Horse soldiers : the extraordinary story of a band of U.S. soldiers who rode to victory in Afghanistan

From the New York Times -bestselling author of In Harm's Way comes a true-life story of American soldiers overcoming great odds to achieve a stunning military victory. 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. Outnumbered forty to one, they pursued the enemy across mountainous terrain and, after a series of intense battles, captured the city of Mazar-i-Sharif, which was strategically essential if they were to defeat the Taliban. The bone-weary American soldiers were welcomed as liberators, and overjoyed Afghans thronged the streets. Then the action took a wholly unexpected turn. During a surrender of six hundred Taliban troops, the Horse Soldiers were ambushed. Dangerously outnumbered, they fought for their lives in the city's immense fortress, Qala-i-Janghi, or the House of War. At risk were the military gains of the entire campaign: if the soldiers perished or were captured, the effort to defeat the Taliban might be doomed. As the Americans struggled to hold the fortress, they faced some of the most intense urban warfare of our time. But until now the full story of the Horse Soldiers has never been told. Doug Stanton received unprecedented cooperation from the U.S. Army's Special Forces soldiers and Special Operations helicopter pilots, as well as access to voluminous after-battle reports. In addition, he interviewed more than one hundred participants and walked every inch of the climactic battleground. This exciting story is filled with unforgettable characters: brave Special Forces soldiers, tough CIA operatives, cunning Afghan warlords, anxious stateside soldiers' wives who do not know where their husbands have gone, and humble Afghan boys spying on the Taliban. Deeply researched and beautifully written, Stanton's account of America's quest to liberate an oppressed people touches the mythic. The Horse Soldiers combined ancient strategies of cavalry warfare with twenty-first-century aerial bombardment technology to perform a seemingly impossible feat. Moreover, their careful effort to win the hearts of local townspeople and avoid civilian casualties proved a valuable lesson for America's ongoing efforts in Afghanistan. Horse Soldiers is a big-hearted and thrilling read, with an epic story that reaches not just across the cold mountains of Afghanistan but into the homes of small-town America, and confirms Doug Stanton as one of our country's preeminent storytellers.

from The new York Times-bestselling Author Of In harm's Way Comes A True-life Story Of American Soldiers Overcoming Great Odds To Achieve A Stunning Military Victory.

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. Outnumbered Forty To One, They Pursued The Enemy Across Mountainous Terrain And, After A Series Of Intense Battles, Captured The City Of Mazar-i-sharif, Which Was Strategically Essential If They Were To Defeat The Taliban.

the Bone-weary American Soldiers Were Welcomed As Liberators, And Overjoyed Afghans Thronged The Streets. Then The Action Took A Wholly Unexpected Turn. During A Surrender Of Six Hundred Taliban Troops, The Horse Soldiers Were Ambushed. Dangerously Outnumbered, They Fought For Their Lives In The City's Immense Fortress, Qala-i-janghi, Or The House Of War. At Risk Were The Military Gains Of The Entire Campaign: If The Soldiers Perished Or Were Captured, The Effort To Defeat The Taliban Might Be Doomed.

as The Americans Struggled To Hold The Fortress, They Faced Some Of The Most Intense Urban Warfare Of Our Time. But Until Now The Full Story Of The Horse Soldiers Has Never Been Told. Doug Stanton Received Unprecedented Cooperation From The U.s. Army's Special Forces Soldiers And Special Operations Helicopter Pilots, As Well As Access To Voluminous After-battle Reports. In Addition, He Interviewed More Than One Hundred Participants And Walked Every Inch Of The Climactic Battleground.

this Exciting Story Is Filled With Unforgettable Characters: Brave Special Forces Soldiers, Tough Ciaoperatives, Cunning Afghan Warlords, Anxious Stateside Soldiers' Wives Who Do Not Know Where Their Husbands Have Gone, And Humble Afghan Boys Spying On The Taliban.

deeply Researched And Beautifully Written, Stanton's Account Of America's Quest To Liberate An Oppressed People Touches The Mythic. The Horse Soldiers Combined Ancient Strategies Of Cavalry Warfare With Twenty-first-century Aerial Bombardment Technology To Perform A Seemingly Impossible Feat. Moreover, Their Careful Effort To Win The Hearts Of Local Townspeople And Avoid Civilian Casualties Proved A Valuable Lesson For America's Ongoing Efforts In Afghanistan.

horse Soldiers Is A Big-hearted And Thrilling Read, With An Epic Story That Reaches Not Just Across The Cold Mountains Of Afghanistan But Into The Homes Of Small-town America, And Confirms Doug Stanton As One Of Our Country's Preeminent Storytellers.

the New York Times - Bruce Barcott

…rousing, Uplifting…for Those Who Like Their Military History Told Through The Eyes Of Heroic Grunts, Sergeants And Captains. Think Of Stephen E. Ambrose's band Of Brothers Or Stanton S Own Best Seller, in Harm's Way…stanton Packs A Huge Amount Of Research Into A Thrilling Action Ride Of A Book. The Valor Exhibited By Afghan And American Soldiers, Fighting To Free Afghanistan From A Horribly Cruel Regime, Will Inspire Even The Most Jaded Reader. The Stunning Victory Of The Horse Soldiers—350 Special Forces Soldiers, 100 C.i.a. Officers And 15,000 Northern Alliance Fighters Routing A Taliban Army 50,000 Strong—deserves A Hallowed Place In American Military History.

