Summary

Chapter 1

While Robin “Birdy” Perry, a Harlem native, is on his way to Iraq, he writes to his Uncle Richie, a Vietnam War veteran. It is February 27, 2003. Birdy recounts reading his uncle’s letters from Vietnam and hopes that the Iraqis will not want to fight. He hopes that they will just surrender. Birdy also reflects on the anger of his father at Birdy’s wanting to join the military, instead of going to college. After 9/11, Birdy wanted to stand up and do something for his country.

Upon arriving in Iraq, Birdy and the others are assembled inside Kuwait at Camp Doha. They are listening to Major Spring Sessions as she addresses the Civil Affairs (CA) unit in which Birdy has been placed. The unit is composed of a medical team, an intelligence team, security personnel, and a flex team that will work...