Into the Fire: A Firsthand Account of the Most Extraordinary Battle in the Afghan War

A few things are apparent when reading this book. Sergeant Dakota Meyer was intensely dedicated to those he lived and fought with. The Ganjigal Valley is a bad, bad place. And those in command of providing support for these brave fighting men were hugely negligent in their duties to provide artillery and air support.

Sergeant Meyer is the first living Marine in three decades to be awarded the Medal of Honor. While most people think of that award as a huge achievement and acknowledgement of his actions, Dakota Meyer thinks of that day as the worst day of his life. He was not looking for an award, he was looking to rescue his teammates that were trapped in a ferocious battle. A battle he was repeatedly ordered not to engage in because the danger was so great. Orders he eventually disobeyed, and went to find his team.

The battle scenes are intense. There are dozens of times in Ginjigal where Dakota should have died. He made multiple trips in and out of the battlefield searching for his team and in the process saved many wounded Afghan soldiers by pulling them into his vehicle, or carrying them out of dangerous situations, with total disregard for his own safety.

Dakota Meyer was running from body to body trying to help. At one point he was recovering a dead Afghan soldier when an insurgent with an AK-47 approached and tried to kill him. Dakota's only action was to fire his 40MM grenade launcher directly into the insurgents chest at a distance so close the grenade was not able to arm itself. The grenade hit the insurgent's body armor and knocked him down giving Dakota enough time to close the distance and start wrestling with this man. He was finally able to finish him off with a rock.

Sergeant Meyer eventually finds his team but it is too late for them. He then wrestles with guilt for not being able to save them. He also wrestles with anger at the Army officials that refused to provide artillery or air support because they could not verify what was actually happening in that valley.

This entire battle was a classic textbook case of "everything that could go wrong, did go wrong." The most shocking part was that Dakota Meyer was actually able to walk away from this intense battle. He was not afraid to die, he had actually accepted that there was no way he was going to be able to survive, so he just kept on going, trying to help and save others.

After reading this book I wondered how he survived. The only answer I can think of is sometimes its just not your day to die.

Thank you for your service Sergeant Dakota Meyer. You are a true hero.

Bing West's latest book, co-written with Dakota Meyers, is an extraordinary account of one man's act of supreme heroism in the face of certain death -- told in a matter of fact way that doesn't resort to the sensationalism of some other recent military books. While the particular circumstances may make your blood boil and the risks Mr. Meyers willingly takes may make your skin crawl, this depiction of a regular Marine's life before, during and after this amazing episode should make us all realize that there are many, many heroes in uniform fighting for us and making the ultimate sacrifice every day. We owe them our undying gratitude and steadfast support upon their return.

INTO THE FIRE, by Dakota Meyer and Bing West, while certainly well-written and meticulously documented, in the end failed to really engage me as a reader. There are two reasons for this. One is that CO-authored books, to my mind, can never quite match the reality or the authenticity of a true memoir - i.e. one written solely by its subject/narrator. In that respect, INTO THE FIRE, simply did not quite ring true. By this I do not mean that I did not believe Meyer's story. I mean that I could not stop thinking that his story had been carefully organized and scrubbed by a talented and professional writer (Bing West), and I also kept wondering how much of the substantiating research about the Afghan war and the host country, not to mention the notes and timeline - all the stuff that 'fleshes out' a story about a single battle that lasted less than one day - had been dug out and skillfully addended by West.

The second reason I had trouble with Meyer's story is more difficult to explain. But I'll try. Samuel Hynes, a writer I have the highest admiration for (who was, incidentally, a combat veteran of WWII, and whose memoir, FLIGHTS OF PASSAGE, is a minor classic), once told me that one of the most important ingredients to a successful story is a likeable narrator. Much as I wanted to like Meyer, I couldn't. My problem with this began early, in the Introduction, when Meyer described his team, ending with, "The others were looking to do their jobs and return home; I was looking for a fight." And just a few pages later, still in the Intro, he describes his first 'kill' -

"I aim the gun. I'm a sniper; shooting is technique. No emotion ... I fire burst after burst, walking the tracers up the slope. I hit his legs first, then his back. I keep shooting until I'm tearing up a corpse. I rip through two hundred rounds ..."

