Shadow Warriors: Inside the Special Forces

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

Thanks to all the people of the SOF, who have performed such magnificent feats over the years, and whose work, in this age of new warfare, is far from done. Thanks especially to Carl Stiner, a quiet hero if there ever was one, and a man you definitely want on your side.

— Tom Clancy

This book would not have been possible without the help of many great people, and to them I owe so much. Above all, to Tom Clancy, a great American and longtime friend, for making the opportunity possible to tell this story. To Neil Nvren, editor extraordinaire, for keeping us on track and focused on the end-state objective throughout the process. To Tony Koltz, for whom I have the greatest respect as a friend and professional; he showed patience and perseverance in producing the information needed by knowing what questions to ask. Without his writing and editorial skills, this book would not have been possible. To Marty Greenberg, for his advice, counsel, and assistance. To our original agent at William Morris, Robert Gottlieb, for all his help in bringing the book to fruition.

Writing this book has been a demanding challenge, lasting almost two years… and not just for me — trying to remember all the details and put them in context — but for my wife, Sue, who has typed and retypcd so much material many times over. Without her help day and night, we would never have made it. I also thank my daughters, Carla and Laurie, for their encouragement and help. In the midst of all the demands of this period, there was a miraculous happening, the birth of our first grandchild — Jackson Wade Reel, a gift from the divine power that gives life and sustains us every day.

These people were also helpful in the development of the book:

MAJOR CONTRIBUTORS

Bigadier General FrankAkers, USA (Ret.)

Lieutenant General Clay Bailey, USAF

CW4 Richard "Bulldog" Balwanz, USA (Ret.)

Lieutenant General Mark Cisneros, USA (Ret.)

Lieutenant Colonel Daniel D. Devlin, USA (Ret.)

Jim DeFelice

Colonel (P) John DeFritas, USA

General Wayne Downing, USA (Ret.)

Colonel Stan Florer, USA

Rudi Gresham

Major General James A. Guest, USA (Ret.)

Colonel Michael R. Kershner, USA

Colonel Chris Krueger, USA

Colonel Tony Normand, USA (Ret.)

Dr. John Partin, USSOCOM Command Historian

Colonel David B. Plummer II, USA (Ret.)

Major General Richard Potter, USA (Ret.)

Major General Richard A. Scholtes, USA (Ret.)

General Peter J. Schoomaker, USA (Ret.)

Lieutenant Colonel Bill Shaw, USA

Colonel Joseph R. Simino, USA (Ret.)

Major General John K. Singlaub, USA (Ret.)

Captain W. R. Spearman, USN (Ret.)

Lieutenant General William Yarborough, USA (Ret.)

BACKGROUND BRIEFINGS

Brigadier General Heinie Aderholt, USAF (Ret.)

Master Sergeant Sandy Atkinson, USAF

Brigadier General Michael W. Reasley, USA

Major General Ken Bowra, USA

Major General Jerry Boykin, USA

Master Sergeant Chris Crane, USA (Ret.)

Master Sergeant Jimmy Dean, USA (Ret.)

Lieutenant Colonel Francis Gabreski, USAF

Lieutenant Colonel Tony Gies, USA (Ret.)

Randy Gingrich

George Grimes, USSOCOM Public Affairs

Command Sergeant Major Jim Hargraves, USA (Ret.)

Lieutenant Colonel Charles Judge, USA (Ret.)

Lieutenant Colonel David W. Kinder, USA (Ret.)

Jerome Klingaman

Staff Sergeant Andy Kublik, USAF

Command Sergeant Major Joe Lupyah, USA (Ret.)

Herbert A. Mason, AFSOC Command Historian

Clay T. McCutchan, AFSOC Assistant Command Historian

Colonel Lee Mize, USA (Ret.)

Major Paul A. Ott, USA

Command Sergeant Major Paul Payne, USA (Ret.)

Colonel Kenneth Poole, USAF

Major Jon Peck, USAF

Major General Richard V. Secord, USAF (Ret.)

Major General Sidney Shacknow, USA (Ret.)

Lieutenant Colonel Joseph Smith, USA

Major Dave Snider, USA

Lieutenant General Michael Spigelmirc, USA (Ret.)

Brigadier General Joe Stringham, USA (Ret.)

Lieutenant General William Tangney, USA

Lieutenant Colonel Thomas Trask, USAF

Senior Master Sergeant William Waiter, USAF

— General Carl Stiner (Ret.)