Hesitation Kills

June 13, 2011
Beginning in 2003 with her squadron landing in Kuwait, Marine Major Blair (then a lieutenant) reflects positively on her experience in Iraq. Her unit provided backup for army troops, and she was in charge of deploying unmanned planes to bomb suspected enemy emplacements without hesitation. As a new officer she had to face fellow officers who tried to push her to the sidelines, but with the support of her superiors these conflicts faded into the background. "Marines made war an art form" she writes, describing an incident of friendly fire, "...I knew no matter how much the plan was screwed up ⦠the infantryman's decisive actions would win this war." Blair writes with honesty as she describes feeling fear during her first experiences in battle, but the greater challenge for her turned out to be the hardship of poor quality MREs (military "meals ready to eat"), months without access to showers, and sheer boredom. The author is not concerned in this memoir about broader issues to do with the Iraq war nor does she engage fully in the larger issues of gender discrimination. This is rather one marine's on-the-ground account of her pride in being part of a military history. Likely of greatest interest for someoneâmale or femaleâcontemplating a career in the military.

June 15, 2011

In this military memoir, Marine lieutenant Blair, who served in an aerial reconnaissance unit during Operation Iraqi Freedom (2003), ably depicts the chaotic and often disillusioning experiences of modern warfare. Laced with observations on the challenges facing women in the Marines, Blair's account provides a compelling behind-the-scenes description of how unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), or drones, were used to gather crucial intelligence during the first weeks of the invasion of Iraq. Tracing the emotional roller coaster of her own challenges during the conflict, Blair's narrative is especially effective at depicting how the intensity and deprivations of war permanently changed her and her fellow marines. VERDICT Blair's derogatory remarks about American civilians may grate with some readers, and she occasionally lapses into dense military jargon or seemingly petty complaints. However, her eloquence in examining the grim emotional costs of military service makes this a timely, moving, and eye-opening work. Best suited to readers interested in women in the military, UAVs, the Marine Corp, or Operation Iraqi Freedom who are not offended by gritty content. Readers may also consider Kayla Williams's Love My Rifle More Than You.--Ingrid Levin, Salve Regina Univ. Lib., Newport, RI

Copyright 2011 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

May 15, 2011
Fresh out of officers training, Blair, a second lieutenant with the U.S. Marines, was deployed to Iraq in 2003 as part of Operation Iraqi Freedom. Her aerial reconnaissance unit was often on the leading edge of battle, making her one of the few women in the combat zone. In recounting the run-up to the invasion and the first chaotic weeks of the war, Blair offers a birds-eye view of military operations and a window into the life and mindset of a soldier. Describing chemical warfare drills, near-ambushes, and what its like to order an air strike, Blair gives civilians, if not the actual experience of war, then an understanding of it. A thoughtful guide, she admits to her struggles with boredom, loneliness, and fear not just for her own life but for that of her husband, a fellow marine. Though support for and interest in the war has long since waned, Blair, forever changed by her time in Iraq, reminds readers of the sacrifices soldiers make on our behalf.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2011, American Library Association.)