And they did it with only 50 American special operators in-country, on the ground, using the force multiplier of American air power to reinforce our Northern Alliance allies. Nutsch, Pennington and MSG Paul quickly decided that the detachment should split into two teams of six. The flight as depicted in the movie was extremely cold and dangerous. Reviewed in the United States on January 17, 2019. Pennington was the detachment leader of ODA 595, assigned to the 5th Special Forces Group in Ft. Campbell, Kentucky on the morning of 9/11, and the team was on a training mission nearby when they learned of the terrorist attacks of that fateful morning. Did the United States Army Special Forces (Green Berets) really carry out one of the first and last Cavalry Charges in the 21st Century in Afghanistan? Except for Nutsch, all other ODA members were novice horseback riders, maneuvering along hazardous mountain trails, often at night and in all extremes of weather through suspected minefields, over daunting terrain from the ODA infiltration point south of Dehi to Mazar-e Sharif. At the insistence of Pennington, Nutsch was reassigned to the team. Please try again. And Pennington would command the Bravo Team of consisting of himself, MSG Paul, SFC Stephen, SSG Will, SSG Mike, and SSG Chad. The Human Side of the Defeat of the Taliban, Reviewed in the United States on July 18, 2009. Although this excerpt has been proofread, occasional errors may appear due to the scanning process. A CAS strike employing a flight of F-18s was utilized. These Special Forces soldiers took on the Taliban on horseback They gave their all then, and they give their all now to you, their loyal supporters, and to their beloved charities. 12 Strong (also known as 12 Strong: The Declassified True Story of the Horse Soldiers) is a 2018 American action-war film directed by Nicolai Fuglsig and written by Ted Tally and Peter Craig. The Taliban was driven into the no-man's land technically belonging to Pakistan, and the listener knows that they have made a comeback since then so that we are again fighting in Afghanistan and Pakistan. As a nation, most of us didn't realize how quickly our government and military responded with actual boots on the ground. https://realhero.report/2019/10/15/the-real-horse-soldiers-in-afghanistan This is a real page turner that you can't put down, because it happened. Great book on the beginning of the American Afghanistan War and the Special Forces teams that carried out the assignment alongside their Afghanistan counterparts in attacking the Taliban.Fast moving and never dull. This is the first act of retribution against the Taliban and the Al Qaeda after 911 where a hand full of American Special Forces spearheaded a force of Afghanistan to liberate their country and revenge the attack on the World Trade Center while mounted on, of all things, horses. To calculate the overall star rating and percentage breakdown by star, we don’t use a simple average. Prime members enjoy FREE Delivery and exclusive access to music, movies, TV shows, original audio series, and Kindle books. At this meeting, ODA-595 met CDRs Atta, Mohahqeq and scores of other commanders. Special Forces Horse Soldier Statue at Ground Zero (Photo CPT Eric Hudson, 160th SOAR, 9.13.2016) Upcoming Movie – 12 Strong – Chris Hemsworth, if ever there was a guy that looked like a hero, will play a Captain on a Special Forces SFODA whose SF team links up with the Northern Alliance in Afghanistan in the late part of 2001.The movie, 12 Strong, depicts the … Yes. Soldiers run up to the bite in the wall, shoot into the fort, and then scurry back down. It also analyzes reviews to verify trustworthiness. This shopping feature will continue to load items when the Enter key is pressed. Dostum was very concerned about a team member becoming injured. Great story, great tape. There was a problem loading your book clubs. With Douwe Blumberg, Max Bowers, Bart Decker, Joe Jung. The enemy could be observed straight north of Dostum’s HQ. On 27 October, Tiger 02 and Dostum returned horseback across the mountains to the village of Dehi and Dostum’s logistic base where the Bravo Team was located. Top subscription boxes – right to your door, © 1996-2021, Amazon.com, Inc. or its affiliates. In October, 2001, small teams of American soldiers on horseback defeated thousands of Taliban fighters because the soldiers were trained in … Over the next several days he and OGA Reps would meet with these commanders, coordinating logistical support, and the linkup of ODA with CDR Atta’s troops near Aq Kobruk in the Balkh Valley. Horse Soldiers is a great read -- a riveting story of the brave and resourceful American warriors who rode into Afghanistan after 9/11 and waged war against Al Qaeda. The entire ODA, coordinating and controlling United States Air Force, United States Navy, and United States Marine Corps air support, was directly responsible for assisting the NA forces in destroying hundreds of vehicles, including transport and armored vehicles, artillery and air defense assets, heavy equipment, bunkers, and command posts. Horse Soldiers is the dramatic account of a small band of Special Forces soldiers who secretly entered Afghanistan following 9/11 and rode to war on horses against the Taliban. They were positioned on a hilltop along the ridgeline. Bravo team had to remain in the Dehi area near the base camp, until more horses could be found and purchased or motorized transportation acquired. AFD is a dream turned reality for a special group