The Marines Of The Marine 1st Reconnaissance Battalion, By Evan Wright

Imagine, for an instance, you are lying in the desert looking up at the night sky. Streaking across the sky are beautiful trails of fire and colorful blasts. Now imagine that that the sole purpose of every one of those breathtaking lights is to end the lives of you, and everyone you hold dear. This is an every night occurrence for the men of the Marine 1st Reconnaissance Battalion. Generation Kill by Evan Wright chronicles his two month assignment with the Marines of the 1st Recon Battalion, nicknamed “First Suicide Battalion”, during the 2003 invasion of Iraq. Wright describes, in this book, the Marines he rode along side with, and how these men react to the situations thrown at them by the unforgiving people and land of Iraq. In this detailed

This is evident when the reader is exposed to the stressors endured by the Marines. While the Marines regar killing as a simple part of the job, most looking forward to every firefight, and instance of combat, many of them continuously make remarks on things things they have seen in the field. Additionally almost every marine mentioned in the makes remarks that relate to disturbing things they have seen, many of these remarks being focused on the treatment of civilians in the conflict, such as farmers being gunned down by opposing forces. These Marines also make these remarks addressed towards enemy forces who have surrendered, these men being constantly hunted down and killed by Shahdeen Death Squads. Wright has stated, in interviews following the events of the publication of the book, that he is “Haunted” by the deaths of civilians he witnessed in Iraq. throughout the book, the Marines continuously expressed their perturbation at the entire conflict they were fighting, this was especially clear when the Marines came to the aid of a group Marine engineers who had been misidentified by air support and suffered friendly fire from USAF air-to-ground fighters. As in can be seen above, there were many traumatizing events brought up in this book, witnessed by both Wright and the Marines he rode with in Iraq. Though he understood these events would be likely, Wright

The fact of the matter was that Wright persuaded a USMC commander that he could simply keep up this the 1st Recon. Throughout the book it is clearly seen that the marines of first recon have a very tight bond among each other, an example being the wide use of profanity as terms of endearment, an effect of this bond is a relative animosity towards outsiders and reporters. Though the Marines first resented him, Wright came to earn their trust and respect. This was only possible by proving to the Marines the Wright was not a “Pansy-ass civie” as the Marines put it, this meaning Wright was able to prove that he was not fragile, and weak-willed. He accomplished this by staying with the Marine in every situation, every firefight, and every bombing. Experiences described by Wright consist of highly disturbing, uncomfortable, and terrifying situations, throughout all of these Wright was capable of staying with 1st Recon. A large percentage of the Marines respected Wright for one sole reason. Instead of staying safe in the Humvee at the rear of the convoy, Wright insisted that he lead the charge with Sergeant Colbert, Sergeant Reyes, and Lance Corporal Trombley. Soon the Marines showed their fondness of Wright by referring to him with