A brilliant, wrenching book about war ... it's more intense and horrifying than you could imagine
London Evening Standard
Utterly gripping from start to finish ... unflinchingly honest about the realities of war.
Bookbag
Awe-inspiring ... Utterly gripping from start to finish
CGA Bookclub
Brilliant, wrenching
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I read the first half of Red Platoon in one sitting and that night had such intense combat dreams that I actually thought twice about picking the book up again. In addition to being a superb soldier, Romesha is an utterly irresistible writer. I'm completely overwhelmed by what he has done with this book. The assault on Camp Keating is a vitally important story that needs to be understood by the public, and I cannot imagine an account that does it better justice that Romesha's.
Sebastian Junger Rendered hour-by-hour and sometimes second by second, here is battle narrative the way it's supposed to be written. Gritty, plangent, and unflinching, Red Platoon is sure to become a classic of the genre. Through his courageous and no doubt painful act of remembrance, Romesha has done his comrades, indeed all of us, a great service-leaving an epitaph that will live through the ages.
Hampton Sides, author of Ghost Soldiers and In the Kingdom of Ice Red Platoon is riveting. Like many who were in either Iraq, Afghanistan, or both, I often read books about the wars reluctantly, because it is hard to capture the essence of the experience. In my view Red Platoon is a brilliant book. Had Clint Romesha depicted the soldiers at Keating as a collection of steely-eyed warriors, their feat would have been impressive. Because he captures the reality of a collection of personalities as diverse as America itself, their courage is truly inspiring.
General Stanley McChrystal, U.S. Army, Retired Red Platoon celebrates the most crucial aspect of military operations: the team. Clinton Romesha and the men of Black Knight Troop faced harrowing conditions and a determined enemy during the Battle for COP Keating, and in the process discovered exactly who they are. This account is an important tribute to everyone who fought, and especially to the eight Americans who on that day made the ultimate sacrifice for their country.
Mark Owen, author of No Easy Day The book is riveting in its authentic detail, right down to the determined attempts to recover American bodies before the Taliban could. Romesha ably captures the daily dangers faced by these courageous American soldiers in Afghanistan.
Kirkus
Red Platoon exemplifies the courage and resiliency our country was founded on. Clint is a true brother and a man that I look up to.
Dakota Meyer, Medal of Honor Recipient and author of Into the Fire A visceral, heart-pounding account of men in close-quarter combat that is simply impossible to put down. Astonishingly intimate and beautifully written. A word of advice: don't start this book if you're planning on doing anything else for the next few hours.
Scott Anderson, author of Lawrence in Arabia The men of Red Platoon and their actions at COP Keating deserve to be known. Clint Romesha's story takes hold from page one and makes you feel every inch of the battle, but it is the bond between soldiers that will stick with you. Red Platoon is on my list of the best books about the Afghan war.
Kevin Maurer, bestselling co-author of No Easy Day