Published: 1 September 2008
Air & Space Power Journal - Fall 2008

Blood Stripes: The Grunt’s View of the War in Iraq by David J. Danelo. Stackpole Books (http://www.stackpolebooks.com), 5067 Ritter Road, Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania 17055, 2006, 384 pages, $29.95 (hardcover).

In a dark, staccato writing style that chronicles the exploits of real-life marines, Blood Stripes offers a proud yet sobering tale of the war in Iraq—particularly the battle of Fallujah. About a year after combat operations seemed successful and after the American people and their military cheered the pronouncement of “mission accomplished,” a hardy group of marines found themselves in the streets of the Iraqi city of Fallujah, locked in mortal combat. Largely seen through the eyes of Marine noncommissioned officers (NCO)—and to a lesser extent, their families, officers, and Iraqis—the story transports readers into the bloody events that marked Iraq in 2004 and still capture today’s headlines. These NCOs’ orders embody all one needs to know, either in battle or foreign policy: do no harm, be no better friend, and be no worse enemy. Against this backdrop, we see the dynamic faces of peacekeeping operations and American diplomacy.

In the Middle East, “be no worse enemy” seems unavoidable, and through the vehicles of plot and prose, author David Danelo highlights the contrasting roles of diplomacy and destruction alongside the battlefield contradictions of order and dis­order. Adding to the fog, the story line flashes among characters, scenes, and situations, enhancing the drama. Even though the stories become clearer and at times overlap, readers are left disjointed, working to keep every fact in order and every person straight. The cutaways and flashbacks permit us to develop affection for these dynamic figures, adding to the suspense and allowing us to share, as much as we can, in the uneasy tension of patrol and the mania of battle.

Although the culture and tactics are predominantly Marine, Blood Stripes is a great read for any warrior leader—whether airman, soldier, sailor, or marine—at the tip of the spear or in support of the mission. Influenced by Steven Pressfield’s Gates of Fire: An Epic Novel of the Battle of Thermopylae (Doubleday, 1998), Danelo’s story seduces the reader by manly deeds and what he refers to as the Spartan way. As recounted in Blood Stripes, Gates of Fire has become a must-read for all Marine NCOs, indoctrinating them into the belief that battlefield experience combined with the Spartan way represents the only conduit to the highest good. The living sacrifice of these marines is not only instructive but also inspirational.

Fittingly, the book focuses on missions rather than politics and people rather than prognostication. Yet through the eyes of those closest to the struggle, we see the true difficulty of bringing peace to this region and receive a glimpse of the price we must be willing to pay to achieve it. Maybe the answer lies in Danelo’s observation that “we will stay patient one hour longer, one day longer, one week longer than the enemy expects us to” (p. 65).

Maj Rodney D. Bullard, USAF
Air Force Fellow
Washington, DC

Disclaimer

The conclusions and opinions expressed in this document are those of the author cultivated in the freedom of expression, academic environment of Air University. They do not reflect the official position of the U.S. Government, Department of Defense, the United States Air Force or the Air University.

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