'The Green Marine' - a heads up lads...

arybvtcw0eolkf

Just finished this book and thought I'd give you guys a heads up on a little gem of a book.

Hugely enjoyable, very easy to read.

Its about Graham Dale, a Dubliner (northsider too ) who joined the USMC after the 9/11 attacks on the WTC.

Brilliant book, buy it today!

http://www.dublinpeople.com/content/view/501/56/

tbh

I heard him on the radio a while ago, very interesting story alright.

eroo

I read about it in the Sunday World 2 weeks ago.Definitely picking it up after the leaving cert!

It wasn't me!

Sounds good. I'll try pick it up now for when exams are over.

minidazzler

I am about halfway through it and I have to say it is brilliant so far. And I havent even gotten to the Action bit yet!!!!


Interestingly though read the Back of it and it says he went to an Army recruitment center and joined the Marines.

Obviously a mistake but still I found it to be quite funny.

Tenger

minidazzler wrote: »

Interestingly though read the Back of it and it says he went to an Army recruitment center and joined the Marines.

Obviously a mistake but still I found it to be quite funny.

Perhaps it referred to the Armed Forces recruitment center in Times Square, NY?

minidazzler

No its Texas. But what it says is

"He drove to the nearest ARMY recruiting center and enlisted in the US Marines"


I know it is nothing of consequence but I thought I should point it out.

tallaghtoutlaws

minidazzler wrote: »

No its Texas. But what it says is

"He drove to the nearest ARMY recruiting center and enlisted in the US Marines"


I know it is nothing of consequence but I thought I should point it out.

What is wrong with that quote? There is recruitment centres all over the US for the Armed Forces. They openly recruit. I walked into one in the middle of nowhere in Wisconsin. Nothing Strange about it at all.

Great Book just started to read myself.

King Ludvig

I dont think you can just 'inlist' into the marines.

I heard about this anyway, sounds really interesting, will buy it after the exams defo.

minidazzler

Do you mean you dont think that you can go and say "I would like to join the USMC"?

If so then you are wrong.
To join the Marines you go to a Marine recruiter,
For US Army you go to an Army recruiter,
For Navy = Navy Recruiter,
USAF = Airforce Recruiter
Coast Guards = Coastie Recruiters.

I dont think I left anything out.

eroo

Let's not get all technical here,it's a mistake on the back of a book..I wouldn't read into it too deeply..pardun the pun!

minidazzler

Yeah your right

A
N
Y
Wayzzz

I just finished it a few minutes ago and I have to say it is one of the best books I have read this year.

It beats Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows!!!!

Next I have Hidden Soldier so we will see how that is!!!!

And I just thought I woud Pimp my Wares while I am here.

If anyone would like to Support a Military Book subforum here then please show your support in this thread.

Thanks,

Great book 5 stars.

Ronan Raver77

Seems like this is a good book to get.I will ad it to the long list of books i need to get.

Tenger

minidazzler wrote: »

I just finished it a few minutes ago and I have to say it is one of the best books I have read this year.

Next I have Hidden Soldier so we will see how that is!!!!

Picked Green Marine up today. Will start it tomorrow. Have already read Hidden Soldier so will be interesting to compare the two. Have also read My War by Colby Buzzel last year.

Also picked up Sniper One by Dan Mills. About a UK battle group under fire. So thats after Green Marine.

My next read should be by an insurgent to see the conflict from as many sides as possible.

Dirty Dave

Mairt wrote: »

Just finished this book and thought I'd give you guys a heads up on a little gem of a book.

Hugely enjoyable, very easy to read.

Its about Graham Dale, a Dubliner (northsider too ) who joined the USMC after the 9/11 attacks on the WTC.

Brilliant book, buy it today!

http://www.dublinpeople.com/content/view/501/56/

Was looking at it in the shop, thinking it was just another typical Irish guy joins foreign military, comes home, writes book type of thing, until I look at the pictures and thought to myself - Jesus that guy looks familiar!

