More Than a War Story—A Missing Chapter in U.S. Military History
Before the 2003 Iraq invasion, a highly classified special operation unfolded in the shadows. A small group of Special Forces and CIA operatives must establish a second front to tie down the Iraqi Army in the north to support the pending U.S. led invasion in the south. This is the story of that operation, told by someone who lived it.
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Why I Wrote The Book
Some Stories Deserve to Be Told
"This isn’t a memoir. It’s not my story. I’ve merely been its keeper until now.
I wrote this book to fulfill a professional and personal responsibility. As the operations officer, I was in a very unique position to see the entire effort unfold. I was present at the inception of the concept, oversaw the planning and preparations and participated in the execution.
I watched it come together—and I witnessed the bravery, the tension, the setbacks, and the breakthroughs that defined it.
This book isn't about elevating myself. It's about elevating the operation—about bringing to light a historic, high-risk mission that nearly went undocumented. I owe it to the men I served alongside, and I owe it to the next generation of Special Forces and national security professionals who can learn from what we lived through.
it is my sincere hope that this book inspires a current and future generation of Special Forces. I also hope it provides a useful illustration of the complexities of these types of efforts, specifically the human dynamic, and the ability to adapt and persevere in the face of seemingly insurmountable and overwhelming odds.
Their actions and the subsequent lessons, deserve to be remembered.
Those Who Face Death
Spring, 2003.
A small group of Special Forces and CIA operatives must establish a second front to tie down the Iraqi Army in the north to support the pending U.S. led invasion in the south.
The mission sounds simple. The reality is anything but.
The plan is to infiltrate into Iraq ahead of the invasion, link up with the Kurdish Peshmerga, and coordinate their efforts against the Iraqi Army.
The Peshmerga, which translates to those who face death, have risen up several times in the recent past, only to be abandoned by the U.S. and subsequently slaughtered by the Iraqi army.
The Untold Story of Special Forces and the Iraqi Kurdish Resistance
Before the Special Forces have any chance of posing a viable threat to the Iraqi army, they must first convince the Kurdish factions to put their differences aside, resolve the issue of Turkey’s wavering support, and neutralize an Islamist group that has seized Kurdish territory along the Iraq Iran border.
The details of the invasion are classified. The clock is ticking, and time is running out. Once in Iraq, there will be no extraction, medical evacuation, or air support until the war begins.
The Green Berets will be on their own.
Those Who Face Death is the incredible true story of this little-known special operation and a testament to the courage, skill, and perseverance of US Special Forces in the face of overwhelming odds
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Bonus Resources & Maps
If you’ve listened to the audiobook—or just want a deeper understanding of the operation—I’m sharing maps, photos, and the annexes I used to outline some of the lessons.
Maps from the Book
Pictures from the Book
Why We Were Successful
Perspectives on Unconventional Warfare
Book Reviews From Readers
History is replete with stories of soldiers doing the seemingly impossible in the face of overwhelming odds. Mark has created a riveting account of this critical piece of US Army and special operations history, finally providing some long overdue context and perspective.
— Dr. Dennis Walters, Director
U.S. Department of Defense, Irregular Warfare Center
Mark Grdovic is one of the greatest warrior-thinkers of his generation and the intellectual engine behind the plan to conduct unconventional warfare in Northern Iraq in 2003. Reminiscent of the Operational Groups of the Office of Strategic Services in World War II, Those Who Face Death is a must-read for anyone interested in gaining a better understanding of Special Forces and unconventional warfare.
— Christopher Miller
Former Acting U.S. Secretary of Defense
Those Who Face Death is the incredible story of how 10th Special Forces Group transformed the Kurdish militias into a “fifth column” in support of the U.S.-led invasion. Mark is without question one of the leading subject matter experts on unconventional warfare. He makes the reader feel like they are a part of the operation while weaving in critical lessons.
— Stu Bradin
President/CEO, Global SOF Foundation
Those Who Face Death is a gripping, first-hand account of one of the most consequential but overlooked campaigns of the Iraq War by one of America’s true experts in unconventional warfare. More than a war story, this book is filled with history that cannot be read anywhere else, dramatic and humorous anecdotes, and lessons that have timeless relevance. This is a must-read for any military professional. It should be mandatory for every Special Forces student in the qualification course.
— COL (Ret) David Maxwell
Vice President, Center for Asia Pacific Strategy
Senior Fellow, Global Peace Foundation
Editor, Small Wars Journal
About The Author
I'm Mark Grdovic — Former Special Forces officer, Special Warfare Instructor, and Storyteller
I was commissioned as an Infantry officer in 1989 and served with the U.S. Army for over 23 years, including 19 years as a Special Forces officer.
During that time, I had the privilege to serve with the 10th Special Forces Group, as a Detachment Commander (ODA 016 and ODA 032), with the 1st Battalion in Stuttgart Germany and a Company Commander and Battalion Operations Officer with the 3rd Battalion at Fort Carson Colorado.
Between operational assignments I was a Small Group Instructor and Company Commander at the Special Forces Qualification Course and Chief of Special Forces doctrine at the U.S. Army John F. Kennedy Special Warfare Center.
Additionally, I served as the U.S. Army Special Operations Command (USASOC), G3X, the Director of the President’s Emergency Operations Center (PEOC), White House Military Office (WHMO) and Deputy Commander for the SOCCENT Joint Operations Group Central (JOG-C).
Over the course of my service, I participated in multiple deployments to Bosnia, Iraq, and Afghanistan and as well as several crisis response operations in Europe and Africa.
Since my retirement from active duty in 2012, I have continued to support the special operations community in a variety of capacities, to include serving as an adjunct professor at USSOCOM‘s Joint Special Operations University (JSOU).
I am passionate about the profession of special operations, national and international security matters and military history. I am committed to training, educating and mentoring members of the special operations community to better meet the challenges of tomorrow.
