Chasing Ghosts: A Soldier's Fight for America from Baghdad to Washington
Submitted by John on August 21, 2006 - 11:03am.
Book Club: Iraq | Book Club: Veterans and Military Affairs | Book Club: Democratic Politics | Book Club: Wes Recommends
"Chasing Ghosts: A Soldier's Fight for America from Baghdad to Washington" by Paul Rieckhoff is a riveting account of life as an infantry combat soldier in Iraq.
Rieckhoff pulls no punches. The read is brutal, thought-provoking, at at times depressing. Depressing because our policy-makers have failed to learn the lessons of earlier generations.
In many ways, "Chasing Ghosts" follows in the footsteps of William Broyles, Jr.'s Vietnam classic, "Brothers in Arms." It also has the strong emotional rips found in Dan Freedman and Jacqueline Rhode's editing of "Nurses in Vietnam: The Forgotten Veterans." Joan Thomas and Shirley Menard, both nurses in Vietnam who contributed chapters to Rhode's book, and I worked on a project with Bill Broyles in 1991. To this day I remember standing in a light rain before several of the panels of the Vietnam War Memorial with Joan and Shirley. While I had been to the Memorial many times before, this one was special. Thinking back on that day, and reflecting on Paul's book...times haven't changed all that much.
War is about constant turmoil. Life. Death. Heartache. Buddies and comrades. Choices. Mental trauma. It's that and so much more. Paul grabs his readers by the collar with the first sentence in the first chapter. He doesn't let go until the "Timeline" found at the end of the book. Even then, scanning the individual timeline elements, Paul drags the reader back to what was happening in the book at that point in time.
Most first-person war accounts end when the soldier, nurse, or participant returns home. Paul takes his readers several steps further. He the examples of countless Vietnam Vets. The famous and the not-so-famous but equally important. Paul describes the difficulty in getting politicians and policy-makers to listen. Even Democrats. Listen and take corrective action. Listen and take corrective action. Two verbs, foreign to many people inside the beltway or on the campaign trail.
Max Cleland stands out as Rieckhoff finds his voice and charts a new path. The Clark Grassroots will want to know that Rieckhoff recommended General Wesley Clark to John Kerry as his potential running mate. [see page 299]
Paul ends "Chasing Ghosts", hopefully not his last book, describing the political and policy-making process. How difficult it is to be heard, especially as one veteran. Even one veteran with a clear and compelling message.
One line symbolizes the aching frustration returning veterans have in making their point. Readers should turn to page 300 as Paul describes a friend with one of the most compelling stories on Iraq - body armor. The difference, Paul's friend is not making his case to the current administration. He is making the case to the 2004 Democratic Presidential Nominee's Veteran's Outreach Coordinator. This compelling message did not get through. Paul writes, "Clearly, the John Kerry of 1971 never could've gotten in to see the John Kerry of 2004."
There is real hope. This time, Iraq Veterans, are taking their combat training into the trenches of political action and policy-making. Like the WWII Veterans who returned and changed the government with the G.I. Bill - the Iraq Veterans are mobilizing. Paul Rieckhoff has not only found his voice. He has found the means, along with countless other Iraq War Veterans, to mobilize and take action.
CCNer's should read "Chasing Ghosts." Paul Rieckhoff will give you new perspectives, a case of depression, a case of hope, and a renewed sense to help correct bad policy.
My husband has been reading this book and he keeps running to read me his favorite quotes from it.
Yesterday he read me the Kerry in 1971 line and we noted how perfect it was. Reickoff has many good Wes Clark comments within. I'm sure Kerry (or his "people") has read the book. Paul tells you that he was singled out by Kerry when all the vets were lined up to meet with him, because he was the only Iraq vet- and Kerry seemed to really want to hone in on that. But then cooled off dramatically as the campaign went forward. Nope-- can't talk about Iraq, might look bad...
It's fabulous that Paul will be guest blogging here! I cannot wait and hope my work schedule will allow me to join in.
I think IAVA is such an amazing organization-- along with Operation Helmet. Two really good ones to keep in the forefront.
Well, I finished reading this just in time for Paul’s blogging tomorrow.
The stuff about the Kerry campaign isn’t the most complimentary although he was impressed by his first meeting with Kerry, the time at the airport. He writes that Kerry didn’t “talk at” him, he just listened, and he’ll never forget that.
But he became disillusioned with the campaign as time went on and they seemed to want to avoid any discussion of Iraq altogether. When Paul came home and started to speak out, he wasn’t Republican or Democrat and he was willing to speak to whichever party or campaign would listen to him. He just wanted to get the truth out. He wanted to do what he could for the guys still in Iraq. It didn’t matter which party would help him. He did contact the Bush campaign first but they didn’t even return his call...Then he contacted the Kerry campaign repeatedly until they offered him the chance at the airport.
