Dept. of Defense Gives Take on ’12 Strong' Movie’s Accuracy

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DoD Advises on ’12 Strong,’ Gives Take on Movie’s Accuracy

January 18, 2018
By Katie Lange
Defense Media Activity

Those of us who are old enough to remember the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, have vivid memories of that day. But the military mission launched in retaliation isn’t one most of us heard anything about until years later. Now, it’s being depicted on the big screen.

“12 Strong” comes out this weekend and is based on what happened when a 12-man U.S. Special Forces team was inserted into Afghanistan just weeks after the attacks on 9/11. The team, which was one of the first boots on the ground, worked with feuding local warlords and resistance fighters to take down the Taliban regime that was harboring al-Qaida.

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Caption: 12-man teams from the U.S. Army Special Operations Command’s 5th Special Forces Group were the first ground soldiers of the war on terrorism following 9/11. Some of the Green Berets found themselves riding horses. U.S. Army Special Operations Command photo

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The operation, dubbed Task Force Dagger, is still considered one of the most successful unconventional warfare mission in U.S. history.

The soldiers depicted in the movie were Green Berets assigned to the 5th Special Forces Group. They became famous not just because of their success against the Taliban but also because many of them did so on horseback – the first to ride to war that way since World War II – and they did it with only small weapons, while the Taliban enemy had tanks armed with artillery, mortars and rocket-propelled grenades.

The Americans also had key air power from the Air Force backing them up … but still.

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Caption: The Green Berets were the first ground soldiers of the war on terrorism following 9/11. Their mission was to destroy the Taliban regime and deny Al-Qaeda sanctuary in Afghanistan. Some of the Green Berets found themselves riding horses, becoming the first American soldiers to ride to war on horseback since World War II. U.S. Army Special Operations Command photo

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Forever after that, the members of Task Force Dagger were known as the “horse soldiers,” who have become an iconic image of adaptability, skill and courage that characterizes the Special Forces.

How the Movie Matches Up: ...

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https://www.dodlive.mil/2018/01/18/dod-advises-on-12-strong-gives-take-on-movies-accuracy/