Synopses & Reviews
An iconic symbol of violent revolution, Ernesto and#147;Cheand#8221; Guevera has gone down in history as one of the most feared revolutionaries of the late twentieth century. But until now, details of his capture and execution have been told with a sympatheticand#160;eye toward the icon. Using government reports, documents, and eyewitness accounts, Hunting Che reveals how the Green Berets trained Bolivian soldiers in the spring and summer of 1967 to hunt the legendary revolutionary who was hiding in the mountainous jungles of the South American country. A sweeping narrative, Hunting Che tells the untold story of one of the first truly successful U.S. Special Forces missions in historyand#151;a mission later duplicated in Afghanistan and Iraq.
By the mid-1960s, Guevera had become famous for his outspoken criticism of the United States and his support for armed Communist insurgencies. He had been one of the architects of the Cuban Revolution, and was attempting to repeat his success throughout Latin America. His guerrilla tactics and talent for proselytizing made him a threat to American foreign policyand#151;and when he turned his attention to Bolivia in 1967, the Pentagon made a decision: Che had to be eliminated.
Major Ralph and#147;Pappyand#8221; Shelton was called upon to lead the mission to train the Bolivians. With a hand-picked team of specialists, his first task was to transform a ragtag group of peasants into a trained fighting force who could also gather intelligence. Gary Prado, a Bolivian officer, volunteered to join the newly formed Bolivian Rangers. Joined by Felix Rodriguez, a Cuban exile working for the CIA, the Americans and Bolivians searched for Che. The size of Cheand#8217;s group and when they would strike were unknowns, and the stakes were high. If Bolivia fell, it would validate Cheand#8217;s theories and throw South America into turmoil.
Hunting Che follows the exploits of Major Shelton, Felix Rodriguez, and Gary Pradoand#151;the Bolivian Ranger commander who ultimately captured him. The story begins with Cheand#8217;s arrival in Bolivia and follows the hunt to the dramatic confrontation and capture of the iconic leader in the southeastern village of La Higuera. With the White House and the Pentagon secretly monitoring every move, Shelton and his team changed history, and prevented a catastrophic threat from taking root in the West.
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Review
Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Weiss and Maurer (coauthor, Lions of Kandahar: The Story of a Fight Against All Odds)--who in the past five years has embedded six times with the U.S. Special Forces in Afghanistan--detail the team's ill-fated 2008 mission in eastern Afghanistan's Shok Valley, a place "isolated and surrounded by a wall of mountains." The soldiers had been tasked to capture Haji Ghafour, a high-ranking commander of an extreme militant group. Through interviews with the men involved, the authors provide captivating individual perspectives on the undertaking. Captain Kyle Walton believed the assignment was flawed from the beginning; the authors write that "Not only did the basic tactical plan of attacking up a mountain not work, but it was unclear how they would evacuate casualties." Staff Sergeant John Wayne Walding--who had joined the army just months before 9/11 for "a job where you can ‘lay down your head at night and be proud of it'"--would ultimately lose part of his leg. It was his first and last deployment with Special Forces. Like many of the men in his unit (also profiled in the book) Walding would be honored with a Silver Star. In this compelling, multi-dimensional account, Weiss and Maurer remind us of the extraordinary risks soldiers take and the sacrifices they make every day both for their country, and for each other. B&W Photos & maps. (Mar.)
Review
Take a post-9/11 version of Black Hawk Down, put it in the hands of two gifted writers like Mitch Weiss and Kevin Maurer and here’s what you get: an adrenaline-fueled narrative that will forever enhance your appreciation of U.S. Special Forces. What’s it like to fight an ill-conceived mission against well-trained insurgents who command the high ground? What’s it like to lower colleagues with life-threatening bullet wounds down an Afghan cliff? With meticulous reporting and powerful writing, Weiss and Maurer put us there. It’s a must-read for anyone who wants to know how modern battles are fought – and how they should be.
Review
It was simultaneously fascinating and disturbing, and an adrenaline rush to hear it first-hand from the operator's perspective... They are fiercely loyal to each other and our nation, and offer the enemy no quarter when the bullets start flying. You have captured all these with your words. Combat vets will read it and "get it" right away. Americans who have no connection with such men of valor ought to read it to understand what intense combat can be like.