As impressed as he was on the first meeting, and he does have good things to say about Kerry in the account of that meeting, he writes that he came back from his second meeting with Kerry “Sorely disillusioned and angry. John Kerry was not the passionate activist he had been thirty years ago. He seemed like a good man, but over the decades in Washington he had morphed into a calculating and coached politician.”
This second meeting was the meeting (which Max Cleland also attended) in which Paul suggested Wes as Kerry’s running mate. Max had also been suggested by another vet in the meeting. Kerry asked them what they thought of Gephardt.
Paul writes, “A few weeks later, ignoring our advice, Kerry chose Senator John Edwards. Politics as usual.”
When he writes that line about the John Kerry of 1971 and the John Kerry of 2004, he’s referring to the fact that the campaign decided to bury the Iraq War as an issue because it wasn’t a “winning issue”. He talks of a friend of his whose mom had to buy him body armor on eBay. it became a big media story but when this guy traveled 4 hours to meet with the Veterans Outreach Coordinator for the Kerry campaign, they said they had no time to meet with him. When he went to a press conference in defense of Kerry against the Swiftboaters, they forbade him to speak to the media and hid his body armor under the table....
Kerry and his campaign didn’t want to know about what was going on in Iraq, or at least they didn’t want it discussed...
"The mark of leadership is not to standup when everybody is standing, but rather to actually stand up when no one else is standing" - Pulitzer Prize winning author Samantha Power, introducing Gen Clark
Oh, and Paul's group wasn't actually trated very well after they were invited to the Democratic National Convention either....
"The mark of leadership is not to standup when everybody is standing, but rather to actually stand up when no one else is standing" - Pulitzer Prize winning author Samantha Power, introducing Gen Clark
Does he write much about McCain in his book? I was reading his myspace.com page and he lists him as a hero of his. I'd be interested to know how McCain's years in Washington are so different.
"Some of them put on their cowboy boots and put their feet up on the desk." -Wes Clark
He mentions him briefly, in relating how McCain criticized him after he gave the Democratic radio address one Saturday during the campaign. He does say that McCain was one of his personal heroes and that he had great respect for him....It actually is one of the things I'd like to ask him during the blogging, about McCain...
But it's not like he thinks time in Washington in and of itself ruins people...He obvously thinks the world of Max Cleland, one of his mentors....
I myself used to have a lot of respect for John McCain but have little to none at this point....
"The mark of leadership is not to standup when everybody is standing, but rather to actually stand up when no one else is standing" - Pulitzer Prize winning author Samantha Power, introducing Gen Clark
Hard to respect this...
Posted on Mon, Aug. 28, 2006
U.S. Sen. John McCain riled Bob Jones University leaders in South Carolina's nasty 2000 GOP presidential primary by criticizing the Christian fundamentalist school - known for its ban on interracial dating and its anti-Roman Catholic views - and George W. Bush for speaking there.
Now McCain says he would consider speaking at the school himself.
"I can't remember when I've turned down a speaking invitation. I think I'd have to look at it," he told The State newspaper.
McCain, R-Ariz., says he would have to look at Bob Jones University's latest policy statements. "I understand they have made considerable progress," he said.
"Some of them put on their cowboy boots and put their feet up on the desk." -Wes Clark
I've read this book and highly recommend it.
Began reading this last night. Very compelling and insightful. Paul is clearly a skilled communicator and advocate. Am greatly looking forward to getting back to the book.
With respect to mobilizing and taking action on veterans' issues, one of our new bloggers stuarth9 had an OpEd published today in the Atlanta Journal Constitution about the deplorable cut in funding for the Defense and Veterans Brain Injury Center (DVBIC).
(See his comment in the last Troops & Vets post.)
IAVA is also addressing this issue.
carol4clark
General Wes Clark * * * * 4 Stars Over Texas
that YOU Carol and the rest of the Troops and Vets team have been doing an excellent job of making sure the hidden issues see the light of day and are covered in proper depth.
I've seen the upcoming parts of the Series on Traumatic Brain Injuries and what's in the pipeline and you guys are doing an amazing job! I hope Clarkies will alert all their email lists to your posts.
**NEXT Troops & Vets post runs tomorrow!!
It says a lot about our political system when 'professional' politicians are fearful of saying anything the least bit controversial. So they distance themselves from speaking (and hearing) the truth.
It's sad when 'career' gets in the way of courage.
Paul could have just gone back to his 'normal' life after he got back from Iraq. Instead he's helping get the message out (with this wonderful book and IAVA) that many 'professional politicians' have failed to stand up when it was important. It took the professional politicos to get us into this crisis, it will take citizens and citizen-soldiers to get us out.
