Dead Men Risen

[Toby Harnden @tobyharnden]

It's always a pleasure to hear from a reader, and in this instance, a few months ago, the reader in question was @joshi. He's the founder and editor of Mill Media, an exciting and innovative enterprise that focuses on deeply reported, long-form journalism in the UK. It's showing us the future of news. Would I be interested in revisiting the Manchester bombing of June 1996, which he'd read about in my book Bandit Country: The IRA and South Armagh? Specifically, could I complete the story of who ordered, planned, and carried out the bombing? Anyone who knows me will not be surprised that I could not resist such a challenge. I didn't know at the time that it would involve returning to South Armagh, visiting the cattle shed where the bomb was mixed, and knocking on the doors of the IRA suspects in the case.

The result is two articles (the link to the second one is in the comments) published by The Mill, the Manchester arm of Joshi's empire, this weekend. For the piece, I worked with investigations editor @cameronbarr, formerly of the Washington Post and one of the great editors of our time, and ace Mill reporter @jackdulhanty, riding shotgun with me as we crisscrossed the Irish border. The story is close to my heart because I grew up in Manchester. My father and brother were on their way to the Arndale Centre that sunny Saturday morning. Miraculously, no one was killed by the bomb—the largest detonated in Britain since World War II—but 212 people were injured, 13 of them seriously. No one has ever been prosecuted for the attack, and Manchester police, with exquisite timing the week before the 30th anniversary of the blast, just announced that their investigation has closed. But that doesn't mean that the story of who was behind the bombing cannot be told...

https://t.co/faJxOhlYaV

[Toby Harnden @tobyharnden]

I greatly enjoyed being on the podcast, especially after listening to the episodes with recent guests Scott Anderson and @burke_jason

[Toby Harnden @tobyharnden]

“For love of country they accepted death, and thus resolved all doubts, and made immortal their patriotism and their virtue.” (President James A. Garfield, Arlington National Cemetery, 1868)

Nine years ago today, in Landstuhl, Germany, Nate Delemarre's life support machine was turned off. Three days earlier, he had ascended a ladder to reach the rooftop of a Taliban compound to go to the aid of his mortally wounded comrade, Brian Hoke. His donated organs were used to give life to several patients awaiting transplants.

Delemarre (left) and Hoke, were CIA paramilitary officers leading an assault near Jalalabad base in Nangahar, eastern Afghanistan, to apprehend an HVT. Both were members of Ground Branch, Special Activities Center. They are buried next to each other, just as they had fought side by side, in Section 60 of Arlington National Cemetery. At their wake, family, friends, and teammates toasted them with shot glasses etched with their operator numbers - N04 and F01.

Delemarre, 47, originally from Massachusetts, was a former USMC radio operator and a lieutenant in the US Navy Reserves. He joined the CIA as an analyst before 9/11 and later made the rare transition to paramilitary officer. A father of two daughters, he became a posthumous recipient of the Distinguished Intelligence Cross, the CIA’s highest award for valor.

Hoke, 42, from South Dakota, was an Annapolis graduate and became a Navy SEAL in 1997. He joined the CIA in 2004 A father of three, he received a posthumous Intelligence Star, the CIA's second-highest award for valor.

Their former colleague Mick Mulroy wrote in a 2020 article dedicated to them: “In my own experiences on the battlefield, I have seen heroism and people overcoming their fear – the essence of courage – in the direst of circumstances. I once watched two of my friends engaged in fierce combat from video recorded from an aircraft overhead. One of them was engaged by heavy enemy fire and was severely wounded. Despite his wounds, he continued to fight, calling out the location of the enemy to guide friendly forces. My other friend, in a moment of pure courage, selflessly rushed through withering fire to come to our comrade’s aid...To run into the fray to save a friend is the height of valor.”

Mulroy’s final duty to his friend was to inform Delemarre’s wife in Florida that he had been mortally wounded on the other side of the world. She flew to Germany to be at her husband’s bedside at the end.

“courage scorns the death it cannot shun” (John Dryden, 1672)

[Dead Men Risen @DeadMenRisen]

RT @tobyharnden: Remembering Major Paul Syverson, 32, killed in Iraq this day 21 years ago - June 16, 2004.

On November 26, 2001, a 2,000-…

[Toby Harnden @tobyharnden]

The name of Keith Allen Butler, a former Green Beret major who served for 37 years in the Army and Marines, has today been added to @CIA Book of Honor. Butler, 56, was a paramilitary contractor who was KIA in Afghanistan on May 10, 2014. He also served in Panama, Somalia, Honduras, and Iraq. He was a medic and weapons specialist. Also added to the book today were the names of Marine captains Robert Brown Jr. and Robert Hubbard, both KIA in Vietnam in 1968. The number of stars on the CIA Memorial Wall remains 140.

[Toby Harnden @tobyharnden]

It’s that time of year again…

[Toby Harnden @tobyharnden]

I’ve always loved this photo of a condemned man smiling, cigar in mouth, hands in pockets, as he faces a firing squad. I first saw it in 1990 at an Edinburgh exhibition.

He was Carlos Fortino Sámano, 27, a captain in Mexico’s Constitutionalist Army executed in Mexico City on March 2, 1917. The famous photo, by Agustín Víctor Casasola, has fascinated many and in 2018 inspired an instrumental song by Yoshe Malkus, called “I Wanna Die As Badass As Carlos Fortino Sámano.”

