The inspiring and thrilling combat memoir of the only Army Ranger serving in direct combat operations with a prosthetic limb. On October 3, 2005, Kapacziewski and his soldiers were coming to the end of their tour in Northern Iraq when their convoy was attacked by enemy fighters. A grenade fell through the gunner's hatch and exploded, shattering Kapacziewski's right leg below the knee, damaging his right hip, and severing a nerve and artery in his right arm. He endured more than forty surgeries, but his right leg still wasn't healing as he had hoped, so in March 2007, Kapacziewski chose to have it amputated with one goal in mind: to return to the line and serve alongside his fellow Rangers. One year after his surgery, Kapacziewski accomplished his goal: he was put back on the line, as a squad leader of his Army Ranger Regiment. On April 19, 2010, during his ninth combat deployment (and fifth after losing his leg), Kapacziewski's patrol ran into an ambush outside a village in eastern Afghanistan. After a fellow Ranger fell to withering enemy fire, shot through the belly, Sergeant Kap and another soldier dragged him seventy-five yards to safety and administered first aid that saved his life while heavy machineguns tried to kill them. His actions earned him an Army Commendation Medal with "V" for Valor. He had previously been awarded a Bronze Star for Valor-and a total of three Purple Hearts for combat wounds. Back in the Fight is an inspiring and thrilling tale readers will never forget.
"SFC Joe Kapacziewski and his wife, Kim, tell their incredible story of perseverance and determination over ten years of war. Joe's personal courage in overcoming the loss of his leg and returning to combat to lead soldiers is phenomenal. For over 200 years, men and women like Joe and Kim have made this nation great."
General Ray Odierno
"Military buffs will relish this fast-paced account of youthful yearnings for military service, brutal Ranger training, and page after page of camaraderie, horseplay, grim humor, and vivid nuts-and-bolts action. Even readers lukewarm to military memoirs will admire the fierce dedication required to be the first Ranger to go to war with a prosthetic limb."
Publishers Weekly
"A bold, raw, and authentic account of unparalleled intestinal fortitude of an American Ranger that grips you like a flying arm bar. Destined to be the defining work of American warrior spirit in the War on Terror era. Make no mistake, the U.S. Army Rangers made Joe Kap a killer man"
nobody offers apologies or excuses, it's what Rangers have done for centuries."
