NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLERFrom Gayle Tzemach Lemmon, author of the New York Times bestseller The Dressmaker of Khair Khana, comes the story of a unique team of women who answered the call to get as close to the fight as the Army had ever allowed women to be, including one beloved soldier who was killed serving her country’s causeIn 2010, the Army created Cultural Support Teams, a secret pilot … cause
In 2010, the Army created Cultural Support Teams, a secret pilot program to insert women alongside Special Operations soldiers battling in Afghanistan. The Army reasoned that women could play a unique role on Special Ops teams: accompanying their male colleagues on raids and, while those soldiers were searching for insurgents, questioning the mothers, sisters, daughters and wives living at the compound. Their presence had a calming effect on enemy households, but more importantly, the CSTs were able to search adult women for weapons and gather crucial intelligence. They could build relationships—woman to woman—in ways that male soldiers in an Islamic country never could.
In Ashley’s War, Gayle Tzemach Lemmon uses on-the-ground reporting and a finely tuned understanding of the complexities of war to tell the story of CST-2, a unit of women hand-picked from the Army to serve in this highly specialized and challenging role. The pioneers of CST-2 proved for the first time, at least to some grizzled Special Operations soldiers, that women might be physically and mentally tough enough to become one of them.
The price of this professional acceptance came in personal loss and social isolation: the only people who really understand the women of CST-2 are each other. At the center of this story is a friendship cemented by “Glee,” video games, and the shared perils and seductive powers of up-close combat. At the heart of the team is the tale of a beloved and effective soldier, Ashley White.
Much as she did in her bestselling The Dressmaker of Khair Khana, Lemmon transports readers to a world they previously had no idea existed: a community of women called to fulfill the military’s mission to “win hearts and minds” and bound together by danger, valor, and determination. Ashley’s War is a gripping combat narrative and a moving story of friendship—a book that will change the way readers think about war and the meaning of service.
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Women in combat. Strong opinions exist on both sides of this subject but I’m not so sure everyone is well informed or wants to be for that matter. If you want to delve into this world for a couple of evenings, READ THIS BOOK. It was easy to follow and did not work me like some non-fiction can. Learn about Lt Ashley White and her desire to do more to fight for her country and help her brothers-and-sisters-in-arms. I am a retired vet who has seen his share of reality and understand fathers and husbands who want to protect their wives and daughters from the ugliness that is combat. Yet, there are women who WANT to do their part. Excellent bibliography at the end and I came away from this book better informed and a modified attitude.
This book inspires the human spirit to go and do what you might be afraid to do. It shows the worst and the best of all who go to war. This book gives you a place to plant your feet and say, “no, you may not come any further except through me.” By far the best book I read in 12 months. I read a lot!
Fascinating and inspirational true story of amazingly fit women, willing AND able to put themselves in harms way to protect the freedom too many Americans take for granted!
What an amazing group of women who risked their lives in the military!
I didn’t think women should be in the battle zone but this true story changed my attitude. These role challenging women are totally capable of being soldiers.
One of my favorite books of all times!!
The writing was superb in this book. I felt like I was right with the women training for CST. It really made me appreciate the amount of training and sacrifice that women have endured when they are enlisted in the arm forces and how far they have come. Ashley broke ground for these women.
This book told me so much about the brave military women who were fighting next to special ops.
A good insight into women in war and how thinking has changed and women are finally getting options in the military. Very personally told and sad, but realistic.
What a woman!
This is a beautifully researched and written true story of women who go to war. The Seal Team guys got nothing on them…
This introduced me to the concept of women warriors. I had only thought of women in ancillary roles. The women were well described. I am very proud of them and the great risks that they face.
This story really needed to be told. I learned so much, more than my heart wanted to take in, about our soldiers & what they experience in the Middle East. But, the women who train their bodies so they can do almost anything that our men do, & put themselves in harms way so that the U S is safer & the Arab women are understood, are my hero’s.
Excellent.
So beautiful and inspiring and yet so sad, the beautiful and dedicated individuals in this story shoild inpire us all to reach higher and do more!
i’m so glad this writer introduced me to Ashley and these women in service as protectors and examiners of the Muslum women and children on the front lines.
DID NOT CARE FOR THIS BOOK. IT JUST SEEMED TOO DRAWN OUT AND I COULD NOT GET INTO IT
Good book. I’m not that “into” the military culture (as a pastor I’m conflicted, realizing the need for readiness while cringing at the whole military-hero-worship emphasis).
This book helped me see events thru a woman’s perspective. Well written, by and large. I could have appreciated fewer characters to keep track of—between the military abbr and cast of characters, I felt as if I were in first week of basic!
I read this book about a year ago and had a hard time putting it down. This although the ending is sad, is truly inspirational!!!! Definitely recommend it.