Horse Soldier Bourbon part two
In the annals of American history, there are many examples of extreme courage and heroism by members of the United States armed forces. The Horse Soldiers’ story shows what twelve extremely brave special operators can accomplish against overwhelming odds. Author Doug Stanton chronicled their story in his exciting book Horse Soldiers. In just three weeks, the movie Twelve Strong depicted the Horse Soldiers liberation of Afghanistan’s fourth-largest city Mazar-i-Sharif.
The mission
These were the first military men placed in Afghanistan after the 9-11 attacks on the World Trade Center, the Pentagon, and Shanksville, Pennsylvania. Less than a month after the attack, these 12 men were dropped in Afghanistan to become America’s first response to the Taliban terrorists shielding Al Qaeda.
Why horse soldiers?
Due to the rugged terrain and the traditional use of horse cavalry, the special operators used Afghan horses for transportation. American planners did not know about the widespread use of horses, and it was a surprise to the team members. General Dostum, the Afghani rebel leader, grew to appreciate the Americans and their ability to bring overwhelming airpower to the battlefield. Until the Americans were able to work with Dostum, there was no guarantee he would accept them. In fact, there was concern about how loyal he would remain.
Veteran Green Berets
The team selected was an experienced group of special forces operators that had worked in neighboring Uzbekistan. Most were veterans of Desert Storm, Kosovo, or Somalia. Designated Operational Detachment-Alpha 595, their initial mission was to rescue any downed airmen. However, this mission quickly changed to creating allies among the ethnic leaders to fight the Taliban protecting Al Qaeda.
Extremely heroic
Imagine being placed in a war zone and having to navigate the various loyalties of the native Afghans. Not only were they a tiny band of twelve men, but help was not close by. Any help available was nine hours away. They were basically on their own, and on the surface, it had to look like many of them may not make it back.
The Kentucky connection
One of the fascinating parts of the story that weaves into their present-day plans is that many team members were training along the Cumberland River on September 11. They heard about the attacks on their truck radio while returning to their base at Fort Campbell. The new Horse Soldier Distillery will be a two hundred million dollar destination in Somerset, Kentucky, overlooking Lake Cumberland.
Horse Soldier Bourbon Review
Horse Soldier Bourbon is currently distilled at Middle West Spirits located in Columbus, Ohio. They also have an urban still house in St. Petersburg Florida. Would you please take a minute and watch while we review three Horse Soldier bourbons? Signature Small Batch Bourbon, Premier Straight Bourbon, and Reserve Barrel Strength Bourbon. Find out which one was our favorite HERE.
Horse Soldier Bourbon Part Two
The story continues, and I cannot wait to see what the future brings for Horse Soldier. After all, once you go into enemy territory against overwhelming odds and not only survive but execute your mission successfully, the rest should come easy. For those of you that have not read Doug Stanton’s book, I strongly recommend it. There is a Horse Soldier monument in New York honoring and depicting the teams that were the first to fight after September 11. I sincerely hope the Horse Soldier story continues to expand, and I look forward to further developing their American Bourbon. Gentlemen, thank you for your service!