audiobook The Lonely Soldier: The Private War of Women Serving in Iraq by Helen Benedict in History

Review

0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. Another voice in the wilderness. Thanks to Helen Benedict from veterans and active duty.By FarfromthefarMaybe someday people will listen and really hear the truth even if it takes some glitter off the military image. The military service members are more important than the military reputation.Military Service members do not have the normal rights a citizen does. They are under the Military Code of Justice instead and are not innocent until proven guilty and have no real power to be heard or hope of being believed. That was true in 1975 and remains true today because no one wants to be bothered and they somehow imagine pristine justice is available under the code.0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. More people need to read this story!By JillMade me angry -- first; the abhorrent behavior towards the women by the men who are supposed to be on their team; and second; for the horrible conditions to which all soldiers were exposed so Halliburton (esp KBR) could improve their bottom line. Totally disgusting. But I feel better for having been exposed to this painful knowledge. Much gratitude to Helen Benedict for writing this; as well as the women who were courageous enough to speak with her.4 of 4 people found the following review helpful. An interesting and upsetting bookBy N.S.First I have to admit I'm writing this review as a mere civilian and outsider: I'm a guy living and working in Middle Europe; have never served in the army; never used a weapon; and never witnessed any armed conflict or violence. Still; I felt I needed to read this book; about women who served in a war that almost nobody in the world wanted to happen; apart from the Bush administration co...The book gives an insight into the life of five women; who joined the armed forces of the U.S.; and who did their best to serve their homeland. As a civilian; I was reading it as a rare first-hand experience of a war; which most of us only watched on TV. We knew that soldiers and Iraqi people are getting killed almost every day; but for many of us the whole thing just seemed so distant. And now it came very close; and real.Honestly; the personal stories that these women told have really touched me. I often felt deeply involved. While I was reading the harder parts of the book - harsh living conditions; sicknesses; mortar attacks; fights - I constantly wished I could help these girls and women somehow. Although I haven't experienced such extreme circumstances in my own life; I could imagine their situation; and it was so moving when they talked about their struggles; their pain (both physical and mental). I kept on thinking to myself; "They did not deserve this". It was also a delusion getting to know how USA; the world's strongest economic and military power; treats some (many?) of its own soldiers; during and after the war; in which they risked their own lives.And one more important aspect I'd like to note: having read this book; I'd never think the same way about war; armed forces; men and women as before. I must have learned something.There were only two things which disturbed me a bit. First; as earlier reviewers have already noted; it tends to focus mainly on the problems; difficulties and struggles; while happier periods are summarized in like one or two short sentences; to give room for the next problem. Second; I had a slight feeling that the stories deliberately end (or get cut off) in sadness; as if Benedict wanted to "over-emphasize" their drama at the end of her book. I would have welcome some kind of epilogue or afterword.All in all; this book made a big impression on me; despite its slight pessimism and bias I've mentioned. It was well worth reading. I would recommend it to anybody who'd like to get an insight into the lives of (female) soldiers of today.