Warlord: No Better Friend, No Worse Enemy

This is a great book that I didn't want to put down. I didn't think the language was "rough," I don't know what the other reviewers are talking about. You will put the book down feeling very proud that there are people in this country like Ilario Pantano. The book jumps back and forth between the events leading up to the incident he got in trouble for, and the article 32 hearing itself, and it manages to be coherent and easy to follow. Bottom line is, this is a great book and I highly recommend it.

I heard Lt. Pantano recently on the G. Gordon Liddy show describing his tribulations. From that I decided to buy his book and read his first hand account, and what an account it is. It pains me to read others who disparage him and his service. War is a messy business, always has been. Toward the end of the book, Lt. Pantano summarizes the US's two most important failures in Iraq: "our reluctance to use decisive and overwhelming force, AND our inability to capitalize on and publicize our victories." Two observations that are quite succinct and happen to be very true. (Lt. Pantano should run for congress.) I heartily recommend this book, it will be a quickest 405 pages you ever read. Thank you Lt. Pantano for your service, and thank you to the others who served with you.

Warlord is an extraordinary account of an American hero. Pantano masterfully takes the reader through his life, both in and out of the Marine Corps, and his Article 32 Hearing. Pantano's account of combat and court equally encapsulate the reader, thus stirring unsettling emotions of astonishment and admiration. In life, we encounter few individuals with indispensable honor, courage, and commitment; obviously, Lt. Pantano personifies this creed. As our nation was attacked, Pantano's warrior spirit is immediately manifested with an unwavering determination to seek revenge and defend our country. Pantano does not blame the Marine Corps for the investigation, nor does he discuss the rationale for Operation Iraqi Freedom. Through reading this memoir, one can discern the complexities and danger of OIF. Moreover, one can conclude this war may not be won through an undermanned operation or inflexible ROE that result in troops second-guessing themselves for fear of legal ramification. I strongly recommend Warlord! Semper Fi, AB

Warlord is a solid memoir of a Marine in combat. The best account to come out in many years, and one that I will not soon forget. Pantano's true story is as honest as a first hand account of a grunt can be. The excellent manner in which Pantano gives you the essential details, that still paint a vivid picture keep the reader glued to this book. The style of the story is unique, combining the court room drama and the circumstances that put him there. Written in this manner the book is tight and fast paced. The internal struggle of an intelligent man going in combat is portrayed perfectly here. Pantano shows the constant inner struggle of a leader doing what is right and what he needs to do to get all his men home alive, the entire time doing that under frustrating rules of engagement. At times this would be hysterical if it were not true. This hero's story is one that should be known to every American. He sacrificed everything he thought dear to him, and more than he could have possibly imagined. His story is both touching and motivating. This story should be required reading for every man considering becoming a United States Marine, and this will end up on the "Commandant's Reading List."

Regardless of political affiliation or attitude about the war, everyone should read this book. It is not pro/con or red/blue. It is the story of a man's fight for survival in the sand of a foreign land and a courtroom of his own country. He tells a heart warming yet heart wrenching story. There is something for everyone in this book. It is a life story, a love story, a war story, and a courtroom story. The reader is given deep insight into his love for his family, his men, and his country. It is not written as a daily account of war from a daily log. It is written from the heart of a man. He challenges us to think, to soul search, and expand our thinking. There are great sacrifices being made in this war, but only by a few. After reading Warlord, you will know this man, and yourself, better.