Damn the Valley

"A riveting, unsparing, gritty, first-hand account of life in a great airborne unit that engaged in some of the toughest fighting in Afghanistan, in "the Arghandab," a district whose name became a metaphor for brutal close combat against tenacious enemies.  Damn the Valley captures vividly the intense dynamics and relationships in the brotherhood of the close fight in the toughest imaginable conditions - and also the extraordinary reliance of paratroopers on their airborne buddies on their left and right and their leaders.  A great read!"  ~General David Petraeus, former Commander of the Surge in Iraq, US Central Command, and NATO/US Forces in Afghanistan; former Director of the CIA; and co-author of "Conflict: The Evolution of Warfare from 1945 to Ukraine"

“Sobering, powerful, factual; this is a must-read first-person story which brilliantly and empathically illuminates the facets of a soldier’s life during combat in one of Afghanistan’s toughest districts. This is a rare glimpse into the realities real American heroes face to pay for our freedom. As the Fury commander there, for 24 months, I understand we asked soldiers to sacrifice on our behalf with ill-defined goals. Thus the book quote resonated with me, that the only way to WIN was to, 'continually do [sic] the right thing in the face of everything that screams to you that it wasn’t worth it to stay on the path of the righteous.' They served with honor!" ~Brian Mennes Major General (Ret) former Deputy Commander 18th Airborne Corps, US Army

“Yeske provides a riveting account of the brutality and unforgiving nature of direct combat from the paratroopers who had to deal with it in one of the most dangerous and contentious areas and times of the Afghan War. He also clearly articulates the interpersonal nature of small unit combat, and his writing makes the reader feel as if they are there, on patrol, or under fire with him and his buddies. I recommend this book to any small unit leader to understand what combat is about and to any leader in general to understand what our troops at the tactical level must endure during extended combat.” ~John Wayne Troxell, SEAC (Ret), USA, 3rd Senior Enlisted Advisor to the Chairman, JCS, and author of "Surrender or Die! Reflections of a Combat Leader"

"Damn the Valley is a riveting book, written by a combat veteran of the same operations. It has the grit and realism that only can be achieved by personal experience. It also is interspersed with the macabre humor that only combat can hone and act as that release valve for surviving by a hair. I found myself transported to the battle and walked beside the author and his comrades. The writing is crisp and resourceful. One can almost feel the dust, the misery, the long hours and sleep deprivation, the smell of poor sanitation, sweat, and fear permeate its pages as you follow the authors journey." ~Nick Brockhausen, author of "We Few" and "Whispers in the Tall Grass"

"This book transcends the genre of military memoirs. Damn the Valley offers an unparalleled glimpse into the heart of the Afghanistan conflict as experienced by a platoon of 82nd Airborne Paratroopers. The author's firsthand account is both riveting and deeply moving, shedding light on the courage, sacrifice, and resilience of those who served. It's an essential read for comprehending the complexities and personal toll of modern warfare.” ~Jason Kasper, former Special Forces officer and USA Today Bestselling Author of the "Shadow Strike Series"

"Damn the Valley belongs on the bookshelf of every person who wants to know what war in Afghanistan was like—the remote outposts, the blistering heat and frigid cold, the tasteless food, the mountains, deserts, and terraced valleys, and the challenge of fighting ghosts among a population who called places like the Arghandab Valley home." ~Modern War Institute

"What comes through in Yeske's well-told account is the pride built among the men, the determination and camaraderie despite the occasional outbursts of anger in such a tense environment and close quarters." ~The Republican American

“Damn the Valley is an incredible story of resilience by the men of 1st PLT, Bravo Company, 2nd  Battalion, 508th Parachute Infantry Regiment during their GWOT deployment to Afghanistan. Author William Yeske does an incredible job synthesizing his personal accounts, the memories of his platoon-mates, and the research he conducted, into an intense story that is difficult to put down.” ~Soldier of Fortune Magazine