“A truly extraordinary book by a phenomenal pilot and warrior. Alan Mack was in the thick of every sensitive, harrowing, high-stakes operation in the decade following 9/11. His account of combat from the cockpit of the world’s most exceptional special ops aviation unit and of the toll it took on him and his family is forthright, riveting, raw, compelling, and inspirational. Readers will not be able to put Razor 3 down.” -General David H. Petraeus, US Army (Ret.), former Commander of the Surge in Iraq, US Central Command, and Coalition Forces in Afghanistan, and former Director of the CIAFinalist, 2022 Army Historical Foundation Distinguished Writing Awards

The attacks of September 11, 2001, prompted the creation of a robust and deadly special operations force -- Task Force Dagger. Alan C. Mack, Callsign Razor 03, led a team of MH-47E helicopters and armed MH-60s. Their two-fold mission – Personnel Recovery (PR) and Unconventional Warfare (UW) involved flying in terrain and weather previously not thought possible. If that wasn’t enough, they pushed the flight envelope of their specially modified Chinooks to the limit and beyond.
Mack shares his behind-the-scenes perspective of the Horse Soldier’s infill into Afghanistan. He discusses the hunt for Osama Bin Laden at Tora Bora and describes his shootdown during Operation Anaconda. Years later, he chased Bowe Bergdahl, rescued hostages in Iraq, and the U.S. Navy Seal ‘Lone Survivor’ from the Kunar Valley.

Mack’s near-death experiences and frequent deployments not only affected him, but pushed his wife toward prescription opioids. Her developing addiction led to friction as he kept her secret and continued to deploy.

He lived by his unit’s motto, Night Stalkers Don’t Quit! He wouldn’t quit on his unit – he couldn’t quit on his family. His story of success, tragedy, and ultimate happiness is as old as warfare itself.

• Cover
• Title
• Copyright
• Contents
• Acknowledgements
• Section I
  • Chapter 1 September 10, 2001
• Section II
  • Chapter 2 Flight School (1989-1990)
  • Chapter 3 Desert Shield/Storm (1990-1991)
  • Chapter 4 Pushing limits – NTC and the Bermuda Triangle (1992-1993)
  • Chapter 5 Instructing at Fort Rucker (1993-1995)
  • Chapter 6 Assessment for the 160th
  • Chapter 7 Desert Fox and the Gorst Games (1998-1999)
  • Chapter 8 The ‘Bravo Project’ and ‘Gorst Games’ – Phase two (2000-2001)
• Section III
  • Chapter 9 Response to 9/11 (Sept 2001)
  • Chapter 10 K-2
  • Chapter 11 The Horse Soldiers
  • Chapter 12 Unconventional Warfare Continues
  • Chapter 13 Letters from Home (November 2001)
  • Chapter 14 Hindu Kush Rescue and Hypoxia (November 2001)
  • Chapter 15 QRF
  • Chapter 16 Tora Bora and the Hunt for Bin Laden (Dec 2001)
  • Chapter 17 Bagram Liberation Medal (Dec 2001)
  • Chapter 18 Christmas at Bagram (Dec 2001)
  • Chapter 19 The Tanker and the Mountain (Feb 2002)
  • Chapter 20 Lejay – SEALs vs. 160th SOAR (February 2002)
  • Chapter 21 Operation Anaconda (March 2002)
• Section IV
  • Chapter 22 Recovery from First Deployment summer 2002
  • Chapter 23 OEF– Back in the saddle (August – September 2002)
  • Chapter 24 A Kandahar Christmas and follow-on deployments (2002-2003)
  • Chapter 25 V22 Simulator
  • Chapter 26 C-17 ride and a tale of Desert Storm (Mid 2004)
  • Chapter 27 A New Objective (October – November 2004)
  • Chapter 28 Operation Red Wings and the Lone Survivor (2004-2005)
  • Chapter 29 Linda’s parents – a disaster (2005)
  • Chapter 30 Operation Iraqi Freedom (2005-2007)
  • Chapter 31 So, my Sons don’t have to... (2007)
  • Chapter 32 MH-47G sees combat (2007)
• Section V
  • Chapter 33 Should have Quit (2008)
  • Chapter 34 The End of Normal
  • Chapter 35 Bergdahl tips the scales (2009)
  • Chapter 36 Emotional Darkness (2010)
  • Chapter 37 The Ship (2010-11)
  • Chapter 38 Attempting to Regain Control (2011)
  • Chapter 39 Nearing the edge (2012)
  • Chapter 40 Over the edge (2012)
• Section VI
  • Chapter 41 West Point – Headed for Happiness
  • Chapter 42 Parachute Team and Executive Travel
  • Chapter 43 Happiness Found
  • Glossary
• Plates Section
• Plates Section 1