survey of an aircraft created by Russian designers, built to satisfy a Soviet Air Force requirement for an advanced high-altitude flyer. Many of the new MIG-3 machines were destroyed at the opening of the Operation Barbarossa invasion in 1941 - but enough survived to produce many victories, and this account charts these achievements and the pilots who flew the planes to victory. Clyde W. Cocke's PASS IN REVIEW: AN ILLUSTRATED HISTORY OF WEST POINT CADETS 1794-PRESENT (9781849085588, $29.95) pairs lovely color photos by Eilene Harkless Moore with a fine specific history of the West Point military Academy's cadet parade. Most might think the parade a quick event, but every movement holds historical meaning, and this history moves from parade grounds to salutes, uniforms, hazing practices, the different soldiers who have passed through West Point, and much more. It's a powerful survey highly recommended for any military library. THE CIVIL WAR QUIZ BOOK (9781849086189, $9.95) is light and fun trivia reading for any Civil War buff who wants to test a knowledge of the who, where, what, when and how of the Civil War. Over 1,000 questions range from easy to challenging and include true or false, multiple choice and match-ups in a recommendation for any avid Civil War history buff. Rene Chartrand's TOMAHAWK AND MUSKET: FRENCH AND INDIAN RAIDS IN THE OHIO VALLEY 1758 (9781849085649, $18.95) provides a fine history of General John Forbes, who lead his army against French headquarters in the Ohio Valley. The French then launched their own counter-raid, leading to 500 French and Canadians, backed by 500 Indian allies, ambushing the highlanders. The back-and-forth French and Indian raids changed the history and politics of the Ohio Valley - and this documents all attacks, counter-raids, and political tactics and alliances in a pick recommended for any Ohio or military history holding!
Source Citation (MLA 8th Edition)
"The Military Shelf." The Bookwatch, June 2012. General OneFile, http://link.galegroup.com/apps/doc/A294299734/ITOF?u=schlager&sid=ITOF&xid=aa08e7b5. Accessed 3 Sept. 2018.
Gale Document Number: GALE|A294299734
QUOTED: "Sean Parnell, with the assistance of renowned author John R. Bruning, (3) crafts a riveting and remarkably detailed first-hand account of one infantry platoon's experience during Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF). Notwithstanding its slight imperfections, this tale is must-read material for anyone who seeks to understand the bonds forged by combat and the incalculable human cost of war."
"Outlaw Platoon is equal parts inspiring and tragic. The reader comes away from the book buoyed by the forceful reminder that within America and its Army is a self-selected cadre of disciplined, dedicated, close-knit professionals who stand ready to defend our nation's interests--often at the expense of these individuals' own, more immediate personal interests. The reader may also come away from the story struggling to discern whether our country has asked too much of the Outlaws and others like them, and whether their heroism has been properly appropriated by their government. By giving rise to weighty questions such as this, Parnell's eloquent and engaging book has perhaps achieved more than he ever envisioned."
Outlaw Platoon
Mark W. Malcolm
Army Lawyer. (Apr. 2014): p44+.
Copyright: COPYRIGHT 2014 Judge Advocate General's School
http://www.loc.gov/rr/frd/Military_Law/Army_Lawyer.html
Full Text:
Here are your sons, America. These are the men you've thrown into the fire. This is their story, and it is one of achievement and love, triumph and victory
I. Introduction
I start with a confession: I am not a voracious reader. And although I enjoy learning about military history, rarely do I go out of my way to read books on the subject. However, in Outlaw Platoon: Heroes, Renegades, Infidels, and the Brotherhood of War in Afghanistan, I discovered a story that I struggled to put down and was sad to see end. Sean Parnell, with the assistance of renowned author John R. Bruning, (3) crafts a riveting and remarkably detailed first-hand account of one infantry platoon's experience during Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF). Notwithstanding its slight imperfections, this tale is must-read material for anyone who seeks to understand the bonds forged by combat and the incalculable human cost of war.