of friends who served our nation in its’ darkest days, answering America’s call as generations before them have. Dostum then established his HQ at the medieval fortress of Quali Jangi. The Detachment Commander was led by Captain Mark Nutsch, and his character was renamed Mitch Nelson and was portrayed by Chris Hemsworth. Horse Soldiers: The Extraordinary Story of a Band of US Soldiers Who Rode to Victory in Afghanistan. During the campaign with Dostum’s NA forces, the ODA with other Special Forces elements, effectively liberated the six Northern Provinces. But, if you like a true story of the early war years in Afghanistan/Pakistan, then you're in for a real treat. Then the author goes through in detail the story of each key member of the story and how they got the word. In 2018, the story of the first team of American soldiers (all Green Berets) who responded to the terrorist attacks of 9/11, in Afghanistan in October of 2001, was told in the movie 12 Strong. Imagine a PG-13 Rambo riding on a horse and destroying rocket launchers, tanks and an army of 15.000 soldiers and you've got this movie basically. The Bravo Team then rode and walked off the mountain with their gear on pack animals back to Dehi on October 25. Six horses and three donkeys were prepared for the team to use in accompanying Dostum. Most notably, the discovery and capture of John Walker Lindh and two other high-ranking Taliban fighters. Outnumbered forty to one, they pursued the enemy army across the mountainous Afghanistan terrain and, after a series of intense battles, captured the … The detachment was able to accomplish this with the addition of two Air Force personnel who arrived on the night of October 28. See the movie, read the book then watch the movie again. Writing was fantastic and the story incredible, recommend this to anyone interested in military history or the military. Over the next several weeks, Dostum was interviewed over the phone by several journalists. 12 Strong: The Declassified True Story of the Horse Soldiers, The Only Thing Worth Dying For: How Eleven Green Berets Fought for a New Afghanistan (P.S. On the afternoon of November 10, Tiger 02D, consisting of Pete, Chad, Will and Tomcat, was directed to enter into the city of MES for a Direct Action mission on a hard-line Taliban stronghold. Though combat operations continued every day for the detachment, two key battles helped drive the Taliban further north. In the movie, Pennington’s character was renamed Hal Spencer and was portrayed by Michael Shannon. The horse soldiers’ stories “If we wanted to move, horses were the only way,” said Master Sgt. Requesting several humanitarian aid drops, NA troops would receive uniforms and cold weather gear. Please try again. Each cell would advise and assist a Northern Alliance force of up to 750 fighters. By now, the entire force had grown to 4,000 fighters, 3,000 were horse-mounted cavalry. Howell was part of the first two Army Special Forces teams deployed to Afghanistan. This is said to be the greatest attribute Special Forces detachment’s offer, the ability to diplomatically form alliances with other factions or tribes. Georgia Military Veterans’ Hall of Fame Inductee Spotlight: Orson George Swindle, III (Valor), Georgia Veterans Day Association Hosts Veterans Day Ceremony and Virtual Parade, Dentistry for Woodstock Celebrates Veterans Each Christmas. Nutsch, and the 13 other detachment members supported Dostum, his subordinate commanders and their forces in extensive combat operations throughout the Darya Suf and Balkh Valleys. You did not see this on the evening news. This book tells the story of early U.S. intervention in Afghanistan after 9/11. Many of you have seen this movie, but you probably would be surprised to learn that Chief Warrant Officer 4 (Retired) Robert “Bob” Pennington, who was the Deputy Detachment Commander of ODA-595, lives right here in north Atlanta. Initially the team was not permitted to move forward towards the Taliban positions. Watching several of their injured and killed comrades being transported to the rear, fear and panic became clearly evident in the NA troops. Dostum was very protective of the ODA. The Alpha Team, had only a few minutes to prepare their gear, tailoring them to be put on donkeys. His harrowing and heroic story of using horses in alliance with local Afghan freedom fighters became a best-selling book and a major motion picture. There's a problem loading this menu right now. None of the NA security element could speak English or any language the ODA spoke, and the ODA members only could speak “caveman” Russian, Arabic, and French. Directed by Alex Quade. When pressed about the presence of U.S. Special Forces, on several occasions he would say he had only a few humanitarian aid workers assisting his NA troops. Dostum then rode off towards the village of Dehi, leaving the Alpha Team members to follow with a 10-man NA security element, riding horseback for four hours into the mountains. HURLBURT FIELD, Fla. -- Fifteen years ago today, the first Airman stepped foot into Afghanistan with the mission to topple the Taliban. We are introduced to some of the soldiers, and can follow their rollicking adventure tale from the first helo drop into fog-shrouded mountains and an uncertain fate to the final victory parade in Kandahar. Your recently viewed items and featured recommendations, Select the department you want to search in. All members of the ODA, except Nutsch, were novice horseback riders. The film is based on Doug Stanton's