Photos

Hamid Karzai at a safe house in Pakistan, when he was still an obscure, former Afghan statesman planning his insurgency with U.S. Special Forces A-team ODA 574 in November 2001. Photo: ODA 574 archives.
ODA 574 was the first American Special Forces team to infiltrate southern Afghanistan. A combination of U.S. Air Force Pave Low helicopters and Army Blackhawks inserted the team on November 14, 2001. Photo: Air Force Tech Sergeant Scott Reed.
Attached Air Force Combat Controller Alex Yoshimoto with ODA 574 Captain Jason Amerine, in southern Afghanistan heading for Petawek from Tarin Kowt, November 2001. Photo: ODA 574 archives.
ODA 574 near Tarin Kowt, November 2001. Photo: ODA 574 archives.
Intelligence Sergeant Gilbert “Mag” Magallanes with Pashtun guerrillas in Tarin Kowt, November 2001. Photo: ODA 574 archives.
The children of Petawek, December 2001. Photo: ODA 574 archives.
The local Pashtun tribesmen fed the American Green Berets simple but hearty meals each night. Photo: ODA 574 archives.
Alex and Mike, near the border of Uruzgan and Kandahar provinces, December 2001. Photo: ODA 574 archives.
Four of Karzai’s guerrillas at Shawali Kowt, December 2001. Photo: ODA 574 Archives.
Air Force Lieutenant Colonel Steve Hadley was the air mission commander of Knife 03 and Knife 04 on the first daylight rescue mission in Operation Enduring Freedom, December 5, 2001. Photo: Hadley family archives.
Knife 03 and Knife 04 over the southern Afghan desert, December 2001. Photo: Air Force Tech Sergeant Scott Reed.
The tailgunner on Knife 03, Staff Sergeant Scott Diekman. Photo: Diekman family archives.
Some of the pararescue jumpers and combat controllers who took part in the rescue mission, shown here at Camp Rhino on December 5, 2001. Photo: U.S. Air Force.
The Trees of the Dead, on Gabriel Field at the 5th Special Forces parade grounds, Fort Campbell, Kentucky. Photo: Bruce Watts.
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LEGEND

The unforgettable account and courageous actions of the U.S. Army’s 240th Assault Helicopter Company and Green Beret staff sergeant Roy Benavidez, who risked everything to rescue a Special Forces team trapped behind enemy lines.

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