FORT CARSON, Colo. -- Kari Jimenez and Stacy Rencher were first in line to get copies of the book “War” signed for their husbands who deployed with 1st Battalion, 67th Armor Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division.
“We got here at noon,” said Jimenez, who waited in line with her children for an hour and a half to meet Sebastian Junger, author of “War” and co-director of the award-winning documentary “Restrepo.”
“It’s a good book,” Jimenez said.
“I’ve seen ‘Restrepo,’” Rencher said. “It was great. It helped me understand what my husband does.”
Junger posed for pictures with Jimenez and Rencher after signing copies of his book.
More than 150 fans lined up to meet Junger at the post exchange Saturday.
“Some of these guys are the guys I was writing about,” Junger said as he signed dozens of copies of his latest bestseller.
“I was in Koregnal,” said Sgt. 1st Class Dana Tanner, 62nd Sapper Company, 4th Engineer Battalion. “(War) was a great read. It was one of those books you couldn’t put down.”
“We were at Restrepo,” said Spc. Corey Lee, 3rd Platoon, Company B, 2nd Battalion, 12th Infantry Regiment, 4th BCT, 4th Inf. Div. “We were some of the last people there.”
“(Junger) went through all the stuff we did,” said Spc. Caleb Dunhan, 2nd Bn., 12th Inf. Reg., 4th BCT, 4th Inf. Div.
“I wanted to explain combat to the civilians and it ended up being a good thing for the Soldiers,” Junger said. “I’m really proud of that.”
“I loved the book,” said Pfc. Jeff Miller, 3rd Special Troops Battalion, 3rd BCT, 4th Inf. Div. “I haven’t deployed, so it gave me an interesting perspective.”
For Junger, the praise from the military community has been humbling.
“As a journalist, you’re not writing for the people you write about,” Junger said. “But if they like what you do, it’s always great. I have people telling me the book helped them. I have mothers saying you helped explain why my son chose to do what he does.”
Junger stressed the importance of combat journalism in today’s war zones.
“A mission that doesn’t allow journalism is in trouble. Journalism helps keep everyone honest,” he said. “Everyone has a story that’s useful to humanity. And everyone deserves to hear that.”
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