What Have We Done: The Moral Injury of Our Longest Wars

This well written book is an indictment of Americans distance and dismissal of our wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. Focusing on the moral injury done to combat troops, it shows only part of the damage done. Brook shows how veterans, discoveryng the illegitimacy of these wars, feel betrayed by their leaders who have sent them into them. He does not, however, feel they should be held accountable for the wars that they have executed. Perhaps the greatest damage of war is depriving them of their autonomy when they sign up, pledging absolute and unquestioning obedience. Since The Nuremberg Trials, however, we know that we cannot give up our moral responsibility for our actions--as much as military officials try to convince us otherwise. We have to realize that the forgiveness that veterans hunger for does not consist in finding excuses for their behaviors or comprehending their full horror without flinching. It means recognizing the moral damage done. Something most central and sacred to one's identity and personality has been violated. Brook's timely work brings up more questions than answers about the legitimacy of modern warfare. It always requires a good deal of bad faith, the failure to recognize we have other choices. This, then, is our greatest crime. If war is not evil, nothing is.

I'm an Active Duty therapist and wanted to learn more about moral injury because I do PTSD therapy with Soldiers. Full disclosure: I have not deployed. I was bought into the book and agreed with the differentiation between PTSD and moral injury and agree there are different features at play. However, fairly early into the book, the author took a political jab and I began to read a bit more critically. I really tried to look beyond the pacifist, liberal, anti-governmental views, but the author took outlier situation and portrayed them as baseline measures, which is inaccurate, misleading, and frankly dangerous. I'm not debating that the stories are true and I'm not saying I am the know-all-be-all, but it's clearly not what I've seen or experienced. He dogs on poorly trained therapists, lack of training opportunities for PTSD treatment, the inefficacy of PTSD treatment modalities, lack of care and concern within the communities, etc. I can't really speak to the VA, but I know evidence-based training is available (and utilized by most therapists) for those working with Active Duty Service Members, that PTSD therapies work when the client engages (and stays engaged) in therapy. Yes, a large portion drop out of treatment because it's difficult. But part of the treatment modality is to prepare them for the difficulty. Regardless of treatment modality used, the relationship that client has with their provider is of greater value (in terms of mitigating symptoms and improvement). Lots of research shows this. The author talked about how put-off he was by a combat vet telling him he couldn't understand, because the author believed we all are able to relate to moral injury. (I tried finding this in the book after finishing the book but couldn't find the exact location. So I'm rewording as best as I recall.) Later in the book, he writes about helping vets heal by having civilians listen to their stories, but training them not to say "I understand." Because you can't. And some vets only want to talk to other vets. Don't fault them for that. Let them find their own way to heal. His continued slant against the military turned me off and it became more difficult for me to regard him as a credible source. Again, I believe the stories but don't buy into his conclusions and don't believe they represent the larger portion of combat vets. And if combat vets take away that PTSD treatment doesn't work and that it's very difficult to heal from moral injury, they will become even more reluctant and skeptical of therapy, making my job more difficult and their view of their own lives more hopeless. On a positive note: The cover of my book was ripped pretty badly when I received it. I contacted the shipper and they gave me a full refund and allowed me to keep the book.

This book will become the premier book on the subject of PTSD. This book takes a perfect blend of academic and journalistic look at the subject. His focus is on just the last 13 years or so. I like the broad approach the author takes. He touches on the history of treatment over the past 100 years. You learned that the issue is more than just shock from contact with the enemy. It is in a way a moral injury, just as real as a physical injury like missing an arm. The author shows both the cause of the injury but what it is like living with the injury from the perspective of the individual. I would have like something more. He doesn't touch on things which could be done in advance that might mitigate the risk. This injury could be from the shock of conflict but it comes from an internal conflict between values and actions. It comes from the clash of environments of war and two days later being back in the world. This book will help anyone understand the subject. It will tell the story of the veteran in clear terms all will gleam something from.

