Blood Stripes: The Grunt's View of the War in Iraq

The dynamic story of the life and times of five Marine corporals and sergeants, men at the front lines of the war in Iraq

First extended account of the Marine experience fighting the Iraq insurgency from the grunt's perspective

Author interviewed charismatic and controversial Marine Gen. James N. "Mad Dog" Mattis, a legendary Marine commander revered by the grunts and gives new details about the battle for Fallujah
A sometimes harrowing, often humorous, and occasionally tragic look at the Marine Corps from the inside out in its struggle with the insurgency in Iraq. Drawing from personal experience in the confusing, deadly conflict currently being fought in the streets and back alleys of Iraqi towns and villages, Danelo focuses on the young Marine leaders--corporals and sergeants--whose job it is to take even younger Marines into battle, close with and destroy an elusive enemy, and bring their boys back home again. Sadly, there are losses, but true to the Marine Corps spirit, they soldier on, earning their blood stripes the only way they know how--the hard way.

David J. Danelo, 1998 graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy, is a Marine Corps veteran of the Iraq War. His work has appeared in the New York Post, Los Angeles Times, Marine Corps Gazette, and Parade magazine. He also has appeared on Fox News and other national networks. He currently lives in Austin, Texas. Steven Pressfield is the author of Gates of Fire and The Legend of Bagger Vance.