Two Wars: One Hero's Fight on Two Fronts--Abroad and Within

By Nate Self

Book Overview

Former army ranger Nate Self, a hero from the Robert's Ridge rescue in Afghanistan, tells his whole story--from the pulse-pounding battle in the mountains of Afghanistan to the high-stakes battle he has waged against post traumatic stress disorder. This book will become a go-to book for understanding the long-term effects of the war on terror. Thousands of families are fighting this battle, and Nate opens up his life--including his successes, tragedies, struggles with thoughts of suicide--to show how his faith and his family pulled him through. Includes 8 pages of color photos.
In a nutshell:

Excellent book for military familes trying to cope with the family pressures of a soldier's active duty. Inspirational book for a soldier struggling with post traumatic stress disorder. Helps readers understand the importance of faith in dealing with the war. An up-close-and-personal account of the war on terror; and the story of one soldier's faith. An insider's account of Robert's Ridge Rescue in Afghanistan.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1414320108
• ISBN13: 9781414320106
• Release Date: May 2009
• Publisher: Tyndale Momentum
• Length: 416 Pages
• Weight: 1.18 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.9" x 5.9" x 8.8"

Customer Reviews

The Power of Truth

Of the three books written about the so-called battle of Roberts Ridge, this one has the greatest sensitivity. It's personal! Ranger Capt. Nate Self got caught between the miscalculations of the Navy SEALS, and a fundamental flaw in senior command leadership. Sent on a mission to rescue the SEALS from a snowy 10,000-foot Afghanistan battleground, he lacked basic mission information. He was the uncertain leader on the ground and entering a desperate fight. But he made do. Despite the crash of his helicopter and the vulnerability of his small force, he led his Rangers smartly and with amazing courage and ingenuity Self's story details the circumstances of personal and professional truth and the equal courage and commitment of his Rangers. Destroying an enemy bunker and saving the lives of as many of his own men as he could, incluiding the SEALS, he nonethless became a victim of his circumstances--fear, death, responsibility for others and disregard for his own wounds--overtaken as he would subsequently become by Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. Honored by the President for his valor, he had to leave the Army to struggle with PTSD and the nation lost one its best young officers. Thus he writes a compelling story of his challenges as a soldier and the challenges of the debilitating stress of a bloody war, all underscored by his faith in himself, his troopers, and his God. A fabulous read.

A realistic look at battle and its aftermath...

I had the privilege of going to high school with Nate. I knew the man he grew up to be, the man that slowly seems to get lost throughout the course of this book. This made going through the book difficult, the vivid imagery immersing me and making me deny that the story was about this strong, loving and faithful person that I grew up with. The first portion of the book provides a vivid account of Nate's progression through the military ranks and the Roberts Ridge Rescue mission. Later in the book, Nate describes dealing with PTSD. The descriptions of his emotional turmoil leap from the pages. It is this information, personal information, that should make us reflect on how war changes all of us, not just those directly involved. I would suggest this book to anyone who wants to read a true account of our current occupation. This book is a well written, personal account of one man's struggles on and off the battlefield. In reality, it is not just about one man, but about all of the soldiers that return from war unable to deal with the aftermath. ***Nate, if you read this, I hope the picture I gave you at your book signing helps you to remember, if only briefly, that somewhere inside you is still the kid in the explorer outfit and pith helmet. God Bless!

Amazingly Transparent Insights!

I just finished this book that was hard to put down. It provides amazingly transparent insights into West Point, Rangers and the military in general. Thanks for helping me understand some of what my son (special forces) has not been able to verbalize. Stu Weber's afterward was excellent also.

Well Done!

A great book that I could relate to on a personal level. If there is anything good that comes from experiences like Nate's, it would be books like this that truly humble you and put a lot of things into perspective.

What an incredible story!

Just got through reading an advance copy of this book. Wow! It's the most vivid account yet of what this generation of soldiers goes through emotionally and spiritually to defend our country. The author bares his soul and his faith in a way seldom seen in a "military" book. And there is still plenty of action from the highest battle fought in U.S. military history -- 11,000-foot mountain.