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The Degüello
Based on the incredible true story. just days after the horrific events of 9/11, a handful of Green Berets from the decorated 5th Special Forces Group were secretly inserted deep behind enemy lines in Northern Afghanistan to set the stage for the upcoming War on Terror. Their mission was to seek out and kill as many Taliban and Al Qaida forces as they could find. Read as the now infamous 'Triple Nickel' is alerted and put into isolation to prepare for their mission. Follow them as they are inserted into the Panjshir Valley north of Kabul and link up with the CIA and the rebel forces of the Northern Alliance to begin attacks against enemy positions. Go inside the legend of one of Americas most elite units in this exciting and sometimes humorous account of their avenging the most horrific terrorist attack we have ever experienced. Nothing we know of the War in Afghanistan would be possible had it not been for what these men did, and they did it all with no way out, no rules, and no mercy.
- GenresMilitary FictionHistory
246 pages, Hardcover
First published December 3, 2011
19 people are currently reading
110 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
June 9, 2012
Um, I love my baby!
December 4, 2021
Reading Scott Zastrow's THE DEGÜELLO taught me something. Not about Special Forces, per se--ninety percent of what I read, I already knew via former operators and my own research--but rather, about how to read a book. This sounds silly, but bear with me here for a moment.
Zastrow's book is listed as military fiction, and in the purest sense, it is. However, fiction, as I was taught, has certain conventions that were not present in the book. The biggest flaw, speaking from a writer's perspective, were the characters. It wasn't until the closing acts that I found characters that seemed like unique people I could meet in real life. On this basis, I was prepared to give the book a lower rating.
It wasn't until I was about thirty-five percent through the book that I realized the problem. It's listed as military fiction, but in reality, it is fictional military non-fiction. True to its tag line, it is based off of actual events in the opening stages of the War on Terror, and it is the epitome of a story told by somebody who has walked the walk. Zastrow, himself a veteran of Special Forces, told the story of an Operational Detachment Alpha (ODA) that was sent to spearhead the invasion of Afghanistan. It is told in a very documentary style format, but since it is not a documentary or a pure historical account, it is branded as fiction.
Furthermore, an organic ODA has twelve operators (in the book, I counted nine, ten once a certain character joined the team). It is VERY hard to personalize twelve people, or ten people. In fact, I have found through personal experience that six is pushing it. Zastrow tries his best, but at the end of the day, it's a fictional historical book, not so much traditonal fiction.
With these facts in mind, I began to thoroughly enjoy THE DEGÜELLO. It is indeed very accurate, and bears the mark of a writer who has conducted such operations. As an infantryman trained in many of the tactics detailed within, I can say with certainty that it is an authentic war novel, and as a military geek, it was an absolute pleasure to read.
There were a couple of things that could be improved. Despite knowing its true designation as far as books go, I still feel a little more could have been done to flesh out the characters, though Scott and Calvin stood out to me by far and large. Also, I do wish there was more fleshing out of the Taliban commander, as well as Triple Nickel's plan to respond to his attacks. Nonetheless, these points do not detract from the overall enjoyability of the novel.
Would I recommend this book to a layman only looking for an action thriller? No. Would I recommend it to a layman wanting to know more about Army Special Forces and the War on Terror? A thousand times, YES. And I would also recommend it to any service member looking to see how it's done on the SOF side of the fence.
Well done, Mr. Zastrow!
Zastrow's book is listed as military fiction, and in the purest sense, it is. However, fiction, as I was taught, has certain conventions that were not present in the book. The biggest flaw, speaking from a writer's perspective, were the characters. It wasn't until the closing acts that I found characters that seemed like unique people I could meet in real life. On this basis, I was prepared to give the book a lower rating.
It wasn't until I was about thirty-five percent through the book that I realized the problem. It's listed as military fiction, but in reality, it is fictional military non-fiction. True to its tag line, it is based off of actual events in the opening stages of the War on Terror, and it is the epitome of a story told by somebody who has walked the walk. Zastrow, himself a veteran of Special Forces, told the story of an Operational Detachment Alpha (ODA) that was sent to spearhead the invasion of Afghanistan. It is told in a very documentary style format, but since it is not a documentary or a pure historical account, it is branded as fiction.
Furthermore, an organic ODA has twelve operators (in the book, I counted nine, ten once a certain character joined the team). It is VERY hard to personalize twelve people, or ten people. In fact, I have found through personal experience that six is pushing it. Zastrow tries his best, but at the end of the day, it's a fictional historical book, not so much traditonal fiction.
