Tip of the Spear: The Incredible Story of an Injured Green Beret's Return to Battle by Ryan Hendrickson
Tip of the Spear: The Incredible Story of an Injured Green Beret's Return to Battle
by Ryan Hendrickson
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
My Ratings 4.5/5
Synopsis
The inspiring true story of a US Special Forces soldier who was medically retired after stepping on an IED, and his incredible return to active duty.
Sergeant First Class (SFC) Ryan Hendrickson is a brave, determined, and courageous soldier -- a Green Beret clearing the way for his twelve-man team while conducting combat operations against the Taliban. As the "tip of the spear," his role is to ensure the route taken by U.S. and Afghan troops are free of IEDs -- improvised explosive devices. Many soldiers do not survive their last step; those who do often lose at least one limb.
While rescuing an Afghan soldier outside a mud-hut compound in 2010 -- knowing that he was in "uncleared" territory -- Ryan stepped on an IED with his right foot. The device exploded, leaving his foot dangling at the end of his leg.
American soldiers losing a limb is an all-too-common occurrence. But what makes Ryan's story different is that after undergoing two dozen surgeries and a tortuous rehabilitation, he was medically retired but fought to return to active duty. Multiple skin grafts to his leg and right foot successfully reattached his lower leg, and he was aided in his recovery by wearing a new prosthetic device known as an IDEO (Intrepid Dynamic Exoskeletal Orthosis). Once he passed a series of crucial physical tests, Ryan was able to rejoin the Green Berets within a year and physically perform his duties, redeploying to Afghanistan in March 2012.
In 2016, he volunteered to return to Afghanistan with Bravo Company, 2nd Battalion, 7th Special Forces Group. During a firefight with the Taliban, he risked his life under heavy enemy fire to rescue three Afghan soldiers cut off from friendly forces and return the bodies of two dead Afghan soldiers under the ethos that "no one gets left behind." For his heroic efforts on the battlefield, SFC Ryan Hendrickson was awarded a Silver Star, the nation's third-highest award for valor.
An engaging and harrowing account, Tip of the Spear tells the amazing story of one Green Beret's indomitable spirit.
My Thoughts
They are not mere soldiers of the nation. They are the pride of every American soul. They are the heroes who inspire the youth of the nation. Their stories of valor, sacrifices, and spirit deserve to be told and shared. This is an inspiring effort to bring forward these inspiring stories of the American Army that reflects their brave characters.
Sergeant First Class (SFC) Ryan Hendrickson's brave life constitutes one of the strangest, saddest, and least known stories of the Afghan War. Ryan Hendrickson undergoing two dozen surgeries and a tortuous rehabilitation, he was medically retired but fought to return to active duty. Later in life he in 2016 he volunteered to return to Afghanistan with Bravo Company, 2nd Battalion, 7th Special Forces Group. Ryan Hendrickson does full justice to this bizarre and riveting tale. Ryan Hendrickson has written a biography worthy of his subject, full of shoot-outs, explosions ,death , injuries ,mayhem, and the human foibles of a lost soul. Ryan Hendrickson; soldier, nation's third-highest awardie, teller-of-tales (on and off the page). This book, like Ryan's life, is never boring, a volatile yarn about bravery, fortune, pain, and as such tales often go, tragedy. The meteoric rise and an amazing story of one Green Beret's indomitable spirit.
This book has been written in simple language to let you easily understand the challenges faced by soldiers and also what motivated then to dedicate their whole life to serve nation's people. Despite facing tough situations and risking their lives, a soldier has a more meaningful existence. Ryan Hendrickson's life is a fascinating story. Certainly there are tremendous triumphs, but there is also real tragedy here. This is a meditation on the United States at a pivotal moment in its history, with tremendous insight into the life of the man whose bravery ultimately proved his doings. Ryan is a skilled storyteller whose research is impeccable, and this was a great read.
I must say it's OUTSTANDING! Ryan delivers the goods, Couldn’t put it down. Not only does he nail his characters, plotline and the arc of his life, his bravery, lifestyle, and his heroic efforts on the battlefield.
Best book of its kind. Right up there with military classics such as: The Forgotten Soldier, the works of E.M. Remarque and Bernard Fall and The Devil's Guard!
Highly Recommended!
Comments
Post a Comment