"What Have We Done" should be mandatory reading for all people in power: Cabinet members, Congress and Senate members, generals, presidents--people who make the decision to go to war. Arm chair warriors who send our children into battle zones and bring them home damaged, if they bring them home at all. When the "lucky" ones come home, they return with moral injuries so profound, the medical and psychiatric professions do not know how to heal them. Some are learning, but many young Americans return from our unbearably long wars with damaged souls, confused and sometimes ashamed, of what they've done or seen done, since it contradicts every moral edict they've been taught. The title "What Have We Done" does not end with a question mark. The author is not asking, he is declaring: We have done wrong.

Few books are necessary reading, this one is. I’ve had to listen to “thank you for your service” for years. I appreciate the sentiment but it seems that’s all it is, some unexamined sentimental mantra designed to alleviate guilt. People chant it and feel relieved. Its recreational patriotism. However, real patriotism comes at a very real cost- human suffering. This book shares the suffering and we should be thankful for that service. Perhaps it can help us be servants in the service of those we sent. I hope so. I really do.

The book itself is excellent, and I highly recommend it. With a son just out of the military, it gave me valuable insights into some of the issues he faced. This review is about the seller. The delivery was slow: ordered on mid-day Friday for Monday delivery (Prime - locker delivery), but it did not arrive until Tuesday. That was only mildly inconvenient, but while the book was supposed to be new, it did not appear to be. The dust jacket showed wear, and there was a black marker spot on the top of the pages, and also a printed sticker stating this was a new book added over the printed back dust cover one. The interior was bright and clean, and no problem there. If I was in a book store, I would not have chosen this particular copy. This was a presentation copy I was fortunate enough to be able to ask the author to inscribe, so I was particularly attuned to these otherwise relatively minor issues.

David Wood does outstanding work addressing the "moral injury" of our combat soldiers and Marines in our country's longest wars. Incredibly well researched, written and useful in my work in helping veterans via our chruch military ministry and my the volunteer work with the USO, National Park Service & Families of the Wounded Fund in helping veterans. I would highly recommend this book to everyone in Congress to consider the affects of war before they commit to "boots on the ground". It's easy to commit troops but they need to take to heart the impact on a warrior's soul and our culture. One has to always ask, is the mission worth the cost knowing that the combat servicemen and women will never be the same. Vietnam Veteran (1969-1970)

I read the book originally from the library and was so impressed that I bought a copy for a friend who's a Viet Nam combat Vet. Finally someone looks beyond the catchall PTSD to examine the deeper injuries incurred in war. This book lifts a veil that should have been lifted many wars ago, whether it reaches the right entrenched people and shows them the light or not remains to be seen. The points raised and the conclusions reached by the author can only be ignored at a risk to those we send to war and our society as a whole.

One of the best books on the market. Enjoyed every part of it and have constantly recommended it to other people with military connections.

David Wood provides a valuable resource to introduce the subject of moral injury. Every American would benefit greatly in knowing how to effectively respond to our combat veterans by reading this book. This book should sound a clear call to action for our faith communities to intentionally engage the work of spiritual healing for our combat veterans. Excellent introduction and treatment of a potentially debilitating condition which has been with humanity since Cain killed Abel.

This well written book is an indictment of Americans distance and dismissal of our wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. Focusing on the moral injury done to combat troops, it shows only part of the damage done. Brook shows how veterans, discoveryng the illegitimacy of these wars, feel betrayed by their leaders who have sent them into them. He does not, however, feel they should be held accountable for the wars that they have executed. Perhaps the greatest damage of war is depriving them of their autonomy when they sign up, pledging absolute and unquestioning obedience. Since The Nuremberg Trials, however, we know that we cannot give up our moral responsibility for our actions--as much as military officials try to convince us otherwise. We have to realize that the forgiveness that veterans hunger for does not consist in finding excuses for their behaviors or comprehending their full horror without flinching. It means recognizing the moral damage done. Something most central and sacred to one's identity and personality has been violated. Brook's timely work brings up more questions than answers about the legitimacy of modern warfare. It always requires a good deal of bad faith, the failure to recognize we have other choices. This, then, is our greatest crime. If war is not evil, nothing is.

