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Sand, Grit and Dangerous Supply Missions-The Unsung Civilian Heroes of the Iraq War
Keith Richard’s Sand, Grit and Dangerous Supply Missions offers a vivid and personal account of civilian logistics operations during the Iraq War, told from the perspective of someone who lived it firsthand. The book follows Richard’s unexpected journey from a seasoned logistics executive in the U.S. to leading one of the largest civilian military support efforts in a war zone. Through stories packed with emotion, hardship, and bureaucratic chaos, he lifts the curtain on the thousands of unsung civilian workers. Many of them are truck drivers who put their lives on the line without a uniform or a weapon. It’s part memoir, part tribute, and part exposé of how civilian contractors played an essential but invisible role in modern warfare.
I found the writing to be raw, honest, and sometimes unpolished, but in a way that works. Richard doesn’t try to sound like a polished author. He writes the way he talks, which makes the whole thing feel personal, like a friend telling you a war story over coffee. Some chapters hit hard, especially the ones where lives are lost or where Richard grapples with the emotional toll of being away from his family. But just as powerful are the quiet moments: awkward airport layovers, cigarette breaks with skeptical soldiers, dusty meetings in sweltering trailers. Those little things made the story feel real. The voice is genuine and heartfelt, though sometimes a bit repetitive or tangential. But I didn’t mind. It gave the story a rhythm that felt true to the chaos he was living through.
What I liked most were the ideas beneath the surface. This book isn’t just about logistics or war. It’s about leadership, identity, and purpose. Richard steps into a role that he never could’ve fully prepared for, and instead of folding, he adapts. He leads through grit and connection, not ego. That said, there were moments when I wished he pushed harder on the system itself. The bureaucracy and mismanagement he described were shocking. Maybe that’s loyalty, maybe it’s diplomacy. Either way, the book raises important questions about how we treat the civilians who support military efforts and whether we even acknowledge them at all.
I’d recommend this book to anyone interested in military history, leadership, or stories of resilience in the face of overwhelming odds. It’s especially compelling for those who’ve worked in logistics or operations, since it highlights a side of war that’s rarely talked about but absolutely vital. It’s a gritty, heartfelt memoir that gives voice to the everyday heroes who get left out of the headlines.
Pages: 150 | ASIN : B0F91X5ZYD
Unchecked Abuses of Government Power
The Broken Whistle: A Deep State Run Amok is more than a memoir; it is a look at the corruption of the whistleblowing process within the Intelligence Community. Why was it important for you to tell your story?
Like so many others, I am just an ordinary American. I worked diligently to get an education and volunteered to serve our nation to defend and protect our beloved country from foreign and domestic enemies. Yes, it is my story, but I am not alone. It is a story that others could have also written. I am just one out of many who have witnessed the abuse of government power, but unlike others, I spoke up and had to tell it because the abuse of government power threatens the existence of our Constitutional Republic.
President Ronald Reagan said during his inauguration as the governor of California, “Freedom is a fragile thing, and it’s never more than one generation away from extinction. It is not ours by way of inheritance; it must be fought for and defended constantly by each generation, for it comes only once to a people. And those in world history who have known freedom and then lost it have never known it again.”
Therefore, it is crucial for the citizens of the United States to witness my firsthand story on the consequences of unchecked abuses of government power. My story shows the abuses I suffered for seeking to hold the CIA and Intelligence Community accountable for violating US laws. Just like it happened to me, it could happen to any and all ordinary Americans. If these abuses of power are left unchecked, tyranny will come knocking on their doors.
Your years working for the CIA gave you a front-seat look at the corruption of power and the way those in power twist policy to suit their needs. What were some ideas that were important for you to share in this book?
There is a well-known saying that, “Absolute power corrupts absolutely.” Attributed to 19th-century British politician Lord Acton. I witnessed firsthand the absolute perversion of power in the CIA and the Intelligence Community. The lust for power and influence drove senior leaders to betray the Constitution and the laws of the land. An attitude as if they were saying, “This is my CIA and my position. What I say and do is right, regardless of the law.” The truth is they trampled laws to cover up their abuses of power. That is the main storyline written in the book’s narrative. And I wrote as raw and real as possible with many examples to show the reader what I witnessed firsthand.
What is a common misconception you feel people have about Whistleblowers?
