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Red Platoon cover art

Red Platoon

By: Clinton Romesha
Narrated by: Will Damron,Clinton Romesha
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Publisher's Summary

The only comprehensive, firsthand account of the 13-hour firefight at the Battle of Keating, by Medal of Honor recipient Clinton Romesha, for listeners of Black Hawk Down by Mark Bowden and Lone Survivor by Marcus Luttrell.

"'It doesn't get better.' To us that phrase nailed one of the essential truths, maybe even the essential truth, about being stuck at an outpost whose strategic and tactical vulnerabilities were so glaringly obvious to every soldier who had ever set foot in that place that the name itself - Keating - had become a kind of backhanded joke."

In 2009 Clinton Romesha of Red Platoon and the rest of the Black Knight Troop were preparing to shut down Command Outpost Keating, the most remote and inaccessible in a string of bases built by the US military in Nuristan and Kunar in the hope of preventing Taliban insurgents from moving freely back and forth between Afghanistan and Pakistan. Three years after its construction, the army was finally ready to concede what the men on the ground had known immediately: it was simply too isolated and too dangerous to defend.

On October 3, 2009, after years of constant smaller attacks, the Taliban finally decided to throw everything they had at Keating. The ensuing 13-hour battle - and eventual victory - cost eight men their lives.

Red Platoon is the riveting firsthand account of the Battle of Keating, told by Romesha, who spearheaded both the defence of the outpost and the counterattack that drove the Taliban back beyond the wire and received the Medal of Honor for his actions.

©2016 Clint L. Romesha LLC (P)2016 Penguin Random House Audio Publishing Group

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speechless

Words can't express the emotional turmoil you feel from just reading their story and you didn't even live through this, they did. simply amazing and horrifying at the same time.

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Brilliant

I heard about this book watching the medal of honour series on Netflix.
Immediately was drawn in to the story and the blokes involved, it captured you instantly and keeps you hooked for the entire book!
I find it very well written and as graphic as you can be in that situation.
Recommend this to anyone and they will not be disappointed

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Great respect to all members involved!

Combination of how it was written and spoken makes you fully involved in the story the whole time, you can feel every event that unfolds throughout.

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Amazing courage and humility

Thanks Clint Romesha for your leadership and love for your men. Another awesome story of ordinary soldiers with the grim task of following orders from inept higher up leaders.
It was a story made even more compelling by hearing the author’s voice . We admire your courage and pray leadership will come from men like you .

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Simply Brilliant

Respect to Red Platoon, the living and the dead. A compelling story very hard to listen-to, but impossible to put down due to the intensity

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Totally insane account of a true story.

This is so well written and superbly read. i was fully engaged every second of it. The details are fascinating and took me there. There are moments when I couldn't believe it because it is so insane and these guys are unbelievable. Well done and thank you for your service and sacrifice.

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Gripping and moving account

I can only begin to imagine the horror of the attack on COP Keating, and the bravery required to weather such a sustained level of violence and overcome insurmountable odds. Clint's retelling guards the story and the spirit of the soldiers that perished and survived that day for all posterity in a fashion that is gripping and truly moving. Well done, and thank you for your service.

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Amazing story

The most detailed battle story I have heard. I was unable to stop listening. Incredible

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Amazing story

Truly amazing story of some courageous guys stuck in a shit sandwich and the fight of a lifetime to get through.

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a heartstopping story

this puts you right into the events of what happened and its a heartbreaking, heroic, tragic, inspiring story. I dont even want to call it a story but it left me shaken.

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  • Rob
  • 01-05-2016

Amazing...

Would you listen to Red Platoon again? Why?

This is a tremendous story of courage, sacrifice and the will to survive. Though you see the theme occur in most war memoirs, it is nonetheless amazing what a a bunch of regular dudes from all over the place can do when they come together as a unit. The Army, their training and their commitment to each somehow create something that is truly unbreakable. They denied the enemy their prize and in the process once again proved that american soldiers rise to any challenge.