I'm an Active Duty therapist and wanted to learn more about moral injury because I do PTSD therapy with Soldiers. Full disclosure: I have not deployed. I was bought into the book and agreed with the differentiation between PTSD and moral injury and agree there are different features at play. However, fairly early into the book, the author took a political jab and I began to read a bit more critically. I really tried to look beyond the pacifist, liberal, anti-governmental views, but the author took outlier situation and portrayed them as baseline measures, which is inaccurate, misleading, and frankly dangerous. I'm not debating that the stories are true and I'm not saying I am the know-all-be-all, but it's clearly not what I've seen or experienced. He dogs on poorly trained therapists, lack of training opportunities for PTSD treatment, the inefficacy of PTSD treatment modalities, lack of care and concern within the communities, etc. I can't really speak to the VA, but I know evidence-based training is available (and utilized by most therapists) for those working with Active Duty Service Members, that PTSD therapies work when the client engages (and stays engaged) in therapy. Yes, a large portion drop out of treatment because it's difficult. But part of the treatment modality is to prepare them for the difficulty. Regardless of treatment modality used, the relationship that client has with their provider is of greater value (in terms of mitigating symptoms and improvement). Lots of research shows this. The author talked about how put-off he was by a combat vet telling him he couldn't understand, because the author believed we all are able to relate to moral injury. (I tried finding this in the book after finishing the book but couldn't find the exact location. So I'm rewording as best as I recall.) Later in the book, he writes about helping vets heal by having civilians listen to their stories, but training them not to say "I understand." Because you can't. And some vets only want to talk to other vets. Don't fault them for that. Let them find their own way to heal. His continued slant against the military turned me off and it became more difficult for me to regard him as a credible source. Again, I believe the stories but don't buy into his conclusions and don't believe they represent the larger portion of combat vets. And if combat vets take away that PTSD treatment doesn't work and that it's very difficult to heal from moral injury, they will become even more reluctant and skeptical of therapy, making my job more difficult and their view of their own lives more hopeless. On a positive note: The cover of my book was ripped pretty badly when I received it. I contacted the shipper and they gave me a full refund and allowed me to keep the book.

This book will become the premier book on the subject of PTSD. This book takes a perfect blend of academic and journalistic look at the subject. His focus is on just the last 13 years or so. I like the broad approach the author takes. He touches on the history of treatment over the past 100 years. You learned that the issue is more than just shock from contact with the enemy. It is in a way a moral injury, just as real as a physical injury like missing an arm. The author shows both the cause of the injury but what it is like living with the injury from the perspective of the individual. I would have like something more. He doesn't touch on things which could be done in advance that might mitigate the risk. This injury could be from the shock of conflict but it comes from an internal conflict between values and actions. It comes from the clash of environments of war and two days later being back in the world. This book will help anyone understand the subject. It will tell the story of the veteran in clear terms all will gleam something from.

"What Have We Done" should be mandatory reading for all people in power: Cabinet members, Congress and Senate members, generals, presidents--people who make the decision to go to war. Arm chair warriors who send our children into battle zones and bring them home damaged, if they bring them home at all. When the "lucky" ones come home, they return with moral injuries so profound, the medical and psychiatric professions do not know how to heal them. Some are learning, but many young Americans return from our unbearably long wars with damaged souls, confused and sometimes ashamed, of what they've done or seen done, since it contradicts every moral edict they've been taught. The title "What Have We Done" does not end with a question mark. The author is not asking, he is declaring: We have done wrong.

Few books are necessary reading, this one is. I’ve had to listen to “thank you for your service” for years. I appreciate the sentiment but it seems that’s all it is, some unexamined sentimental mantra designed to alleviate guilt. People chant it and feel relieved. Its recreational patriotism. However, real patriotism comes at a very real cost- human suffering. This book shares the suffering and we should be thankful for that service. Perhaps it can help us be servants in the service of those we sent. I hope so. I really do.

