Authors: Kelly C Eads and Daniel S. Morgan.
Hardback (6.3×9.3 inches). 176 pages. 2023.
Subtitle:Â A Battalion’s Journey Into Iraq’s Triangle of Death
This boots on the ground view of fighting in Iraq from 2005 to 2007 describes the tension and accomplishment of the 2nd Battalion, 502nd Regiment, 101st Airborne Division. Eads spent two tours helping clear a deadly infestation of insurgents in the Yusifiyah area.
His service certainly will give you an education about the different types of IEDs the insurgents created, from pressure-plate mines to buried 500-pound bombs. In the Yusifiyah area, the insurgents often laid multiple IEDs of different types as part of an ambush. His unit, often led by Morgan, fought through many ambushes and disarmed many IEDs to accomplish missions.
It was not without cost. Losses accrued from IEDs and firefights, even with Apache helicopters and drones overhead.
When he transferred to the Scout platoon, he and his team laid ambushes for insurgents.
One interesting intel coup: insurgent Garmin GPS units. These recorded waypoints for the insurgents and when captured, were sent for downloading and analysis. This info was then returned to troops in the field for operations to interdict supply lines, grab caches, and lay ambushes.
The book contains 57 color photos and one color illustration of the Black Heart emblem. The “Painted Guns” part of the title refers to camouflage painting of Scout platoon guns.
Interesting examination of modern counter-insurgency warfare.
Enjoyed it.
–Reviewed by Russ Lockwood
