The Chosen Few: a Company of Paratroopers and Its Heroic Struggle
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Naval War College Review Volume 71 Article 12 Number 2 Spring 2018 The hoC sen Few: A Company of Paratroopers and Its Heroic Struggle to Survive in the Mountains of Afghanistan Thomas J. Gibbons Gregg Zoroya Follow this and additional works at: https://digital-commons.usnwc.edu/nwc-review Recommended Citation Gibbons, Thomas J. and Zoroya, Gregg (2018) "The hosC en Few: A Company of Paratroopers and Its Heroic Struggle to Survive in the Mountains of Afghanistan," Naval War College Review: Vol. 71 : No. 2 , Article 12. Available at: https://digital-commons.usnwc.edu/nwc-review/vol71/iss2/12 This Book Review is brought to you for free and open access by the Journals at U.S. Naval War College Digital Commons. It has been accepted for inclusion in Naval War College Review by an authorized editor of U.S. Naval War College Digital Commons. For more information, please contact [email protected]. Gibbons and Zoroya: The Chosen Few: A Company of Paratroopers and Its Heroic Struggle BOOK REVIEWS READERS: HERE ARE THE CHOSEN FEW—INCLUDING THE CHOSEN FEW The Chosen Few: A Company of Paratroopers and Its Heroic Struggle to Survive in the Mountains of Afghanistan, by Gregg Zoroya� Boston: Da Capo, 2017� 370 pages� $27� Gregg Zoroya chronicles the journey arrived in the Army without a father of the paratroopers of C Company, figure, or at least none who had been 2nd Battalion, 503rd Infantry, 173rd around full-time� Some were like lost Airborne Brigade—known as “the boys searching without realizing it for Chosen Few”—as they deployed to a surrogate family after a childhood of combat in Afghanistan and fought in abuse or neglect�” Joining the Army was some of the most violent and bloody about being a part of something bigger battles during 2007 and 2008� In his than themselves—a first for many of foreword, Admiral William McRaven, them—with their buddies eventually USN (Ret�), highlights that during the becoming their second family� fifteen-month deployment, nearly two- Zoroya does a superb job highlighting thirds of the soldiers among the Chosen the nuances of the soldiers’ personalities, Few were injured and awarded the their relationships with one another, Purple Heart� Eventually, two of them, and how they came to meld together� Specialist Kyle J� White and Sergeant He traces the lighthearted moments Ryan M� Pitts, would receive the Medal as well as the gruesome details these of Honor for their heroism and bravery soldiers faced as they fought against in close combat with the enemy� overwhelming odds at the Ranch House Initially, Zoroya describes the soldiers’ command post, on the cliffs of the backgrounds and how they came Waigal valley, and again at the battle together at Fort Benning, Georgia, and of Wanat� Zoroya conducted count- later in Vicenza, Italy� The soldiers of less interviews with soldiers, family the Chosen Few were a reflection of members, and others to bring the details contemporary working-class America� of each fight to life so that readers feel They joined the Army in search of a as if they were actually there� But this is better life and better opportunities for more than just an account of one unit’s the future� The Army provided them combat actions; the reader also feels with structure, a full-time job, and much the camaraderie, love, and respect these more� “A large number of ‘the Chosen soldiers shared—they were willing to Few’ came from broken homes and fight and even die for one another� Published by U.S. Naval War College Digital Commons, 2018 1 NWC_Spring2018Review.indb 159 2/23/18 10:51 AM 160 NAVAL WAR COLLEGENaval REVIEW War College Review, Vol. 71 [2018], No. 2, Art. 12 The resiliency, dedication, and mental There are important lessons to be toughness that the Chosen Few soldiers learned from reading about these brave displayed, even though medevac assets soldiers of the Chosen Few� Zoroya and air support were lacking, are makes the following point: “Just as commendable� At Wanat, they were military teachers for decades strolled on their own in enemy territory and with students across the battlefields at outnumbered by enemy insurgents just Gettysburg, Shiloh, and other famous meters outside their fighting positions� engagements to learn the art of war, Yet they continued to fight, looking they [should] also virtually tour Wanat out for one another in a way that only in the years ahead�” These are lessons those in close combat can understand� that should not have to be relearned In combat, soldiers fight for one another each time U�S� forces engage in combat more than anything else—they do not operations, and that is why the battle of want to let their buddies down� Wanat will be studied by young men and The book raises the question: How women at the U�S� Military Academy can the world’s most powerful military and in college Reserve Officers’ Training put soldiers in harm’s way with only Corps (i�e�, ROTC) detachments across limited resources and support? Lieuten- the United States for years to come� ant Colonel Bill Ostlund, battalion Zoroya has done a masterful job of commander of the 2/503 Infantry, highlighting the brave soldiers of the noted that the entire “brigade had Chosen Few� This book is a must-read six Apache attack helicopters, and at for military leaders at any level� times as many as four were down for THOMAS J� GIBBONS maintenance� It was taking way too long to get the wounded off the battlefield�” Wanat was a travesty, not just another bureaucratic oversight; the U�S� military establishment clearly was surprised No Room for Mistakes: British and Allied Sub- and could not react quickly enough� marine Warfare 1939–1940, by Geirr H� Haarr� Barnsley, U�K�: Seaforth, 2015� 450 pages� $49�95� The July 2008 battle of Wanat itself was horrific, and the fallout devastating for No Room for Mistakes is a meticulously all� Those who survived were tormented researched and well-written history of by guilt, wondering what more they the British and Allied submarine ser- could have done� The Army, for its vices from 1939 to 1940� The relatively part, conducted several investigations, short time span the book covers allows released the findings, and then amended the author, Geirr Haarr, to delve into the findings� Careers were ruined, and granular detail, often giving week- some leaders left the Army� Even more by-week, even day-by-day, accounts tragic, families lost faith in the chain of particular submarines and their of command and the Army leadership, travails fighting the German navy in the because it seemed that no one was eastern Atlantic and Mediterranean� held accountable for the circumstances The book’s first chapter follows the surrounding and the casualties result- tragic story of HMS Thetis during the ing from the battle of Wanat� first half of 1939� Shortly after it left the Cammell Laird shipyards near https://digital-commons.usnwc.edu/nwc-review/vol71/iss2/12 2 NWC_Spring2018Review.indb 160 2/23/18 10:51 AM.