Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #13475 in Books
• Published on: 2008-06-02
• Original language: English
• Binding: Paperback
• 320 pages

Review
'Wonderfully compelling ! a fast-paced story of incredible bravery that at times reads like a thriller.' Christina Lamb, Sunday Times 'Bishop gives a gripping insight into deployment in Afghanistan last year of 3 Para!written with the fluent, rich and engaging fashion typical of the author's as a journalist.' The Times 'He presents an inspiring story of courage, discipline and!selfless comradeship!the frenzy of close--quarters combat!is captured particularly vividly!fast--paced and absorbing.' Daily Mail

The Observer
'The best reporting I have read on the war in Afghanistan is in Bishop's 3 Para.'

Daily Mail
'The frenzy of close-quarters combat...is captured particularly vividly...Fast-paced and absorbing.'

Customer Reviews

There is something about 3 Para.
It was April 2006 and 3rd Battalion the Parachute Regiment (3 Para) Battle Group were deployed to Helmand Province in Afghanistan for a 6 month tour of duty. What they were expecting to encounter and what they found on arrival were entirely different things. The pre-deployment intelligence suggested the tour was likely to pass without a shot being fired whilst they concentrated on a task which required them to provide security for a reconstruction programme.

Six months later, the Battle Group returned home having fought one continuous battle after another during which they defeated the Taliban within Helmand Province. That military success did not, however, come without a price. 18 Officers and men died during the tour after another two had lost their lives in preliminary operations.

It is many years since I served with 3 Para and I well remember the stories of both Sergeant Willetts who saved many lives in Northern Ireland for which he was awarded a posthumous GC in the 1970s and, in 1982, Sergeant Ian McKay who was awarded the last VC of the 20th Century. Now, in just 6 months in 2006, 3 Para had added yet another VC and another GC in addition to many other honours and awards to their illustrious Battalion and Regimental history.

Written by a professional foreign correspondent who was given access to all the information and personal stories required to create this significant, and important, work of literature about a series of modern military actions, Patrick Bishop has done an excellent job in providing an informative and readable account of exactly what happened.

This is what our forces are doing in Afghanistan. Doubtless, in many ways, it will be similar to what our forces are doing in Iraq. It is, therefore, a book which should be read by everyone with an interest in the world at war - today.

As a postscript (and not part of the book itself), readers will be interested to know that the Commanding Officer of 3 Para Battle Group - Lt Colonel Stuart Tootal DSO OBE (the DSO being awarded for his outstanding service in Afghanistan) resigned in November 2007 after attacking the Ministry of Defence over "poor pay for soldiers, lack of equipment, the standard of army housing and poor medical treatment afforded to his injured soldiers."

Unlike their comrades from the USA, when the modern British Army has finished with it's soldiers - they really are finished with them.

NM
British Army major (Retired)

Falklands - Walk In The Park Compared To This
I had the honour of taking part in the attack on Tumbledown Mountain with the 2nd Bn Scots Guards 25 years ago. We had different challenges, including an extended supply line, compared to those written about. But our experiences were over quickly, unlike the fierce fighting that took place over a prolonged period by the soldiers described in the book.

"3 Para" is an honest account that does not pull punches or try to be politically correct. In addition to the well researched descriptions of battles/contacts, it also gives the big picture, in a way that can be easily followed. You can taste the fear in your mouth as you read how our troops reacted during the fog of war.

I believe this book is a must for any serving or retired military person. You hear the age old cry of "the youth of today are this or that", well this book confirms that our soldiers today are something very special. Although entitled "3 Para", it also includes material on a number of other units. I have read many military accounts over the years, but 3 Para is at the top of the list. This is the book for the person who tells you "they never read books". It is also a book that would make interesting reading for our Politicians (of all parties). This book also confirms, what soldiers who have been in active service, have known for hundreds of years - you don't do it for your Queen and Country - you do it for your mates!

This book will help you remember those that made the ultimate sacrifice during this and other conflicts. It should also help you think about those who have suffered terrible injuries and are living today.

Not first hand..
I bought this book and like many others who had read 'Sniper One', 'Eight Lives Down' and other similar books, found this quite disapointing.
I expected it to be a first hand account where you feel like you are there with the actual soldiers, but this is nothing like that at all.
It is all a sort of mix up of whats going on in different places at different times, and is altogether quite confusing to be honest.
It seems as though the author has got loads of information of what happened from people who were there and decided to make a book out of it, but quite frankly it would have been one hundred times better if it was written by one of the soldiers themselves.
If you want a good military read then I advise buying the books mentioned above.