American Spartan

by Tyson, Ann Scott

  I closed my eyes, no longer hearing what Imran was saying. I saw Noor Afzhal’s jaunty wave from the back of the motorcycle, his boyish smile when he arrived at the qalat holding a bouquet of flowers for me, and his wise determination as he stood tall and spoke to the American soldiers and Afghan tribesmen, hoisting his cane to underscore his words.

  When I told Jim, he bent over, put his head in his hands, and collapsed into sorrow. His body convulsed, his sobs so violent that I worried he was casting off whatever it was that held him together.

  We wept, and then I helped him slowly to his feet. I guided him to the door, threw a jacket over his shoulders, and stepped with my arm around him into the bitter, moonless night. I had to keep him moving forward, so we just walked, saying nothing. One foot in front of the other.

  From that day on, each night I lit a votive candle in front of a framed photograph of Noor Afzhal and our fractured family. In the picture, he smiled as he sat next to Jim, me, Dan, Abe, and Ish outside the kitchen of the qalat in Mangwel. Jim’s hand rested comfortably on the older man’s knee.

  One by one, the candles burned and melted. Spring came to Bethesda, with its blossoms and rustling shade. The azaleas began to open. Then one sunny morning in late May, Jim and I climbed into the pickup truck and drove south, toward the outer banks of North Carolina and Cape Hatteras. Jim wore around his neck the golden lighthouse I had given him, and also a silver lambda that was a gift from his Iraqi comrade Mack. We drove through Norfolk, Virginia, and turned onto the road that traces the outer banks—a narrow, sandy spit less than a mile wide that juts into the ocean. Waves lapped the shore on either side, and waterfowl flitted among the gnarled trees stunted by the salty breeze. As we grew closer to Hatteras lighthouse, though we still could not see it, the anticipation of reaching the place that had meant so much to us overwhelmed me, and tears began rolling down my cheeks. The lighthouse, stately in its diagonal black and white stripes, had for more than three years symbolized the beacon that Jim had to keep in his sight, the one that could guide him back and bring us together at the shore—this shore.

  We embraced later in the darkness as we stood for a long time watching its steady and hauntingly beautiful beam sweep across the vast blackness of the ocean.

  At sunrise the next morning, we walked on the beach. The tide was going out, and a cloud bank lay on a pale pink horizon above the silver sea. I wore a white satin nightgown and robe, and he was in a khaki shirt and jeans. We sat on the sand near the shore and Jim took my hand in his. With a strong, knowing look in his eyes that I will never forget, he recited for me the promises that were his wedding vows, and I did the same. He put his hands on my cheeks and kissed me for the first time as my husband. Then Jim picked up a blue glass scotch bottle that held our folded, handwritten vows, a lambda patch, and verses from Homer’s Odyssey, and hurled it into the receding tide. We watched the bottle go, but suddenly a big wave sent it bobbing back. Laughing, I ran into the surf in my nightgown, swam until I caught the bottle, and threw it out farther still. Soon it disappeared from view. We relaxed on the beach, and as the sun climbed higher in the sky, the crashing waves lulled us, soothing Jim’s mind as never before.

  All day, he played on the beach. He built an elaborate sand castle. He stood in the surf and tossed a plastic football into the waves and let the waves toss it back. The next day we climbed the 257 steps to the top of the lighthouse and looked out upon our peaceful domain. As we prepared to go, Jim sat by my side, bowed his head, and for the first time in a very long time, he prayed.

  Our marriage was all we dreamed of. One thing, though, was missing in our relationship. For more than a year, at Jim’s request, I had no name to call him by. It was an awkward absence that we both felt, and yet were helpless to fill. Everyone else could call my husband “Jim” or “Kirk,” but I was strangely deprived of that element of intimacy. Nonetheless, I understood. The man I loved and was starting a new life with was still struggling to recover his identity.

  As part of our plan to start afresh, we decided to move across the country to the Pacific Northwest. The move itself was unexpectedly hard for me. It was July and sweltering. Sorting through decades of belongings was bittersweet. Then a flash flood filled the basement with water and soaked boxfuls of my photos, letters, notebooks, children’s artwork, and baby books. I strew them across the backyard to dry in the sun. Jim proved an anchor, shifting into “accomplish the mission” mode to keep me from losing it at the last minute. Finally one evening in mid-July, we again climbed into the truck and headed west. Jim had let me know that he had many things to share, but waited until we pulled onto the highway to begin to speak.

  “I have something to tell you that I have realized in the last few days,” he said. “When it first came to me, I was unsure. But something I read in your old letters, and something you said, let me know I was right.”

  He turned to look at me and I saw his eyes welling with tears.

  “Ann, you have given me my name back,” he said. “My name is Jim.”

