What We Got Into

Life is a series of stories woven together by choices, and sometimes experiences are put togetherby sheer chance and circumstance. Outcomes may be exactly as planned, but sometimes thereis simply no real way of knowing what you've gotten into.Compelled by an inner conviction to protect and serve their country in a time of war and driven bydeliberate decisions to join the fi ght against terrorism in ground-pounding combat as United StatesArmy infantrymen, the soldiers of Third Platoon...
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Life is a series of stories woven together by choices, and sometimes experiences are put togetherby sheer chance and circumstance. Outcomes may be exactly as planned, but sometimes thereis simply no real way of knowing what you've gotten into.Compelled by an inner conviction to protect and serve their country in a time of war and driven bydeliberate decisions to join the fi ght against terrorism in ground-pounding combat as United StatesArmy infantrymen, the soldiers of Third Platoon Charlie Company had no idea exactly what theywere getting into and even less where this adventure would take them.Deeply imbedded in the Taliban-infested grape fi elds of the Panjwei'i District of Kandahar Province,Afghanistan, the birthplace of the Taliban and less than one hundred miles from the border ofPakistan, follow the dramatic encounters of daily combat where it's not about playing soldier. It'sabout being a warrior . . . a survivor.What We Got Into tells the story about how they live out the choice they made to become infantrycombat soldiers. As you read, you'll journey with them as they fi nd brotherhood in the face ofisolation, courage in the face of fear, and strength in the face of pain and ultimate sacrifi ce. You willrenew your appreciation for the fact that freedom is paid for at a high price by those willing to fi ghtto protect others . . . those who are willing to foot the bill.This story is a rare look through the insider's eyes at the catastrophic collision of choice, circumstance,and chance that rocked the lives of a whole platoon in the wake of a tragic and highly publicizedsuicide of one of their own and the unprecedented trials as military justice unfolds for the combatseasonedand highly decorated platoon charged in connection with his death. You will struggle withthem as they fi ght to heal from the scars of war; to fi nd and rebuild their lives beyond their callingas soldiers. What will it take for them to reclaim their lives which have been forever changed by aseries of stories woven together?Find out the truth of what they really got into.__________________________________________________"What We Got Into" is a powerful account, from a soldiers perspective, of the war in Afghanistanagainst a cowardly enemy that you cannot see. It is brutal, emotional and enlightening. Prepareyourself for how these men fi ght a war where the US is the only ones restricted by any rules.MAJ Rusty Bradley Author, The Lions of KandaharWestenrieder writes of his dangerous military career and of the soldiers under his command in a style that is unpretentious and unadorned, representative of the young men whose mission, defeating the enemy in the name freedom, is as transparent as it is precise ... A most readable, informative, and insightful book.Stephen J. Weiss, formerly of the 36th 'Texas' Infantry DivisionCommandeur, French Legion d' HonneurAuthor, Second Chance"What We Got Into" offers a gritty look into today's warriors as they struggle with the challenges of the modern day battlefi eld. Westenrieder describes an unadulterated and accurate portrayal of today's combat zones like you have never read before.J.R. Salzman, the author of military blog Lumberjack In A Desert at www.jrsalzman.com