On September 11, 2001, America was attacked. Nearly 3,000 lives were lost. As night fell, the world waited as America planned their response. Within weeks, a small force of Green Berets, CIA Paramilitary Case Officers, 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment flight crews and Army Rangers would launch one of the most extraordinary unconventional warfare campaigns in military history.
The first Special Forces units who touched down in Afghanistan would forever become known as the Horse Soldiers.
Twenty-five years later, their legacy stands at Ground Zero, where a lone Green Beret on horseback remains in permanent overwatch of the Twin Towers, their memory and the legacy of all those lost.
From the base of the Horse Soldier statue in New York City’s Liberty Park, Fran Racioppi sat down with retired Lieutenant General John Mulholland, who commanded 5th Special Forces Group on September 11 and led America into Afghanistan. LTG Mulholland shares his firsthand account of the attacks, the mission into Afghanistan, and the extraordinary effort to bring America’s Response Monument to Ground Zero.
Also joining us is Dave Holland, Green Beret and founder of Longtab Brewing, whose personal connection to 9/11 and service in Afghanistan inspired Strength And Honor, an American Strong Ale honoring the Horse Soldiers and their legacy.
This is America’s response, a tribute to the men who achieved the impossible, and a promise that their service and sacrifice will never be forgotten.
Strength and Honor! De Oppresso Liber!
Highlights:
00:00 Introduction
02:00 General Mulholland’s 9/11 Response
05:41 The First Infiltrations into Afghanistan
08:37 The Horse Soldiers’ Legacy
10:02 The Story Behind the Statue
14:13 Bringing the Monument to Ground Zero
18:40 The “Strength and Honor” Beer Tribute
22:05 Supporting the Green Beret Foundation
Quotes:
- "We're going to war in Afghanistan."
- “This will be an unconventional war."
- "Smoking a hole in the mountainside doesn't do me any good. We can't replace the hook. We can't replace you. We damn sure can't replace that A-team."
- "We are here. We are here with you. Get us up there where we can do some damage."
- "It took an entire team working together."
- "That needs to be on Ground Zero in permanent overwatch of the Twin Towers."
- “There was no other name that it could be other than Strength and Honor."
Follow the Jedburgh Podcast and the Green Beret Foundation on social media. Listen on your favorite podcast platform, read on our website, and watch the full video version on YouTube as we show why America must continue to lead from the front, no matter the challenge.
A portion of all proceeds from Strength and Honor is donated to the Green Beret Foundation, supporting America’s Special Forces Operators and their families of all generations.
