Those Who Face Death

The Untold Story of Special Forces and the Iraqi Kurdish Resistance

By: Mark Grdovic

Narrated by: Mark Grdovic

Spring, 2003.

A small group of Special Forces and CIA operatives must establish a second front to tie down the Iraqi Army in the north to support the pending US-led invasion in the south.

The mission sounds simple. The reality is anything but.

The plan is to infiltrate into Iraq ahead of the invasion, link up with the Kurdish Peshmerga, and coordinate their efforts against the Iraqi Army.

The Peshmerga, which translates to those who face death, have risen up several times in the recent past, only to be abandoned by the US and subsequently slaughtered by the Iraqi army.

Before the Special Forces have any chance of posing a viable threat to the Iraqi Army, they must first convince the Kurdish factions to put their differences aside, resolve the issue of Turkey’s wavering support, and neutralize an Islamist group that has seized Kurdish territory along the Iraq-Iran border.

The details of the invasion are classified. The clock is ticking, and time is running out.

Once in Iraq, there will be no extraction, medical evacuation, or air support until the war begins. The Green Berets will be on their own.

Those Who Face Death is the incredible true story of this little-known special operation and a testament to the courage, skill, and perseverance of the US Special Forces in the face of overwhelming odds.

©2025 Mark Grdovic (P)2025 Mark Grdovic

So complex

Listening to it was so much more understandable. I have the actual book and enjoyed the glossary and the photos but decided to go audio and was not disappointed

Unconventional Warfare Must Read!

This is a compelling story of courage, respect, friendship, perseverance and pure ingenuity. All remarkably told through facts, humor and grit! The storytelling, maps and pictures take you into the thick of it, as if you are in Northern Iraq, late winter / spring 2003, alongside 10th SFG.

It’s one thing to say you know of Unconventional Warfare, it’s quite another to say you understand. This story will help you begin to understand and truly appreciate the power of what Special Forces brings to the fight.

Most of all, I appreciate Mark’s highlighting of the Peshmerga and Kurdish people that I personally admire and respect from my short time up north while in uniform.

Well done!!

This is the backstory you wont hear anywhere else 100%

Has a former Army Ranger of the 75th regiment, I was there for the invasion of Iraq (my 1st of 4 demployments) I've never heard the story of the elite guys that went into Iraq before the invasion to destabilize the government and the Iraqi military. Mark gives you a firsthand account of what is was like, and this audio book being read by Mark takes the audio book to another level!

Military life

Those Who Face Death by Mark Grdovic is a fantastic military biography. Mark Grdovic did a wonderful job with the narration. The story is interesting, engaging, enjoyable, humor, factual, exciting, and more. A story of honor, courage, respect, friendship, and what it was like in the Middle East.

I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review. Highly recommend

Amazing story well told

This book is the ideal balance between succinct, instructive, and riveting. I have read few books so interesting and well written. The author doesn’t waste time with too many personal stories, but those that are included in the narrative illustrate the point an situation very well. It is well worth the 5 hour listen.