Those Who Face Death: The Untold Story of Special Forces and the Iraqi Kurdish Resistance

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Mark Grdovic

Those Who Face Death

The Untold Story of Special Forces and the Iraqi Kurdish Resistance

Mark Grdovic

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English

Copper Mountain Books
19 August 2025

Biography: historical, political & military; 21st century history: from c 2000 -; Military history; Special & elite forces

Spring, 2003.

A small group of Special Forces and CIA operatives must establish a second front to tie down the Iraqi Army in the north to support the pending US-led invasion in the south.

The mission sounds simple. The reality is anything but.

The plan is to infiltrate into Iraq ahead of the invasion, link up with the Kurdish Peshmerga, and coordinate their efforts against the Iraqi Army.

The Peshmerga, which translates to those who face death,

have risen up several times in the recent past, only to be abandoned by the US and subsequently slaughtered by the Iraqi army.

Before the Special Forces have any chance of posing a viable threat to the Iraqi Army, they must first convince the Kurdish factions to put their differences aside, resolve the issue of Turkey's wavering support, and neutralize an Islamist group that has seized Kurdish territory along the Iraq-Iran border.

The details of the invasion are classified. The clock is ticking, and time is running out.

Once in Iraq, there will be no extraction, medical evacuation, or air support until the war begins. The Green Berets will be on their own.

Those Who Face Death is the incredible true story of this little-known special operation and a testament to the courage, skill, and perseverance of the US Special Forces in the face of overwhelming odds.

By: Mark Grdovic
Imprint: Copper Mountain Books
Dimensions: Height: 229mm, Width: 152mm, Spine: 15mm
Weight: 345g
ISBN: 9781963781069
ISBN 10: 1963781066
Pages: 254
Publication Date: 19 August 2025
Audience: General/trade , ELT Advanced
Format: Paperback
Publisher's Status: Active

LTC (RET) Mark Grdovic served with the US Army for over 23 years, including 19 years as a Special Forces officer. He served with the 10th Special Forces Group, the US Army John F. Kennedy Special Warfare Center, US Army Special Operations Command (USASOC), Special Operations Command Central (SOCCENT) and the White House Military Office (WHMO). His experience includes multiple deployments to Bosnia, Iraq, and Afghanistan and crisis response operations in Europe and Africa. Since retirement in 2012, he has served as a defense consultant and contractor supporting USSOCOM in a variety of capacities. LTC (Ret.) Grdovic holds a Master's degree in National Defense Studies from King's College London. He lives in Florida with his wife, Gretchen.

Reviews for Those Who Face Death: The Untold Story of Special Forces and the Iraqi Kurdish Resistance

""Those Who Face Death is a gripping, first-hand account of one of the most consequential but overlooked campaigns of the Iraq War by one of America's true experts in unconventional warfare. More than a war story, this book is filled with history that cannot be read anywhere else, dramatic and humorous anecdotes, and lessons that have timeless relevance. This is a must read for any military professional. It should be mandatory for every Special Forces student in the qualification course."" -COL (Ret.) David Maxwell Vice President, Center for Asia Pacific Strategy Senior Fellow, Global Peace Foundation Editor, Small Wars Journal ""Mark Grdovic is one of the greatest warrior-thinkers of his generation and the intellectual engine behind the plan to conduct unconventional warfare in Northern Iraq in 2003. Reminiscent of the Operational Groups of the Office of Strategic Services in World War II, Those Who Face Death is a must read for anyone interested in gaining a better understanding of Special Forces and unconventional warfare."" -Christopher Miller Former Acting US Secretary of Defense ""Those Who Face Death is the incredible story of how 10th Special Forces Group transformed the Kurdish militias into a ""fifth column"" in support of the US-led invasion. Mark is without question one of the leading subject matter experts on unconventional warfare. He makes the reader feel like they are a part of the operation while weaving in critical lessons."" -Stu Bradin President/CEO Global SOF Foundation ""History is replete with stories of soldiers doing the seemingly impossible in the face of overwhelming odds. Mark has created a riveting account of this critical piece of US Army and special operations history, finally providing some long overdue context and perspective."" -Dr Dennis Walters, Director US Department of Defense, Irregular Warfare Center