Lions of Kandahar: The Story of a Fight Against All Odds

Rusty Bradley · Kevin Maurer

Jun 2011 · Sold by Bantam

About this ebook

“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

Ratings and reviews

Wonderfully done. Truly defines what our freedom costs. Deepened my respect and gratitude to all who serve for the freedom my family and I are blessed to have. Thank you to you and yours for all you sacrifice. Bill is my cousin and I love having insight of what I know he was born for and loved to do but didn't speak of in between his tours. Thank you for the time I feel was spent with him through this project. Thank you again.

This book will test you in every sense of the word. Even if you are against the war this book will make you see what these men fought for; it even says what's happening now.

Who lost who win..? Everyone lost ..lost of lives of innocent people ...what kind of war is this just to went any muslim country and kill people and self suffering..nice idea first load them with weapons to kill each other and then send army to kill all on the bame of terrorism

About the author

Major Rusty Bradley was wounded during the Battle of Sperwan Ghar in command of a Special Forces A-team, on his third combat tour as a Special Forces team leader. A native of North Carolina, he graduated from Mars Hill College and enlisted in the Army in 1993, serving as an infantryman for six years before earning his commission from Officer Candidate School in 1999.
                                      
Kevin Maurer has been embedded as a reporter with the U.S. Special Forces and 82nd Airborne Division in Afghanistan and Iraq more than a dozen times in the last five years.