And The Whole Mountain Burned

McPadden has written a firsthand account of the trials and tribulations of US Army Rangers, especially Sergeant Nick Burch and Private Danny Shane, fighting in the mountains of Eastern Afghanistan in the Spring of 2008. The novel is graphic in describing how the men managed to survive, fight, and die in this godforsaken place. The author states that the novel depicts “the horrors of war, the courage of the soldiers, and the fact that no matter how many enemies we vanquish, there is always another over the ridge.” The Rangers’ only lifelines are their radios and the helicopters that often flew through miserable weather and enemy fire to bring them food, supplies, ammo, and - most important - mail from friends and loved ones. This latter lifeline also brought reinforcements and evacuated their wounded and dead.