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Audiobooks > History >  Military > Lions of Kandahar: The Story of a Fight Against All Odds

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

Extended Audio Sample Lions of Kandahar: The Story of a Fight Against All Odds Audiobook, by Rusty Bradley Click for printable size audiobook cover
4 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 5 4.00 (336 ratings) (rate this audio book) Author: Rusty Bradley, Major Rusty Bradley, Kevin Maurer Narrator: Eric G. Dove Publisher: Brilliance Audio Format: Unabridged Audiobook Delivery: Instant Download Audio Length: Release Date: May 2012 ISBN: 9781455895250
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One of the most critical battles of the Afghan War is now revealed as never before. Lions of Kandahar is an inside account from the unique perspective of an active-duty U.S. Army Special Forces commander, an unparalled warrior with multiple deployments to the theater who has only recently returned from combat.

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. The battlefield was the Panjwayi Valley, a densely packed warren of walled compounds that doubled neatly as enemy bunkers, lush orchards, and towering marijuana stands, laced through with treacherous irrigation ditches. A mass exodus of civilians heralded the carnage to come.

Dispatched as a diversionary force in support of the main coalition attack, Bradley’s Special Forces A-team and two others, along with their longtime Afghan Army allies, watched from across the valley as the NATO force was quickly engulfed in a vicious counterattack. Key to relieving it and calling in effective air strikes was possession of a modest patch of high ground called Sperwan Ghar. 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—from whom they seized an impossible victory.

Now Bradley recounts the whole remarkable story as it actually happened. The blistering trek across Afghanistan’s infamous Red Desert. The eerie traces of the elusive Taliban. The close relations with the Afghan people and army, a primary mission focus. Sperwan Ghar itself: unremitting waves of fire from machine guns and rocket-propelled grenades; a targeted truck turned into an inferno; the death trap of a cut-off compound. Most important: the men, Americans and Afghans alike—the “shaky” medic with nerves of steel and a surgeon’s hands in battle; the tireless sergeant who seems to be everywhere at once; the soft-spoken intelligence officer with laser-sharp insight; the diminutive Afghan commander with a Goliath-sized heart; the cool maverick who risks all to rescue a grievously wounded comrade—each unique, all indelible in their everyday exercise of extraordinary heroism.

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Listener Opinions

  • 5 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 5 M5 Chris | 2/17/2014

    " At first it was a slow book with not very much excitement. Then when it got to the end it was awesome and the detail was great. "

  • 5 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 5 Adam | 2/15/2014

    " Fantastic! Breathtaking! Riveting! I loved this book because this story shows a side of combat and brotherhood often not seen, reported on, or even talked about. More closer to home for me, I was in Kandahar, at Kandahar air base, providing air control, coordinating aircraft, and close air support assets for the entire country during this time. The scariest calls we received were the "troops in contact" calls and this book helps illustrate why getting aircraft to our brother and sister soldiers on the ground, as fast as humanly possible, literally means life and death to those engaged in mortal combat with our enemies. I was also able to see, learn, and understand a bit more about Operation Medusa and the outstanding people involved with this vital operation. To Maj Rusty Bradley, to his Team, to the ANA, to the Special Operations community, and to all the other Solders, Sailors, Marines, Airman, military professionals and especially to the families, friends, and loved ones of our military members, thank you from the bottom of my heart for the sacrifices you have made, continue to make, and will always make. "

  • 4 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 5 Bhall | 2/15/2014

    " loved the esprit de cors Green Berets and Afghan National Army...to defeat Taliban...Air Force, Navy and Army Air all to the rescue...equalizing the playing field :-) "

  • 4 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 5 Sunita yadav | 2/2/2014

    " Very gripping real war story.I loved Rusty Bradley's character, a total warrior.The story is about a first person account in painful details of the Afghanistan war. "

  • 5 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 5 Michael | 1/25/2014

    " 30 Special Forces Green Berets and 50 Afghan soldiers take part in Operation Medusa, "the greatest battle no one ever heard of" against 800 plus Taliban fighters in the Kandahar province, Afghanistan... Awe inspiring! "

  • 5 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 5 Boozy | 1/20/2014

    " Good read. I raced through this, there are some valid lessons to be learned here by the warfighter as well as leadership in general. "

  • 4 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 5 P.e.lolo | 1/18/2014

    " .Good book, just a shame american sf had to go into a place 8 mos after it had fought the Taliban. Now the Taliban were in stronger than before and with a small force they went and retook it against over 800 Taliban 50 U.S. A battle you never hear about,great story and sad. True Hereos "

  • 3 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 5 Oliver | 1/3/2014

    " Not bad, but can't hold a candle to Outlaw Platoon. "

  • 4 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 5 Philip Van | 12/13/2013

    " Haven't read many military accounts, but this one was recommended. It is excellent. "

  • 5 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 5 William | 12/11/2013

    " An Excellent story from a soldier on the ground in Afghanistan. "

  • 3 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 5 Frank | 11/24/2013

    " Good book about American special forces in Afghanistan . It's a page turner . I would give it a higher rating but current event books are not my favorite genre. I salute Rusty Bradley and his men, they are true heroes "

  • 3 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 5 Craig Earnshaw | 11/15/2013

    " Plodding account of a firefight in Afghanistan. "

  • 5 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 5 Michael | 8/2/2013

    " Great behind the scenes look at army spec. Ops fighting in Afghanistan "

  • 3 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 5 Wes F | 7/21/2013

    " Interesting, though sort of a so-so overall. What I liked was that the action took place not far from where I spent some of my early growing-up years. Of course, in these days with "Kandahar" in the title of your book, it's bound to get lots of attention... "

  • 3 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 5 Taylor Kate Brown | 7/5/2013

    " Compelling, if a little heavy on the operational details at the start. Learned a lot about Afghanistan fight, especially during a period of the war I've read little about. "

  • 5 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 5 Tyson | 4/28/2013

    " Amazing first-hand account of an instrumental battle in Afghanistan. Can't recommend the book enough. "

  • 4 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 5 Sherman Criner | 12/29/2012

    " Good for its genre. Action & character development. "

  • 5 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 5 Bruce | 11/16/2012

    " Intrepid Spirits on the move through Existence. Excellent Men and Women. "

  • 4 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 5 Brent Dacrow | 9/4/2012

    " A good read. I got lost following the some of names and the sequence of events describing battles, but overall a quality book. The author and his men are more genuine heroes than any coming out of the closet athlete Obama touts as a hero. "

  • 5 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 5 Emily | 8/2/2012

    " This is a great story about a team of special forces soldiers working with the Afghan national army and coalition forces to win a strategically critical area from the Taliban. "

  • 5 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 5 Eric Johnson | 7/25/2012

    " A must read book if you're interested in Special Forces operations in Afghanistan "

  • 5 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 5 Aslan | 7/6/2012

    " one of the best books i have read about the war in Afghanistan. "

  • 5 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 5 David Thomas | 5/19/2012

    " An excellent story and a must read. "

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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.

About the Narrator

Eric G. Dove is a voice actor and musician. His audiobook career began in 2009 for Brilliance Audio. He has recorded numerous titles for authors such as J. R. Ward, Stephen Coonts, and Greg Iles, among many others, and earned an AudioFile Earphones Award.

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