They say the Army makes a man out of you—but for 18-year-old SPC Michael Anthony, that fabled rite of passage proved a very dark journey. After soliciting his parents’ approval to enlist at only 17, Anthony began his journey with an unshakeable faith in the military born of his family’s long tradition of service. But when thrust into a medical unit of misfits as lost as he was, SPC Anthony not only witnessed the unspeakable horror of war—but the undeniable misconduct of the military—firsthand. Everything he ever believed in dissolved, forcing Anthony to rethink his loyalties, and ultimately risk his career—and his freedom—to challenge the military he had so firmly believed in.
This searing memoir chronicles the iconic experiences that changed one young soldier forever. A seasoned veteran before the age of twenty-one, he faced the truth about the war—and himself—in this shocking and unprecedented eyewitness account.
Professional Reviews
Howard Zinn
“Michael Anthony's memoir is not about the politics of Iraq. Instead it takes us deep inside the war, inside and outside the operating room, the barracks, the talk of the soldiers, the feeling of the situation. It joins the body of war literature in a unique and powerful way.”
—Howard Zinn, Civil Rights Leader, Historian
Author of: A People’s History of the United States
David Bellavia
"Anthony's painful account of his time at war is at times difficult to read. This coming of age war memoir. details the very gut wrenching journey he takes into manhood in the backdrop of grueling combat. His voice is unique and deserves to be heard. We may not all agree with why we fight, but I am proud to be of a generation with Warriors like Anthony, who are compelled to share these important life altering experiences."
David Bellavia
Author of: House to House
Co-Founder of: Vets For Freedom
Nominee of: Medal of Honor, and Distinguished Service Cross
Brandon Friedman
"From traumatic injuries to anthrax shots, Michael Anthony has captured in intricate detail life in a combat zone operating room. As someone who's done two tours myself, even I learned an incredible amount."
—Brandon R. Friedman, Iraq Veteran,
Author of: The War I Always Wanted: The Illusion of Glory and the Reality of War
Want to review or comment on this book?
Need a FREE Reader Membership?
Reviews for "Mass Casualties: A Young Medic's True Story of Death, and Dishonor in Iraq"
Reviewed by JASON MCDONALD
1/24/2010
I am a Hospital Corpsmen who has served three tours in harms way during some of the fiercest fighting on the front lines: Ramadi: 2004 January - 2004 November and Baghdad 2005 November - 2006 December.
This is a awful book written on a Goose-Bump or Teenage romance novel/tabloid level by a immature medic. This book contains college freshman rebelliousness, with one persons self serving aims. It contains little to know literature on the self sacrifice and life saving expertise of our medical brothers and sisters.
The word MASS CASUALTIES means any large number of casualties produced in a relatively short period of time, usually as the result of a single incident such as a military aircraft accident, hurricane, flood, earthquake, or armed attack that exceeds local logistic support capabilities.
It does not mean whiney, undisciplined, hypersensitive REMF among a highly undisciplined U.S. Army unit that he could have tried to change earlier without making the U.S. Army`s role more difficult by bad publicity. That is, if this young mans story is correct.
This young man took military dirty laundry and hung it on a hook for everyone to see. He states "I am doing it for the good of the soldier." This young man is using exploitation. Most of us professional health care providers/combat medics and corpsmen agree that by not taking internal action and going through civilian channels, you will make the military system weaker. They now have to try and fix all of these issues while fending off more oversight slowing down corrective action. If the military trys to operate like a civilian organization it will fail.
The power of a individual sailor, marine, soldier, airman to make individual change through the appropriate channels is at its highest. Now there will be outside agencies trying to handle military affiars and raising questions that could have been dealt with more decisively, with more quickness and maintaining good order.
If he felt so strongly or had the stones about his convictions he could have reported this to the Inspector General for action to be taken. If it still did not happen and as a last resort, he could have brought this to stars and stripes after he exhausted all measures.
Mr. Anthony, you are a philanthropist, a whiner and a fake who lacks integrity and courage to bring up these matters affectively while in the military. Please ensure that you take any medic insignia, chevrons or identification and send it back to the military for someone with the appropriate honor, commitment and courage to serve.
Its apparent this non-medics aims are for recognition and book sales despite his raising some funds for the troops. I fear that with my post, more personnel will read this book.
If you want to read this book, do so at a library, borrow it from someone or read it in a book store. I would not recommend buying this book about a whiner who lacked the courage do take action in the organization.
Sincerely: Doc
Hey Mr Anthony, if you want the negative and positive truth about real corpsmen, medics and surgeons please see the below.
Rule Number Two: Lessons I Learned in a Combat Hospital
Memoirs of a Combat Medic by SSG Elissa Lonsdalefs
Combat Medic: World War II by John A Kerner
Saber's Edge: A Combat Medic in Ramadi, Iraq (Hardcover)
Doc: Heroic Stories of Medics,Corpsmen,and Surgeons by Mark R. Littleton
The Gift of Valor: A War Story by Michael
Reviewed by Richard Arrington
9/11/2009
I hope this book open the eye's of those who have chosen to keep them closed. You are a wonderful writer.
We Will Stone Him is a raw, unfiltered trauma memoir about surviving childhood abuse, emotional manipulation, and the lifelong wounds that follow. This true story marks the beginning of the Rising From The Ashes Trilogy, John Gambacorta and his survi
A passionate and poignant memoir written by a woman whose life has been guided by the words: "I am here to learn how to love well." The book is a deep examination of relationships, family, motivation, and honoring of the Self.
