BLUF: This is a badass book written by Dan Schilling, retired Combat Controller and STO.
If you don't know who John Chapman is and you're on this board...haze yourself. We have a thread out there that I'll add to this post in a bit. Short version, Chappy was a CCT who lost his life on Takur Ghar (Robert's Ridge) in March 2002 during Operation Anaconda. I won't recount his extraordinary tale becuase it is in the thread that I'll link.
The book is great, well written, and well researched. Schilling and co-author Lori Longfritz did an incredible job of tracking down the participants in the battle including the myriad of Controllers who were in and around Takur Ghar during the fight. The description of coordination, including some radio transcripts, is excellent. The book is a great companion to Not a Good Day to Die and Robert's Ridge, also excellent books.
Alone at Dawn covers Chapman's life and career while also covering some CCT history and explanation of their jobs. It understandably is favorable to The Unit while not so favorable to ST-6's leadership or the award upgrade debacle from a few years ago.
Chapman's last stand on Takur Ghar is covered in excrutiating detail thanks to declassified ISR imagery. The chapters dealing with the aftermath, memorials, etc. were very hard to read, understandably emotional. Interviews throughout the book were sourced and not the standard "couldn't talk because they are not allowed which means they shouldn't talk" crap.
Great book, go buy a copy.
ETA: Tech. Sergeant John Chapman To Be Awarded The Medal Of Honor and the thread about Slabinski: MoH to be awarded to SOCM Slabinski
If you don't know who John Chapman is and you're on this board...haze yourself. We have a thread out there that I'll add to this post in a bit. Short version, Chappy was a CCT who lost his life on Takur Ghar (Robert's Ridge) in March 2002 during Operation Anaconda. I won't recount his extraordinary tale becuase it is in the thread that I'll link.
The book is great, well written, and well researched. Schilling and co-author Lori Longfritz did an incredible job of tracking down the participants in the battle including the myriad of Controllers who were in and around Takur Ghar during the fight. The description of coordination, including some radio transcripts, is excellent. The book is a great companion to Not a Good Day to Die and Robert's Ridge, also excellent books.
Alone at Dawn covers Chapman's life and career while also covering some CCT history and explanation of their jobs. It understandably is favorable to The Unit while not so favorable to ST-6's leadership or the award upgrade debacle from a few years ago.
Chapman's last stand on Takur Ghar is covered in excrutiating detail thanks to declassified ISR imagery. The chapters dealing with the aftermath, memorials, etc. were very hard to read, understandably emotional. Interviews throughout the book were sourced and not the standard "couldn't talk because they are not allowed which means they shouldn't talk" crap.
Great book, go buy a copy.
ETA: Tech. Sergeant John Chapman To Be Awarded The Medal Of Honor and the thread about Slabinski: MoH to be awarded to SOCM Slabinski
