One Green Beret: Bosnia, Kosovo, Iraq, and beyond: 15 Extraordinary years in the life - 1996-2011

by Mark Giaconia

3rd Edition. Before the Iraq war in 2003, Green Beret teams infiltrated Northern Iraq, linked up with the CIA, and embedded deeply with the Kurdish Peshmerga to prepare for war. These special missions were called “Advanced Force Operations.” Subsequently, these special teams brought in the rest of the Green Berets during an operation called "the Ugly Baby." Then, one of the most significant battles in Special Forces history "Operation Viking Hammer," where six Green Beret teams along with a handful of CIA and Air Force Special Ops personnel, combined with approximately 8000 Peshmerga, took back hundreds of square kilometers from almost 1000 Ansar Al Islam extremists, and secured a poison production facility of national level significance. This book is the only firsthand account of these essential Unconventional Warfare operations, written by an operator who was there. In addition to describing these historically significant Special Operations missions, "One Green Beret" also details a 15-year career in the Green Berets that includes many unique experiences, such as joint operations alongside Russian Spetznaz on the northern border of Kosovo, and postwar operations in Bosnia embedded deeply with the locals. Mark Giaconia questions everything, and provides a VERY humble, sobering, and human perspective on war, military service, and strategic considerations. One Green Beret is very inspiring, and conveys the author’s personal evolution from gunslinger to educated computer scientist; a true tale of “post traumatic growth.”

Genres: History, Military Fiction

262 pages, Kindle Edition

Published May 12, 2018

About the author

Mark Giaconia served 20 years in the US Army Special Forces and Retired in 2011. He was born and raised in eastern Connecticut. He holds a B.A. in English Lit, and an M.S. in Software Engineering. Mark served in Bosnia, Kosovo, Kyrgyzstan, and Iraq, and after his postwar intellectual evolution he spent his last 8 years in the Army as what might be the world’s first Active Duty Green Beret Computer Scientist. Mark holds two awards for valor from combat actions in Iraq and Kosovo (Bronze Star with “V” and an ARCOM with “V” respectively). He successfully completed some of the toughest military training in the world, such as the Special Forces Qualification Course, Ranger School, Airborne and Jumpmaster School, Mountaineering schools, three different Sniper Schools, ASOT, and many more. Mark is also an accomplished Flamenco Guitarist, impressionist oil painter, woodworker, computer programmer, data scientist, and loves studying philosophy.

Reviews

[Hatim Qa · Rating 3 out of 5]

سمعته ككتاب صوتي (التسجيل كان بالذكاء الاصطناعي وكان طبيعي بنسبة كبيرة لدرجة مخيفة).. لا يخلو من فكرة أن أمريكا هي من ستحقق السلام في العالم والهراء المعتاد في هذا النوع من الكتب.. أعجبني أنه في أغلب المناطق الي تحدث فيها عن الصراعات (خصوصا في البلقان) كان يسرد وجهة نظر كل جانب..

[Mathew Sebring · Rating 5 out of 5]

Incredible book that changed how I felt over the last 20yrs

I was in the army infantry stationed in Baumholder Germany with our operations in Bosnia and Kosovo. I signed up as 11B airborne danger but when I got to ft Henning was told I'd be 11M mechanized infantry. After basic/AIR i was stationed in Baumholder B Co 1/6th ING Dec 1996. My co just got back from camp Comanche Bosnia and on R&R. During the next two yrs of training I continued to get into Ranger and airborne schools but continued to get promised and the refuse the slots. I got sniper school twice and missed it because of training. When I was a yr from my ETS date I got into SFAS by signing a 1yr extension but once completing SFAS my co recruiter told me they wanted a 4yr reinlistment to continue with SF training. I was so red up with the repeated promises that were never honored I decided to get out on my original date. I went to Kosovo with another co, saw some pretty bad thing and got injured. The injury was covered up and I ended up taking terminal leave and got out during the time my company was back in Bosnia. After 9/11 I almost reinlisted to fight the " bad guys" but was at the time making very good money as a programmer and rationalized that my taxes were paying several soldiers salaries but I've felt guilty for 20yrs wondering what if I'd stayed in and was an SF soldier. I felt like I missed " my war" and chance at glory. Then I read this book and am totally at piece knowing that my response would have been just like the authors because of my natural empathy. I am now a nurse and absolutely love helping people get better rather then hurting them. I've occasionally looked at my uniform in my closet and run my fingers over the blue infantry cord wondering " what if?". This book has put me at complete piece with my decision to leave the army infantry and I no longer feel guilty or that I missed out on glory.

