INTO THE HEART OF DARKNESS

This came across the email machine from Alex Quade - just in time for Memorial Day weekend; Alex's way of saying thanks to all who've served our nation. This story about a 10th Special Forces Group Operational Detachment "Alpha" in combat required years of blood-sweat-and-tears . . . and fighting to get it finally told - S.L.


War reporter Alex Quade covering 10th Special Forces Group. (Photo courtesy Alex Quade)

A disclaimer: Freelance War Reporter Alex Quade embedded long-term with Operational Detachment Alpha Teams of the 10th Special Forces Group in Diyala province, Iraq in 2007 and 2008. One of those “A- Teams” was ODA-072. Quade covered their pre-mission training at Fort Carson, Colorado and followed up with them and their families through the years. Per Special Operations Command embed guidelines: no last names of operators were used; military public affairs officers in Iraq, as well as at Fort Carson reviewed every frame of Quade’s video to ensure no techniques, tactics & procedures are revealed. Also, 10th Special Forces Group Operational Detachment number designations changed after 2007. Most Team members retired or moved on. They shared their personal photos. Alex Quade returned to Diyala Province repeatedly to cover U.S. troop movements and progress. 6-years later, she is allowed to share more information and locations, since U.S. forces and bases are no longer there, after the U.S. military departure

‘The House That Rob Built’: Special Forces Combat Outpost Pirelli, Part 1

“We refer to the area as ‘the heart of darkness’. It’s truly the heart of al-Qaeda controlled territory right now,” Jones stated. “There’s heavily-mined roads, large amounts of al-Qaeda reinforcements within kilometers of each other.”

The Iranians were there, too.



Read the rest of Part 1 HERE . . . Part 2 will air online on Monday/Memorial Day - mucho sunshine - Alex.


Thank YOU Alex for all your hard work and sacrifice, to honor these brave men.

- STORMBRINGER