This is followed by joking with his team members, no introspection, no sense of the enormity of the taking of life. And this is pretty typical of the strong, silent macho 'cowboy' attitude Meyer displays through most of the book. He relents only slightly when he tells of his subsequent and reluctant treatment for PTSD. In the Epilogue, Bing west asserts that, "These are his words and expressions. This is Dakota's account from start to finish." West also says, "The focus of this book is the character growth of Dakota Meyer." He says more, about the "grit" and the "invincibility" of the American warrior. And while I understand these terms, and found the minute-by-minute descriptions of Meyer's heroism and bravery under fire most compelling, I still could not bring myself to "like" Dakota Meyer. And I'm not sure how much growth of character has resulted from his horrific experience. I respect him and admire what he did. But that all-important story element Hynes told me about - likeability - was missing. I've talked about this with another friend, a retired Marine, who understood what I was saying and even agreed, but also noted, "Nevertheless a good man to have on your side in a fight." Too true. And there is no question in my mind that Dakota Meyer is absolutely deserving of the Medal of Honor.

So yes, a very well-written book, and a page-turner, but not really my kind of book, and I know I'll probably be in the minority, but I can't say I really enjoyed reading it. (Three and a half stars)

- Tim Bazzett, author of the Cold War memoir, SOLDIER BOY: AT PLAY IN THE ASA

This is the most intense and moving story, of Cpl. Dakota Meyer in a battle in Afghanistan, in which his best friends were KIA and he distinguished himself in gallantry and bravery. He trained hard, and that training and luck saved his life, during a 6 hour long battle in which his squad was ambushed by overpowering Taliban firepower from a superior position on high ground on three sides.

Dakota was almost captured when a Taliban kushman tapped him on the shoulder while he was recovering the body of his Afghan soldier buddy. His quick thinking enabled him to stun the enemy soldier and kill him in hand to hand combat with a rock. This book describes the intensity of the fighting, of having bullets whiz past his ears and head, tilling up the ground around his feet during the operation, the numbness of treating other soldiers who were severely wounded, and finding bodies of friends who died when he was unable to help them due to higher ups in the chain of command.

I highly recommend this book if you wish to know what close combat is like in Afghanistan, and the gut wrenching terror and bravery that this US Marine displayed for which he was awarded the Medal of Honor!

This is an incredible book. Intense read, very hard to put down and he brings you right into the battle with him and his men. He is a true Marine. Marines have a special bond with each other, but they also have a certain blood and that they will do anything and whatever it takes! He is certainly doing his team Proud each and everyday and as Dakota says himself, it's "For Those Who Gave All" for those who have given the ultimate sacrifice! This is a book that Everyone should read. Not just those who are in the military or have family or friends in the military, but anyone in the United States of America where our Freedom is protected by them and anyone in support of what these brave men and women do for us each day. This was one of the most horrific battles in 2009 and it's battles like this one where lives were lost and hearts were wrenched. We did not hear about this much or see it on the news - but in this book we learn about the story of these men, the bond they shared, their bravery and the ultimate sacrifice. Dakota, you went above and beyond for your men. It was an honor to read this book and because of you,These men will Not be Forgotten.

I never served in the military - let's get that out there right up front. However, I had the honor of meeting (and instructing) a number of the men in this particular military community over several years. As a result of that exposure, and my own family's service, I made a decision to work diligently try to understand their mentality and commitment, as well as the risks, loss, and damage they endure - particularly the struggles of those who survive. I also swore to support them in any capacity I could - including buying the books that commemorate their stories. If anyone else wants to try and understand what we ask of these men, I recommend this book without hesitation. Make sure you have uninterrupted time to read - you won't be able to put it down. All honor to Mr. Meyer, his brothers who died, and those who endure that loss.

Originally thought this book was a great account of the battle of Ganjgal, saw the original recounting of it by Bing West in his book The Wrong War. However, recent facts and investigations that surrounded Meyer's MoH nomination and that of army Capt. Will Swenson's cast a lot of doubt on Meyer's recounting of what happened. Too many eye witnesses have come forward and said that the things Meyer says he did, he didn't really do. Read the book at your own risk. Entertaining and riveting, but be skeptical. Personal accounts are almost NEVER accurate. I wouldn't recommend reading this book unless other facts about the battle are sought out and digested first.

Dakota Meyer is a true american hero, and this book is a great account of an amazing event, and the effect it has had on his life is a lesson we can all learn from.

The book is inspirational, and Mr. Meyer's trials and tribulations are extraordinary. I think anyone in the service, or has family or friends in the service, should read this book. This book gives great insight.

If you've seen Dakota on TV, on Letterman or on 60 Minutes, it's cleat that he is a humble and dedicated American. Dakota received the Congressional Medal of Honor: This book is a testament to Dakota's strength and honor.

Where to begin? I do not take anything away from Dakota Meyer, but the writing and storytelling of this book is just horrible. Mundane topics overwritten while information about millitary service are skipped or written incorrectly.

Angry in parts and crying in parts. What a royal mess this was. A kid who blames himself for the death of his team because he holds himself to the standard of a marine grunt. Sad story, and Bing always puts forth an honest read.