Table of Contents
Acknowledgments ix
A Note on Methodology xi
Introduction 7
Part 1 Early Life
1 Nick Eslinger 13
2 Tony Fuscellaro 22
3 Ross Pixler 32
4 Bobby Sickler 42
5 Stephen Tangen 49
Part 2 The U.S. Military Academy
6 West Point 61
7 Nick Eslinger 91
8 Tony Fuscellaro 100
9 Ross Pixler 108
10 Bobby Sickler 117
11 Stephen Tangen 126
Part 3 Preparation
Infantry
12 Ranger School 139
13 Nick Eslinger 143
14 Ross Pixler 149
15 Stephen Tangen 157
Aviation
16 Fort Rucker 166
17 Tony Fuscellaro 168
18 Bobby Sickler 172
Part 4 Into Battle
19 Nick Eslinger: Iraq, 2008-2009 177
20 Tony Fuscellaro: Afghanistan, 2009-2010 192
21 Ross Pixler: Iraq, 2007-2008 222
22 Bobby Sickler: Iraq, 2007-2008 262
23 Stephen Tangen: Afghanistan, 2010 290
Part 5 Epilogue
24 Nick Eslinger 321
25 Tony Fuscellaro 326
26 Ross Pixler 333
27 Bobby Sickler 339
28 Stephen Tangen 343
Conclusion 348
Notes 353
Selected Bibliography 363
Index 365