The recent release of Doug Stanton's 12 Strong as a book and movie reminded me of Stanton's earlier book Horse Soldiers. Both books are accounts of the American Special Forces exploits in northern Afghanistan in the wake of September 11th. I much enjoyed Horse Soldiers, and when I got the opportunity in 2011, a few associates and I took a drive from Mazar e-Sharif into the rugged territory south of the city where the mounted ODA team operated. It is a rugged, barren land in keeping with the rugged, hardy, and often violent men and women who live there.

I have added some photos I took of the area to my author's profile. As we negotiated the dirt tracks that serve as roads in the area, we were reminded of the bravery of that small team of American men who parachuted into this harsh land to make contact with hard men whose loyalties weren't fully known or understood. One can see why the American operators resorted to horses to negotiate the mountains and rocky valleys.

I will make a point of seeing the new film. I am interested in learning where it was filmed, and I wish Doug Stanton good luck on the new book.

Patrick Nolan Clark