Book Review: Attack State Red by Col. Richard Kemp

I usually do not do book reviews—actually this is the first one—but I have recently read a book that I believe needs to be recognized. It is titled Attack State Red and, although it has been out since 2010, most people outside of the UK are probably unaware of this exceptional piece of military literature.

Written by British Army Col. Richard Kemp and journalist Chris Hughes, the book details the Royal Anglian Regiment’s six month deployment to Afghanistan and is a reminder there are more than American servicemen fighting and dying in that worn-torn country. From page one, the book grabs your attention and never lets go. The first chapter starts the book off with a page turning firefight that is reminiscent of We Were Soldiers (another compelling book written by Colonel Hal Moore and journalist Joseph Galloway about the Vietnam War).

Overall, the book is an excellent read for anyone interested in gaining an accurate understanding of what our servicemen go through while in Afghanistan. It takes the reader through the tactics and down to the level of the individual soldier. It shows men in combat as they really are. It does not attempt to be politically correct by glossing over the joking and kidding, at times morbid, that is the norm of all fighting men or the pride a soldier feels after successfully terminating a bad guy with a well placed shot. Nor does it overplay the sadness over the loss of one of their own. What it does do in exemplary style is to give credit to the professionalism of the young soldiers who, while suffering the death of one of their brothers-in-arms, still manage to “crack on” and get the mission done.

This is what makes it a compelling and touching story that leads the reader through the full spectrum of emotions. You will not be able to stop smiling as you read about the young soldiers playing with plastic army men while in the middle of a battle zone or with their play stations while back at their bases. In the end, it is these human touches that takes you beyond the dry tactics and makes you feel part of the story…a member of the team. As a result, you will not be able to resist shedding a tear when you read of one of these brave soldiers losing his life to a mine, sniper, or even friendly fire.

In this regard it reminds me of Cornelius Ryan’s work (The Longest Day and A Bridge Too Far) in that it highlights that life goes on even in a warzone. That, as human beings, we have an immense capacity not only to endure, but to make the best of a bad situation, to laugh in the face of adversity and even death.

Additionally, it takes you beyond the headlines and into what is really going on in Afghanistan. Its firsthand account will surprise even those who think they know what is ‘really’ going on in that conflict riddled country. It also details the realities of modern day warfare. It is not clean, perfect, nor precise and, no matter how much we try, innocents will die and soldiers will get hit with friendly fire.

Lastly, as an American, I recognize that we shamefully hear too little of what our allies in Afghanistan are doing. We hear too little of the losses they suffer while fighting alongside our own servicemen. In fact, the book details cooperation between the American and British military, which is quite impressive. For example, the respect that the British ‘Tommies’ have for the ‘Yank’ Apache pilots will make any American proud of the men and women of our armed forces.

Final verdict: I recommend Attack State Red to anyone who is interested in military history, tactics (especially small unit), men in combat, and what the everyday life of our soldiers in Afghanistan is like.

The book is available worldwide from Amazon.  Click on the book's image above to view its Amazon page.