The book itself is excellent, and I highly recommend it. With a son just out of the military, it gave me valuable insights into some of the issues he faced. This review is about the seller. The delivery was slow: ordered on mid-day Friday for Monday delivery (Prime - locker delivery), but it did not arrive until Tuesday. That was only mildly inconvenient, but while the book was supposed to be new, it did not appear to be. The dust jacket showed wear, and there was a black marker spot on the top of the pages, and also a printed sticker stating this was a new book added over the printed back dust cover one. The interior was bright and clean, and no problem there. If I was in a book store, I would not have chosen this particular copy. This was a presentation copy I was fortunate enough to be able to ask the author to inscribe, so I was particularly attuned to these otherwise relatively minor issues.

David Wood does outstanding work addressing the "moral injury" of our combat soldiers and Marines in our country's longest wars. Incredibly well researched, written and useful in my work in helping veterans via our chruch military ministry and my the volunteer work with the USO, National Park Service & Families of the Wounded Fund in helping veterans. I would highly recommend this book to everyone in Congress to consider the affects of war before they commit to "boots on the ground". It's easy to commit troops but they need to take to heart the impact on a warrior's soul and our culture. One has to always ask, is the mission worth the cost knowing that the combat servicemen and women will never be the same. Vietnam Veteran (1969-1970)

I read the book originally from the library and was so impressed that I bought a copy for a friend who's a Viet Nam combat Vet. Finally someone looks beyond the catchall PTSD to examine the deeper injuries incurred in war. This book lifts a veil that should have been lifted many wars ago, whether it reaches the right entrenched people and shows them the light or not remains to be seen. The points raised and the conclusions reached by the author can only be ignored at a risk to those we send to war and our society as a whole.

One of the best books on the market. Enjoyed every part of it and have constantly recommended it to other people with military connections.

David Wood provides a valuable resource to introduce the subject of moral injury. Every American would benefit greatly in knowing how to effectively respond to our combat veterans by reading this book. This book should sound a clear call to action for our faith communities to intentionally engage the work of spiritual healing for our combat veterans. Excellent introduction and treatment of a potentially debilitating condition which has been with humanity since Cain killed Abel.

I think this is the best book on moral injury so far. Wood is a journalist, but one who has experienced war. He writes as one who knows, both from experience and from his conversations with vets, chaplains, and docs. He looks at the history of how we have dealt with war, and how we have prepared soldiers for it, and what we have done when they have come home. There is no magic bullet to solve the problem, he concludes. It takes a whole community to help veterans heal from invisible injuries.

Not a perfect book. You can not separate PTSD and moral injury. It is still good reading if you or someone you know is battling PTSD. My personal opinion is that PTSD is a combat related issue. There are other types of mental issues related to trauma and stress but they do not compare to PTSD and combat.

As a mental health chaplain at the VA and former National Guard service member, I highly recommend this book. David Wood truly understands the complexity of war, trauma, and humanity. I appreciate that he recognized the reserved units as well as chaplains, women, and many other overlooked or forgotten assets that are an integral part of the longest war.

Americans are reluctant to consider our high crimes as a country for more than five minutes. This author explores a critical issue.

I had to read this for a class, but now I'm trying to get everyone to read it. The stories alone make this book worth while, but what Wood is getting to about Moral Injury is absolutely ground-breaking, it's such an easy read that actually lets you in on the lived experiences of vets dealing with mental illness, in war and at home.

Excellent book written by a Pulitzer Prize winning author! Rifle squad reporting from both major wars;Afghanistan and Iraq.Goes way past the P.T.S.D. injury to combat troops and describes a newly identified moral injury which may be more debilitating than the P.T.S.D. A book to be shared with combat veterans from any war.

Breathtaking. My husband is a combat veteran (Iraq). This book captures so much of what he experiences 15 years after the invasion, and the hell he went through. I am grateful for this book and the perspective it offers. Every American should read this.

Excellent look at Moral Injury mostly from the point of view of the military experience. Brings to light many aspects that have previously been confused as PTSD but goes further than that.

