Hesitation kills : a female Marine officer's combat experience in Iraq / Jane Blair.

Contents; Acknowledgments; Chapter 1: A Home and a Country; Chapter 2: The Call; Chapter 3: Matilda; Chapter 4: The War Plan; Chapter 5: Countdown; Chapter 6: Dread Silence Reposes; Chapter 7: Uncertainty and Human Factors; Chapter 8: Red Ink; Chapter 9: Time on Target; Chapter 10: On the Shore, Dimly Seen; Chapter 11: A Dangerous Position; Chapter 12: A Fiery Crash; Chapter 13: Garden of Eden; Chapter 14: Killbox; Chapter 15: National Geographic; Chapter 16: A Turning Point; Chapter 17: Their Blood Had Washed Out; Chapter 18: Star-spangled Banner; Chapter 19: Ashura; Chapter 20: Occupation

Chapter21: When Free Men Shall StandChapter 22: Mortars in the Garden; Chapter 23: Strategic Corporal; Chapter 24: No Better Friend, No Worse Enemy; Chapter 25: Ribbons; Chapter 26: The Twilight's Last Gleaming; Chapter 27: Home of the Brave; Appendix A: Ranks in the United States Marine Corps; Appendix B: Structure of the 1st Marine Division; Glossary;

This riveting memoir is the first book written by a female Marine about the war in Iraq and one of the only books written by a woman who has experienced combat firsthand. Deploying to Iraq in 2003, Jane Blair's aerial reconnaissance unit was assigned to travel ahead of and alongside combat units throughout the initial phase of Operation Iraqi Freedom. Throughout her deployment, Jane kept a journal of her and her fellow lieutenants' combat experiences, which she draws on to convey the immediacy of life inthe military, not just for a woman but for all Marines. Jane's stories highlight the drama and chaos of wartime Iraq along with the day-to-day challenges every soldier faced: from spicing up a "pasta with alfredo sauce" MRE to keeping the insidious sandat bay. She also copes with a bullying superior officer while trying to connect with local civilians who have long been viewed as "the enemy." She recounts the struggles specific to women, including being respected as a Marine rather than dismissed as "the weaker sex" and battling the prejudices of male soldiers who don't believe women belong in uniform. And always, she fights the personal loneliness of being separated from her husband, balanced with the challenge and joy of stealing a private moment withhim when his unit is close by. Jane describes not only her experiences as a young lieutenant and as a woman but also those of her fellow Marines, whom she lauds as the true heroes of her story. Ultimately, she learns from her commanding officer, and herfellows in arms, what it truly means to be a leader, both in the military and in life. Weaving her story together with the experiences of the ordinary people of Iraq, this book offers compelling insights into the profound impact of the war on the lives of soldiers and civilians alike. Her unforgettable narrative bridges the gap between those who have experienced the Iraq War firsthand and those in America who could only follow its life-altering events from a distance.