And the book reflects that, along with his smarts and common sense approach to life. He's a real American hero, imho, and I couldn't agree with you more on your review of Chasing Ghosts. Nice to see he'll be posting here, too!
Blogging on PTSD Combat
For the NYC area folks, Paul will be at the Strand Book Store in downtown Manhattan tomorrow evening for a reading and signing...
Here's Paul's post about it on his amazon blog:
The Chasing Ghosts book events continue to roll on across America!
I will be doing a Chasing Ghosts reading and signing this coming Tuesday, Aug 22 at 7:00PM at The Strand in New York City. The event is co-sponsored by IAVA. The Strand is a historic bookstore, and this promises to be a great night of discussion about the most important issues facing our country.
The Strand is located at 828 Broadway on the corner of 12th Street and Broadway.
Take the N R Q W 4 5 6 or L train to Union Square. Walk two blocks South to 12th street. Store number is (212) 473-1452. The first person to tell me the name of the current Secretary of the VA will win a free signed copy of the book! I hope to see you there.
The Strand is a great book store...Nice opportunity to see one of our own CCN members and hear some interesting discussion in great surroundings.
"The mark of leadership is not to standup when everybody is standing, but rather to actually stand up when no one else is standing" - Pulitzer Prize winning author Samantha Power, introducing Gen Clark
Two places I need to avoid: shoe stores and book stores. I've been doing better with the shoes, but the books are piling up. This book will be added to the stack.
Every time I've seen Paul Reickoff, I'm increasngly impressed. He is a great spokesman for the good guys, and this book promises to be a "must read."
You have not converted a man because you have silenced him.--J. V. Marley
Haha, Donna. I know what you mean...I have such a pile of books but I can't resist buying more...I actually picked Paul's book up at the library this afternoon (along with another that I couldn't resist) so I could start it today but intend to buy a copy tomorrow at the Strand as I'd like to support both Paul and the Strand...I've read the first two chapters so far...very good reading. He's a wonderful writer.
"The mark of leadership is not to standup when everybody is standing, but rather to actually stand up when no one else is standing" - Pulitzer Prize winning author Samantha Power, introducing Gen Clark
Sometimes writers can't convey that sense of their "voice" personally addressing the reader. They can be technically good, but the writing takes on an impersonal sound. That is one thing I've noticed about General Clark's writing, to read him is to hear him. I'm hoping that Paul has that quality too. Whenever he blogs, he's been a wonderful read.
You have not converted a man because you have silenced him.--J. V. Marley
I've read a lot about Vietnam and now Iraq and Afganistan. I feel that something is not being covered - how prolonged combat, and I mean actual war fighting, affects troops.
I served as a marine rifleman in Viet Nam, 1968-69. I’ve read much Viet Nam war literature and published a collection of war poetry, On The Way to Khe Sanh, (three of which appeared in The Iowa Review, Spring 2005), and a memoir, Nam Au Go Go - Falling for the Vietnamese Goddess of War.
Nam Au Go Go is different. It talks about something no one I can find has written about - what violence does to war fighters. How, if combat soldiers and marines see too much, do too much, they can cross a threshold into an adaptation to violence and become addicted to it. When your emotional self is killed off by the insanity of war, survivors of this addiction have a hard time re-connecting with society. Combat is a one-way door. Once you go through, you cannot go back. You are changed.
For a glimpse, go to www.johnakins.net
Find Nam Au Go Go on booksellers’ websites.
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Couple of thoughts about this book so far….
First of all, it’s a really good read. I wish I could just sit with it and read it straight through but I’ve unfortunately got to work for a living.
It’s incredible the shape the equipment these guys were given was in…Even the headphones were falling apart. They were driving trucks that couldn’t go in reverse unless the soldiers pushed them.
There’s a passage about a quiz they gave the soldiers during some downtime….A lot of these guys didn’t know who the VP was...One of the answers given was Bush!!! Connecticut as the capital of New York, Iraq as the capital of Kuwait….No wonder they were able to sell these guys on the idea that invading Iraq was avenging 9/11….
"The mark of leadership is not to standup when everybody is standing, but rather to actually stand up when no one else is standing" - Pulitzer Prize winning author Samantha Power, introducing Gen Clark
I find Paul's observations about the Iraqi children interesting: how they greeted the soldiers enthusiastically whenever they saw them; how heartwrenching it was for the men, especially those with children, to see their mangled bodies brought in to the ER where they were stationed; a really painful account of a little girl injured by shrapnel to the head; his observations about how beautiful they are.
I wonder about the Iraqi children a lot. Kids are amazingly resilient but you wonder how much they can really take of what's going on over there.
