Code Name: Johnny Walker : The Extraordinary Story of the Iraqi Who Risked Everything to Fight with the U.S. Navy SEALs
Author(s): Johnny Walker, Jim DeFelice
THE NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER
"I cannot express how many lives have been touched by Johnny, and how many of us owe him our lives.” —Chris Kyle, author of American Sniper
The unforgettable true story of the Iraqi translator became a hero to America’s elite warriors.
Night after night, he guided the U.S. Navy SEALs and other American operators through Iraq's most dangerous regions. A translator operating under the code name "Johnny Walker," he risked his life on more than a thousand missions and became a legend in the U.S. special-ops community. But in the eyes of Iraq's terrorists and insurgents, he and his family were marked for death because he worked with the Americans. Fearing for Johnny's safety, the SEALs took it upon themselves to bring this hero and his family to the United States. With inside details on SEAL operations in Iraq and a deeply personal understanding of the tragic price paid by ordinary Iraqis, Code Name: Johnny Walker is a gripping and unforgettable true story that reveals a side of the war that has never been told before.
Includes a new afterword on the rise of ISIS
Review(s):
“A hero. .... Countless Navy SEALs relied on the Iraqi translator’s wile, and sometimes his way with a weapon, to bring them out alive.”
“A gripping memoir. ... Code Name: Johnny Walker is an unforgettable story--an essential account of the Iraq War.”
“Extraordinary... Definitely a must-read for anyone interested in the perspective of an Iraqi who was willing to sacrifice everything in an effort to improve his country, and who was instrumental in bringing many of the bad guys to justice.”
“’Johnny Walker’ defines the word ‘brother’ and how it transcends blood. He is a true American at heart, one I trusted with my life as much as every other SEAL I had the honor of working with.”
“Johnny is responsible for saving many American lives, especially SEALs. He has an amazing story that I feel needs to be told, and would touch the hearts of all Americans. I cannot express how many lives have been touched by Johnny, and how many of us owe him our lives.”
“Johnny’s ingenuity, indomitable spirit, and utter fearlessness not only protected the lives of many SEALs, but also saved countless innocent Iraqis. He is a true hero to all of us. Seeing Johnny and his family living safely in the United States is something I will cherish forever.”
“Fiery, insightful memoir from the former Iraqi translator who fought alongside U.S. Special Forces during the recent war in Iraq. ... [An] invaluable insider’s perspective of Iraq. ... Vivid. ... A harrowing personal journey of courageous self-empowerment during wartime.”
“This gripping memoir by ‘Johnny Walker,’ an Iraqi translator who risked his life for eight years to work alongside U.S. Navy SEALs (a job so dangerous that even now he can’t use his real name) is a story of loyalty and courage under fire--literally.”
“Riveting and illuminating. ... Reads more like a fictional thriller than a memoir. Walker’s story is amazing and gives a unique perspective on the Iraqi War.”
“A remarkable story. ... Offering a unique perspective on the Iraq War, ‘Code Name: Johnny Walker’ tells the story of one Iraqi who risked everything to fight with U.S. troops, in particular the Navy SEALs, becoming perhaps the only ‘terp’ (interpreter) to be welcomed into their tight-knit fold.”
ISBN: 9780062267566