Should be mandatory reading all members of Congress and the Joint Chiefs. The research is meticulous, yet the powers that be seem to ignore it because it contradicts what they want to believe.

Very insightful read. Recommend to any civilian or military person who is trying to understand PTSD and moral injury of our veterans.

The biggest heartbreak you will ever read about!

Excellent review and solid insights. An important look at problems returning vets experience and the realities underlying their moral injuries that color their lives and ours.

It’s a book so TO READ

An amazing and sobering book that all Americans should read. These moral injuries will shape our country for decades.

Great book

Really good read. It helped greatly tp provide a better understanding of what our war fighters are going through/

Well written book. As a mother of a son and the daughter of a veteran it was difficult to read.

Terrific writing. These are experiences all citizens need to understand.

I love how it was written. Deff a good read!

Goes to the core of our country. A must read.

Terrificwriter. Important book on a very important topic

Wood's work is compassionate and non-judgmental. The negative effects of war are often measured in numbers--number of people killed, areas destroyed, money spent, etc. But Wood asks all of us, especially civilians, to consider our role in an aspect of war's effects that we often allow to stay hidden from view, and that often escape our normal ways of measuring. I am not a veteran and have never seen war or anything close to it. For that reason I'm doubly thankful for books like this that can, at least in a small way, help me ask the right questions. Wood emphasizes the need for all of us, as citizens, to own our responsibility in war. Wood only has a few answers to offer. But he helps us understand what the questions are, and what is really at stake when we send young people off to fight. I have felt, within my own family, church, and friend group, the awkwardness that Wood notes often exists between civilians and veterans. But Wood provides a good model for pursuing a culture of listening between us. I highly recommend this book to anyone who cares about the wellbeing of the people that we send to war.

Very good book on a timely topic

For me, this book now ranks in my canon of seminal works about the combat experience, and the experience of veteran homecoming. I consider this to rank with Odysseus in America, War and the Soul, and Stoic Warriors. Building on his Pulitzer-prize winning series about moral injury, this book is the most comprehensive and profound exploration of the 21st century recognition of an ancient phenomenon. Thank goodness that David Wood, a long time combat correspondent, based on a career of seeing soldiers in combat, recognized the phenomenon in our post 9/11 veterans. I saw David speak at UConn, and speaking to him afterwards, we realized that he was embedded with the 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit when I was with them in 1993-1994. He gets it, truly. This is a compelling read elegantly written and presented with great compassion. For me, my own recovery has followed a very specific structure - at each stage, informed by the books in my canon. The first stage was physical recovery from my wounds, and stabilizing my physical condition. During this time, I first became acquainted with Shays' Odysseus in America. That basically gave me a map for what to expect in my own homecoming journey. The second stage was psychological recovery. This took many years of hard work to work through the effects of PTS and TBI. During this time, it was Edward Tick's War and the Soul, and Nancy Sherman's Stoic Warriors, that served as guideposts for my therapy. I found cognitive behavioral therapy to be extremely helpful, and began writing about my experiences. I attended also the NYU Veterans Writers Workshop. The writer's workshop gave me tools to process and articulate my experiences of combat and homecoming. Most recently, in the past year and 1/2, my recovery has taken a decidedly spiritual turn. I have found a faith community that helps. I see in What Have We Done? the questions and themes of dealing with the moral component of war, and recovering from moral injury. I know I have used this exact phrase in talking about my combat experiences. This is an area where conventional modalities of healing and reintegration fail many veterans, leaving them to try to figure it out on their own. Some do; many don't. What Have We Done? is both invaluable, and a value-added contribution to the dialogue our nation is having about the long-term effects of war, and how best to deal with the men and women who fight on behalf of our nation. Although, US specific, I truly believe this is a universal phenomenon, and is a reflection of the human condition. I can attest I saw the effects of moral injury among the Iraqi soldiers I worked with. As such, I believe David Wood's book will become one of the time-tested classics of the generational dialogue about war, trauma, and its effects. Enthusiastically recommended. Must read.

