“To hear them laugh was to hear that everything was all right, but to see them laugh was to see otherwise” WarLaughterArmyIraqTerrorUsaLaughSoldiersMarines Book:The Good Soldiers Source: The Good Soldiers
“Live in alignment with your value, not your vanity.” SuccessValuesLeadershipIntegrity Author:David Finkel
“It's a thin line between what we're calling acceptable and not acceptable. As a leader, you're supposed to know when not to cross it. But how do you know? Does the army teach us how to control our emotions? Does the army teach us how to deal with a friend bleeding out in front of you? No.” LifeWarPainBloodArmyIraqAfghanistanFriendBleedingQuestionSoldiersLessonLine Book:The Good Soldiers Source: The Good Soldiers
“It wasn't as if they had a choice. They were soldiers whose choices had ended when they had signed contracts and taken their oaths. Whether they had joined for reasons of patriotism, of romantic notions, to escape a broken home of some sort, or out of economic need, their job now was to follow the orders of other soldiers who were following orders, too. Somewhere, far from Iraq, was where the orders began, but by the time they reached Rustamiyah, the only choice left for a solider was to choose which lucky charm to tuck behind his body armor, or which foot to line up in front of the other, as he went out to follow the order of the day.” ChoicesMilitarySoldiersOrders Book:The Good Soldiers Source: The Good Soldiers