Charlie Battery:
A Marine Artillery Unit in Iraq

is the harrowing and personal account of a Marine Corps artillery unit fight for survival in Operation Iraqi Freedom. Andrew is the father of one of the Charlie Battery Marines, and the book follows his son, Cpl Philip Lubin, USMC, and his fellow Marines as they suddenly deploy for war, train and prepare for battle, and then fight in the vicious battle of An-Nasiriyah.

Through revealing interviews with both the Marines, their commanding officers, and their parents, families, and girlfriends, the book provides a rare glimpse into what the early days of the war was like - not only for the Marines, but also for their families and loved ones who were sitting home watching it unfold live on CNN and MSNBC.

"...an easy-reading narration...indeed this is Charlie Battery's proud story - and a good read from cover to cover."
LEATHERNECK MAGAZINE, Aug 2005

"An-Nasiriyah was won by these young Marines who ignored the sandstorms and kept their howitzers firing... this book is their story."
GEN AL GRAY, USMC, 29th Commandant

"The devotion of father and son, and to the Marine Corps, shines brightly in these pages. It will take its place as a chronicle of Marine courage and fortitude under fire."
MAX BOOT, author, "Savage Wars of Peace." and Senior Fellow, Council for Foreign Relations.

"...an insightful account into the hearts and minds of those watching their sons at war on CNN and Fox Newsƒthis is the war in Iraq - up close and personal - on the home front and on the front lines."
DAILY DEMOCRAT, Fort Madison, Ia.

"Bernardsville native writes the definitive account of the pivotal battle of the war in Iraq."
BERNARDSVILLE NEWS, Bernardsville, N.J.

"This is the best story of the Marines in Iraq !"
GLASGOW DAILY TIMES, Glasgow, Ky.

"The more people who read this will mean that more Americans will understand what our Marines are experiencing over there."
RARITAN REPORTER, Raritan, N.J.

Andrew has lectured and signed books at Barnes & Noble stores from California to New Jersey. He was the 2004 Veterans Day Author at Chapter 11 Books, Atlanta, Ga. and has appeared at signings in Okinawa, Canada, and Romania, as well as on ABC Philadelphia, ABC Louisville, CNN, Patriot Media, WWOW AM Conneaght, Ohio and "The Joey Reynolds Show", WOR, AM New York

Sections from "Charlie Battery"

From the Introduction -

Camp Lejeune, 10 Jan, 2003.
"It was quiet now on the base, and even quieter in the barracks. I made sure that Phil had the addresses of family and friends before he went off to war, as well as extra pens, paper, and stamps...it was an awkward moment; we both knew that it was time for me to leave, yet both of us were reluctant to say it out loud. Phil said that he had to get up at 0400 so he could report to the armory to get his M16 and his bayonet issued.

So I stood up and told him that it was time for me to go. Phil stood up also, and said that he was glad I'd come down to see him off. I told him that I loved him, to remember Grandpa, and to do a good job - and that I'd be back in Camp Lejeune to greet him when he returned.

Then it was time for me to turn and walk away."

From Chapter 6
The Battle of An-Nasiriyah:

North of Jalibah Airfield, 22 March 2003
"It was a hip shot, and a Red Rain mission," said LCPL Nick Lamb. "We'd practiced it a thousand times, and we knew exactly what to do.

Phil, as the Recorder on Gun 1, took the firing order from Lamb, and bellowed it to his fellow Marines on the gun crew. "Battery...2 rounds...when ready...charge 6...white...lot Delta Whiskey...shell ICM...fuse VT...time 12..." With these simple commands, practiced by the hour in the cold and rain at Fort Sill, and the dust and wind of the Udairi Training Range, Phil and his fellow Marines in Charlie Battery went to war."

23 March, 2003
"With a call sign of "Nightmare," which was indicative of what they were about to inflict on the Iraqi's, LtCol Starnes' s artillery batteries - made up of young Marines like Phil, Justin Noyes, Rob Kranz, and others in their first battle - began to demonstrate their expertise that morning. "We didn't stop firing," Phil said later." It seemed that we shot mission nonstop, and that we didn't let up the whole day."

From Chapter 9 - Return to Camp Lejeune.

23 June, 2003
"Three busses pulled up behind the HQ Building, and the Marines on board prepared to disembark. But instead of dashing madly to the waiting crowds, as the other Marine units had done that day, Charlie Battery formed up, dressed ranks, and marched to the waiting family members, with SSGT Green counting cadence as they finished the last 100 yards of their incredible six-month journey."