Those Who Face Death: The Untold Story of Special Forces and the Iraqi Kurdish Resistance

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.

Genres: History

254 pages, Paperback

Published August 15, 2025

About the author

I served with the US Army for over 23 years, including 19 years as a Special Forces officer.

Since retirement from the Army in 2012, I've worked as a defense consultant and contractor supporting the special operations community in a variety of capacities.

I wrote this book to fulfill a professional and personal responsibility. As the operations officer, I was in a very unique position to see the entire effort unfold. I was present at the inception of the concept, oversaw the planning and preparations and participated in the execution.

It is my sincere hope that this book inspires a current and future generation of Special Forces. I also hope it provides a useful illustration of the complexities of these types of efforts, specifically the human dynamic, and the ability to adapt and persevere in the face of seemingly insurmountable and overwhelming odds.

Reviews

[John Silkman · Rating 5 out of 5]

“Those Who Face Death” is the story about the prosecution of an unconventional warfare campaign in the Kurdish Region of Northern Iraq during Operation Iraqi Freedom, the U.S. military invasion to topple the despotic regime of Saddam Hussein. Mark Grdovic, the author and campaign architect, and practitioner on the ground for this unconventional warfare campaign, brings the effectiveness of unconventional warfare into sharp focus through remarkable story-telling from first hand accounts.

In an era where practitioners and chroniclers of warfare tend to showcase the more glossy direct action Special Operations capabilities and missions, Mark outlines the case for the indirect approach, specifically tailored to the Green Berets - U.S. Special Forces - who live with, train with, and fight along side foreign forces in low signature, high impact campaigns to advance U.S. national interests. In the Special Forces community Mark has been a voice of clarity and reason on the principles for successful execution of unconventional warfare, standing head and shoulders above the noise of self proclaimed experts, who regretfully muddy the waters with shallow assessments on the prosecution of unconventional warfare in military campaigns. This book captures clarity of purpose for the role of Special Forces in the overall strategy of a campaign.

If you desire a greater understanding about how to execute a successful and operationally sound unconventional warfare campaign, and deeper insights into the strategic consequences and heartbreaks of short sighted decisions made without context or field perspective from thousands of miles away, or the remarkable wisdom and heroic deeds of Green Berets compelling Kurdish forces to advance and secure victory while in harms way, “Those Who Face Death” will not disappoint.

[Stefanie Verhelst · Rating 4 out of 5]

Audiobook;


I’m very glad that I’ve listened to this audiobook.

The performance is engaging, beautiful and sincere storytelling, thought fil end reflective.

I highly recommend if you’re interested in the topic!.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Scott · Rating 5 out of 5]

At first glance, this book might look like just another soldier’s memoir from the Iraq War. It’s not. Those Who Face Death is far more than that — a smart, engaging, and deeply informative account of a pivotal period in modern military history.

Lt. Col. Mark Grdovic’s story will resonate with readers interested in national security, special operations, and the Iraq War, but it also offers much to students of history, military tactics, and anyone curious about the culture of the U.S. national security apparatus — especially the special operations and intelligence communities. U.S. Special Operations Command and the CIA changed dramatically after 9/11, and understanding how they evolved is essential to understanding the post-9/11 world.

What sets this book apart is the way Grdovic combines technical insight with humor, humility, and clear storytelling. He explains complex operations and relationships without losing accessibility, making the book as readable for general audiences as it is valuable for experts.

This isn’t just a war story — it’s a window into how America’s most elite forces adapted, learned, and operated alongside Kurdish allies during one of the most consequential periods of recent history. Those Who Face Death is a treasure.

[Michael Lortz · Rating 5 out of 5]

Timely book on Special Operations cooperation with the Iraqi Kurds prior to Operation Iraqi Freedom. This area of the world is a passion of mine and I really enjoyed this. Mark writes his personal stories with the outlook of an instructor, teaching and providing lessons learned. His understanding of the battlefield is apparent throughout the book. From a military perspective, Those Who Face Death is smart, something current and future leaders or current and future Special Operations personnel can learn from. This is a boots on the ground narrative about a mission that went well. There are always lessons and takeaways, both positive and negative. Those in uniform or even those working with the military would be well served to read this and look to apply its lessons learned. Especially with the Kurds in the news again.
(Disclaimer: I met Mark and had a few good conversations before I bought his book. He had read my masters thesis on the history the Kurdish military in his research.)

[Sophie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed listening to the audiobook of Those Who Face Death because I learned something new about a piece of recent military history. I think that the story was told well. I can't recall any part of telling where I was bored by the author.
I received a complimentary copy of this story, and I freely left this review.

[Brittany Britton · Rating 5 out of 5]

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 via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.