non-fiction book Horse Soldiers, which tells the story of U.S. Army Special Forces sent to Afghanistan immediately after the September 11 attacks. The bourbon is produced and distributed by American Freedom Distillery (AFD), located in St. Petersburg, Florida. Reviewed in the United States on May 11, 2019. Dostum wanted to take only four personnel from the ODA to his mountain HQ, by horseback, but finally agreed to take six personnel. The film stars Chris Hemsworth, Michael Shannon, Michael Peña, Navid Negahban, Trevante Rhodes, Geoff Stults, Tha… The OGA, ODA and NA leadership then sat down on a carpeted mound inside the compound for an hour long discussion. As depicted in the movie, Nutsch previously had been the Captain of the detachment but had been reassigned to a staff position. This is a complete story, that there was not enough time or money to get it on the big screen. Instead, our system considers things like how recent a review is and if the reviewer bought the item on Amazon. A plan to go in country then was approved, and in less than month, the 12-man team of ODA 595 headed to Uzbekistan on the morning of October 5, 2001. On October 7, 2001, ODA 595 arrived in Karchi-Khanabad (K2) Airfield, Uzbekistan. Today, AFD handcrafts this American product with the same sense of mission, training, and honor. The mission was to begin on October 17, but due to weather delays, it did not begin until October 19, on which date the team headed to HLZ ALBATROSS, Base Camp Alamo, which was located approximately 50 miles southeast of Mazar-e Sharif (MES), in northern Afghanistan, approximately 2 miles south of the village of Dehi. In response to the September 11, 2001 attacks, the elite U.S. Special Forces unit, Operational Detachment-Alpha 595 (ODA 595 for short), was one of three teams of Special Forces soldiers sent into Afghanistan. The Detachment alone called in more than 300 sorties which was reported as an astounding number for the time frame they were on the ground. Well wot=Ruth the read to understand Afghanistan in the early days of Us activity. After viewing product detail pages, look here to find an easy way to navigate back to pages you are interested in. If you want to have insight into a group of guys fighting the Tailiban and surviving living in the mountains of Afghanistan this is it. The resulting CAS strike effectively opened the pass, allowing friendly forces to continue pushing north towards the city of MES the following day. Learn how your comment data is processed. In the afternoon, when I visit the 1985 fort called “Qala i Jangi” or Fort of the Soldiers, bullets sing over my head. While not the conventional writing style Doug Stanton get you from the first chapter. Unable to add item to List. At the same time establishing clear communications with command elements, employing a B-52 sortie, and destroying the heavily armed enemy. These guys are real heroes. On several occasions, he told Nutsch the following: “500 of my men can be killed, but not one American can even be injured or you will leave.” By continually demonstrating U.S. commitment to his NA forces, eventually this barrier was broken. The movie is a bit on a compilation of events to add even more drama to a very dramatic event but he book breaks it down and introduces you to character you don't meet in the movie or meet as a compost. This was due to the logistical support of transportation assets. Unofficially known as the Horse Soldier Statue, it is the first publicly accessible monument dedicated to the United States Special Forces. The fiercest fighting/bombing for the detachment and NA, would take place November 5-10. Previously published as Horse Soldiers, 12 Strong is the dramatic account of a small band of Special Forces soldiers who secretly entered Afghanistan following 9/11 and rode to war on horses against the Taliban. Horse soldiers delivers on so many fronts that it's hard to review in short form. Preferably in that order. On November 9, the Kuh-E-Al Borz Pass towards the city of MES came under heavy and accurate Taliban BM-21 MRL and artillery strike. The soldiers on horses combined ancient strategies of cavalry warfare with twenty-first-century aerial bombardment technology to perform a seemingly impossible … These strikes on this key choke point effectively stopped the NA advance as troops became scattered into the caves and rocks in an effort to seek cover. After completing a detailed talk-on of the pilot to the target, the 4 MK-83 bombs successfully impacted the target, without any collateral damage or fratricide to civilian or friendly personnel who were in dangerously close proximity to the targets. ODA 595’s original mission was to rescue downed American pilots, but that mission was assumed by the U.S. Air Force Special Tactics Squadron. Some gear was cut to remain with Bravo Team which would stay behind at the base camp until more horses could be obtained. Horse soldiers delivers on so many fronts that it's hard to review in short form. Then you can start reading Kindle books on your smartphone, tablet, or computer - no Kindle device required. A joke between Dostum and the ODA was that detachment members were humanitarian aid workers sent there to help him hand out “lead” to the Taliban. Please try again. With only six members of the ODA and the small security force to secure the urgently-needed supply drops at night, these aerial drops were a significant challenge. On October 23, the Bravo Team moved from Dehi up the mountain by horseback to linkup with the Alpha