The revelations brought forth by most whistleblowers and the abuses they suffer cause many of these individuals to be mischaracterized as disgruntled and troubled individuals—troublemakers, snitches, rats, poor performers, vindictive, etc. It is nearly impossible to counter the coordinated assaults and attacks against a whistleblower’s character. Those who take reprisals literally have an army of attorneys and surrogates to defend them. Meanwhile, the whistleblower is like a lone Spartan in the Battle of Thermopylae on top of the hill, facing a massive onslaught of slander and defamation. It is a no-win scenario for the whistleblower. Almost all whistleblowers never recover from the reprisals.
What is one thing that you hope readers take away from The Broken Whistle?
My Epilogue ends with a poem by Martin Niemöller, a German theologian who lived before, during, and after the Nazi German regime. The title is “Who Will Speak For You When They Come Looking For You?” Unchecked abuses of government power have consequences. It is only a matter of time, not if it will, to affect many others outside of the DC establishment. We, the People of the United States of America, must demand that our government authorities obey the laws of the land and the Constitution and preserve our Constitutional Republic. As President Reagan said, failure to speak up and act to hold those in power accountable will lead us down a path of tyranny. Therefore, The Broken Whistle is a call to action for Americans to stand up and demand robust government oversight to defend and protect the laws of the land—to reign in abusive government institutions like the US National Security bureaucracy also known as the “Deep State.”
Author Links: GoodReads | Twitter | Facebook | Website | Amazon
The Broken Whistle is a searing exposé that unveils a chilling chapter in American history, a narrative meticulously recounted by Pedro Israel Orta. Plunged into the heart of power and deception, Orta emerges as a force to be reckoned with. On September 23, 2019, his single Twitter thread ignited a tempest, tearing through the sinister underbelly of the Intelligence Community Whistleblower Protection Act (ICWPA), which had been perverted for political ends. In this gripping account, Orta fearlessly shines a light on a corrupt system that brazenly weaponized the very process designed to uphold truth and accountability.
As the pages unfold, Orta unflinchingly reveals how the Intelligence Community (IC) whistleblowing process was perverted to target a sitting president, while genuine whistleblowers endured unimaginable torment and abandonment. With chilling detail and unyielding determination, Orta pulls back the curtain on the U.S. National Security Bureaucratic State, exposing the rampant abuse of power by the Deep State, shielded by Congress’s deafening silence.
Delving deep into the heart of darkness, Orta uncovers the unsettling saga triggered by the enigmatic “Ukraine whistleblower,” whose disclosures unleashed a political storm, despite falling outside the jurisdiction of ICIG and DNI, as confirmed by the Department of Justice. These allegations, detached from intelligence activities, were shamelessly exploited—an elaborate ruse orchestrated to manipulate public opinion and orchestrate the impeachment of a president.
Through the pages of The Broken Whistle, Orta lays bare his own harrowing journey, navigating the treacherous corridors of the Central Intelligence Agency. Within these walls, truth becomes an enemy, and those who dare to speak out face ruthless retribution and termination. As Orta’s unwavering voice rises above the cacophony of corruption, readers are led on an odyssey that unveils a bureaucratic machine bent on crushing dissent and preserving its shadowy secrets.
The Broken Whistle is an unapologetic chronicle of one man’s fight for justice—a clarion call that reverberates through the darkest corners of power. Prepare to be captivated by Orta’s unflinching courage as he peels back the layers of deception, exposing a broken system that has forsaken its sacred duty.
The Broken Whistle: A Deep State Run Amok
The Broken Whistle by Pedro Israel Orta offers an insightful and intense exploration of the intricate world of intelligence and political dynamics. Orta, casting himself as the central figure, stands out as a significant personality in the realm of American intelligence and politics. The narrative insightfully addresses the corruption of the whistleblowing process within the Intelligence Community, a central theme that echoes throughout the book.
Orta’s unfiltered and honest portrayal of events makes the book compelling and difficult to set aside. His narrative is robust and steadfast, providing readers with a clear, informative, and intimately personal journey through his experiences. The bravery displayed by Orta in revealing the more ominous aspects of the intelligence community and political landscape is commendable. He infuses each page with an intense realism, plunging the reader into a critical period of American history. The author exercises prudence and discretion in handling sensitive material, particularly regarding the identities and confidential information of others. Orta adeptly navigates through a tangled network of allegations, political maneuvering, and ensuing impeachment processes, illuminating the larger implications for American democracy and the principle of the rule of law, which can, at times, be unsettling to the reader.
The Broken Whistle is more than an exposé; it is a discerning examination of the mechanisms of power, corruption, and the pursuit of truth and justice. Orta’s work is a significant contribution to literature for those intrigued by the inner workings of the intelligence community, the complexities of political power, and the audacity required to confront a system that often suppresses dissent. His story serves as a potent reminder of the continual struggle for transparency and accountability at the highest levels of authority.