II. A Brief Summary
Lieutenant Sean Parnell was a fresh-faced Army Ranger in 2006 (4) when he deployed from Fort Drum, New York, to the Bermel District of Afghanistan (5) as the leader of Third Platoon, Bravo Company, Second Battalion, 87th Infantry Regiment. (6) "Outlaw Platoon," as the unit nicknamed itself, (7) spent sixteen months downrange. (8) The unit patrolled and fought in often mountainous terrain along the Pakistani border, a spot that Parnell calls "one of the most dangerous places on the face of the planet." (9) During this time, the platoon endured repeated hostile engagements with a smart and rugged enemy force. A partial list of awards earned by Outlaw Platoon members during their OEF tour demonstrates the astonishing hardships they faced: seven Bronze Stars (including five for valor), twelve Army Commendation Medals for valor, and thirty-two Purple Hearts. (10)
The author's stated purpose in writing the book was to "chronicle [his] soldiers' incredible journey" (11) in Afghanistan, "to tell the world of their amazing accomplishments[] and to secure their place in American military history." (12) "My goal," Parnell says, "was to show the world their sacrifices and, in doing so, provide readers with a much-needed window into the heart of American infantry soldiers everywhere." (13)
Parnell's account is based on his memory and interviews with his Soldiers. (14) He arranges the story in generally chronological fashion, doubling (or flashing) back from time to time to offer context. (15) Parnell successfully utilizes two main visual aids: a straightforward map to orient the reader to the locations that he references, (16) and a set of photographs that give the reader a chance to match faces to character names. (17)
III. The Book's Many Strengths
The book has a myriad of strengths. A few positive points were identified above, but others merit special mention. The story is largely written in accessible prose. Parnell sweeps the reader in with vivid details about the people, places, and things he encounters. (18) Naturally, because the book is about the Army, it contains a high volume of acronyms and terms of art. Parnell is wise to include a thorough glossary, (19) which enables the layperson--including the judge advocate who lacks infantry experience--to follow along with relative ease.
The story has a you-are-there quality that envelops the reader and lends power to Parnell's message. (20) In particular, the biographical profiles of his platoon members are extraordinarily effective in emotionally connecting the reader to the book's colorful characters. (21) Throughout the text, one cannot help but alternate between empathy and sympathy for the Soldiers of Outlaw Platoon, and that is a credit to Parnell's writing.
For all of the gory, frightening, and heart-rending sequences in the book, the one time that I was compelled to exclaim aloud was when Parnell learned of his unit's unexpected 120-day extension in theater. (22) Parnell had so skillfully described the sense of relief, triumph, and wistfulness he felt when the helicopter arrived to start his subordinates on their journey home (23) that when he thereafter broke the news to the reader about the extension, it took the form of a literary punch to the gut. In that moment, the shock and despair that Parnell experienced was palpable. (24) This is a testament to Parnell's success in cultivating empathy and realism in his narrative.
Finally, through his gripping recitation of events, Parnell accomplishes three feats that should be considered acts of public service. First, he drives home the fact that the members of Outlaw Platoon have been asked to bear an immense burden for their country. (25) As Parnell describes, this burden revealed heroes; (26) spotlighted weak links; (27) stole youth, innocence, (28) and good health; (29) and created an eternal connection between a group of individuals who were prepared to die for each other. (30) As the United States enters its thirteenth year of armed conflict in Afghanistan, Parnell unintentionally (31) puts to the reader the hard question of whether whatever strides we have made in Afghanistan are worth the extraordinary price that he and his troops have paid.
Second, in a highly credible and articulate way, he communicates the lost understanding and lack of common ground between himself and most of those to whom he considered himself close prior to his combat experiences. (32) Parnell speaks for legions of warriors who have difficulty reintegrating at home after living through the unmatched intensity, exhilaration, and horror of war. (33) Our nation will be struggling with the issue of how best to embrace and care for these veterans for years to come.
Third, Parnell forces the reader to confront the unhappy truth that so many of our alleged partners and allies in and around Afghanistan are unreliable at best, and nefarious at worst. From an apparently corrupt Afghan Border Police commander, (34) to an enemy spy acting as Outlaw Platoon's interpreter, (35) to Pakistani military forces who willingly act as human shields for the bad guys, (36) to Afghan villagers who fail to warn our troops of an imminent threat even after receiving American help, (37) the picture is grim. In some ways, it makes the reader admire and revere the sacrifices of the Outlaws all the more, but it also makes one re-evaluate the wisdom of the United States' strategic-level mission in Afghanistan as it has evolved since our initial invasion. It prompts the reader to wonder what victory in OEF looks like, and whether the efforts of Parnell and his Soldiers--however noble and super-human--get us closer to securing that victory.