Team near Dostum’s mountain CP. I am now inspired to buy and read the book at my earliest opportunity. These specialists began preparations for deployment immediately upon news of the 9/11 attacks, and before our government and top military strategists identified our initial response. This ability to call in CAS was the best rapport builder the team could demonstrate to Dostum. Kansas farmboy Mark Nutsch, a U.S. Army special operations officer, was chosen to lead the first unit to go into Afghanistan in response to the 9-11 bombings back in 2001. The ODA with Dostum at the helm brought three separate factions together to fight a common enemy. The ODA traveled by horses (primarily), ATVs, NTVs, and also by foot. The Taliban was demonstrating their tenacity and will to fight against the NA with their armor, air defense assets, artillery, mortars, and small arms. Charles E. Rittenburg, Major, M.I., USAR, ret. The introductions and translation for this initial meeting was conducted by the Other Government Agency (OGA) team leader, as he was fluent in Dari. Nutsch would command the Alpha Team, consisting of himself, SFC Andy, SFC Bennett, SFC Vince, SFC Steve, and SSG Pete. Scribner; Illustrated edition (May 11, 2010), Author Doug Stanton Introduces His New Book Horse Soldiers, Reviewed in the United States on July 27, 2018. By now the detachment had decentralized into four, 3-man cells and a 2-man HQ cell. Legendary Men, Legendary Spirits. The above excerpt is a digitally scanned reproduction of text from print. It was also the first monument near Ground Zero to recognize heroes of the September 11 terrorist attacks. You're listening to a sample of the Audible audio edition. There would be other skirmishes the detachment would face in the coming weeks. The above is an excerpt from the book Horse Soldiers: The Extraordinary Story of a Band of US Soldiers Who Rode to Victory in Afghanistan by Doug Stanton. An amazing book-gripping and exciting as any fiction, Reviewed in the United Kingdom on December 20, 2016. Initially the team had to call CAS from a distance of 8-10 kilometers from the targets, looking across the Darya Suf Gorge. The three-hour plus flight was executed by the Army’s elite Special Operations Aviation Regiment, Task Force 160. The Alpha Team split into two three-man teams (Tiger 02 and Tiger-02A) performing separate missions. From October 20 to 24, the ODA operated in this split team manner, executing operations de-centrally. Reviewed in the United Kingdom on February 14, 2014. Were the Horse Soldiers really the first U.S. troops to be sent to Afghanistan after 9/11? This is a real page turner that you can't put down, because it happened. Once at the HQ they were unable to move again as Dostum logistically could not support them with food, water, horseback or pack animals. Website Our "first responders" were a small group of CIA paramilitary guys and another small group of carefully selected, specialists from among our Special Forces. Assigning his own trusted bodyguards as the team member’s personal bodyguards and sending a small security force of his troops wherever they traveled. A must read for anyone interested in the conflict, Afghan culture or military history. They immediately headed back to Ft. Campbell. Learn about our team’s historical journey, including past efforts, latest adventures, and the exciting path forward! America's Response Monument, subtitled De Oppresso Liber, is a life-and-a-half scale bronze statue in Liberty Park overlooking the National September 11 Memorial & Museum in New York City. The mere presence of these Special Forces soldiers motivated the NA commanders and troops in such a manner as to pick up their weapons, mount their horses or move by foot from cover onto the road and follow the Americans through the pass, where they quickly determined the enemy situation and immediately plotted their positions. The first CAS missions were conducted on October 21. WOW...what a book! Amazing story told in great detail, No comparison to the movie 12 strong Book is way better, Reviewed in the United States on February 22, 2018. The statue was conceived by sculptor D… But what a great achievement it was for America, after 9-11, to militarily defeat and remove from power the extremist government which had shielded and aided Al Queda in its terrorist campaign to kill Americans around the world. Their subsequent deployment represents the first time a U.S. response in war time was led by Special Forces. Chris Spence, the team’s communication sergeant, who … Alpha Team would continue to build rapport, conduct the area assessment, and call Close Air Support (CAS). On November 10, under cover of darkness with all cells in positon for the upcoming early morning attack, Tiger 02B (Pennington, Vince and Stephen) surveyed, reported and serviced an aerial resupply drop that landed 1,000 meters off its target into a suspected minefield. I was able to hear the whole thing on one long car trip, and it kept me rivetted the whole time. These night drops became increasingly dangerous, as hundreds of local Afghan civilians would overwhelm the drop zones (DZ), on each occasion, taking urgently needed supplies and randomly firing shots across the DZs. Over a two-day period, from October 20 to 21, Nutsch was able to convince Dostum that the bombings would be more effective if the team could closer to the enemy. The American-born Taliban fighter Lindh, trained alongside of Al-Qaida terrorists.

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