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12 Strong: The Declassified True Story of the Horse Soldiers Paperback – December 19, 2017
The New York Times bestselling “spellbinding true-life story” (USA TODAY) of a United States Special Forces team deployed to the war-ravaged Afghanistan mountains in the weeks immediately following 9/11, overcoming great odds to become heroes of our era.
In the weeks following the attacks of September 11, a small band of Special Forces soldiers secretly entered Afghanistan. Riding on horseback, they pursued the Taliban over the stark and mountainous Afghanistan terrain. After a series of intense battles, they captured the strategically essential city of Mazar-i-Sharif.
The bone-weary American soldiers were welcomed as liberators as they rode into the city, and the streets thronged with Afghans overjoyed that the Taliban regime had been overthrown. Then the action took a wholly unexpected turn. During a surrender of six hundred Taliban troops, the Horse Soldiers were ambushed by the would-be POWs. Dangerously overpowered, they fought for their lives in the city’s immense fortress, Qala-i-Jangi, or the House of War. At risk were the military gains of the entire campaign: if the soldiers perished or were captured, the entire effort to outmaneuver the Taliban was likely doomed.
Previously published as Horse Soldiers, 12 Strong “is not just a battle story—it’s also about the home front. An important book” (the TODAY show). A thrilling, inspiring tale of a group of men on horses who did the impossible and an incredible account of real life bravery and heroism in the face of insurmountable odds.
- Print length576 pages
- LanguageEnglish
- PublisherPocket Books
- Publication dateDecember 19, 2017
- Dimensions4 x 1.25 x 7.5 inches
- ISBN-101501179950
- ISBN-13978-1501179952
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Product details
- Publisher : Pocket Books; Media Tie-In edition (December 19, 2017)
- Language : English
- Paperback : 576 pages
- ISBN-10 : 1501179950
- ISBN-13 : 978-1501179952
- Item Weight : 11.8 ounces
- Dimensions : 4 x 1.25 x 7.5 inches
- Best Sellers Rank: #1,157,158 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #499 in Afghan War Military History
- #894 in Iraq War History (Books)
- #1,132 in Intelligence & Espionage History
- Customer Reviews:
About the author

Doug Stanton is a #1 New York Times bestselling author, lecturer, screenwriter. His books include The Odyssey of Echo Company, In Harm’s Way, and Horse Soldiers. Horse Soldiers is the basis for the Jerry Bruckheimer-produced movie titled 12 Strong, starring Chris Hemsworth and Michael Shannon, released by Warner Bros. in 2018. Horse Soldiers is required reading by US Army Special Forces at the John F. Kennedy Special Warfare Center and School.
In Harm’s Way, the definitive account of the sinking, rescue, and valor of the USS Indianapolis crew, spent more than six months on the New York Times bestseller list and became required reading on the U.S. Navy's reading list for officers. The unabridged audiobook edition of In Harm’s Way is the winner of the 2017 Audie Award in the History category. Horse Soldiers was featured on the front page of the Sunday New York Times Book Review, and is also a New York Times bestselling ebook and audiobook.
The Odyssey of Echo Company is a Military Times Best Book Of The Year and recipient of the The Society of Midlands Authors Best NonFiction Book Award. He has lectured at libraries, civic and corporate groups, bookstores, universities, including the US Department of State and The Center for Strategic International Studies. He recently appeared, with Lynn Novick, co-producer of PBS’s "The Vietnam War,” on CSPAN’s "American History” to discuss the Vietnam War.
Stanton has appeared on numerous TV and radio outlets, including NBC’s “Today,” CNN, Imus In The Morning, Discovery, A&E, Fox News, NPR, MSNBC’s Morning Joe, and NBC’s Nightly News, and has been covered extensively in prominent publications, including the Wall Street Journal, Washington Post, New York Times. Drawing on his experiences working in the U.S. and overseas, and with contacts in various branches of the U.S. military and government, Stanton lectures nationally to corporate and civic groups, libraries, writing & book clubs, and universities about current events, international affairs, politics, and writing.
