In the Gray Area

In the Gray Area builds on Seth Folsom's earlier award-winning memoir, The Highway War, which described his 2003 command of one of the first Marine light armoured reconnaissance battalion companies to march on Baghdad. In February 2008 Major Folsom was deployed again to Iraq as the leader of a U.S. Marine advisor team embedded with an Iraqi army infantry battalion. The realities of the Marines' mission is frankly addressed by Folsom in this new work as he reflects on challenges they and their Iraqi counterparts faced in their struggle to gain control of al-Anbar province. He explores the bonds he formed with his men, the "Outlanders," and the tenuous relationships forged between the American and Iraqi soldiers whose cultures were so vastly different. The author creates a compelling picture of the obstacles faced by both as they lived, ate, and fought side-by-side. The Highway War was lauded for its insights of how a young combat leader privately copes with his own vulnerabilities while publicly presenting a tough persona. In his new book, Folsom shows a mature commander thoughtfully evaluating the situation at a time when the Iraqi army is on the cusp of independence from its American partners. He further reflects on the difficulties posed by a possibly premature American departure from Iraq and questions if the advisor mission is really the key to an American exit of Iraq. This book is published in conjunction with the Association of the U.S. Army. AUTHOR: Maj. Seth W. B. Folsom, USMC, has a Bachelor's degree in international relations from the University of Virginia and a Master's degree in South Asian national security affairs from the Naval Postgraduate School. He currently serves as the International Affairs Officer Program Coordinator, Strategy and Plans Division, at Headquarters Marine Corps. In 2003 Folsom and Company "D" deployed with 1st LAR Battalion in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. In February 2008 he deployed to Iraq as Team Leader, Military Transition Team 0733 and was embedded with 3rd Battalion, 28th Brigade, 7th Iraqi Army Division. His first book, The Highway War, won the 2007 Military Writers Society of America's Gold Medal Award for best memoir and was a Military Book Club selection. Folsom lives in Woodbridge, VA. ILLUSTRATIONS 10 b/w photographs + 2 maps