[Scott Andrews · Rating 4 out of 5]

the phrase 'dont judge a book by its cover' has a whole new meaning! This is a very different book to what I was expecting. After the first chapter I wasn't sure how I felt about it, it lacked the detail I wanted in reading a first hand account of Unconventional warfare. However it swiftly takes on a new form and Its extremely thought provoking. Without a doubt its the most open and candid description of PTSD I have read, was touched by how personal the whole thing is. Very glad I stuck with it after my first thoughts, I was wrong and it delivered a captivating journey which is articulated with precision. Would recommend!

[Allen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great insight into the SF experience

Mark’s book resonated with me as I had been in many of the same countries and have similar memories of people and places.

[Andrew Downing · Rating 4 out of 5]

A unique, honest and challenging read. A new perspective on the cost of “war” from a Green Beret who earned the right to talk about it.

This book caught me by surprise and turned out to be a wonderfully introspective journey into the mind of a modern day veteran. I admire the courage it took to write this honest narrative. A point of view that would most likely cause some tension amongst other veterans. This is also a story of personal discovery that could inspire anyone to defy difficult circumstances. Thanks for the great read! Thanks for your service and heart felt perspectives too.

[Anja · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beyond awesome, real life, real war, real feelings.

After having worm a uniform most of my life, and also being wounded/ injured, the book reads better than any fiction ever could. The life combat men live is fantastic, with more excitement than words can describe, but the author does a solid job. More importantly, Mark G. adds the impact which those events have on us. Green Beret or not, we are all human, and the book reads to show what impact this sort of life leaves on our body, mind and souls. Fascinating and fantastic, I devoured this in two nights.

[Daryl · Rating 4 out of 5]

Transitions

The author describes his transitions from a Special Soldier's warrior mentality to that of a technologically oriented soldier suffering through PTSD. His personal journey through war and thoughtful revelations about war is worth reading and reflecting upon. My only issue with the book was how the chapters were organized. For me, it was somewhat disjointed and that disturbed the flow of the prose.

[Random Reader · Rating 5 out of 5]

Looks like this is "Quest For War" renamed. Great book, spans a lot of interesting missions, and the trials of life as a Green Beret who apparently had a very unique career.

[Martin Bould · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good military biography

I have as a somewhat guilty pleasure read quite a few books (both in Norwegian and English) about special forces. This is one of the better, without the gung ho bragging. It gives a somewhat nuanced (I have never done any military service) view of the challenges of this kind of life and experience. In some parts the text is a bit repetitive, but on other parts the text flows well. The book has some well written and uncomfortable descriptions of the experience of battle that I find interesting. Also the challenges of the ptsd is uncomfortable and interesting. I do recommend this book, but not as a first read in this genre.E.g this book could be read after Charlie Beckwiths book about Delta force or other books describing the challenges of passing the requirements of becoming a special forces soldier, where this book starts

[Noah Prince · Rating 3 out of 5]

Randomly read this because it was in my Kindle library. His stories, especially about Kosovo and the post- Yugoslavia environment were super interesting. Some of the later stuff when he got very involved in the early computer science scene became a bit more a bore. His writing isn’t great, but that almost makes the book better.

[Shalva Samkharadze · Rating 5 out of 5]

I found this book while watching YouTube videos about Kosovo. I've read and watched many things about the wars in Kosovo and Bosnia, but it was the first time I read a first-hand account from a Green Beret. I loved the book and the story in general. I wish every American was like him. Thank you, Mark, for your truth

[Scott Broome · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fascinating perspective, gave me a unique look at war. I see it as a Soldiers view from his perspective.

Very well written. Very graphic in the 1st few chapters, his view of his role is worth reading. I agree with some of his points.
Worth the read.

[Rob Rosas · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nothing

Nothing. Nothing. Nothing. Nothing. Nothing. Only writing this to get back to my library. Why am I stuck doing this?

[Chris Waltham · Rating 5 out of 5]

Picked this up on a whim. Had no expectations, and it ended up being a fabulous read.