IV. The Book's Few Shortcomings
Portions of the dialogue--particularly during firefights--were implausible. One stark example occurs during close combat east of Forward Operating Base (FOB) Bermel on 10 June 2006. (38) Parnell's company commander had just entered the scene, and the author proceeds to brief his boss on the current situation: "Half my men are down, sir. They're attacking in two elements. Two platoons plus. We're out of ammo and need to get our seriously wounded out of here." (39) This dire report is immediately followed by one of the nearby Outlaws laughingly telling a sergeant about how he had sustained his head wound. (40) As the latter conversation happens, the group is dodging enemy fire, and the enemy is advancing to positions "mere meters" away from the chatting Soldiers. (41) Given the circumstances, it is simply inconceivable that the second exchange would have occurred in the manner in which Parnell documented it. This type of flaw in the storytelling was sometimes distracting.
Although only so much can be accomplished in less than 400 pages, (42) glaring unresolved issues remained at the book's end. Early in the deployment, Parnell described Lieutenant Dave Taylor as a close friend and colleague. (43) Understandably, the relationship soured mid-tour after Taylor accused Parnell of poor leadership. (44) Parnell suspected that Taylor's accusations arose from Taylor being fed inaccurate information, (45) but there was no mention throughout the rest of the book about even an attempted reconciliation. Perhaps the resolution of this part of the story did not survive the final editorial cut. Regardless, it was an odd omission.
Also excluded was any extensive discussion of the platoon's last 120 days downrange--i.e., the period of their extension. (46) Some unit members had already returned home to their families when they learned that they were being ordered back to the fight for another four months. (47) Parnell talks about hearing this news from his battalion commander and about the severe blow that the news dealt to unit morale, (48) but notably absent is a substantial discussion of the events that transpired on the ground during those last several weeks "in country."
Parnell's flashbacks to childhood indignities and scenes of loved ones occasionally seemed melodramatic and gratuitous. (49) Although Parnell effectively employed the device at certain times, (50) in other instances it felt contrived. (51)
Anyone who has spent an appreciable amount of time with combat arms leaders knows that they traditionally refer to the Soldiers of their unit as "the men" or "my men." (52) Nevertheless, Parnell's constant use of this phrase is anachronistic and arresting. A gender-neutral term such as "Soldiers" or "troops" would do just as well, and would be more in step with a 21st-century Army. (53)
Even more disconcerting was the pejorative--albeit fleeting--use of the word "gay." (54) At one point, Parnell says that "[j]ust hearing [a reference to love among platoon members] in my head sounded gay enough." (55) Parnell is neither the first, nor will he be the last, Soldier to reflexively use this sort of language, but to do so is flatly unacceptable. (56)
V. A Weakness Turned Strong
Thankfully, Parnell acknowledges in his postscript that he had painted "fobbits" (57) with too broad a brush in the main body of the text. (58) He received a letter from a unit supply specialist named Corey Brass with whom Parnell had served at FOB Bermel--a letter that Parnell describes as a "wakeup call." (59) Brass was dismayed by Parnell's almost uniformly unkind characterizations of the "fobbits" whom he encountered in Afghanistan. (60) Brass informed Parnell that Brass's fiancee had left him after he told her that the unit's deployment was being extended. (61) "The 'fobbits' gave up something too," (62) Brass wrote. "For some it cost them their marriage and for some it cost them their life." (63) Parnell was moved to include an excerpt of Brass's letter in the book, and to state that "all of us sacrificed to be out there on the edge of the Hindu Kush." (64) In so doing, Parnell "set right a wrong." (65)
VI. Conclusion
Outlaw Platoon is equal parts inspiring and tragic. The reader comes away from the book buoyed by the forceful reminder that within America and its Army is a self-selected cadre of disciplined, dedicated, close-knit professionals who stand ready to defend our nation's interests--often at the expense of these individuals' own, more immediate personal interests. The reader may also come away from the story struggling to discern whether our country has asked too much of the Outlaws and others like them, and whether their heroism has been properly appropriated by their government. By giving rise to weighty questions such as this, Parnell's eloquent and engaging book has perhaps achieved more than he ever envisioned.
