After twenty-two years of military service Simon Chambers wasn't ready to retire into civilian life. He had served in four wars and the thought of driving trucks for the rest of his days was not an appealing prospect. Simon needed to find somewhere he could use the skills he had gained from being in the Para's. Iraq seemed like the right answer, but he was soon to learn that he had got more than he bargained for.
Simon explains the problems of initially getting the job, the cap badge rivalry and the backstabbing between the companies. The book highlights the negligence and ineptitude of some and the sheer bravery and heroics of others. He tells of the dangers and pitfalls within the theatre of Operation. This should serve as an eye opener for others contemplating going into this line of work. In Iraq gunfights, sandstorms, dangerous driving, IED's, friendly fire and suicide bombers are just another day.
Book Title: Keepers of the Gateway to Hell
Author: Simon Chambers
Price: £2.99 - $2.99
Link: Amazon Kindle U.K - Amazon Kindle U.S
Amazon.com Review
Here's what I like about this book; it's written in the first person by someone who lived it, so what you're getting here is a veteran soldier's/security contractor's view of an untold segment of the war in Iraq. Simon Chambers served as a civilian security contractor/mercenary running dangerous protection details for U.S. DoD personnel and others along some of the most dangerous routes in the world, like the five mile drive from the Baghdad Airport to the Green Zone. What kind of dangers? How about a road where it isn't impossible to find 16 IED's along the way, or enemy snipers, or those who execute well planned ambushes or ambushes of opportunity?
Chambers, a veteran British Paratrooper, career military man, and former Blackwater contractor, goes into detail about the hiring process in this new contractor's job, the comraderie of the operators who are in the bloody mix, and the petty or not so petty politics that demonstrate the need for the civilian security contractors.
Is it polished history? No, but it's straight forward, honest history by someone who served in the arena that few would choose to enter or be qualified to serve on some first rate teams. Give me this history everytime. Give me the book that reads like a diary/log of observations, feelings, opinions and events of warriors, and those in the fight.
We live in a world where too much of what we're supposed to know about military history is dictated by Hollywood, with actors mouthing lines written by scriptwriters who haven't served in a combat zone or arena. Like I said, I'll take the 'I was there' stories everytime. They may not have the gloss, varnish or pace of film or fiction but they have the bell ring of truth and gut level honesty that any ground pounding veteran recognizes and appreciates.
Finally, there are some classic lines in the speech that Teddy Roosevelt gave at the Sorbonne in Paris in 1910 that, I think, might best sum it up. Roosevelt said, 'It's not the critic who counts, not the man who points out how the strong man stumbled, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena..."
Chambers was in the 'arena' a few times and Keepers of the Gateway to Hell chronicles the experience nicely. Buy the book.
Chambers, a veteran British Paratrooper, career military man, and former Blackwater contractor, goes into detail about the hiring process in this new contractor's job, the comraderie of the operators who are in the bloody mix, and the petty or not so petty politics that demonstrate the need for the civilian security contractors.
Is it polished history? No, but it's straight forward, honest history by someone who served in the arena that few would choose to enter or be qualified to serve on some first rate teams. Give me this history everytime. Give me the book that reads like a diary/log of observations, feelings, opinions and events of warriors, and those in the fight.
We live in a world where too much of what we're supposed to know about military history is dictated by Hollywood, with actors mouthing lines written by scriptwriters who haven't served in a combat zone or arena. Like I said, I'll take the 'I was there' stories everytime. They may not have the gloss, varnish or pace of film or fiction but they have the bell ring of truth and gut level honesty that any ground pounding veteran recognizes and appreciates.
Finally, there are some classic lines in the speech that Teddy Roosevelt gave at the Sorbonne in Paris in 1910 that, I think, might best sum it up. Roosevelt said, 'It's not the critic who counts, not the man who points out how the strong man stumbled, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena..."
Chambers was in the 'arena' a few times and Keepers of the Gateway to Hell chronicles the experience nicely. Buy the book.