  Several weeks later, on September 11, 2013, Jim and I boarded a flight and began our journey back to Afghanistan.

  EPILOGUE

  RECENTLY A TRUSTED FRIEND inside the government contacted Jim. There was something he needed to know. It was sensitive.

  Jim and I decided we needed to investigate and discuss the matter face-to-face. What followed were two meetings with separate individuals with access to government information who independently relayed the same news:

  During the May 2, 2011, U.S. military raid that killed Al Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden in a compound in Abbottabad, Pakistan, piles of documents were seized. Analysts have since combed through the recovered materials, a process known as “sensitive site exploitation.” One of the documents, found in bin Laden’s quarters, was an English copy of Jim’s paper, “One Tribe at a Time,” with notes in the margins.

  The notes made reference to the problems Al Qaeda was having in Konar. At the time, Al Qaeda was known to be seeking to reestablish itself in Konar in order to avoid the intensifying U.S. unmanned aerial drone strikes on its operatives across the border in Pakistan’s tribal areas.

  The handwritten notes were consistent with others identified as written by Osama bin Laden.

  Another document uncovered was a directive from Osama bin Laden to his intelligence chief. The directive mentioned Jim by name, and said he was an impediment to Al Qaeda’s operational objectives for eastern Afghanistan and needed to be removed from the battlefield.

  LIST OF PARTICIPANTS

  Tribe 33: The call sign and unit designation of the small U.S. military team commanded by Major Jim Gant that embedded in Mangwel, Khas Kunar District, with tribal chief Malik Noor Afzhal and the Mohmand tribe.

  Tribe 34: The call sign and unit designation of the small U.S. military team commanded by Major Jim Gant that embedded in Chinaray, Chowkay District, with tribal chief Haji Jan Dahd and the Safi tribe.

  AMERICANS

  Armstrong, Private 1st Class Chad: Member of Tribe 34. Infantry soldier who worked in Chowkay operations center.

  Bartlett, Private 1st Class Jonathan: Member of Tribe 34. Infantry soldier who was one of Dan’s gunners.

  Bird, Sergeant Danny: Member of Tribe 34. Noncommissioned officer for the soldiers of the Fort Lewis–based 2nd Battalion, 3rd Infantry Regiment, who were on Jim’s team in Chowkay.

  Bolduc, Brigadier General Donald: Special Forces commander assigned to work with future Afghan president Hamid Karzai during the U.S. military invasion of Afghanistan in 2001. In 2010 and 2011, Bolduc advanced the local defense initiative as commander of the Combined Joint Special Operations Task Force–Afghanistan (CJSOTF-A). Bolduc supported Jim’s work as an advisor and ground commander in eastern Afghanistan and visited Jim’s team in Mangwel on several occasions. Jim’s battalion commander at 1st Battalion, 3rd Special Forces Group, in 2005–6. Awarded Bronze Star for valor and Army Commendation Medal for valor.

  Boles, Serge
ant Sonny: Member of Tribe 33. One of Jim’s gunners.

  Brooks, Senior Master Sergeant Wesley: Member of Tribe 33 and Tribe 34. Senior noncommissioned officer (NCO) and Air Force Joint Tactical Air Controller ( JTAC) for Jim’s Mangwel and Chowkay teams.

  Campbell, Lieutenant General John: Regional Command–East (RC-East) commander during Jim’s embed into Mangwel. Campbell was deputy commander of the military division in charge of Baghdad during Jim’s Iraq deployment in 2006–7, and was Jim’s battalion commander when Jim was a platoon leader in 2nd Battalion, 5th Infantry Regiment, in Hawaii in 1996–97.

  Carter, Sergeant 1st Class Tony: Member of Tribe 34. Special Forces weapons sergeant.

  Chase, Staff Sergeant Robert: Member of Tribe 33. Acted as Jim’s team sergeant in Mangwel.

  Clement, Specialist Chris: Member of Tribe 34. Jim’s driver. Wounded in January 16, 2012, improvised explosive device strike on Jim’s vehicle.

  Deahn, Staff Sergeant Andy: Member of Tribe 33. Joint Tactical Air Controller ( JTAC).

  Falkel, Staff Sergeant Chris: Member of Operational Detachment Alpha (ODA) 316, the Special Forces team Jim commanded in Afghanistan in 2003 and 2004. Awarded Silver Star for bravery in a battle in Mari Ghar, Afghanistan, in 2005, during which he was killed in action.

  Fleming, Captain Randy: Team Leader of Special Forces Operational Detachment Alpha (ODA) 3412, who took over in Chowkay after Jim was relieved of command.

  Franks, Sergeant 1st Class Tony: Member of Tribe 33. Senior noncommissioned officer for soldiers on Jim’s Mangwel team from 1st Battalion, 16th Infantry Regiment, based in Fort Riley, Kansas.

