David Finkel Quotes

The greatest regret of my military career was as Commanding General of the 1st Cavalry Division in Iraq in 2004-2005, he later wrote of the decision he made. I lost 169 soldiers during that year-long deployment. However, the monument we erected at Fort Hood, Texas, in memoriam lists 168 names. I approved the request of others not to include the name of the one soldier who committed suicide. I deeply regret my decision.

~ David Finkel

It wasn't as if they had a choice. They were soldiers whose choices had ended when they had signed contracts and taken their oaths. Whether they had joined for reasons of patriotism, of romantic notions, to escape a broken home of some sort, or out of economic need, their job now was to follow the orders of other soldiers who were following orders, too. Somewhere, far from Iraq, was where the orders began, but by the time they reached Rustamiyah, the only choice left for a solider was to choose which lucky charm to tuck behind his body armor, or which foot to line up in front of the other, as he went out to follow the order of the day.

~ David Finkel

He is a true casualty of battle. There's not a physical scar, but look at the man's heart, and his head, and there are scars galore.

~ David Finkel

It's a thin line between what we're calling acceptable and not acceptable. As a leader, you're supposed to know when not to cross it. But how do you know? Does the army teach us how to control our emotions? Does the army teach us how to deal with a friend bleeding out in front of you? No.

~ David Finkel

To hear them laugh was to hear that everything was all right, but to see them laugh was to see otherwise

~ David Finkel

The lessons learned, then, in Robinson's case: Additional training is required to inform soldiers of the dangers of self-medicating along with the associated risk of overdosing is the first. Encourage the use of a battle buddy among warriors is the second. Increase suicide prevention classes is the third. Increase communication to twice a day with high-risk soldiers is the fourth. Continue improvements in leader communication is the fifth. And that's that. Eight months. Five minutes. The army moves on to the next suicide. Case forever closed.

~ David Finkel

Congratulations for conquering PTSD. And now you're fucked.

~ David Finkel

I can see the little girl, the face of the little girl. And as much as people say that they don't care about these people and all that, I don't care about these people - but I do, at the same time, if that makes any sense. They don't want to help themselves, they're blowing us up, yeah, that hurts, but it also hurts to know that I've seen a girl that's as old as my little brother watch me shoot somebody in the head. And I don't care if she's Iraqi, Korean, African, white - she's still a little girl. And she watched me shoot somebody.

~ David Finkel