Inside Abu Ghraib: Memoirs of Two U.S. Military Intelligence Officers

“Leaders inspire and influence by providing purpose, direction and motivation. LTC Walters’ and MAJ Edwards’ leadership is exactly what the battalion needed in combat in Abu Ghraib. LTC Walters' adherence to standards and calm under intense pressure, and MAJ Edwards’ guidance built on mutual trust and confidence which was more the empathy of a big brother than a boss. The combat leadership they demonstrated is timeless.” - Capt. Romeo Qureishi

“The families that shouldered the first wave of Operation Iraqi Freedom ‘without a net’ will resonate with this narrative. Low on communication and high on faith, the families that carried one another’s burdens deserve the raw prose on these pages. This is a rare view into the parallel suffering endured during deployments. Unlike glamourized homecoming videos, 'Inside Abu Ghraib' explores the visceral ache of navigating life on the homefront while their soldiers navigated the unknown downrange. The personal wars these families fought while standing in the gap for our country deserve to be acknowledged.” - Kathy Palmer, Army spouse

“Before reading 'Inside Abu Ghraib,' my only view of Abu Ghraib was one of a failure of American values. Now I also see the deployment of the 165th Military Intelligence Battalion at Abu Ghraib as a testament to those values. When Maj. Edwards and Lt. Col. Walters were given the orders to ‘just fix it,’ with nothing more than their training and values as their guide, their remarkable efforts represented the best of America. At a moment when our nation struggles to unite around a common vision, this story of duty and sacrifice by these remarkable individuals and their families in order to protect and preserve American ideals is an important read, and one we can all celebrate.” - Tom Scarangello, executive chairman, Thornton Tomasetti

“While there are many books available about war and its impacts on our fighting men and women, 'Inside Abu Ghraib' takes a deep dive into the effects these armed conflicts have on the families back home, how they cope, and ultimately how they are changed by this experience. The experiences of Col. Edwards' entire family unit are so eloquently woven into this narrative and have clearly helped him transition seamlessly into the civilian world. This is an opportunity to immerse yourselves in the events that drove Col. Edwards’ inner desire for continuous learning, self-evaluation and ultimately self-improvement.

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