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S1E7 - Horse Soldiers

This is a captivating episode in modern history! Almost 23 years ago, after the attacks of September 11th, 2001, President George W. Bush had to make drastic decisions in response as to who would pay for the deaths of American's on American soil. The fight would be taken to the Taliban and Osama bin Laden in Afghanistan. However, the first men on the ground were not your everyday soldier in army camo, helmet and rifle in hand. Before any large American military force stepped into Afghanistan, paramilitary assets of the CIA and Special Forces conducted operations without anyone knowing. This is their story!

Click the icon to open up the interactive Google Earth while you listen to the episode
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Stanton, D. (2014). Horse soldiers. Simon and Schuster.

Book and Movie Link

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Author Doug Stanton traveled to Afghanistan to write a book about a small band of American soldiers who were sent to liberate the region from the Taliban after 9/11. (Doug Stanton)

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America’s Response Monument located at Ground Zero in New York City.

Map of Horse Soldier's ride from Dehi to Mazar-i-Shariff

Stanton, D. (2014). Horse soldiers. Simon and Schuster. (Pg. 128)

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Figure V-12. 5 November 2001, Battle for the Darya Suf (Source: Enduring Freedom Reconstruction Working Group reconciliation, February 2003.)

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The Siege of Qala-i-Janghi Fortress, Nov 25 - Dec 1, 2001.

Stanton, D. (2014). Horse soldiers. Simon and Schuster. (Pg. 290)

In this documentary posted on YouTube, you can watch the battle at the fortress through the camera lenses of the reporters who were there on the ground during the assault. 

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Figure V-5. GEN Dostum’s Mountain Headquarters—Communications

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Figure V-19. ODA 595 (minus 02C) Rendezvoused on 8 November 2001

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Original Horse Soldiers (Photo by Maj. Melody Faulkenberry)

Episode Sources

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Correll, D. (2022, August 18). How the ‘Horse Soldiers’ helped liberate Afghanistan from the Taliban 18 years ago. Military Times. https://www.militarytimes.com/news/your-military/2019/10/18/how-the-horse-soldiers-helped-liberate-afghanistan-from-the-taliban-18-years-ago/

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First to go: Green Berets remember earliest mission in Afghanistan. (2017, February 9). www.army.mil. https://www.army.mil/article/181582/first_to_go_green_berets_remember_earliest_mission_in_afghanistan

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Knarr, W., Jr., & Frost, J. (2010). Operation Enduring Freedom Battle Reconstruction: Battle site Survey and Ground Force data reconciliation. Institute for Defense Analysis, IDA Document D-4223. https://www.ida.org/-/media/feature/publications/o/op/operation-enduring-freedom-battle-reconstruction-battle-site-survey-and-ground-force-data-reconcilia/ida-document-d-4223.ashx

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Stanton, D. (2014). Horse soldiers. Simon and Schuster.

Book and Movie Link

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