Master Sergeant (Ret.) Darrell Utt has displayed a commitment to excellence and extraordinary service throughout his decorated military career, consistently exemplifying the qualities of a dedicated and exemplary leader. Raised in Huntington, West Virginia, Utt joined the elite Green Berets and led high-stakes missions in hostile environments worldwide. Known for his tactical acumen and strategic thinking, Utt's leadership combines humility, discipline, and dedication, inspiring his team and fostering unity. He also mentors aspiring soldiers and Green Berets, sharing his knowledge and instilling values of courage, selfless service, duty, and loyalty.Utt's awards include five Bronze Star Medals, one with valor for heroism in Baghdad (2006), and the Larry Thorne Award for best operational detachment in the tenth Special Forces Group (Airborne). He also received the Robert T. Frederick Award for military excellence in 2007. Utt retired from the US Army in January 2017 and now resides with his wife in Denton County, Texas. Lauren Ungeldi, a celebrated bestselling author and international speaker, is widely recognized for her collaborations with prominent world leaders, business tycoons, politicians, spies, war veterans, and media personalities. Her powerful storytelling has produced numerous acclaimed and bestselling nonfiction books that captivate audiences worldwide. With a wealth of global travel experiences shaping her unique perspective on current events, Lauren enjoys exploring diverse food cultures, engaging in adventure sports, and embarking on new travel adventures during her leisure time.
""A raw and highly worthy book, Grit to Glory takes you straight to the front lines in Northeast Baghdad in a complicated era when death surrounded Special Forces troops day and night. Green Beret Darrell Utt is a quiet sledgehammer of a military leader. His story is filled with humanity, action, intensity, and grit. I found myself humbled and awed, filled with gratitude, while reading about his overseas accounts."" -Marcus Brotherton, New York Times bestselling author of We Who Are Alive and Remain and The Long March Home ""A humbling look at what grit really means, Grit to Glory is the fascinating journey of a boy from small-town West Virginia to the streets of Baghdad as an elite US Army Green Beret. It's a wild ride of extraordinary stories filled with invaluable lessons for any reader. I am grateful to call Darrell a friend, proud to call him a fellow American, and honored to call him a brother in arms."" -Kyle Carpenter, US Marine, author of You Are Worth It: Building a Life Worth Fighting For, speaker, Medal of Honor recipient ""Darrell Utt's and ODA 043's journey through the height of the Iraq conflict adds a powerful chapter to the annals of war history, and his Grit Code is a valuable tool applicable to any life or profession."" -Dan Schilling, New York Times bestselling author and thirty-year Special Operations Forces veteran