Overview

First place winner in the category Military Nonfiction in the 2023 Firebird Book Awards. Chop that Sh*t Up! is a collection of stories by a military veteran with deployments ranging from Bosnia-Herzegovina to tours in Iraq. Follow along his twenty-eight-year career from private to command sergeant major, and learn how a young, gullible private became a battle-hardened soldier to an emotionally broken leader on his journey back to civilian life. Whether you served, are thinking about serving, or know or care about someone who has served, this book will make you laugh, cry, or both. A true warrior and backbone of the Army, CSM (R) Pinion shares the highs and lows of his life serving our country in this soul-sharing book about him and his men.

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"""A retired military lifer and non-commissioned officer, Pinion reflects on his experience with a book that's partly a compendium of funny stories and leadership lessons, but also a sort of memorial and expression of grief for soldiers lost along the way. The book is funny, as the title suggests, but also resonant thanks to Pinion's willingness to be vulnerable and expose issues regarding mental illness in the military. Pinion is emotional in detailing the stories of one of his men who jumped on a grenade to save others and a beloved, enthusiastic soldier killed by a sniper. His unflinching discussion of PTSD, treatment that saved his life, and his deep concern for his soldiers all have real power."" -Publisher's Weekly ""Chop That Sh*t Up!, by CSM Daniel L. Pinion, is an enthralling autobiography that offers an insider's look into the life of a U.S. Army soldier. Spanning an impressive 28-year career, Pinion's narrative is both raw and insightful. Despite touching on heavier themes, Pinion's memoir offers more than just a glimpse into the military psyche. His honest confrontation with personal challenges such as traumatic brain injury and PTSD is revealing and serves as a testament to the very real struggles faced by many service members.There is a rhythmic balance of light and dark within these pages. Pinion possesses a remarkable ability to convey the unique camaraderie among soldiers, eliciting laughter with one anecdote and drawing tears with the next. Particularly moving is the book's conclusion, which pays homage to fallen comrades in a manner that commands respect and reflection from the reader.Chop That Sh*t Up!, by CSM Daniel L. Pinion, is an exceptional addition to military biographies and narratives, providing a voice to experiences often shrouded in silence. It is an essential read not only for prospective soldiers but for anyone looking to understand the profound sacrifices and bonds forged in the line of duty. This book, authentic and heartfelt, deserves a place on the shelf of every reader who values the depth and complexity of real-life heroism."" -Literary Titan ""If you read just one book this year of a soldier's true story, from enlisting as a private on the eve of Desert Storm to multiple combat deployments in Iraq and ascending to the pinnacle of the US Army's noncommissioned officer ranks in twenty-eight years of Army service, make it this book. US Army command sergeant major (retired) Daniel Pinion unflinchingly and with full transparency leads the reader through initial soldier lessons learned, leadership challenges and growth, monumental hardships, fear, courage, heartbreaking loss in combat, and family sacrifices."" -COL Ralph R. ""Rick"" Steinke, USA (Ret.), former US Deputy Civil-Military Coordinator and Liaison to the Commanding General, ISAF Joint Warfighting Command, Afghanistan, Author of the Jake Fortina Series"

"""A retired military lifer and non-commissioned officer, Pinion reflects on his experience with a book that's partly a compendium of funny stories and leadership lessons, but also a sort of memorial and expression of grief for soldiers lost along the way. The book is funny, as the title suggests, but also resonant thanks to Pinion's willingness to be vulnerable and expose issues regarding mental illness in the military. Pinion is emotional in detailing the stories of one of his men who jumped on a grenade to save others and a beloved, enthusiastic soldier killed by a sniper. His unflinching discussion of PTSD, treatment that saved his life, and his deep concern for his soldiers all have real power."" -Publisher's Weekly ""If you read just one book this year of a soldier's true story, from enlisting as a private on the eve of Desert Storm to multiple combat deployments in Iraq and ascending to the pinnacle of the US Army's noncommissioned officer ranks in twenty-eight years of Army service, make it this book. US Army command sergeant major (retired) Daniel Pinion unflinchingly and with full transparency leads the reader through initial soldier lessons learned, leadership challenges and growth, monumental hardships, fear, courage, heartbreaking loss in combat, and family sacrifices."" -COL Ralph R. ""Rick"" Steinke, USA (Ret.), former US Deputy Civil-Military Coordinator and Liaison to the Commanding General, ISAF Joint Warfighting Command, Afghanistan, Author of the Jake Fortina Series ""Chop That Sh*t Up! by CSM (Ret.) Dan Pinion meets the 3E criteria I have for must-read books! Easy to read, entertaining, and educational!! None of us are perfect, but after reading his draft I had to ask him: 'How the hell did you survive to become a command sergeant major?' Each chapter or story can be used to conduct a leader professional development session. -CSM Scott C. Schroeder, USA (Ret.), Former US Army Forces Command CSM, Author of Behind the Colors: Where NCO Leadership Lives ""Start to finish, Chop That Sh*t Up! is one of the most accurate tales of soldiering I've read yet, from unbelievable messed-up stuff while in garrison to endless zero-dark-thirty field training, red-tape bureaucracy, life lessons, and some real-life heroes in action. CSM (R) Pinion embodies the heart of a true warrior, exposing all the good, bad, and ugly of what it takes to be part of the strongest military force in the world. You will laugh and learn when the sh*t gets chopped up. You will also weep at the loss of comrades."" -Nathan J. Gould, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault), 3STB, 108th TNG CMD - Army Reserve, Charlotte Mecklenburg Police, Author of Service to Civilian: A Journey through PTSD, and Current Youth Pastor in Maiden, NC"

Author Information

Command Sergeant Major (R) Daniel L. Pinion is a military veteran of the Cold War, Operation Joint Endeavor (Bosnia-Herzegovina), a short stint in Afghanistan, and multiple tours in Operation Iraqi Freedom. He served in numerous infantry, armor, and cavalry leadership positions, including division reconnaissance, armor and infantry battalions, and cavalry squadrons. CSM (R) Pinion led in combat in every noncommissioned officer rank from sergeant to sergeant major during his twenty-eight-year career. Born in Ohio, raised in Andover, New Jersey, CSM (R) Pinion now calls Virginia home while serving as a deputy G-3/5/7 as a Department of the Army civilian. Welcome to military life!

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