With these facts in mind, I began to thoroughly enjoy THE DEGÜELLO. It is indeed very accurate, and bears the mark of a writer who has conducted such operations. As an infantryman trained in many of the tactics detailed within, I can say with certainty that it is an authentic war novel, and as a military geek, it was an absolute pleasure to read.
There were a couple of things that could be improved. Despite knowing its true designation as far as books go, I still feel a little more could have been done to flesh out the characters, though Scott and Calvin stood out to me by far and large. Also, I do wish there was more fleshing out of the Taliban commander, as well as Triple Nickel's plan to respond to his attacks. Nonetheless, these points do not detract from the overall enjoyability of the novel.
Would I recommend this book to a layman only looking for an action thriller? No. Would I recommend it to a layman wanting to know more about Army Special Forces and the War on Terror? A thousand times, YES. And I would also recommend it to any service member looking to see how it's done on the SOF side of the fence.
Well done, Mr. Zastrow!
June 4, 2012
Wow, all I can say is wow. I have read most of the books concerning the early days of the Afghanistan war post 9/11 but NONE of them felt as real to me as this particular story. As a military vet, it was refreshing to see an author go against the grain and put truth to paper. This book was written by a soldier, a true warrior, who doesn't hide his flaws or build himself up. Just the opposite, actually. He tells it like it is from the perspective of the Special Forces Team on the ground. This is a War book, yes. But it is so much more. You get a true insight into these men, and the characters that make up the characters. You see their personalities in each chapter. All the while, in occupied territory, with no big army for support, and no way out but through. While Oprah and Dr Phil portray every soldier that heard a boom on the battlefield since 2001 as a damaged commodity to the rest of us, these men fought (and continue to fight) silently with no publicity or recognition. Some men were just born to be warriors and can experience horrific things and still sleep like a baby. I'm glad this particular warrior put pen to paper and shared his story with us.
February 18, 2012
JUST WEEKS AFTER the attacks of September 11, 2001, a small number of elite special were inserted into northern Afghanistan. The Degüello, by Special Forces veteran Scott Zastrow, tells the story of the first unit to deploy: ODA 555, or 'Triple Nickel,' an A-Team from Ft. Campbell, Kentucky's 5th Special Forces Group (Airborne). Accompanied by an Air Force combat controller, the ten-man team infiltrated northern Afghanistan's Panjshir Valley by helicopter. Their mission was to link up with Northern Alliance fighters, train and prepare them for an eventual advance on Kabul, and prep the battlespace for a follow-on invasion of coalition forces.
Though titularly a work of historical military fiction, The Degüello's content is made up almost entirely of truth hidden behind a paper-thin veneer of slightly altered events and identities (a necessity for operational security reasons). Within the relatively short (238 pp.) text, Zastrow recounts Triple Nickel's exploits and experiences, from 9/11 to the capture of Kabul, in the fast-paced and personal style of a writer who personally experienced the events he is writing about.
THE TEXT IS broken up into two parts, each of which is made up of several short, highly-readable chapters, and which primarily take place in two geographic locations. The majority of the first 89 pages takes place on Fort Campbell, Kentucky, and encompasses the events of 9/11 and the team's isolation and preparation for deployment. Zastrow delivers a detailed recounting of team members' reactions as they learned of the attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon, as well as of the rampant speculation that resulted from a handful of A-Teams, Triple Nickel among them, being sequestered in 5th Group's Isolation Facility (ISOFAC) in preparation for mission briefing and deployment. In addition, the departure scenes he includes – one of a single soldier, and one poignant scene of a soldier who is leaving behind a young family – afford the reader a brief look inside the personal lives of the men who make up the ranks of this elite career field.
Part 1 concludes with the team's departure from Karshi-Khanabad (K2) air base in Uzbekistan in MH-47 helicopters bound for Afghanistan, where the remainder of The Degüello takes place. Triple Nickel's struggle to communicate with and train Northern Alliance fighters is realistically and often humorously portrayed, as are the team's efforts to eliminate key Taliban targets and personnel in the vicinity of Bagram air base – efforts that include everything from air strikes and small arms to a cleverly-implemented improvised explosive device (IED). Zastrow vividly describes several combat scenes, recounting everything from the sights and smells of close quarters combat, to the risk of friendly-fire casualties, to calls for emergency close air support. Part 2 culminates in the assault on Kabul, the rescue of foreign missionaries who had been taken captive by the Taliban, and the retaking of the long-abandoned U.S. Embassy compound.
