Sister in the Band of Brothers: Embedded with the 101st Airborne in Iraq

In Sister in the Band of Brothers, author Katherine Skiba emerges as stronger and more tenacious than she perceives herself. A seasoned international journalist, she vividly tells of her adventures as an embedded reporter with the 101st Airborne. She relates the story of her participation in the landmark, but now familiar, program utilizing embedded journalists among the troops in the Iraqi war zone and the stories of those serving in the U.S. military around her. Skiba's writing is insightful, entertaining, and (thankfully) without political commentary. Beginning with her motivations and first inklings toward participation in the program, to journalist boot camp, to the distant and dangerous Iraqi war zone and home again, she skillfully exposes very human, intimate, and often humorous insights of herself and those she interacts with and observes. Skiba's lively memoir is a refreshing break from the typical highly politicized news of the war in Iraq that is de rigueur. Accolades to the author for leaving normalcy behind, embracing the discomforts, and accepting the risks that make our view of the war in Iraq from this vantage point possible!

As a retired soldier, many of Katherine's experiences (and her responses to them) resonated with me, particularly her relationships with male soldiers and her personal reactions post-deployment. I admire her ability to articulate those experiences to the rest of us who weren't with her in Kuwait (or during her stateside preparation.) Definitely a good read!

I am familiar with Ms. Skiba's writing having read many of her articles over the years in the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. In my view, she has the unique ability to write with great clarity, compassion and humanity in all that she publishes and this book is no exception. I happen to personally know many of the soldiers involved in this mission and can say without fear of contridiction that both the individuals and events are accurately depicted. If a potential reader seeks an inside, objective understanding of the human element of war written by an author of unique skill and humility, then this is the book to be read.

I first learned about Katherine Skiba and her book from CSPAN2. I myself am a Skiba, but no relation of Katherine. I am also a veteran of the Vietnam War, so Katherine's book was quite an interest to me. Usually one only thinks of the horrors of war, but Katherine brings out the humanity of the people she is reporting and writing about. The book is very mesmerizing and you will not want to put it down until you have read the entire book and it's human side of the war. Reading this book has given me the insight about the human side of people during a conflict and it clearly shows me what a special and caring lady Katherine Skiba is. This was not just a job for her, but a brave and courageous move on Katherine's part to show the humanity of a war. I urge anyone with compassion and caring in their heart to purchase and read this exellent book.

Kathy Skiba must be one of the bravest, toughest women out there, penning countless news stories and shooting and transmitting her own photos under unrelentingly tough wartime conditions. Her book is a gripping, fast read as she takes you through what it was like in more than seven weeks at the front. I marvel at the wealth of information she collected on the fighting men and women she met, in order to tell their very human stories. She keeps a stiff upper lip throughout the experience, never complaining about the challenges she faced, including wearing a 22-pound Kevlar vest, a helmet and chemical suit in the desert heat. Having to use 55-gallon drums (out in the open) as a latrine had to be the worst. Skiba is the epitome of grace under pressure, and this personal account of the war shows it all.