(1) Sean Parnell with John R. Bruning, Outlaw Platoon: Heroes, Renegades, Infidels, and the Brotherhood of War in Afghanistan (2012).
(2) Id. at 368.
(3) Id. at back jacket notes (indicating that Bruning has authored or coauthored fifteen non-fiction books and that Bruning "embedded with coalition forces in Afghanistan in 2010" as part of his preparation for this book). Id.
(4) Id. at 1, 55.
(5) Id. at xi.
(6) Id. at vii.
(7) Id. at 83. The "Outlaw Platoon" moniker appears to have emerged from a pre-deployment bar brawl in which the unit's members prevailed. Id.
(8) Id. at ix.
(9) Id.
(10) Id.
(11) Id.
(12) Id.
(13) Id at x.
(14) Id
(15) For example, as Parnell flies over Afghanistan in a Chinook helicopter, he starts discussing the Christmas that he had spent with his family two months before. See id. at 2-3.
(16) Id. at xi. The map shows the Bermel District of Afghanistan and highlights key engagements, towns, bases, posts, and routes. Id.
(17) See id. 182-83 (photographs of several prominent characters, including the author).
(18) See, e.g., id. at 1. Parnell uses clear, vibrant imagery such as "a vast dragon's back of peaks and valleys" to describe the Afghan landscape. Id.
(19) Id. at 381-84.
(20) See id. at 165-206 (where Parnell renders a transfixing account of his unit's nearly six-hour battle on 10 June 2006, in which Outlaw Platoon was almost overrun).
(21) One such profile is that of the platoon's young amateur economist and political scientist, Specialist Pinholt. See id. at 20-23.
(22) Id. at 354.
(23) Id at 350-53.
(24) Id at 354-55.
(25) See, e.g., id. at 356-59 (discussing Parnell's own struggles with traumatic brain injury, Outlaws who were killed in action, and the emotional reunion with a wounded and beloved squad leader, Staff Sergeant Baldwin).
(26) See id. at 184. Doc Pantoja (a medic) treats Baldwin after Pantoja had himself suffered a ghastly facial injury, all while a seriously wounded Baldwin clamors to re-enter the fight. Id.
(27) See id. at 189-90 (detailing how Sergeant Waites mentally froze in battle).
(28) See id. at 363-64. Parnell feels out of place with his pre-Army friends and their trivial chatter about sports, etc. Id.
(29) See, e.g., id. at 356-57 (addressing the effects of Parnell's traumatic brain injury).
(30) See id. at 243, 350-53. Parnell reflects on acts of "selflessness" by his Soldiers amid life-threatening situations, and later talks about the tremendous bond that had formed within the platoon. Id.
(31) See id. at ix (expressly stating that the book is not "a review of U.S. foreign policy in Afghanistan").
(32) Id. at 363-66. Parnell writes that his "circle of friends grew smaller and smaller, until only a few stayed close to [him]." Id. He laments the trouble he has relating to civilian pals who "had never seen a rocket or heard the sound of a [sniper rifle] echoing off mountain slopes. They'd never seen a child die either." Id.
(33) Id at 366-70.
(34) See id. at 37-48 (discussing Parnell's interactions with Major Ghul of the Afghan Border Police).
(35) See id. at 312-18 (addressing the discovery that Yusef, an interpreter for the Outlaws, had betrayed them).
(36) Id. at 253.
(37) Id. at 303.
(38) Id. at 160.
(39) Id. at 197.
(40) Id. at 198.
(41) Id.
(42) Id. at 384 (the last numbered page).
(43) Id. at 5, 120.
(44) Id. at 222. Taylor claims that Parnell was "reckless" in battle and asks if Parnell "even care[s]" about his own Soldiers. Id.
(45) Id
(46) Id. at 354.
(47) Id.
(48) Id. at 354-55.
(49) See, e.g., id. at 85, 86. Parnell's initial reference to his grandfather's funeral was strangely placed smack in the middle of a firefight narrative.
(50) See, e.g., id. at 165-66. Parnell's invocation of his grandfather's voice--urging him to rise after being knocked unconscious--worked well in this instance. It did not break the stride of the story.
(51) See, e.g., id. at 81-82. This is another example of the flashback technique being an irritant. Parnell abruptly starts talking about a school bus bully from his childhood during an engagement with the enemy. Id.
