Generation Kill (book)
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| Generation Kill | |
 Front Cover |
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| Author | Evan Wright |
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| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Genre(s) | Military History, History |
| Publisher | Putnam Adult |
| Publication date | June 17, 2004 |
| Media type | Hardcover |
| Pages | 368 |
| ISBN | ISBN 978-0-39-915193-4 |
Generation Kill (2004) is a book written by Rolling Stone journalist Evan Wright chronicling his experience as an embedded reporter with the 1st Reconnaissance Battalion during the 2003 invasion of Iraq. His account of life with the Marines was originally published as a three-part series in Rolling Stone in the fall of 2003. "The Killer Elite", the first of these articles, went on to win a National Magazine Award for Excellence in Reporting in 2004.[1]
Contents |
[edit] The assignment
Wright spent two months with the battalion, having persuaded a commander that he could cope with such an assignment.[2]
The Marines of First Recon were initially hostile and suspicious, but soon warmed to him and treated him as one of their own.[2] He gained their respect through his (apparent) fearlessness in the face of combat.[2] Often riding in the lead vehicle, a lightly armored Humvee, Wright was in real danger for much of the time.[3]
Wright encounters members of the battalion from all ranks, but the "main players" can be narrowed down to just six from Bravo Company: Sergeant Brad Colbert, Lance Corporal Harold James Trombley, Sergeant Rudy Reyes, Lieutenant Nathaniel Fick, Sergeant Antonio Espera and Corporal Josh Ray Person.
[edit] Consequences for Wright and the Marines
Sgt. Espera was forced to leave the battalion, Sgt. Eric Kocher was disciplined and one Marine's promotion from corporal to sergeant was canceled as a direct result of the publication of the original articles.[2] The Marines' outspoken criticism of their superiors was deemed unacceptable.[citation needed]
Wright attended the Marines' homecoming at Camp Pendleton, California on October 6th, 2003. He has described being attacked by a group of Marines who twisted his arms behind his back, put him in handcuffs and threatened him because they felt that the articles insulted them and their officers. This was the only negative reaction he received;[citation needed] indeed the base newspaper later described Generation Kill as a "cool book".[citation needed]
Despite initial doubts, Marine commanders later encouraged the officers of 1st Reconnaissance to read the book and the articles to get an insight into the reality of war.[4][2]
Nathaniel 'Nate' Fick went on to write his own book, One Bullet Away: The Making of a Marine Officer (2006).
Rudy Reyes will play himself in the upcoming miniseries.[5]
[edit] 'Casey Kasem'
The Operation Chief for Bravo Company, known only as "Casey Kasem" in the book, later defended himself via a post on his brother's blog, calling the book a work of fiction. He highlighted several passages that he claims were fabricated.[6] The character of "Casey Kasem" in the forthcoming miniseries is called Sgt. Ray Griego, but his brother revealed that his name is actually Daniel J. Griego. He has now retired from the Marines.[7]
[edit] 'Captain America'
The character in the book known only as "Captain America" by his men is in real life Captain David H. McGraw.[2]
[edit] Awards
The book won a PEN USA Award, the J. Anthony Lukas Book Prize and the Los Angeles Times Book Award.
It also won the Gen. Wallace Greene Award from the Marine Corps Heritage Foundation.[8]
[edit] TV Mini-series
The cable television channel HBO has greenlit a mini-series based on the book. The series will air in 2008 and is to span seven hours. It is produced by David Simon, Ed Burns, Nina K. Noble, George Faber and Charles Pattinson. It will star Alexander Skarsgard, James Ransone, Stark Sands, Jon Huertas, and Lee Tergesen.[9]
[edit] References
- ^ NPR, 2004
- ^ a b c d e f Sparing No One, a Journalist's Account of War - New York Times
- ^ article, interviews
- ^ Wright interview
- ^ "Generation Kill" (2008) (mini)
- ^ CoInSide: Generation Kill Full Rebuttal
- ^ CoInSide: Controversy on Generation Kill
- ^ Variety article
- ^ HBO drafts cast for 'Kill' mini. The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved on 2007-06-01.
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