Review
and#8220;This story brings to life the unique men who form the ranks of the Green Berets and the Herculean tasks they must accomplish.and#8221;and#8212;Rusty Bradley, author of
Lions of Kandahar
and#8220;[A] powerful look at Special Forces and the daily grind of tracking down the Taliban, terrorists, and other bad guys in Afghanistan.and#8221; and#8212;Mitch Weiss, Pulitzer Prizeand#8211;winning journalist and critically acclaimed author of Tiger Force and No Way Out
and#8220;Humorous, stark, and honest, Gentlemen Bastards shows the reality of the war in Afghanistan.and#8221; and#8212;Nathan Edmondson, author of The Activity
Review
andldquo;This story brings to life the unique men who form the ranks of the Green Berets and the Herculean tasks they must accomplish day in and day out, month after month, year after year.andrdquo; andmdash;Rusty Bradley, author of
Lions of Kandahar
andldquo;[A] powerful look at Special Forces and the daily grind of tracking down the Taliban, terrorists, and other bad guys in Afghanistan. Maurer . . . skillfully weaves it all into a compelling narrative.andrdquo; andmdash;Mitch Weiss, Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist and critically acclaimed author of Tiger Force and No Way Out
andnbsp;
andldquo;A true and refreshing narrative . . . Humorous, stark, and honest, Gentlemen Bastards shows the reality of the War in Afghanistan and proves that true, unbiased journalism is still alive.andrdquo;andmdash;Nathan Edmondson, author of The Activity
andnbsp;
andldquo;An authentic insiderandrsquo;s account . . . This is a compelling book.andrdquo;andmdash;David Zucchino, Pulitzer Prize winner and author of Thunder Run
andldquo;Maurer captures the humor of the Green Berets even while keeping his own self-deprecating, smart-ass-reporter, along-for-the-ride sensibility.andrdquo;andmdash;Kelly Kennedy, author of They Fought for Each Other
Review
Praise for No Way Out and#160;
and#8220;An adrenaline-fueled narrative that will forever enhance your appreciation of U.S. Special Forces.and#8221;and#8212;Ames Alexander, award-winning investigative reporter with the Charlotte Observer
and#160;
and#8220;A powerful portrait of the men who fought to save each other from certain death.and#8221;and#8212;Michael D. Sallah, investigative reporter for the Miami Herald and winner of the Pulitzer Prize for Investigative Reporting
and#160;
and#8220;A front-row seat to one of the most dangerous and illand#8211;conceived battles of Afghanistan.and#8221;and#8212;Joe Mahr, Pulitzer Prize-winning investigative reporter
Review
“This story brings to life the unique men who form the ranks of the Green Berets and the Herculean tasks they must accomplish.”—Rusty Bradley, author of
Lions of Kandahar
“[A] powerful look at Special Forces and the daily grind of tracking down the Taliban, terrorists, and other bad guys in Afghanistan.” —Mitch Weiss, Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist and critically acclaimed author of Tiger Force and No Way Out
“Humorous, stark, and honest, Gentlemen Bastards shows the reality of the war in Afghanistan.” —Nathan Edmondson, author of The Activity
Review
and#8220;This story brings to life the unique men who form the ranks of the Green Berets and the Herculean tasks they must accomplish.and#8221;and#8212;Rusty Bradley, author of
Lions of Kandahar
and#8220;[A] powerful look at Special Forces and the daily grind of tracking down the Taliban, terrorists, and other bad guys in Afghanistan.and#8221; and#8212;Mitch Weiss, Pulitzer Prizeand#8211;winning journalist and critically acclaimed author of Tiger Force and No Way Out
and#8220;Humorous, stark, and honest, Gentlemen Bastards shows the reality of the war in Afghanistan.and#8221; and#8212;Nathan Edmondson, author of The Activity
Review
"This is the real storyand#8212;extremely well toldand#8212;of the unraveling of a guerrilla force and the patient and heroic team work of the men who brought down the iconic myth."and#8212;Enrique Encinosa, author ofand#160;Unvanquished: Cuba's Resistance to Fidel Castro
"Weiss and Maurer have done it again...With memorable characters, rich detail and a fast-moving narrative, they bring us deep into the Bolivian jungle - and into a riveting story you will not want to miss."and#160;and#8212;Ames Alexander, award-winning investigative reporter with theand#160;Charlotte Observer
"Hunting Che provides a powerful portrait of an iconic revolutionary who fell prey to his own ego and passions and a US blacks ops team hellbent on his capture -- and death."and#8212;Michael Sallah, Pulitzer Prize-winning reporter forand#160;The Washington Post
and#8220;Veteran journalists Mitch Weiss and Kevin Maurer have tag-teamed on another nail-biterand#8230;They shed light on an importantand#8212;largely misunderstoodand#8212;operation with fairness, objectivity, and candor.and#8221;and#8212;Tom Henry, Toledo-based writer and book reviewer
Synopsis
It seemed like an impossible mission right from the start.
