Contents Title Page Dedication Epigraph A Note To The Reader Maps Prologue Part I Chapter 1 Chapter 2 Chapter 3 Chapter 4 Chapter 5 Chapter 6 Chapter 7 Chapter 8 Chapter 9 Chapter 10 Part II Chapter 1 Chapter 2 Chapter 3 Chapter 4 Chapter 5 Part III Chapter 1 Chapter 2 Chapter 3 Chapter 4 Chapter 5 Chapter 6 Part IV Chapter 1 Chapter 2 Chapter 3 Chapter 4 Chapter 5 Chapter 6 Chapter 7 Chapter 8 Chapter 9 Chapter 10 Chapter 11 Chapter 12 Part V Chapter 1 Chapter 2 Chapter 3 Chapter 4 Chapter 5 Chapter 6 Chapter 7 Part VI Chapter 1 Chapter 2 Chapter 3 Chapter 4 Chapter 5 Chapter 6 Chapter 7 Chapter 8 Chapter 9 Chapter 10 Part VII Chapter 1 Afterword Executive Summary Notes Sources Method Acknowledgments About the Author Also by Malcolm MacPherson Copyright Page DEDICATION Spc. Marc A. Anderson, 30, Company A, 1st Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment, Brandon, Florida; Bronze Star with V Device, Purple Heart Tech. Sgt. John A. Chapman, 36, 24th Special Tactics Squadron, Waco, Texas; Air Force Cross, Purple Heart Cpl. Matthew A. Commons, 21, Company A, 1st Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment, Boulder City, Nevada; Bronze Star with V Device, Purple Heart Sgt. Bradley S. Crose, 27, Company A, 1st Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment, Orange Park, Florida; Bronze Star with V Device, Purple Heart Senior Airman Jason D. Cunningham, 26, 38th Rescue Squadron, Camarillo, California; Air Force Cross, Purple Heart Petty Officer 1st Class Neil C. Roberts, 32, Naval Special Warfare Development Group, Woodland, California; Silver Star, Purple Heart Sgt. Philip J. Svitak, 31, Company A, 2nd Battalion, 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment, Neosho, Missouri; Bronze Star with V Device, Purple Heart Sic itur ad astra These men went into battle with the comfort of knowing that should they die, their children, of whom there are eight, would have their college educations paid for, when the time came. The Special Operations Warriors Foundation was set up more than twenty years ago to provide this support, based on need, to the children of Special Operations personnel who are killed in operational missions or training accidents. Today, more than five hundred children are eligible, with nearly one hundred of them receiving assistance between 2003 and 2010; the Foundation's estimated financial need through 2010 is $34 million. The author is contributing a portion of the proceeds of this book to the foundation, which can be reached for tax-deductible contributions at: SPECIAL OPERATIONS WARRIORS FOUNDATION, P.O. Box 14385, Tampa, FL 33690. I wouldnt leave you and you wouldnt leave me. That aint no argument. —Cormac McCarthy, All the Pretty Horses I'm not trying to be a hero. If you think I like this, you're crazy. —Will Kane (Gary Cooper) in High Noon A NOTE TO THE READER The following story is true. It takes place over 17 hours.