We Got Him!

"We Got Him! A Memoir of the Hunt and Capture of Saddam Hussein" is a firsthand military account written by Colonel James Hickey's subordinate, Steve Russell, who commanded the 1st Battalion, 22nd Infantry Regiment during the operation that led to the capture of Saddam Hussein in December 2003. The book offers a ground-level perspective on one of the most significant events of the Iraq War, written by a soldier who was directly involved in the planning and execution of the mission that ended with Hussein's discovery hiding in a underground hole near Tikrit.

Russell's narrative traces the months of intelligence gathering, patrol work, and relationship-building with local sources that preceded the capture. Rather than presenting the operation as a single dramatic event, the author situates it within a longer, often grinding campaign of counterinsurgency work in the Sunni Triangle. This context is one of the book's strengths. Readers unfamiliar with the operational realities of post-invasion Iraq will gain insight into how American forces worked to piece together fragments of information, cultivate informants, and conduct repeated raids that often yielded little before the decisive breakthrough.

The writing reflects Russell's military background. The prose is direct and procedural, favoring clarity over literary flourish. This straightforward style suits the subject matter, as it allows the sequence of events to speak for itself without unnecessary embellishment. At the same time, readers seeking a more introspective or emotionally layered account may find the tone somewhat restrained. Russell focuses primarily on logistics, decision-making, and the mechanics of the operation rather than extended personal reflection, though moments of candor about the pressures of command do surface throughout the narrative.

One of the more valuable aspects of the book is its attention to the human intelligence network that ultimately led to Hussein's location. Russell details how seemingly minor pieces of information, gathered over time through patient questioning and trust-building with Iraqi civilians, eventually converged into actionable intelligence. This portrayal underscores the unglamorous, incremental nature of counterinsurgency work, offering a corrective to any perception that high-profile captures result from a single stroke of luck or a dramatic chase.

The book also provides a window into the command structure and coordination required for such an operation. Russell describes the interplay between different units, the pressure from higher command to produce results, and the logistical challenges of operating in a hostile environment. These details will likely appeal to readers with an interest in military history or operational planning, as they illustrate the complexity behind what is often remembered publicly as a single headline moment.

As a primary source, the memoir carries inherent value for historians and general readers alike. Russell was present for the events he describes, and his account adds a layer of specificity that secondary histories of the Iraq War cannot replicate. However, readers should approach the book with the understanding that it reflects one participant's perspective. Like any memoir, it is shaped by the author's role, vantage point, and personal interpretation of events, which may differ from broader historical assessments or from other participants' recollections.

The book succeeds in demystifying a moment that was widely covered in the media but rarely explained in operational detail. For readers interested in the Iraq War, military memoirs, or the specific events surrounding Hussein's capture, Russell's account provides a grounded, procedural narrative that complements more journalistic or academic treatments of the subject. It does not attempt to offer sweeping political analysis or judgment on the broader war, focusing instead on the specific chain of events that led to one of its most consequential outcomes.

Overall, "We Got Him!" is a useful and informative addition to the literature on the Iraq War, particularly for those interested in the operational and intelligence-gathering aspects of modern counterinsurgency. Its narrow focus is both a strength and a limitation, offering depth on a specific mission while leaving broader contextual questions to other works. Readers approaching the book with interest in military procedure and firsthand historical testimony will likely find it a worthwhile and informative read.