Pages: 606 | ASIN : B0CFC6ZS7M
Stories of the Soldiers
In Chop That Sh*t Up!, you share both the highs and lows from your time serving in the US Army along with your reflections on leadership and the challenges faced by veterans. Why was this an important book for you to write?
Chop that Sh*t Up! became another chapter of therapy for myself. Over the years I have been fortunate to speak at several graduations, conferences, and engagements, and each one I would either tell a funny story, an inspiring story (to me), or a deep meaning story about my soldiers. Every single time, someone would say “You have to put this into a book and tell your story.” More importantly, I needed to tell the stories of the soldiers I lost. I failed them by not recognizing them properly, by not being better as a leader, and I needed others to see what I saw and served with – Heroes. This book is for them.
I appreciated the candid nature with which you told your story. What was the hardest thing for you to write about?
Myself. Although I was used to being in front and in charge, I truly hate talking about myself. I would much rather spend every day talking about my family and soldiers. All day and every day. Telling their stories was easy. Talking about my failures was easy because I have always used my mistakes to help others learn from it, as I did. Trying to write about myself in a positive light was hard for me, as I do not view myself as such. To this day, I cannot finish the beautiful foreword written about me without crying.
What is a common misconception you feel people have about life after the military?
That we are ok because we are tough. Some are tough but most are like me, we survived and we struggle every day to continue to survive. We did what we were asked and volunteered to do, but I do not wish war, the things I have done and seen, on anyone. Ever!
Can readers expect to see more from you in the near future?
The original idea was to put together a collection of stories from several soldiers and veterans. That is one of the ideas of how this book came about. Take a group of veterans and sit them down and just listen to their stories. Each and every one has a hilarious or gut-wrenching story they tell. My next book, I want to put those stories together. Tell their story!
Author Links: Goodreads | Twitter | Facebook | Website | LinkedIn | Amazon
Chop that Sh*t Up! is a collection of stories by a military veteran with deployments ranging from Bosnia-Herzegovina to tours in Iraq. Follow along his twenty-eight-year career from private to command sergeant major, and learn how a young, gullible private became a battle-hardened soldier to an emotionally broken leader on his journey back to civilian life. Whether you served, are thinking about serving, or know or care about someone who has served, this book will make you laugh, cry, or both. A true warrior and backbone of the Army, CSM (R) Pinion shares the highs and lows of his life serving our country in this soul-sharing book about him and his men.
Chop That Sh*t Up!: Leadership and Life Lessons Learned While in the Military
Chop That Sh*t Up!, by CSM Daniel L. Pinion, is an enthralling autobiography that offers an insider’s look into the life of a U.S. Army soldier. Spanning an impressive 28-year career, from his early days as a naïve private to his esteemed position as a sergeant major, Pinion’s narrative is both raw and insightful.
This autobiography is a patchwork of human experience, weaving together tales that range from the hilariously absurd—like the incident that lends the book its title—to the deeply moving. Readers will be taken on a journey through the spectrum of military life, encountering the humor and sorrow that come with the territory. Pinion’s candid recollections serve as a poignant reflection for those considering military service and offer a dose of reality for the general public.
Despite touching on heavier themes, Pinion’s memoir offers more than just a glimpse into the military psyche. His honest confrontation with personal challenges such as traumatic brain injury and PTSD is revealing and serves as a testament to the very real struggles faced by many service members.
There is a rhythmic balance of light and dark within these pages. Pinion possesses a remarkable ability to convey the unique camaraderie among soldiers, eliciting laughter with one anecdote and drawing tears with the next. Particularly moving is the book’s conclusion, which pays homage to fallen comrades in a manner that commands respect and reflection from the reader.
Pinion does not shy away from controversy, either. His memoir doubles as an exposé, where he offers a critical eye towards the military hierarchy and shares his disenchantment with some of the leadership he encountered. Furthermore, he sheds light on the systemic failures veterans face upon returning home, especially regarding mental health support.
Chop That Sh*t Up!, by CSM Daniel L. Pinion, is an exceptional addition to military biographies and narratives, providing a voice to experiences often shrouded in silence. It is an essential read not only for prospective soldiers but for anyone looking to understand the profound sacrifices and bonds forged in the line of duty. This book, authentic and heartfelt, deserves a place on the shelf of every reader who values the depth and complexity of real-life heroism.
Pages: 182 | ASIN : B0CGCSKP9J
LITERARY TITAN 