(52) See, e.g., id. at x. These phrases appear throughout the book.
(53) Women will be serving in more combat roles in the coming years. See Craig Whitlock, Military Plans to Open More Combat Jobs to Women by 2016, WASH. Post (Jun. 18, 2013), http://articles.washingtonpost.com /2013-06-18/world/40044470_1_combat-jobs-men-and-women-secretaryleon-e.
(54) Parnell, supra note 1, at 245.
(55) Id.
(56) See, e.g., Amaani Lyle, Hagel, Obama Advisor Salute Gay, Lesbian Military Community, U.S. Department of Defense (Jun. 25, 2013), http://www.defense.gov/news/newsarticle.aspx?id= 120359 (illustrating that the highest levels of the chain of command regard gays and lesbians as vital and valued members of the military family).
(57) PARNELL, supra note 1, at 206. Parnell equates fobbits with "POGs (Personnel Other than Grunts)." Id. For another definition, see Austin Bay, Excerpt: Embrace the Suck, NAT'L PUBLIC RADIO (Mar. 8, 2007), http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=7457988 (defining "fobbits" as a "[d]erogatory term for soldiers who never leave a [forward operating base (FOB)]").
(58) See, e.g., id. at 206. The author--here and elsewhere--exhibits disdain for fobbits as a group.
(59) Id. at 370.
(60) Id. at 371-72.
(61) Id. at 371.
(62) Id. at 372.
(63) Id.
(64) Id. at 370.
(65) Id.
Major Mark W. Malcolm, Judge Advocate, U.S. Army. Student, 62d Judge Advocate Officer Graduate Course, The Judge Advocate General's Legal Center and School, U.S. Army, Charlottesville, Virginia.
Malcolm, Mark W.
Source Citation (MLA 8th Edition)
Malcolm, Mark W. "Outlaw Platoon." Army Lawyer, Apr. 2014, p. 44+. General OneFile, http://link.galegroup.com/apps/doc/A373031434/ITOF?u=schlager&sid=ITOF&xid=2a885155. Accessed 3 Sept. 2018.
Gale Document Number: GALE|A373031434
Outlaw platoon; heroes, renegades, infidels, and the brotherhood of war in Afghanistan
Reference & Research Book News. 27.3 (June 2012):
Copyright: COPYRIGHT 2012 Ringgold, Inc.
http://www.ringgold.com/
Full Text:
9780062066398
Outlaw platoon; heroes, renegades, infidels, and the brotherhood of war in Afghanistan.
Parnell, Sean.
William Morrow & Co.
374 pages
$26.99
Hardcover
DS371
Author Parnell was 24 years old when he commanded a 40-man infantry platoon, nicknamed the Outlaws, to eliminate insurgents near Afghanistan's eastern frontier. In this memoir of the actions of the 10th Mountain Division, he describes the camaraderie among platoon members in the face extreme danger and reflects on how combat changed his life and the lives of the other members of the platoon. B&w photos by the author and other members of the platoon show more lighthearted moments as well as combat situations. Parnell received two Bronze Stars and a Purple Heart. He is now a PhD student in psychology at Duquesne University. (A[c] Book News, Inc., Portland, OR)
Source Citation (MLA 8th Edition)
"Outlaw platoon; heroes, renegades, infidels, and the brotherhood of war in Afghanistan." Reference & Research Book News, June 2012. General OneFile, http://link.galegroup.com/apps/doc/A291873232/ITOF?u=schlager&sid=ITOF&xid=f0908194. Accessed 3 Sept. 2018.
Gale Document Number: GALE|A291873232
QUOTED: "Falling somewhere between Brad Thor’s Scot Harvath and Brad Taylor’s Pike Logan, Eric Steel is a formidable new protagonist whom readers will love following around and watching as he leaves a trail of dead bad guys in his wake. Man of War hits fast, hard, and never lets up for a second. ... Sean Parnell really knows his stuff, and this thriller is not to be missed."
April 23, 2018 The Real Book Spy
Featured Review: ‘Man of War’ by Sean Parnell
ORDER NOW
Decorated combat veteran and New York Times bestselling author of Outlaw Platoon Sean Parnell makes his highly-anticipated fiction debut.
