Mass Casualties: A Young Medic's True Story of Death, Deception, and Dishonor in Iraq

This book relays the experiences of a soldier deployed to war in a way that only a vetern can portray. I was unable to put the book down from start to finish. I knew all of the stories before they were told, because I lived them. Yet I found myself unable to set the book aside as I was drawn in by Anthony's unique story telling abilities. I had high expectations about where this book would go. I wanted to re-live my memories without censorship, without being politically correct. Reading this book fealt as though I were reading my own journal; a journal which Anthony had prepared just for me. Although some of the stories seem too crazy to be true, I can assure you they are honest accounts of where our deployment took us. From the unstable leadership, to the drug-induced sleep, every story is exactly how I had remembered it. I'm proud to have served with Anthony, and I'm proud of the courage he had to put this book out there for people to see. (Just as he had warned fellow soldiers about the dangers of a questionable vaccine). I would recommend this book to anyone interested in the truth about modern combat.

This is a great book. I was shocked and sad to hear about the things that are happening in Iraq. This book gave me a higher appreciation for the men and women who have fought and are fighting now. They are so brave. I recommend everyone read "Mass Casualties". I couldn't put it down.

I am drawn to a soldier's memoirs not only because I'm a warrior at heart, but it tells the experience and emotions during their tours overseas, educating one in a lifestyle very different from the one that too many people take for granted. Specialist Michael Anthony's book lacks no sharing of that experience and those emotions. Whether it was connecting with his thoughts and humor throughout, or relating to his very-much-human sentiment, I just could not put this book down and actually read it all the way through. I was pulled in and wanted to know what happened next. It really is a phenomenal read.

It's fitting i'm writing this review on the 8th anniversary of 911 because that event is the pretext to this book, and so many other stories about this war that will never be told. The book is a non partisan view of the war from a medics vantage point. It does not take sides as to if it was right or wrong to go to war, it just tells the honest story of a young solider who was thrust into the conflict and how he deals with the stresses of war. Also, it goes into great detail the motions and prepartions to be sent off to Iraq, some of the most humorous points in book are found here. Reading the book you get a real sense of what it would be like being sent to war and dealing with its inevitable consistant outcome, death and its effects. There are emotional highs and then lows encapsulated in this book. I think anybody reading this memior will really appreciate what a solider goes thru whether they agree with the war or not. I couln't help but keep reading, the stories were interesting and some i counldn't believe actually occurred. The most touching and my favorite moment, is when he told his parents he was called to go. The narative captured the raw emotion of that moment and what must have been going thru a parents mind seeing their youngest child sent away, possibly to his death. The book explains you never really get used to war or prepare for it, you just evolve. You deal with the cards you are dealt and just try to cope. Now I know why the issues the returning veterans have when returning to, so called, real life. I would recommend this book to anyone you wants an honest depictition of the Iraq war and its consequences.

After two deployments in Iraq, my son refuses to discuss the war,or his experience. I am grateful for this candid story, which helps me fill in the gaps between what is reported, and what I imagine. It takes courage to tell this story.