Roberts Ridge: A Story of Courage and Sacrifice on Takur Ghar Mountain, Afghanistan

265 Pages·2006·1.27 MB·English

by  Malcolm MacPherson

Contents
Title Page
Dedication
Epigraph
A Note To The Reader
Maps
Prologue
Part I
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Part II
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Part III
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Part IV
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Part V
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Part VI
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Part VII
Chapter 1
Afterword
Executive Summary
Notes
Sources
Method
Acknowledgments
About the Author
Also by Malcolm MacPherson
Copyright Page
DEDICATION
Spc. Marc A. Anderson, 30, Company A, 1st Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment, Brandon, Florida; Bronze
Star with V Device, Purple Heart Tech. Sgt. John A. Chapman, 36, 24th Special Tactics Squadron, Waco,
Texas; Air Force Cross, Purple Heart Cpl. Matthew A. Commons, 21, Company A, 1st Battalion, 75th
Ranger Regiment, Boulder City, Nevada; Bronze Star with V Device, Purple Heart Sgt. Bradley S. Crose,
27, Company A, 1st Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment, Orange Park, Florida; Bronze Star with V Device,
Purple Heart Senior Airman Jason D. Cunningham, 26, 38th Rescue Squadron, Camarillo, California;
Air Force Cross, Purple Heart Petty Officer 1st Class Neil C. Roberts, 32, Naval Special Warfare
Development Group, Woodland, California; Silver Star, Purple Heart Sgt. Philip J. Svitak, 31, Company
A, 2nd Battalion, 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment, Neosho, Missouri; Bronze Star with V
Device, Purple Heart Sic itur ad astra
These men went into battle with the comfort of knowing that should they die,
their children, of whom there are eight, would have their college educations paid
for, when the time came. The Special Operations Warriors Foundation was set
up more than twenty years ago to provide this support, based on need, to the
children of Special Operations personnel who are killed in operational missions
or training accidents. Today, more than five hundred children are eligible, with
nearly one hundred of them receiving assistance between 2003 and 2010; the
Foundation's estimated financial need through 2010 is $34 million. The author is
contributing a portion of the proceeds of this book to the foundation, which can
be reached for tax-deductible contributions at: SPECIAL OPERATIONS
WARRIORS FOUNDATION, P.O. Box 14385, Tampa, FL 33690.
I wouldnt leave you and you wouldnt leave me. That aint no argument.
—Cormac McCarthy, All the Pretty Horses
I'm not trying to be a hero. If you think I like this, you're crazy.
—Will Kane (Gary Cooper) in High Noon
A NOTE TO THE READER
The following story is true. It takes place over 17 hours.