"The mark of leadership is not to standup when everybody is standing, but rather to actually stand up when no one else is standing" - Pulitzer Prize winning author Samantha Power, introducing Gen Clark
In Chapter 10, Paul relates a great story about how he and his guys help out an Iraqi school, protecting the students and teachers and getting a bunch of school supplies from home for them. They adopt this school and there is a wonderful story of the day that Paul speaks to the kids...It is just too cute. It also contains this great and terribly sad line...”I had thickened my heart to protect it from being broken.”
There’s another great story where Paul’s men collect money to pay for surgery for the Iraqi janitor of their building after he’s hit in the neck with a bullet that’s fallen out of the sky (one of those shot into the air in celebration by another Iraqi) after they are refused an American surgeon to work on him...It’s decided that Iraqis shot by other Iraqis can’t be operated on by American doctors. The decision doesn’t go over too well with Paul or his guys., In fact, Paul often shows some contempt for the officers in the rear, pushing papers and listening to the war on the radio, having no clue what it’s like to really be in the middle of it.
He was there the Thanksgiving that Bush snuck in and out of Iraq, the Thanksgiving photo op with the plastic turkey. Some soldier’s wife from home told them that Bush had been there...They had no idea he was there.
Speaking of soldiers’ wives, very sad that a number of soldiers in Paul’s platoons faced divorces when they got back...and they were informed by their wives while they were deployed. Ouch! I can’t imagine how tough that must have been for them. How many families have been ripped apart by this war!
And Chapter 19, about the platoon’s Christmas in Baghdad, is just so sad....It’s really a roller coaster of emotions but it ends up heartbreakingly sad. I was glad I was reading it at home, alone in my apartment because I hate to cry in front of people and that definitely made me cry.
And he talks of wanting, when he was leaving Iraq, to go back there one day, hoping to take his future family to show them that they had done a good thing there in Iraq. I imagine it would be near to unbearable to think you’d gone through all of that and done no good at all....But the beauty of Paul’s account is that, in the midst of the mess and all of the mistakes and the killing and maiming, good things do happen. These guys have touched lives over there in ways that I imagine certain Iraqis will never forget. Paul and his men really were great representatives of this country...put in an awfully tough situation.
Oh, and he says he donated to Wes’ campaign online! He says he didn’t care if Wes ran as a Democrat, Republican or Independent, he felt Wes was best for the job. That’s the way I felt, too, in those days before Wes declared as a Democrat...I was happy he was a Democrat but, if he’d chosen not to be, if would not have shaken my support. He transcended political parties as far as I was concerned.
And he has this very nice thing to say about Wes on page 275...in comparing him to Kerry who he thought was a “nice enough man” but without the “mojo he looked for in a national leader.”
I liked General Wes Clark. He was not a professional politician. He appreciated and emphasized diplomacy, but he also knew military and defense issues. A Rhodes scholar and a combat vet. He was an ass-kicker. John Kerry just seemed to play one on TV.
I really is a great book...and so vividly told. I actually dreamt I was on patrol in a dark alley in Iraq last night, watching for snipers, and it seemed so real. I do highly recommend everyone read it...I’m going to pass my copy on to my 16 year old nephew, a very thoughtful young man who I think will get a lot out of it. Of course, I will want my copy back...Paul signed it last week. :)
"The mark of leadership is not to standup when everybody is standing, but rather to actually stand up when no one else is standing" - Pulitzer Prize winning author Samantha Power, introducing Gen Clark
You've got such a gift for reviewing and have convinced me to head on over to Amazon and add this to my wishlist! I'm tapped out this month, but September is only days away!
What a trip that you are so effected by Paul -- as a person and from his book -- that you had that dream!
Once in a while you get shown the light, In the strangest of places if you look at it right. - Hunter/Garcia
I gotta tell you, it wasn't exactly a fun dream...I was glad to wake up and find myself in NYC, even if it was a dark, rainy NYC. :) Not so easy for the guys still over there though. :(
"The mark of leadership is not to standup when everybody is standing, but rather to actually stand up when no one else is standing" - Pulitzer Prize winning author Samantha Power, introducing Gen Clark
...is Everyman America.
The Dems had better pay attention to him
I bought his book right after he blogged at CCN and the thing that struck me the most was that he represents middle America. The one that all the candidates are trying to capture. But, they are not easily fooled. The will not be seduced by SOMW...or Billary...or Obama. The only shot the Dems have in 2008 is for Wes to run.
RUN WE RUN!!!!!
People want leadership......and in the absence of leadership, they will listen to anyone who walks up to the microphone.
Lewis Rothschild, in "American President"
I wonder if John Kerry has seen the line about the John Kerry of 1971 not being able to see the John Kerry of 2004? Although, in 2004, John Kerry had secret service people all over the place and unless you had a special badge, you couldn't even get off the elevator on the floor where he was staying in a hotel. Really great that Paul drops in to visit here at CCN from time to time:)