I think there is not only an application for the Soldier and family along with care providers when Soldiers return from combat which is much of the focus in this book. Perhaps a greater issue: this applies training and Army leadership development and military in general. Character matters, and it matters mightily. I'm stuck by the overwhelming influence that our officers and NCOs have over young 20 year olds. The authority of the commander and leaders can be a force for good or evil. It is much harder to lead and resist to the temptation of revenge or "body count" or kill 'em all and let God sort them out. And yet, as shown in this book, deep in their heart the Soldier knows when he violates God's law and moral code. He carries the guilt and anguish for years or perhaps a lifetime when his/her behavior/action violates moral codes and law. In the heat of battle, the only way to save a Soldier from his own desire for revenge or to kill -- a strong chain of command who sets unambiguous expectations of character and values. i.e., the American Soldier does NOT kill innocent women, children or non-combatants. Or, I expect the chain of command to do the right thing in accordance with our values. I will hold accountable all leaders when it comes to moral or ethical violations.

David Wood has written an important and emotional book on a topic that is important for the American people to understand. As a veteran of both Afghanistan and Iraq, Wood’s book rings true and is written in a tone that brings to light a part of my combat experience that is rarely talked about and even more rarely understood – moral injury. As most of the talk and effort is put into helping veterans cope with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and traumatic brain injury (TBI), there remains in many of us a pain and darkness that we just can’t seem to touch, that we just can’t seem to shake. This can be explained by moral injury. Moral injury is an important topic that must be understood by not only the veterans who have it and mental health professionals that are trying to help veterans but also the public-at-large who need to understand the aftermath of going to combat and truly fighting. It is one thing to be deployed in to a combat zone – it is quite another to fight the enemy up-close and kill him. This is what this book is about. The aftermath of what is left when someone has killed another human being, time and time again. If I could have every American read one book this year it would be ‘What Have We Done’. Retired Captain, Jim Gant

It shows how far we have to go in understanding PTSD and the various aspects of it. It also shows how far the VA has to go in treating EVERYONE who comes back from a battle zone so that it's not seen as a weakness. This should not be seen as an expendable part of the military budget! The mental health system in the Military and VA should be trained in PTSD and treatment modalities. Treatment should start at deployment! We sit in our cushy chairs at home while our young men and women fight and when they come home we turn our backs on them or expect them to be "normal" or to "perform" like circus animals as they had before they went to war. There are some who it may not bother. Good for them. There are also those who pull the skin off cats and have no emotion. Some can block it out to a degree. For the rest, there is an injustice served.

This book was difficult to read because it calls into question so many aspects of our foreign-policy and how we use warfare to achieve our goals while ignoring the devastating effects it has on those who go to war and witness it's horrors. Anyone who would advocate the use of boots on the ground in solving foreign conflicts should read this book before doing so. I am grateful to David for his incredible effort to create this book to educate all of us about the consequences of moral injury. Hopefully we will follow the admonition of the soldiers who speak so eloquently in its pages and find nonviolent ways to conduct foreign policy. In the context of this modern world of technology and ubiquitous communication, the concept of "just war" is no longer valid. Read this book and I hope you will agree. #nonviolence #LiveORANS

If you do not weep when reading this book you have no heart. Should be mandatory reading for every President, Senator and Representative before they take any action which will put our brave young men and women in harms way. If we need to go to war we should understand what the consequences will be for those we send to fight it.

WHWD is one of the most brilliant reads on the effects of war on the our men and women. Wood paints a genuine but graphic picture of the deepest soul injuries our military face, and how we as citizens, as therapists, and as friends can stand in the gap for those injured. I also noticed several parallels to struggles that our first responders (fire, police, and EMS) face as well. If you are working with or know someone in these demographics, do them and yourself a favor- get this book and step into their world. You won't regret it.

I am using this with my classes now to frame moral injury across the national security divide for the last two decades. A must read.

Excellent book, a must read for anyone concerned with veteran issues.