THOUGH THIS SUBJECT matter has been covered in differing depth by other writers, the first-person knowledge and passion Zastrow brings to the narrative makes this portrayal of Triple Nickel's exploits unique. One particular area where the author excels is his depiction of Special Forces soldiers as people – incredibly competent and deadly people, but people all the same. In an interview with Digital Book Today , Zastrow characterized the team's members as "a group of guys from the 'Isle of Misfit Toys' who can go from Jackass to Professional at the drop of a hat when the situation calls for it." By not shying away from his characters' relationships, interactions, strengths, and frailties, he successfully demonstrates the range of roles and behaviors that Triple Nickel's members were capable of. The end result is a portrayal of these elite soldiers that almost any reader will be able to relate to in some form.
The few issues with The Degüello largely stem from its status as a self-published book. Typos and small punctuational and grammatical errors that would have been caught by a professional editor are present, and the absence of pictures and maps is noticeably contrasts with the book's visual nature, geographic references, and specific mentions of photographs being taken by and of team members. Such errors and omissions, which are products of the limited budget with which self-publishers are frequently saddled, would likely be remedied in the event of a second printing or of the book's purchase by a major publishing, and they do not take away from the story itself or the skill with which Zastrow tells it.
FAST-PACED AND engaging, The Degüello is a must-read for anybody who is interested in Special Forces, the war in Afghanistan, or the events immediately following the 9/11 attacks on America. It is available in both hard copy and Kindle formats, and is the kind of once-in-a-lifetime war story that readers will not be able to put down until the last page has been turned.
Though titularly a work of historical military fiction, The Degüello's content is made up almost entirely of truth hidden behind a paper-thin veneer of slightly altered events and identities (a necessity for operational security reasons). Within the relatively short (238 pp.) text, Zastrow recounts Triple Nickel's exploits and experiences, from 9/11 to the capture of Kabul, in the fast-paced and personal style of a writer who personally experienced the events he is writing about.
THE TEXT IS broken up into two parts, each of which is made up of several short, highly-readable chapters, and which primarily take place in two geographic locations. The majority of the first 89 pages takes place on Fort Campbell, Kentucky, and encompasses the events of 9/11 and the team's isolation and preparation for deployment. Zastrow delivers a detailed recounting of team members' reactions as they learned of the attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon, as well as of the rampant speculation that resulted from a handful of A-Teams, Triple Nickel among them, being sequestered in 5th Group's Isolation Facility (ISOFAC) in preparation for mission briefing and deployment. In addition, the departure scenes he includes – one of a single soldier, and one poignant scene of a soldier who is leaving behind a young family – afford the reader a brief look inside the personal lives of the men who make up the ranks of this elite career field.
Part 1 concludes with the team's departure from Karshi-Khanabad (K2) air base in Uzbekistan in MH-47 helicopters bound for Afghanistan, where the remainder of The Degüello takes place. Triple Nickel's struggle to communicate with and train Northern Alliance fighters is realistically and often humorously portrayed, as are the team's efforts to eliminate key Taliban targets and personnel in the vicinity of Bagram air base – efforts that include everything from air strikes and small arms to a cleverly-implemented improvised explosive device (IED). Zastrow vividly describes several combat scenes, recounting everything from the sights and smells of close quarters combat, to the risk of friendly-fire casualties, to calls for emergency close air support. Part 2 culminates in the assault on Kabul, the rescue of foreign missionaries who had been taken captive by the Taliban, and the retaking of the long-abandoned U.S. Embassy compound.
THOUGH THIS SUBJECT matter has been covered in differing depth by other writers, the first-person knowledge and passion Zastrow brings to the narrative makes this portrayal of Triple Nickel's exploits unique. One particular area where the author excels is his depiction of Special Forces soldiers as people – incredibly competent and deadly people, but people all the same. In an interview with Digital Book Today , Zastrow characterized the team's members as "a group of guys from the 'Isle of Misfit Toys' who can go from Jackass to Professional at the drop of a hat when the situation calls for it." By not shying away from his characters' relationships, interactions, strengths, and frailties, he successfully demonstrates the range of roles and behaviors that Triple Nickel's members were capable of. The end result is a portrayal of these elite soldiers that almost any reader will be able to relate to in some form.
