Hog Pilots, Blue Water Grunts

“Exhaustive…. Kaplan strives to humanize these menand women by bridging the gap between complex and unpopular foreign policy and those who must do the heavy lifting and think on the fly.”

—The Seattle Times

“Incisive and valuable…. Kaplan combines the travelwriter’s keen eye for detail and the foreign correspondent’s analytical skill to produce an account of America’s military worthy of its subject.”

—Publishers Weekly (starred review)

“Kaplan [is] an intrepid expert about the American military…. At its heart [the book] is journalism mixed with patriotism. That combination makes for a good book.”

—The Dallas Morning News

“An extraordinary look at how today’s young people are taking up the challenge of advancing America’s security interests far from home and hearth.”

—Marine Corps Gazette

“Kaplan is at his best when he highlights the vital yet unsung role of troops like these…. [He] laces his narrative with keen observations.”

—The Washington Post Book World