Joker One

A Marine Platoon's Story of Courage, Leadership, and Brotherhood

By: Donovan Campbell

Narrated by: David Drummond

Length: 11 hrs and 42 mins

Publisher's summary

When Donovan Campbell's platoon deployed to Ramadi in the spring of 2004, they believed they'd be spending most of their time building schools, training police, and making friends with the citizens. But shortly after arriving, when Campbell awoke to the chilling cry of "Jihad, Jihad, Jihad!" echoing from minaret to minaret across the city, he knew they had an altogether different situation on their hands.

For nearly the entire day, Joker-One---the 40-man infantry platoon that Campbell was charged with leading---fought house-to-house to rescue other units, sometimes trading grenades with their enemies from just a few feet away. In the days and months that followed, hundreds of hard-core insurgents launched simultaneous attacks on the Marine forces in Ramadi, their ranks swelled by thousands of local volunteers drawn from the citizens of a city whose primary export was officers in Saddam Hussein's army. By the fall of 2004, nearly half the men in Campbell's platoon had been wounded in some of the fiercest urban fighting since Vietnam; less than a month after they withdrew, the forces in Ramadi were doubled, then tripled.

Although Joker One is set in Iraq, the book's themes---brotherhood, honor, and sacrifice---are universal. Campbell shows us how his Marines' patience, discipline, and love for one another created a whole that is much greater than the sum of its parts, and how the essential goodness of these men remains unchanged by all of the pain and the terror surrounding them. His sharp-eyed, evocative, and unflinching account of his deployment is just as impressive as the man himself---a man who chose to enter the military because of his patriotism, sense of privilege, and deep religious faith when most of his Princeton classmates were cashing in their ivy league educations for lucrative careers among the financial elite.

©2008 Donovan Campbell (P)2009 Tantor

Simply the best

Among the very best accounts of military life and combat I have ever read. Campbell is down-to- earth and tells it like it is from a perspective that most Americans in "fly-over-country" share. Not a book for liberal ideologues occupying ivory towers and with axes to grind.

Childish Narration

Being a combat wounded Veteran of the Iraq war, I found it very frustrating that the narrator portrayed the young Marines in child like voices. Regardless of our young age, I can reassure any reader of this review, that not once did I hear Marines talk in such unsure and prepubescent tones.

A well told story

Overall I enjoyed this book quite a bit. Some overuse of certain terms, and some military terms misread by a narrator who presumably doesn't have a lot of first hand knowledge of them was my only real gripe. Good book, for sure.

Great read from a Platoon Commander's Perspective!

Donavan Campbell did an excellent job in describing the atmosphere of Ar Ramadi back in 2004 and what it was like to lead. He delivers on the Marine Corps' debate on mission accomplishment versus troop welfare. He shows strength and weakness, success and failure, happiness and frustration.

Having been one of the company commanders to replace 2/4 in Ramadi and the Combat Outpost, I can say Campbell's description of the environment was spot on. He helped answer put together some of the pieces that were unknown to me. I found myself laughing and on a few instances crying. Overall - nicely done. S/F

Somebody real wears those boots on the ground

Donovan Campbell puts us at his side during his tour of duty in Ramahdi, a hotbed of factional terrorism, murder, hatred and exploding ordinance. Hot, dusty, overextended, under provisioned with transport and communications, this young Marine lieutenant and his men slog through the daily grind of keeping the peace in a city thats circling the drain into madness. You will appreciate the courage and fortitude of these men who have been ordered to do the impossible and yet suit up on a daily basis and do just that. David Drummand does a great job of narration.

Good tale of modern warfare

This book has an excellent tone about it. It talks about politics, personal battles, bravery, idiocy, boredom, craziness, commanders strong and weak, yet without making any of them feel like they dominate the story.

It's a finely balanced story of a Marine Lt. as he attempts to guide a Marine rifle platoon in Iraq while figuring out how to deal with commanders who don't seem to always make sense in a place that makes even less sense.

I generally prefer WWII or Korean war stories, but this is a very good one about Iraq.

A true story of heroics.

Any additional comments?

This story really makes you see the devotion and dedication that the speckle have towards their missions and towards each othe, and how when one needs help there are no lines separating Navy, Army, Marines, or Air Force. Only Americans!

Great Choice!!

Being active duty during this turbulent time in Iraq, I remember the headlines and Fallujah and Ramadi were areas that NO ONE wanted to go. This book was so realistic I may now suffer from PTSD. Good job enjoyed the book.

No BS

If you could sum up Joker One in three words, what would they be?

This is a great book to listen to. Love the storyline. I was sad to hear about some of the men, You got to know them

What was one of the most memorable moments of Joker One?

all the suffering our men and women go through. in this need less war.

Which character – as performed by David Drummond – was your favorite?

they all were, you got to know them as your bother, son, or father

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

laugh and cryed for these men

Any additional comments?

loved this book

Great book. Narration is lacking

Great book, but the narration could have been better. The narrator was great except for when quoting Marines throughout the book. He gave each man, other than the author, a whiny inflection as if they were young children. Otherwise, one of my favorite books to date. I'll definitely listen again in the future.