  Gonzales, Sergeant 1st Class Fernando: Member of Tribe 34. Intelligence sergeant.

  Gray, Private 1st Class Andrew: Member of Tribe 33. One of Jim’s gunners.

  Greenwalt, Specialist Chris: Member of Tribe 33. One of Jim’s drivers.

  Haas, Brigadier General Christopher: Commander of Combined Forces Special Operations Component Command–Afghanistan (CFSOCC-A) in 2011 during latter part of Jim’s last Afghanistan deployment. Visited Jim’s team in Mangwel.

  Harvey, Sergeant Jeremiah: Member of Tribe 33. Medical noncommissioned officer.

  Hicks, Private 1st Class Jeremiah: Member of Tribe 33. Awarded Army Commendation Medal for valor by General Petraeus for actions in Shalay valley, Afghanistan, on May 7, 2010.

  Jimenez, Major Eddie: Commander of Special Forces Company 3310 in Jalalabad under Lieutenant Colonel Robert Wilson.

  Kirila, Lieutenant Colonel Robert: Investigating officer for Army 15-6 investigation into alleged misconduct by Jim and Dan.

  LeBrocq, Sergeant 1st Class Jean-Paul: Jim’s driver in Iraq. Awarded an Army Commendation Medal for valor for actions on December 11, 2006. Died of illness in December 2009.

  Lerma, Private 1st Class Richard: Member of Tribe 34. Driver and gunner.

  Linn, Lieutenant Colonel William: Special Operations Task Force-East (SOTF-E) Commander who in March 2012 ordered health and welfare inspection of Jim’s living quarters.

  Martin, Staff Sergeant Ed: Member of Tribe 34. Special Forces medical sergeant.

  McKone, Captain Dan: Member of Operational Detachment Alpha (ODA) 316. Member of Tribe 33 and Tribe 34. Jim’s second-in-command, executive officer, operations officer, logistics officer, and development coordinator. Awarded Bronze Star for valor and Army commendation medals for valor.

  Miller, Major General Scott: Commander of Combined Forces Special Operations Component Command–Afghanistan (CFSOCC-A) in 2010–11 during Jim’s last deployment to Afghanistan. Visited Jim’s team in Mangwel. Awarded the Bronze Star for valor for actions in Mogadishu, Somalia, in October 1993.

  Mitchell, Specialist Francis: Member of Tribe 33. Jim’s primary driver.

  Mulholland, Lieutenant General John: Led 5th Special Forces Group (Airborne) during the invasion of Afghanistan in 2001. Commander of United States Army Special Operations Command (USASOC)during Jim’s deployment to Afghanistan. Visited Jim’s team in Mangwel. In charge of Jim’s official punishment and reprimand.

  Olson, Admiral Eric: Commander of United States Special Operations Command (USSOCOM) during the initial portion of Jim’s deployment to Afghanistan. Visited Jim’s team in Mangwel. Awarded the Silver Star for actions in Mogadishu, Somalia, in 1993.

  Pelleriti, Lieutenant Colonel John: Operations officer (S-3) for Special Operations Task Force–East (SOTF-E) during Jim’s initial embed into Mangwel. Visited Jim’s team in Mangwel.

  Petraeus, General David: Commander of Multinational Forces–Iraq (MNF-I), United States Central Command (USCENTCOM), International Security Assistance Force (ISAF), and United States Forces–Afghanistan (USFOR-A), and Director of the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA). Jim was under his command in both Iraq and Afghanistan. Visited Jim’s team in Mangwel.

  Porter, Staff Sergeant Ryan: Member of Tribe 33.

  Pressfield, Steven: Author of several works of historical fiction including the bestselling novel about the Spartan battle at Thermopylae, Gates of Fire. Jim’s friend and mentor.

  Redden, Private 1st Class Kyle: Member of Tribe 33. One of Jim’s drivers.

  Roberts, 1st Lieutenant Thomas: Platoon leader of soldiers from 2nd Battalion, 3rd Infantry Regiment, who were assigned to Jim’s team. West Point graduate who wrote the sworn statement that began the Article 15-6 investigation into alleged misconduct by Jim and Dan.

  Ruiz, Specialist Fernando: Member of Tribe 34.

  Salyer, Private 1st Class Jonathan: Member of Tribe 34. One of Jim’s gunners.

  Schwartz, Colonel Mark: Commander of Combined Joint Special Operations Task Force–Afghanistan (CJSOTF-A) during Jim’s removal from Afghanistan. Was operations officer at CFSOCC-A in 2009 and sent Jim an email rejecting his plan to conduct “tribal engagement.” Visited Jim in Mangwel.

