Service / Marcus Luttrell / 364 pages

Some people know the name Marcus Luttrell, some people know about Operation Red Wings, but thanks to Hollywood last year, almost everyone knows the story of Lone Survivor even if one may not know the lone survivor’s name or operation.  Service is Luttrell’s second book, and this book was good.  It shows that no matter what a man may go through, he must continue the fight because nothing brings down a Navy SEAL or really, any soldier.  After his deployment in Afghanistan, he deploys to Iraq which is a very different war than what was being fought in Afghanistan.  Throughout this deployment, Luttrell reflects on what happened on that mountain in 2005, what it means to him to have a second chance at life, and the meaning of true brotherhood among his men (he even recalls his encounters with Chris Kyle while in Iraq).  After Luttrell is medically discharged in 2007, he describes life outside of the military and begins his speaking career while also starting the Lone Survivor Foundation -- but he is first and foremost a brother to many.  Even after his military career, he still finds himself in situations where he is still supporting his brothers-in-arms or the soldier (and at times, the soldier’s widow) next to him.

This book can get quite emotional at times, and it hit home for me a little bit because while Luttrell was fighting in Ramadi, Iraq, my soon-to-be husband was a little over an hour away fighting in Baghdad at the exact same time, so the stories and perspectives I have heard are very similar but not any less meaningful.  If I could sum up this book in one word, it would be camaraderie, and seeing this type of brotherhood firsthand, Service explains and demonstrates that more than any other book I have read.