Lions of Kandahar: The Story of a Fight Against All Odds
“A raw and authentic war story about untamed Green Berets in action.”—Dalton Fury, New York Times bestselling author of Kill Bin Laden
Southern Afghanistan was slipping away. That was clear to then-Captain Rusty Bradley as he began his third tour of duty there in 2006. The Taliban and their allies were infiltrating everywhere, poised to reclaim Kandahar Province, their strategically vital onetime capital. To stop them, the NATO coalition launched Operation Medusa, the largest offensive in its history. Dispatched as a diversionary force in support of the main coalition attack, Bradley’s Special Forces A-team watched as the NATO force was quickly engulfed in a vicious counterattack. Key to relieving it was possession of Sperwan Ghar, a modest patch of high ground. Bradley’s small detachment assaulted the hill and, in the midst of a savage and unforgettable firefight, soon learned they were facing nearly a thousand seasoned fighters. Now Bradley recounts the whole remarkable story as it actually happened and brings to life the men who impossibly won the day—Americans and Afghans alike—each unique, all indelible in their everyday exercise of extraordinary heroism.
Praise for Lions of Kandahar
“A powerful and gripping account of a battle that helped shape the war in Afghanistan . . . With crisp writing and page-turning action, Lions of Kandahar is one of the best books written about the conflict.”—Mitch Weiss, Pulitzer Prize–winning investigative journalist and co-author of Tiger Force: A True Story of Men and War
“One of the most important documents to emerge from the war in Afghanistan.”—The Seattle Times
“Powerful . . . a riveting account of a strategic battle that doesn’t glorify war or focus on heroic deeds . . . Make room on your military bookshelf for Lions of Kandahar.”—San Antonio Express-News
“Bradley takes the reader into battle.”—Time
Southern Afghanistan was slipping away. That was clear to then-Captain Rusty Bradley as he began his third tour of duty there in 2006. The Taliban and their allies were infiltrating everywhere, poised to reclaim Kandahar Province, their strategically vital onetime capital. To stop them, the NATO coalition launched Operation Medusa, the largest offensive in its history. Dispatched as a diversionary force in support of the main coalition attack, Bradley’s Special Forces A-team watched as the NATO force was quickly engulfed in a vicious counterattack. Key to relieving it was possession of Sperwan Ghar, a modest patch of high ground. Bradley’s small detachment assaulted the hill and, in the midst of a savage and unforgettable firefight, soon learned they were facing nearly a thousand seasoned fighters. Now Bradley recounts the whole remarkable story as it actually happened and brings to life the men who impossibly won the day—Americans and Afghans alike—each unique, all indelible in their everyday exercise of extraordinary heroism.
Praise for Lions of Kandahar
“A powerful and gripping account of a battle that helped shape the war in Afghanistan . . . With crisp writing and page-turning action, Lions of Kandahar is one of the best books written about the conflict.”—Mitch Weiss, Pulitzer Prize–winning investigative journalist and co-author of Tiger Force: A True Story of Men and War
“One of the most important documents to emerge from the war in Afghanistan.”—The Seattle Times
“Powerful . . . a riveting account of a strategic battle that doesn’t glorify war or focus on heroic deeds . . . Make room on your military bookshelf for Lions of Kandahar.”—San Antonio Express-News
“Bradley takes the reader into battle.”—Time
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Community Reviews
This heroic story is worthy of 4-stars, though it's not as compelling as several similar books I've read featuring other Green Beret units in Afghanistan.
However, to the uninitiated, it is absolutely IMPOSSIBLE to follow the entire cast of characters in this book. As I've read a number of similar books, I've taken notes to collect a common glossary, and to create a list of ODA team members. Like most such books, the members of the team are slowly revealed, but only by their first names or nicknames and with reference to their specialty, without rank. We're introduced to "Hodge", one of the other ODA detachment commanders, then the book refers to "David's" team. "Dave" is a Sr. Engineer on ODA 331, so "Dave" and "David" are not the same person, but I can't find any previous reference to a "David" at that point in the book. A typical ODA team has 12 members, with a specific MOS designation for each specialty. This team has no Warrant Officer (WO/CWO). There are normally 2 weapons sergeants and 2 engineers, but I could only find 1 each. There are other "attached" team members, plus other ODA detachments, upper leadership, the Kandahar TOC, and additional call signs up and down the line to keep track of. I was 90% through the book when I was discovering new names I didn't recall seeing previously, wondering where they fit in. I found myself scouring the book for those names, instead of spending time to finish the book. I need the Kindle version so I can properly search through the book.
Books like these need several crucial elements:
- A glossary for all the military acronyms and foreign words (Done; a short glossary is included)
- A consolidated list of battle maps, with a compass heading/indicator (maps were included throughout the book, with no compass)
- An Index (there is none)
- Notes/Footnotes section (where applicable; doesn't exist in this book)
- A list of common characters (badly needed, but it doesn't exist)
- An organizational hierarchy, showing the various units, the command structure, and who reports to who (doesn't exist in this book)
Without the use of ranks, an overview of the units and organizational hierarchy, it's hard to keep to keep the command structure straight, or to know who's in charge.
While I generally prefer the hardcover edition, I'm glad I picked up the paperback version, as it included a new Afterword for the paperback edition. But, maybe the ebook would be better still.
However, to the uninitiated, it is absolutely IMPOSSIBLE to follow the entire cast of characters in this book. As I've read a number of similar books, I've taken notes to collect a common glossary, and to create a list of ODA team members. Like most such books, the members of the team are slowly revealed, but only by their first names or nicknames and with reference to their specialty, without rank. We're introduced to "Hodge", one of the other ODA detachment commanders, then the book refers to "David's" team. "Dave" is a Sr. Engineer on ODA 331, so "Dave" and "David" are not the same person, but I can't find any previous reference to a "David" at that point in the book. A typical ODA team has 12 members, with a specific MOS designation for each specialty. This team has no Warrant Officer (WO/CWO). There are normally 2 weapons sergeants and 2 engineers, but I could only find 1 each. There are other "attached" team members, plus other ODA detachments, upper leadership, the Kandahar TOC, and additional call signs up and down the line to keep track of. I was 90% through the book when I was discovering new names I didn't recall seeing previously, wondering where they fit in. I found myself scouring the book for those names, instead of spending time to finish the book. I need the Kindle version so I can properly search through the book.
Books like these need several crucial elements:
- A glossary for all the military acronyms and foreign words (Done; a short glossary is included)
- A consolidated list of battle maps, with a compass heading/indicator (maps were included throughout the book, with no compass)
- An Index (there is none)
- Notes/Footnotes section (where applicable; doesn't exist in this book)
- A list of common characters (badly needed, but it doesn't exist)
- An organizational hierarchy, showing the various units, the command structure, and who reports to who (doesn't exist in this book)
Without the use of ranks, an overview of the units and organizational hierarchy, it's hard to keep to keep the command structure straight, or to know who's in charge.
While I generally prefer the hardcover edition, I'm glad I picked up the paperback version, as it included a new Afterword for the paperback edition. But, maybe the ebook would be better still.
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