According to a contemporary newspaper account, Sámano had been convicted of robbery with violence but steadfastly maintained his innocence.

Even when there was still hope of a pardon, Sámano said: “I do not fear death because the law must be obeyed; I will know how to die like a man and I only ask that you tell my friends to remember me well.”

On March 1, Sámano saluted the soldiers guarding him and said: “I have only a few hours left, boys; we must go to the wall in one piece. Let it not be said that constitutionalist soldiers do not know how to die as men die.”

A reporter from El Demócrata interviewed Sámano as he had a last dinner with his mother and wife. Sámano said: “I am not afraid of death, for I know that sooner or later I must die; I only regret giving up my life because of a slander by one of the enemies of our cause, who accused me of a crime I have not committed. I regret it doubly because my father was an honest man, and the crime for which I am being punished will tarnish his name. I leave behind my mother, wife, and daughter, who will one day have proof of my innocence.”

At 9:20 a.m. on the day of the execution the captain of the escort told Sámano that the time had come. “Whenever you like,” the condemned man replied. “I have already arranged my affairs. I have said goodbye to my family and friends. Now all that remains for me to do is to go to the wall like men do.”

Sámano has been described as a Zapatista and a counterfeiter and as choosing liquor for his last request and giving the order to fire. None of that seems to be true. The second photo here shows the moment of his death as he stands erect, holding his hat by his side, looking directly at his executioners, dignified to the end.

Badass indeed.

[Toby Harnden @tobyharnden]

.@CIA Team Alpha, who 23 years ago today began preps to strike back. Standing L-R: Alex Hernandez (PM); Scott Spellmeyer (PM); J.R. Seeger (CO, NE Div); Mark Rausenberger (OMS - RIP); David Tyson (CO, SE Div); Mike Spann (PM - RIP); Andy Hartsog (PM); Capt. Justin Sapp (5th Gp.)

[Toby Harnden @tobyharnden]

Important & rigorous study of the epidemic of tragic, avoidable military rollovers - by ⁦@MHCMcDowell⁩ of @NewAmerica, whose remarkable son 1stLt Conor McDowell USMC, 24, was killed in a Light Armored Vehicle (LAV) rollover at Camp Pendleton May 2019 https://t.co/TjXRQXAWy6

[Toby Harnden @tobyharnden]

RIP Maj. Michael “Bronco” Lane, SAS. Belfast, 1978. 2 IRA gunmen opened fire. Tho’ badly wounded, Lane returned fire & hit one of them b4 collapsing. 2 yrs earlier, Lane had lost forefingers of right hand, top half of thumb & all his toes on Mount Everest https://t.co/RmaAO6B55v

[Dead Men Risen @DeadMenRisen]

@tribephotomag @tobyharnden @blackwelloxford @Foyles Hi!

[Toby Harnden @tobyharnden]

RIP Mel Parry QGM. May 5 1980, entered Iranian embassy via 1st floor balcony in respirator with Heckler & Koch MP5. Later invented “Parry knife”. SAS “warrior, through and through…fearless, but intelligently so; he took risks, but calculating them first”

https://t.co/GFRG9o55SD

[Toby Harnden @tobyharnden]

Really looking forward 2 being in studio for @TheTeamHousePod tonight 8pm EST with Colonel Justin Sapp. We’ll be talking rescuing Afghan allies with Badger Six, AARP Veteran Report newsletter (which I edit), CIA after 9/11 & our future projects with @JackMurphyRGR & @Dave_Parke

[Toby Harnden @tobyharnden]

Great piece by Colonel Justin Sapp, who was in @CIA’s Team Alpha in 2001 & is now part of Badger Six - “Final Rescue Mission for First American Soldier Into Afghanistan: A Green Beret is trying to save the Afghan allies he fought alongside after 9/11” https://t.co/evgkXixfX8

[Dead Men Risen @DeadMenRisen]

“Sin Twisters.” Rhode Island. From a 1911 photo album. #estatesalefinds

[Toby Harnden @tobyharnden]

Very moving piece by Shannon Spann on her husband Mike’s legacy and how she honors him by working for Badger Six, which is rescuing allies of Mike and CIA & Green Beret teams who went into action after 9/11 https://t.co/EpgrOzCe2U

[Toby Harnden @tobyharnden]

Martin Amis obit @thetimes (of London): “Even fewer enjoyed the degree of global acclaim that he achieved, most obviously in America.” Martin Amis obit @nytimes: “In the United States, he was slower to catch on. ‘Success’ did not find an American publisher until 1987.”

[Dead Men Risen @DeadMenRisen]

@Stone_SkyNews Hi Mark. This is Toby H. Can you DM me on this - I’m locked out of my personal account!

[Dead Men Risen @DeadMenRisen]

@HerschelTzvi Hi Herschel. This is Toby H. Can you message me on this account? I’m locked out of my personal one!

[Toby Harnden @tobyharnden]

My book “First Casualty” on Evasion Chart carried in Afghanistan by @CIA Team Alpha 2001. Tip of CIA Veterans dagger is on Dehi, site of initial CIA base. Top of Camp Mike Spann coin is Qala-i Jangi, where I recovered rusted PPSh-41 barrel. Also, CIA SOG & Tertia Optio SAD coins.