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Summary: War & Narrative in the Classical Tradition
Review: Cutting, intense, wrenching, and poetic, this is a masterpiece of the literature of combat. American warriors today are commanded by leaders the likes of whom haven't been seen since the days of the Roman legions. They are equally well served by chroniclers such as West and Smith. THE MARCH UP is searing in its narration, unsparing and yet compassionate in its judgments, magnificent in its portrayal of valiant American men and women at war in the cause of human freedom. Impossible to encapsulate, it must be experienced in its entirety, preferably in two or three sittings. Truly a modern ANABASIS. Xenophon is cheering.
William Altimari, author of LEGION: A Novel of the Army of Rome
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Summary: A Perfect 1st Anniversary Treat!
Review: Dear F. J. "Bing" West,Thanks for writing THE MARCH UP with Major General Ray L. Smith. With the anniversary upon us, there is quite a lot of coverage on the war in the media but nothing like your in-depth account of what it was like. Your comments regarding the split second decision making required when "civilian" vehicles approached ignoring orders to stop found no argument from me. The tactics used by the fedayeen required a quick response and pre-emptive measures whenever possible to minimize their effect. The 1st Marine Division certainly did all that was asked of it and in exemplary fashion. I believe history will appreciate the remarkable accomplishments with minimal loss of lives. Respectfully,
Theo B. Fiala
U. S. Army Vet '70-71
Hq USDB Ft Leavenworth, KS
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Summary: Singing the Praises of Marines
Review: Dittos to the above reviewers. As a former Marine I find it hard to be truly objective about this book. The overwhelming impression about "The March Up" is honesty. The Marines, after reading this concise and crisp piece of work, come across as a stellar fighting force of the highest caliber. Isn't that what they've always been known for? Regardless of how you feel about the invasion of Iraq you can't help but admire the professionalism, dedication and sense of duty shared by the young men at the tip of the American war machine. West and Smith, without glorifying anything or overdoing the Gung Ho banter, provide a precise Abrams tank's optical gunsight on one of America's elite fighting forces and, despite some errors and initial setbacks, the Marines come out smelling like roses. What other branch of service would allow two "lowly" grunt rifle squads to seize one of the war's most important objectives, the oil processing facility known as "the Crown Jewel?" In action after action the Leathernecks come across almost as chained dobermans, straining for their chance to get into the thick of it. The riflemen are disappointed numerous times when their chance to take out an enemy position is missed, when it's over before they get their licks in. They curse the tankers who "get all the shots" at long range. They're eager to close with the enemy and destroy him. That's what they're there for and I'm darn glad we have them. No other authors/journalists could have gotten as much access with the Marines as Smith and West did. Only former Marines can understand and, consequently, garner respect from the young hard chargers currently in the thick of it. I doubt if a retired Army general would have gotten as much respect or sense of camaraderie from the 3rd I.D. over on the left. The authors saw everything with experienced eyes and it shows in their reporting. If you want to know what really happened during those three weeks this is the book to read. For one, I was interested to see some myths dispelled, especially the account of Iraqis surrendering en masse only to pull out weapons at the last second. I also enjoyed learning about what our modern weapons can do. You gotta love those optics and computers. From honing in on lone infantrymen with tanks' automatic weapons to calculating the azimuth of incoming artillery rounds, it doesn't behoove any foe to take our fighting force lightly. Nobody can touch us...in open combat. Consequently, we're now faced with cowardly guerilla tactics. They know they'd be obliterated with any other method. There's an underlying feeling of Marine superiority (justifiably so, I think), especially when compared to our Army brothers-in-arms. One gets the feeling from the book that if it had been up to the Marines we'd have been in Baghdad in a week. Granted, there'd be some major mopping up to do but our casualties might have been even lighter in the end. I get the sneaking suspicion that if all of Iraq were occupied by these disciplined Marines we'd have fewer civilian deaths, less resentment and far less friendly fire incidents. Marines aren't perfect, just trained better. Just imagine if they had the armor the 3rd I.D. did. Congrats to the authors on an excellent piece of work. They even got it on bookstore shelves with Marine Corps speed and efficiency. This must be the first (and will probably be the best) work on America's most recent war.
Rating: 
Summary: As told from guys who were THERE and done THAT
Review: Excellent book written by two retired officers from the Marines. Provides perspective from the ground level, on the spot reporting. Written and recorded as these two officers saw things develop and as they were told. Thier former ties to the Marines enabled them to get more discussion and insight into the actual events than the typical distained reporter. One of the first books written with objection and without sensationalism. Plain spoken and written, March Up, does not rely on flashy photos, innuendo or cynism to get its points across. As time goes by and history is sorted out, certain facts in this book will need to be revised and updated.
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Summary: We're proud of those Marines
Review: Excellent must-read for us couch potato quarterbacks. Bing and Ray share their experience as guests with the Marines during the lighting movement to Baghdad.
