How does it feel to be in a war-torn, conflict-riddled zone? No Tougher Duty, No Greater Honor: A Memoir of a Mortuary Affairs Marine by GySgt L. Christian Bussler (Ret.) answers these questions in a fascinating narrative by a Mortuary Marine. Christian Bussler’s work might have been a lot of fun as a postal letter carrier, but then the call came and he found himself ferried off to Iraq, becoming closely and personally involved in the tragedy of war, navigating dangerous streets to retrieve the bodies of fallen soldiers and bring them home. He will be stunned by the experience of war, will find his life hanging by a thread, and will suffer loss. Here is a gritty story of courage and patriotism, with powerful messages of friendship, teamwork, and endurance.

In this autobiographical and military narrative, the author captures the atmosphere in war-torn countries, pulling readers into the world of the protagonist to experience the uncertainty and the pain that soldiers experience. The writing is strong and the author takes readers from one mind-blowing episode to the next gripping one. Friendship and loyalty, duty and patriotism, hope and death are themes that are brilliantly explored. The sense of danger permeates the narrative, taking readers on a historic ride. GySgt L. Christian Bussler may have been a Mortuary Marine officer, but he has a great gift for storytelling and his humor embellishes the story and makes it a really interesting read. No Tougher Duty, No Greater Honor: A Memoir of a Mortuary Affairs Marine is a personal account that features powerful political conflicts, allowing readers to get a sense of history through the eyes of the protagonist.

“Hey Chris, your Marine unit just called the office, and they need you to call them back as soon as possible. I took the call, and they sound pretty serious, buddy. Get in; we need to get you to the nearest phone as soon as we can,” are the words that announce the moment of change for Christian Bussler, a call that makes him stop his day-to-day life as a postal letter carrier in Springfield, Ohio. His Postal Office Supervisor has never been so serious, and things really change drastically for Chris. For the next three years, he’d find himself involved in combat, working as a Mortuary Affairs Marine. No Tougher Duty, No Greater Honor: A Memoir of a Mortuary Affairs Marine by GySgt L. Christian Bussler (Ret.) follows him in the fight to recover the bodies of fallen soldiers and bring them back home. The reader is thrust into a world where danger lies everywhere, following the protagonist and his peers on foot patrol through hostile streets in enemy camp.

This is a story of bravery, of patriotism, and of loss, told in an arresting first person narrative voice. The narrative is impeccable and the author has the rare gift of injecting a deep sense of humanity into the writing, coupled with his singular gift for humor and a unique turn of phrase. From the moment Christian's life is disrupted by the call from his Marine office, the reader is keen on following his every step. It is the point of crisis, and it is interesting to see how the author makes this come out through the writing. I enjoyed the stream of consciousness that punctuates the writing, the dialogues, and the intense emotional passages. No Tougher Duty, No Greater Honor: A Memoir of a Mortuary Affairs Marine by GySgt L. Christian Bussler (Ret.) is one of those books that restore respect to men who have fought for their country and to those who have fallen; a gritty tale that is as entertaining as it is informative.

No Tougher Duty No Greater Honor...I am a woman, not a veteran, I am a wife, mother, grandmother and I am a nurse. I was finally able to get a glimpse as to what Iraq was like during war time. The writer draws you in to the present day to day life during his tours in combat. Mortuary Affairs was not a job I had ever heard of. You can feel the pain, terror, bravery, chaos in his descriptive writing. My daughter had served in this same war zone, but she does not speak of events during this time in her life. A must read for all ages. I am truly more grateful for our many military personnel as a result of reading this truthful book. I thank the writer for sharing his experience with me and so many others.