Desert Dogs: The Marines of Operation Iraqi Freedom

Rating:
Summary: Excellent photography
Review: If I could rate this book in negative stars I would. I am a 12-year Marine Corps combat veteran and have been following the Marines in Iraq closely. I recommend The March Up and Generation Kill but this picture book is a waste of time and money. The pictures are entirely of rear echelon types in Camp Fox and other camps washing their hair, wrestling, standing in line at the PX. Not a single combat photo except two pictures of a burnned out Amtrak in two locations in the book and one of an M1 Abrams that flipped off a bridge. The photographer should have got some guts and gone and got some good Marine Grunt combat photos. What a waste.

Rating:
Summary: Excellent photography
Review: It's not meant to be a "gung-ho, kill'em all and let God sort'em out" type of military book.
It tells the story of how our brave men and women pass the time in a foreign land while waiting for their orders, knowing that just over the horizon there's a country to invade and enemies to battle. Meanwhile, they're trying to create the illusion of home and the comfort of routine...they get their hair cut, they play cards, they wash the jeeps and humvees, they horse around and write letters home and shop for soda and hot rod magazines.
These aren't the stories and photos of glory on the battlefield. It's what our soldiers do before and after their job is done.
Yet, Bryant shoots his subjects in a touching way and really captures the spirit of each soldier as an individual, with hopes and dreams and fears.
It's an engaging and unique book. Not like the other books of military photography out there.

Rating:
Summary: A book all of America should see
Review: The photography in this book is by far the most captivating of any images I have seen come out of Iraq. It sidesteps the horrifying shock-value images so often splashed across the media pages and newsreels. Instead, it shows what our soldiers are doing day in, and day out. A beautiful book.