Overview

Mercenaries, Gunslingers, and Outlaws is the story of 2½ years as a security contractor in Iraq. It's not just a story about firefights and surviving IEDs while protecting American contractors, although those kinds of stories are there, it shares an account that covers the full spectrum of some of the most profound experiences of his life. Rather than a chronological account, the book is broken into sections covering an amazingly wide range of experiences and topics. The chapters within each section are relatively short and tell complete stories, much like vignettes, that keep the reader turning the pages. The reader experiences IEDs, high-speed crashes, firefights, run-ins with Iraqi security forces, the stress and uncertainty of being surrounded by locals, any one of whom could be an insurgent or suicide bomber, the tactics used to stay alive on the roads, and the inevitable human cost in lost and destroyed lives. Some sections tell the stories of the people he met and worked beside: former U.S. Army Green Berets, British Royal Marines, a former Lebanese Christian Militiamen captured by the Syrians when he was 16, British Gurkhas from Nepal, South African counter-terrorist commandos, a former member of the French Foreign Legion, and even a Buddhist monk. There are stories of heroic figures who were larger than life, of outlaws who came to Iraq because they didn't fit in anywhere else and ended up not fitting in there either, and then there are the Iraqi people who invited the author into their homes. AUTHOR: Robert Kurtz is a veteran with a graduate degree and 15 years as an international private security contractor. Besides Iraq, he has worked in hot spots worldwide including Afghanistan, Pakistan, Jordan, Israel, the Palestinian West Bank, and Lebanon. He was on assignment in Cairo during the 2011 Arab Spring riots and has overseen the evacuations of Americans from Haiti, Yemen, Egypt, and Afghanistan. He has provided security at events attended by former Presidents and high-visibility public figures. An expert in all aspects of personal and operational security, he has written over 150 articles for online magazines on firearms, security, travel safety, and military topics, as well as his time in Iraq. In his life he has climbed mountains, explored ghost towns and abandoned mines, commanded a tank platoon, and crossed the North Atlantic during winter storms. 16 illustrations

Full Product Details

9781636245102

Table of Contents

Reviews

""A rollicking, riveting inside look at the life and times of a security contractor downrange. Kurtz navigates the story with perfection, doing a masterful job of showing that amid the uncertainty, the danger, and flat-out weirdness, he found a deep and profound meaning--along with the best and worst of humanity. Beautifully told, with humor and insight. This is one that you will read and reread with relish.""--Susan Katz Keating, Owner and Publisher, ""Soldier of Fortune"" magazine ""If you're looking for a romanticized take on private military contracting, this isn't it. But if you want a book that tells it like it was, with a mix of gritty reality, dark humor, and clear-eyed storytelling, Mercenaries, Gunslingers, and Outlaws is worth your time.""-- ""USACarry"" ""An insightful and captivating glimpse into the life of a private security contractor in Iraq, Mercenaries, Gunslingers, and Outlaws delivers an unforgettable journey into the realities of warzone contracting that immerses readers in a world where humor, resilience, and survival intertwine. This isn't a book about shootouts or secret missions; it's a raw and honest portrayal of everyday life in a high-stakes environment, packed with enough detail to make you feel like you were there. Kurtz's knack for storytelling balances laughter, tension, and introspection, making this a must-read for anyone curious about the grit, ingenuity, and humanity behind the headlines.""--Luke McCoy, Editor, USACarry.com

""A rollicking, riveting inside look at the life and times of a security contractor downrange. Kurtz navigates the story with perfection, doing a masterful job of showing that amid the uncertainty, the danger, and flat-out weirdness, he found a deep and profound meaning--along with the best and worst of humanity. Beautifully told, with humor and insight. This is one that you will read and reread with relish.""--Susan Katz Keating, Owner and Publisher, ""Soldier of Fortune"" magazine ""An insightful and captivating glimpse into the life of a private security contractor in Iraq, Mercenaries, Gunslingers, and Outlaws delivers an unforgettable journey into the realities of warzone contracting that immerses readers in a world where humor, resilience, and survival intertwine. This isn't a book about shootouts or secret missions; it's a raw and honest portrayal of everyday life in a high-stakes environment, packed with enough detail to make you feel like you were there. Kurtz's knack for storytelling balances laughter, tension, and introspection, making this a must-read for anyone curious about the grit, ingenuity, and humanity behind the headlines.""--Luke McCoy, Editor, USACarry.com

Author Information

Robert Kurtz is a veteran with a graduate degree and 15 years as an international private security contractor. Besides Iraq, he has worked in hot spots worldwide including Afghanistan, Pakistan, Jordan, Israel, the Palestinian West Bank, and Lebanon. He was on assignment in Cairo during the 2011 Arab Spring riots and has overseen the evacuations of Americans from Haiti, Yemen, Egypt, and Afghanistan. He has provided security at events attended by former Presidents and high-visibility public figures. An expert in all aspects of personal and operational security, he has written over 150 articles for online magazines on firearms, security, travel safety, and military topics, as well as his time in Iraq. In his life he has climbed mountains, explored ghost towns and abandoned mines, commanded a tank platoon, and crossed the North Atlantic during winter storms.

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