Gardner, Carl Iraq Operation Telic 9

Arnhem in Basra

This is the story of "Arnhem Company's" perilous deployment to the southern Iraqi city of Basra, told by Company Sergeant Major Carl Gardnerthe company's most senior and experienced soldier. The book offers insights into previously unpublished experiences and depicts the harrowing conditions the soldiers faced at the hands of deadly Iraqi insurgents. The year is 2006: Arnhem Company is part of an armored infantry unit deployed to Iraq as part of the 2nd Battalion, Duke of Lancaster's Regiment's seven-month tour of duty. Upon arrival, they are subjected to constant rocket attacks by Iraqi insurgents. Before they can begin patrolling the dangerous streets of Basra, they must first complete in-theater training. Tensions remain high as insurgents attack them with machine guns, portable rocket launchers, and devastating roadside bombs. The rule is simple: prove yourself or return home in a body bag. Some attacks are so intense that the soldiers can only describe them to people back home by telling them to watch the movie *Black Hawk Down*. This sustained combat takes a heavy toll: over the ensuing seven months, 29 officers and soldiers are killed, and many more suffer life-altering injuries. The book captures the thoughts and emotions Carl and his men experience during this defining deployment. He is aware that the British Army's Iraq campaign is controversial back home; he has even heard comments like "American puppet in yet another Muslim country." At the start of the deployment, he views their mission as a force for good and explains his reasons for this belief. It is compelling to see how his views are put to the test as the deployment unfolds and how he evolvesboth as a soldier and as a person. He describes what it feels like to lose a close friend in war and the impact this has not only on himself but also on his family back home. The reader gains deep insight into the hardships that soldiers and their loved ones endure during times of conflict. It is almost impossible to escape the emotional rollercoaster of anger, shock, and grief. This gives the book a unique and honest perspectiveone that no other work on this conflict has offered before.