After several tours fighting terrorists in Afghanistan, Eric Steele now serves as part of an elite, top-secret unit known simply as the Program.
Originally, after carrying his commander to safety following an attack on his Special Forces team, Steele was nominated for the prestigious Medal of Honor. But instead of a high-profile ceremony and photo-op, the request was halted and Steele was given something else instead. . . The chance to kill bad guys without the abundance of government oversight and bureaucratic red tape that slowed him down in the Army.
Spoken about only in whispers, the Alpha Program is comprised of nine of the most hardened and seasoned badasses the United States military has to offer. Each Alpha answers directly to the president, and each operator is responsible for covering a specifically assigned geographical territory, thus giving the commander-in-chief a third option when diplomacy won’t work and starting a lengthy war is out of the question. When all else fails, it’s up to the Program’s operators to get the job done, and Eric Steele, codenamed Stalker 7, is the unit’s most lethal member — the alpha of the Alphas.
The story starts 100 miles outside of Tunis, where a man named Nate West leads an assault on an armed convoy — kicking off a chilling sequence that puts readers firmly behind the scope of West’s Barrett .50 cal sniper rifle.
It turns out that the convoy had been carrying a small nuclear weapon to a secret location, and the weapon is now in the possession of West — who plans to use it to attack America, the country he feels betrayed him four years prior. Complicating matters even more is the revelation that the convoy was actually part of a CIA operation, suggesting that West and his men had intimate details of the spy agency’s whereabouts. It also raises questions about Director Robin Styles, who is all too quick to try and erase any record of the agency’s presence in Tunisia.
At the center of everything is Eric Steele, who in another life was once close to West. Steele was there when Nate was thought to have been killed, and he grieved the loss of his friend. Now, he’s faced with the shocking and devastating reality that his former teammate has gone rogue and is knee-deep in a plan to strike a blow to America.
From brothers-in-arms to warriors on opposite sides of a raging conflict, Steele is tasked with his most personal mission yet. . . stopping Nate West at all costs in order to save millions of innocent lives.
As Steele blazes a trail from Washington D.C. across the Middle East, Europe, and Africa in search of West, Parnell does a solid job developing other characters (Demo, Steele’s buddy and fellow operator, is sure to be a fan-favorite) as the story unfolds. One of the book’s more memorable scenes involves Steele performing a HALO jump using an MK11 Advance Jumper’s Helmet that was developed by DARPA, which is fitted with a holographic display that functions like something right out of the Marvel universe.
Obviously, Parnell knows his stuff when it comes to the military and how special forces operators walk, talk, and handle themselves on and off the battlefield. At twenty-four years old, he was named the commander of a forty-man infantry platoon tasked with rooting out Pakistan-based insurgents from a mountain valley along Afghanistan’s eastern frontier. Later, they became known as the Outlaws, and Parnell’s captivating nonfiction story (Outlaw Platoon) touches on everything from brotherhood to what war is really like, all told through his riveting first-hand account.
Here, with Man of War, Parnell brings that same raw honesty to his story. Steele and the other characters speak and move with the kind of realism that only someone who’s been there and done that can re-create on the page. Some readers may struggle, at least initially, with all the military terminology and acronyms, but veteran readers of the genre will be just fine. It’s also worth noting that this isn’t a straight-up military thriller, as Parnell mixes in political elements as well, expanding his target audience in the process. While some aspects aren’t altogether new (readers are used to seeing top-secret programs designed to circumvent laws and regulations in order to dispatch threats as they pop up) Parnell does offer a fresh take on things that allow his characters to stand out in a crowded genre.
Basically, if you like action, conspiracies, and bold, larger-than-life characters. . . this book is for you.
Falling somewhere between Brad Thor’s Scot Harvath and Brad Taylor’s Pike Logan, Eric Steel is a formidable new protagonist whom readers will love following around and watching as he leaves a trail of dead bad guys in his wake. Man of War hits fast, hard, and never lets up for a second. . . Sean Parnell really knows his stuff, and this thriller is not to be missed.
Book Details
Author: Sean Parnell
Series: Eric Steele #1
Pages: 368 (Hardcover)
ISBN: 0062668781
Publisher: William Morrow
Release Date: September 11, 2018
Book Spy Rating: 8.5/10