Ashley's War

The Untold Story of a Team of Women Soldiers on the Special Ops Battlefield

By: Gayle Tzemach Lemmon

Narrated by: Kathe Mazur

Length: 10 hrs

Publisher's summary

From the author of the New York Times best seller The Dressmaker of Khair Khana comes the poignant and gripping story of a groundbreaking team of female American warriors who served alongside Special Operations soldiers on the battlefield in Afghanistan - including Ashley White, a beloved soldier who died serving her country's cause.

In 2010 the US Army Special Operations Command created Cultural Support Teams, a pilot program to put women on the battlefield alongside Green Berets and Army Rangers on sensitive missions in Afghanistan. The idea was that women could access places and people that had remained out of reach and could build relationships - woman to woman - in ways that male soldiers in a conservative, traditional country could not. Though officially banned from combat, female soldiers could be "attached" to different teams, and for the first time women throughout the army heard the call to try out for this Special Ops program.

In Ashley's War, Gayle Tzemach Lemmon uses exhaustive firsthand reporting and a finely tuned understanding of the complexities of war to tell the story of CST-2, a unit of women hand-picked from across the army, and the remarkable hero at its heart: 1st Lt. Ashley White, who would become the first Cultural Support Team member killed in action and the first CST remembered on the Army Special Operations Memorial Wall of Honor alongside the Army Rangers with whom she served.

Transporting readers into this little-known world of fierce women bound together by valor, danger, and the desire to serve, Ashley's War is a riveting combat narrative and a testament to the unbreakable bonds born of war.

Gayle Tzemach Lemmon is a senior fellow at the Council on Foreign Relations and a contributor to The Atlantic's Defense One. She is the best-selling author of The Dressmaker of Khair Khana and writes regularly for leading media outlets. A Fulbright scholar and Robert Bosch Fellow, she began reporting from conflict regions during MBA study at the Harvard Business School following nearly a decade covering politics at ABC News.

©2015 Gayle Tzemach Lemmon (P)2015 HarperCollins Publishers

Exceptional women

This was a window into a world about young women I did not realize existed. Normally I would not pick this type of book but read it on the recommendation of Cynthia who I follow on audible. I am so very glad I listened to it.

Told Everyone About It.

The subject matter alone made it worth the purchase cost. The book's format uses Ashley White as a central character, but the main idea is that of women in combat, and the belated integration of same. I wished very much for more combat anecdotes, but that shouldn't dissuade you from getting the audiobook. It opened my eyes to several realities faced by women in the armed forces, and those who aspire to serve in a combat capacity. It also made me want to get my sneaks on and go for a run!

As an aside, Reese Witherspoon bought the movie production rights, so we'll probably see this one on the big screen soon.

Believer

this book is unbelievable in the fact of how it tells the story. the narrator's little monotone for my liking but the text keeps you going no matter what and that's the main thing really. if you haven't already form an opinion on women in the military on combat jobs this will definitely push you towards this.

Great Book About Some Impressive Women

I thought this was going to be an anti-war type book, but it is just the opposite.
I was pleased to hear how tough some of our female soldiers are, and how they are contributing to our war effort.
The book doesn't focus on just one woman, but covers several who are amazing. It has both funny and serious stories that will make you want to listen.

TREMENDOUS, INSPIRING

My first knowledge of this book was a review; I thought it might be interesting..... It was absolutely riveting, wonderful!!!

Outstanding!!!

Rarely do I give book reviews but this one deserves to be noted. The courage and commitment displayed is convicting. Please take the time to read. It is time well spent.
Thank you Ashley!!

Excellent True Story!

I thoroughly enjoyed following these extraordinary women who gave their whole hearts, minds, bodies, and souls to this new program in our military. This is a must read and should be shared with daughters across the world! You truly can do anything you put your mind to!

Great listen!

What a great inspirational story of a female soldier!!! I highly recommend this story for everyone!

slow start but WOW.

Slow start but keep going. in no time at all you will be engrossed in the story and cant walk away.

Powerful and Appreciated

I appreciated the background history of the soldiers, supporters and family members that went into the story. The honesty and detail that went into the writing allowed me to realize an experience and a comradeship only as powerful as a retelling can allow. The mere fact that the CSTs felt like they needed to continue in their role and could not return back to their pre CST existence speaks clearly to this. These warriors made history with courage, honour and pride. This was a fascinating story that I highly recommend to all.