Within this extraordinary and harrowing memoir, follow one GI’s tour of duty as Ryan Smithson provides readers in the globe that few understand.

This is no ordinary teenager’s story. Rather than opting for university life, Ryan Smithson joined the Military Reserve when he was seventeen. 2 yrs later, he was deployed to Iraq as an Army engineer.

His story-and the stories of thousands of other soldiers-is nothing beats what you see on CNN or find out about in the brand new York Times. This unforgettable tale about combat, companionship, dread, and a soldier’s commitment to his country peels back the curtain on the realities of battle in a story all People in america should read.