Who was your favorite character and why?

I look at a platoon as entity and the men that comprise it are just facets of its personality and capability. To me, this story is more about Red Platoon than any of the individuals that make it up. Their collective ability to embrace a horrible situation and find a way to keep fighting and survive is very uplifting.

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

The Army has a way of making poor decisions that at the time seem like a reasonable decisions. It made me sad that these soldiers had to pay the price for something that started as finger pointed at a map in a briefing by a staff officer long before these guys came in country. Its upsetting that despite all the good reasons not to put COP Keating where they did, they did it anyway. Hindsight is 20 20 but I wish someone with courage in a high level position would have followed what that knew was right and close that COP long before they did. It was so obviously a disaster waiting to happen. The fact the battle did not need to happen and should not have happened does not take away from the valor of the soldiers and airman demonstrated.

Any additional comments?

Americans should do all they can thank and employ veterans. They gave us everything we have, they asked for nothing in return yet deserve our complete gratitude.

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  • CoBurnside
  • 10-05-2016

Phenomenal book, start to finish

I loved every minute. Sometimes it was so intense I had to stop the book and take a breather.

Makes me grateful of our country's heros!

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  • Clyde
  • 24-04-2016

Great read....

Loved it. As a USMC veteran I was astounded the the Army leadership and planners put a COP in such an indefensible position... These soldiers (most at least) were damned determined heroes. I cherish and revere them for their sacrafice.

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  • Kevin Wallace
  • 16-04-2016

War Heroes

This was yet another easy to listen to audio book. The story was well thought out and was seamless as the story progressed.

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  • Sara Beth
  • 14-05-2016

The Best Audible book I have heard yet.

Would you listen to Red Platoon again? Why?

Yes because it kept me on the edge of my seat.

What was one of the most memorable moments of Red Platoon?

A story of true American hero's battle to fight for our country and the men they served with. Brought me to tears when one of them would die. The men in this book should never be forgotten.

What about Will Damron and Clinton Romesha ’s performance did you like?

Excellent

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  • William McMahon
  • 10-05-2016

This book has got to be made into a movie.

The accounts are riveting. I kept referring to the Internet for geographic look at the occurrences. Fabulous book. I finished it in one day.

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  • David
  • 09-05-2016

A great book written by a proven American Hero

This is a story of war which every U.S. citizen should read.

I first gained an in-depth awareness of the events which led to this book by reading Jake Tapper's book. I walked away from it with the strong sense that the higher ups in the Army had miss-served these men, and befuddled by how any middle to upper tier leader could have created the circumstances that allowed this situation to occur. The men at Keating were betrayed by there upper level leaders and a tragedy resulted. Good men on the ground did their best, some survived and all were hero's, nonetheless none of the men should have been at Keaton.

This book fleshes out the details that only one who was there for the full events could. Clint Romesha lived every minute of the final attach on Post Keating. He tells the story in a way a Marine of honor and one who was awarded our countries highest military award based on his action in the events that occurred at Keaton should. He relives the events and provides full detail. The facts are there, the heroism of those involved is well documented, and the reader is left to reach his or her own conclusion. While we can be outraged at the upper echelon, this book demonstrates the committed that soldiers develop for each other and the extent they will go to help each other in situations that those who have not been their would almost call suicidal. We are fortunate to have young men, who will sacrifice their youth to serve their countries needs.

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  • Dan
  • 13-05-2016

What a story! Well written book and great narrator

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

Yes, I would recommend this book. The book really helps to set the listener in each situation described in the book.

What about Will Damron and Clinton Romesha ’s performance did you like?

This book paints the true picture how these heroes worked so hard to defend their outpost and work together as a team to save their brothers.

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

It's so hard to understand how the top military leaders could put our military in what was certainly a situation where the inevitable could occur and once it did, the support was not there as soon as it should have been.

Any additional comments?

This is a must read book for every American. This is another great Audible that will listen to again and again! God bless and watch over our military.