Had a flick through the first few pages and it turns out I knew him in the FCA! He was in C Coy, 20 Bn a few years ago - late 90's ish

So I bought it, am looking forward to reading it now.

cp251

Aha, Another one up for the old 20th Battalion. Say what you like about the FCA or the RDF but it has been a nursery for many a military career. The PDF of course, Air Corps, Foreign Legion, US Marines, The Parchute regiment, The Irish Guards etc etc.

The Irishman killed while serving in Iraq with the Irish Guards was from D Company of the 20th.

shakin

http://www.rte.ie/radio1/podcast/podcast_tubridy.xml

the man himself on tubbers a week or two ago

minidazzler

I don't like Ryan Tubridy. He is very condesending towards Graham here.

Dub13

Its on my big 'to do' list.

minidazzler

Dub13 wrote: »

Its on my big 'to do' list.

Trust me Move it to the Top. Very good book.

Pure Cork

Excellent book, very easy to read.

kreuzberger

Bramble wrote: »

Picked Green Marine up today. Will start it tomorrow. Have already read Hidden Soldier so will be interesting to compare the two. Have also read My War by Colby Buzzel last year.

Also picked up Sniper One by Dan Mills. About a UK battle group under fire. So thats after Green Marine.

My next read should be by an insurgent to see the conflict from as many sides as possible.

Personally id much prefer to read about a military campaign from the point of view of someone who was resisting the occupation of their country than from the point of view of someone who was justifying their unnecessary participation in the occupation of someone elses country .

I read an article about his book in the bloody awful sunday world while waiting for a haircut in the barbers . He seemed to be of the opinion Irish people should be grateful to him or something . Personally my sympathies would be more with the occupied Iraqis than an Irish born mercenary over there shooting at them .

Pure Cork

kreuzberger wrote: »

Personally id much prefer to read about a military campaign from the point of view of someone who was resisting the occupation of their country than from the point of view of someone who was justifying their unnecessary participation in the occupation of someone elses country .

I read an article about his book in the bloody awful sunday world while waiting for a haircut in the barbers . He seemed to be of the opinion Irish people should be grateful to him or something . Personally my sympathies would be more with the occupied Iraqis than an Irish born mercenary over there shooting at them .

In the book, he isn't of the opinion that Irish people should be grateful or sympathetic in my opinion. I won't elaborate in case I spoil the book for someone

Tommyboy71

minidazzler wrote: »

Yeah your right

Next I have Hidden Soldier so we will see how that is!!!!

First time poster here but Hidden Soldier is a great read.

minidazzler

Tommyboy71 wrote: »

First time poster here but Hidden Soldier is a great read.

I totally agree here, I read it in one night because I just couldn't stop reading.

I think yer man Looks like Robert De Niro!!!!!

I think I have actually met him before (He is from Cork) and I recognise him but I just cant place him!!

arybvtcw0eolkf

kreuzberger wrote: »

Personally id much prefer to read about a military campaign from the point of view of someone who was resisting the occupation of their country than from the point of view of someone who was justifying their unnecessary participation in the occupation of someone elses country .

I read an article about his book in the bloody awful sunday world while waiting for a haircut in the barbers . He seemed to be of the opinion Irish people should be grateful to him or something . Personally my sympathies would be more with the occupied Iraqis than an Irish born mercenary over there shooting at them .

Actually in the book he speaks about his feelings re. the invasion and his feelings towards the insurrection both at home and in Iraq.

Your very wide of the mark, maybe you should read the book then make your feelings know here.

kreuzberger

if thats the case then Ill take your advice and read it . The sunday world piece promoted it as something like an Andy McNab /Terry Wogan hybrid and thats all i had to go on . With that in mind there was no way i was going to buy it .
According to what you tell me ill get a look at it and report back .

arybvtcw0eolkf

kreuzberger wrote: »

if thats the case then Ill take your advice and read it . The sunday world piece promoted it as something like an Andy McNab /Terry Wogan hybrid and thats all i had to go on . With that in mind there was no way i was going to buy it .
According to what you tell me ill get a look at it and report back .

