About the Book

In 2010, the Army created Cultural Support Teams, a secret pilot program to insert women alongside Special Operations soldiers battling in Afghanistan to assist on raids and gather crucial information from Afghani women. In Ashley’s War, reporter Gayle Tzemach Lemmon tells the tale of one of these secret units and the remarkable hero at its heart: Ashley White, a beloved and effective soldier who gave her life serving her country in a role for which she will never officially receive credit. Ashley’s War is a gripping combat narrative and a moving story of friendship—a book that will change the way students think about war and the meaning of service.

Critical Praise

“An unforgettable story of female soldiers breaking the brass ceiling. The women who answered America’s call to serve show that our military is stronger when it engages both halves of the population. This book will inspire you and remind you of the power that comes with defying limits.” — Sheryl Sandberg, author of Lean In

“Gayle Tzemach Lemmon expertly gives readers an inside look at what it takes to work alongside America’s elite forces. The book is a gripping, moving, and well-told war story, but more importantly it offers the first glimpse into a historic program.” — Kevin Maurer, author of Gentlemen Bastards

“Lemmon has done her homework. . . . She is a strong and capable guide. . . . With a fine eye for detail, she shows us what set this program apart.” — Foreign Policy

“A tremendous story. . . . Very moving.” — The Daily Show with Jon Stewart

“Ashley’s War shares the remarkable stories of one of the first teams of women serving in the U.S. Army Special Operations Command. This team forged the path for American women who serve in harm’s way all over the world and continue to make the ultimate sacrifice.” — Senator John McCain

“Ashley’s War quietly grips the reader with the untold story of a small group of women selected to serve in combat alongside the US’s best soldiers. . . . Rich storytelling. . . . Compelling. . . . In battle as in life, these women refuse to quit.” — Christian Science Monitor

“Fascinating and often moving, Ashley’s War follows one of the early groups of women who volunteered to serve alongside special operations soldiers, vividly portraying their training, their early missions as they learn their jobs, their bonds of friendship, and their reckoning with the toll of war. Remarkable.” — Phil Klay, author of Redeployment

“Remarkable.” — New Yorker

“[A] transporting, enlightening book. . . The Dressmaker of Khair Khana is a fascinating window on Afghan life under the Taliban and a celebration of women the world over who support their loved ones with tenacity, inventiveness and sheer guts.” — People

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Product Details

• ISBN: 9780062333827
• ISBN 10: 0062333828
• Imprint: Harper Perennial
• On Sale: 04/12/2016
• Trimsize: 5.310 in (w) x 8.000 in (h) x 0.760 in (d)
• Pages: 336
• List Price: $19.99
• BISAC1 : HISTORY / Military / Afghan War (2001-)
• BISAC2 : BIOGRAPHY & AUTOBIOGRAPHY / Military
• BISAC3 : BIOGRAPHY & AUTOBIOGRAPHY / Women