The America’s Response Memorial statue or “Horse Soldier” statue depicts a Green Beret operator from the 5th Special Forces Group memorializing Task Force Dagger, its organizational elements and its combined Special Forces teams.
America’s initial military response to the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001 sent American Special Operations Forces into Afghanistan as part of Operation Enduring Freedom. By early October of 2001, a couple of Special Forces teams were on the ground, sent in to help the Northern Alliance multi-ethnic and tribal resistance leaders hunt down al Qaeda and liberate their country from the Taliban regime which had harbored the al-Qaeda terrorists.
5th Special Forces Group (Airborne), designated as Task Force Dagger, was a Joint Special Operations team consisting of Green Berets from the 5th Special Forces Group, aircrew members from the “Nightstalkers”, the 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment and Air Force Special Operations aircrew, combat controllers, and joint terminal air controllers who worked closely with the Central Intelligence Agency and other Government Agencies to accomplish this daunting task.
In an unprecedented Unconventional Warfare campaign in which Special Operations Forces were the main effort, a handful of Special Forces teams faced significant operational and logistic challenges, while routing the al-Qaeda and Taliban forces from their strongholds. They were supported by the full aerial might of the U.S. Navy, Marines, and Air Force. This daunting task required them to do what Special Forces operators and units excel at – to adapt to the fluid and uncertain situation. They combined 21st century combat technologies with the tactics and capabilities of their respective partnered Afghan resistance groups. Together with their Afghan allies, they accomplished in weeks what many thought would take months, if not years – defeating the al-Qaeda terrorists and Taliban forces, liberating the people and the country of Afghanistan, and allowing them to again determine their own fate and government.
Task Force Dagger received a Presidential Unit Citation recognizing its personnel and units for their valorous and historic actions in spearheading the liberation of Afghanistan. This legendary unit and these exceptional warriors are now honored at Ground Zero, a monument to America’s response.
One of the initial combined A-Teams which comprised Task Force Dagger, designated Operational Detachment Alpha (ODA) – 595, along with their Central Intelligence Agency counterparts, were among the first of two teams chosen to infiltrate into the isolated mountains of North Central Afghanistan in October of 2001 in order to integrate closely with the various Northern Alliance ethnic groups actively resisting the Taliban regime. They were warmly welcomed.
In the case of ODA-595, isolated and alone, they operated hundreds of miles and many hours or even days away from the nearest U.S. military reinforcements or rescue if necessary. They took the further risk of splitting their 12 man team into 2 – 3 man cells. These cells dispersed across several districts and provinces in the region with their Afghan counterparts – local Commanders, Tribal Leaders, and their rapidly growing force of local militiamen – working and fighting alongside them to build a cohesive alliance. Assessing their circumstances and determining how to out maneuver their common enemy (who was exponentially greater in numerical size while mounted in former Soviet manufactured tanks, armored vehicles and personnel transports) the Americans required mobility equal to their allies to navigate the difficult mountainous terrain. Although requested and being procured for delivery, all-terrain vehicles and 4×4 trucks were of limited use in this rugged off-road terrain, and ODA-595 was provided horses by the ethnic Afghan groups they were supporting.
The Green Berets of ODA-595 and their Central Intelligence Agency counterparts adapted to their situation, mounted up – many for the first time – and proceeded to advise and assist the Northern Alliance fighters from horseback, similar to the cavalry days of old. Their demonstrated personal actions, commitment, and mission successes alongside their Afghan allies under extremely challenging conditions quickly served as the catalyst for the liberation of six Northern Afghanistan provinces.
Historians now credit these few Special Forces teams and operators as allowing America to be seen by the Afghans as liberators and not as occupiers, a living example of the Special Forces motto, “De Oppresso Liber” meaning “to liberate the oppressed”. They provided the first American and Afghanistan victories of the 21st Century, inspiring a nation to rise up against its terrorist oppressors.
In the U.S., still shocked as a nation by the terrorist attacks of September 11th, the first public images were released of American Special Forces soldiers riding horseback into battle alongside their allies. These iconic images inspired Americans as well as the sculptor of this statue. Soon after ODA-595 returned to the U.S. they met Douwe Blumberg.
These exceptional warriors have continued to serve our nation, but do not have a replica of the statue depicting the very missions they were instrumental in completing. With the price out of reach for nearly all of them, our hope is that you will help the FEW achieve our goals and honor the sacrifice these few exceptional warriors made for our Great Nation.