Honestly, its a really good, honest and down to earth story.

In fact I'd be worried that unless the reader has served oversea's in a military unit he/she would find it particularly boring as it doesn't glorify anything and infact only details (I think) two contacts in the whole book.

Otherwise its just patrol after patrol, bad equipment gripes, bad officers and their lunacy decisions. He could be writing about an Irish army oversea's tour - boring and full of stupid officers.

helimachoptor

Just started it this morning, but it almost seems like a blog he's written. I've just finished another book on Navy Seals (the name escapes me atm) but that was full of non stop fighting... this is a little more relaxed it seems.

With some of the wording its pretty obvious you can take the boy out of Ireland but not take Ireland out of the boy... "ah Bollox I thought"

Chuck U Farley

cp251 wrote: »

Aha, Another one up for the old 20th Battalion. Say what you like about the FCA or the RDF but it has been a nursery for many a military career. The PDF of course, Air Corps, Foreign Legion, US Marines, The Parchute regiment, The Irish Guards etc etc.

[FONT=&quot]Let’s not forget the US NAVY. [/FONT]

yaeger

What a small world, just saw this write up on him in one of the sunday paper mags today, Turns out i remember him from 20th battalion also, I was A company, could have swore he was too but i guess he might have been C coy, just cant remember. Done glenn of imaal with him and he pipped me to the covetted pen/bullet price for best soldier on summer camp so real amazing to see how he is doing.
Will deffiantely go buy it now !

helimachoptor

It seems like he was very bored over there. apart from

Where the other Humvee took a suicide bomber car

He seemed bored ****less.

I think he got lucky from the other books i've read and from what he says happened in Fallujah it seems he got a relatively easy assignment.

cushtac

He was definitely in C coy.

KINGPIN

brilliant book,

easy to read,

not too long,

brilliant for someone who does`nt normally read books !

eroo

Excellent book,just finished it!OK maybe it wasn't action packed,but that's what I loved about it.It showed serving in the military overseas for what it really is!I've heard so many times how the biggest enemy overseas is boredom,this book backs that up..but still manages to be a great read,especially showing the effects serving can have on a soldier.

barred.ie

Hey Lads, I was just wondering what people thought of my Book (Green Marine) and I found this via Google, was glad to read the thread. So thanks a million for the indirect feedback, Pretty honest and frank me thinks. I never claimed to be Yeats etc.. But am glad that you got the point of the story. Yeah, I was in 'C' Coy, 2oth Inf Bat an FCA. Really great experience and one i'd recommend to any of my friends and family.

Cheers

Daler
PFC Marine
(Private F*cking civilain)

mikemac

Excellent book, enjoyed reading it
Very easy to read and interesting

Ronan Raver77

You just reminded me to purchase the book:) will let you know then.

Dub13

Ronan Devitt wrote: »

You just reminded me to purchase the book:) will let you know then.

Same here,I have a big 'to read list' but I must get this before I forget.

echo hotel

Don't normally read books but was headin to new york on my honeymoon and picked it up to read on the plane.
I finished it in two days couldn't put it down.

lostexpectation

sound he didn't have clue what he was doing there

kieranfitz

Its next on the list after the forgotten solder

Honey-ec

echo hotel wrote: »

Don't normally read books but was headin to new york on my honeymoon and picked it up to read on the plane.
I finished it in two days couldn't put it down.

I actually read this after he *points up* had finished it with it, and I have to be honest, I thought it was very poorly written and quite boring.

Ok, I take the point that the boredom of being overseas was central to the storyline, but I still think the book was dragged out and could have been at least 5 or 6 chapters shorter.

I just think that Dale could have portrayed the montony of his time in Iraq without it being monotonous for the reader too...