The few issues with The Degüello largely stem from its status as a self-published book. Typos and small punctuational and grammatical errors that would have been caught by a professional editor are present, and the absence of pictures and maps is noticeably contrasts with the book's visual nature, geographic references, and specific mentions of photographs being taken by and of team members. Such errors and omissions, which are products of the limited budget with which self-publishers are frequently saddled, would likely be remedied in the event of a second printing or of the book's purchase by a major publishing, and they do not take away from the story itself or the skill with which Zastrow tells it.
FAST-PACED AND engaging, The Degüello is a must-read for anybody who is interested in Special Forces, the war in Afghanistan, or the events immediately following the 9/11 attacks on America. It is available in both hard copy and Kindle formats, and is the kind of once-in-a-lifetime war story that readers will not be able to put down until the last page has been turned.
February 1, 2012
Book Review: The Deguello (Scott Zastrow)
By Andrea Fuentes
GoodBooksToday.com Contributor
As a US Army medic myself I found The Deguello more than captivating. On more than one occasion I found myself with chills completely engulfed within Zastrow's story. I have always been envious of my male counter parts that got to train and join the elite forces of the military, wishing on multiple occasions that I was born a man, just so I could be a part of the team.
This story made those fantasies even stronger as I read the mesmerizing encounters of the A Team that made history infiltrating Afghanistan after the horrific terrorist attack of September 11th, 2001.
I was amazed at the intimate details of locations that I have actually been to, such as Fort Campbell, KY and Ali Al Salem, Kuwait. Zastrow also brought the realistic humor of the Soldier to the forefront of his book, causing me to outright laugh on multiple occasions, again portraying the accuracy of the account.
Military men have a way of handling the real-life fear of death with humor, cracking jokes at any moment they can and harassing their comrades with the kind of treatment brother would do. I found myself recounting the many wise-ass comments made to me and the remarkable similarity they had to the ones in the book.
As put out by Zastrow, The Degello is for Joe referring to the soldier. Military historians have recounted many stories of the events that occurred after that infamous day, but rarely are they attractive to the men (and women) that were and are still fighting this battle. Bringing tears to my eyes as I read through the chapters and causing my heart to yearn for the anatomy to be part of a team like the Triple Nickle, I would recommend this book to any service member I encountered. I also was impressed by the use of quotes to begin each chapter, giving a lead into the contents and serving as an easy take away. Hands down this has got to be one of the best historical books on this tragic event. As a member of the military it was great to hear about the very beginning and feel as though I was there, as I and many of my fellow soldiers have felt in the years after this all began. I salute Scott Zastrow for his commendable book The Degello.
http://goodbookstoday.com/aftgreview
By Andrea Fuentes
GoodBooksToday.com Contributor
As a US Army medic myself I found The Deguello more than captivating. On more than one occasion I found myself with chills completely engulfed within Zastrow's story. I have always been envious of my male counter parts that got to train and join the elite forces of the military, wishing on multiple occasions that I was born a man, just so I could be a part of the team.
This story made those fantasies even stronger as I read the mesmerizing encounters of the A Team that made history infiltrating Afghanistan after the horrific terrorist attack of September 11th, 2001.
I was amazed at the intimate details of locations that I have actually been to, such as Fort Campbell, KY and Ali Al Salem, Kuwait. Zastrow also brought the realistic humor of the Soldier to the forefront of his book, causing me to outright laugh on multiple occasions, again portraying the accuracy of the account.
Military men have a way of handling the real-life fear of death with humor, cracking jokes at any moment they can and harassing their comrades with the kind of treatment brother would do. I found myself recounting the many wise-ass comments made to me and the remarkable similarity they had to the ones in the book.
As put out by Zastrow, The Degello is for Joe referring to the soldier. Military historians have recounted many stories of the events that occurred after that infamous day, but rarely are they attractive to the men (and women) that were and are still fighting this battle. Bringing tears to my eyes as I read through the chapters and causing my heart to yearn for the anatomy to be part of a team like the Triple Nickle, I would recommend this book to any service member I encountered. I also was impressed by the use of quotes to begin each chapter, giving a lead into the contents and serving as an easy take away. Hands down this has got to be one of the best historical books on this tragic event. As a member of the military it was great to hear about the very beginning and feel as though I was there, as I and many of my fellow soldiers have felt in the years after this all began. I salute Scott Zastrow for his commendable book The Degello.
http://goodbookstoday.com/aftgreview
July 3, 2012
September 11, 2001 a date that will live in infamy, as well as in our hearts for the tragedy, suffering and loss of human lives that were taken by evil acts of terrorism.