A Special Forces team planned to land in an enemy-held valley, scale a steep mountain in Afghanistan to surprise and capture a terrorist leader.
But before they found the target, the target found them...
The team was caught in a deadly ambush that not only threatened their lives, but the entire mission. The elite soldiers fought for hours, huddled on a small rock ledge as rocket-propelled grenades and heavy machine gun fire rained down on them. With total disregard for their own safety, they tended to their wounded and kept fighting to stay alive.
When the battle finally ended, ten soldiers had earned Silver Stars- the Army's third highest award for combat valor. It was the most Silver Stars awarded to any unit in one battle since Vietnam.
Based on dozens of interviews with those who were there, No Way Out is a compelling narrative of an epic battle that not only tested the soldiers' mettle but serves as a cautionary tale: Be careful what you ask a soldier to do because they will die trying to accomplish their mission.
Synopsis
A hard-fighting soldier's story-from the trenches of America's first battle in the Cold War. From the devastating counterattack at Unsan to the thirty-four months he spent in captivity-a period of years in which giving up surely meant dying-Col. Bill Richardson's instinct for leadership and stubborn will to survive saw him through one valley of death after the next. Valleys of Death is a stirring story of survival and determination that offers a fascinating, intimate look at the soldiers who fought America's first battle of the Cold War in the unvarnished words of one of their own. Richardson endured many long months of starvation, torture, sleep deprivation, and Chinese attempts at indoctrination, yet maintained defiance under conditions designed to break the mind, body, and spirit of men.
Synopsis
"Richardson never pulls his punches in these vivid descriptions." --Publishers Weekly
Caught in the Chinese counterattack at Unsan-one of the deadliest American battles of the Cold War Era-Colonel Bill Richardson led an Alamo like defense of the few survivors before being taken prisoner. The North Koreans marched them through sub-zero weather without food, shelter, or medical attention to the area known as Death Valley. Enduring torture designed to break the mind and body, Richardson remained strong enough to lead his fellow prisoners in resistance, sabotage, and new plans for escape.
Valleys of Death is a stirring story of survival and determination, an intimate look at the soldiers who fought America's first battle of the cold war in the unvarnished words of one of their own.
Synopsis
The Green Beretsandmdash;a legendary corps of soldiers whose exploits made military history. But now, their very identity and role as a fighting force may be forever changedandhellip;
Until the war in Iraq, Special Forces were the militaryandrsquo;s counterinsurgency experts. Their specialty was going behind enemy lines and training insurgent forces. In Afghanistan, they toppled the Taliban by transforming Northern Alliance fighters into cohesive units.
But in the almost nine years since, Special Forces units have forgone their previous mission, instead focusing on offensive raids. With time running short, the Green Berets are going back to their roots and have started to focus on training Afghan security forces and building an Afghan government one village at a time.
Award-winning journalist Kevin Maurer traveled with a Special Forces team in Afghanistan, finding out first hand the inside story of the lives of this elite group of highly trained soldiers. He witnessed the intense brotherhood built upon the Special Forcesandrsquo; rigorous selection process and arduous training that makes them the smartest soldiers on the battlefield. He also discovered the boredom of chasing an elusive enemy and managing third world cops and the infighting between teammates and other units.
Nine years after the start of the Afghan war, Maurer delivers a compelling account of modern warfare and of a fighting force that is doing everything in its power to achieve victory on a complex twenty-first century battlefield.
Synopsis
The Green Beretsandmdash;a legendary corps of soldiers whose exploits made military history. But now, their very identity and role as a fighting force may be forever changedandhellip;
Until the war in Iraq, Special Forces were the militaryandrsquo;s counterinsurgency experts. Their specialty was going behind enemy lines and training insurgent forces. In Afghanistan, they toppled the Taliban by transforming Northern Alliance fighters into cohesive units.
But in the almost nine years since, Special Forces units have forgone their previous mission, instead focusing on offensive raids. With time running short, the Green Berets are going back to their roots and have started to focus on training Afghan security forces and building an Afghan government one village at a time.
Award-winning journalist Kevin Maurer travelled with a Special Forces team in Afghanistan, finding out first hand the inside story of the lives of this elite group of highly trained soldiers. He witnessed the intense brotherhood built upon the Special Forcesandrsquo; rigorous selection process and arduous training that makes them the smartest soldiers on the battlefield. He also discovered the boredom of chasing an elusive enemy and managing third world cops and the infighting between teammates and other units.
Nine years after the start of the Afghan war, Maurer delivers a compelling account of modern warfare and of a fighting force that is doing everything in its power to achieve victory on a complex twenty-first century battlefield.
Synopsis
A hard-fighting soldier's story-from the trenches of America's first battle in the Cold War. From the devastating counterattack at Unsan to the thirty-four months he spent in captivity-a period of years in which giving up surely meant dying-Col. Bill Richardson's instinct for leadership and stubborn will to survive saw him through one valley of death after the next. Valleys of Death is a stirring story of survival and determination that offers a fascinating, intimate look at the soldiers who fought America's first battle of the Cold War in the unvarnished words of one of their own. Richardson endured many long months of starvation, torture, sleep deprivation, and Chinese attempts at indoctrination, yet maintained defiance under conditions designed to break the mind, body, and spirit of men.
Synopsis
The Green Beretsa legendary corps of soldiers whose exploits made military history. But now, its very identity and role as a fighting force may be forever changed . . . Until the war in Iraq, Special Forces were the militarys counterinsurgency experts. Their specialty was going behind enemy lines and training insurgent forces. In Afghanistan, they toppled the Taliban by transforming Northern Alliance fighters into cohesive units. But since that time, Special Forces units have focused on offensive raids.
With time running short, the Green Berets have now gone back to their roots.
Award-winning journalist Kevin Maurer traveled with a Special Forces team in Afghanistan, finding out firsthand the inside story of the lives of this elite group of highly trained soldiers. He witnessed the intense brotherhood, the rigorous selection process, and the arduous training that makes them the best on the battlefield. Here, Maurer delivers a compelling account of modern warfare and of a fighting force that is doing everything in its power to achieve victory.
Synopsis
The Green Beretsand#151;a legendary corps of soldiers whose exploits made military history. But now, its very identity and role as a fighting force may be forever changed . . . Until the war in Iraq, Special Forces were the militaryand#8217;s counterinsurgency experts. Their specialty was going behind enemy lines and training insurgent forces. In Afghanistan, they toppled the Taliban by transforming Northern Alliance fighters into cohesive units. But since that time, Special Forces units have focused on offensive raids.
With time running short, the Green Berets have now gone back to their roots.
Award-winning journalist Kevin Maurer traveled with a Special Forces team in Afghanistan, finding out firsthand the inside story of the lives of this elite group of highly trained soldiers. He witnessed the intense brotherhood, the rigorous selection process, and the arduous training that makes them the best on the battlefield. Here, Maurer delivers a compelling account of modern warfare and of a fighting force that is doing everything in its power to achieve victory.
About the Author
Mitch Weiss is a Pulitzer Prize-winning investigative journalist for the Associated Press. In 2003, he was assigned to an investigative series that uncovered the longest string of atrocities carried out by a U.S. fighting unit in the Vietnam War. In recognition of the series and#147;Buried Secrets, Brutal Truths,and#8221; which led to an investigation by the Pentagon, he was awarded the 2004 Pulitzer Prize for Investigative Reporting. Weiss currently works for the AP on investigative projects, and an investigative series he wrote about corrupt real estate appraisers won several national awards in 2009. He also was part of a team of AP reporters that won a George Polk Award in 2010 for their coverage of the British Petroleum oil-spill disaster in the Gulf of Mexico.
and#160;
Kevin Maurer has covered special operations forces for eight years. He has been embedded with the U.S. Special Forces in Afghanistan six times in the last five years and spent ten weeks with a team of Green Berets in Afghanistan in 2010. He has been embedded with American soldiers in Iraq, East Africa, and Haiti. The author of four books, he cowrote a memoir of a Korean War veteran and a book about the 2006 Battle of Sperwan Ghar.