Soldier Five The Real Story of the Bravo Two Zero Mission by Coburn, Mike ( Author ) ON Feb-05-2004, Hardback

Excellent book about the ill fated Bravo Two Zero situation. In some respects it doesn't tell us any more than McNab and Ryan do, but Coburn has never written anything before or since which make me believe his story. He doesn't want to become a famous author, this is it. His frustration spills over towards the end, when he finally returned back to the UK. I see no reason for him to make the majority of this up, since a lot is the same as other stories and if you're being cynical you could say he was simply repeating it but some points are well known to the public. The sheer clusterf&@k of the situation is very obvious. It took me initially by surprise half way through to read about how he'd got there, from being a NZ soldier, but this broke up the story well and provided a human nature to Coburn that was very interesting. I know the MoD would never like to be painted in a bad light but at the end of the day it's a machine with many moving parts, aka human beings, who can make mistakes. It's such a shame so many mistakes happened at one time, else the whole incident would have been quickly forgotten by all.

A good insight into what our soldiers have to go through. Very intense read

Finally got around to getting my hands on this book and it is a good, immersive read. Opened it, read it, closed it and found I'd got through an entire Sunday without doing anything else except get up, get dressed and pause to make a sandwich at lunchtime. Plenty written about this book here already - some good, some bad - so I won't labour the premise all over again by describing the details of the story. What I found was that, from the outset, the text repeatedly emphasises that this book is there to put the record straight and tell the "real story;" it is the definitive account that answers the doubts cast by the embellishments in the others. It doesn't, though. This book contains several of the same inconsitencies and repeats some of the proven and/or admitted untruths of the books of the other two published members of B20 (such as the extensive Iraqi body count, as but one example). If you want a good story of a soldiers life and the struggle to be heard, read it (the closing chapters detail the legal fight with the MoD over publication). If you're hoping for the definitive truth and nothing else, I'd suggest reading it and then McNab, Ryan (if you really must), Michael Asher's "The Real B20," Peter Ratcliffe's "Eye of the Storm," sundry newspaper reports and watch the BBC Panorama programme on what went wrong with B20 (in which "Mal," "Mike," "Andy," and Peter give interviews - "Mal" and Peter being filmed in the light and with undisguised voices), apply some logic and reasoning, read between the lines and decide for yourselt what the ins and outs, the "real truth," really is. That said, it's a worthy addition to any library, whether you're a military history buff, a SAS "groupie," or whatever - just don't be taken in by the, "This is it, folks - the Gods-honest truth of what we saw, did and went through" bit! Only four stars as it's a good book, especially when you consider that most soldiers pen their memoirs from a background that does not in any way contain any journalistic or English Lit. education or experience, or little formal education at all (a la McNab) and so it is to their credit that they can produce such compelling prose. Loses a star for indulging the fibs of the others in the face of claiming to blow the whole thing wide open. It's a shame the writings on this mission were embellished when it is a stirring story of bravery, courage, hardship and sacrifice in its own right but, then, I suppose the authors are beholden to the wims of publishers who think the public can't handle a military memoir without plenty of bang, whiz, blood and guts. Which is a shame, as I'll readily admit I wouldn't do that job - far too little bottle and I like my nice, warm bed! - and I've every admiration and respect for our servicemen and women - even if they do stretch things to spin a good yarn afterwards.

easy to read informative book

Couldnt put it down, read it in 3 evenings. Seems far more likely to me than the other 2 famous books. None of us will ever know the exact truth but strangely because this version of events 'seemed' far more realistic to me, the story was made a lot more exciting and fascinating than the all glory, explosive accounts by Messr's McNab and Ryan. Mr Coburns description of events are very well done, with a human edge. I certainly finished the book feeling for the 3 that never made it. RIP

Read the other SAS Bravo Two Zero books, all seem to tell a slightly different story, this probably seems the most balanced and nearest to the truth, whether it is who knows.

I bought this book in a bout of renewed interest about the SAS in the eighties and nineties. I have read "The One That Got Away" and "Bravo Two Zero" all accounts of the now infamous SAS scud busting patrol in the first 1990 Iraq conflict. These are now deemed to be dressed up Both these two authors have gone on to become successful fiction writers in their own right. This is an honest account as told by a professional soldier at the top of his game accounting his efforts and sacrifices to join 22 SAS regiment I felt great disgust or maybe sorrow when the system fails the patrol. He describes how those who were trusted to command did not adhere to the moral code that runs deep in the SAS which helped make it the elite force it was perceived. Please read this book for yourself , a lot of people apparently worked very hard and at no cost to beat reels of red tape to get this published I say thank you for your efforts. It is a personal journey i suppose leading to the realisation that war tests the strongest of codes. This is just my personal view please buy it and enjoy it.

This book is very well worth reading,and you have to admire the author.Having read this and Asher's 'True story of Bravo Two Zero'(another must-read book) you realize that Steve Mitchell's, sorry 'McNab's' 'Bravo Two Zero' is highly fictionalized to the degree its very clear why 'Coburn' had to write his book. Coburn is supported in publishing this book by another patrol survivor Mac. Had 'Coburn' not signed the 1997 contract (that the USKF had to sign) then we would have seen this book a lot earlier. Shame on the MoD for taking the royalties off the author in 2006.

......This one seems much more honest and reality sticked than all the other reconstructions ok ok ok ok ok ok

An excellent book

Es handelt sich nunmehr um die vierte Aufbereitung der Story von Bravo Two Zero. Es ist gut geschrieben und wird seinem Ziel gerecht. Einige Fakten werden geradegerückt, die hauptsächlich von Chris Ryan, offenbar aus Marketinggründen, verfälscht wurden. In einigen Punkten weicht Coburn auch von Andy McNab ab, der größte Unterschied besteht aber sicher zu Michael Ashers Buch "The Real Bravo Two Zero". Ich fand es lohnend, auch diese Sicht der Geschichte zu lesen. Letztlich wird aber kein Unbeteiligter nun sagen können, ob beispielsweise die geschilderten Gefechte nach Entdeckung durch die lokale Bevölkerung tatsächlich stattgefunden haben. Etwas schade ist das Fehlen jeglichen Bildmaterials.

Solid book from a different POV. Read it alongside Bravo Two Zero to get a good perspective.

Very interesting. Definitely the true story of Bravo 2 zero.