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  • David
  • 09-05-2016

America needs to know

It amazes me how little we heard of such battles and bravery. Thank you veterans for all you do and have done.

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  • SGT Med
  • 30-07-2016

Incredible Story!

Would you listen to Red Platoon again? Why?

First off. I accidentally wrote this review for the "Summary of Red Platoon". Since Audible does not allow you to edit it, I had to leave it. So, if you read the "Summary of Red Platoon", you will see the exact same review. Even though I haven't read it yet!

Yes. It was an incredible story and a brutally honest account of the engagement from SSG Romesha and those who were there.

What about Will Damron and Clinton Romesha ’s performance did you like?

Excellent narration from Will Damron. The narrator can ruin a good book, or make a not so good book better. This was a well written book with an outstanding narrator. Home run!

Any additional comments?

Incredible, engaging, story. Very well written. Very well narrated. Everyone should read about the sacrifices of those who serve to keep us safe. Anyone who served in the Military would appreciate and identify, in some way, this book.

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  • jamie
  • 05-11-2016

really gopd

I found it difficult at first to listen to the narrators voice but once I was used to it the book was enthralling. strongly recommend

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  • Ed Challinor
  • 12-01-2020

Important historical account of heroism. Also really, really, really exciting.

This is the only book about war in Afghanistan you need to read. It’s raw and real and tells one of the most important war stories there is. It’s also super entertaining and marvellously written and delivered. I feel guilty sitting here in the safety of my home and laughing along with the soldiers
in such a desperate and horrific situation. That’s a tribute to the toughness and professionalism of the author and his friends. Cheerful optimism and professionalism in times of hopelessness. It’s a marvel.

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  • Steve B
  • 03-11-2019

Powerful, gritty & compelling

I’d never heard of Keating until I saw a documentary on TV that mentioned two Medal of Honor recipients. That got me googling and led me to the book.

A really powerful account of events, that had me sitting in the car listening for “one more minute” on several occasions. The details recounted, and the depth of descriptions add weight to help you understand (as well as you can I guess) what was happening on the ground.

Brilliant - have already recommended it to a few other audible subscribers.

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  • John B
  • 28-02-2019

Best book I've ever read/heard....

This is a no brainer, of you have any enjoyment of combat then this is an absolute must buy.

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  • Anonymous User
  • 20-02-2019

Brutal and honest

A brutal, honest & gutwrenching tale of bravery and sacrifice. Gripping and impossible to stop

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  • J D A LAING
  • 16-07-2023

A story of war and friendships

A story of true courage, told by one of the key actors in this epic and bloody battle.

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  • Danzel
  • 15-04-2023

What a story

I didn’t know anything about COP Keating prior to listening to this audio book. What a story, gripping from start to finish.
Thank you Clinton for conveying the essence of true friendship in this book. Anything below 5 out of 5 is not possible from me.
Great narration Will, you did a great job bringing the reality of the situation to life.

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  • Michael
  • 10-10-2022

Thank you

to all the men who made this book possible thank you for being real Good men in a world that needs more men like you God bless you all

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  • MooneFace
  • 06-06-2022

Not to be missed

I've read a lot of books in this genre, many over promise and under deliver or are let down by poor narrators and cliched rhetoric. Red Platoon falls into the other category, this is an amazing book, well written and end-to-end hardcore accounts of battle. What Clinton Romesha and all of those at COP Keating endured is mind blowing. It's incredibly frustrating at times reading this, understanding how truly out there they were and how poor decisions screwed them over massively. What's more the dialogue is not sugar coated, I enjoyed listening to the no BS assessments, Clinton comes across as a hard but fair NCO who really cared for his men. He clearly suffers tremendous guilt and pain post these events but his account, in it's honesty and detail is incredible. I will be keeping this one for a re-read. Highly recommended.

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  • Amazon Customer
  • 13-04-2022

awesome

one of the best books I have ever listened too, gripping from start to finish.

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