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Summary: Gulf War Veteran Gives Five Stars
Review: Fellow veterans, this was the best $14 I've spent in a long time! You will feel as though you are immersed in the action fighting alongside great heroes, many of whom aren't even old enough to go to their local pub to celebrate their victories. Accompanied by vivid color photos, domestic chores (and possibly even more important tasks!) will take a back seat while you read this account from the time the troops crossed the Line of Departure to the taking of the palace compound in Baghdad.
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Summary: Marines Do It Best!
Review: I have commanded a Marine infantry battalion and have an abiding professional interest in combat and you wont be able to put this book down, once you start! For anyone interested in how America's premiere First to Fight force kicked b--- in Iraq they have to read this 'first' hand account of Marines, organized into rifle squads, platoons, companies and battalions, in the attack. It is written by two former Marines who are familiar with fighting up through the battalion level and who are not intimidated by the sight and sounds of warfare that prevents other reporters from telling the true story. These guys are really embedded! The writing flows like a combat video game; fast, uncertain, chancy, filled with risk and promise of winning big--all elements of combat that result in an eerie, foggy sense that this really isn't happening, an emotion that each rifleman experiences at some point in combat.
It is a story about my friends and peers, that pulls no punches, as they form the leadership and fighting environment that unleashes a lean, mean and green fighting machine on an unsuspecting and unwilling enemy. You will be impressed with the motivation, espirit d corps and discipline of the US fighting Marine. Marines know how to fight and they do it better than our comrade Army ground pounders.
One of the most difficult things to do during war is to get and put in writing the real story at the tactical level, the level at which the killing is done. Each participant sees and remembers only a narrow "soda straw" perspective. This phenomenon often results in a different story being told later. In the style of SLA Marshall, MGen Smith and Bing West capture many of these soda straw perspectives, as they occur, and organize them into a superb collection of combat stories that will resist revision in later years by historians with an agenda.
MGen Smith has a natural feel for combat honed sharp in the jungles of Vietnam. As a lieutenant he commanded a platoon and company in 1st Battalion, 1st Marines during the fight for Hue City actions for which he earned two silver stars. He later earned the Navy Cross for actions during the Easter Offensive, 1972. As a Lieutenant Colonel, he commanded BLT 2/8 during Operation Urgent Fury and during the operations ashore in Beirut from October 1983 to April 1984. You cant BS this warrior! Bing West has seen combat in Vietnam, he was a member of force recon team 'Primness', which initiated Operation Stingray and whose behind-the-lines tactics are the backdrop for his novel The Pepperdogs. He reported on how Marines did it best in a book called The Village. Bing served as Assistant Secretary of Defense for International Security Affairs during the Ragan administration. He was also Dean of Research at the Naval War College and Vice President of the Hudson Institute. His firm, GAMA Corporation, conducts combat decision training for the Marine Corps.
This book is missing the political correctness and other distractions that otherwise might detract from the attention given the Marines and the complexities they face (increasingly common element of 21st century combat) of separating an enemy in civilian clothes from an Iraqi citizenry terrorized by years of Baathist despotism. A must have and read book for both those who did not fight in this war and for those who have not served their country in uniform.
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Summary: Truly Accurate
Review: I just started reading this book and I can tell you that so far I am very impressed. Reading this book is like looking through the eyes of the Marines and Sailors of the 1st MARDIV. I know because I was in RCT 1 as a corpsman with E Co 2/23. I will never forget the experiences that we had during the war and this book helps the folks back home understand what we saw and felt during our journey north ("The way home is through Baghdad"!). General Smith and Mr. West have written a detailed and accurate account of my generation's contribution to history. Semper Fi,
Doc Duke
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Summary: Non Political War Book
Review: I read Bing West's sons books last week and was very impressed. An email exchange brought me here...and The March Up is the knockout punch. This is a sparse but powerful account of the recent war, told with a bias not to politics but to these marines. It's a series of stories wound around some large lessons. There are many names...but each story has gravity. West and the General don't pull punches either. They criticize some of the violence in the 'fog' of this war...but the book itself has a message that's clear: our young men are out dying for us each day. Thansk to Smith, West, and these fine men. Semper Fi!
Rating: 
Summary: Some Guy's Daily Journal
Review: I thought this would be a good down-to-earth, you-are-there commentary on the subject. I guess I was expecting something like Blackhawk Down.
What it really is is a daily journal of Bing & the General's time with the Marines. There is very little in the way of information from troops, so descriptions of firefights and action is done first-hand through someone who was not in the action.
I also expected a lot more substance from someone who has fought with the Marines in the past.
A lot of time is spent on strategic issues. I think the author was trying to put everything into perspective, but it didn't work for me.
I wasn't entirely dissapointed, as there are some great anecdotes. And, it is pretty easy to read.
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