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Soldier talks war and Irish roots in bestselling book

By
TOM DEIGNAN,
IrishCentral.com Staff Writer

Published Monday, April 13, 2009, 2:58 PM
Updated Thursday, July 23, 2009, 5:53 PM

 

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Soldier and writer Craig Mullaney
Soldier and writer Craig Mullaney

Captain Craig Mullaney knew it was a dangerous mission. He had led his platoon to a section of Afghanistan called Losano Ridge, known to be a haven for al-Qaeda fighters. So, Mullaney could not have had any illusions.

And yet, when he heard over the radio that one of his soldiers had been killed in the fighting, he was forced to ask himself if all of the years he’d spent training for a horrible moment such as this were in any way adequate.

Mullaney had to call on more than just the years he’d spent at West Point, as well as the grueling training which turned him into an Army Ranger.

Perhaps he didn’t know it at the time, but there were also skills that the Irish Christian brothers and his immigrant grandmother taught him.

Mullaney would go onto to complete his service in Afghanistan. There, he led an infantry platoon which patrolled the notorious Afghan-Pakistan border. Mullaney was with the 10th Mountain Division conducting a wide range of operations, providing humanitarian aid and fighting Al Qaeda and the Taliban.

After his tour of duty, Mullaney ended up working on the Barack Obama presidential campaign. In fact, by some accounts Mullaney became Obama’s point man on Afghanistan.

He writes about these topics, as well as his Co. Cavan roots and “blue collar Irish” Rhode Island upbringing in a new book, "The Unforgiving Minute," which shot up The New York Times best-seller list when it was released in mid-March and was still on the list this week.

"The Unforgiving Minute: A Soldier’s Education" is a close look mainly at the complications of the Afghan War. But it is also about one Irish American family’s joy and struggles. 

Indeed, Mullaney is just the latest in a long line of Irish Catholics who’ve distinguished themselves in American military service.

Early in the book, he says his grandmother -- “an immigrant’s daughter from Co. Cavan” -- told mesmerizing stories which, at an early age, instilled in young Craig the power of words.

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