Their Last Words: 6a Tribute to Soldiers Who Lost Their Lives in Afghanistan and Iraqfamilies and Friends Share Stories, Photos and Last

By George G. Sheldon

Over 1,000 American soldiers have died in Iraq since combat began in 2003. Their Last Wordsis a remarkable homage to the lives and deaths of some of the Americans who died in the war on terror. Family and friends share fond, revealing remembrances and photographs of the men and women who answered their nation's call - and made the ultimate sacrifice. But most memorable are the haunting last letters home in which the soldiers themselves tell not only of the hardships and loneliness of war, but of their pride and determination in serving their country, and of their undying devotion to those who'd given their lives its greatest joy and meaning - the loved ones they'd never see again. George Sheldon, author of the Washington Postbestseller When the Smoke Cleared at Gettysburg, has created a remarkable testament preserving the final words of a generation of Americans who exemplify honor, duty, and love of country - and who have given their lives so that others might live in freedom.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0425203859
• ISBN13: 9780425203859
• Release Date: January 2005
• Publisher: Berkley Publishing Group
• Length: 178 Pages
• Weight: 0.55 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.4" x 6.1" x 9.1"

Customer Reviews

Many errors but a touching book

This book mirrors the one that HBO did on Last Letters Home. I have issues with him bringing Jessica Lynch up during the chapter about the 507th Soldier who was found dead a few days after the attack. He mentions her twice on the page and I feel that took away from the deceased Soldier's story. Also, the author should have had someone with military rank knowledge edit his book. The rank is Private First Class not Private, First Class which he writes all the time. Also there are several inconsistencies in dates which could drive a reader nuts. The last letter home was written 10 years before the Soldier died??? Or was written 6 days after the soldier died??? His editor needs to be fired!

Touching Book

This book is very touching. I honestly had to hold back my tears. This book is a quick read but worth it.

A Tribute of Sorts.

THEIR LAST WORDS is a collection of stories, letters, and emails constructed together as a tribute to some of the soldiers who have lost their lives fighting in Iraq. The lives of 14 different soldiers are told in this book. The soldiers profiled all lived a variety of lives: some were men, some were women, some were white, some black, some were young, some were about ready to retire, some were in support of the war in Iraq, some were opposed to it. However, each and everyone of them shared a love for their country and fought and served bravely because despite their differences, they knew that what they were fighting for was something bigger than themselves. Each section of the book includes at least one personal email or letter written by each soldier. Some of these were their last pieces of correspondence before being killed. I got choked up a couple times while reading this book and I feel it really captures the essence of what each of these individuals sacrificed to protect. Reading this helped make the war in Iraq more personal for me.

Great book, powerfully moving, but prepare yourself

As the wife of a Marine who is "over there", I have become obsessed with reading books about the Marine Corps, the Iraq conflict, and books like this one, windows into the lives of soldiers and Marines who have lost their lives. Every single letter in this book made me cry, and not just because they hit close to home, but because of what these men and women gave up to do their duty, and protect the men and women fighting alongside them. My heart broke for every grieving family, and this book and others like it are neccessary, especially for those who do not have a loved one serving, if only for such people to understand the true cost of this and any war.