03/24/2014
America, as portrayed in this military memoir written by an Iraqi native with ties to U.S. command, is "a refuge and a dream," a country that stumbled into an already broken Iraq and did its best with the pieces it found. "Johnny Walker" is the code name given to the author while working with Navy SEALs as a translator and interrogator. DeFelice, best known for his work on Chris Kyle's memoir, American Sniper, co-writes Walker's tale of the war. The book is at its best when Walker reflects on the impact of the job on the life of his wife and kids. During the six years he spent allied with the Americans, Walker and his family were threatened and forced to relocate several times. However the author often strays away from his personal experience, focusing instead on the action of war. Even his primary message that the Iraq war was not caused by America is lost through the repetitive accounts of house raids. By the time Walker and his family relocate to California, the story feels less about a man who fought in secret, and more about someone who wanted and found a way out of a war torn country. (Feb.)

A hero. .... Countless Navy SEALs relied on the Iraqi translator’s wile, and sometimes his way with a weapon, to bring them out alive.” — New York Daily News

“A gripping memoir. ... Code Name: Johnny Walker is an unforgettable story—an essential account of the Iraq War.” — ERIC BLEHM, bestselling author of Fearless: The Undaunted Courage and Ultimate Sacrifice of U.S. Navy SEAL Team Six Operator Adam Brown

“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.” — MARCUS LUTTRELL, former U.S. Navy SEAL, recipient of the Navy Cross, and #1 bestselling author of Lone Survivor

“’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.” — MIKAL VEGA, retired U.S. Navy SEAL and founder of Vital Warrior

“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.” — CHRIS KYLE, former U.S. Navy SEAL and #1 bestselling author of American Sniper

“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.” — "CAPT. X," active-duty U.S. Navy SEAL Team commanding officer

“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.” — Kirkus Reviews

“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.” — Parade (Parade's Picks)

“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.” — BlackFive.net

“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.” — FoxNews.com

“Riviting. ... For those who think they’ve heard the last word on the Iraq war, Code Name: Johnny Walker is an eye-opener. With DeFelice, Walker has written a mesmerizing memoir about his life, including the six years in which he helped American forces.” — Christian Science Monitor

“A breathtaking memoir — a stirring tale of courage and convictions. It adds a fascinating and insightful new dimension to the history of the Iraq War.” — Coronado Eagle-Journal

“Extremely informative and gripping. ... Offers a unique perspective. ... Johnny became the SEALs’ most trusted interpreter, willing to sacrifice everything in an effort to improve his country and keep his SEAL brothers safe.” — American Thinker

“Johnny Walker went well above and beyond his duties as an interpreter to help save countless American lives. ... Walker became a valuable asset not only because of his language skills but his valor in executing missions. ... Be sure to check out the book.” — The Blaze

“The story of an Iraqi interpreter who spent six dangerous years working with American special forces before being brought to safety in America.” — New York Times Book Review

“An inspiring story of courage and commitment.” — Bowling Green Daily News (KY)

“This is an excellent memoir, a story about the post-9/11 war in Iraq as told by someone who is simultaneously an insider and an outsider. ... “The voice—earnest, disillusioned, passionate, patriotic—seems undeniably to be that of the pseudonymous ‘Johnny Walker.’” — Booklist

A hero. .... Countless Navy SEALs relied on the Iraqi translator’s wile, and sometimes his way with a weapon, to bring them out alive.

’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.

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.

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 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.

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 breathtaking memoir — a stirring tale of courage and convictions. It adds a fascinating and insightful new dimension to the history of the Iraq War.

An inspiring story of courage and commitment.

This is an excellent memoir, a story about the post-9/11 war in Iraq as told by someone who is simultaneously an insider and an outsider. ... “The voice—earnest, disillusioned, passionate, patriotic—seems undeniably to be that of the pseudonymous ‘Johnny Walker.’

Extremely informative and gripping. ... Offers a unique perspective. ... Johnny became the SEALs’ most trusted interpreter, willing to sacrifice everything in an effort to improve his country and keep his SEAL brothers safe.

The story of an Iraqi interpreter who spent six dangerous years working with American special forces before being brought to safety in America.

Johnny Walker went well above and beyond his duties as an interpreter to help save countless American lives. ... Walker became a valuable asset not only because of his language skills but his valor in executing missions. ... Be sure to check out the book.

Riviting. ... For those who think they’ve heard the last word on the Iraq war, Code Name: Johnny Walker is an eye-opener. With DeFelice, Walker has written a mesmerizing memoir about his life, including the six years in which he helped American forces.

A hero. .... Countless Navy SEALs relied on the Iraqi translator’s wile, and sometimes his way with a weapon, to bring them out alive.

This is an excellent memoir, a story about the post-9/11 war in Iraq as told by someone who is simultaneously an insider and an outsider. ... “The voice—earnest, disillusioned, passionate, patriotic—seems undeniably to be that of the pseudonymous ‘Johnny Walker.’

09/01/2013
Committed to changing his country's government, the author worked as a translator for the U.S. military during the war, also delivering intelligence and saving lives; he's been praised by famed U.S. Navy SEAL Chris Kyle. Today he lives in San Diego, where he trains new SEALs. With a 50,000-copy first printing.

2014-01-09
Fiery, insightful memoir from the former Iraqi translator who fought alongside U.S. Special Forces during the recent war in Iraq. With the assistance of DeFelice (co-author: American Sniper, 2012, etc.) and writing as a first-time author under a protective pseudonym, "Johnny Walker," this Mosul-born, pro-American Muslim Iraqi relates a sometimes-biased but invaluable insider's perspective of Iraq after Saddam Hussein. After an undistinguished stint in the badly trained Iraqi army, the author made a decision early on in the 2003 conflict that to provide for his family, he would have to collaborate with the American occupying force. Although his initial attempts at obtaining work as a translator and adviser for the Americans were frustrated, he eventually caught on with the Navy SEALs. Quickly, he began to learn that being a translator also meant being a combat-ready soldier and risking his life. Things began to get seriously dangerous for "Johnny," however, when his relationship with the American forces became well-known around Mosul, which made him a potential target for assassins. This pressure to both serve his American employers and still retain close ties to his own Iraqi community is what eventually drove him to pursue his dream of immigrating to America. Throughout the book, the author gives a vivid sense of what it's like to be stuck geopolitically between a rock and a hard place: Iraqis like him rejected the tyrannical rule of Hussein but then had to endure the chaos of the destabilizing influence that the U.S.-led invasion wrought on the country. Although he defends the motives behind the American invasion, the question of whether this pre-emptive military action was an effective operation in the long run is a point he mostly evades until the end of the book. Ultimately, any national allegiances take a back seat to "Johnny's" survival instincts. Eventually, the once-impossible dream of becoming an American citizen and bringing his family to the U.S. became a hard-won reality. A harrowing personal journey of courageous self-empowerment during wartime.