"A thrilling action ride of a book" (The New York Times Book Review)?from Jerry Bruckheimer in theaters everywhere January 19, 2018?the New York Times bestselling, true-life account of a US Special Forces team deployed to dangerous, war-ridden Afghanistan in the weeks following 9/11. 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. Outnumbered forty to one, they pursued the enemy army across the mountainous Afghanistan terrain and, after a series of intense battles, captured the city of Mazar-i-Sharif. The bone-weary American soldiers were welcomed as liberators as they rode into the city. Then the action took a wholly unexpected turn. During a surrender of six hundred Taliban troops, the Horse Soldiers were ambushed by the would-be POWs. Dangerously overpowered, they fought for their lives in the city's immense fortress, Qala-i-Janghi, or the House of War. At risk were the military gains of the entire campaign: if the soldiers perished or were captured, the entire effort to outmaneuver the Taliban was likely doomed. "A riveting story of the brave and resourceful American warriors who rode into Afghanistan after 9/11 and waged war against Al Qaeda" (Tom Brokaw), Doug Stanton's account touches the mythic. The soldiers on horses combined ancient strategies of cavalry warfare with twenty-first-century aerial bombardment technology to perform a seemingly impossible feat. Moreover, their careful effort to win the hearts of local townspeople proved a valuable lesson for America's ongoing efforts in Afghanistan. With "spellbinding ... action packed prose ... The book reads more like a novel than a military history ... the Horse Soldier's secret mission remains the US military's finest moment in what has since arguably been a muddled war" (USA TODAY) The inspiration for the major motion picture 12 Strong from Jerry Bruckheimer, starring Chris Hemsworth and Michael Shannon. From the New York Times bestselling author of In Harm’s Way comes a true-life story of American soldiers overcoming great odds to achieve a stunning military victory. 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. Outnumbered forty to one, they pursued the enemy army across the mountainous Afghanistan terrain and, after a series of intense battles, captured the city of Mazar-i-Sharif, which was strategically essential to defeat their opponent throughout the country. The bone-weary American soldiers were welcomed as liberators as they rode into the city, and the streets thronged with Afghans overjoyed that the Taliban regime had been overthrown. Then the action took a wholly unexpected turn. During a surrender of six hundred Taliban troops, the Horse Soldiers were ambushed by the would-be POWs. Dangerously overpowered, they fought for their lives in the city’s immense fortress, Qala-i-Janghi, or the House of War. At risk were the military gains of the entire campaign: if the soldiers perished or were captured, the entire effort to outmaneuver the Taliban was likely doomed. Deeply researched and beautifully written, Stanton’s account of the Americans’ quest to liberate an oppressed people touches the mythic. The soldiers on horses combined ancient strategies of cavalry warfare with twenty-first-century aerial bombardment technology to perform a seemingly impossible feat. Moreover, their careful effort to win the hearts of local townspeople proved a valuable lesson for America’s ongoing efforts in Afghanistan. Now a major motion picture from Jerry Bruckheimer starring Chris Hemsworth and Michael Shannon! "A thrilling action ride of a book" ( The New York Times Book Review )—the New York Times bestselling, true-life account of a US Special Forces team deployed to dangerous, war-ridden Afghanistan in the weeks following 9/11. In the weeks following the attacks of September 11, a small band of Special Forces soldiers secretly entered Afghanistan. Riding on horseback, they pursued the Taliban over the stark and mountainous Afghanistan terrain. After a series of intense battles, they captured the strategically essential city of Mazar-i-Sharif. The bone-weary American soldiers were welcomed as liberators as they rode into the city, and the streets thronged with Afghans overjoyed that the Taliban regime had been overthrown. Then the action took a wholly unexpected turn. During a surrender of six hundred Taliban troops, the Horse Soldiers were ambushed by the would-be POWs. Dangerously overpowered, they fought for their lives in the city's immense fortress, Qala-i-Jangi, or the House of War. At risk were the military gains of the entire campaign: if the soldiers perished or were captured, the entire effort to outmaneuver the Taliban was likely doomed. Previously published as Horse Soldiers , 12 Strong "is not just a battle story—it's also about the home front. An important book" (the TODAY show). A thrilling, inspiring tale of a group of men on horses who did the impossible and an incredible account of real life bravery and heroism in the face of insurmountable odds. A 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. The bone-weary American soldiers were welcomed as liberators, and overjoyed Afghans thronged the streets. Then the action took a wholly unexpected turn. During a surrender of six hundred Taliban troops, the Horse Soldiers were ambushed. Dangerously outnumbered, they fought for their lives. At risk were the military gains of the entire campaign: if the soldiers perished or were captured, the effort to defeat the Taliban might be doomed. Until now the full story of the Horse Soldiers has never been told. Doug Stanton received unprecedented cooperation from the U.S. Armyś Special Forces soldiers and Special Operations helicopter pilots, as well as access to voluminous after-battle reports. In addition, he interviewed more than one hundred participants and walked every inch of the climactic battleground. Reaching across the cold mountains of Afghanistan and into the homes of small-town America, this book is a big-hearted and thrilling epic story Documents the post-September 11 mission during which a small band of Special Forces soldiers captured the strategic Afghan city of Mazar-e Sharif as part of an effort to defeat the Taliban, in a dramatic account that includes testimonies by Afghanistan citizens whose lives were changed by the war. Key players Prologue: Uprising Part one: Going to war Part two: Horsemen, ride Part three: Danger close Part four: Gates of Mazar Part five: Ambush Epilogue.