Joker One: A Marine Platoon's Story of Courage, Leadership, and Brotherhood |  | Author: Donovan Campbell
Publisher: Random House
List Price: $26.00
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Seller: zp_books
Rating:  110 reviews
Sales Rank: 4794
Media: Hardcover
Pages: 336
Number Of Items: 1
Shipping Weight (lbs): 1
Dimensions (in): 9.3 x 6.1 x 1.2
ISBN: 1400067731
Dewey Decimal Number: 956.7044345
EAN: 9781400067732
ASIN: 1400067731
Publication Date: March 10, 2009
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
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Product Description
After graduating from Princeton, Donovan Campbell, motivated by his unwavering patriotism and commitment, decided to join the service, realizing that becoming a Marine officer would allow him to give back to his country, engage in the world, and learn to lead. In this immediate, thrilling, and inspiring memoir, Campbell recounts a timeless and transcendent tale of brotherhood, courage, and sacrifice.
As commander of a forty-man infantry platoon called Joker One, Campbell had just months to train and transform a ragtag group of brand-new Marines into a first-rate cohesive fighting unit, men who would become his family: Sergeant Leza, the house intellectual who read Che Guevara; Sergeant Mariano Noriel, the “Filipino ball of fire” who would become Campbell’s closest confidant and friend; Lance Corporal William Feldmeir, a narcoleptic who fell asleep during battle; and a lieutenant known simply as “the Ox,” whose stubborn aggressiveness would be more curse than blessing.
Campbell and his men were assigned to Ramadi, that capital of the Sunni-dominated Anbar province that was an explosion just waiting to happen. And when it did happen–with the chilling cries of “Jihad, Jihad, Jihad!” echoing from minaret to minaret–Campbell and company were there to protect the innocent, battle the insurgents, and pick up the pieces. After seven months of day-to-day, house-to-house combat, nearly half of Campbell’s platoon had been wounded, a casualty rate that went beyond that of any Marine or Army unit since Vietnam. Yet unlike Fallujah, Ramadi never fell to the enemy.
Told by the man who led the unit of hard-pressed Marines, Joker One is a gripping tale of a leadership, loyalty, faith, and camaraderie throughout the best and worst of times.
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Showing reviews 1-5 of 110
 Excellent Story November 20, 2009
Roger L. Skillman (Clemson, SC USA)
Campbell's story of his platoon's combat tour in Iraq is a must read. It's an excellent portrayal of not only small unit leadership, but the bonds that are developed when good leaders set a standard and lead by example. Last month, I heard a rebroadcast of the powerful, heartfelt interview Donovan had with NPR's Terry Gross on "Fresh Air". I ordered "Joker One" the next day. A big ooohrah and Semper Fi! to Donovan and his Marines.
the most important book iv'e read lately November 17, 2009
Phibetaiota (Dallas)
If you think you understand the sacrifices that are made by servicemen today and you haven't read this book, you're wrong...unless you were there yourself. The courage, steadfastness, and privations suffered stoically by these heroes are truly inspirational.
With wry, dry, self-effacing prose, Donnovan Campbell takes you there...from the venial (you can feel the grit of the sand in your MRE...you're grateful that, unlike Joker One, you can take a shower at the end of the day) to the profound (friendly fire catastrophes avoided...tactical blunders stubbornly insisted upon by distant commanders).
Whether you're interested in the chess game of tactical maneuvers or the geo-politics of our role in the Middle East or the transcendent heroic spirit of the American fighting man, this is a book you don't want to miss...even if you find yourself blinking back manly tears a time or two.
Outstanding read! November 3, 2009
Timothy R. Otoole (PA)
Wow! Great Book. What a tough situation to lead Marines through. It's great to see America still makes men like these.
My son loved this book October 23, 2009
Betsy Byker (Osceola, WI)
I bought this book for my 19 year old son who is currently in training at Fort Gordon. He loved it and said he read it in just 2 days-his first 2 days off since joining the Army.
A must read October 2, 2009
Joseph V. Phelps, Jr.
Anyone who wants to know what it was like in Iraq in 2004 should read this book.
Showing reviews 1-5 of 110
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