Swords of Lightning

[Swords of Lightning @oda5951]

When Special Forces sent ODA 595’s 12-man team after 9-11 to assist the local horse-mounted militia in Afghanistan against the Taliban, only one member knew anything about riding horses: Captain Mark Nutsch.

[Swords of Lightning @oda5951]

“Special Forces culture encourages bottom-up opinion sharing… Commanders have to be able to accept criticism. Having a thick skin is important as being sure of yourself.” – from “Swords of Lightning”

[Swords of Lightning @oda5951]

Commanding an ODA is generally considered the high point of an Army Special Forces career. Leading a dozen of the finest warriors on the planet at the ground level, possibly in combat, beats just about any other job in the military.

[Swords of Lightning @oda5951]

Green Beret culture — part warrior, part diplomat, part teacher.

[Swords of Lightning @oda5951]

In the days after the 9/11 attacks, practically everyone in America wanted a response. Call it justice, call it revenge, call it a warning that our country would not take the slaughter of innocents lying down.

[Swords of Lightning @oda5951]

“A war won by soccer dads”—U.S. Special Forces ODA 595 in Afghanistan immediately after 9/11. https://t.co/7huHwxS4OB

[Swords of Lightning @oda5951]

There were two American wars in Afghanistan. The first took place in the days following the 9/11 attacks and lasted roughly six weeks. The second was a 19-year war against the reality of Afghanistan… This is about the first war. #SwordsofLightning.com

[Swords of Lightning @oda5951]

"Swords of Lightning" will be released in exactly 3 months on May 17, 2022. If you haven't done so already, click on the link below and pre-order your copy on Amazon today! We appreciate your support!

https://t.co/tijXpiHjTZ

[Swords of Lightning @oda5951]

On that day...

11-25-2001: Uprising of Taliban and al-Qaeda prisoners begins at Qala-i-Jangi fortress, near Mazar-e Sharif, and continues for six days. CIA agent Mike Spann is killed, the first American to die in Afghanistan.

[Swords of Lightning @oda5951]

On this day...

11-13-2001: U.S. forces continue to fight alongside Bismullah Kahn and the Northern Alliance to liberate Kabul from the Taliban. ODA595, now housed at the Qala-i-Jangi fortress, continue their intel gathering/planning for operations in the Balk city area.

[Swords of Lightning @oda5951]

On this day...

11-11-2001: A day after liberating Mazar-e Sharif, Gen Dostum is told by an Interpreter that Nov. 11th is Veteran's Day for the American forces. So overtaken by the news, he tells his staff he must celebrate by giving a party for his fighting brothers, ODA595.

[Swords of Lightning @oda5951]

Wishing all of our Veterans and their families a blessed Veterans Day! We appreciate you and thank you for your service!

[Swords of Lightning @oda5951]

On this day...

11-10-2001: ODA 595, along with Gen Dostum and his troops, push through the Tiangi under heavy artillery attack and ground resistance to liberate Mazar-e Sharif. This campaign was noted as the most successful unconventional warfare operation in modern history.

[Swords of Lightning @oda5951]

On this day...

11-9-2001: Unwilling to pause after the victory in the Battle of Darya Suf, ODA 595 and Gen Dostum push towards the southern end of the Tiangi (a narrow pass through the mountains) where they position themselves for the final battle that leads into Mazar-e Sharif.

[Swords of Lightning @oda5951]

On this day...

11-4-2001: Supply drops go astray. ODA 595 leaders Mark Nutsch and Bob Pennington convince General Dostum and others to delay the offensive to November 5, to get more supplies.

[Swords of Lightning @oda5951]

On this day...

11-3-2001: Lt. Colonel Max Bowers, commander of the 3rd Battalion arrives in the Darya Suf Valley to act as senior advisor to Gen. Dostum, but the meeting does not go well. The two men clash. ODA534 arrives in the Balkh Valley to support Commander Atta’s forces.

[Swords of Lightning @oda5951]

On this day...

11-1-2001: Afghani Commander Lal rallies 500 horsemen to attack Taliban units north of the canyon at Char Su, capturing two artillery guns, forcing the Taliban to retreat into the low country of the Darya Suf valley, where Gen. Dostum’s troops held the advantage.

[Swords of Lightning @oda5951]

On this day...

10-29-2001: The Horse Soldiers of ODA 595 ride into Dehi for a meeting of the entire Northern Alliance, who meet with CIA Team Alpha & 1st Area Commander. Afghani commanders Dostum, Atta, & Mohaqeq lay out strategies & plans for engaging the Taliban and al-Qaeda.

[Swords of Lightning @oda5951]

On this day...

10-25-2001: Moving north, ODA 595 discovers the Taliban moving tons of equipment into a new position to attack General Dostum’s troops. A full-on air assault is called in, targeting trucks, tanks, and towed artillery before they can refuel and dig into position.

[Swords of Lightning @oda5951]

On this day...

10/21/2001: The Horse Soldiers ODA 595 team aid Gen. Dostum's attack on Taliban strongholds near Cobaki. With continuous air strikes and bold attacks by Dostum’s forces, the Taliban are run off, and the resistance fighters are able to move north with greater ease.