  Smith, Command Sergeant Major Thomas: Command Sergeant Major (CSM) for United States Special Operations Command (USSOCOM) when Jim’s “One Tribe at a Time” was published. CSM Smith was instrumental in the early support of Jim. Visited Jim’s team in Mangwel.

  Solheim, Major Kent: Special Forces Company 3430 commander under Lieutenant Colonel William Linn. Awarded Silver Star for actions in July 2007 in Iraq.

  Taylor, Sergeant Michael: Member of Tribe 33.

  Thomas, Staff Sergeant Justin: Member of Tribe 33.

  Warner, Dave, MD, PhD: Head of the Synergy Strike Task Force based out of the Taj guesthouse in Jalalabad.

  Wilson, Lieutenant Colonel Robert: Commander of Special Operations Task Force–East (SOTF-E) during Jim’s embed in Mangwel. Visited Jim several times in Mangwel.

  AFGHANS

  Abdul Wali: Sub-commander in Chowkay Afghan Local Police (ALP).

  Abdul Wali: Insurgent commander in Konar and Pakistan.

  Abu Hamam: Taliban commander in Shalay valley.

  Amir Mohammed: Sub-commander in Chowkay Afghan Local Police (ALP).

  Asif: Malik Noor Afzhal’s eldest son in Mangwel. Khas Kunar Afghan Local Police (ALP) leader. Jim’s tribal brother.

  Assad: One of Jim’s mercenaries in Chowkay.

  Azmat: Malik Noor Afzhal’s second eldest son in Mangwel. Mangwel Afghan Local Police (ALP) commander. Jim’s tribal brother.

  Basir: One of Jim’s mercenaries in Chowkay and Abe’s cousin.

  Chevy: Afghan orphan whose father was killed by the Taliban. Taken under the wing of Operational Detachment Alpha (ODA) 2312 and Jim.

  Dost Mohammed Khan: Malik Noor Afzhal’s younger brother in Mangwel.

  Fazil Rahman: Worked as a security guard at Camp Dyer at the Jalalabad Air Field (JAF) and helped repel a Taliban attack on the camp. Was later shot by the Taliban and had his qalat burned down. Jim attempted to save his life but failed. Jim supported his family for several months until members of his family returned to Mangwel to help them.

  Ghani Gul: Member of Mangwel Afghan Local Police (ALP).

  Ghulam Hazarat: One of Jim’s mercenaries in Chowkay.

  Haji Ayub:
Leader of the Mushwani tribe located in northern Konar and Pakistan. Son of Malik Zarin.

  Haji Jan Dahd: Leader of the Safi tribe located in central Konar.

  Haji Jan Shah: Eldest son of Haji Jan Dahd. Jim’s close friend and ally.

  Hakim Jan: Member of Mangwel Afghan Local Police (ALP).

  Ibrahim Khan: Jim’s advisor, bodyguard, interpreter, and brother. Also known as “Abe.”

  Imran Khan: Jim’s interpreter and brother.

  Ismail Khan: Jim’s advisor, bodyguard, interpreter, and brother. Also known as “Ish.”

  Khetak: Insurgent fighter. Paid as an assassin by Abdul Wali, the insurgent commander.

  Little Malik: Malik Noor Afzhal’s grandson and Asif’s son.

  Mahmud Dwaher: Member of Chowkay Afghan Local Police (ALP).

  Maulawi Basir: Leader of an insurgent group located in the Dewagal valley.

  Malik Noor Afzhal: Malik of the Mohmand tribe in Mangwel. Also known by many as “Sitting Bull,” after the great Native American tribal chief. Jim’s tribal father.

  Malik Zarin: Leader of the Mushwani tribe prior to his assassination in April 2011.

  Mohammed Ghul: Leader of the Chamaray Afghan Local Police (ALP).

  Mohammed Hanif: Leader of a Tajik enclave located within the Mohmand tribal area near Mangwel.

  Mohammed Jalil: Member of the Mohmand tribe. Member of Khas Kunar District Shura.

  Mohammed Sadiq: Commander of Chowkay Afghan Local Police (ALP).

  Niq Mohammed: Commander of Kawer Afghan Local Police (ALP).

  Noor Mohammed: Commander of Northern Khas Kunar Afghan Local Police (ALP).

  Obeidullah: Former insurgent. Member of the Sirkanay Afghan Local Police (ALP).

  Raza Gul: Malik Noor Afzhal’s youngest son. Member of Mangwel Afghan Local Police (ALP). Jim’s tribal brother.

  Sahib Zada: One of Jim’s mercenaries in Chowkay.

  Salim: Tribe 33’s Afghan cook, later hired as a member of the Khas Kunar Afghan Local Police (ALP).