A New York Times Best seller!
In Level Zero Heroes, Michael Golembesky follows the members of U.S. Marine Special Operations Team 8222 on their assignment to the remote and isolated Taliban stronghold known as Bala Murghab as they conduct special operations in an effort to break the Taliban's grip on the Valley. What started out as a routine mission changed when two 82nd Airborne Paratroopers tragically drowned in the Bala Murghab River while trying to retrieve vital supplies from an air drop that had gone terribly wrong. In this one moment, the focus and purpose of the friendly forces at Forward Operating Base Todd, where Team 8222 was assigned, was forever altered as a massive clearing operation was initiated to break the Taliban's stranglehold on the valley and recover the bodies.
From close-quarters firefights in Afghan villages to capturing key-terrain from the Taliban in the unforgiving Afghan winter, this intense and personal story depicts the brave actions and sacrifices of MSOT 8222. Readers will understand the hopelessness of being pinned down under a hail of enemy gunfire and the quake of the earth as a 2000 lb. guided bomb levels a fortified Taliban fighting position.
A powerful and moving story of Marine Operators doing what they do best, Level Zero Heroes brings to life the mission of these selected few that fought side-by-side in Afghanistan, in a narrative as action-packed and emotional as anything to emerge from the Special Operations community contribution to the Afghan War.
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"'A warning shot with a B-1'-- A direct quote taken out of Level Zero Heroes that has more precision than the author possibly could ever imagine. Golembesky and Bruning took a real world account of some of America's best and brightest and wrote a story that will capture the mind of any military enthusiast. From the expeditious bond of brotherhood to the horrors of poor Rules of Engagement to the appreciation of a select group of Afghan intelligence officials, this book covers so much more than a mere deployment in Afghanistan. A B-1 doesn't do warning shots, it blows things to smithereens. This book is like a B-1-it will blow your mind!"
— Kerry Patton, author of Contracted: America’s Secret Warriors
“Level Zero Heroes proves that great warriors aren't minted from any one branch of service. Michael's story is a testament to the hard men of MARSOC who have contributed significantly both on and off the battlefield since the attacks of Sept. 11th, 2001. Semper Fi brothers.
— Brandon Webb, former Navy SEAL, Editor of SOFREP, and New York Times bestselling author of The Red CircleAn intimate and unprecedented look into the mysterious, high-speed lifestyle of the U.S. military's newest special operations force, Level Zero Heroes is a heart-pounding exploration of the Marines' bare-knuckle fight for Bala Murghab, a treacherous wasteland in Afghanistan's Wild West.
— Andrew deGrandpre, Marine Corps TimesSemper Fi! Level Zero Heroes is a riveting, fast paced account of Marine Operators in combat in Afghanistan. Inspiring & insightful look into the new world of Marine Corps Special Operations, I was absolutely hooked from the first page to the last. I'm glad Ski and his fellow team members are on our side.
— Sean Parnell, New York Times bestselling author of Outlaw PlatoonAn unflinchingly honest account of a war run for other reasons than victory. Level Zero Heroes is a testament to American warriors who stepped forward to fight with honor and win. This is our generation's Catch 22.
— Jack Coughlin, New York Times bestselling author of ShooterGolembesky vividly depicts the engagement, which became known as Operation Hero Recovery and involved vicious ground combat....controversial.
— Publishers WeeklyThe author writes perceptively about the complex social environment of Afghanistan…. The depictions of combat are precise regarding weapons and tactics but also jargon-heavy, giving the action a video game feel.
— Kirkus ReviewsReaders who enjoy first-person accounts of battles laced with nonstop action will have a tough time putting this one down.
— Library JournalBe the first to write a review about this audiobook!
Michael Golembesky worked as a truck driver before enlisting into the Marine Corps shortly after the events of 9/11. While on his second deployment in Iraq, he was selected to become an aircraft controller with the newly formed Marine Corps Special Operations Command (MARSOC). Honorably discharged in 2010 after eight years of military service, Michael, along with his wife Sabrina and daughter Devlyn, returned home to Colorado where he works as a defense contractor and writer.
John R. Bruning is the author or coauthor of more than a dozen nonfiction books, including the critically acclaimed Shadow of the Sword and House to House. He lives in Oregon with his wife and two children.
John Bedford Lloyd, Earphones Award–winning narrator, is a graduate of the Yale School of Drama, has appeared in many major motion pictures, including The Bourne Supremacy, Crossing Delancey, The Abyss, The Manchurian Candidate, and Philadelphia. His television credits include Suits, Pan Am, Law & Order, Spin City, and The West Wing.
Peter Berkrot, winner of Audie and Earphones Awards for narration, is a stage, screen, and television actor and acting coach. He has narrated over 450 works that span a range of genres, including fiction, nonfiction, thriller, and children’s titles. His audiobook credits include works of Alan Glynn, Eric Van Lustbader, Nora Roberts and Dean Koontz. In film and television, he appeared in Caddyshack, America’s Most Wanted, and Unsolved Mysteries. He performs in regional and New York theaters and directs the New Voices acting school.