Stanton says that he writes and talks about “existential moments when ordinary men and women are forced to adapt and make extraordinary decisions at the least likely moment. That’s when change happens, whether we like it or not.” He has written on travel, sport, entertainment, and history, and his writing has appeared in Esquire, Outside Magazine, Smart, Men’s Journal, the New York Times, TIME, Newsweek, and the Washington Post.
Stanton’s Horse Soldiers was also a best-seller on lists in USA Today, Wall Street Journal, Los Angeles Times, Chicago Tribune, Entertainment Weekly, Publisher’s Weekly, and IndieBound. Horse Soldiers was named a “Notable Book” by the New York Times, and it was chosen as a “Best Book” by Publishers Weekly, The Christian Science Monitor, Barnes & Noble, and Amazon.com.
Stanton attended Interlochen Arts Academy, Hampshire College, and received an MFA from the Writers’ Workshop at the University of Iowa, where he graduated with coursework in both fiction and poetry workshops.
He lives in Michigan with his wife, Anne Stanton, and their three children. Visit www.dougstanton.com and www.nationalwritersseries.org. Follow Doug on Twitter @dougstantonbook and Instagram dougstantonwriter
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Learn more how customers reviews work on AmazonCustomers say
Customers find the story amazing, with plenty of action. They describe the book as a real page-turner that depicts great acts of courage and bravery by both the American troops and the author.
AI-generated from the text of customer reviews
Customers find the story amazing, with plenty of action. They say it's a real page-turner and well-written.
"Exciting true story of our military doing what they do best. These young men put their lives on the line and suffered for it. Some died...." Read more
"...War is never comfortable I guess. Good book." Read more
"Well written that draws on interviews with real people...." Read more
"One of the best books I have read! The author put me right there among the characters and places...." Read more
Customers find the pacing of the book great. They say it depicts great acts of courage and bravery by both American troops and civilians.
"...The book (and the movie) depicts great acts of courage and bravery by both the American troops and the Afghan people that they teamed up with." Read more
"...True American heroes!" Read more
"...in the beginning of a book but this book just keeps bombarding you with new characters on almost every page...." Read more
"...What a story of audaciousness and courage told by an outstanding author" Read more
Customers find the book descriptive and well-written. They say it draws on interviews with real people.
"Well written that draws on interviews with real people...." Read more
"...'s writing style; it grabs you from the very beginning with great detail and interest." Read more
"The audio book has so much more detail and granularity than the Hollywood movie" Read more
"Phenomenal book, great detail and leaves you amazed" Read more
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12 Strong
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Perhaps so, tho Mogadishu would throw a wrinkle in that belief.
However, BOTH experiences (V & M) illustrate the VITAL ROLE that proverbial "boots on the ground" play.
Movies like this (ergo, American Sniper & Lone Survivor) bring tears to me eyes as I am constantly reminded of a warrior's hopeful ponder: where on earth do we get men like these?
FORTUNATELY, America's technology will continue to help us "shorten the kill chain" and reduce the carnage: 58,000 in Vietnam, nearly 90% less for A&I.
This is now the 2nd movie about Afghanistan, Lone Survivor was the first, that gave me HOPE for the Afghan people.
Biloxi is now home to some wonderful survivors, known as "Vietnam's Boat People." I was even fortunate enough to design and build Navy warships with the daughter of a family who sought refuge by boat.
THIS movie is precisely WHY I prefer to wait and buy the DVD, Bluray (and now 4K) movie so that I can watch the "extra" features that tell some of the back story. Plus, DVDs provide the HUGE ADVANTAGE of not having to sit in a theater with the inevitable "obnoxious patron" (more often than not, teens) AND one can pause the movie, utilize subtitles (when increased vol does NOT result in more voice clarity, ok ok, gunfire did take its tool on hearing.
And did I mention that popcorn & beverages are MUCH CHEAPER at home than at a theater?
The only disadvantage (and THIS IS NOT TRIVIAL): how do I catalog and store 3700, and counting, DVD copies of movies I have collected? THAT is a LOT of space not counting all the GREAT books I buy as well!
Top reviews from other countries
I have not gone into details for that you are going to have to read the book ; )