Scott Zastrow's novel, The Deguello puts the reader right into the middle of the action as the Green Berets begin their fight against the terrorists in Afghanistan.
To his credit, the author is a former Special Forces Green Beret who has served more than 20 years in the Army. Scott Zastrow has successfully used his skill with a pen and his military knowledge to write a well-written but fictional account of the actual events and battle that transpired for the first Special Forces A-Team in Afghanistan. "The Triple Nickel" team took their fight to the enemy overseas while most of us were still in shock and reeling from Commercial jets being used as bombs by terrorists to destroy the World Trade Center towers, and the Pentagon. The heroism of the passengers of a commercial jet who died when they took it upon themselves to bring down the jet being piloted by terrorists left a big hole in the countryside of Pennsylvania as well as our hearts. Who would fight for us and carry out the war on terror, if not the Green Berets of the 555th ODA?
I loved the way the author tells the story and paints the relationships of the elite team that shows their strengths, weaknesses and reciprocal action and influence. Scott uses his expertise to show what this force had to go through to prepare and what they encountered and endured.
My husband and I both read this amazing book. We felt a kinship with the Special Forces and a deep appreciation for what they did for us and continue to do, even today as they continue fighting the war on terror.
I hope everyone takes the time to read this excellent novel. I believe it will make you aware and very grateful that we have brave and courageous men like this who carry out their dangerous mission even though they are in harms way and could lose their life or be crippled for life. I can't begin to thank the author enough for his service to our country and for writing this intriguing novel.
I believe it is a story about war that you won't be able to put down until you read the very last page.
Jeannie Walker - Award Winning Author
Scott Zastrow's novel, The Deguello puts the reader right into the middle of the action as the Green Berets begin their fight against the terrorists in Afghanistan.
To his credit, the author is a former Special Forces Green Beret who has served more than 20 years in the Army. Scott Zastrow has successfully used his skill with a pen and his military knowledge to write a well-written but fictional account of the actual events and battle that transpired for the first Special Forces A-Team in Afghanistan. "The Triple Nickel" team took their fight to the enemy overseas while most of us were still in shock and reeling from Commercial jets being used as bombs by terrorists to destroy the World Trade Center towers, and the Pentagon. The heroism of the passengers of a commercial jet who died when they took it upon themselves to bring down the jet being piloted by terrorists left a big hole in the countryside of Pennsylvania as well as our hearts. Who would fight for us and carry out the war on terror, if not the Green Berets of the 555th ODA?
I loved the way the author tells the story and paints the relationships of the elite team that shows their strengths, weaknesses and reciprocal action and influence. Scott uses his expertise to show what this force had to go through to prepare and what they encountered and endured.
My husband and I both read this amazing book. We felt a kinship with the Special Forces and a deep appreciation for what they did for us and continue to do, even today as they continue fighting the war on terror.
I hope everyone takes the time to read this excellent novel. I believe it will make you aware and very grateful that we have brave and courageous men like this who carry out their dangerous mission even though they are in harms way and could lose their life or be crippled for life. I can't begin to thank the author enough for his service to our country and for writing this intriguing novel.
I believe it is a story about war that you won't be able to put down until you read the very last page.
Jeannie Walker - Award Winning Author
October 15, 2012
When I first got this book, I will admit I was very nervous to read this. This type book is out is way out of my comfort zone but I was like hey...what the hell. Now this book made me cry and laugh all in one. Maybe because I live the military lifestyle but I could not have to chuckle about the inside stories and contest among the men, cry about the guys leaving and not knowing, and getting a inside look of what the men may think. I had to put the book down a couple of times because it brought tears in my eyes.
I love how each chapter was set up and the quotes.
I was really surprised with this book and how well the author connected with the audience.
I love how each chapter was set up and the quotes.
I was really surprised with this book and how well the author connected with the audience.
August 19, 2012
This is a book that I could not put it down. The way it is written keeps the reader engaged and keeps the pages turning. The character development was well done and really blends into the story well. The authors idea of breaking it into two parts was great. Part I describes the time frame from 9/11 up to deployment and Part II is the time in Afghanistan. If you like stories about the military's actions in Afghanistan, this is for you. This really should be made into a movie. I commend Scott on putting together a well written book and ODA 555 for making America proud.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews