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Alone at Dawn cover art

Alone at Dawn

By: Dan Schilling, Lori Longfritz
Narrated by: Kiff VandenHeuvel, Betsy Foldes Meiman
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Summary

The astonishing true account of John Chapman, Medal of Honor recipient and Special Ops Combat Controller, and his heroic one-man stand during the Afghan War, as he sacrificed his life to save the lives of 23 comrades-in-arms.

In the predawn hours of March 4, 2002, just below the 10,000-foot peak of a mountain in eastern Afghanistan, a fierce battle raged. Outnumbered by Al Qaeda fighters, Air Force Combat Controller John Chapman and a handful of SEALs struggled to take the summit in a desperate bid to find a lost teammate. Chapman, leading the charge, was gravely wounded in the initial assault. Believing he was dead, his SEAL leader ordered a retreat. Chapman regained consciousness, alone with the enemy closing in on three sides, beginning the most difficult and exceptional fight of his life.

John Chapman's incredible display of valor - first by saving the lives of his SEAL teammates and then, aware that he was mortally wounded, single-handedly engaging two dozen hardened fighters to save the lives of an incoming rescue squad - posthumously earned him the Medal of Honor. Chapman is the first airman in nearly 50 years to be given the distinction reserved for America's greatest heroes.

Alone at Dawn is also a behind-the-scenes look at the Air Force Combat Controllers: the world's deadliest and most versatile special operations force, whose members must not only exceed the qualifications of Navy SEAL and Army Delta Force teams, but also act with sharp decisiveness and deft precision - even in the face of life-threatening danger.

Drawing from firsthand accounts, classified documents, dramatic video footage, and extensive interviews with leaders and survivors of the operation, Alone at Dawn is the story of an extraordinary man's brave last stand and the brotherhood that forged him.

PLEASE NOTE: When you purchase this title, the accompanying PDF will be available in your Audible Library along with the audio.

©2019 Dan Schilling and Lori Longfritz (P)2019 Grand Central Publishing

Critic reviews

"The men who serve in Combat Control whose incredible story is presented in this book aren't asking for recognition. No late night talk show, video game, or film could possibly begin to convey the intensity of the experience, the fear, the sense of duty and valor, the bonds that unite these men and, above all, the inner feelings and motivation of someone who has stepped up and accepted the challenge of this toughest of Missions." (Jeffrey "Skunk" Baxter, musician, national security specialist)

"Alone at Dawn is riveting and powerful. This stunning account reveals for the first time one of the most extraordinary acts of valor and courage in the annals of US history. With this book, USAF CCT John Chapman now rightfully takes his place as an iconic hero of the Afghanistan War. All Americans should honor and enshrine the memory of such undaunted self-sacrifice and valor." [Lt. Col. Dave Grossman, USA (ret.), author of On Killing, On Combat, and Assassination Generation]

"As one of our nation's most elite special operations forces, Combat Controllers not only jump, dive, shoot, and maneuver with the best, they uniquely combine these skills with absolute mastery of three-dimensional battlespace to deliver lethal and precision airpower, making them the deadliest force on any battlefield. Among even this exceptional and select brotherhood, John Chapman's heroism on Takur Ghar is without equal in America's longest war." [Lt. Gen. Donny Wurster, USAF (ret.), former commander, Air Force Special Operations Command]

What listeners say about Alone at Dawn

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    4 out of 5 stars

It will be a great read but the performer lets this down

I was enjoying the book but Kiff VandenHeuvel has driven me to the decision to return this title on Audible. Firstly, there is no ‘W’ in February. Secondly, with a simple google check he could have found out that the word ‘Aussie’ was pronounced ‘Ozy’ NOT ‘arsey’. Hearing him miss pronounce just these two words has driven me mad.

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6 people found this helpful

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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

A powerful and tragic story of gallantry and rank stupidity

The narration is excellent, the story powerful and the individuals at the heart of this are humanised and their efforts burnished by fine research and sympathetic re-telling.
It’s also about the idiotic mess and needless sacrifice that military egos sometimes bring about when they move from the tactical to the strategic, even when they represent elite warriors.
It is not unpatriotic to criticise these people even if their actions are more greatly good. It’s clear from ‘Alone At Dawn’ that these egos went to some lengths to obfuscate and distance themselves from subsequent enquiries into this operation.
John Chapman deserves the MOH. He also deserved better.
A great book, a great man, a great shame.
RIP M/Sgt J Chapman.

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2 people found this helpful

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aweful narrator again. Over the top american

just so typical narrator spoiling it and then it's the typical American line "combat controllers are the best of the best of the best of the best. blablabla. I couldn't listen longer than 5 minutes sadly.

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2 people found this helpful

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A Must Read

Not only are accounts of CCTs rare but the level of detail in this book is phenomenal. I was led to buy the book having watched the IR drone footage of Chapmans battle on Robert's ridge and having read Robert's Ridge prior. What he did is clear and there is recorded footage, how he did it, god only knows. I had similar emotions reading this as to those I felt reading Black Hawk Down and the account of Randy Shughart and Gary Gordon. Bravery beyond measure. I will keep this in my library but it's a hard read considering the litany of errors that led to the events taking place.

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1 person found this helpful

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Interesting

This book is not about the main character it is about how he got into the CCT and when he went to Afghanistan but then it becomes like a crime thirler until the end then it goes into praising the CCT as being the best in the US and the world maybe more should be written so people can decide.
On that note I would recommend as there is some big FUBAR that goes on but you will have to listen to the book or read it.

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1 person found this helpful

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Interesting tale about people you never heard of.

Very interesting tale of a team of people who work along side the most trained people in the world yet we have never heard of them ! great read without waving too many flags and rubbing patriotism in your face.

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1 person found this helpful

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amazing

absolutely amazing it needs to be made in to a movie
such a great story

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True heroic story

Ace audio book a definite must read for anyone interested in Special operations and the GWOT as a whole

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A true hero.

A truly inspirational account of a man who sacrificed his life for others, some of whom abandoned him, assuming that he was dead.
This account puts the often overestimated SEALS into perspective. It was ultimately their arrogance at so many levels which led to the death of John Chapman. A lot can be said for the policy of only recruiting special forces operators from the existing conventional forces.

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A must read

Lest we forget.
Heroic things happen in a time of need.
Selfless and u understanding what needs to be done

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